Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-07-03
From the Springfield Republican. !
The Farmers Wife.

The life of the farmer is often made the subject
Of complimentary remark often praised for its
peacefulness and independence, that the farmers
wife might very nationally be supposed to be the hap
piest in the world. From her relation to the
lords of the soil'' she should be the lady of the
soil, peaceful, healthy, independent woman. That
the of this is the general fact will be unver
sally conceded by the wives of the farmers
young farmer arrives at am age when he thinks
it time for him to get married, and settle down.
He has had a respectable education and wants wo-
man who is his equal. He looks about him and
makes his choice. She is girl bred beside him in
the country; has been well educaed reared by care
full parents and is in the truest sense, lady. She
loves books possesses skill and taste in music and
is in all points fitted 10 reign the queen of happy
fhome. She becomes the wife OF the farmer, is am
bilious TO do much as her neighbors, and her hus
band is soon ayaricous enough to allow the woman
| of his love to become his most devoted drudge.
From thenceforth her life is of the most unre-
hitting toll II 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 important in the communi-
ty rides to Town every day, takes his when he
chooses; but the of his faded and broken down
wife know relaxation. She may ontlive her hus-
band but rarely does and not unfrequently a second
wife comes in to share in themoney that should have
been enjoyed by her predecessor, through quiet old
age of rest.
This is no fancy sketch. II is drawn from life,
and in every country town and neighborhood IFS truth
fulness will be recognized. Now we despise the
good-or-nothings of fashionable life as much as any
one, and have affection for drones in any hive.
We aware that circumstances sometimes demand
extreme labor of the farmers wife, but in New Eng
land those circumstances do not prevail; and while
we would leave woman TO eat the bread of IDLE
ness, we would see the class Of ~>ek ave are sneak
ing released from that circle of everlasting drudgery
which deprives them of the privilege of relaxation
for day. and the time whichth they would gladly de,
vote to the maternal education of their children.
From this life the girls OF ourslaY are learning to
shrink; not because they are lazy, but because they
know that they are to be sacrificed. Not because
the calling of the farmer is not respectable but be-
cause they do not wish tobecome hismistress maid
of-ali-work nurse and boot jack. Now the fouada-
ton of all this wrong is that avaracous spirit hand
ed down from father to son, which makes the dollar
the standard of responsibility, and land the only
fountain of happiness. We hope to the day when
the farmers wife shall share in the peacefulness and
independence of the farmers lot and we call upon
the ladies TO engage in the reform themselves and to
teach the lords of the soil that there is something to
live for besides potatoes and that life can be enjoyed
more truly by proper preservation of the health,
beauty, accomplishments and good spirits of their
companions.