The Delaware farm and home. (Wilmington, Del.) 1885-19??, 1886-03-11
woman's Work in the Grange.
ESSAY READ BY MRS. DANIEL SHORT AT
MIDLAND GRANGE, GEORGETOWN,
DEL.

girl that | presume to address you
my sisters, on the duties devolving
upon us as co-workers with our
brothers in the Order and hope
YOU will bear with me in this my
first effort at composition since my
school days. First, we should be
proud Of our position in the Order
in which we are permitted to meet
with the lords of creation on an
equal footing and with equal privi-
leges, where our judgment, reason
and mental faculties are aclnowl-
edged to be equal to theirs, and
where we can discuss sour rights,
advantages and interests without
being considered of taking a step
beyond our sphere, or infringing
upon the rights of the stronger sex.
| do not believe that our wise Crea-
tor designed us to go out into the
world and struggle and work for
political situation and power, nor
have we the strength to undergo
the toll, exposure and care OF agri-
cultural pursuits. But if we turn our
energies and minds in the right
direction we can have an influence
indirectly on political questions
which involve the interest of farmers
to such an extent that we may in a
short time rise above the position
we now occupy. BY uniting our
efforts and asserting our right rs
grangers, each brother acting for
the farmers interests and casting
his vote to the best of his Judgment
to improve our own condition ms
farmers we may reap our reward
in the near future. We have Il
power in this organization il we only
become Il unity, each one only
having the interests of the farmer ut
heart. Laying aside all political
prejudices and resolving to be bound
together in one common brotherhood
we can break all cliques, monopolies
and moncyed powers that are
safaeinR the life-blood of these
United stAes. # each one Of us
would study to improve our intel
iect, become conversant with differ
ent questions Of political economy
and governmental affairs in which we
as farmers are interested, we would
then be able to decide upon
questions that would enhance our
interest and not listen to the soph-
istries of agents, demagogues. and
political aspirants. As have said
we should be proud Of our position
as grangers which is one step higher
in our sphere of life We therefore
should make ourselves worthy Of
the trust by reading and study,
gathering good and useful informal
ton on all subjects. BY 50 doing
we will elevate our thoughts above
the drudgeries of life, make our
selves feel that we are capable OF
doing more than the laborS incun-
bent upon us in the household. Not
that these are the least degrading or
are not a part of our duties, but we
should exert ourselves to do them
we'll by being neat and tidy in all
things for nothing is more pleasant
than to enter into house where
there is asplace for everything and
everything i'll it's place care labor and
taste are associated everywhere, and
! insist that every housekeeper can
have some time to improve the mind
by reading or writing, and if we
make failure in the first effort we
should cndeaTor TO do better the
next time. Those who expect to
achieve success in life must learn
not to be discouraged by failure.
We should persevere in our efforts
and thereby become stronger and
wiser. We all shirk our duties
too often. We hear brother or
sister remark, after subject has
been discussed and disposed Of that