Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-26

- AnS SMO 0S08B0 008 O000 ZOE one
Farmers Wife.
am farmers wife, living some
miles from the nearest town and at a
distance from any neighbor. Among
my blessings are several restless,
healthy children, who, with my
Homework and the care of milk and
b tier, keep me too busy to find time
for being lonely. Having few ambi-
tons or aspirations that do not cen
ter in the dear home circle, was in
danger Of becoming selfishly isolated
from all outside interests. / say
seJtshiy with emphasis, because l
believe we all need, for ourselves and
for our children, to cultivate sympa-
thy enough with the outer world to
be intelligent rs to its activities and
alive to its progress.
My object in giving this bit of per
sonal history, is TO relate how the
Grange came to my rescue, and, by
taking me out of myself somewhat,
helped me to a better appreciation Of
the society Of which l was by far to
indifferent a member My good hus-
band had been talking and thinking,
for some months, of joining the
Grange, but had thrown my intlu-
ence against it SO strongly as to pre-
vent him from following his inclina-
tons. | dreaded to leave the chill
dren and give up our pleasant
readings, even for one or two even
ings month. Though we had both
studied the subject somewhat, | with
IN uneasy feeling that | ought to
yield, we yet had only very dim and
co fused notions rs to what the
Grange really was. Finally, howcv-
er, with the amiability natural to my
sex, consented to 90 with my hus-
band and join what | now cali with
pride our Grange.
In the winter we meet twice Il
month, in the cvening-in the sum
mer once month, in the afternoon.
l find that l did not half know or APP
preciate the good neighbors | had,
and cannot help feeling grateful to
them for the help they have given
me. The best of social feeling has
been promoted among the families Of
farmers in our vicinity, by thus rcgu-
larly coming together, at stated times,
for mutual instruction and counsel.
We discuss various topics connected
both with indoor and outdoor farm
work. l have received many valua-
bic hints from the experience of my
Grange sisters, as to wise and eco
nomical household management. l
find myself growing in many direc-
tons. | do not feel any longer as
though isolated, but take increasing
pleasure in the fact that | am one of
i society of farmers wives who are
modestly, yet earnestly striving to do
their work we'll, and are willing to
share any information they may have
with their neighbors.
Our Grange is a lively, wide-awake
society, combining many means OF
Improvement. Its influence is felt
Ill through our community. We do
not wage war upon any established
busincss-we do not make our organ
ization political tool to help any
man into office. We follow simply
our noble manual of instruction, and
work together for the uplifting AMI
protection of our class, not us 1T vari-
..ncc with other industrial classes, but
lis worthy Il place with them in the
onward march of all Industries.
The social drill we receive ut these
is of great value. Frequent
with Il large assembly of
friends promotes selt-coniidence aud
ease of manners, interchange of ideas
and information respecting our work
to thought upon the best
methods Of doing that work, and ex-
cites ambition to discover new facts
in the line of our home interests
Listening to our husbands discuss
their ways of feeding, blowing, SOW
ing, reaping, etc, helps us to better
appreciation of their labors, and IA
Iecncr interest in their business. 1t
s the universal sentiment OF the far
ners' wives belonging to our Grange,
hat we are getting good from our
meetings, and we say to our sisters
n other neighborhoods, "Do your
,est to sustain your Grange. Take
% it, every time, a lively interest, and
Nd your mite to its value as social
md industrial force"
| see no reason why, in the near
uture, under the benign influence of
'ur powerful and widespread organ
cation, we may not equal, in social
grace, i'll intellectual accomplish
nents, and in dignity of character
my class in our country.-H. i. d.,
II Progressive Farmer.