Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-03-23
THE RANDOLPH JOURNAL
NOME DEPARTMENT.
vorAS AND HER Tolls.


come together to look for The last
time 90 one Of their number; and
thew glance pi;yingiy on the be
reaved husband and the family Of
children, varying in size from the
fall youth or blooming maiden,
down TO the little child. Truly il
is a mystery that she should be
taken away in the prime OF lie
when her children need her watch
fnl care and counsel more than ever
before. But let Us examine into
the life led by many farmers wives,
and see Il we can gain clue TO
this mysterious Providence which
70 often leaves the family circle
desolate.
A young farmer marrles and for
n wear or two his wife can 40 very
we'll without help; but by and by,
his work is too much for him alone,
and he must have hand, and. one
BY one, liule children increase the
family. until the wiie's burden is
much heavier than when she took
IL up. Bat he is Just getting a
start, and If they want 10 get rich
as every body does-they must
economize, 60 she "gets along
without help. She rises early,
milks the cows, gets breakfast
(olten for several men). dresses the
children, washes dishes. skins milk,
churns, perhaps sweeps rooms,
makes beds, prepares dinner, cleans
up. snatches an hour TO sew, keep
ing a restless baby quiet meanwhile
gess supper, mil again, puts the
children TO bed, and after they and
the husband are asleep, resting from
their WEAKNESS, sits up 10 sew, that
she may save paying a seamstress.
In addition TO this daily routine,
she does all the washing, ironing
baking, scrubbing, house cleaning,
soap making and the like-it costs
90 much for hiring help. So year
after year she tolls and drudg.s, not
allowing herself the least opportu-
nifty for improving her mind, SO
that she may be better guide and
counsellor for her children. And
very soon her fair face is failed and
careworn, her temper soured and
frcttuI, and herself prostrated now
and then by fits OF illness, only 70
resume her wearying labor as soon
a. returning strength permits. And
thus she yearly becomes less able
10 bear the burden of her increasing
household duties. If the husband
is a kind, considerate man, who has
been taught to help his mother in
boyhood, he makes her work lighter
by carrying wood and water. anus
ing the children, and doing number
less things, which may be trifline
in themselves, but are Of much i'm.
por;anee in the aggregate.
But too many men leave the wife
20 draw water and carry wood, and
If she finds il cut part Of the time,
she considers herself Fortunate
and as for the baby, he thinks it is
q woman's place to nurse children,
SO il frets and cries. or mamma mus
work with il on her arm, while he
reads his paper or talks with bis
hired men.
Well, the farm increases in val
ne and fertility, and his labor il
producing for his family becomet
lighter, as be is able TO hire NOR,
help; but il is an old thing, both Il
himself and his wife, for her to do
all the homework, with that llttl,
help the elder children, If they ar,
girls, can give her: for, if they az,
boys, they can not work much TO
her, as soon as they can use hoe
they must help father; and so sh'
tolls on in the same old fashion.
And when the comfortable new
house is built and nicely furnished
and her children are beginning L
be real help TO her, the pale. sick
w wife and mother lies down &c
diel Truly her sun goes down a
MONDAY. Size has saved, by cease
less, wearying toll. hundreds o
dollars for her husband, and he ha
lost what money IS powerless t
recall-the companionof his youth
the one who has walked beside hin
through LIES most thorny paths.
And friends say it is a mysreriou
Providence! Just as ii God ordain
ed that the mother shonld he takeG
from her children when they are
exposed 10 temptation and danger
Instead OF laying it to Providence
let us remember The days spent il
toll, when the weak, exhausie,
frame was suffering from disease
induced perhaps, by over exertion
the hours stolen from needed slum
Der and devoted 10 labor; the mum
berIess household duties performed
with a iretiul infant upon her arm
the immense amout of time spen
in cooking over hot fire, and TIT
many sleeplsss nights passed il
anxious watching over sick chlldren