Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-02-16
The Wife for a Young Farmer.
By FAITH ROCHESTER.

All seem to agree that farming cannot
be carried on very profitably by a 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 a WIFE," Won
say, "will do all that for love, not for
money" Yes, she will, indeed, for toUe."
There is no telling how much woman
will do if she is sure of her husbands S
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 a young
woman that you love her when you are
really intending to make of her an unpaid
upper servant? Not that l want you to
pay your wife a servants wages. 1t
would be better to give her the rank of
partner in the concern. But true mar
riage is not mere business transaction.
1t is a love affair." True love is amenable
to reason. When 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 or
lowering. Love is something more than
mere fancy. 1t is a choice in which the
heart and intellect are agreed.
With this definition of love in mind, l
Should say, instead of giving 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. Learn
each others tastes, habits, plans and hopes
and seriously consider how you are going
to "keep the pot boiling" All the better
for you both if the one you marry has a
practical knowledge of household affairs
before her marriage; but if she is good
and sensible woman, and if you are gooC
and sensible man, you may be able to gel
along very happily, though she has al
her experience of housekeeping to gel
after marriage. / would not advise any
young couple to try this, but far worse
mistakes are possible.
1t is a hazardous thing to rest you
hopes of a happy married life upon th'
quality of butter and bread woman cal
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 womans 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
a woman who is essentially silly and Sc
fish, you will have to take the evil fruit
of such a character, and this is why / sa
make character the test-not accomplish
ments of any kind, nor external circun
stances-though all these things shoul
| be duly considered.
1t is possible that your manhoOd-whic
is of rather more importance than you
farm-may find its best complement III til
womanhood of one who has decided ia
; ent, that calls her away from the busine;
of housekeeper Shall she bury her ia
ent for your sake? Have you such a G
MUS for the business you have chosen ;
she has for her art, whatever it may be
! Perhaps you can arrange matters so tn
! each may follow a chosen vocation wit
L out interfering with each other. Mo
people, in giving advice to a young farme
& would say-seek wife who is healthy, e
ergetic, thorough, practical, and amiabl
On the whole, after all these remarks,
: dare not give advice-not even the advi
i of Punch to those about to marry Don't
For how do 1 know what experience
: best for any soul-Americdn AgricuLtuTiI