The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-21
Farmers Families.

One would suppose from much that is
ltten, that farmers families were to be
tied above all others. Is this so? Is
le lot Of the farmers wife necessarily
jnesome and dreary? Are farmer
hildren more abused than other children?
[ cannot see that such is the case. With
good husband and children I would
rather take the risk of farm-life, in any
comfortable part Of the country, than to
undertake any other kind Of life have
had chance to try or observe No po-
sition IS exempt from troubles and tenn
tatiors, but for family of little children,
a farm seems to me the safest place
And yet everything depends upon cir
cumstances," and if the children take
no interest in the farm or country objects,
and if parents take less interest in the
childrens daily happiness and growth
than money making, the case is a hard
one for all concerned. Since these
papers were begun | have lived in city,
village and country, and nothing suits
nc 50 well as the farm. In this the
whole family are agreed.
Farmers wives are not necessarily
over-Wsyked more severely than Other
house keepers. This depends upon the
kind Of work done on the farm and
the facilities for doing it. In fact, it Dc
pends mainly upon the husband BY
proper consideration be can generally
save his wife from undue labor-at least
he can DO 50 as well as other men, for
think that it is almost impossible for
husbands in average circumstances, at
the present stage of civilization, to give
the mothers Of their children as easy'lnd
pleasant circumstances as all mothers
ought to have for the sake of the uman
race; this, hovever,is matter of public
concern quite as much as of private duty
and It Is a business in which society and
the individuals must cooperate.
IF The farmer has children he must
remember that their proper care is the
most important business of their parents
and it IS 4 great folly or gross wickednes
for lin II carry on work which in injn
rious to thea, work that keeps himsel
and lis wife constantly anxious and hur
ried. If he slaves himself and wife, anc
The children too, as they grow old enough
to Ia yoled to his business. for the SAX
Of having plenty Of money for his ehil
dren to spend in coming years, he is
very wicked man. If tie children ar
net well brought mp they will onl
squander the money SO hardly earned
Child-life on the farm may have
wider range of wholesome experience
than child-life in almost any other situa
ton, Stock kindly cared for and petite
trees thoughtfully planted and tended
fruit well selected and cultivated, vegt
tables raised with purpose and wit
thought about their habits and use:
flowers lovinti1y sown and gathered-a
thcae are wholesome in their infiuenc
upon the youthful mind, and furnish
kindergarten OF the best kind. Farmer
children who are not oyerworked, an
whose book education may seem to
neglected, often make excellent scholar
when they 20 70 school and college. ar
go with robust health gained from the
carly training on the farm.
Il farmers families have the GOO
sense to dress with simplicity, and choo
plain articles Of furniture that are n
too good for daily use and CON fort
they know enough to live on plain, su
staatial food, with home-raised FRI
served plainly but plentifully, instead
caIe and pie; if among the necessar
Of life they reckon good books and pap,
they need not be so badly overworked
they often seem, nor lead such lean, pc
lives intellectually. As for the soc
isolation, this is sometimes to be deplor,
but il makes all the difference in
world whether it is loving, happy,
proving kind of family set by itselfur
the farm, or selfish, growing, iguor,
set Of people. The quiet of the ia
j. one of its chef attractions for i
There &re few farms so isolated that {
friends cannot find us there, ana Il
who show themselves friendly will h:
friends,-imsricaa 4gricultria.