The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-21
HOW MUCH Is A WIFE WORTH?
BY MRS. H. W. BEECHER.

A few weeks since q party sitting near
us on the cars were speaking of young
man, wealthy farmer, who had just
disturbed his friends by venturing to
marry poor girl. We judged by the
conversation that he had been we'll ed
ucated, for wealth and intelligence was
quite looked up to by his townsmen.
But he married for love, not money or
position, and these friends were literally
using friendships privilege to make
rather severe remarks about him in his
absence.
First, it was foolish, after his educa-
ton, instead of entering into one of the
professions" to return to the home.
stead, the quaint old farmhouse, and
taking the care Of his aged parents upon
himself, settle down to farmers life.
So foolish!
But this was trivial offense compared
to taking q poor girl for a wife with moth
ing but common, practical education,
good health, loving heart and willing
hands to recommend her. With his cul-
tivated and refined tastes, what happi-
ness could he hope for in such COM
partnership? But then, he would be a
that farmers wife need be.
We have often thought of the tone of
this conversation. For what do men
generally marry, and what estimate do
they generally put on their wives? How
many really good husbands never real
ize how large share of the prosperity
of their home, its comfort and success,
they owe to their wives. The husband
earns the money, it may be true-but
does he ever make an estimate, q tair
business estimate, of what it would
cost in dollars and cents to buy the cares
and comfort that he receives from his
wife's labors, whatever may be their
standing in the community? Particu-
larly is this pertinent question as it re-
CARDS the farmers wife.
While the subject and conversation
alluded to were fresh in mind, We
CHANGED to pick up some stray newspa-
per which spoke quite clearly on some
points of this subject. We subjoin few
sentences:
1--WE will for the present leave out of
sight all sentiment, all references to the
little comforts and felicilities that go to
make up the sum of domestic happiness,
and come right to the practical question:
Does a young woman who comes to her
husband with little or no dowry, but with
willing heart and hands, and fair share
of intelligence, who takes care of him of
his house, and of his family as it in
creases, often without any hired help,
really earn more than her board and
clothing?
No man will deny that good wife is
treasure. Her care and labor certainly
secure him many comforts; but how
much would he consider them worth in
dollars and cents? IT is great comfort
to man to have his three meals properly
cooked and prepared al hours that suit
his convenience. He can swallow din
ner in twenty or thirty minutes that it
has taken most of the wife's forenoon to
prepare. He thinks it good dinner;
but how high an estimate, think you,
would he put upon the labor of prepar-
ing it if required to state the worth in
money
With what astonishment and disgust
would he look upon his table if set with
dishes that had not been washed since
last used; but how high q money value
would he be willing to put upon the one
unromantic item of washing dishes,
which, nevertheless, takes so large a
share of woman's time?
With that satisfaction he puts on the
clean, smoothly ironed shirt and his
nicely darned socks. They do not look
much like the ones he pulls off to throw
into the wash. Some one has had TO rub
pretty smartly to get the dirt all out;
some one strained over the hot flat-irons
to make the shirt SO glossy; some one
spent an hour, perhaps while he slept,
TO darn those unsightly holes in the heels
of those stockings. And if it was a
farmer it was his wife, most probably,
that did it all, and not this week only,
but every week as sure as the weeks
come round. Now he does not appre-
ciate cleanliness, Notwithstanding his
protestations against washing days and
house cleaning: does he own that it is
worth anything in money if done by his
wife?
Then comes the care of the milk and
butter. Every day it must be attended
TO At the proper time, the cream churned,
the butter made and carefully worked
and sailed. He is proud that his wife
makes good butter, and quite happy to
have customers tell him, "You have the
best butter Of any one aronni here. .
But then, are not the COWS his? Does he
not furnish the food? Does he not milk
and take care of them? Is her part really
worth anything in dollars and cents?
Then, again, her energies are taxed
sarly and late in the care OF her children.
She il, of course, an interested party
here; but then she don't pretend to own