WOMAN'S WORK ON THE FARM. 487 



liome looks eagerly forward to a bright future when united efforts 

 shall be rewarded with plenty, and leisure for improvement. Work? Oh, 

 yes! She is willing and glad to to do all she can, to plan to the best of her 

 ability, to economize in every way, to help lay the foundation firm and strong 

 that shall make them the proud and happy possessors of many broad acres 

 of waving grain and fruitful orchards. The years go by, the family increases 

 and cares multiply, but they are gaining, year by year, some years more pros- 

 perous than others, but still a gain, until twenty-five or thirty years with 

 their springtime and harvest have come and gone, and the goal is won, the broad 

 .acres are theirs (or his rather), and the farmer, now at middle life or a little 

 past, but in his prime, looks with complacency over his possessions — his smil- 

 ing fields of grain, green, grassy meadows. .the woodland and the sheep and cat- 

 tle ranging over the pastures, his fine barns and outhouses, where he has stored 

 all the conveniences of labor-saving machinery. But is this faded and care- 

 worn woman the bright and hopeful young wife of a score of years ago? 

 While the farmer is looking hale and hearty, the wife looks worn and weary. 

 She has realized all she anticipated in the way of labor and economy, but 

 where are the bright dreams and happy anticipations of her youth? Has 

 the competence that is theirs brought any more independence or freedom into 

 her life? Is any part of the income given to her for her own unquestioned 

 use, unless it be for the merest necessities? and do even those come in every 

 instance freely? Is hers the privilege to occasionally purchase for her own 

 improvement and enjoyment a few books or articles of taste and beauty, 

 which she may feel she is justly entitled to after many years of cheerful toil 

 ■and self denial. 



The farmer is at liberty, if anything is going on in town, to ride out into 

 the busy world of men and be refreshed by the contact, gathering strength 

 for home duties and work; while his wife, as the years roll on, is more and 

 more unable to get away from the unceasing round of daily toil and cares, 

 until at last she loses interest for aught besides these same cares and duties 

 which, while they pertain to the well being of the family, have a narrowing 

 and belittling effect on the mind if there is no time or opportunity afforded 

 for other things. A short trip once a year, even, would do much, and an 

 occasional ride to town with the husband would give a stimulus to mind and 

 break the monotony of the tread-mill round. 



One instance can be mentioned of a young farmer in another county who 

 married a cultivated and accomplished girl, and every one supposed that he 

 being a worker and driver, it would be hard for her to take up the role of a 

 farmer's wife, but when it was seen that she was never absent from her 

 accustomed place in the choir, at festivals, or anywhere else, and she was 

 frequently called upon, being a fine musician, to sing and play, and even 

 went out one season with an amateur company to sing in several towns, it 

 was said by many: " Why, I don't see how Mr. B's wife can leave home as 

 she does, her husband being a farmer." Some were so troubled as to speak 

 to him about it. *' Well," he said, " I did not marry my wife to make a 

 domestic drudge of her, and have her grow old and careworn, but for a com- 

 panion whose society I can enjoy. I don't intend to have those qualities 

 which render her now so attractive, obliterated." Now he was not rich, 

 and could no more afford to do this than many others, but he saw things 

 from a different standpoint, and this wasViot a hindrance to his success, as 

 lie is one of the most prosperous farmers in his section. 



