The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-05-24
ESTABLISHED 1850.
LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT.

Is it possible to live happily on
farm" said one gay girl to another.
Not hearing the answer to that stu
pendous question has made my pen
uneasy again, so I will let it run on
awhile, just to see what it will say.
To be happy on farm one must
make up their mind to be contented
with their chosen lot. But hear
some one say, one must have con-
tentment to live happily in any sphere
of life. Very true, therefore, let us
hold fast to it, whether on farm, in
the army, on the Alaskan hills, or in
some other sphere where fate placed
us. Gone must never be idle a mo-
ment on farm, nor be i'll, if they
wish to live happily" says one.
Good None of us are willingly i'll,
l am sure. AS for idleness, we sure
ly ought to avoid it, for 'tSatan finds
some mischief still, for idle hands to
do" Now, girls, the farm is ali
right. Remember life is very much
what you make it, wherever you are.
A cheerful spirit and willing mind,
light heart and helping hands, good
health and strong determination to
surmount trials and difficulties, there
is your prescription. Now, suppos-
ing you have the ingredients, we will
pass on. Be ready and willing at all
times to entertain strangers, where
by one sometimes entertains angels
unawares. Throw away all foolish
fancies, such as swinging in a ham
mock meath the shade of a grand old
oak, and dressed becomingly and be-
witchingly in lace ruffled gown, and
reading and crying over the fate of
some lovely damsel in one of the
"most enhancing novels you ever
read" Really, you will need that
time for other things, and while you
will need to dress becomingly, and al
ways look neat, for there is no hus-
band but what wishes his wife to look
as nice as his sweetheart did, (the
sweetheart whom he made his wife,
and keep sweettempered and "a that,
and a that why you will not find
much time to either make nor laun-
der too many laces and rufles. Oh,
yes; you can live extremely happy
on farm, for you CAN find plenty to
do. Sunday mornings you will rise
earlier than usual, perhaps, hurry
and finish your work, drive a few
miles more or less to town, in time
for Sunday school. Of course, you
have class, and sat up late Saturday
night, and went over your lesson very
thoroughly. After that you invite
few neighbors home with you. You
reach home and leaving your friends
in the chest room" adjourn to kitch-
Ell and dining room, prepare tooth
some repast, of which your friends
partake with relish. as it is a late
hour for dinner. The afternoon is
too short for you to visit much, and
they must leave early. Thus go
your Sundays, only you visit your
neighbors some Sundays yourself.
Yes, farm life is lively. Every day
following Sunday finds you busy.
Washing, ironing, mending, baking,
churning, butter working, etc. Chick
ems, turkeys, ducks, calves and pigs
are your care; gardening and going
to town with produce, getting the
articles necessary for the home, doing
errands for your guide mon," and so
on, it all takes up your time beauti-
fully. But just for change, you
know, you pick your ducks, make
batch of soap, go after wild plums or
grapes for your jelly, or any other
little recreation like that, as the sea-
SON calls for. Of course, the hired
man falls i'll, and lays off for a few
days, but you take his place, for the
work would almost stop if you didn't.
Yes, there is great deal of variety
in farm life. Your great days are
when load of friends drive out from
the city to enjoy your fresh eggs,
spring chickens, sweet creamy milk,
excellent vegetables, and lovely,
healthful air. They remark to you
Dear me, how lovely to live on the
farm, but why don't you have ham
mock, or one of those garden seats
under that dear old tree" !" You
smile family, for you have learned
you do not have very much time for
such things, for you really have a
great deal Of company, and while you
love to see them, you are too tired to
care for the latest novel or the very
newest stitch in Battenberg. Yes,
girls, if you keep your health, you'll
be happy, even on farm, a Western
one at that. You will be obliged to
find time to do up an abundance of
fruit, of course, for you will need
we'll filled preserve closet. Your
family and friends will enjoy your
fruit, jellies, preserves and pickles,
all the more, knowing your hands
prepared them. And don't forget
some "kraut" for the German pro-
fessor. Then the dried corn, too,
yes, yes; don't be afraid, life on the
farm is dull, but enter it with the full
expectation of doing your level best
to keep everything moving, rain or
shine, sick or we'll If I have for
gotten to mention some of the duties
of farmers wife, I'm quite sure
some kind person will enlighten us
soon. Marriage is not failure on
the farm, o, no, indeed, for the par
ties interested haven't time to hunt
up a grievance. Marriage between
the right parties is never failure"
so I'm told.-Lda M. MosO,y, in st.
Louis Gl06e.Democyat.