Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-16
for the farmtr.
FARMERS WIVES.

ceded. First that our women are less
healthy than those Of European nations,
second. that those of this generation arr
less vigorous than those of the last, anC
former ones. There is still another fac
which ONE home to the homes anC
and hearts of farmers; that is, that as a
class, the wives of farmers are not more
healthy TO say the least, than the dwell
lers In town and cities. We doubt great
ly whether they are as much so. Farm
ers come into this town daily. accompan
led By their wives; the men almost with
out exception strong, healthy, robus
men, perfect specimens of manly health
and vigor; while their wives, those whC
are over forty years of age with very few
exceptions, are sallow, worn and sickly
We hope our readers viii consider wei
the following sensible article which VT
clip from tie County Gentleman.
MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE.
What a mysterious Providence" say
the farmers wives a they come together
10 look for the last time on one of then
number; and they glance pityingly al
the bereaved husband, and the large
family of children, varying in size from
the tall youth or blooming maiden, down
to the little child. Truly it is a mystery
that she should be taken away in the
prime Of life when her children need her
watchful cafe and counsel more than eveI
before. But let US examine into the life
led by most farmers wives and see if we
IAN gain a clue 10 this mysterious prov
idence' which so often leaves the family
circle desolate.
A young farmer marries, and for a
year or two his wife can do very well
without help, but by-and by his work is
too much end re must hire a hand;--
and one by one little children increase
the family, and the burden is much | cav
Ter than VIXEN she took it up; but the
farmer is now just getting a start and
they must economic if they want TO get
rich, as everybody does, so she gets along
somehow without help. She rises early,
milks the cows, and gets breakfast, some
times now for several men, dresses the
children, washes dishes, SKINS milk,
churns, sweeps the rooms, and makes
beds. prepares dinner, '~'clears up"
snatches an hour or so 10 sew, gets supper
and milks again, puts children to bed,
and after they and her hu band are fast
asleep, sits up to sew till midnight, that
she may save paying a seams-ress. In
addition to this daily routine, she does
all the washing, ironing, baking, scrub
bing whitewashing, soap-making, and
kog-killing wcrk; it would cost so much
for help; so year after year she tolls and
drudges, not GLOWING herself the least
opportunity for improving her mind that
she may be = better guide and counsellor
10 her chileren. Aud very soon her fair
face is faded and careworn, and her tenn
per suured and %fretful, and herself pros
,rated every now and then by severe i'll
ness, only TO resume her ~unwearying la
Dor as soon as her returning strength
permits. And thus she yearly becomes
less able to bear the burden Of her in
creasing household duties. II the hus-
band is a Kind, considerate man, who
has been taught to assist his mother in
boyhood, be makes her work lighter, by
carrying wood and wafer. nursing the
baby while in the house, and by doing
numberlesS little things which may be
trifiing in themselves, but which are o!
great importance in the aggregate; but
too many men leave the wife TO DR. w
wafer, and if The wood gets cut half tie
time, she considers herself fortunate,
and as for the baby, why he thinks it is
a woman's place 10 be a nurse, and so
it frets and cries, or N must work
with it on her arm, while he reads his
paper or talks with his hired men. Well,
the farm increases in value and fertility,
and his labor in producing for his lam
lily becomes lighter, as he is able 10 hire
more work done; but it is an old thing,
both to himself and wife, fer her to do
all the Homework, with what little help
the elder children, if they are girls, can
give her, for if they are boys. it is not
supposed they can think of making them
work in the house, it isn't customary;
and so She tolls on in the same Il! fash
ion.
And when the comfortable, new house
is built and nicely furnished, and her
older children are getting TO be a real
help 10 her, the pale. weak, sickly wife
and mother lies down 10 die. Truly hel
sun goes down at MONDAY. She ha.
saved by ceaseless and wearying toi
hundreds of dollars for the husband, and
he has lost the companion of his youth.
the one who has walked beside hin
through life's most thorny paths. An
friend say, it is a "mysterious proyi
dence!' Just as il God ordained that tht
mother should be taken from her chill
dren just when they are most exposed
to temptation and danger! Instead o
laying il on Providence let us look t,
the days spent in toll, when the weak
exhausted frame vas suffering from dis
ease induced perhaps by continued over
exertion; 70 The hours stolen from tn