Year: 1875




tant subject of farming. But you say
what does she know about farming?
Well, not much at the plow handles,
but little not far from them. Wo.
men, since the garden was planted east.
ware in Eden, have had something to
do with farming, and in all this time
it seems me she ought to have learned
something about her part of the work.
There are many things to be done
around the farm house which are not
done elsewhere. The garden with its
luscious fruits and vegetables; the
poultry yard with its table dainties
and the dairy, we claim as our depart,
ment in this business Of farming, and
which. if well attended to saves many
a penny in the pocket. and adds many
comforts to our home. Examine the
agricultural reports and you will see
that the amount of butter produced in
the States far outweighs in dollars and
cents the much.talked of cotton crop,
while a few other items under our es.
pecial care run up into the millions.
Then do not try;to make the world be-
lieve woren know nothing about farm,
ing. Thy should know a good deal
about their part of the work. Our in.
terests on the farm are closely allied,
and without each others cooperation
get along but slowly. Our home manu-.
factures often come to the table or 20
to market as poor articles, and why so?
because we do not give our work the
proper attention. We 6ould all claim
to understand the simple art of butter
making. but the white puffy mass we
so often see on the table does not de.
serve the name of butter, for it is not
to be compared to the fragrant golden
cake that butter should be. and which
it is just as easily made five only give
it the right attention. They who have
been raised on the farm by widowed
mother will understand me when I say
is no disadvantage for a farmers wife
to know something about farming, out
side of the garden pa'ings. Sad is her
experience when left alone with fami
ly of little children to raise on farm.
She has to trust to the honesty (often
dishonesty of Others to act for her,
for the want of knowledge on a subject
she has been taught is only mans
business.


A farmers wife should at no time
meddle with her husbands business,
but should not fail to learn as much as
possible how and when teamwork
should be done. for who knows the day
when she may have to assume both his
and her responsibility. Then let us
educate the boys to help the girls, and
the girls to help the boys, and let them
be taught in the same school that 2
and are 4. At no time must woman
quit her sphere, but adorn it WITH every
grace in her power. If her house is
humble let it be clean and vine clad;
with her more than with man rests the
responsibility Of the health ofthe fam
lily. She almost alone has the sanitary
arrangement of the household. Through
Ignorance or neglect she may be slowly
poisoning her family by careless cook
ing in coprer-bottom stove vessel, m
cared for water vessels, the fever breed>
ing slop pools in the back yard, which
cost the farmer more sometimes than
the housekeeper imsgines.


Then, sisters, let us look to these
things also about the farm, for not on
ly is the comfort, but the life of our
dear ones left in our keeping. Weary
not in well doing; as we SOW, so shall
we reap. There is no employment that
gives as wide range to thought and
action as that of farming. The truly
great will seek that which is most no.
BILE. Our own Washington preferred
the music Of the mocking bird on the
farm at Mt. Vernon to the high-sound.
ing bugle notes of fame at the National
Capitol; and It's thus that most great
men when, tired of the world, have re
tired to the farm as their Hermitage.
Brightest blessings on the sunbrowned
farmers everywhere, whose honest toll
makes nations great; Though sub.
servient to no party, may the Grange
principles, which we advocate, be the
guiding star for our great Ship Of State,
which only can save her from the
maelstroom to which she is surely tend.
ing. il she does not change her course.





~ There is considerable gossip at