The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-11-21
AUNT N LETTER.

To be helpful in every sense OF the
word should be w~omankind's aim.
There are so many little avenues o.
h~elfulness open to US OF which the
sterner sex knows nothing, Each
woman should feel it her duty to learn
all she can of womRn's work in
all it's branches and thus pre-
pare herself for usefulness. You
may not have to cook but if you know
how to do it, besides that exhilarating
feeling of independence will come the
thought that you may be able to help
some one else not 80 fortunate as your
self. Learn to make your own clothes
There are millions of dollars saved to
the husbands of America every year
by the women who have learned to
sew. I am one woman who thinks it an
imposition on both parties to consent
for a girl to marry before she has
learned any of life's sterner realities
You remember reading in this paper
not long since why there 30 many old
bachelors. l do not blame the boys.
No girl has a right to balieve that her
life's pathway will be strewn all the
way with roses.
Even if it were possible for it to be so
we Older people know that thorns grow
On even the most beautiful roses and
some thoughtless wouId-be friend
might gather the thorn with the ose
and cast it in her path. May not these
tender feet, left bare by IL careless
ness as mothers, be pierced by the
thorn concealed by the beauty Of the
rosei Let us make for our d Aughters
shoes-Yes, good substantial shoes, for
wear on their long Iurney. No su-
perf1cial material will suffice for they
will become useless and have to be
cast aside alas, so soonI The s0les OF
those shoes will last longer il made OF
good domestic training and fastened
on with bits Of our own observation
and experiences. OF course the tops
can be as beautiful as we are capable Of
making them but the prettiest EN-
broidery is not always the mcsi cub
stantial unless each stitch is properly
taken and the thread securely fast
ened. Tie them on with the strongest
cords of love and her way will seem
smoother than were she not thus pro-
tected.
Let her know that life is real and
things are not always what they SEEM.
A great many women excuse them
selves by saying that "my daughter
will learn the hardships of life soon
enough, I mean that she shall have an
easy time while she is with me. II she
ever has to do for herself she will
learn"
Well, it may be that she will learn
but remember that the learning then,
will be harder than now. E sch month
and year naturally adds burdens and
shall we as mothers double the weight
of those burdens by allowing our
daughters to grow to be women know
ing so little of womanhood's duties9
An ambitious girl will try to learn
5OA4O00AAA VA OOAOA9 w 0O4SO4& O0Su
week of her life. l have known euch
q girl and her endeavors have been
richly rewarded-and many have felt
grateful for her having lived to help
them and theirs by the willing but
unobtrusive assistance rendered every
opportunity that is afforded her. LIT
US rememb sr that in helping others we
help ourselves most for what is sweeter
in life than the consciousness of duty
we'll done. How many Of US will try
to stop making mountains out of mole
hills and grumbling at every thing
that comes along and first last and al
ways keeping pleasant. I know it is
hard work sometimes but perseverance,
accomplishes much. In after years
you will wonder at the change that has
been caused by merely trying.
AUNT JENNIE