The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-10-20
Do FARMERS WIVES PAY.

ME95RS. EDuOES. We are not in the habit o
Wrlng for The papers, and have some fears lest yOt
should think this once too many times for Us 10 as
pre- to so much honor as your notice. but there has
been considerable discussion Of late to whether
| farming pays and the question occurs to us
I"Do Farmers Wives pays" A man can estimate
with some degree OF accuracy, the cost and value
Of his lands, stock, crops labor &c. but who can
estimate the worth of his wife?
Now we wish to leave out of sight all sentiment
all reference to the little comforts and fecitie>
that 50 TO make up the sum of domestic happiness
and come right TO the practical question-Does u
young woman, who comes to her husband with lit
tie or no dowrv, but with willing heart and hands
ana far share Of intelliSence-who takes care OF
aim, Of his honsc, and of his family as it increases
without hired hclp-rcallv earn anything more
than her food and clothing?
No man will Say but that good wife is 4 treas
are. Certainly. her care and labor secure him
many comforts, but how much would he consider
them worth iii dollars and cents? 1t is great com
fort to him to have his three meals day. properly
cooked amt prepared at hours that suit his convent
enre.
lie can swallow dinner III twenty or thirty min
uteS that She has been all the forenoon III preparing.
He may think it very good dinner. but how high
an estimate, think You, he would put upon it if re-
quircd To state its worth in money: With what as
toniShmcnt and disgust would he look upon his
table set ont with dishes that had not been washed
since they were last used, bat how high money
value would he put upon this one unromantic item
Of washing dishes, which, nevertheless, takes SO
large 4 share of a Woman'S time?
With what satisfaction he puts on the clean.
smoothly -ironed shirt and the socks nicely dlrncd
ihcy do Not look much like the ones he pulled off
last week and threw down with the wash. Some
onr had 10 rub pretty suartiy TO get the dirt all ont,
some one steamed over the hot ilat-iron> to make
Nmooth.-somc one spent an hour or 50 in darning
the unsightly holes in the heels Of those stockings.
And This is done, moi this week only, but every
week as sure As it comes round. Now he does aI-
preratc cleanliness, notwithstanding his protesta-
tons against washins-days and house-cIeanlng.
But is if really worth anything in money:
lhen there Is the care OF the milk and the butter
making. Every day must the milk be taken care
Of the cream must be churncd at the proper time
and the butter properly worked and sacd. He is
proud to have her make good buter-is quite happy
when his neghbor> says, II want to engage my
butter OF you this schson, for | think your wife
makes the best butter of any one around. But
hen, are not the COWS his? Does lie not furnish
the feed and do the milking! Is not her work slight
compared with his? Is il really worth anything in
dollars and cents to do her part?
Then there is the care OF the children; early and
late are her energies taxed to take care of Them.
She Is interested there, of course, but then she
don't pretend to own but half, though some men
would fam make it the larger half. 1t is really
worth nothing to soot1e, amusc, teach, feed and
spank his half; to make and make over and mend
Where is the man who will say it does not require
all Woman's Wit this care for their children, but
II asked to place money estimate upon it, to what
figure think You it would fall:
farmers wife that really does her own work
has no easy task rs can be proved by thousands of
our country women; bat we would not ask for her
more than Is Justly due. If there is any standard
by which the value OF her services can be rightly
estimated, we would like to know it. We wish to
know whether there may be any surplus in her
iNof. Whether when she asks for few dollars
tor the purpose OF something not strictly necessary
IA book, pcrhaps-sho ought to feel that She is ask
ing for his hardly earned means, whether she
has right T. feel that it is her due. If the value
OF her labor does not ordinarily equal her expenses
we would like to know how much She is to credit
- her husband generosity. Can any one answer?
Young nem would d. well to ponder these ques-
uone, 1nd ic miitcns beware if no satisfactory
answer can be given, for a farmers wife has lie
OF toe mach toll to make it desirable, it. with nIl
labor, sho i, Still considered a bcggar Lady Cor
Country Gentleman