Year: 1869

her pies superior to her mothers, and
declared himself amply satisfied with his
bill Of fare generally. eQ


Harvest came on-a rich one. The
mysteries Of binding, shocking and stack.
ing were soon mastered, and ! was again
surprised to find each, such easy work.
Heretofore our harvest hands had kept
the women folks" on the keen run
from the commencement to close Of the
ingathering. Lunches innumerable, with
hot coffee must be served, and every
hour or two some Of us must hasten from
the spring with fresh water, or the entire
gang would quit and help themselves
All this was saved. / found it far less
vexatious to perform the mems work
than wait on them as ! had been accus-
toned to do. Superb slices of cold
meats, with biscuit took the place of hot
meats and vegetables, and tea three
times day, abundant and nice, super
ceded the interminable lunches with cof-
fee.


How well and strong and happy I be-
came! The outdoor labors had given
me vigor never dreamed Of, and COM
pletely driven out host of nervous af.
fections that had been the bane Of my
life. Then, too, it brought me nearer to
my husband. For the first fifteen years
of our married life our occupation had
been identical, and we were seldom out
Of the sound of each others voices. But
since he had come upon the farm, five
years previously, our department of Ia
Dor had been distinct. 1t was one now,
and we were both astonished at the re-
suit of our united efforts. Never had
we such a harvest. Prices ran high, and
next to nothing went for hired help. So
l became farmer, woman farmer.
What began in "war time" has been
continued in the reign of peace. I can
rake and bind my two acres day with
perfect ease. Can cut up and husk corn
and do other jobs too numerous to
mention" Of course we have got rich
in these four years, as anybody can who
goes at the work as we have done.


My Eastern cousins are shocked at E1y
way of life-as l should have been my
self had remained with. them. To
think" say they, that one of your cul-
ture should dig in the dirt like Dutch
woman p Nor was it alone fer myself
they complained. 1t seemed worst of all
that | should rear my daughters in such
savagery. A year ago sent my eldest
to represent me in the circles I have left
forever. l was not little amused at
the comments she elected Said one
cousin, who by the way holds no mean
place in the world of letters, She knows
more than all the rest of US put togeth-
er!" Another who moves in brilliant
society remarked: :" l must say her de-
pertinent is perfect, no one could demean
herself more JudiciousIy. So I cons
clude that my friends will be satisfied
that a girl that can milk dozen COWS
daily, or build wheat stack accurately,
need not be consequently, either igno-
rant or coarse.


| do not assume to be a model house
keeper, but l do claim that in these four
years all the legitimate ends of house.
keeping have been met. We have fallen
into simpler manners it's true, but our
fare is ample and nice. Whatever ma
chinery can do for housework, we en-
ploy it to accomplish; thus with all our
outdoor work we have. ampler leisure.
than formerly. This leisure is not dis
turbed by the eternal clatter Of noisy
help. Our stiffness of evening is un-
broken, and thus we secure more time
| for mental culture than would be other
wise possible. So, in intelligence, quiet,
health and wealth we are moving down
life's western slope content and happy,
which contentment and happiness have
been wonderfully augmented since be-
came a farmer. o
Minnesota, MINI.