The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-03-11
The Farmers wife.

A farmer without a wife is like nall
pair of scissors. No man amounts to
much without one; but for a farmer
wife is one of the essentials. No sooner
was Adam created than the Creator
said, +" 1t is not good that man should
be alone; I will make helpmeet for
him. Whoever since Adams day, has
attempted to get along without a wife
has found it ssnot good" A woman
rounds out the life of man, supple
ments his defects, shares his troubles,
doubles his joys, sweetens his toll as
we'll as his tea, is his truest friend and
adviser-in short, lis his s helpmeet."
The Shakers maintain that the idea OF
duality extends to the Godhead, and that
it runs through all animal and vegeta-
BILE life there can be no doubt. Scien-
lists confirm the Scripture principle,
"male and female created He them,"
and extend it to every thing that has
life. Whoever, therefore, attempts to
live in contravention of this universal
law will find that he has hard row to
hoe, and if a farmer attempts it, he may
be considered, without further proof, as
an odd half of pair of shears. In the
circle of our acquaintance, which is not
limited, we can call to mind only two
farmers-one an old bachelor and the
other an old maid-who are making
this venture, and awkward work they
make. In pecuniary view, both
are doing well; from the standpoint of
comfort, manhood and womanhood,
both are doing miserably. Think of
the old bachelor making his own bread
and butter, and eating it in solitude;
working all day, and coming home at
night to his bed and board of single
blessedness. There is no comfort, no
manliness in such life, unless it is the
miserly happiness of boarding wealth
for heirs, he knows not whom. The
farm-life of the old maid must be still
more miserable Women can do a
great many things, and do them better
than can man, but she never was made
to run a farm. She has various and
increasing rights, but following the
plow, driving oxen, managing bulls,
She Is an fnu1epastS e re not among them.
farmer, but her sphere is domestic
one, literally domestic, that is, belong
ing to the house. When she takes upon
| herself the prerogative of mingling with
the men in the field, loading hay and
moving it away, directing about the
breeding of stock, and displaying her
equestrian skill on the road or race
course, she unsexes herself and becomes
man in petticoats.
Solomon says: "Whoso finds a wife.
finds good thing" Some who have
married shrews and Stevens have been
inclined to dispute the wisdom of Solo
mon In this proverb, but the trouble is,
they married women, not wives. A
wife, including all that is signifed in the
name, is good thing always and to
every one, and to the farmer is specially
good, as she is such an important factor
in his business. She does not, as in the
days of Solomon, seek wool and flax.
nor lay her hands to the spindle and
hold the distaff, but she loos til well to
the ways of her household and eateth
not the bread of idleness. The farmers
wife is emphatically partner in his
business. On her devolves the care of
the dairy, in addition to the ordinary
routine of household duties. Her
sphere of action, though strictly do
nestle, is wider one than that of the
ordinary housewife. AS her husband.
IN virtue of his ownership of land which
he subdues and tills, is entitled to the
name of landlord, with all the cares and |
honors which the name implies. so
she is entitled to the name of landlady.
and must assume the responsibilities as |
well as the respect that 60 with this
position and title. That there are nm
usual duties connected with the station /
Is manifest from the fact that
there are many women desiring
to find husbands, but unwili.
ing to marry husbandmen, because
they dislike to do the work-drudperv
hey call it-peculiar to farmers wives
All such have yet to learn that she only
s true wife 'swho doeth her husband
good all the days of her life, who girdetb
Ter iolns with strength and strengthen
eth her arms, who stretcheth out her
lands to the poor, who is not afraid of
he snow for her household, for all her
household are clothed, who openeth her
mouth with wisdom, and her topeue Is
he law of kindness, whose children rise
lp and call her blessed, whose works
raise her," Such is Solomon's picture
+ good wife, and it was evidently in
ended for the wife of a husbandman.
We will not say that the wife of a farm
holds position above all other wives.
Or we find in every occupation those
Tho, with the relation of wife, assume ]
reat responsibilities, do honor to their
usbands, are ornaments to society and
less mankind. We do say that the no.
ton OF farmers wife is one peculiar
adapted to life of usefulness, and I
e would like to ask the frivolous and
'shionable GIRLS who scorn the hand of
husbandman, whether life spent in $
seful employment such as the AVERAGE
rmer expects of a wife, will not, in the 2
'trospect, give more satisfaction than Q
le spent in the gay rounds of fashion, Q
Die society," The question needs no o
lswer. The answer goes without say $
g.
The position of the wife of farmer il =
IT only one of usefulness, but it is also = ;.
ny stable and independent. Farmers {
idom fail; we may say never, or q
I'll II