The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-09-02
A woMAN's WORK.

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biographical sketches OF the most genu-
inc solid agriculturists Of the country,
have story to tell Of what a woman
can do. Nothing startling and improb-
able however, but 4 refreshing variety
in these days when women have the
reputation of trying to creep out Of real
necessary work, that they may sit back
and embroider splashers and pin cush-
ions, while husband and hired girl, or
father and mother, bear the brunt of the
toll of living. Iwould be glad If could
give the portrait and name of my hero
inc, but she is modest, retiring woman,
doing her duty simply because she feels
il to be such, and not for any praises Of
the world; and she would be greatly
grieved to find herself thrust before the
public in any such way as that.
For convenience in writing | will call
her Jane Darling, concealing her real
name out of respect for her feelings
| Her husband was a farmer he owned,
or nominally owned, large and very
productive farm in neighborhood Of
good land, but it was pretty well mort
gagged, and about ten years ago when
he died, people thought Jane (and her
two young children, boy and girl,
just merging in their teens, would never
be able to hold it. II was considerably
out of repair, buildings and fences had
been neglected, and things were very
much at loose ends, as they soon get
to be about farm, il not diligently at
tended to. Mrs. Darling is little wo-
man with small foot and small hand,
and at the time OF her husbands death
had never been used to any kind OF out =.
door pursuits. Her household affairs
we're managed with care and judgment,
but beyond that she never ventured.-
Everybody said it was madness for so
slight and inexperienced 4 woman TO
undertake to manage farm. She had
different ideas, here was her boy, should
she take him 10 city or village to be ed
ucated into idleness and its evilassocia-
,ions, or should she make the effort to
manage the farm herself, for the few
years that iniervened between youth
and manhood, and let him grow into a
practical knowledge Of farming while
assisting her 3?
She chose the better part . she took
the farm with its burden OF debt and
disorder, and, to-day, there can be no
higher praise of woman's work than that
farm and those children. Neatness and
thrift are apparent everywhere. Wire
fences and neatly trimmed hedges sur.
round most Of the fields, the latest i'm
proved machinery is 4, hand for use,
the buildings are all in good repair, 4
wind mill pumps water for both house
and barn, the mortgage is reduced, the
son now superiniends the farm, and the
daughter the house, both frequently
asked advice Of their wise and loving
mother: and now the good little wo-
man is beginning to reap a harvest OF
rest and enjoyment, after the years OF
trouble and toll.
Il is thought by many that woman
20 be capable nf farming. nr any other
manly business, must be coarse and
masculine she must have large, mus
cular frame, big fist, and a loud voice,
but Jane Darling is the reverse Of this;
she is feminine in every particular
When by what means she had succeeded
in accomplishing so much, she replied :
"Where there is will there is way
but | never felt that | had done very
great things. All aimed at was an
honest, comfortable home for myself
and children. and left no stone unturned
,owardsihat end" With characteristic
womanliness in shielding her husband
she remarked that his poor health pre-
vented him from keeping the farm III
good order As he othew;se would, but
he was good Judge OF land. and good
quality of the soil, more than anything
else, enabled her TO succeed in the un'
deriaking. al generally had good
crops" said she land never bough
things till could pay for them. mad,
up my mind not to disgust my son will
/ farming, havingthe work dragging along
half done. and SO kept help enough L
enable him 10 see the way through with
out discouragement. never worked
out on the farm myself much, but ! ex
|, amined everything closely and directed
the work TO suit my own ideas, alway
: taking note Of my neighbor's work, anC
what the old, experienced, successful
farmers were doing. II often made yer,
hard times for me to attend to both on
, t, and indoors. | sometimes had little o
no help in the house but my daughter
/ il was easier TO hire men than womeI
|, who would do their work as directed
, without watching. Ii was the anxiet,
/ for my children's welfare, think, tha
nerved my arm, and merciful Provi
dence was good TO me-"
. While listening to her simple recital
. could not help thinking what a goo'
, example is this pure Christian woman
. for with all her cares she never forgo
/. her religion, and in company with he
children was always found in her plac
of worship on Sabbath morning. ant
was an earnest worker in the Sabbatl
schools. Verify the righteous are nc
forsaken.
My space will not permit OF going int
I, details Of the many plans she mention
ed to help along, but the general oui
line is enough to show what refine VIC
men, when rightly directed, can do
Had her husband lived, she would neve
have passed Tor more than an ordinar
good little woman. / do not say thi
as an inducement for men to die tha
their wives may have a chance; bu
they might see in il the loss they ofte
sustain by not consulting their wives i
}. business matters, and fortifying then
selves with their unbiased judgment be
fore the mad leap in the dark is made
The story Of Jane Darling might ais