Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-09
For the Telegraph.
Farmers Wives and Daughters,


Farmers Wives and Daughters.
A few weeks ago read an article in one
of our county papers in relation to women
concerning farm work, and take this CD
portunity to reply to it. He stated the
fact that many farmers wives and daugh-
ters are almost entirely ignorant Of ont
door work-sueh as moving, pitching,
ploughing, planting, and driving OK teams.
He regrets it exceedingly, and thinks that
in nine cases out of ten this work would
prove beneficial to their health. Well, We
all have perfect right to our opinion. I
once heard Of man trying to teach his
dog to live without eating; but before he
learned the art, the poor dog died. Now,
if he should take the responsibility Of
teaching women to practice what he preach
es, it is my belief that nine-tenths Of them
would rest from their labor in the arms Of
death before they had half learned to per
form all that strong, hardy farmers ae-
eomplish. God created everything living
for some purpose. The strong oak and the
tender plants grow up side by side; one
spreads out its branches afar, sffording
shady resting place to many a weary trsv-
eler; the other blossoms into beauty, de-
lights the eye with its many colored tints.
Man is the strong, woman the weaker
plant; both have work assigned them,
and the true and noble Of either sex VIII
work with a will at whatever their hands
or brains find to do.
Farmers wives find plenty to do in tax
ing care Of their household affairs. II BY
good management they can spare an hour
in the morning to work in the garden,
when they are not obliged to stand over
the cook stove or wash tub, the change
viii do them good-bring flush 20 their
cheeks, and diffuse new life and vigoF
through their whole system. Too much
work viii do more harm than good to any
persons health.
a woman may understand by observa-
tion-not by prsetiee-how such heavy
work ought to be done; and in many cases
this will prove beneft-not to her health,
but to her purse. 1 know Of one, and only
one, girl who has been trained TO such
heavy work from child; she is strong and
muscular, very masculine in appearance
looks and spesch-or, might say, very
coarse, rough and unfeminine. She is able
to lift barrel Of flour from a wagon with
apparently as much ease as a very strong
man. A child may have health and
strength. and yet not be trained to work
altogether suitable fOr. them; for no one
can deny the fact that rough work brings
them in contact with rough people; it also
causes them to dislike the retirement Of
home and home duties. Instead Of assist
ing the tired mother, as a daughter should
be taught to do, she prefers driving oxen,
radng hay, and in fact, any out-of-door
employment. She dislikes washing dishes,
sweeping and cooking more, even, than
her brother, were he obhghed to nelp his
mother. II ever she assumes mstrimonial
duties, what confusion viii reign in her
housel From parlor to kitchen, from gar
ret 20 cellar, disorder win be written in
dust. The husband oOmplains-and with
reason, too-wishes she would cook As
mother used to-such tender meat, FieR
gravies and light biseuitl Poor child! she
never was taught the art Of eookingi she
dislikss all indoor employment.
No person can be perfect in all trades in
one short lifetime. We should strive to be
perfect in what we profess to know. There
is some truth in the old prover6, "a roll
ing stone gathers no moss, Persons who
are continually changing generally fail to
accomplish what they are seeking for, 1
am farmers son, and know they some
times need something beside the daily rou-
tine Of worki work work. They should be
taught to make themselves and those around
them happy; educated to appreciate al
that is beautiful in nature, and natures
God. Too many Of our youth arrive to
manhood and womanhood in Ignorance Of
all things except work; the body edueated'
the mind in darknessl One mission mere
divine than any other in woman, IS to eul-
tivate in their tender hearts the pearls OF
love, purity and trutk. 9. Ec