88 The FarmRiead 



The debt incurred for a part of the purchase 

 price of the farm forbids the employment of 

 help to keep in order this home museum of 

 things useful and beautiful, and things useless 

 and ugly. If plainness, durability, and natural 

 beauty in parlor, sitting-room and chamber 

 would only become fashionable, what a burden 

 would be removed from the shoulders of house- 

 wives, both in country and city ! The time is 

 at hand when health and intelligence should 

 count for more among American women than 

 show and the possession of a miniature uphol- 

 stery shop. The furnishings of the rooms should 

 minister to the comfort of their owner, and not 

 tend to make life burdensome. 



Not infrequently farmers of energy and 

 ability become possessed of more than a compe- 

 tence near the close of life. Having lived in 

 somewhat restricted circumstances, they think 

 to make the close of life more comfortable and 

 luxurious. So, notwithstanding the fact that 

 most of the children have left the paternal roof, 

 they set about building a large house, tear down 

 or remodel, and add to the outbuildings; and at 

 the close of life they leave the possessions en- 

 cumbered and a farm overloaded with buildings 

 as an inheritance to a child unable, by reason 

 of youth and inexperience, to secure a com- 

 petence sufficient to live and keep up repairs. 



