The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-14

OF husbandman.
We will not say that the wife of a
lhfmer holds a position above all
other wives, for we find in every Oc
cupation those who, with the relation
q Wife, assume great responsibilities,
DO honor to their husbands, are Crna-
ments to society and bless mankind.
we do not say that the position of a
iarmer's wife is one peculiarly adap-
Geo to life of usefulness, and we
would like TO ask the frivolous and
fashionable girls who scorn the hand
ora husbardman, whether life spent
IN useful employment such as the
average farmer expects of Il wife, will
DOT, In the retrospect give more salts
faction than one spent in the gay
rounds of fashionable society? The
-;seslsstion needs no answer. The an
lswer goes without saying.
The position of the wife of a farmer
is not only one of usefulness, but it is
also very stable and Independent.
Farmers seldom fail; we may say
never, or hardly ever, if they attend
to their legitimate business. Ger
tainly, the risks of agri uture are
less than those of other callings. The
farmer may not have the wealth and
display, the style Of the merchant
and manufacture, but his wife does
not live in fear of panics and sheriff's
visits. The soil always responds gen
erously to generous culture, and her
cellar and pantry are never empty.
She is sure of a comfortable living,
let trade be ever so much disturbed.
Such Independence and freedom from
risk are far more conductive to hap
pinesS than all the WeaIth-With
its cOrrOding cares-Which railroad
stocks bought and sold have ever
earned. If we had a dozen daugh-
terS, we should consider them more
fortunate if comfortably settled on
farms than if married to rich brokers.
While thus approaching the natur-
al advantages of the wife of a farmer,
we wish to add that the comfort and
usefulness of her position depends
largely upon the sympathy and CO.
operation of her husband. Some farm
erS, we are sorry to say, treat their
wives as though they were beasts of
burden, made to bear children and do
drudgery. Indeed, we have known
those with whom the horse seemed
30 be first and the wife second. Some
7oof''' . 80 sr. cold selfish and penuri
Gus that to save few dollars in the
wages of hired help they are willing
to let their wives break down in
health and to see their children born
with feeble constitutions in cOnse-
quence. Ignorance, doubtless, in
many cases, may be pleaded in pallia.
ton of such cruelty, but ignorance is
a sin which God and man may haYe
Winked at in the baYbarOuS ages and
portions of the world, bat better
things are expected of husbands in
this enlightened country.
The original meaning of the word
wife is weaver, and a farmers wife,
though not now compelled to throw
the shuttle, should be a worker; but
in her work she should have the
sympathy Other husband, and it is his
bounden duty to see that her ambi-
ton does not lead her to OYerWork.
The unteeing wretch, who standing
at the coffin of his wife, said,-"I
would rather have lost my best cow"
would very likely not have been a
widower if he had been as careful of
his wife as of his cow. He certainly
did.not deserve another wife, though
he is said to have secured one in three
months.
Ii ClIS pOolllbIl VI a lttI illCI > W llG
Involves peculiar labors and also re-
sponsibilities, as intimated, then she
is entitled to peculiar consideration
on the part of her husband. Ifshe is
emphatically partner IN his busi.
ness. she should be consulted in all
business matters, and her advice
treated with all proper respect. The
days have gone by when a woman
has no rights in the conduct Of busi.
ness which a husband is bound to re.
spect. There is not 50 unselfiSh, and
at the same time so interested, q
counselor for any man as his wife
and we are persuaded that those bus
mess men are most successful who
cOnfide their affairs to their wives and
ask their advice. If this is the case
in complicated mercantile and manu-
featuring business, with which Wo
men are not expected to be familiar
much more is it true in farming, with
which, in some of its branches a
least, the wife has much to do.
When we find that a young farmer
has secured a wife, and treats her Is {
partner in his business, we feel faI
r,nrn nOn fi1apnn in his SupppSG thar