332 Our Farming. 



replied, " Why, probably, my work to-day, with the horses, will 

 bring me $5." " And I have worked all day to do the washing 

 and ironing, which you could have hired done for $i," she 

 replied. "You have made $5, and I $i." " No, that is not 

 right," I said. " We have together earned $6. We have both 

 been doing work for the firm that must be done. Yours has been 

 the hardest. It is not right to put the figures on it as you have. 

 You might have driven the horses and rode, as I did, and I should 

 have had to work hard all day to do your work, and, probably, 

 not got through then. And you forget the three nice meals you 

 have got for me with the children's help, and the nice, pleasant 

 home, all kept in perfect order, which is such a delight to a tired 

 man when his day's work is over." Now, who was right, wife 

 or I ? She is usually, perhaps, but I was then, and she knows it. 

 I think you can see from the above platform, that I do not 

 believe in a farmer ' ' giving " or " paying ' ' his wife so much a 

 month to do as she pleases with, or as her share. We give to 

 beggars and pay servants, and I cannot look on the wife as being 

 either one or the other. If she is your partner and not your slave, 

 there is just one right way, treat her as your equal in every respect, 

 treat her just as you would a man who was your partner. 

 L,et there be one general fund, which both have helped with equal 

 faithfulness to raise, and which either party draws on with equal 

 freedom, in a small way, or in a large way, after due consultation 

 together. Do you say the wife would be too extravagant if given 

 such freedom ? Have you any more right to think this of her 

 than she of you ? Ah ! that ' ' lord and master ' ' and ' ' head ' ' 

 spirit dies hard. As a rule, women are not as extravagant as men, 

 I mean farmers' wives. There are exceptions, of course. If you 

 will think this matter over honestly and fairly, you will agree 

 with me. We do not see our own extravagances. It is possible 

 that a wife, who for many years had a little money "given" her 

 as she asked for it, might be a little too free with the pocketbook 

 if let in all of a sudden, but in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred, it will be entirely safe for a young farmer to begin in 

 this way, letting his wife know just what they are making, and 

 talking over with her just what they can afford to spend. There 

 is no better check to extravagance than positive knowledge of 

 one's real income. A wife may hear her husband always preaching 

 that he is hard up, but sees him. getting tools, new harness, or 

 whatever he wants, and she very naturally gets an idea that he is 

 not as hard up as he would have her think. I hope every farmer 

 who reads this will hereafter take pains to talk over his business 

 matters with his wife, if he has not been in the habit of so doing. 

 I^et her see just what they are making. Treat her as a trusted 

 partner. Consult with her about the more important matters, 

 Then you need not fear any extravagance, if she has free and 

 equal access to the general funds. 



