Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-22
Sleep for Wives.

"Mea folks r | want to talk to you
moment, SO please read this, aud if
you don't, [ hope your wife viii calf
your attention to it. Have you wife
who goes about in listless, spiritless
fashion, as though she could but just
drag herself about? Or is she cross and
fretful, and do you wonder how she
came to have such temper? Ten to
one, all she needs to make her bright
and happy, is rest, sleep, and loving
words In the ten, fifteen, or twenty
years of your married life, has she not
worked as faithfully as you? A mans
work is harder than a woman's, but not
so hard for him as hers is for her, she
being the "weaker vessel. F." A wo-
man 5, work tires the brain more than
mans. Il should say that am
talking particularly at farmers). But
men are not fond of thinking so, there
fore we will say that she has worked as
hard as you have. Besides this work,
has she not borne and reared your
children for you? How much of the
trouble and care of these children have
you shared? Who has attended to their
wants each night, while you lay sleep
| ing and resting for tomorrow work?
| Very few nights of sound, refreshing
sleep does that wife get. Often she
does not get to bed until long after you
are asleep, and she is up betimes in the
morning. Some men are selfish enough
to let the wife build the fire but you
don't, of course. Through all the
work of the day there is baby to tend.
perhaps carry, and the other little ones
claim their share of mother attention.
Is it any wonder she is worn out and
cross?
What is the remedy? Hire efficient
help, that the wife who has passed a
restless night may take advantage of
baby's morning nap and have one of
her own. Or, if she choose. lie down
in the afternoon and make up the lost
sleep. You can afford it if you will.
Do you begrudge hundred dollars
year for your wife's comfort and health?
If you really cannot afford it, then re-
member your marriage vows, and share.
yourself the burden. 1t is but just.
Does she not have all the suffering?
Why should you not help her in the
care of your children? Her rest is
broken quite enough by the baby in
her arms. Do you attend to the wants
Of the trundlebed, or the child crying
with earache? She will thank you
for it in her heart, and with words, if
neglect hasn't driven kind words, from
your home You can't work without
plenty of sleep? She does And
you are a selfish old bear if you bring
in that for an excuse. Many men do
it, ''all honor to them There is love
for them in the hearts Of their wives
worth more than dozen farms.
Ny dear sir, you may not be SO very
bad [ presume you are not. But
there are, alas only too many homes,
of which have given correct pict-
ure. In 1866, | spent the night in
farm house in Iowa. Seventeen years
the family had lived on that farm.
There were seven boys, varying In age
from sixteen to two. The wife was
wee little body. thin and care
worn, and hard at work. The husband
was large, robust, burly looking man.
One would think he might last a gem
Grafton yet he took the place near
est the lamp and spelled cut the words
in his paper, while she sewed on the
dimly lighted side Of the table. They
were "gell-to-do," 5" but the most COM
mon conveniences about the house were
lacking. 1t needed no telling to know
how "things went in that house.
Why, no valuable hreeding-mare would
ever be worked as some men work their
wives
Give women their home rights; help
them to bear their burdens; give them
a few kind, loving words, every day,
and YOU will have healthier and hap
pier wives, children and homes.
AUNT PHEBE,
ia Rural 4Ne,o Yorker,