Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-10-31
Country Girls.

VllSs lCVOAlS ultCAs III Wiz OulO
Cultivator, in sisterly way, thus talks
to country girls:
The farmers daughters arc soon to
be the life as we'll as pride of the coun-
try glorious race Of women which no
other land can show. I seek not to
aattor them for before they can become
this, they will have to make earnest cf-
forts Of one or two kinds. There arc
some who deprecate their condition, and
some who have false pride in it, be-
cause they demand mo- consideration
than they merit. A want Of intelli-
gcnce upon all subjects, and Of refined
education, is no more in country than
q town-bred girl, in this age Of books
and newspapers.
Many girls are discouraged because
they cannot be sent away from home to
boarding schools; but men of superior
minds and knowledge Of the world
would rather havo for wives women we'll
and properly educated at home. And
this education can DO had wherever the
desire is not wanting. A taste for read
ing does wonders, and an earnest thirst
after knowledge is almost certain to at
tain sweet dranght Of the ''pierian
spring." There is q farmers daughter
in this very room in which | am writing,
q beautiful, refined and intellectual
woman, in whose girlhood books were
not as plentiful as now, and who gained
her fine education under circumstances
which would have discouraged any one
but one who had as true o love Of study.
1 will state why I think the country
girls are yet to prove the hope Of the
country. The women Of towns and
cities are becoming SO universally un-
healthy, and so almost universally ex-
travagant, foolish and fashionable, that
men are almost in despair of obtaining
wives who are not invalids, and provid-
ing them With what they demand after
they have married them. Unless the
young man has the fortune (good or
bad to be the inheritor Of wealth, he
must spend the best bloom Of his youth
t. acquire enough to ''start upon," as
people are expected to begin nova
days, Many even in high places would
go to the country for their choice If
they met there equal refinement and in
tel'igence. Women are preparing to
take noble stand in history, and they
cannot do it in ignorance.
Town girls have the advantage of
more highly polished manners and
greater accomplishments but country
girls have infinitely more to recommend
them as rivals Of their fair city sisters.
They have more truth, household knowl-
edge and economy, health, and conse-
quently beauty, simplicity, affection,
and freshness Of impulse and thought.
When they have cultivated minds there
are moro chances in their favor for good
sense and real ability, because SO much
is not demanded by the frivolities Of
society. The added lustrc Of foreign
accomplishments could easily be caught
by such q mind from very little con-
tact With the music.
/ would not speak as though our
fathers daughters we're deficient in ed
ucation. Many brilliant scholars and
women may be found among
thin; in New England this is especially
30; but I would seek to awaken the am
bition of all to become that admired and
favored class which they ought to be, il
they will but unite refined culture with
their excellent graces.
Asweet country house, with roses and
honey -suckles trained to climb over it;
with good taste, beauty and intelligence
within; toll enough to insure health, and
leisure to court acquaintance with books
md flowers, aud the loneliness Of ma
ture, with peace, plenty and love, is
surely one Of the paradises which Hesv-
On has left for The attainment Of man.