380 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Then the faithful housewife will say : " Yes, we will leave 

 the farm and move to the city." 



If y ou heard a company of professional men telling each other 

 of their disappointments and trials, their hardships and priva- 

 tions, you would consider them as unsuccessful men. 



Did Washington pause during the gloomy winter at Valley 

 Forge to tell the people that he was discouraged? 



Did Lincoln and Grant, while the dark days of the Rebellion 

 hung over our land tell Congress how disheartened they were? 



Did Frances Willard, in her labors of love, ever say to the world 

 that giving her life for the temperance cause didn't pay? 



Then farmers' wives and daughters, why not be contented and 

 enthusiastic in our work? When we come to think of it, the most 

 successful people in every line owe their success to their enthusi- 

 asm. 



Do not tell the kind husband at supper time what a busy day 

 you have had; how weary you are of the farm life; instead of this, 

 tell him how much you love your home. How glad that the lines 

 have fallen to you in such pleasant places. Kindle an enthusiasm 

 in the children to beautify the home. The neatly mowed lawn, 

 the bright flowers may be entrusted to the care of the children. 



Then again we have heard the expression, " The country is in- 

 deed beautiful, but the farmer does not have time to enjoy it. 

 Farming is all work." Would you be content with the trifles 

 which fill up an idle life? Or would you seek mere pleasure? 

 Work is no obstacle nor hindrance, but rather a source of strength. 

 Very little is accomplished without work. When all the daily de- 

 mands are met with sunshine in the heart, they are transformed 

 into pleasures. But farm life should not be all work. The even- 

 ings spent in the homes of our farmers are full of delight. We 

 most frequently find the whole family together. This is quite 

 in contrast to the city home, where the young people hardly know 

 what home life is. To some, home is a place where they eat their 

 meals and sleep; but there are so many attractions, such gay 

 festivities, club life, with its fascination, that to remain at home 

 two evenings of the week would be almost a punishment. 



In the country we find an abundance of social meetings which 

 all should enjoy; still the evenings at home should be the brightest 

 and best. Mothers, do not leave the churning or the ironing for 

 the evening's occupation. Fathers, do not lie on the couch, sleep- 

 ing the precious moments away. All are home. What satisfac- 

 tion in those words. There are fathers and mothers who would 



