The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-06-21
Vbe gun1e Girflc.
Mysterious PrOvidenCcS.


tells something about '.Mystcrious Proyi-
dcnccs," which is worthy of careful reading ::
What a mysterious providence, says the
farmers wives as they come together to look
for the last time Oh one of their numbcfS and
they glanced ptingly on the bereavcd hus-
band, and the large family Of children, vary
ing in size from the tall youth or the bloom
ing maiden, down to the little child. Truly
il is mystery, that she should be taken away
in the prime of life, when her children need
her watchful care and counsel more than
ever before. But let us examine into the life
led by most farmers wives, and see if we can
gain clue to the ''mysterious providence"
which so often leaves the family circle
desolate.
young farmer marrics and for year or
two his wife can do very well without help,
alone, ana he must hire hand; and one by
one, little children increase the family and
the burden is much heavier than when she
start, and they must economizc If they want
to get rich, as every body does, so she gets
along somehow without help. She rises
carly, milks the cows, and gets breakfast,
sometimes for several men, dresses the child
rem, washes dishes, skins milk, chums.
sweeps the rooms, makes beds, prepares dim
ncr, "clcars up snatchcs an hour or two
to sew, gets supper, millis again, puts the
children to bed, and after they and her hus-
band are fast asleep, sits up to sew until mid
night, that she may save paying Seamless.
In addition to the daily routine, she docs all
the washing, ironing, baking scrubing,
white-washing, soap-making and hog killing
work: it would cost so much to hire help; so
year after year, she tolls and drudges, not
allowing herself the least opportunity for
improving her mind, so that she may be a
better guide and counsellor to her children
And very soon her face is faded and carewo,n
her temper sourcd and fretful, and herself
Frustrated every now and then by severe
illness, only to resume her unwcarying labor
as soon as her returning strength permits
And thus she yearly becomes less able to
bear the burden of her increasing household
duties If the husband is kind consdcratc
man, who has been taught to assist his moth
CT IN boyhood, he makes her work lighter by
carrying the weed and water, nursing the
baby while in TIE house, and by doing num-
bcrlcss little things, which may be lriling in
themselves, bat which are Of great importance
III the aggregate; but too many men leave the
wifi tn Lrnw water and if h, ,rooJ o, a,t
half tSo tmo She considers hcr,,lr r. g, 'S vt''
and as f,r thr LaLv whv ho tl,; ~ ;t u
wnrnn,S ,l,co to 1nr.e AND CO i r,ot, IL !
c,;rs nr ,pnn,,a mmsJ ynr,; 9Th - ''oS I n'
AIMS w,;In reaIs nix nanar on ~ va i'I'
hi. L;roI n,,n VII ,i,a rr y; ea'nS :.
'nn md hr'l;tr and ."1,S III
Gnr lis r,mil l., co,"rs li~htnr &c ~
IN l;ro WI Inn. I"t :, i; ''' nv % n "D'e
both to himself and wife f,r hor ~ on l '''', III
thn bonsnwnrl With ,ybat 1;rtIa " -, Wv a.. "i'
elJ,r rl;ldran r. tbnu 'r;, ,''.'e ne'p 'he
far # ,hoy ore hove ,a,, e 9' t ", NJ.
mo ,ham work IN ,Ln b"".o ' IL ;n ~ 'a '"
.'s a,,.,' "I'n H. Ill., ,t, ''ou:e' ~ an Gus