Being a Boy

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, though it needs some practice to be a good one. The disadvantage of the position is that it does not last long enough; it is soon over; just as you get used to being a boy, you have to be something else, with a good deal more work to do and not half so much fun. And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon him as a boy. Good fun as it is to yoke up the calves and play work, there is not a boy on a farm but would rather drive a yoke of oxen at real work. What a glorious feeling it is, indeed, when a boy is for the first time given the long whip and permitted to drive the oxen, walking by their side, swinging the long lash, and shouting "Gee, Buck!" "Haw, Golden!" "Whoa, Bright!" and all the rest of that remarkable language, until he is red in the face, and all the neighbors for half a mile are aware that something unusual is going on. If I were a boy, I am not sure but I would rather drive the oxen than have a birthday. The proudest day of my life was one day when I rode on the neap of the cart, and drove the oxen, all alone, with a load of apples to the cider-mill.

Charles Dudley Warner was an American essayist, novelist, and prominent figure in 19th-century American literature. Born in Plainfield, Massachusetts, in 1829, he was known for his keen insights into American society and his satirical style. Warner's friendship with Mark Twain led to the collaboration on The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, a novel that critiqued the corruption and excess of post-Civil War America, particularly its political and economic systems. Warner's literary contributions extended beyond novels, including essays, articles, and compilations, with works like Library of the World's Best Literature showcasing his broader literary expertise. Throughout his career, he focused on societal issues, using wit and humor to address them. Warner's writing resonated with readers for its accessibility and sharp commentary on the issues of his time. He passed away in 1900 at the age of 71 in Hartford, Connecticut, leaving behind a legacy as a significant voice in American literature and a keen observer of the complexities of American life. His work continues to be valued for its insightful social critiques and the literary friendships that shaped it. Warner's influence remains evident in the ongoing study of American realism and its exploration of cultural and political life.