Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-12-08
Do Farmers Wives PAY?

A lady CORE spondent Of the CouRfrB
Gentleman discusses this question ~ FOL
lows I'VE are not IN the habit ." writin.
for the papers, and have some fears lest
you should think this once too many times
for Us TO aspire TO 30 much honor AZ YOUR
notice, but there has been considerable
discussion Of late as to wheaihcr .farmiu.
pays, and the question occurs TO Us. DO
Farmers Wives Payg' A man estimate
with some degree ~ accuracy. the cost
and value OF his lands. stock. crop labor
SC, but who can estimate the worth
of his wife
Now We wish 10 leave ont OF sight an
sentimeni-all reference 10 the little com
forts and felicitics that 90 10 make up the
sum OF domestic happiness. and come
right To the practical qucsiiou-DoeS
Young woman. who comes to her husband
with little or no doury, hut with willing
heart and hands. and fair share Of intel
ligcnce. who takes care OF him. of hi
house, and Of his family * it increases.
without hired hclp--rcaily earn ANYTHING
more than her food and clothing;
No man will say but that a good wife Is
a treasure. Certainly. her ARE and labor
secure him many comforts. but how much
would he consider them worth in dollars
and cents. II Is great comfort 20 him TO
have his three meals day. properly cook
ed and prepared AT hours that suit his con
ycnicnCc
lie can swallow dinner in twenty or
tn Tty minutes that she has been all the
forenoon In preparing. lie may think u
verv good dinner. huf how high an csti-
mate. think you. he would Put upon u If
required, 10 state H. worth In money
With what asioni>hmcni aud disgust would
he look upon hi> table Set out with dishes
that had not been washed since they were
last used. but how high q money value
would he put upon thi> one uBi cmaniic
item OF wa>hin. dishes. which. ncveuhr-
les. takes 80 large a share NJ 4 woInans
time:
With what satisfaction he put> on the
clean. smoothly -ironcd shirt, anu the SOCK
nicely darned They du not look much
like the ones he pulled "a la>t seek and
threw down with The wash Some onc
had TO rub pretty suar,iy io -,i thr dirt
all out-Some one spent M hour nr a !t
darning the Uusi -ht!t holes IA the heals 30
those stockings And ihl> : dour, not
this week only. hut every week - >nr,lY
- Il comes round Now. he docs appFrr
ciaie cleanliness. notr outstanding Ai>
irotesiaiions against waSh.ng-das and
house-cleauing. But j. IT really worth
anything in money;
Then there + the care OF the milk and
the huttcr-making Every day must the
mix he taken care Of the cream must be
churncd at the proper time. and the butter
properly worked and saltcd. He i proud
to have her make good bu;icr--i> quite
happy when his neighbor says. 4 want To-
engage nv butter Of yuG ih.> season. for
think your wife makes the best butter 81
any one around -iG;, then. are no; DE
cows his: Docs h. not furnish the i,rd
and do the milking i not her work
slight. compared with Dis: l. 10 really
worth ANYTHING ID dollars And cents NJ lo
her part
Then there j. the carr ~ iAc children.
early and late az lcr cnrf-it, taxed 20
take care Of them. She j. inter, >tcd there
OF oouro . but then She dout pretend u
own bat half though -or.c men would ialn
maze IL the larger half j. u r,a.h worth
uotning to sontlir. arnU>c. teach :.sl ana
spank hl> half ~ MAKE and naA- over.
and mend the clothes tyr liz halt: IA.s
j. real brain WORK, v here j. tile man
who will Say il dos mot require 81. q wu-
mans wit. ihi, care for their children.
but If asked 70 place money estimate
upon 1t, 10 what hsurc thluk ynu b UulIl
fslll
\ farmers wife. that really dr'- ucT
own WORK has uo easy ta>h. as can DE-
proved by thousands ~ our country wo-
men; but We would no: ask Tor her luors
than j. justly due. II there j. aut stand
ard hy which the value Of her services can
be rightly c-iima' Cd We would Ike To
know Il. We wish 10 on whether there
may be any surplus In her favor. y hcth-
er. when She asks lur i few dollars FOR
the purpose of something not strictly nee
e>sary-a book. perhaps->he ought 30
feel that she j. asking for hi hardi. earn
Cd means, or whether She has q right 10
feel that 1t j. her due. II tie value ~ her
labor does not ordinarily equal her c1pru-
ses. We would Ike 10 kuv~ how much she
j. 10 credit To her husbands generosity.
Can any one answer: onuG men should
ponder these questions. and let ua.aens bc-
ware IL 40 satisfactory answer can be -I.-
en-. for farmers wife has a life ui tuo
much toll 10 make j, desirable. A. with lll
labor, size j. still considered = bc-.ar