Home Conveniences First 47 



saving and conserving the strength of the house- 

 keeper. 



There is especially one day in the week which 

 might be appropriately called the "mother-killing 

 day." That is the occasion of her doing the washing 

 and ironing for the family. Not infrequently two 

 or three days thereafter are required for the restora- 

 tion of her normal strength and health. Now, it is 

 clearly the specific duty of the farmer to take hold 

 of just such matters as this and attempt seriously 

 to put them right. Doing the washing for four or 

 five, and that with the use of the wash tub, is a man's 

 work so far as required muscular energy is concerned, 

 and very few women are able to do it regularly and 

 live out their allotted lives. Therefore, let the con- 

 scientious farmer see to it first of all that some kind 

 of machinery be installed for lightening such wife- 

 killing tasks as that just named. Let him provide 

 such household helps and conveniences first, and 

 for the sake of the house mother and her children. 

 And then, if there be other means available, let him 

 provide the man-saving machinery about the barn 

 and the fields. In the chapter on "Constructing 

 a Country Dwelling," fuller attention will be given 

 to these matters. 



4. The mother's outings. The farmer who is 

 seriously interested in providing for the care and com- 

 fort of his family, and for the instruction and intelli- 

 gent direction of his children, will see to it that his 



