Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-29
A Y ord Of Entreaty.

THE incarnati, n of self sacrifice finds its
embodiment in IL e souls and bodies of
farmers wives. and especially such as are
mothers. We refer / ow to the almost uni
versal disposition amo. ng them to convert
themselves into absolute. drudges, simply
for the sake of saving fe dollars, which
they believe will advance the happiness
and welfare ofthose they love. thousands
Of women go down to early grA yes every
year, victims to this deplorable n. lsappre'
hension OF results, of how they MY best
serve those they wish to serve.
At this season of the year, when tne
hard and earnest work of farm-l life OPEN
and asserts its demands, and country wo-
men are deciding for themselves the ques-
ton, we beg leave to put in an earnest
entreaty in behalf of the children. For
their sakes, consider that your life and
health are more to them to the very last
moment of your life, than any amount of
money you may be able to lay up for their
use We write from a sad and profound
experience. Our own mother, proud,
ambitious woman, with delicacy of con-
stitution too often characterizing cur coun-
try women, full of nerve and with great
force of character, found herself at the
early age of thirty eight "just ready to
begin to enjoy life" as she sadly expressed
it, obliged to relinquish ito leave the
comfortable home she had toiled so hard
to win and adorn, and to know that her
children were soon to be motherless. AL
though very little girl then, it made an
impression that subsequent years have
only confirmed. OVER WORK, the impulse
of which was ice and ambition for her
children, killed her How gladly would
each and all of US, part with every dollar
that has come to us, from the basis of her
tolls, if by so doing we could have our
mother! The mistake she made, although
SO palpable to us now, she saw only when
too late.
We well remember one day, during the
time when she was rapidly nearing the
limit of her life here, of conversation
she had with friend, in which she de.
plored her mistaken love, and hoped her
own daughters would never do as she
had done, 1t was only the old story of
half the mothers who go to heaven great
many years before they ought-working,
consciously beyond her strength, for only
this once" but doing it not only once, but
again and again, until the last possibility
was exhausted.
Oh, wives and mothers, be wise before
it is too late Live so as to enjoy eeery
day of your life. Ten years hence, or
even tomorrow, you may die. Live so
that your presence will gladden. the lives
of your dear ones, more than anything
your hands can win for them. Don't
think you serve them wisely or lovingly
by sacrificing your health with view to
ECONOMY, which is never economy, but
the rankest extravaganza. What II the
farm be notpaid tor this year, or next, or
even next? There is not much TO fear so
long as you retain your health but ecery
thing to fear if you lose it.
So, if your best judgment tells you that
you shall need help this coming summer,
follow your judgment in the matter. Aside
from the children, and what you owe to
them in caring for your health, you owe
equally as much yourself You have
right to life andohappiness, if you are
woman. So many women act as if they
were of secondary importance, simply be-
cause of their being women, and married
ones, that their action provokes CON-
ment, If nothing more.
On the subject of Help we have hith-
erto had somewhat to say, so that we have
now only to suggest male domestics where
boy from ten to fifteen years of age will
tighten the labors of a house almost, if not
quite, as much as full grown domestic.
Such can always be had, If not in the
country the city swarms with them and
benevolent societies are always ready to
supply the demand.
1t is customary with many women to
leave the decision Of such matters with
their husbands, or the linen folks" 1t
would be safe and pleasant to do SO if the
"men folks" were only what they should
be, instead of being, oftentimes, thought
less, careless, and selfish. We have known
men to be "Dright and shining lights in
the church." carry pious face from Sun
day morning until Sunday night, and as
sumo all the phases of conventional piety,
while, at the same time, their wives or
daughters, or both, were actually aoorking
Menalces TO death under the approving
smile of their master! The physical health
Of horses and cattle were intelligently re-
garded, but, then, the loss Of wife is a
"dispensation of Providence" and the
consolation that comes in the shape Of
another is cheerfully accepted Of at the
end Of year
So, as long as such men exist, it is
neither safe nor advisable to always abide
by the decision of the head Of the house."
unless half of it at least, grows on your
own neck The exercise of any faculty
or quality strengthens and develops IL;
and so long as the Creator, in his wisdom,
endowed women as well as men with the
quality Of judgment, Why should they not
exercise it, at least in their own behalf
Rural Neu Yorker.
Romantic Story OF Generosity and