Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-17
The Wife for a Young Farmer.
BIZ FAITH ROCHESTER,.

All seem to agree that farming cannot
be carried on very profitably by man
who has to depend upon hired labor and
hired supervision inside the house. Why
not? Because no ordinarily paid house
keeper will look after the odds and ends
with sufficient economy" Then an ex-
traordinary housekeeper, who does attend
to all the little details that save expenses,
and add to the profits of farming, should
receive more than ordinary compensation,
should she not even though she goes by
the name of wife" But wife," you
say, twill do all that for love, not for
money" "Yes, she will, indeed, for lOee. "
There is no telling how much a woman
will do if she is sure of her husband 8
love, and if she loves in return.
But, my dear young farmer on the look.
out for a suitable helpmate, | want to
whisper few sisterly words in your ear.
Don't marry Just for the sake of getting a
housekeeper. Do you not see that it is
the worst kind of cheating to tell young
woman that you love her when you are
really intending to make of her an unpaid
upper servant? Not that / want you to
pay your wife a servants wages. II
would be better to give her the rank OF
a partner in the concern. But true mar.
riage is not mere business transaction
| 1t is love affair. True love is amenable
TO reason. Wien any person of the oppo
site sex attracts you, ask yourself what
part of your nature is moved, and whether
the influence you feel is elevating ol
lowering. Love is something more thar
mere fancy. II is choice in which the
heart and intellect are agreed.
With this definition of love in mind,
should say, instead of giving a catalogue
of the peculiar virtues a farmers wife
should possess, marry the woman you
| love, if, after an intimate acquaintance
you both believe, on reasonable grounds
that you can be happy together. Lear
each others tastes, habits, plans and hopes
and seriously consider how you are goinl
to "keep the pot boiling" All the bette
for you both if the one you marry has
practical knowledge of household affair
before her marriage; but If she is a gooC
and sensible woman, and if you are gooC
and sensible man, you may be able to ge
along very happily, though she has al
her experience of housekeepin ing TO ge
after marriage, l would not advise an,
young couple to try this, but far worsI
mistakes are possible.
1t is a hazardous thing TO rest you
hopes of happy married life upon tn
make. Some perfect housekeeper ma,
make you the most wretched of men
And it is a silly thing to be scared out O
matrimony by any young woman's ward
robe. Let her know-the good and sensi
BILE girl whom you love-just what you
circumstances are, and she will conform
to them without a murmur; that is, if sh
loves you as | suppose. You will be as
tonished TO see how long she can make he
nice dresses last without looking old fash
ioned or shabby. If you love and MARI
q woman who is essentially silly and sci
fish, you will have to take the evil fruit
of such character, and this is why / 50,
make character the test-not accomplish
ments of any kind, nor external circum
stances-though all these things shoulC
be duly considered.
II is possible that your manhood-whicl
is of rather more importance than you
farm-may find its best complement in tn
womanhood of one who has decided tai
ent, that calls her away from the busines
of housekeeper. Shall she bury her tai
ent for your sakeY Have you such q &c
MUS for the business you have chosen a
she has for her art, whatever it may be
Perhaps you can arrange matters so tina
each may follow a chosen vocation with
out interfering with each other. Mos
people, in giving advice to young farmer
would say-seek a wife who is healthy, en-
ergetic, thorough, practical, and amiable
On the whole, after all these remarks,
dare not give advice-not even the advice
of Punch to those Gbout to marry "Dont :
For how do know what experience Il
best for any soul.-Anlericdn Agriculturist