THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



the best of the results. There is really no more rea- 

 son why a woman should not ride a reaper than why 

 she should be debarred from running a lawn-mower. 

 Every country woman should know how to harness 

 a horse, to drive skilfully, and then to care for her 

 pet when he brings her home to the stable. 



Fortunately, there is a collateral drift toward an 

 interchange of employments. Men are taking up 

 house work quite as rapidly as women are going 

 into professions and into business occupations. It 

 is not only the woman's right to engage more gen- 

 erally in out-door work, but her rights include a 

 part in the recreations and the games. A woman's 

 sewing balcony is possible with many country 

 homes. It is healthful, restful, and stimulating. 

 My wife's balcony opens from the chamber by 

 double doors, and is furnished with a hammock as 

 well as table and chairs. One of my live arbors also 

 is the private room of the mother of the fold, 

 where she can do her private writing as well as 

 reading, and where, perhaps, she may instruct her 

 children. You suggest that the children are all at 

 school ? In a wisely-ordered country home a large 

 share of right education must be supervised by the 

 mother and father. These acres of ours are 



[360] 



