The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-06-14
Parnsrs. Rsa6 and Consider.

The season OF year suggests again, as
it always does, the multitudinous cares
that devolve upon wives of farmers, and
we cannot let tine occasion pass without
referring TO it. The fact we'll known
that a large proportion Of the women
patients in our hospitals for the insane
are brought thither from farm-houses,
is enough to cause farm owuer=-aud we
had nearly said 1eoh. -a owners to take
alarm and provide that sorely needed
element, help for their wives during the
heats OF harvest. A writer in the Cor
Wallis gazette sums the matter up with
50 much pith, point aud hamaaity,
that We quote her words aud commend
them to the careful perusal OF our read
ers, both men and women:
On Snr farms and iu our villages tGe
uobiest, best, aud most important ele-.
meuts of motherhood are sacrificed to
The hydra-headei monster, cookery.
The first step Cd ue taken Is to rouse the
SOUS and husbands of the mothers aud
wives of our farmers TO the actual con-
ilItiOu of things. No matter how dis
tasteful the task, they must be sum
noued 20 our hospitals for the insane,
where so large "a proporuou of the iu-
mates are the poor victims Of over
work, brought tbIther from farm homes.
From thence We would guide theu 90
the village burial grounds all over our'
land, where crest" at last the weary
mothers vino iu life never enjoyed even
the legitimate rest of Tie SaboaIh, since
the best dinner of The week must be pre-
pared for the minister or the iuevita-
Ule company uf young fJlks-youug
folks who would be just as well and just
a. happy if sent 10 the orchard Co pick
their own fruit, as though mother
mad de-Poiied a day iu making pui-
iIngs aud pies. / wish dared Co really
submit 90 print the pIJitIi stories have
Heen told 10y our farmers wives not
dle piaiuiugs, but In Intense earn
-Stuess, 20 know how their daughters
could be spared the life of conscious,
-low suicide, 10 which they had sub
mitted. j wish ] couid take you 10 tie
grave Of as lovely "a young woman as
ever blessed "a hou-euuid-Oue whose mu-
,ical gifts were sucu that "a life OF luxury
4ud ease but awaited her acceptance;
and yet who, because ut the strong. pure
.Ove she bore hlm, decided to go West,
ts the bride of 90 young farmer. Not
quite "a year passed auu size was brought
nome dead, with her dead babe iu her
arms. "Such mysterious Providence
exclaimed many, while those who heali
The story of the work she faithfully per-
Ormed Tor tie "harvest LaulsH during
hat sitting summer heat, three weeks
previous t0 the time when heT husband
expected the birth of their first born,
those who heard that story almost
.ursed the improvideuce of tie husband.
That young husband really loved his
wife. His criminal fault was not in
easing TO love, butiu falling 90 study
physiology or exercise common sense,
OF be had said TO tile lille, weary wife;
'HaEest hands expect qaIts "a feast all
Nays9 be sure 90 have plenty of cake
and pie,n as though cake and pie grew.
The harvesters had their cake aud pie,
aud the young husband had dead wife
suppose this man had said Iu q EIauIy
way: "My wife Is not able 10 prepare
D feast, and ] cannot procure help for
ner. Gentlemen, / was confident that
you would prefer, as desert, after SUBJ
-tantial meal the fruits served simply,
with cream and sugar Or, iu cas-. he
iare not DO that, suppose tult he had
sat up nights with the little wife aud
helped her and beat the cake and rolled
he pie crust himseIf2 Would not a
wise Providence have granted him a
iItiereut "dispeusati0u, ~ and the haT-
sesters been equally well served