Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-21
THE FARMERS WIFE.

The HE Of the farmer is so often made
the subject Of complimentary remarks, 90
often praised for its peacefulness and in.
dependence. that the farmers wife might
very nationally be supposed to be the hap.
piest woman in the world. From her re-
laton TO the "Dords Of the soil'' she should
be the lady Of the soil, peaceful, healthy.
independent woman. That the reverse Of
this is the general fact will be universally
conceded by the wives Of the farmers.
young farmer arrives at an age when
he thinks it time 20 get married and "settlo
down." He has had respectable educa.
ton, and wants woman who is his equal
He looks about him, and makes his choice.
She is a z irl bred beside him in the coun.
try: has been well educated; reared bv
careful parents, and is in the truest sense
lady. She loves books, possesses skill
and taste in music, and is in all points
ntted to reign the queen OF happy home.
She becomes the wife of the farmer, 10
ambitious to do as much as her neighbors,
and her husband is soon avaricious enough
to allow the woman Of his love to become
his most devoted drudge
From thenceforth her life IS one of tho
most unremitting toll. 1t is nothing but
mend and botch, cook and bake, wash
and iron. churn and make cheese, pick up
chips, and draw water, bear children and
nurse them. The family enlarges, the
husband grows wealthy, becomes import
ant in community, rides to :own every
day. takes his ease when he chooses; but
the cares Of his faded and broken down
wife know no relaxation. She may out
live her husband. but rarely does, and not
unfrequently second wife comes in 70
share in the money tina. should have been
enjoyed by her predecessor, through .
quiet old age Of rest.
This is no fancy sketch; it is drawn from
life. and in every country town and neigh
borhood its truthfulness well be recognize.
ed. Now we despise the good.for-noth-
ings of fashionable life. es much as any
one, and haze no affection for drones in
any hive. We are aware that circum.
sometimes demand extreme labor
of the farmers but in New England those
do not prevail; and while
we would leave no woman to eat the bread
of id!eness, we would see the class Of
which we are speaking released from the
circle of everlasting drudgery which de-
prives them Of the privilege Of relaxation
for a day, and the time which they would
gladly devote to the maternal education
OF their children.
From this lie the girls Of our day learn
to shrink. not because they are lazy, but
because they know they are TO be sacrifice
ed. Not because the calling Of the far
mer is not respectable. but because they
do not wish to become his mistress, maid.
fall work, nurse and boot jack. Nov
the foundation Of all this wrong 10 that
avaricious spirit handed down BY father %
son, which makes the dollar tho standard
of responsibility. and land the only source
Of happiness. We hope to see tho dsy
when the farmers wife shall share in sleo
peacefulness and independence Of tie
farmers lot. and we call upon tho ladies'
to engage in the reform themselves, and 70
teach the lords Of the soil, that thsse IL
something to live for besides poeaaoss, and
that life can be enjoyed more truly By .
proper preservation Of the healsh. beeuty,
accomplishments and god spiries - sheis
comPanions.-SpringfeH RepsS3isss.