The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-06-20
A LADY EVER.

It is a grave mistake for a mother to
lose sight Of the fac that she is lady,
because she thinks she has no time to
cultivate or practice the many little
accomplishments which once tended
to make her helpful and rendered her
attractive and agreeable to others and
her life bright and worth living. Let
me illustrate this point: A lady who
had in earlier days been a school
teacher and a bright and attractive
companion, married a man possessed
Of a large farm. From the first she
was unequal to her self imposed tasks,
out doors and in, and to dress accord.
ing to her work, her costumes became
more and more stout and i'll fitting.
She soon became a poor correspondent,
because iG required some OF her pre-
cious time to write; and because of her
ever increasing cares she neglected all
social gatherings and soon came to
realize that she no longer compared
tavorably with her former associates.
After a few years her life was spent in
the kitchen, and while her two dauxh-
ters thrummed the piano she washed,
starched, ironed, baked, sewed and
scrubbed until they came 20 look down
upon her, and soon they were not q
liG.ie ashamed to have her seea by
their young friends, in her short cot
ton gown aud coarse, heavy shoes. She
neglected writing until she herself WAS
ashamed OF the Cramped and awkward
lines which her stiff ned fingers fash
Toned, and then she gave up entirely.
She scrimped her own wardrobe to
provide her daughters with gowns
which made the contrast between them
the more marked. Thus she, who had
been a constant attendant at church,
a Sunday school teacher, a valued help
in the choir, an eff 3ient director in the
ladies' aid-in short, a well dressed,
we'll informed lady with a host of
friends, had, by her unseIfiah, misguid
ed and un~appreciated notions, 10 Rered
herself to a level beneath the most
ignorant hireling. Finally, utterly
discouraged and broken il heart and
body, she sickened and died, aud once
again occupied a prominent position
at the funeral. The worn out body
was robed in finest fabric. with plat
ings and bands OF glossy black satin,
with kerchiet of flmy white folded
over the breast; the silvery hair, loosed
from it's rigorous twist, had resumed
| somewhat of it's old.time wave and
curl; the distorted fingers had.a bunch
of hot house f)Wers, such as she had
never seen in her life; the casket was a
marvel of foest broadc,o5h, molding,
~testooning, plaitings triuges and oxi
died silver, while the daughters, who
had never made her life glad by ami
versary, birthday or Christmas gift,
because they had no reeson to think
that mother cared for such things,
paid 81 for an enormous wreath TO
properly bedeCk her coffin, and for the
first time in their lives almost felt
4 DTOuu III AOGhC4 4NO~ A4O0A4C4ES
please don't give up looking neat and
attractive; don't give up bright colors,
pretty decorations, suitable reading
and music. Don't defraud yourselves
OF every bit OF ~leisuse, but continue to
write letters to girlhood friends and
occasional helpful hints to the P. F.
D1n'E let husband or Children ever be
ashamed of you, but be just and
lenient with yourself as you would
with any of Gods creatures. Be alive
to the requirements of the times, live
a useful life, deserving OF apprec alton,
and you will be quite sure of obtaining
it.-Mrs NJ. NJ. Hatch, South Colum-
bia, n. Y.