The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-04-27

Paper read at the Woodman Grange Institute
by Mrs. Lane.
/ think our vice president must have
understood that to enumerate ALL the
things which farmers wife should
know would take all the afternoon and
into the evening, SO he has limited me
to few things. When the subject was
presented to me thought to myself, il
there is anything under the sun that a
farmers wife does not need to know |
should like to. have some one inform me
what it is. She must know how to do
everything on the farm from cutting the
children's hair to caring for the Hol.
stems, and must doctor everything from
the teething baby to the unbroken colt;
she must also be experienced in cooking
dress making, nursing, etc. But / will
confine myself to few things in partic-
ular.
One of the important things is to
guard ones self from keeping in the
same old rut. Do not GO around and
around in the same rut continually; il
you do you will be nothing but ma
chine. / know women who make it a
practice to wash Monday, iron Tuesday,
bake Wednesday, mend Thursday, sweep
Friday, and scrub Saturday; it made no
difference whether the weather was wet
or dry, or whether the sun rose or set, each
day found them at their accustomed duty.
You could never catch them mapping,
never see fly speck in the kitchen, a
bit of dust on the parlor table or find
their larder empty. But deliver me from
such a monotonous life. | should want
to turn the calendar over and begin
some of my weeks on Wednesday or Sat-
urday just to see how it would seem.
A farmers wife should know how to
plan her work so that she will have time
to read, otherwise how will she be TIE
unfailing source to which her children
may go for information on the various
perplexing problems which they en-
counter. 1t is also very embarrassing
for woman to sit and listen to her hus-
band converse with friend on the cur
rent topics of the day if she herself be
not informed on the subject under con
sideraton, for we women have reputa-
ton to maintain, that WE are the talka-
tive side of the house. | would also al
low her some good literature that she
may be able to express herself well 10
public.
The farmers wife should know how to
adapt herself to all classes ard condi-
tions, for if we are compelled to hire
help, either in the house or on the farm,
nine times out of ten we will have to
take up with anyone whom we can get;
and happy the woman who has the fac
ulty OF getting along pleasantly with all
with whom she may come in contact.
The farm lady as well as the tow lady
must understand how to make home
pleasant, for the young boys and girls
should be kept at home if you would
keep them in safety, Do not make it
necessary for them to go to a neighbours
or to town for amusements; simply have
plenty of good reading matter. Some
may say books cost money. That is
right, they do; but their cost is nothing
compared with the influence they will
have on your children's character. Do
not keep your parlor just for your COM
pany, but allow the children to enter
tain as well as yourself.
The farmers wife should know how to
drop all cares and take a few days for a
vacation. Other people have vacation,
why should she not have the same priv
ilege? Suppose things do not move along
quite as smoothly with wife and mother
gone, they will get along some way;
while if she does not take tina. needed
rest they may be obliged to pay a large
doctor bill. Where is there woman
who can be pleasant and cheerful to all
around with throbbing temples, aching
back and unstrung nerves?
The farmers wife should also be able
to think quickly and act promptly, for
John is liable to come in with a cash in
his hand or foot, the pet COW may have
cut her leg on the barb wire or perhaps
the baby has fallen into the cistern or
maybe it Is just chicken in the swill
barrel; nevertheless they all call for
prompt action and there may be no one
to act but the good wife. She should
know how to entertain. To me life on
the farm would be very dull and dreary
without the privilege of entertaining my
friends and being entertained by them
This is not such trying ordeal as some
would have you believe. She need not
make formal affair necessarily and have
an elaborate menu; yet if she has time
and likes to do this then / see no objec-
ton to her serving four or five course
dinner to few friends occasionally Do
not be afraid of being called "tony" or
"stuck up" for we want to be able to APP
pear as we'll in society as our city sisters;
therefore let us one and all open our