The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-18
McGREG0R IOWA. WEDNESDAY, DEC 49, 1861.


A Contested Faffaetss wife.
Mrs. Content Rogers was sunny sort {
body, as any one could see by glance q
her front yard and windows. There was
honeysuckle trained upon each side of tn
door, flower border running the Who'll
length Of the house, where the crocuse
and snew-drops hailed the first genial day
Of spring, and jonquils, pinks, violets
lilies, roses and asters lavished their bios
SONS all summer long
The fence was picketed and painte,
white, indicative of the tidy housewi(,
within. The windows had green blinds
but they were kept joyously opened, as j
the sun and friends were both heartily vel
coined to the best room, where Corten
Rogers was the presiding genius. | hav,
sometimes thought that these strongly
marked traits Of character run in the blood
and that croaker or jolly woman was
quite as much indebted to her constitution
as to her training for her peculiar develop
mcnt. Certain it is, that this woman came
rightfully by her Characteristic hopefulness
and contentment. Her maiden name was
Good"nough, her father was called Wait
still, and her mother Hope. The last child
(the twelfth, by-the-way,) was named Con.
tent as filling the measure Of their happi-
ness. Patience, Faith, Hope, Charity and
Temperance were cherished female names
in the family, that had been handed down
for many generations. BY sort of mani
fest destiny, which seems to be as strongly
believed in by the moderns as by the an
clients, she had married Constant Rogers,
and settled in this neat white farm house.
Content took me for a belated beegar, aS
I called quite early at the door. poor old
man, you look tired and hungry said she ;
come in and breakfast, We urc Just at the
table
l found Constant Rogers at the morning
meal, with goodly rev Of children upon
each side of the table, Of all ages from two
to twenty. He had been expecting me, but
not quite 50 early in the day. The whole
group was orderly, for the family was so
much given to hospitality that an uncx.
pected guest was no novelty in the house
hold.
Pray, how do you manage said I. to
support so large family by farming! They
say it IS very poor business
well, my wife can tell you more about
that than | can. keep the farm going
cut Of doors, and she keeps the family 90.
ing in doors. never find any difficulty in
Keeping the grain bins and meal chest well
filled, and the larder well stored, and some
how there has always been enough to eat
and drink ever since We began hou>ckeep-
ing. and that is twenty-five years ago this
spring.
But who says that farming is poor bu
siness !? asked Content, with surprised
oOk, as If she had never taken that view of
why, one Of your townswomen by the
name Of Grimes, said |.
oh, yes, have seen her; she lives up
n the other parish, and haven't much ac
ltaintance with her But thought the
irimses were rich and happy. They ar
sending their sons to college, and their
daughters 60 away to school. Perhaps they
eel a little above their business, which al
ways makes things go hard
But don't you find it hard to feed so
Many mouths, and keep SO many children
ooking tidy - asked.
We'll, am busy most Of the time,' said
Content, smiling, but never though. it
tarn. do not know what we are to live
or, If not to make others comfortable and
lappy. | have always found so many
hings to be thankful for, that never found
lime t" fret ut the little worries OF life We
named our first child Thankful, and some
low blessing has seemed to follow Us ever
since. We have not had to wait till fall for
thanksgiving, for we have one about every
month in the year, Before got over feel
ng glad for one thing, always noticed that
'n"ther came. When the children were
sick, | always felt bad. but they were never
sick long, and when they 60. running round
again, forgot the past They made us
good deal Of care when they were small,
'ut they save us great deal more, as We
'eed their services. 1t is great comfort,
'ir, to have good children, and ours are the
'est in the world ....- a.
But does farming pny?'
That depends upon what You mean by
'aying,' she continued. Il pays us abun-
|antly. We are happy in our work, and
ave no longing f"r the pleasures which
thcrs enjoy. II a man is only contcntetl,
suppose 1t makes very little difference
whether he has thousand or million dol
ars. We have a snug comfortable h,use.
II paid for, and our worldly subs ance is
every year. suppose We en-.
~ it as much as king does his palace and
'ingdom. We are able t. have good va.
ietv Of books AMI papers for ourselves and
hillrrn to read, so that we are learning
o'"ething every day. suppose We enjoy
hem quit. as much MS if we had nothing
lse to q" but to read them. Our children
re in fair way to make useful men and |
romen. The children Of the richest men
rill not make any thing more, and many Of
hem will fail Of this
1T our business makes us happy, We
hink it pays quite as we'll rs any business
hat does not make those happy who follow
!. even though it gives them more money.
'ut farming pays well enough in money.
G.. in worldly comfort. Our means grow
rith our wants. and what can any rcasona.
lie being ask more? The f,r.n has grown
arger. the soil derp"r and richer, tn. cattle
ave increased and grown sleek and hand
ONE. the pile Of milk pans is higher and
righter. father says. since Thankful has
ren old enough to scour them The gar.
on is full Of fruits and vegetables, and the |
rain bins are never empty ..
! left. fully persnad d that Content Rog |
RS had found the Philosophers stone. If I |
nd not found - contented farmers wife,
lnrrican Agric"lt"ralist.
@Th' best way says Quilp. with
prt Of IIibernian mixture Of sense and
onsense)-the lest way IL take the sting
ut Of Disappointment is to expect it. As
(addy said, the best way to avoid danger
as to meet it boldly" so disappoint-
'rnt is hest prevented by moderate ex.
ectsti"ns. Remember, saws Qnilp, that
! this life disappointment is As sure to fol
Nv yon as an unpaid washerwoman. We