Year: 1875




EDS. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN:-En-
closed YOU will find a copy of an es-
say written and read by Mrs. Kate
Moore ut the last meeting of the Oc-
toraro Farmers Club, which they
send to you for publication. Samuel
Whitson, Secretary.


Chester County, Penn.


- l have long felt that we
should make this monthly gathering
of more real benefit by doing some
thing for ourselves, not being con
tent to sit from time to time listening
to that which is only of value to us
as it benefits our husbands or their
pockets. AS wives, mothers and
housekeepers, could we not in the
years gone by have learned many
things from each other that would
oft-times tighten our duties? Or
could not we younger wives and mo-
theirs learn through the experience Of
our elder sisters something that
would be of benefit to us or our little
ones? Not long since, rG passing
through n prison, as | looked upon
he youthful and sometimes hand
some faces of the convicts, the query
arose, whose fault is it that they are
here-what kind of homes had they
was it something in the fathers ex-
ample, or lack of something in the
mothers training that they went
thus astray? Then l felt what sol
emn duty it was to be a parent; how
much depends on us for the good or
i'll of those little ones given into our
keeping; and how little fitted for the
task many of us are. My heart
arose in prayer to our Heavenly Fa-
ther to give me and mine strength
and wisdom to train the precious
souls given unto us, so that when
our heads are white with age, our
hearts NAV not be withered with
sorrow and shame for those who call
us father and mother.


Farmers now see that to keep their
children from wandering from the
homestead and seeking the attrac-
tions of city life, they must bring as
much as possible these attractions
into the home circle; they must edu-
cate their sons and daughters as do
their city friends; they must be
taught the various accomplishments
that always bring with them refine
ment, consequently, ease and grace,
thus fitting them for the best circles
of society our country affords, for like
will always seek like; the good, pure
Young man or woman will not seek
the society of the deprayed unless to
endeavor to raise them through their
higher, purer natures to something
better. The trouble is in
the homes.


Whose fault is it that homes are
not pleasant? 1t is everybOdy's
fault, for each member of the house
hold has some influence in making
home pleasant or otherwise. But
with the wife and mother seems to
rest the greatest responsibility Oh
making home pleasant. This is the
riqht Of vOmdR-her divine mis-
sion. Oft-times women say it is their
aim to be good hOuse-keepers, but
this does not always denote pleasant
homes-far from it; for where the
little child is afraid to misplace
chair or scatter it's playthings over
the floor the atmosphere is cold and
chilly. Such a home will not call
forth the depth of love in that little
one,s heart. 1t is the home in which
both parents surround the children
with the loving influence that is felt
almost as soon as we cross the thresh-
hold. where all are as dear friends
and companions, where the children
90 to their parents with joy and sor-
row, and look to them for counsel in
all things-it is in these homes that
we find education, refinement, love
for the beautiful, choice literature,
flowers, pictures and music, which
are all indispensable in making home
happy and pleasant.