The word ‘hobby’ is derived from “hobby horse”, which is a stick fitted with s wooden horse’s head, which children ride astride for their amusement. We still talk of man ‘riding’ his hobby. So a hobby is an amusement, properly it is an interesting pursuit, not our main business which we take up for our amusement in our leisure time. What is a business to a man may have gardening as his hobby; and a gardener may have photography as recreation.

There are different kinds of hobbies. Many take the form of collecting in some form. Collecting postage stamps is a common hobby in England, not only with boys but with men too. Some make collections of wildflowers and ferns and press and mount their specimens. Others take an interest in geology and find much amusement in collecting fossils.

Other hobbies take the form of games and sports. Many take up open-air games, like golf, tennis, cricket or football, or indoor games such as chess, draughts, and cards as their hobbies while hunting or fishing or matching are the favorite recreations of others.

Many people find great pleasure and interest in gardening; especially in cultivating some special flowers, like roses. And boys especially like keeping pets, such as dogs, rabbits, and fowls.

Everyone, young and old, should have a hobby of some sort for his leisure hours; for it adds to the pleasure of life. It is often an education in itself, and it fills our vacant hours with interest. It gives us also something to fall on when our business days are over in the leisure time at the end of life.