The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-06-06
AUNT JRNNIR's LETTER.

This is a rainy day, and all house
keepers know what that means, espe
cially if there are little folks to be
looked after. To a woman who allows
the children their freedom on sunshiny
days, a rainy day is trying indeed, for
to stay in the house all day makes
them restless and cross, and the litter
they strew all over the house makes
the careful mother miserable. A wo-
man who has nothing else to do can
join in their little games herself and
avoid much of the scattering of things,
b9sides adding to their pleasure and
causing the day to pass more pleas
antly to herself. If there are child rem
in the family who are old enough to
interest and entertain the younger
members, the mother is relieved of
much worry and anxiety. But how
many there ara who are older and still
seem not to know, or do not care to
learn, to be helpful! OF all useless
things in q household, I think the
pretty girl who sits ] slessly by with
folded hands and allows mother to do
every thing, is the most useless. Per
haps she does not intend to be cruel
and thankless, but she is, neverthe
less. Remember, mother did things
for you when you were too young and
inexperienced to do them yourself, and
now that you are older, lend a hand
and help to lift her burden. Years add
burdens of which the young do not
dream, and do you not think it best to
strengthen your muscles by expert
encing a little of the fatigue now while
you are strong and the years are few7
1t will help you to win in the battles
that are sure to come when you your
self will be the principal participant.
So many girls go home from boarding
school with the false idea that they
are just a little bit better than the rest
Of the family. Mother seems so com
monplace in her every day routine of
household work, and father is so aWk
ward and gruf while the children are
positively disgusting with their noise
and dirt. Thus it appears to her who
has been away for only ten short
months. D you not remember, my
dear girl how you longed for these
very same common place every day
scenes and how willingly, yea, gladly,
you would have excbay ged your books
and nice clothes for these things which
seem so disgusting now that they are
within your grasp9 \ u hands are
white; your hair is glossy your com
plCxjon is all that could be desired,
but one thing is woefu!ly lacking in
the expression of those eyes. a wist.
full interest to be helpful to others will
brigaten them wonderfully and add to
your beauty. D. not allow yourself
to be ~listless; keep your eyes wide open
and your hands ready to grasp every
opportunity to be of service to those
who have done so much for you.
Those clumsy hands paid for your
clothes, books and tuition and that
common place woman helped to earn
it in so many ways besides doing the
little duties that devolved on you be
fore you became the lady you think
yourself now. They have made 1t pos
sible for you to be what you are. Re,
member this and reward them by be
ing what they would like to have you
be-a watchful, industrious, helpful
modest, obedient daughter. These are
little coins to pay back for SO large a
cum expended but you can pay this
much and how thankfully it will be
received. You do not know all that ie
to be learned if you have been off to
school. Many girls have an idea hat
to graduate is the positive assurance
that they have reached the acme OF
human knowlege. No greater fallacy
exists. YJur diploma is the assurance
given by those wiser than your self
that they believe you capable of learn
ing much more than you already
know. Else would they you think call
the ending of your struggle for knoWL
edge the COMMENCEMENT Gain all
the knowledge you al both theoretl
cal and practical. If you mean to DC
a wife learn to be a helpful n and II
an old maid, a useful one.
The letters last week we're very en-
pertaining. Billy the D3acon's boy, is
the first of our circle to uttera word II
defense of flirting, and 1 am inclined tc
think he c~onfounds flirting with mere
soc1ability. What do you think of hii
%opinionY And of Lille FlllyaW's sug
&c stion as to letters on State and loca