Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-08
gaAies' Goldmla.
TOM AND CONSCIENCE.

SO too is my wife, my daughter. My
mother was as good a student of her
duties as was my father of his; my
wife Is as capable in information and
Judgment of general interests as her
husband (if she sees this. she may
even think she has better taste) and
my daughter is, in helpful knowledge
fully the peer of her brothers. And
mine, | believe is only the average
family as to such comparison of
them that wear bonnets. Indeed, |
might, l think safely go farther and
generalize that the average women
could take the key of the shop, office,
sheep-fold, or senate-chamber, step
in and accomplish mans tasks more
readily and with greater profit to the
concerned than he could attend to
what he is wont to call her narrow
round of little duties.
Well reader, if so, why not also
ask her to help where she can do the
most good! Why not help carry
the key to the ballot box-the key to
opportunities? You see. reader, I
have no doubt about Gods ability
to publish humanity in two volumes
and put just as good matter into the
gilt-edge as into the raw edge; and,
no doubt that he is just such judi
cious publisher. Weighty facts, like
Wyoming and Washington terrific
ries, Great Britain and our increas-
ing school vote attest the truth of
this theory and the wisdom of wo-
manhood in popular government.
Still, / am not disposed to argue
with you for the ehfranchisement of
your undoubtedly better half SIM
ply suggest justice, and of course
you will need nothing further said.
But since there be some masculine
minds that have small sympathy with
facts, beg l may relate some bits
Of dialogue l lately overheard Tom
holding with Conscience some
friend of Tom may like copy.
Tom sat in his easy chair, just
having scanned paragraph on suf-
frage for two; and dreaming himself
alone in the room, he dropped into a
soliloquy quite aloud:
NOW, there's wife She's uncom-
mon smart at all she ever tried, l
know; wouldn't | strike the chap
nd say she wa'n'tO but what's she
know bout tariff, the navy, civil
service, lection of sen'tor, an
plooro- neemonga? Hey p
"Tom, DEAR" gently whispered
Conscience, call people are dull
touching thing they never rubbed
against. You run your saw-mill
we'll and you couldn't conduct {
state convention, or bake batch Of
bread like Lucy's. And if ever she
has hand in the loaf of state gov
eminent, she'll study to mold tina
loaf, too, clean and sweet, and do il
to a turn in the oven of public ser
vice"
"Maybe, Conscience but sh'
studies up things 'nough now-nC
end O. mission fxin's an charity
an temperance, an education. an
sich-Pd just like to have one fiel'
left she wouldn't take int'rest 'noug
in to watch me-"
"Oh, Tom! Now you're honest
The voting woman certainly will
know more of mans political con
duct, and excuse less. Lucy, 20
say, now plans and acts for othe
people; but she's good house
keeper too, isn't she2'
eyes, ma'am Best in towr
cause she don't vote. If she votes
maybe the doughnuts III 60 int
readin' an thinkin' more like bot
reforms. SO, she may come to rt
spect herself for all she's worth al
} then other folks will, too. Wome
should be kept tumble, like; in part
, O France, she gets married
mournin' an that was a mod
i warnin' to wives-that ole Londo
sign board as had painted on it f,
male fgger without head and mari
ed THE Coop WOMAN
S Eyes, Tom, in those days me
were brutes.'
"Say, Conscience, keep still, can
you Women was made to fry fis
for man; be his SEWN -machin
too; and when she's out o app
dumplin's, she's outen her spher
She's good enough for me as 81
be-"
tom SIT, you need her the be
:, she can be-"
d "Well, well Somehow I feel
e my bones as suffrage is goin'
), come to her; and Pm afraid Lu,
h won't vote my way every TIM
cause she's pious, like lots on 'er
| They'll vote pious, too, reckon
+. and then, dear me! poor Tom'll 10
his tansy bi.ters! No ma am
/ guess I'm for keepin' suffrage in t
d masculine gender"
"My dear Tom, sang Conscienc
"Pm your best friend; kindly he
h me. AS you say, woman is piou
l. She's got soul, and the more
gathers about all that is true a
i right and useful. surely the me
,, ;" helpful wife she'll be. There ney
+, was a woman made a bad wife a
ne mother by knowing how to make t
l state a good guardian of the hou