Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-07-14
Outdoor Work for Women.

teach. sew, or any other things that offered,
often with small remuneration, instead Of
entering the whole field even hand OF
late, some more liberal ones have advocated
for women the garden. the field. the pro-
fcssions, until it is not an improprieiy for
her to earn her own livelihood Is men in
any honorable calling. This we believe
in, and welcome The time that all will act
independently and as their interest and
qualification shall direct.
The little history we give below. copied
from the Tribune, we would have every
woman read. and if she needs and desires
90 and do likewise. The sunlight and
open air will add years to her life.
When l was growing up there seemed
but little prospect that | would ever have
to trouble much about a support. My
parents owned two good farms in Mary
land. and had but four children, eonse-
quently we reasonably expected TO be tol-
rr.bly we'll provided for But it proved
that we We're one more example of the old
adage, ''Man proposes. but God diSroses."
The emancipation of the slaves and the
loss of Il large sum Of money caused the
sale of one farm and mortgage on the
other. My father was getting old. and
there was little probability that he would
be able TO clear off this debt, but my broth
ers We're grown and they took it in hand.
Two of them got situations. the other took
charge Of the farm, each determined to do
all in his power toward raising the mort
cage. The farm was in i retired neigh
borhood, where could oct no teach
iny or anything else to do for others that
would support me while lived at home.
but could feel willing to do nothing, de-
pending on my brothers to supply my every
need. when they were working 50 hard
My mother raised turkeys. geese, ducks
and chickens, but IN the nd-time way.
getting no eggs in winter, and often scarce
# chickens. persuaded her to let me
: have the chickens and ducks to manlyr
rs | chose. l bear all expenses and have
table was supplied. There were lo ducks
and 35 hens. | took charge in October.
and began frthing at once. had the re-
fuse vegetables and scraps free of cost and
George gave me two bushels of corn and
\ barrel Of " heat screenings to start with
after that | paid for the corn and oats
used, and bought bran and the swccpings
of 4 gri>t-mIll. | gave the hens Il hall
gallon of corn each morning. and after
dinner boiled what vegetables | h II. III
meat liquor. or any clean greasy water |
could get, lhickeucd it while hot with oats
ur swecpinys. and gave them what they
wanted Of II. The hens began layinL hv
the l>t Of November, and averaged IL
eggs Il day through the winter. This gave
me 30 dozen a month for sale. which aver
aged 30 cents a dozen until April; after
that, about ~ cents. In June | Soll two
dozen spring chickens. at : - per dozen.
and in the fall TWO dozen old hens 1t :
per dozen. gave the ducks 4 pint OF
corn each nj ght and morning; they com
mencing laviny tn. last of March. ant
continued until August. | sold all the
eggs except those used for setting. getting
generally couple of cents more for the
dozen then for hens eggs. In The fall
sold four dozen ducks N II pr dozen.
kept 4 rrgul ar a 80 mt lni At the end OF
the year found had received from sales
Of poultry and "E-s $l2o, of which had
expended tbout one-thlrd in expenses ,lrV
iny me nearly $50 clear.
In June | bought 1000 Wilson straw
berry plants, for Which | paid so In the
fall bought loo raspberry plants Al +: .
l.QOO blachbcrri, al 50. and 1000 i>Irtr-
aus roots ut IS The strawberry vines
bore well the first year. AMI the fruit WIS
larg and fine. The crop gave U~ plenty
to eat. paid crate and other expenses, ant
cleared 80, OF which spcn, $40 in III,
f;,l for labor and manure and hat II the
: reward of my effort that year So clear.
The next Year The ra>phcrrie> and da>par-
agu> bore some. and together cleared me
abolt SO, the poultry about the >ime. and
the strawberries $40. The fourth year all
gave good crops, including b,ackberrie>
. and the receipts. with that Of the poultry.
We're $40. clear. | have now been try ing
t. make money eight years; | have 500
out At interest. and intend to try to add
{ $lo0 TO ii year and compound the interest
:, until get IN income sufficient to support
, me. have renewed my strawberry bed
, twice; the others a> Yet show no signs of
exhaustion. OF course the returns vary
with the seasons. but there are few Years
that they and the poultrv do not bring NE
$500 beyond expenses. which never exceed
so per annum. | have added fifty cur
rant bushes to my stock, but beyond this
| shall not go-thOugh think money could
be made out of sage, peas. and great
: many other things; but have rs much as
c.,n attend TO consistent with my other
duties. for. as get my board and washing
share of the household duties and sewing
,
, sic, reading. and some Of the pleasures
; that make life fair. Ny advantages have
been the use of the stock of poultry. of two
. acres of naturally good land, horse and
, wagon to take my marketing to town rent
free, benefit Of my fathers and brothers
advice and what farmers daughter can
, not command all this?
e think Of them with pity. Tired of the
n round of sweeping and du>ting. sick Of th,
e never ending sewing. how they would en-
l Joy Il little money of their own TO sptn,
: in some pleasure that would be like tn,
. elixir of life to them. But they haven
n it, and do not know how to make it, an,
i Yet there IS perhaps land Idle All aroun,
{ the house. If they would only use it. IN,
: try to make some money with the swec
: g freedom of the sky and air about them
they would soon find it possessing a f,scin
| alton, and the substantial returns mos
agreeable to have. They need not grow
l coarse from it; working in the open air i.
e much better for the complexion than per
n spring over Il cook-Stove, or sewing al
$ day in the house. do not think it bette
than the higher work that many wone,
can do, and are situated to do: but fo
e those who are tied to the farm by dutie
IS they cannot neglect, rs am, ii is an oper
n road to means of their own with whi'l
It they can enjoy some Of the thousan,
g charms which make this world SO fair ant
= life so sweet The pleasure of bein:
g able to take any little journey may de
o sire, or to he able to get ;he books "n'
'i papers | wish, without taxing any one
e means but my own more than pays me fo
e all my trouble besides, it has brought m
% health and peace of mind. An uncle, t
: whom | was once showing my accoun.
l. book said. You should not count this
n the improvement in your health NOR
"a than pays for all the trouble an expense
a l never saw you look SO we'll before
N How much have You spent in doctors bill
ID since you commenced?' And could ar
n. swer, Not a dollar" | have now Ion
L known all the comfort of falling aslee
i. five minutes after lie down at night,
OF wake no more until morning, and al
a. preclate it, for used often to sit up unit
IN very lata rather than lie in hal 1o3hl,.