8G STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fruitful iiilicritiincc in wliicli shall grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight 

 and good for food. 



My thoughts and eyinpathies often turn into the homes now taking root here, 

 and I wonder if the necessary preparation has hcen made to insure the best 

 results for the time, labor, and money invested, not to mention our hopes, 

 cares, and anxieties, llomcs ! units that make u]) the total of tliis unrivaled 

 Kc]niblic, and every one, however humble, affecting the sum of its character. 

 1 wish by a simple story of humble life to direct your thought to what appears 

 to me to be our need. Sheldon and Polly were long since dwellers in an humble 

 cottage in western New York. The spring morning was breaking brightly, 

 and Sheldon must have an early breakfast, for he was expected at a farm near 

 by to help on the labor of tlic urgent spring day. Polly bestirs herself to 

 spread the frugal meal, often peering into the kettle to see if all is right, but 

 puzzled witli its stolid indilfcrence to the needs of the hour. It does not boil! 

 It will not boil ! The fire is assailed, and many an anxious word spoken. 

 Sheldon with confidence that all will be right waits patiently. At length he 

 begins to wonder and at last to investigate. The discovery was announced 

 with startling force, for he was a blu2 old lihode Islander. "By mighty! 

 Polly, that kettle ain't over the fire!" And sure enough, there stood the 

 helpless kettle on the stove griddle, with never a hint of boiling; the fire burn- 

 ing to no purpose, and time and labor lost. Then followed a poorly prepared 

 meal, hastily eaten, a hurried tramp to belated labor, and an uncomfortable 

 sense all day that things had gone wrong. All this for lack of awakened 

 thought and proper discernment of cause and effect. 



Do not interpret this simple story as being in any sense a comment npon 

 woman or womanly ability. There are many kettles not over cooking stoves, 

 in the same useless plight, whose owners need the same earnest arousing. 

 Polly's purposes were good ; she only needed to understand and be awakened, 

 to make it possible for her to do her best. We urge that the needs of our new 

 homes are greatest in the direction of awakened tliouglit and educated discern- 

 ment of causes and effects. All professions and great industries demand more 

 than a chance preparation in those who undertake them; but home-making 

 is the great flood-tide that takes along all without question of previous training 

 or preparatory drill. When the weighty and unavoidable issues of life in the 

 home bear down upon hand and heart, many courageous women are staggered 

 and almost overborne to find themselves so illy prepared, so destitute of 

 resources. For lack of light and knowledge which they should have in abund- 

 ance, they must grope their way and do much at a great disadvantage. The 

 wise ones have diligently inquired for the right ways, but the disheartened 

 have said: "I don't have any confidence in myself;" "I don't like to take 

 responsibility ;" "I don't see how I can help it." 



It is easy to trace results. In all the circle of your acquaintance you must 

 acknowledge that where best results are reached, and homes are most com- 

 plete, there is felt the power of an educated mind, an awakened, intelligent 

 judgment, and a teachable heart. If early dajs were not well filled with op- 

 portunity, there has been learning by the way, and constant effort to improve 

 every stray bit of information that can be made available. This is an unsat- 

 isfactory course, but much better tiian none. 



lieading and learning by the way has been the salvation of many a disheart- 

 eded, over-worked home-maker, and I urge every woman to read. Kead to 

 keep up the equilebrium of your being. Read for new thought and helpful 



