The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-02-22
MARRYING A FARMER.

There Is no use in reasoning any more; my
mind is made upl will not marry a larmerl
All your arguments are Of no account"
Il am sorry, Jenny, you are 50 dcicrmlncd.' ~
Mother do YOU want your child 10 go
through life as YOU have done-toll from mora
mr. till night, and sometimes half Of the night
b,eidcs-sick or we'll, no odds-dcIve, work,
all the timcY"
"All farmers families are not situated Just ~
ours has been; you know your father
eyes, know all about it, he loves his cattle
and horses far more than he does his children,
and he is ten times more careful Of his old
mare than he is Of his wife-the mother Of
his children"
Jennie, Jennie Wells! You ought not to
sneak So
But, mother, dear, it is the truth; you can
rot deny it. Haven't eyes? We girls can
see the case plainly. Old Doll has nice colts,
and she must not be worked. Bless me! il
might hurt the colt to drive the old mare to
,hc village, she must be fed high and live at
bsr ease but his wife; no danger Of hurting
her babies or her either No wonder the ba
By is sick and irettul, when poor mother is
sVerhcated, 0vcrworked from morning III!
night, not one hour To rest all day; and just as
soon as we girls are large enough to help you
we have to run FOR the turkeys, drive the cows,
feed the pigs, and leave you to toll on alone.
1t is y burning shame"
"JcnnIc, your father does not look at 1t as
you do"
It's high time he did; and am going to
give HIM chance before | leave home, too, ="
Leave home, child! Where are you go
mgY
somewhere Yes shall be eighteen next
month, and ! am going to see II there is n
place where one can have an hours rest, to-
enjoy reading"
MY child, how can spare you-what will
baby do?'
"lf am away, Eta will take my place in
stead of working ut-ot.doors as much rs she
does now--it will be better for her. A man
has no business to make girl work as she
has to. Don't You think il would be easier for
her if | was away?'
"Oh, dear my child, | can not see how it
will be. do not think your father will like
it, Does George know how you icel?" And
the poor woman sighed heavily.
Yes, mother, ! told him last night, he
thinks his wife would have an easier time than
you have mad but farmers wife Is IA slave;
her work Is never done Mother, if George
harIwel was anything but farmer, think
| could love him well enough to marry him :;
but AS it is, you'd rather remain in old maid
W The end OF my days.
you do not object to him, then--only his
oCCupation?'
THAT is all; really think he is very pleas.
ant" just then Mr.. Weiss voice rang ont
from the top of the load Of hay which was he
ing drawn INTO the barn
Jennie, it's time to get the cows You girls
will have to do the chores, for we must
get in three more loads of hay before the sun
goes down
Jennie Wells knew what that meant: she
and her sister Eta had the cows to drive from
the pasture more than half a mile off; twelve
COWS TO tic up and milk; eight hogs to feed :;
mix to strain; find the turkeys, count and
feed them; chickens to feed and shut up in
their cOOps; two horses to water, feed and bed
aown, and supper To get for four men; and
1t was now about 6 O'Clock. She laid her
work down and, with compressed lips, joined
her sister, who sat on the doorstep tanning
herself with her hat; her pleasant face was
suaburnt covered with perspiration and dirt,
and the great tears were slowly tricklng down
her checks
What is ii, Eta, darling? Don't cry;
Will bring you basin OF water and the towel
anu you rest will get the cows alone Poor
little slsterin
Il am tired almost to- DEATH jennie 1t is
not going 10 rain! They are going to gain
t"'" 10 90 TO the bear'hunt tomorrow. never
can milk the COWS tonight, am so tired"
"Slt and rest you feel better now, you have
bsthed."
some; the Hartwells have more hay out
than we have, and their milking is done, and
the girls did not have To do il either; the girls
did not rake after the cart over there; they
have good time"
Eta had better take care and rest on the
settec Jennie, while you are gone for the cows, >
said tae mother softly from the sitting-room
as Jennie started from the door
ayes, Eta, 90 in! He can not see Won il
the house when he goes back--so he won't Sc
you TO work"
The poor, tired girl went indoors. and Jen
ME walked with brisk step toward the pas
ture.
Mr. Wells was a well-to-do farmer. He in
herited from his father snug farm, we'll stock
ed and IN good cultivation He was a fin,
looking man, and was considered the hes
match in town; so when he married the min
ister's eldest daughter every one thought sh,
was a fortunate girl--such nice home s,
smart husband, and so well off, tool S,