The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-01-09
WHAT CAN WOMAN DOq
BY MRS. A. NJ. FREEMAN,

BY MRS. A. NJ. FREEMAN,
Solomon Brown had five daughters
The Oldest of these was twenty.six
the youngest seventeen. In some Of
the heathen countries it is considered
misfortune when a girl is horn.
Solomon Browns mind may have
been colored with this heathenism
though he owned a pew in the church,
and contributed conscientiously to the
donations-tor he shook his head in
solemn disapproval as bis family in
creased, declaring that girls were, and
had been since the world began, a
failure.
Dear little Mrs. Brown emphatical-
ly declared her skepticism as to this
broad assertion, saying with some
spirit, "that the girls could not be
dispensed with, and as the great Faith
er had seen fit TO create them, it must
have been with the consciousness that
they might be pronounced good. OF
course they aoere good" She would
just ask Mr. Brown, what there was,
that might be said truthfully, in dis
paragement of their own children.
"If they were boys, Lucy" says
Brown, footing up dry goods bill,
"they would be self-supporting, If,
for instance, Matilda had been named
Solomon-and, you know, that name
has fallen to the eldest in our family
for generations-she, or he rather,
might have learned a trade and would
now be able, not only to care for him
self, but to reuder needful assistance
to the family. | am sure never
blamed Betsey Trotwood, though l
didn't understand her, that she couldn't
forgive David for not being girl. I
have never forgiven one of my girls
that they disappointed me-"
"Dear me, Solomon, I'm sure the
girls are doing the best they can
Matilda is a very good dress ma
ker-"
"Boshl" cries Solomon, impatiently,
"the country is over run with dress
makers. l tell you all this feathers,
fuss and tlummerry is running US
that is the people. Don't you under
stand every additional girl is an addi-
tional burden to some one? How
much do you suppose, Lucy, l paid
out for ribbons lasG year? Only one
hundred dollars l'
"But, my husband, there were five
of the girls you know, not counting
myself, and that makes twenty dol
lars only, for each. l am sure that
isn't extravagent at all. There's
deacon Smart's Sallie paid that much
for one Roman sash. Our girls are
very handy about turning their things,
and fixing them up as good as new.
There were only twenty.four yards
in the dears' dresses this spring
that is in the dress of each-while
Mrs. Mullin used thirty-fve, and !
must say that our girls were much
the prettiest."
"And would have been prettier still
| if they'd been made ont of eight"
growled Solomon, desperately foot
ing up the accounts again.
Figures are obstinate facts Solo
mon, in facing the sum total of united
columns, became an obstinate man.
"I tell you, Lucy, we can't go on in
this way, that's certain. Something
must be done, Why don't they get
married."
But that was a useless question, for
this was New England State, and
there were several thousand more
women than men, and as one man
was allowed only one wife, it was
quite impossible that all could be
provided with husband. 4
"Dear me, Solomon" said the little
wife, smiling humorously. "You for
get that this isn't Utah-that there is
actually no one to whom we may
seal the darlings; that you, yourself,
would quite disapprove Of their going
husband-hunting."
Now, while Solomon had been talk
ing thus compI9iningly and con
fdentially, to his wife, his five un-
appreciated daughters had been listen
ing from the next room.
"The old bear" cried Matilda, the
oldest, under her breath.
@Poor papa" said Lucy, the young
est, her blue eyes full of tears.
dPoor papa, indeed" snapped out
the second sister. II do believe he
begrudges us the birds allowance
which we eat"
aBird's aIlowancol Josephine, I'm
sure there isn't heartier family OF
girls,in this country than ours. No
Canary's portion would do for me-
of that Pm sure! l do think it a
shame, that five great girls, able to-
work as we are, should depend upon
one little, old broken down man for
their support. Come now Tilda, isn't
it ridiculous? Don't you think that
we might do something?"
"I'm sure,', Matilda said, "that I've
been trying just the best that l knew
how. You know l bought the ma
chine, aud then-then-"
"Well,p Lucy said, laughing, "poor
papa had to make the payments on
it,
"I'm suressI couldn' help that. be-
cause | had expected'to get plenty Of
sewing to do, and sewing you see
'Is a drug in the market, No
'Tilda, and Josephine, and Sarah, and
Flora, all of those pretty, traditional
ways of woman turning an honest
penny are out of date. I've been
thinking this over, and I've made up
my mind. Come girls will you stand
by me? Have you the courage to lay
aside your dainty slippers, to encase
your feet in heavy shoes, to let the
sun kiss brown freckles on your face,
in facf-to WAR n bloomer?n