To FARM LET. These words in a lease have the effect of creating a lease for years. Co. Litt. 45 b; 2 Mod. 250.

FARMER. One who is lessee¹ of a farm. it is said that every lessee for life or years, although it be but of a small house and land, is called farmer. This word implies no mystery except it be that of hushandman. Cunn. Dict. h. t. In common parlance², a farmer is one who cultivates a farm, whether he be the owner of it or not.

FARO, crim. law. There is a species of game called faro-table, or faro-bank, which is forbidden by law in many states; and the persons who keep it for the purpose of playing for money or other valuable thing, may generally be indicted³ at common law for a nuisance. 1 Roger's Rec. 66. It is played with cards in this manner: a pack of cards is displayed on the table so that the face of each card may be seen by the spectators. The man who keeps the bank, as it is termed, and who is called the banker, sits by the table with another pack of cards, and a bag containing money, some of which is displayed, or sometimes instead of money, chips, or small pieces of ivory or other substance are used. The parties who play with the banker, are called punters or pointeurs. Suppose the banker and A, a punter, wish to play for five dollars, the banker shuffles⁴ the pack which he holds in his hand, while A lays his money intended to be bet, say five dollars, on any card he may choose as aforesaid. The banker then runs the cards alternately into two piles, one on the right the other on the left, until he reaches, in the pack, the card corresponding to that on which A has laid his money. If, in this alternative, the card chosen comes on the right hand, the banker takes up the money. If on the other, A is entitled to five dollars from the banker. Several persons are usually engaged at the same table with the banker. 1 Rog. Rec. 66, note; Encycl. Amer. h. t.

FARRIER. One who takes upon himself the public employment of shoeing horses.

2. Like an innkeeper, a common carrier, and other persons who assume a public employment, a farrier is bound to serve the public as far as his employment goes, and an action lies against him for refusing, when a horse is brought to him at a reasonable time for such purpose, if he refuse; Oliph . on Horses, 131 and he is liable for the unskilfulness of himself or servant in performing such work 1 Bl. Com. 431; but not for the malicious⁵ act of the servant in purposely driving a nail into the foot of the horse, with the intention of laming⁶ him. 2 Salk. 440.

FATHER, domestic relations. He by whom a child is begotten⁷.

2. A father is the natural guardian⁸ of his children, and his duty by the natural law consists in maintaining them and educating them during their infancy⁹, and making a necessary provision for their happiness in life. This latter, however, is a duty which the law does not enforce.

3. By law, the father is bound to support his children, if of sufficient ability, even though they have property of their own. 1 Bro. C. C. 387; 4 Mass. R. 97; 2 Mass. R. 415 5 Rawle, 323. But he is not bound, without some agreement, to pay another for maintaining them; 9 C. & P. 497; nor is he bound to pay their debts, unless he has authorized¹⁰ them to be contracted. 38 E. C. L. R. 195, n. See 8 Watts¹¹, R. 366 1 Craig. & Phil. 317; Bind¹²; Nother; Parent. This obligation ceases as soon as the child becomes of age, unless he becomes chargeable to the public. 1 Ld. Ray. 699.

4. The rights of the father are authority over his children, to enforce all his lawful¹³ commands, and to correct with moderation his children for disobedience. A father may delegate his power over the person of his child to a tutor or instructor¹⁴, the better to accomplish the purposes of his education. This power ceases on the arrival of the child at the age of twenty-one years. Generally, the father is entitled to the services of his children during their minority. 4 S. & R. 207; Bouv. Inst. Index, h. t.