Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-14
UNMARRIED WOMEN.
Some Hints to Mothers Whose Daughters Fai
to Wed.
Philadelphia Fress.

TO Neu.
Philadelphia Fress
Thomas Hughes says there is a peculiar
charm about the words zones own !"
which it takes a man or boy long to find
out, but doubt if there is a woman who
from babyhood has not recognized that
charm. Let US then think with more
consideration than has been our wont of
those women who have never taken upon
themselves the pleasures and cares of
welded life, but whose lives have been
given up to others far more than have
those of the majority OF their welded
sisters.
One such woman has charge of a house
hold whose inmates are an invalid mother,
a feeble grandmother, and bachelor
brother. She makes the home happy for
them and with what return for
this sacrifice of her girlhood? What are
her privileges? She cannot order a din
ner exactly to suit herself or have it served
according to her own ideas, and to change
the hour of meal or ask a friend in
without first family consultation would
be considered high treason.
It is possible that even mothers are a
little too selfish and exacting toward their
unmarried daughters. There is a widow
with three unmarried daughters of ''un-
certain age.' It would be decided con-
venience to the musician of the family if
the piano could be moved to another part
of the room. She speaks to her mother
about it. The reply is: ''I see no reason
Emily, why it should be moved; it has al
ways been there. When you have a house
of your own you can have the piano just
where you choose"
R,,S, ~ IL,
fences in this way. Is it not possible
that remarks of this kind may have some,
thing to do with the numerous ill-assort-
ed marriages we daily hear of? The in
nate longing of our woman nature tC
have something to call our own, to dc
with as we like, must be gratified, and
crafty it we will in one way or another
or die in the attempt.
Could not a mother, without loss Oh
dignity, divide her dominion, giving each
daughter a province of her own? Ever
a room in which she can do exactly as
she pleases and exercise her individual
taste will do much toward making hel
happy, and the daughters must be mad'
happy as we'll as the sons.
We hear and read much on the subjec
of making home pleasant for the boys
but few words are ever said about max
ing home pleasant for the girls. There
is a species of injustice about this mattel
those who have not observed girls ant
their ways closely may not have seen
They too, have temptations and many lit
tie trials and difficulties to overcome, anC
of them it is required that they shall b.
always cheerful and amiable.
There is another family with one I'm
married daughter still at home. Sh
does much of the housekeeping and tn
family sewing, but her recreation, tina
which she loves above all else, is he
palette and brush; and yet even her tim,
is not her own.
She has not one interrupted hour during
the day. Patiently day after day sh
puts asidd her canvas to fit on mother
dress or sew on fathers buttons, or Sc
that the spare room is made ready TO
mothers friends, and day after day am
week after week the work she longod t.
do has to be put off till some future tim
which never comes.
This womans a type of class who's
burdens are heavy because made up 0
numberless trifes. Can we not by a lit
tie more thought for her who thinks g,
often for others add something to he
pleasures?