Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-05-18
Who'll NO. 1876.
Women or the Farm.

A lady thus writes to the Mass. Plough
man Observing that nearly every writer
upon the above named subject, speaks Of
the "drudgery" that falls to the lot Of
farmers wives, cannot help wanting to say
few words upon the matter. LIST. What
is drudgery2 Webster defines it as hard
work, depressing toll Nearly every one
will concede that any form Of labor may be
followed so industriously as to make hard
work of it; so that definition of drudgery of
does not apply to the work of a farmers
wife, any more than to that Of any other
person.
do not see how work one is interested
in aud enjoys performing can be depressing;
and it seems to me that only those will talk
of drudgery of women on the farm, but
those who are doing that work unwillingly.
Interest in the work and the desire to do it
in the best possible manner, elovates it
above the term of drudgery, and the worker
above the position of a drudge. Being a
farmers wife l think l know some
thing of the life of women on the farm
Farmers wives have no need to be idle;
work, and enough of it too can be found to
do almost any time; but the devices Of the
brain can tighten tho labor of the hands
very much, and is it not pleasure, to in
vent some ingenious plan to do a piece of
work more quickly, and in more satsfac-
tory manner?
Look at the different ways in which farm
ers' wives work over their butter Some,
as if determined to make the hardest work
of it possible hold lump of butter upon
the end of one paddle and pound the butter
milk out with another; while others will
press the butter against the sides of an un-
steady wooden bowl, serenely unconscious
that butter board would save nearly half
the labor, and the quality Of tho butter be
improved by being able to mould it with
less handling.
When people condemn farmlife because of
its "drudgery," l wonder if they ever count
up the advantages of living on farm. The
fruit, the vegetables, the fresh eggs, poultry,
milk and butter, to say nothing Of the many
rides the family enjoy,-how many of these
could be INDUCED in if the family lived in
town, and the same capital was invested
there, that it takes to carry on the farm?
When about to move on to our farm, an old
lady gave me this rather doubtful congratu-
lation, Sand so you are going to be tied
down to farm ~ eyes" said l, "and to
answer you in words have heard my moth
er say many times-I would rather be
the wife of an intelligent farmer than
the wife of a man following any other oc-
cupation you can mention" Since the hard
times have felt like repeating the same
many times, with interest. 10 me town life
would be uncomfortable as country life would
be to one who delights in the bustle of the
city. love the quiet life on farm. The
horses, the COWS, the fowls and even the pigs,
| am interested in.
My husband talks over with his plans for
for future crops, and watch with interest
his efforts at improving upon last years sue
cesses and failures. My health is never
better than when | spend the most time in
the open air, and | consider myself fortunate
when the work 10 the house does not require
my oversight, and am thus enabled to
help about some Of the lighter farm work.
have another and greater reason than
any yet mentioned for liking the farm. 1t
is such good place for the children. The
fresh air, the freedom from restraint, the
pure milk,-almost anything that can be
mentioned in connection with the farm, the
influences there brought around them, all \
tend to make them healthy, happy boys and
girls, and later, good and honest men and
women. Give them an interest in a patch
of ground--some of the animals to care for
and train; if their taste points that way,
give the inventive ability chance to ex-
pand: make home attractive as it should be,
with books aud music, and the chidr en- will
love the farm and the home too well to ever
wish to leave it for the over.crowded and
dangerous city.