The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-04
How to Begin Home Life.
A STORY OF TWO FARMERS wIvEs-ECoNoMl
ING LIFE.

/ WLiO Cdl ESdu OntN Wull6 sue Is
| ing. long to say to her, "Take one of
those hired mem from the field aud let
him churn. Seize your book or maga-
zine, as may be, seek the coziest room
| in your house, sink into the easiest
chair, and read till the butter comes.
| Then if you haven't water in the
kitchen, send him for two large pals
! full from the well or spring." Certainly
husbands "don't know" the WEAKNESS
of woman's work. But are they only to
be blamed for their ignorance When
the loving husband takes the fair hand
of his new-made wife, his understanding
of her is exceedingly limited. But on
that rose-tinted day begins her enlight-
ening of his understanding. He is not
exempt from certain knowledge of the
capabilities of his mother, for instance.
But he does not as yet understand that
this dear wife, with her pretty white
hands, is a creature to rise at o'clock
| in the morning and work till 8; II hours
of toll! 1t does not yet enter into his
heart that she shall carry heavy pals of
water from a distant spring, and get
dinner with the baby on her hip, with
like labOrs, relics of darker ages.
| Whether you know it or not, fair bride,
in your hands lies his understanding of
I y
now you cannot expect he will disbe-
! lieve what all that time your practice
has been teaching him. And though
the teaching has blanched your cheek,
and calloused your hands, and made
! fretwOrk of your forehead, and stolen
the grace from your form, he will be
one of the "don't known husbands. Nor
will this faded "mother' find it as easy
to stay the continuing of this unto
death, as might that young wife, radi-
ant with health and beauty, have found
it to teach the admiring husband that
these things were not for her. A
"mother" with five children about her
the eldest scarcely twelve, the baby
not out of his long clothes-brought
couple of large pals to ''hired man."
and said, in hesitating and appealing
way, "Will you bring me some water,
| please ?" 1t was noon, of hot mid
summerda day, and two hired men lounged
on the grass in front of the door, enjoy
ing the shade of large elm. Her hus-
band lifted his eyes from his paper and
said: Mother, l wouldn't ask the men
to do chores between hours" That was
all. But isn't that the key to it all
Picture to yourself the three strong men
resting and reading, and this worn
] AlObhCi1 llOLAA hCl
of the morning, and the outgiving of
her life to another, reproved for asking
pail of water. But do not blame the
man over much. Hearken to a few Sc
crets from that wOman's teachings.
When / was little girl, two young
ladies were graduated at seminary,
and returned home to our village.
! Within a twelvemOnth both married.
This woman of whom / have been tell
| ing you married a professional man,
college-bred. A farm, with grist-mill
and water privileges, was inherited by
him within the year after marriage, and
closing his office, that was not greatly
besieged by clients, he hied him back
to his native village and his farm.
"Hired men" in abundance took care of
the mill and worked the farm. I'm
aided, the ambitious wife did the house
work. Early breakfast, milking, care
of milk, calf-feeding, poultry-feeding,
preceded the regular employment of the
day. "Hired men" fed calves and car
ried water at first. One morning the
clouds were lowering; the east meadow
was spanned by swaths of cut grass.
"Take your men right along" said this
wife. "I'll churn this morning." she
said, in another like emergency, teach
ing that burden more was of less mo-
ment than a few forkfuls of grass.
When the children came, "girP came
to help for a short time, but "a girl was
so wasteful,n and "the work wasn't
done as l do it," And of course the
husband counted the dollars saved, and
grew to think that what woman did
was clear gain. Gradually the fair girl
became a middle-aged woman, with
large-jointed hands and wrinkled face,
and truth compels me to add, rather
coarse and scolding woman. At this
time the husband is about closing lee
ture tour through the Middle States.
He is a shrewd, enlightened man. The
wife is at home feeding his chickens.
This husband and wife have grown far
away from each other. This wife says
to young wives, at isn't your duty to
go without necessary sleep when your
baby is little, nor to rise early and lie
down late for the sake of the dollars
help costs. Don't do it, my dears."
The other young wife began life under
less favorable auspices. Would you
know how she saved herself from the
bitter heritage? They went directly to
a farm, where the "hired men" swarmed
about to be fed and housed. Chubby"
she said, "I cannot wash for these men,
nor clean the kitchen after so many
heavy boots. If they must have it done
here, send for s. to help me on wash
ing day" A stout woman came, to
whom the days work each week was
the means of sending her boy to an ad-
vanced school. And if heavy ironings
or cleanings loomed mountain high
over this young house-keeper, stronger
arms soon made of them mole-hills.
And with new vigor, instead of weari-
ness, these hard days become really
easy days. One hot day came high
pulse and throbbing temples. STOPPING
down to the oven, black mist swan
before her eyes. Her physical being
seemed calling for rest. SIS it my duty
to force this body of mine to go on at
any cost ?" she asked herself. And she
felt it was not. Going out to her hus-
band, resting from the MONDAY heat
under the shaded porch, she said: 81 am
dizzy and faint. You must help dish
up the dinner, then send over to H--'s
: and try to find girl to help through
harvesting." A darling baby boy soon
made the ''girl" fixture in that home.
When after restless night with baby,
this mother nestled down beside her
boy for a morning nap while he took
his, her old schOolmate was up, often at
4 o'clock, hurrying the dairy work and
!. breakfast away before baby awoke.
This wiser woman did not forget her old