The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03
A WORKln6 WOMAN.
What Good Health, system and a
willing Heart Can Accom- plish..
A Model for Housewives,

Looking out of the window the other
morning l saw a woman drive to the
gate, with 4 trim little establishment in
excellent order. had never set eyes
upon her before, 1 was sure of that,
though she looked up at the window
with light and CHEEKY smile as though
she had known me all my days.
Springing out of the high wagon like
girl Of sixteen, though she was evident
ly three times that age, she nitched her
horse and blanketed it as if she were
used to it, and was ushsred into the
parlor. She had come to inquire about
some lots upon our farm, and assure you
she talked business, it evidently being
no new thing to her. l found she was
frora a neighboring town, five miles dis
tant, where her husband is prosperous
architect and builder. After she had
obtained the information for which she
came, we fell into conversation such
as our sex will indulge in.
''Have you much Of a family?" in
quired. "Eleven children" she replied.
l opened my eyes in establishment, ex-
pecting to hear the usual an
swer in those days, "Three, two
boys and girl, or vice versa. 'Have
you never lost any children?'' said I.
'None," she replied, land none are
married; they are all living at home"
'What family to look after" l ex-
claimed. ooh, l shouldn't mind our
own family at all" she said, ''but we
have always boarded three or four car
penters, necessary in my husbands
business. Then we have farm, and a
good many cows to see to, and butter
to make, and as my husband is always
busy in other ways, the oversight of the
farm devolves mostly on me-"
81 hope you are more fortunate than
the rest of us in having good domestics
to help you with all this work." said.
The good woman Strengthened herself
up and gave decisive reply. 81 never
keep any," she said; they never suit
me- "Your children must help you .
good deal then eyes, but they have
their lessons to learn. Their eldest
sister, who has as good an education as
money could give her, teaches them en-
tirely at home. We have room in
our house fitted up especially for this
purpose. They are more Thoroughly
taught by her, with the deep interest
she feels in them, than if they went to
school elsewhere; and being able to re-
cite their lessons in the early 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 could otherwise
do" What sensible woman, thought
l, for you know what favorite idea
home education is with me. So I said,
''You don't do your own sewing do
you y ''Never sent out stitch in my
life, even when we had not sewing
machine, and what excuse could now
have with new machine!" Do you
make your husbands and all your
boys shirtse' | asked. every one of
them. My eldest son is something Of !
dandy, as young men will be, and he
bought some shirts = while ago. Oh
such fit as they we're! l spent more
time ripping and fixing them than
would have cut and made q good half
dozen.''
''Do you ever have time to 20 outside
your housed" inquired.
''Oh yes she replied, with a smile !;
81 am here this morning, you see, to
inquire about the land, and day before
yesterday went to the State fair with
some butter. which took premium"
"You must lit up very late nights" 1
said.
''Oh no, not very; we always finish
up our work by eight o'clock evenings,
unless something very special is going
on, for we are quite musical family.
We have piano. Ny daughters are
good players, and father and mother,
boys and girls, all count upon a good
sing, often before going to bed, and this
causes US to sit up rather later, have
sometimes thought, than was good for us,
considering We have to be up with the
lark in the mornings. 'sYou know" she
added ssthat music is very fascinating
to those who love it." Are you IL
ways well !'' / asked. ssMy health j,
perfect. have good natural consti