Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-10
The Women ON the Farm.

Womankind may be divided into two
classes; those who live In towns or
cities. and those who live in the coun-
try. Each class has its own peculiar
advantages, though at first sight it
may seem as though the former pos
sess the greater number. closer
thought, however, will show that the
woman on the farm can lead an equal
" happy life If she will make use OF
the advantages within her reach. But
therein lies the trouble. The average
farmers wife does not accept the
chances for increasing her happiness.
One by one she lets them slip past,
intent on her many duties. She GER
tainly has to work very hard, doing
very often tasks which are beyond her
strength; and in doing them, too, in
such an accomplishing way that sell
dom is her labor appreciated at its
real worth. In this way she makes
the mistake of thinking that for her
life means simply long periods for
work and shorter ones for rest. Day
after day brings the same monotonous
routine, and gradually life narrows
down to a circle of never-ending du-
ties, with little pleasure or recreation,
not pleasant prospect, and yet a
true one in many cases.
But all this can be changed by
means Of common sense and determl-
nation. Life was never intended to be
spent by anyone wholly in toling.
Happiness can be had for the seek
ing; and very necessary is 1t for the
farmers wife to seek earnestly for
it. She must remember that work is
not the only duty. There are others
equally important requiring her atten-
ton, and among them comes first the
enjoyment OF as many pleasures as she
can obtain; and they can be found in
the country as well as in the town.
There are various ways by which the
woman on the farm can make her life
more joyous. One is by taking good
care Of her health and saving herself
as much as possible. This is her first
duty to her husband and children, and
in accomplishing it she needs all the
help she can get. There is no reason
why there should not be in many
farmhouses, where circumstances al
low it, modern inventions and labor
saving devices which would materially
tighten the homework. The practical
farmer prides himself on keeping up
with the times in the implements he
uses Then why should not his wife
do the same, and thus lengthen her life
by years? Let her see to it, then, that
attention is persistently called to this
matter, until the desired results are Sc
cured.
Lastly, there is the virtue of hospital
ity, which can be practiced on the
farm in winter as we'll as in summer.
Why not plan an occasional social
gathering, invite few Of the neigh
boring women over to tea, and have
pleasant time together? Only extra
work, perhaps, you think, and what
good would it do? Ah much; try the
experiment yourself and see.
Like everyone else, however, the
woman on the farm must early de
eide for herself what things in life are
really worth living for. She must
choose between the trivial and the i'm
portant. and aim at beautiful sim
plicity in everything. Many pressing
duties may be near at hand, but, TAX
ing them in the best way, she will
soon realize that they are not the main
ends to keep in view, but are only
steps in making a happy, cheerful
home. For, after ALL it is not so much
the place where we live, be it town or
country; not SO much how large or
how small the income may be, as it is
the cultivation Of a sunny DISPOSE
ton. a hopeful spirit, which seeks and
finds Joy everywhere. And in these
and in many other blessings the WON
an on the farm may freely and con-
stantly share, if she will but make an
effort to gain and give the best re-
wards of life-joy and happiness
Farmers Advocate.