THE FARMER'S WIFE MAY EE A LADY. 185 



Needing the moisture every day and hour? 



Only a withered, dried up. dying thing, 



Just like the shriveled hearts to which we cling. 



Is there a fountain of perpetual youth? 



Then lore nui^t be its source. We find, in truth, 



The loving hearts are those that ne'er giow old, 



For love will treasures give not bought with gold. 



THE FARMER'S WIFE MAY BE A LADY. 



BY MRS. E. W. TREAT, OF COLDWATER, MICH. 

 [Read at the Quincy Institute Feb. 17, 1886.] 



Is there anything in being a farmer's wife that should blunt a woman's 

 natural love of the beautiful in art or nature, or rob her of inborn qualities 

 that go to make a real lady? 



What constitutes a real lady? Surely it is not jewels, silks and laces, but 

 qualities of heart and mind, pleasant words and graces. Surely it does not 

 depend upon the mere accident of position, nor the possession of literary 

 acquirements. One might be a queen as far as position goes, and still be 

 coarse, and one may be a farmer's wife and still be a lady. We often read 

 such statements as this, "No lady will allow a napkin to be used at her 

 table the second time without being laundried." As that would make in the 

 average family about eight dozen napkins every week, it excludes most of us 

 from being ladies. Webster tells us a lady is one who has charge of the 

 domestic affairs of a household, which Avonld include most of us. The sense 

 in which it is most generally used is his further definition, "A woman of 

 refined manners." 



I would prefer the definition, "A woman of refined feelings," for one may, 

 hy being educated and accustomed to good society, acquire elegant and 

 refined manners, and still lack the inborn qualities of a lady. In short, 

 when we have found a true woman, we have not far to go to find a lady, be 

 she rich or poor. 



I do not suppose there is anyone whose home is, or has been, in the 

 country, who will say that there is anything in being a farmer's wife that 

 should blunt or mar our better nature, or keep us from being ladies. 



I often think when watching the sky at sunrise or sunset, or when riding 

 in the free, pure air past fields of growing crops, that there is no class whose 

 opportunities are so good for leading pure lives, and who should live so near 

 to nature's God as farmers; but while I believe this, I also know that there 

 are many things which, if we allow them to, will blunt our love of the 

 beautiful, and rob us of the qualities that go to make a lady. There are 

 very many who have inborn the qualities of ladyhood whose lives are such 

 that these qualities are crushed and choked, and their natures soured and 

 hardened, aud it would almost seem that there is no help for it. 



"And the world looks on, and never guesses 

 The sounds that would be sweet and grand 

 If the master keys could only answer 

 To the touch of a master hand." 

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