The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-21

feel like exelaiming as q friend OF
mine did on one occasion. Sisters
and fellow women" we must arouse
and learn to protect ourselves when
the men Of the family are away from
home.
It has not been such a long time
since most women knew how to
ride a horse well and how to shoot
accurately, and I think that il it was
ever necessary it is doubly so now.
Why not have our girls taught the use
of fire arms9 I know q woman who
can hit a visiting card across the street
with a pistol and she is not at all
ashamed of the accomplishment. By
the way, she was raised in the country,
too. Most girls would epj1y target
practice after they learned to shoot
reasonably well. This sport would be
both eDj 1yable and beneficial.
Utter dependence, is no longer one Of
Womans principal charms. Self re
lance, is s~uperseding that incapable
maiden, Dependence. and is winning
her former admirers by the score.
Girls vie with their brothers in many
occupations and why should they not
learn o shoot as we'll as boys dot I
am sure they can il they try. Il costs
very little money to become q good
marksman Tor marks woman0 and it
is not as easily forgotten as music,
fancy work, etc, andmay prove far
more useful.
In q certain town ia this State chick
en- thieves were at one time very num-
erous. Many families lost all their
chickens. Yet, in the midst Of the
section raided by thieves lived Q lady,
whom for convenience sake, ! will call
Mrs. Jones, who did not lose a chicken.
Stranger still, she had more chickens
than any of her neighbors. and then
too, the chickens roasted In the open
air neer the ground-a place ''of beau
~ and q joy forever" to the chicken
thief. The secret of her good fortune
lie found in the fact that Mrs. Jones
was known to be an excellent shot.
So silently did the thieves do their
work among Mrs. Jones neighbors that
II was said by some that the chickens
were stolen by ghosts. When asked
by an old colored man il she would
shoot a ghost, Mrs. Jones replied,
Certainly I would, now that / have
learned that there are evil ghosts T.
well" exclaimed the old negro, drop
ping his axe. 81 'spect folks end speer-
it's had better be sca'ce around heref'
You may be called upon to defend
yourself from the attacks of ''evu
spirits co" and do you not think it
would be worth your while to learn
just how to do it?
What do you all think Of "Old
Bachelors" talk in last weeks issue7
Will not some one tell us9
Can't some one else tell US Of war
time experiences either at home or on
the battle f1eld3
hope that each one who writes will
ask a question or suggest a topic for
discussion. Some time ago, some one
asked, "what is love9" And the an
swers are interesting.
Lillian Lee Archer is right. Those
who have comparatively but few bless
lngs and yet realize that these are
blessings and are thankful for them
enjoy life much more than do more
fortunate ones who are never satisfied.
Come again Aunt Edna, you are al
ways welcome.
Farmers Wife writes an interesting
and suggestive letter.
And last, but not least, Mrs. Pamela
@. ReadeI 1t is always a pleasure to
get a letter from her for / know before
hand that she has something Of inter
est to tell. l hope she will slip away
from company many times, II she can
hnd no other time to write, for there's
a great company OF many thousand
PROGRESSIVE FARMER readers ready to
welcome her-and others.
Let others follow her good example.
Aunt Jennie.
We regret that in the press OF other
matter the letters from Aunt Edna.
Lillian Lee Archer, and farmers Wife
we're crowded out. These viii appear
next week.-Mrs. EDEToRs
OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO HoUEKEEPERs
Dear AUNT Jennie:-I viii tear my
self away from the porch, and the
pleasant company ''this lovely night in
June" and write q few words for our
department., and talk with our lady