Age 7.--At this age, the boy should be required to do light chores at evening after school--such as carrying in wood and kindling and attending to the stock. Or he may help in the house. During vacation he may help for two to four hours daily with some easy tasks, preferably about the house. Of course there is much work about the barn and fields which is not too heavy for him. Age 8.--Some boys are put to plowing at this age, but such a thing is little short of criminal. Moreover, they should be held regularly to _no sort of work_ all day long at this age; that is, unless the parent desires to reduce his boy to a little old dried-up man before the age of twenty is reached, and perhaps drive him from home. Age 9.--Intermittently half-day or all-day tasks may now be imposed; provided the lad be taken along as a mere helper and may, about two-thirds of the time, either play at his work or regard it in the light of a playful pastime. Do not work the joyousness and spontaneity out of him at this young age. Age 10.--An average of five hours solid work per day is all that the 10-year-old farm boy should be required to do. Much play and recreation of the rougher sort should supplement it. The desire to construct something with tools is now strong and should be indulged. Or, see that he has a pony to ride as he hurries about the place in the performance of his many errands. Age 11.--Increase the required tasks about one hour per day with similar treatment as for age 10. This is the age for training the boy to be a sort of "page" in service of his mother and sister. [Illustration: PLATE XXI. FIG. 27.--A tennis court in connection with the country boys' camp. There should be more of these. FIG. 28.--A country play festival. We cannot answer rightly the question, How much work for the country boy? and at the same time neglect to provide for his play.] Age 12.--Many 12-year-old boys are required to do a man's work every day. But such a thing is done in the interest of the work and the profits and not for the sake of the boy. A good way to measure his worth at this age is to see that he does not earn more than half as much as the full-grown man. Give many half-holidays. His interest in fishing, rowing, swimming, and the like, needs much indulgence. Age 13.--From this age to 15, watch the boy for the beginning of adolescence and be unusually careful not to over-work him. Most of his bodily strength must go into making new bone and muscle. Frequent intervals of rest and relaxation should be the rule, together with avoidance of too long and too heavy a day's work. Even permit some crops to be lost rather than abuse the boy.