The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-12-13
WOMEN FARMERS.
How Three Women Make Money.



SOMETHING RATAER UNUSUAL.
Charity and Children.
I would be glad to have some reliable
statistics showing the number of wo-
men engaged In farming in the United
States. believe the number Is much
larger than it is generally supposed to
be.
Necessity often driYes them to farm
ing. The men die, and leave thier wild
ows to look after the farm, stock, child
rem, etc. She is wise woman that
living on a farm in the country stud
les the details of her husbands busi-
ness for she knows net how soon death
may take away her husband and throw
upon herself the management OF the
farm and the care OF children.
I haye known many women
who have succeeded admirably
in farming and raising up
noble men and women. Instead
OF spending money for whiskey, poll
tics, etc., going to town to hear news,
laying downjtheirswork to attend shows
public speaking, and elections, as many
men do, the female farmers stay at
home, attend to their business, prac-
tice rigid economy, and promptly
meet their financial obligations. Nins-
ty-nine hundreths OF them can get cred
it wherever they are known for any
reasonable amount. 1 belieye they
are far more prompt and honest than
men are. In many instances, they
not only make support for themselves
and their children, but hquidate the
debts of their dead husbands.
But want to tell about three old
maids farming together a few miles
west of Mt. Olive, in this State. They
viii not be offended by calling them
old maids, since the youngest OF them
has passed her filtleth year.
Many years sgo, during the lifetime
of their parents, was their pastor
and was ften visitor to their COM
portable home. A portion Of the dwell
ing they now occupy was built about
1895. The last chimney built bears
the date of 1901
"Miss Harriet" as she is generally
called, is the senior partner of the firm
and the chief manager OF the business.
Several years ago the parents OF
these worthy women died, leaving
them In possession OF the farm and
two or three hundred dollars of in
debtedness. They decided to stay at
home and run the farm. From year 20
year, they have done the principal part
of the framework themselves. They
have paid the Indebtedness, bought
more land and paid for 1t, and do not
owe dollar in the world.
Miss Harriet asked me to 60 out and
visit them during the last session of
the Eastern Association. gladly
promised to do<so, if she would furnish
conveyance.
She met me one evening at NJ.
Olive, with a double-seated rockaway,
and ordered ne to take a back seat
while she mounted the front seat and
took the reins. "What 4 spectacle !"
thought I, ga man sitting on the back
seat. and WON an on the front seat hold
ing the lines - told her would walk
before l would go through town il
that style. After some persuasion, shs
consented for me to sit in front aIG
drive. 1 am afraid of horses but ]
would have driven a wild animal, be-
fore would have had the villagers
gazing at me on the back seat, while &
little woman was driving me through
the town.
Upon the arrival at her house, she
jumped out of the vehicle like young
girl (she is only about sixty-fiye)-
and offered to help me out, just as if
l had been an oil woman. suppose
she thought as some others do. that l
was about 80 years of age. | don't
know why people taxa me to be SO old
am not very active it is true; but /
am glad to say that am not very old
yet.
I asked them many questions about
farming operations, which they readl-
ly and cheerfuily answered. Here are
q few of them -
"What do you raise?"
"Corn, cotton, peas, potatoes, straw
berries, etc."
WHO hauls to market your her
rles1"
"Why, Harriet hauis them herself .
"When did you do your best f:rin-
ing:"
"The year We made seven bags OF
cotton and 100 barrels of corn,"
"Who worked and harvested the
crops?"
eve planted. plowed, hoed, and har-
vested the crops ourselves"
"Did you hire no help at all that
vear?"