Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-03-28
A FRONTIER fAamsRs WIFE
Hss Bsrds.s Are ,GA.y. s.d Hss Yisssssss

Are Few.
The women who live In cities can form
no estimate of the work done day aftsr
day by tho farmers wife on the frontier.
There are no convenient laundries. baker.
ies or stores where shs could buy the
ready made articles she u compelled TO
make for herself. u II unceasing work
with her from early sunriss until long
after the hours have grown small at
night. She lights the fires for breakfast.
Nowhere u . man 20 completely lord
and master a. ON the farm. His mother
was farmers wife and lighted ths hres;
his wife shall do the same. While the
kettle 10 boiling abe does the milling.
and cases arc not rare where farmers
wife milh ~ many a. 8 or 10 cows
twice day. Tho milk u carried i9tp
the cellar In great heavy pals that
would try q mans strength. and she ~
turns to the work Of getting breakfast.
During the progress Of the meal she can
not ht hack and eat and rest, ~ many
do. but II kept Jumping mp and down
waiting on the men folks and children.
Il In often question TO strangers who
visit on the frontier II she ever gets .
chance TO eat at al. Then the children
are 10 DO started OF TO school. and
though the credit Of their education falls
to tho father Il IL the mother who does
extra work that they may 60. and who
pulls them out Of bed and starts them
Oh In time every morning.
The milk IL TO DO strained and put
away. crooks scalded, butter churned,
and tho dishes and chamber work stu
walt. Dinner and supper and afternoon
work take up her day. Then In their
turns throughout the week there are
washing. ironing. baking every other
day, scrubbing. sweeping, sewing and
mending. In harvest time she will have
% many as IA to cook for and does 1t all
alone. Il Is seldom that o farmer feels
that no can afford TO hire help In the
kitchen. She has the vegetable garden
to zee 10. To brighten the dreariness OF
her life she has close to the seldom opened
front door Q bed Of half starved loo ing
howers-old fashioned coxcomb, four
o'clocks, grass pinls and Q few other
cheerful looking plants that Will thrive
under neglect. She makes everything
that her family wears except hats and
shoes. She has no time to think OF rest
or self.
Il IL In most cases her lot to welcome
new baby every other year, and the only
time when help Il employed to assist her
Is for . period Of two or three wee,o
when tho little stranger arrives. The
births Of the babies arc about all that
vary the monotony Of her life. occs-
sionally death calls and takes from her
tired arms little life and leaves In its
place an added pain In her heart Sheh
old and tired out ut %.
When her daughters reach tho age st
which they could assist her. the dreary
prospect Of q frontier life appalls them,
and they seek employment In town.
Nothing In her house Is VI late improve
ment. Her washboard II Of the kind her
mother used. and her churn In its heavy.
clumsy build shows that II belongs to the
same date. Improvement stalks all over
tho farm and leaves no trace In the htch-
en-. Her pleasures arc few. The sstis-
faction that she IL doing her best seems
to be all that rewards her. Shell hero
Inc In o calico dress, wrinkled and stoop
shouldered-a woman with o burden
who never complains. Late at night,
when all the members Of tho family are
In bed, o light will shine out across the
prairie from the family living room. II
is by this light the farmers wife Is doing
her mending and sewing, and 1t will
shine out long after the occasional travel
that way has stopped, and no ono but
the one who blows II out knows at what
hour the patient burden bearers labors
cease. e.-Baltimore Herald.