Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-08
Farmers Girls.


am farmer, and so was my father before
me. l have not followed in his footsteps in
the way Of managing the farm, because have
taken agricultural papers, and have learned
much that was not his to know; and what's
more, the railroad has come within three miles
of me, SO that the old farm upon which nv
father tOiied so many years, is worth FIVE times
what it was in his day. / am not one of fhs
kind Of men who croak and grumble about old
times. l enjoy modern times, and would NOT
give up my machines, and 60 back to tie old
way Of doing things by hand, for any money.
l often wonder if my father can look down from
heaven, and see the mowers and reapers fly oyel
the old places where he toiled and sweat. |
cannot help chuckling to myself, as I sit in
my sulky and ride over the old familiar places,
cutting down the grass, and raking it up again,
like hRlf-a dozen men; to think nv boys can
60 to school all the year round, and never need
suffer from the want of learning, as do even
10 this day.
My wife is up to the times, too, and likes to
give her family good chance in the world
She is good manager, rising early, and rising
to some purpose. owe half of my prosperity
to her help and counsel. My boys are grow
ing up healthy, sensible young fellows The
two Oldest harness up the old mare and 90 to
the Academy, three miles off, and, except a
llttle while during hay and harvest, they do not
lose day all the year round The only thing
that troubles me is my daughters. Nancy, the
Oldest, is fine, handsome, smart girl of nine
teen, She went to the district school till she
was sixteen, and then she had learned all there
was to learn there. So we concluded to send
her to Mrs. brakes Seminary; about fifty miles
off he al
two years she had learned pile, and besides
had painted beautiful pictures enough to cover
our parlOr walls, (though Imust confess / Isus.
pect her teacher gave her lift at that now and
them. She could sing equal to our parsons
wife, and can start the tunes in meeting when
the Squiro's away. She knew the French fol
everything around the house, and understood
botany, chemistry, natural philosophy, and moiC
things than could mention.
While she was at Mrs. brakes she only
came home at Fall and Spring vacations, ant
then was 30 busy sewing and getting ready t.
go back again that her mother did not thing i
worth while to set her to work Well, las
Spring she came home for good, and ioyfu
day it was to me- Ifelt happy to think / haC
daughter who had a good education in hel
head, and spFy, healthy hands to work. But
can see, but her mother thinks she will com
to after awhile
She can't bear to see me in my shirt sleeves
no matter how clean and white, but insists upoI
nay wearing linen duster; for she has learn
ed that sit is disgusting to eat with q man il
his shirt sleeves" She is right down ashamed
of her mothers hands, because they show tha
she has been a hard working woman all he
10 al
always been my pride. are mot fit to be seen.
She won't let Bob or Dick run about bare foot
ed, for she says they look like beggars. Sh,
has written their names in their spelling books
Robbie and Dickie, and written hers Nancie
Smythe. She says she would rather not cal
with servants-that is, our hired man anC
woman, who have lived with us six years, and
were born and raised on the next farm. L
makes her sick to smell pork and cabbage
She has not forgotten how to milk; but if any.
body rides by when she is milking, she get
behind the COW and hides her head, as if She
was stealing the milk. l have stood these
things without saying much until last Sunday
when she insisted upon our hired people sit,
ting up in the gallery, because we needed al
our pew room.
l hired two pews, to have room for all.
TO make visit, and was planning to get oul
men-folks out of sight: 1 boIted out at this
and had regular blow-up, and told Nancy sh,
was getting too big-feeling entirely for a far.
mer's daughter. She staid at home from chnrcl
and cried all day. hate crying women NOR,
than long drought, so shan't scold her again
don't want TO be hard on the girl, but Wha
am to dot l am willing to let her feed th,
chickens in gloves, and spell all our namet
wrong, and I'd just as lief hive the boys wes
sho. 5; but when it comes to overtuning every.
thing, and being ashamed of her father, mothcl
and home, l am discouraged. l have bought
her piano, and let her learn music two years
/ for she is naturally musical She came near
| fsinting one night when the Squire's son, Just
OUT of college, and Whiskered chap from tn,
city were here, beesuse said: "Come Nance
give US tune on the piany." I saw something
wrong, but cOull Int guess what, for had onmy
duster, and wasn't tipping my chair back, q
"vulgar trick Nancy calls it). The next day
my wife told me what was to pay. / must say
! like my old fashioned way Of pronouncing al
well az her new fashioned way of spelling
And only this morning after breakfast whsnhel
ma told her to shake the table.cloth, what does
she do but take it way through the long hal
and out the back door, for fear some one would
see her shake 1t in the same place where sht
had for ten years. I've got a new bOUghter
carpet for the parlor, and now she wants thu
| fronts windows cut down to the floor
Yesterday she came to me to know if sht
might "teach district school," NO." said I
"why do you want to teachl l am able to keel
six girls like you, if had them. No, can
think Ofyour teaching" Upon this she begal
to cry again, and l can't stand woman's tears, 81
/ said 'teach!" and she is going to teach al
Winter and Summer, in a little bit of a schOo
house, not as good as my pig house, fOrfear sh'
will get tanned and freckled, and spoil hel
hands helping her mother
Now, Mr.. Editor, I have gwen up Nancy, bu
have three fine girls growing up. am able
and willing to give them all good education
for believe in it. in spite Of the dreadful blum
der have made. I would like to know if yoT
can tell me of any place where farmers
daughter can get good education and not lose
her senses. can't stand it to have our othel
girls get too big for our Old>fashiOned farm
house; want them sensible, well-informed
women, but set down my foot against having
them all tum school teaehers.-JOhR Snail
N NeI0aTk AdUeTtIssT.
CoURT OF CoNHoN pLEAs--JUDsE BIsHoP.-