National Republican., 1878-01-08
womRn's Work.
BY A FARMER's WIFR

bloom content.
womRn's Work.
BY "A FARMERS WIFE
Work work. work
While the cock is growing aloof;
And work work work
,.Till the stars shine through the roof!
IL Is oh, to be slave
Along with the barbarous Turk,
where women has never soul to save,
lfthis is Christian work"
Not alone to the attic seamstress WHOM
Hood has so graphically described, are these
words applicacable but to woman all over tho
land, and especially to my sisterhood of the
rural districts whose lives are cast'-neither
on the heights of atfluence nor in tho depths
OF poverty, but In the beaten ruts Of medoc.
rity peculiar to farmers lives. 1t is not 10
the necessary wOrk-the cooking washing,
baking, and cleaning, which must sll be ac-
complished with the help of. perhaps ous 90
two pairs of inefficient hands, In order to
secure home cOmfort-that | draw my
bow and shoot my arrow at a venture,
but to that unnecessary and extrayagantly in
dulHcd in rufiiing tucking braiding, and
stitching with which 80 many women employ
their energies till their minds become mental
deserts with scarce an oasis wherein single
intellectual idea could shoot" Vacation
weeks are spent by too many mothers in man
utacturing and remodeling elaborate costumes
for the children, and as behold the betuckod
way back to school, recall with qualification
the plain frocks and sensible aprons of my
own childhood when play was a pleasure and
not q perilous undertaking.
But the mother! surely these six hours Of
quiet afforded by the absence of the olive
branches" will allow her some time for tho
physica rest and mental culture which, during
the busy season,' she denied herself Surely
now her husband will not have the usual op-
oortunity Of monopolizing all the books and
papers. Just look ut her, as, with paper pat
tern and scissors, shipping from bright-colored
prints and snowy muslins inch bits-thea
stitch stitch! stitch till gradually the scraps
take form, and after many days" she will dis
play to our wondering gaze q perfect whole in
the form of patchwork quilt or by tearing
up old clothes into inGnitesmal strips and
sewing them together again, after infinite Labor
and dust and pains, rag-carpct is produced, Cr
rugs and mats are manu- featured, or shawls .rs
knitted, or tides aud toilet sets are crocheted.
or some other feminine n0nscnse-all well
enough, perhaps, in their way If one has album
dance of time but scarcely worthy to monopo-
lie the few spare moments of busy lives.
You speak OF books and magazines 70 one Of
those jaded and over-wOrked creatures, aud
she says, oh, yes husband reads every spare
minute but lnever can find the time" Mem
tion the last lyceum or lecture, and she says
YES, John enjoyed il; he wanted me to 30, but .
know" and then she cites that old rhyme
which her own perverscnoss makes true:
a mans work Is from sun TO sun
But woman's work is never done"
By and by, she who once occupied good
position in society, and was fully her husband's
intellectual equal, If not his superior at map.
riage, by spending every spare minute at thess
Improbable trifles to the exclusion Of all liteB
AIRY work, daily slips farther and farther back
ward toward the ultimate result OF helpless
mental dwarfage. Tho mental rs well as the
physical powers require constant aliment
without which growth is impossible. This 4
the reason why, as time goes on, 50 many hus
bands gradually grow away FROM their wivoa
Chit-Chst.
Mrs. General Ricketts, gives large dancing
reception on Friday evening next.
Mr.. George Bancroft the historian, gives Q
card reception on Thursday evening.
Miss Teel, of the Quaker City, is visiting al
the residence of General Emery, on II streek
A grand calico ball" Is talked Of the pro-
ceeds OF which are TO be devoted to the Labot
Exchange.
Rumor hath it that Sergeant .at-Arms French
of the Senate, Is about to wed an accomplished
young widow of this city.
Senator johnson has his wife and daughters
with him at Willards. They will prove 4
On dit that tho ladies of the Treasury De.
partmcnt are about organizing new temper.
ancc league en- Hldsse, a Ia the printers move.
mcnt.
The reception and hop at the Marine Bar
racks yesterday was even more largely NJ
tended than usual, and was in every way
success.
We understand that Mr.. Walter p. Bagaley,
of Georgetown, will shortly receive an ap-
pointmcnt as consul to some port in south
America. Bon rOydge.'
Many of our society bellies at ball and party
wear sandal shOon," with glimpses of palo
blue, French pink or gray hose coQucttshly
''pccping through the bars
One of the most delightful affairs of tho
week was the little trtr given toa few Young
friends, ON Thursday night, by Sixth Auditor
Mc';rcw and his charming wife
Miss Bcne Triplrtt, who has been spcudinE
the holidays with the Misses Livingston, has
returned to her home in Maryland, Miss
Bcnc has host of friends here, and adds 10
their number at each succeeding visit
DR. bradford, the apollo of the press" con-
nrctrd with the Cincinnati EHgHirrr, and re-
nowncd as one of the handSumcst men of Pork
Opolis, is about to lead to the altar "a brilliant
aud beautiful Ohio lady now visiting in this
city.
The gay season is now fairly inauguRted,
and bids fair to be an unusually brilliant one.
General sherman has returned to the city. and
is prepared to perform his share of the dane.
ing and kissing, while Mrs. Sherman remains
in st. Louis.
one of the fashionable young gentlemen Of
the West End loaned his horse and sleigh 10
his bosom friend yesterday, aud was somowhat
chagrincd half al hour later as said "mutusl~
careered gaily past with his-the lcnder's-'
sweetheart. Sensation!
Ebony has quite superseded rosewood foz
costly furniture, aud is upholstered with raw
silk. Curtains arc also OF raw silk, on eboay
rods or cornices.