1883.] THE PARMER AND HIS FAMILY. 185 



provement by lessening the labors of tbe family and adding to the 

 attractions and amusements of the domestic circle. I do not refer 

 to painting and piano-plajring, to silks and satins, not to fine 

 buggies and fast trotters, but to things more substantial and en- 

 nobling. 



Much has been done for the men on the farm, during the last 

 century, to hghten their toil and multiply their power. We need 

 only mention the changes that have been wrought in mowing and 

 raking, loading and unloading; in plowing and sowing, reaping, 

 binding, threshing, and winnowing; and so we might go on. But 

 now think how little, comparatively, has been done for the women. 

 Some years ago there was a movement which banished the loom 

 and the wheel. That was good, even if our clothes don't wear as 

 well ; but then came a long pause. Years passed, and the sewing- 

 machine was introduced — another great advance. But now a still 

 longer pause. Should there not be another forward uaovement ? 

 The old adage is still true: 



"Man's work is from sun to sun, 

 But woman's work is never done." 



So long as this can be quoted as fact, it is a reproach to our boasted 

 civilization. We hear much talk about the difficulty in keeping 

 the boys on the farm. Now I don't believe the boys on our New 

 England farms shrink from the honest toil that falls to their lot. 

 But when they see the drudge, drudge! drudge!! to which their 

 mothers and sisters and sweet-hearts are often subjected, they are 

 led to resolve that when they come to man's estate their occupation 

 shall be such as not to make their loved ones so much like beasts 

 of burden. 



Before farmers generally ride on their plows and milk by steam 

 machinery, let them give the folks in the house another lift. There 

 is ample opportunity, and although we cannot now discuss meas- 

 ures of relief in detail, we may mention, as promising "leads," the 

 substitution of milk sales and co-operative butter-making for 

 home dairying, and the possibilities of the co-operative laundry. 



Do all we can to lighten the labors of the day, in the Souse and 

 out of it, there will still remain work enough for all, upon the 

 farm. We never need fear getting rid of too much work, or avoid- 

 ing the necessity of training every memb*er of the farmer's family 

 to manual labor. 



