The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-07-10
APLEAFoR THE FARMERS WIFE
Editor CAN'T Makes IA Talk Which Touches
u Popular Chord.


Popular Chord.
In his now famous Bethleh I'm Al
lance speech, Larry CAN'T, of Ath-
ems, Ga., pays the following tribute
to n farmers wife:
but l will not waste all my SYM
pdthics on the farmer. There is one
class even more deserving of pity
and relief than you, my Alliance
friends. l refer to the farmers wife.
There is not Il burden that you bear
but tic little woman, whois TIC light
OF your home, shares it with you.
Your trials and cares pierce the ten
der sympathetic heart Us Il dagger.
She bears equally with you every
load; but [ say with pain and regret,
that she is, alas. too often deprived
OF Il share of your pleasures. Did
you horny handed lords of creation
ever consider that while you arc
working i'll the field, your wife was
1T the house toiling just us hard as
yourself; and that while you had but
one task before you she has Il host of
duties to perform, each pressing
upon her at one and the same time!
When you return to your MONDAY
meal, and find Il welcoming smile
and everything ready to hand-as if
the confusion Of the morning had been
touched by Il fairy's wand and order
produced from chaos-do you ever
consider the vast amount of work
that these pleasant surroundings have
cost the poor wife! At night, when
taking your ease, does it occur to
you to look around and see if you
will find the old couplct verified in
her case, which says:
Man works from sun to sun,
Bu woman's work is neN er done.
We men are all too sclf-conccitcd
and L am no exception to the rule.
We imagine that because we are the
brcadwinncrs of the family the wo-
man S work is mere child's play.
"NcvCr was there gravcr error.
There is not Il farmer beneath the
sound Of my voice, but who if he
were made to exchange places with
his wife, would be begging her to
rue back i'll twcnty-four hours.
AT night. when you are looked in
thcarms of Morpheus, and your weary
frame $ drinking in the rcst that ma
turr demands, the wife at your side
is trying to quiet Il fretful child lest
it disturb poor tired papa" The
dear uns>lfish creature! She never
thinks of her own weary frame and
aching brow.
by the dawn Of day that poor
wife is on her feet preparing the best
rcpast the larder will afford. You
return to your work in the field
while the wife resumes the old tread
mill existence, that is rarely broken
by u ray OF pleasure.
~ on men can go to town, and
there meet and minglc with friends
and discuss the news of the day.
How many times during the year
docs the poor wife cross the three
hOiu OF her home. except to attend
divine Worship on Sunday? And
even then you expect her to look
after or prepare a dinner for your
friends.
IL do not believe there is MAJ,
living who appreciates his wife as he
Should. Hc loves and chcrishcs hel
but he should resolve never to take
pleasure but the wife equally enjoys
II with us. She bears her full part
of our tolls and trials. and it is only
Just and right that she should rear
the fruits of our prosperity.
"lt should be the first duty of &
good Alliance man, when he has lif
tea the mortgage from his home, tC
look to the comfort and pleasure OF
his wife. Before you add another
acre Of land to your possession; be
fore You build Il new barn; before
you purchase an implement to OK
petite your work. or before YOU i'm
prove your stock, look through your
homc-gO into the kitchen, the wash
room and the dairy, and sec if there
IS not some utcm*il or invention that
you can buy to lessen your poor
wife $ labor. Lift part of the bur
den from her shoulders, that she has
SO long and uncomplainingly borne,
and see that her remaining days arc
made rs happy and as comfortable
as your affairs will warrant.