This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III HTHE way my father treated us boys was " a powerful lesson to me. There were four strapping, intelligent youths, natural sons of the soil, driven from the farm to enter callings they were little qualified to pursue, and in which three of them had never made successes. My three boys were stout, ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III HTHE way my father treated us boys was " a powerful lesson to me. There were four strapping, intelligent youths, natural sons of the soil, driven from the farm to enter callings they were little qualified to pursue, and in which three of them had never made successes. My three boys were stout, intelligent lads. I made up my mind that if they should leave the farm their act would be wholly voluntary. Jennie and I had put our heads together shortly after the youngsters began to arrive--in considerable numbers--and had decided upon a course of treatment of them. I made up my mind not to fall into the error of American parents who, themselves in their youth having suffered extreme restraint and intolerance, let their children go the limit in the opposite direction. I was going to see to it, however, that my youngsters had proper freedom of thought and action. I had observed that Dick and Harry, the twins, had different bents. Harry was a naturalborn machinist, while Dick loved all living creatures. John, the eldest boy, had the gift of buying and selling. "Jennie," said I, when John was a young man and the twins were not far behind--"Jennie, I don't see why we shouldn't mobilize these talents right here. We must keep the boys on the farm, if we can. It will be better for them, better for us." For, a moment Jennie and I looked into each other's eyes knowingly, then she said: "You're right, Don. I, too, have noticed the signs of growing unrest in the boys. We must head it off--so long as it's for their good." "It resolves itself into this," said I. "We must capitalize the wits, experience, and character of our children as well as their muscle." "Quite right," said Jennie. Jennie and I discussed the matter further and the next evening I...
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