The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-09-20

harvesting; and she feels sure that by
the change she saved her life.
From being in dangerous condition
with death threatening her she became
robust, and now. at 60, is so strong and
well that she looks as if she might live
to be hundred.
From necessity she gradually began to
assume the whole management of the
farm. having no brother. and the prop.
erty eventually came into her hands.
She now does her own work, just as any
man-farmer would, plows all day, har.
rows, plants, sows, reaps.
She told me that she cuts twelve tons
Of hay lin which, of course, she has
help). And last year she herself picked
from her orchard $50 bushels of apples;
she raised thirty bushels of potatoes. do
ing all the work, besides q great deal
more.
As q sample of her indoor work, it
may be said that she made and sold from
her three cows two hundred pounds Of
butter, having churned seventy between
the middle of October and the following
January.
She seemed on my visit to her, per-
fectly willing to tell about her methods
and her success; and her opinion was
that women would do best in the dairy
business. She has tried raising young
stock, and in some years it is profitable,
selling the animals when two or three
years old. She always kept an excellent
horse, and does most of her work with
him, but occasionally has Q neighbor
come with yoke of oxen.
The day we called, which was in mid
winter, she had just driven into her
dooryard with load of wood, which she
left on the sled while she took US in and
entertained us. She was then living
alone Though generally, I think. hav-
ing some one with her, and her only
companion besides q cat was most Wig
liant dog who kept sharp watch on us.
The interior of her house was as tidy,
cosy and comfortable as if its mistress
made it her sole care; pleasant, roomy,
sunny, old fashioned New England In.
terror. And outside it represented the
typical New England farmstead, a ramb
ling, antique red house, large enough
for two families, with q front door and
side door, and great chimney sugges
tive of open 6replaces and baking days
and profusion of substantial fare.
1t faced the south, and q few lilac
bushes grew beside the walk" and at
the L was grass.plat crossed by hard
trodden path to the big barn. There Q
long row of windows let sunshine in on
the dusty mows and the stalls, and be-
fore it was great yard where herd Of
young cattle were summing themselves
altogether thrifty, home-like, attractive
place.
She said she enjoyed her out-of. door
work; and she seemed as cheerful as she
was clear-headed; shrewd, bright, bust
ness woman, who knew just how to lay
out her work, how to buy and sell, what
crops would be most profitable, and all
about farming. She was very compan-
ionable and interesting, full of informa
ton and of excellent Judgment. but, al
may be inferred, an original sort Of per-
son.
This is an extreme case, with which
the pressure of circumstanc Q has had
much to do. But health, . cheerful
spirit and absolute Independence have
been gained.
All three of these were in part forced
to follow farming; and daughterly care of
failing parents seemed to have had
large share in deciding their lfe's work.
They have been exceptionally successful,
are contented, are respected; and though
no girls who read this may wish to ven
ture on agriculture to such az, extent,
they may gain some suggestions about