Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-05-21
TALES AND SKETCHES.
THE EARMER.S WIFE, Or ANY
OTHER MANS

Every farmer owes 1T to himself, in pc
cuniary point of view, and to his wife and
as u matter of policy and affection,
to provide the means early for clothing his
household according to the seasons, so as to
enable them To prepare against winter es-
pecially. Every winter garment should be
completed by the first of November, ready
to be put on when the first winter day
comes. In multituGes of cases valuable lives
have been lost to farmers families by i'm
provence as to this point. More special
attention should be given to the under
clothing that should he prepared first, and
enough of it to have change in case of an
emergency or accident. Many farmers act
niggardly in furnishing their wives the
means for such things. 1t is far wiser and
safer to stint the members of his family in
their food than in the timely and abundant
supply of substantial under clothing for
winter wear. 1t would save an incalculable
amount of hurry aud its attendant vcxations,
and also of wearing anxiety, if farmers were
to supply their wives with the necessary
materials for winter clothing as early us
midsummer. In this connection it would
be well for farmers to learn lesson of
thrift from some OF our long g-hca,led city
housewives. 1t is particularly the habit OF
the well-to do, the tore-handed, and the rich
by which they legally and rightfully get
at least twenty per cent. for their money
to purchase the main articles of clothing at
the close Of any season, to be made up and
worn the corresponding season or the next
year. Merchants uniformly aim, especially
in the cities, to ''close out" their stocks, for
example, for the winter, at the end of win
ter or beginning of spring. They consider
I. 81, =. IL.
winter stock in March ut even less than cost,
for on what they get for these remnants
they make three protits-on the spring, the
summer, and the fall goods whereas, had
they laid by their winter stock, they would
have had but one profit, from which would
have to bc deducted the yearly interest,
storage, and insurance. Thus by purchas-
ing clothing materials six or eight months
beforehand, the farmer not only saves from
twenty to forty per cent. of the first cost,
but gives his wife the opportunity of work
ing upon them at such odds and ends of
time as would otherwise he unemployed in
Il measure, and would enable her also to
have everything done IN better manner,
simply by having abundant time; thus
avoiding haste, vcxation, solicitudc and
disappointment for nothing so clouds a
household as sense OF being behindhand
and of the necessity of painful hurry and
effort.
Few things will bring more certain and
happy reward to a farmer than for him to
remember that his wife is a social being
that she is not machine, and therefore
needs rest, and recreation, and change. No
farmer will lose in the long run, either i'll
money, health, or domestic comfort, enjoy
ment and downright happiness, by allotting
an occasional afternoon, from midday until
bedtime, to visiting purposes. Let him,
with :he utmost checrtulncSs and heartinesS,
leave his work, dress himself up, and take
his wife to some pleasant ncighbor's friends,
or kinSman's house for the express purpose
of relaxation from the cares and tolls of
home, and for the interchange ot friendly
feelings and sentiments, ami also as means
OF securing that change of association, air
and food, and mode of preparation, which
always wakes up the appetite, invigoratcs
digestion, and imparts Il new physical ener-
gy, at once delightful to see and to expert
ence; all of which, in turn, tend to culti-
vate the mind, to nourish the affections, and
to promote that breadth of view in relation
to men and things which elevates, and eX-
pands, ennoblcs, and without which the
whole nature becomes So narrow, so con-
tractcd, SO barren and uninteresting, that
both men aad women become but Il shadow
of what they ought to be.
Let the farmer never forget that his wife
is his best friend, the most steadtaSt on
earth; would do no more for him in calami-
ty, in misfortune, and sickness, than any
other human being, aud on this account, to
say nothing of the marriage vow, made be-
fore high Heaven and before men, he owes
to the wife of his bosom a consideration,
tenderness, support, and sympathy, which
should put out of sight every feeling OF
profit and loss the very instant they come
in collision with his wiic's welfare as to her
body, her mind, and her affections. No
man will ever lose in the long run by SO
doing he will not lose in time, will not
lose in dying hour, nor in that great and
mysterious future which lies before US.
There are Seasons" in the life of woman,
which, rs to some of them, so affect the
general system, anG the mind also, as To
commend them to our warmest sympathies
and which imperatiyely demand from the
sterner sex the same patience, and forbear
ance, and tenderness, which they themselves
would want meted out to them If they were
not of sound mind. At these times sOmt
women, whose general good sense, proprie
ty OF department., and amiability of charac
ter command our admiration, become st
irritable, fretiul, complaining, quarrclsome
and unloVely as to almost drive their hus
bands mad. Their conduct is so ineXplica
BILE, So changed, 50 perfectly causeless .ha
they are almost overcome with desperation
! with disoouragement, or Indignant dellanc,
OF all rules of Justice, of right, or Of humani
", The ancients, noticing this To occur Il
some women for few days in every month
gave II :he appellation of "lunacy," iaEa be
ing the Latin name for moon or monthly
| Some women, ut such times, are LITERAL,
insane without their right mind, and, as i
| Is an inliction of nature, far he II from am
husband, With the feelings of u man, to hi
q such times 10 treat his wife with tbl
same Kind care, and extra tenderness, an,
plying love that he would show too dc
mented only child. The skiltal physieial
eounsels in such cases the scrupulous avoid
anoe OF every word, OF action, OF even lool
| by which amy possibility could irritate Ia
mind, excite the brain, or Would the sensi
bilities, AMI, as far as possible, TO ylol'
gracefully and good naturediy to every whin
aud 10 every caprice; t0 seem 10 eontlol u
nolhing, 20 Yield Ia all things, lndeg thee
ealinlng inhuenees the ullnd sooner resume
lts wonted rule the heart gushea out Y
new loses and wakes up ~ q sagaef aIive
llon than Nas ever knosn before. A mia
understanding af the case and gn lmpatien
| Tgalstauco Al All laiuts has halaFr NAM lIlEu