Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-13
The BIopmer Girls what q Couple Of
Brave wisconsin Girls Have Done

Tho pIoomer Girls what n Couple Of
prave wisconsin Girls Have Done
Up the chippewa.
From the Evening Wisconsin,
In our rambles up the Chippewa
few days ago we CHANGED upon husky,
brownfaced girl blowing up twenty
acre corn.fisld. She was rugged in snuff.
colored boomer, with straw hat, and
uood. honest number seven boots. There
was no sham about her. She was evil
IDENTIFY all girl, and working with will.
Sba had been in the field since early
Morning, taking long strides behind
sn;rit.d horse, with the lines thrown
across her shoulder. and both hands
firmly at the pillow. 1t was just good
finn" she said, to take care OF twenty
acres" and away she strobe through the
long rows-turning corners, kicking over
sods. and never q thought OF rest or
F" vbos" till the dinner horn sounded
across the field.
On inquiry we learned that our corn
field heroine was one of two New Hamp-
shire girls, who migrated with their pa
rents TO Eau Claire some dozen years
ago. They had little means, but were OF
good working stock. They bargained
for quarter section of wild land, and
act about making farm. There we're no
boys in the family. The girls were young,
bright, healthy and full of pluck and
yigor. Their mother dressed them IN
bloomers, and gave them their choice in
doors or out. From the start they took
the place of boys; they were not afraid
of dust or sunshine; they never COM
plained; they never tired out; they sell
dom mi sed day from the fields through
all the seasons, from earliest spring to
latest autumn.
As they grew older, they grew tough
and wiry, and were alike ready at hand
ling teams, breaking colts, building
bridges. opening roads, fording creeks,
clearing meadows, loading hay, binding
grain or mounting o straw stack. 10
good seasons they cut eighty tons of hay
and eighty acres of grain. In rainy sea
.ons they had to bring out their hay by
hand" carrying it on poles. knee deep.
through slougbs and marshes. In winter
they attended school, and took. care OF
sixty head of cattle, drawing hay from
The swamps in the coolest weather. They
hired no help, except in harvesting.
They did their own trading and market
inc. and could never be outwitted BY any
Of the store chaps at Eau Claire.
The girls are now eighteen and twenty
wears Of age, and have done more farm
ing than any two boys in the county
Their father, beginning with nothing, 10
now rich, with broad fields and thousands
Of ready stamps, mostly achieved through
the grit and energy of bis daughters.
During the past season the girls have
"let M" little on their outdoor accom-
nlisbments, and are only cultivatine
twenty acres Of corn for their own amuse
ment They have built them a spacious
residence. They attend balls and par
ties, 20 troptiug, drive their own teams
and occasionally give the boys chance
to show their spuDk and gsllantry. D
course such girls are objects Of excite
meut and interest in their neiahborhood
They are looked upon as capital prizes,
aud young fellows are ready to breal
their necks for them.
They are now in their freshest bloom
with thoughts Of love and romance be
ginning 10 steal about the back of neci
and brains, and what may seem q
strange, they are neither coarse nor mas
culipe 10 appearance; they are simpl.
round, trim, sprightly, full-breasted girls
with resolution in their eyes and plent.
of good sense in their heads.
Ii may be interesting to female polit
clans to know that these Chippewa Val
lev girls never whine or declaim abou
their rights" or position" They sa'
rough work to be done, work most needle
in our Western country, and asking odd
of nobody, they went in bravely on thei
muscle and did it. They have made q
noise about it. They have not csckle
at conventions They have never 8,
with Miss Anthony or Lucy Stone Blacl
well. They have fairly won a muc
higher seat among the queens of Amer