The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-09-30

THE PARxnR's WIFE.
"It is not Good that Man Should be
Alone"


alt is not good that man should be
alone; will make helpmeet for him. I"
Whoever, since Adam day, has attempt
cd to get along without wife has found
il mot good" A woman rounds out
the life Of n man, supplements his de-
fects, shares his troubles, doubles his
joys, sweetens his toll as we'll as his tea,
is his truest friend and advisor-in
short, is his "helpmect." The Shakers
maintain that the idea of quality extends
to the Godhead, and that il runs through
all animal and vegetable life there can
be no doubt. Science confirms the Scrip
ture principal, "malc and female created
He them" and extends il to everything
that has life. Whoever, therefore, at.
tempts to live in contravention Of this
universal law will find that he has hard
row TO hoe, and il 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 farmcrs-one an old bachelor
and the other an old maid--who are max
ing this venture, and awkward work
they make. In pecuniary view, both
are doing well from the and.point
Of comfort, manhood and womanhood
both are doing miserably. Think Of
the old bachelor making his own bread
and butter, and eating i: in silence;
working all day and coming home at
night TO his bed and board Of single
blesscdncss. There is no comfort, no
manl:ncss in such life, unless il 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. Woman can do I
great many things, and do them better
than 4 man, but she never was made TO
run a farm. She has various and in
creasing rights, but following the plow,
driving oxen, managing bulls, and
breaking colts are not among them. -
She is an indispensable hclpmeet to the
farmer, but her sphere is adomesiic one,
literally domestic, that is, belonging TO
the house. When she takes upon her
self the prerogative Of m;ngling with the
men in the field, loading hay and NOV
ing it away, directing about the breed
ing of stock, and displaying her eques-
trian skill on the road or race course,
she unsexes herself and becomes man
in peiiicoats.
Solomon says: "Whoso finds 4 wife,
finds good thing" Bu, some men
who have married shrcws and slovens
have been inclined to dispute the wis
dom Of Solomon in this proverb, but
the trouble is, they married women, not
wives. A wife, including all that is sig
nified in the name, is good thing al
ways and tn every one, and TO the farm
cr is especially 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 hand:
to the spindle and hold the disiaff, but
she looketh well to the ways of her
household and eatcth rot the bread oil
idleness.
The farmers wife is emphatically !
partner in his business. On herdevolve:
the care Of the dairy, in addition tc
the ordinary routine of household duties.
Her sphere OF action, though strictly
domestic, 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 care.
and honors which the name implies. SO
she is entitled TO the name OF landlady
and must assume the responsibilities a.
well as the respect that go with thii
position and title. That there are un
usual duties connected with the station
is manifest from the fact that there ar,
many women desiring TO find husbands
but unwilling to marry husbandmen
because they dislike 10 do the work
drudgery they call it-peculiar to farm
ers' wives. All such have yet to learI
that she only is true wife "who doetl
her husband good all the days of he
life. who girdeth her lions with strength
and strcngiheneti hrr arms. wh'
strctchcth out her hands TO the poor
who is not afraid of the snow for he
household, for all her household ar
clothed who openeth her mouth witt
wisdom. and in her tongue is the law o
kindness, whose children rise up an,
call her blessed, whose works praise her
Such is Solomon's picture ofagood wife
and it was evidently intended for tn
wife of husbandman.
We will not say that the wife OF
farmer holds position above all othe
wives, for we find in every occupation
those who, with the relation OF wife
assume great responsibilities. do homo
to their husbands, are ornaments to SO
cicty and bless mankind. We do no
say that the position of farmers wifi
is one peculiarly adapted to 4 life o
usefulness, and we would like TO ask tn
frivolous and fashionable girls who scorl
the hand Of 4 husbandman, whether
life spent in useful employment such .
the average farmer expects Of 4 wife
will not, in the retrospect give NOR
satisfaction than one spent in the ga
rounds OF fashionable society? Tn
question needs no answer. The answe
goes without saying.
The position Of the wife OF farme
is not only one Of usefulness, but it
also very stable and independent
Farmers seldom fail emay say never
or hardly ever, il they attend to thei
legitimate business. Certainly, ,h
risks Of agriculture are less than thos
OF other callings. The farmer may nc
have the wealth and display, the styl
Of the merchant and manufacture, bl
his wife docs not live in fear of panic
and sheriff's visits. The soil alwa,
responds generously to generous culture
and her cellar and pantry are neve
empty. She is sure Of comfortable Ii,
ing, let trade be ever so much disturb
/ ed Such indencndence and freednr