Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-10
r.ER.WO.1T r.sR.uER'S HOMES.

A sensible Vermont farmers daughter,
writing to the New England Farmer in
answer to a correspondent who takes the
usual disparaging Wow of the condition
and feelings of farmers wives and daugh-
tors, frees her mindas follows:
MIR. EDIToR.-I have just read Johns
article on Farmers Homes" can speak
from experience of one farmers home that
is a very pleasant one. think your cor
respondent would find if he would take
the trouble to examine, that farming nor is
very different from what it was twenty
five years ago. lie speaks Of "the disgust
woman feels with farm labor, and what is
worse, its privations Of all that make life
beautiful" and says, "she never gets more
than the bare nccessarics Of life"
1 wish quite as much as "John' does,
that l was capable of writing "good rous-
ing article on the subject. As a class,
farmers wives and daughters are not dis
contcnted, nor are we disguised with farm
labor. Very many of us love it; do for
one. I do not wish to spend all my time
over my toilet receiving and making calls,
doing a little embroidery, or reading the
last fashionable novel. / had much rather
be doing something TO make other people
happy. It is Il real pleasure TO help make
the butter and cheese, and feed the chick
ems and other poultry. Then we have such
nice home. Not Il stately mansion, TO be
sure, but pleasant cottage, with vine
running up its side, a few choice plants,
and plums, cherries, apples, pie-plants, to-
ries, cucumbers, green peas, green corn
and vegetables; all much nicer and fresh
or than those bought at market We like,
in the spring, to make a sugaring-on, and
invite the village children. We love to
work among our flowers, which teach us
Of the loving Father, that has made so ma
ny bright and beautiful things for us to
enjoy. We have good common schools and
academies, and the farmers children attend
them too. We do not spend all our time
spinning, taking care of the milk, cleaning,
knitting, sewing, &c. If We only plan
Alright, there are many spare moments each
day, that we can get to cultivate the talents
God has given us. five do not have vel
vet carpets, &C., we have those that do just
as well, and plenty of good food and cloth
ing. We have green hills, and bright
meadows, shady woodlands, and sparkling
brooks, and cool, quiet lakes and ponds.
Labor in the pure fresh air, gives health to
the body, that city people sometimes envy.
Your correspondent says, "Our farmers
think more about the raising of colts, cal
YES, lambs and pigs, than of their children"
think he is getting rather fast when he
says that. True, they like to have their
stock look well and sell well. Is there any
thing ,CToHg about that? Is there anything
dcGrddin9 in having pet colt, or lamb?
If our friend could look into our homes,
some winter evening, and sec how nice and
cosy we are-iather in his easy chair, 10y
the fire; mother knitting, perhaps; the
older sisters doing something useful the
younger children enjoying some quiet
game, whiic brother reads some interesting
book, or paper, he would get glimpse OF
the home-lile of many Of us. In the coun-
try we have good town libraries besides in
tercsting and instructive books of our own.
The children Of almost every family Of my
acquaintance, take a magazine, or child's
paper, or both. Three weekly and one dali
ly paper, and two childs papers are taken
in our family. Nor are we an exception.
In very many country homes, you will
find good piano, cottage organ, or some
other cheaper musical instrument. Most
Of Us know how to DO some kinds of fancy
work. We are not wholly barbarians.
But John will ask, "Then, why do farm
crs sons and daughters come to the city,
if farming is 50 pleasant" They do not all
20 to the city. Many Of the girls that leave
home, 10 so, because they expect to make
larger wages in the factories or stores than
at home, not because it is more pleasant,
or even easier. Then there are some in
every position in life, that are always dis
contented, and think they can do better I'M
der different circumstances. Many of the
boys read great things in the papers of
making ten, fifteen and twenty-five dollars
a day, as CLERKS, or Agents Wanted"
Business very Profitable" &C., so they
pack up and start for the city. How few
ever come back as free from bad habits, or
even as rich as they were when they left
home. And do not the few who do acquire
the splendid fortunes they longed for, find
that with wealth come cares and anxieties
which only the rich know?
guess by this time "John" thinks I am
one of the "easy SOULS" he speaks of, as
"having scarcely an idea above boiled pork,
and turnips," but let me tell him know
of one farmers girl that is not pleased with
such misrepresentation Of farm life and of
the friends whom she loves; of one who,
though she never before wrote anything
for publication, could not avoid speaking
right out in meeting in defense of the
wives and daughters of farmers.
Vermont, June 2, 1868. HATTIE.