The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-07
MRS. HUNTS soII1oqUY.
For The InteIItgencer.

MRS. HUNTS soLILoQUY.
For the TntelltgenceF.
What am | doing this cold mornlnI
starting three fires 7, the wife Of jaime
Hunt, while he Is taking his rest.
guess he was disturbed by the baby cry
Ing in the night. 1t annoyed him 81
much that he could not sleep, and h
never could endure losing sleep. !, how
ever, am used 10 It. How long have
been doing this work. Seven or eigh
years at least l remember some OF oui
home conversation on the drudgery OF .
farmers wife, and her endless routine D.
duties. can hear my sister say, "Mary
] would.never marry q farmer. The ma
jority Of farmers wives are slaves"
knew she was haunting me, as she wai
aware the one whom / cared most for wal
. hard working farmer. My rejoinder
was, u have no fears Of living the irk-
some lie you imagine; James Hunt
would never see his wife drudg'
Ing from morn until eve" "Mary,
! believe all farmers work SC
hard themselves that they become
pbliVious TO the never ending over-taxiug
toll, their wives endure, until they sink
into premature grave, or become The in.
mate Of LunatiC Asylum. The statistics
are in evidence, that three.fOurths of the
women patients In our Asylums are the
wives OF farmers" What was all that 10
me? ! would never realize such excess
i've labor which might produce any
of these terrible results. l believe my
husband loves me, and Of course he would
be perfectly willing for me to have help Il
! should state TO him the great need Of II;
but why does he not see how imminently
necessary 1t Is. know l am not the
strong woman was ten years ago; but
am only faded worn.out one. In all
that time my duties have yearly increased.
! have had help only for a few weeks
during each year, myself doing the work
Tor six and eight persons, in the main.
including sewing and dairy work.
James works too but he has the assist.
ance oil two or three hands all the year
round, and during harvest an additional
force is in the field. That Is right; but II
would be still better Il some extra aid was
extended TO the kitchen. Oh, this will
never do, 10 sit idly reviewing the past, I
had forgotten what lies before me to-day,
alter breakfast Is overland nov 1t Is
nearly five O'clock. There are three cows
to milk, four rosy boys and girls 10 pre-
pare for school, great ironing and bak-
ing 10 do, and dinner to be placed on the
table by twelve, and all the many little
everyday numberless and nameless duties
to perform.
While Mrs. Hunt goes about her great
days work, lot me-who am "Aunt Ruth''
to evcrybody-Advise young ladies to be-
ware how they make this contract for
life. II you should be so unfortunate as
to love a farmer, in the first place see that
his mother is one who has instructed her
son to assist in the domestic department
when not otherwise engaged; to symps-
thize with his mother and sisters
in all Of their housekeeping per-
plexitieS. 1t is my opinion that
mothers merit the censure for most
Of the careless, Indifferent husbands.
They arc remiss in their training. Teach
your sons 10 feel for you, to lend a help
ing hand when possible. II boys were
taught at home as they should be, there
would not be so much complaint among
wives, especially farmers wives. have
spent much time with farmers in differ
ent localitles-WiLh tho class that is term.
ed "well TO do" l have observed that
they evince greater reluctance in spend
ing dollar for the Recommendation OF their
homes, or for the pleasure Of their fami-
lies, than a man pursuing any other aVo-
cation. Why Is 1t? Is it because they
eXpend so much physical strength in OBJ
tanning their money? There Is something
wrong in the management Of affairs per-
tanning to home life on the farm or why
so many farmers sons striving 10 fill posi-.
tons in city and town ito get away from
the hum-drum old farm" Many OF them
are compensated for their services by the
most meagre salaries.
SFarmefs you abuse your privileges
and opportunities TO make your occupa.
ton the most attractive and healthlul Of
all others. You have the pure air OF
heaven and the charming landscape
around you. Combine more recreation
and pleasure with your toll, and it will no
longer be so Objectionable 10 the young
men. 1t Is far better to make your home
attractive and to do all in your power to
keep your sons, whose characters are not
yet formed, from the communicating infiu-
ences OF city life. A few dollars expend.
ed now and then in subscribing for good
books and papers, and for a game or
music, will render you none the less rich
blythe time your sons have matured into
manhood and your daughters to woman.
hood, and will endear your memory to
them forever. AUNT RUTH.