The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-11-18
A WORKING WOMAN.

er morning l saw woman drive tn
the gate, with a trim little establish.
ment in excellent order. | had never
set eyes on her before. 1 was sure of
that, though she looked up at the win
dow with bright aud CHEEKY smile as
though she had known me all my
days Springipg out of the high wag.
on like girl of sixteen, although she
was evidently three times that age, she
hitched her horse and blankeied it as
if she was used to it. and was ushered
into the parlor She had come to in
quire about some lots upon our farm,
aud assure you she talked business,
it evidently being no new thing to her.
| found she was from neighboring
town, five miles defiant, where her hus
band il a Prosperous architect and
builder. After she had obtained the
information for which she came, we
fell into conversation such as our sex
will irdnlge in.
Have you much of family?"
inquired. "Eleven children" she re.
piled. | opened my eyes in astonish
ment, expecting to hear the usual an.
swer in these days, Three, two boys
and girl" or vice versa. Have you
never lost any children?" said |
None" she replied, "and none are
married; they are all living at home"
"What family to look aiter!' | ex
claimed. ooh, shouldn't mind our
own family at all, - she replied. "but
we have always boatded three or four
carpenters. necessary in my husbands
business. Then We have Il farm and
good many cows to see to, and butter
to make, and as my husband is always
busy in other ways, the oversight OF
farm devOlves upon me.
81 hope you are more fortunate than
the rest of us, in having good dornes
tics tu help yon with all this work."
| said. The good woman Strengthened
herself up and gave decisive reply.
Il never keep any" she said "they
never suit me-" your children must
help you good deal, then? ?" Yes !;
but they have their lessons to learn.
Their eldest sister, who has as good an
education as money could give her,
teaches them entirely at home. We
have room in our house fitted up
especially for that purpose. They are
more thoroughly taught by her, with
the deep interestshe feels in them, than
If they went to school elsewhere; aud
being able to recite lessons in the ear
ly part of the day, they spend fewer
hours over books, which is better for
their health. and this enables them to
give ME more assistance than they
otherwise could do" What q sensible
woman, thought | for you know what
II favorite idea home education is with
me when it is practicable. So | drew
my chair nearer to her and said. "You
don't do your own sewing, do you ?"
"Never sert OIt stitch in my life,
dresses or anN thing else, even when we
had not sewing machine, and don't
know what excuse | could have for it
now, with good machine" "Do YOU
make your husbands and all your
boys shirts? Every one of them.
My eldest son is something of a dau-
dy. as young men are apt TO be, and
he bought some shirts swhiIe ago. Oh,
such fit as they were / spent more
time ripping aud fitting them than
would cut and made doz,n."
"Do you ever have time to go out
side your house?" | inquired.
"Oh, yes" she replied, with smile /;
IL am here this moining you see, to in.
qulre about the land, aud day before
yesterday | went to the State fair with
some butter, which took premium" {"
"You must sit up very late nights" 4"
| said.
"Oh, no; not very. We always fin.
ish up our work by 8 o'clock evenings
unless something very special is going
on, for We are quite musical family.
We have II piano. My daughters are
good players, and father aud mother,
boys and girls, all count upon good
sing, often, before going to bed, and
this causes us 10 sit up rather later,
have sometimes thought, than was
good for us, considering we have to be
up with the lark in the mornings. You
know" she added, "that music is yery
fascinating To those who love it,"
Are you always wei ?" | asked,
my health Is perfect. | Ihave IA good
natural constitution, and no time to be
debilitated and nervous"
Here this paragon arose to go. l
followed her 10 the gate, saw her un-
hitch her horse and drive of, while l
returned to the house with these re-
flections: Eleven children, b0arders,
a farm, no servants, premium for but.
ter at the State Fair, music and fine
arts Think of it, o ye daughters
who have a family ofsthree servants,
three children, hire all your sewing
doEe, and have dyspepsia and general