1856. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



341 



For the New England Fanner. 



WOMAN'S INFLUENCE. 



BY SUSIE SUMMERFIELD. 



"Woman's Influence ! Why, how does it happen 

 that the editor of the 'JVeiv England Farmer' has 

 inserted a short sketch entitled thus in the agricul- 

 tural department of his paper ?" exclaims some 

 ■wise, elderly gentleman, who is a practical "farm-j 

 er," while he sits in his cosy arm-chair, by his own: 

 fire-side ; as he takes up this weekly paper, which ' 

 ever proves a source of pleasure and profit to his i 

 circle of "loved ones." Then, the dear old gentle- 

 man rubs up his spectacles, and holds the light 

 closely to the freshly printed page, as he mutters, 

 "Humi)h ! woman, woman ! what has she to do 

 with us men, in being interested in the progress of 

 agriculture, that we should read of her influence 

 here ?" "O, father ! perhaps this article may de- ^ 

 fine the way in which she retards the progress of' 

 agriculture ; for I never knew a lady to confess 

 that she was interested in such a masculine and 

 unrefined science, yet," exclaims a pert young 

 farmer by profession, rather than by practice. 



But let me assure you, my dear sir, that "Susie", 

 believes that woman does, will have, and must have 

 an unbounded influence in rendering agriculture a 

 popular, progressive science ; or in making it con- 

 trawise. "Why ?" Because farms are carried on 

 by men ; and men are influenced by women, or la- 

 dies, if this term suits thee better, my young gen- 1 

 tleman farmer. How, do you ask ? It is by her 

 becoming interested in, and by understanding what' 

 is the nature and character of the employment of 

 those with whom she is associated in life. 



Young ladies are sent to our institutions of learn- 

 ing that they may become adepts in the higher 

 branches of education, such as Geology, Chemistry, 

 &e. If she acquires a knowledge of these different 

 branches, is she not prepared to assist, guide and 

 influence the male memliers of her home circle, 

 who are engaged in a science which needs instruc- 

 tion from such elevated sources? Her feminine 

 taste naturally urges her to admire the works and 

 wonders of nature, and if she becomes intei'ested 

 in the ])lanting and sowing of seed, in the training 

 and thriving of fruit trees, and in the cultivation of 

 vegetables, as well as the development of the ex- 

 otic, the opening of the perfumed rose-bud, and the 

 training of vines which ornament the trellisses that 

 beautify her portico, and which festoon above her 

 window ; can she not lend a new charm, a new in- 

 terest to the tillage of the soil, which every day is 

 becoming more and more ])opular, profitable and 

 pleasant to the intelligent, sturdy sons of New 

 England ? If, instead of peopling the air with im- 

 ages, and building imaginary structures in fanciful 

 dreams, she uses her expanded faculties in appeas- 

 ing man's irritability, as he meets with his every- 

 day vexations, and grants soothing sympathy unto 

 him, as he performs his wearisome toil, will not 

 woman's interest and influence be acknowledged, 

 yea, welcomed by old and young farmers ? When 

 woman employs her knowledge of the mathematics 

 in calculating the loss and gain there is in farm 

 work, and in the products of the soil, as well as to 

 merely discipline the mind, will she not receive the 

 acknowledged confidence of every practical, judi- 

 cious farmer in Christendom ? 



Yes ! she may become a sunbeam within the 

 household of every farmer, which shall send cheer- 



ing light deep down into the honest, generous heart 

 of every yeoman in the land ; or, by her listlessness, 

 she may prove herself to be like a vapory cloud, 

 which will dim the lustre of every star of promise 

 that may shine Avithin his horizon. 



Let us see to it, then, that we lend sunshine to 

 our homes, and that, by our affectionate words, 

 and buoyant hopes, we chase away every shadow 

 that frowns upon our households, and then we will 

 coaxingly inquire of our farmer-husbands, and of our 

 farmer-brothers, if woman cannot lend an influence 

 to agriculture. 



Sometimes we meet with deceived, u'onld-he-dig- 

 nijied young ladies, who imbibe the notion that the 

 occupation of farming is not so dignified as a pro- 

 fessional or mercantile life. O ! how erroneous is 

 such an idea ! Do you not call that pursuit digni- 

 fied which brings a person into an intimate acquaint- 

 ance with the most wonderful, elaborate operations 

 of nature's laws, and with the most sublime, intri- 

 cate beauties of creation ; while it strengthens the 

 mental fliculties by continually awakening deep, 

 calm refiection, and by keeping every one of man's 

 energies fresh, vigorous and active ? The farmer 

 who swings the scythe or the sickle amidst the 

 graceful heads of the ripened grain, or among the 

 purple clover heads, which exude their fragrance 

 upon the summer air, is for happier, and just as 

 dignified as the pale faced merchant who handles 

 costly fabrics with dainty fingers, or puzzles his 

 brain over his "ledger" in his counting-room ; or, 

 as the restless mechanic in his work-shop. Though 

 he is not able to count his gayi in silver and gold 

 dollars, with such rapidity, yet his expenses are fa 

 less, and he continually receives by far the most in 

 terest paid in unalloyed happiness. 



That man who looks with the feeling of paterni 

 ty upon the buds of a j)lantation of choice trees, is 

 as much elevated and as happy as the scholar or 

 professor who rejoices in the birth of a new idea, 

 or beholds his completed discourse, oration or plea, 

 with intense delight. 



Sometimes, when men begin to talk of the best 

 methods of enriching their lands, of the fertilizing 

 properties which compost contains, of the benefit 

 which is derived by farmers carefully selecting 

 their stock from choice breeds of animals, and of 

 the most efficacious manner of fattening swine, la- 

 dies toss their curls, and send out looks of disdain 

 from their bright eyes, and are shocked that farm- 

 ers will be "so vidgar" as to talk of such topics in 

 their dignified presence ! But ministers discuss 

 theological questions ; moralists converse upon 

 themes connected with their efforts for reforming 

 society ; lawyers speak of the best mode of argu- 

 ment ; statesmen discourse upon politics, and the 

 physicians announce the latest discovery in medical 

 science, and talk of the different ingredients which 

 form medical compounds ; and the ladies all smile 

 and listen, while they pronounce them very skilful, 

 inffuential practitioners, since they are so interested 

 as to talk about their different professions. Now, 

 if agriculturists desire to become skilful operators 

 upon their soil, must they not talk too about their 

 business, and will not the gentler sex encourage 

 them to do so ? But is it vulgar to be interested 

 in a science which engaged the attention of the 

 "father of our country," Washington ; and which is 

 connected with the pruning and training of that 

 tree, the falling fruit of which first aided the great 

 philosopher, Newton, to discover the laws of gravi- 



