The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03

1t was Just tho kind OF n rambling old rcd |
farmhouse. with painted gables OF messy |
gray. ovcrrun with riotous who's and hidden |
in u tanglo OF lilacs and roses. that a painter |
would hnve chosen for his canvas q poet |
rnymcd in his sonnet. a writer rcioiccd to de- |
scribe In the opening chapters OF his summer |
novel; and woman with common sense would |
have soon WAS out OF rcpnir. damp. and un- |
healthy. inconvenient and uncomfortable
Tho green paper shades OF tho seldom used |
par!or werc rolled up and tod with white |
tapes. tho cream-white curtains inside with |
thoir crochctcd trimmings loopcd back. lot |
ting tho unfamiliar sunshine into tho low !
room. with its odor OF damp. clean snnctity |
common to country parlors. There was n rng |
carpet OH the floor striped In gorgeous colors. |
a lounge In the corner with rod calico covers |
and husk-flllcd cushion. q few freshly vnr-
Iishe,l cune- seat chairs SO. stify back against
the wall. and some tintypo fac-similes Of rela-
tivcs coffin plates framed in dark wood. and
a wreath VI worsted flowers on tho wall. Do
side tho orderly table where tho family Bibo
and photograph album had been lifelong
companions. II woman snt sewing on some of
those fenrfully and wonderfully constructed
trousers which tho barefoot 10y" OF the
rural regions fastens over his shoulder with o
single auspopdor mado like tho trousers nut
Of his pas" Outside whore tho vino leaves
threw dancing shadows over her fresh toilet
Of luxurious simplicity another woman sat
Her hair fell in becoming waves upon her
forehead. her hands woro dclicnte and spark
ling with jewels. II bunch Of fresh clover was
nodding upon her breast, and her face was
bright with eager interest The woman In
sido wore faded cnitco dress. its lily fitting
waist shrunken out Of skapeliness with much
washing. her hair coTbod tightly away from
tho snllow face and twisted into O tight little
knot at tho back. her largo brown hands.
coarse red with heavy work. drawing tho
thread through and through tho thick work
with hurried. awkward energy.
The woman with the clover In hor bolt. fresh
from the rush and strain OF active city life.
had wondered WHY tho faces Of these farmers
wives were SO dull and spiritless: why in their
peaceful environment. In which the pulse bent
Of the mighty rush OF modern llfe scarcely
stirred tho monotonous calm. whore hurry
and restlessncss wero mercifully unknown. the
country woman aged so much moro rapidly
than her city sister: why her skin lost Its
delicacy. her figure it's suppleness. her hair its
lustrc. and why among the women patients Of
insane asylums the farmers wives constituted
the majority. She was finding out now.
She had heard this woman's voice in tho barn
yard when the birds wero singing their first
drowsy dawn songs. calling out to tho COWS
she MIXED. She had soon her lifting the pals
OF foaming milk that look SO picturesque In
paintings She had tried lifting one herself
and knew why the straight back was bent. the
wrists large and bony. She had heard her heavy
steps walking the weary treadmlll OF the
days duties through the long mornings.
There wore washing and ironing. making
und mending. The we'll. with its old
oaken bucket" was far from the Kitchen
sink. Tho cistorn had boon forgotten in the
~ ha hnnca Tho vaUatnhlnR
wcro in the ground the eggs in tho loft. every
thing in most inconvunient places. There were
the children to get of to school with their
we-hlled dinner pals. the men in the lots to
be provided with hearty luncheons. Did you
ever see one of these men NOW away bread
and huge succulent doughnuts fried in lard.
beans and pie. thick country pic with sodden
crust and maple sugar seasoning? This one
woman must keep all the domestic machinery
going. When the cool shadows OF tho twilight
foil she went again into the stable.
where tho kline" Of the poets dream
waited to be MIXED. There's no
place this side that prepared for the wicked
so hot as ono OF these stables full OF these
same kline" which have little picturesque
ness outside the poets fancy. And whom tho
milking was done and tho mon folks"
smoked outside and chatted together the wo-
man cleared away tho supper things she had
lett 10 40 inc Ulllklne pun tNo CulluTen " Deu
made arrangements for tho early morning
meal. and then wont to sleep herself too tired
to crimp her hair. say her prayers. or think
how wretched sho was.
But do you always work SO hard as this Z"
Qucried tho woman in the shallow OF tho vines
Pretty much OF tho time" answered tho
other. In her loud, high pitched voice. In
tho spring there's tho springs work. you
know. and l have to milk more cows. cause
the mon folks is busy nights and mornings:
theros tho butter to make until tho milk goes
to tho factory. the house 20 clean. the sugar to
sugar OF. tho soap to make. and lots Of paint
in and par GRIN to DO done. You know wo
farmer folks do everything ourselves. Money
is too source to pay 1t out for such work rs
whitewnshin' md paintin' and rapcrin
indoors. And then ths hayin', comes on.
Of in the lots, don't have any 70 Eutnp NJ
We can do to buy the sugar. And then th"rc's
haryestin' and tho thrnshors. and after that
winter. And tho eli! dram do get so ali out II
ciIqthos. You SEQ we don't never NY new; md
h,n;s made oHt OF t oa Won" 10 s "u! s"oI, .v
s sa mL sS1 IN %I aa time TO 30" In summer "S0
IND ip winter" Interrupted the softly
W"!i. in ' Winter 'horos tho quilts to pIcco
NJ and coYlfor.ables, TO tie. the carpet rags
make IL carpet vi len folks wear their clothes
Us close US wo do. And then there's the
ready and all. and tho knitting. tel! yuu It's
anower o work TO keep threo boys and two
girl. / lost my only Gir. She'd . holEel mo.
You know. And les only II little whilo any
way before tho COWS, como In again. and l
h!yn h" hutter to sea to-
But when do you readg'
"Oh. don't read mach 81 my cent Sunday
afternoons sometimes when l get my work
done early. Tho men folks they read tho
paper You know. End kind . talk 1t oyer 10:
gthor when the neighhors comc ~ kind
Q hecp tho run o things. and that's all. |
DO miss the readia. most Of all You know
was teacher when no married me. pretty
good ut books, too. / thought, lust ~ sup
pose You do. that they WASN'T any need in u
farmers wife working round ail tn timo and
G"tiin' 30 OLD and foolish before she's 30 but
lrli you when man hahn got bis farm paid
t9r, there isn't anything but work for his wife.
Ion soc. tho children como along and you
cant AFFORD to hlro u nl:so. The neghbors
come in and DO whnt they can. and Tho men
lOlks ut nlnnC LnSt they cnc until You cnn't