The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-04

ties. Farmers sons and daughlers.and
often farmers wives. look longingly
away from their country homes.
II Is often said that the isolation OF
the country Is the strongest objection
to Il. Possibly It may be with many
Charles Dickens once said that when
he found anything In his own heart Re
felt sure that It might be found In other
hearts. since human natuie Is much
the same everywhere. SO. speaking out
OF my own experience. say that one
may love his very isolation; may be
glad to have a home that Is quite away
from others. where ones very own
may be gathered. OF course. do not
mean such loneliness as Is found in the
newer portions OF the west. where the
nearest neighbor Is n les away; where
the postofIice Is further still. aud where
churches are not. II Is rather Of con-
ditions such as are TO be found In
our thickly settled central states that
| write.
Assuming that the farmer himself Is
satisfied. and would be glad TO have all
the family equally so. Is there any
thing he can do that will tend In this
direction? Leaving for the present the
question OF how TO keep the boys and
girls on the farm. let us consider how
to keep the farmers wife eontented.
since she must needs stay.
Few women OF the present day have
strength for the manifold tasks that
fall 70 the lot OF the farmers wife.
Many drag through the daily round.
but are so tired that there Is no pleas
ure In anything. SO my FIRST sugges-
tion Is. plan 80 that she may get more
rest Competent help In the home Is
exceedingly hard to obtain. and many
women prefer to do their own work
II husbands realized how like last
straw the weekly washing often Is. they
would Insist on hiring that part OF the
work N the wife has no help.
l fancy many a farmer will smile at
my next hint. that the chickens should
be fenced out OF the dooryard. There
are few women who do not love flow
ers. But II is disheartenlng TO plant
and have the beds scratched over be-
fore night The neat dooryards OF the
towns. with their flowers blooming UNI
mclested. look very tempting to the
woman who has carried brush and piled
around the few plants that she has sue
ceeded In keeping alive in spite OF the
chickens. There Is so much more
room In the country that there is
greater opportunity TO have beautiful
home surrounding: the average farm
house compares unfavorably with viii
iage homes in this respect. As an aid
IN making the home attractive. buy a
lawn mower and use II. Flowers never
appear TO such advantage as when the
*3 have Asserting OF smooth green
turf. II the yard must be moved with
a scythe. as II often the case on tho
farm. the grass will be allowed TO grow
up and hide many OF the more modest
blossoms. Perhaps the horses will be
turned In TO Craze II down. and to
trampie down the flowers as wen.
SympathIze with your wife I'm her
hobby. whatever It may be. A hobby
: usually a very harmless Amusement.
and every woman needs something
which will interest her enough TO take
her thoughts away from the wearing
daily routine OF her life. The path of
duty lies along this routine. and con-
scIentious woman finds a pleasure in
doing that duty as well as she can
None the less. she needs something
outside OF II all.
The farmers wife Is shut up 10 the
homo life In a greater degree than IA
true OF almost any other class OF wom-
en-. She does not simply work from
sunrise to sunset. but from before day.
light until long after dark. Sometimes
Il happens that when all the chores are
done and supper is over. the other
members OF the family gather around
the lamp with books and papers or
games. while she must mend. or per-
haps make new garments. Often the
family Is so used 10 this state OF things
~ not to notice H. Yet In her heart
he wife and mother may be longing
% read. II some member Of the family
vill read aloud she will find her task
IS wearisome, and all will be benefit.
by the discussion which Is almost
ire TO follow.
In my own busy days read very lit
le. but my husband read aloud while
worked or mothered the babies. Now