The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-06
Our 0liu.
The Farmers Wife.

Aler. Hyde, IN N T. Times.
A farmer without wife is like half a
pair of scissors. No man amounts to much
without one; but for farmer wife is one
of the essentials. No sooner was Adam
created than the Creator said, ''It is not
good that man should be alone will
make helpmeet for him." Whoever
since Adams day has attempted to get
along without a wife has found it "not
good" A woman rounds out the life of
man, supplements his defects, shares his
troubles, doubles his joys, sweetens his toll
as well as his tea, is his truest friend and
adviser-in short, is his "helpmeet" The
Shakers maintain that the idea Of duality
extends to the Godhead, and that it runs
through all animal and vegetable life there
can be no doubt. Scientists confirm the
Scripture principle, "male and female Gre
ated He them" and extend it to every
thing that has life Whoever, therefore,
attempts to live in contravention of this
1 universal law will find that he has hard
row to hoe, and if farmer attempts it, he
may be considered, without further proof,
as an odd half of pair of shears. In the
circle of our acquaintance, which is not
limited, we call to mind only two farmers
one an old bachelor and the other an old
maid-who are making this venture, and
awkward work they make. In pecuniary
view, both are doing we'll from the stand
point of comfort, manhood and womanhood,
both are doing miserably. Think of the
old bachelor making his own bread and
butter, and eating it in solitude; working
all day, and coming home at night to his
bed and board of single blessedness. There
is no comfort, no manliness in such life,
unless it is the miserly happiness of hoard
ing wealth for heirs, he knows not whom.
The farm-life of the old maid must be more
miserable. Women can do great many
things, and do them better than can man,
but she never was made to run farm.
She has various and increasing rights, but
following the plow, driving the oxen, man.
aging bulls and breaking colts are not
among them. She is an indispensable help
meet to the farmer, but her sphere is a
domestic one, literally domestic, that is,
belonging to the house. When she takes
upon herself the prerogative of mingling
with men in the field, loading hay and
moving it away, directing about the breed
ing of stock, and displaying her equestrian
skill on the road or race-course, she unsexes
herself and becomes man in petticoats.
Solomon says: "Whoso finds a wife,
finds good thing" Some who have mar
ried shrews and slovens have been inclined
to dispute the wisdom of Solomon in this
proverb, but the trouble is, they married
women, not wives A wife, including all
that is signiGed in the name, is good
thing always and to every one, and to the
farmer especially good, as she is such an
important factor in his business. She does
not, as in the days of Solomon, seek wool
and fax, nor lay her hands to the spindle
and hold the distaff, but she looketh well
to the ways of her household and eateth
not the bread of idleness. The farmers
wife is emphatically partner in his bust
ness. On her devolves the care of the dairy,
in addition to the ordinary routine of house
hold duties. Her sphere of action, though
strictly domestic, is wider one than that
of the ordinary housewife. As her hus-
band, in virtue of his ownership of land
which he subdues and tills, is entitled to
the name of landlord, with all the cares and
honors which the name implies, so she is
entitled to the name of landlady, and must
assume the responsibilities as well as the
respect that go with this position and title.
That there are unusual duties connected
with the station is manifest from the fact
that there are many women desiring to find
husbands, but unwilling to marry husband
men, because they dislike to do the work
drudgery they call it-peculiar to farmers
wives. All such have yet to learn that she
only is a true wife AWhq doeth her husband
good all the days of her life, who girdeth
her loins with strength and strengthened
her arms, who stretcheth out her hands to
the poor, who is not afraid of the snow for
her household, for all her household are
clothed, who openeth her mouth with wis
dom, and her tongue is the law of kindness,
whose children rise up and call her blessed,
whose works praise her"
Such is solomons picture of good
wife, and it was evidently intended for the
wife of husbandman. We will not say
that the wife of farmer holds position
above all other wives, for we find in every
occupation those who, with the relation of
wife, assume great responsibilities, do honor
to their husbands, are ornaments to society
and bless mankind We do say that the
position of a farmers wife is one peculiarly
adapted to a life of usefulness, and we
would like to ask the frivolous and fashion
able girls who scorn the hand Of hps-
bandman, whether life spent In useful
employment such as the average farmer ex-
poets of wife, will not, in the retrospect,
give more satisfaction than one spent in
the gay rounds of fashionable society?
The question needs no answer. The answer
goes without saying.
The position of the wife of farmer is
not only one of usefulness, but it is also
very stable and Independent. Farmers
seldom fail we may say never, or hardly
ever, If they attend to their legitimate bus
mess. Certainly, the risks of agriculture
are less than those Of other caliings. The
farmer may not have the wealth and dis
play the style of the merchant and manu-
facturer. but his wife does not live in fear
of panics and Sheriff s visits. The soil
always responds generously to generous
culture, and her cellar and pantry are never
empty. She is sure of comfortable living,
let trade be ever so much disturbed. If
the grain and roots cannot be sold at
profit, they can be consumed in the house
and barn, and the farm will be all the
more productive for such consumption.
Such independence and freedom from risk
are far more conducive TO happiness than
all the wealth-with its corroding cares
which railroad stocks bought and sold have
ever earned. If we had dozen daughters,
we should consider them more fortunate if
comfortably settled on farms than If mar
ried to rich Wall street brokers,
While thus appreciating the natural ad-
vantages of the wife of farmer, we wish
to add that the comfort and usefulness of
her position depend largely upon the SYM
pathy and cooperation of her husband.
Go,oa farmare wa ara sorry In saw treat