56 TiiiRTY-PiFTH Annual Repobt of the 



is no occupation that causes lives to so closely intertwine or that 

 draws men and women so near to each other in a mutuality of 

 interests as does that of farming. The business man goes to his 

 desk, the professional man to his office, the commercial man 

 packs his grip and is away, and the mechanic takes his lunch 

 box and is of? to the shop. The outcome of the labors of these 

 is to the wife at home a familiar, though vague proposition. She 

 knows these daily goings and comings are necessary to the well 

 being of all concerned, but she is so seldom brought into real 

 contact with the business life of her husband that it is impossible 

 for her to show the interest or sympathy in his work that she 

 otherwise would. 



It is wholly dififcrent with the woman of the farm. Be she 

 wife, mother, sister or daughter, she is the integral part of the 

 life of the husband, father, brother or son as he is of hers. Man, 

 in other occupations is not noted for letting woman know his 

 business, here he can't help himself, and it is a mighty good 

 thing that he can't for of all the excellent things on the farm, 

 man and his kind included, a good woman is the very best. Stic 

 notes with satisfaction the disappearance of the snow and tJic 

 gradually lengthening days in spring time ; the boastful cackling 

 of the egg producing hen and the bleating of the new born cal-\|es 

 and lambs are music to her cars. Indeed if she had time to in- 

 dulge in such luxuries I am not quite sure she would not try liic 

 man's cellar door cure for spring fever. ' 



Next, when comes that sweet agony, so dear to the hearts 

 of all Avomen, the spring house cleaning, when the carpets atid 

 the mattresses arc spread on the lawn, the clothes lines full nf 

 blankets and bed linen, pillows hanging out of the windows, s^ep 

 ladders and white wash brushes in evidence, and the dining ropm 

 table full of household implements, dishes and medicine botllcs 

 out of the pantry and the good wife, as our Irish friend ojice 

 put it is "Niver takin' a resht ixcipt fwcn she's in motion," fhe 

 has onlv to turn her eye toward the field to know how the pl^iw- 

 ing, the planting or the sowing is coming on,, her ear toward the 

 barn to know the condition of the flocks and herds, or tox-lard 

 the pig pen or chicken coop, to discover a chance to i-est while 

 she soothes the hungry occupants with a little feed. Is thereiany 

 doubt of her being interested? Is there any doubt of her bting 

 an important factor in the business of the farm? Is there any 

 good reason why she should not be a full sharer in the prcjlit? 

 Then when that fellow comes in from the field and does the 

 Bowser business because he has to eat off the head of a barrel 

 one day in the year, or kicks because she asks him to prepare 

 a flower bed or beat a carpet while the horses are eating I 

 think, if there is nobod;^' else to do it, when he comes to |iis 



