156 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



would not only be of greater benefit to their 

 system, moral and physical, but in most 

 cases would be more acceptable into the 

 bargain. 



' I do not believe,' I said once, when con- 

 siderably exasperated by the complaints of a 

 Portly One, 'that you would in any house 

 meet with as much forbearance and con- 

 sideration as you meet with in mine.' 



* No I know it,' was the reply, interlarded 

 with unpleasant sobs, 'and that's just the 

 trouble. If you'd tear around some, and 

 quarrel and fuss, I wouldn't feel so bad and 

 home-sick !' 



I gazed musingly upon the big, fat, strong 

 woman, able, an she would, to make a good 

 living anywhere to live anywhere she chose; 

 not cast out into the desert to struggle for 

 health or semi-health, far from home and 

 friends. I let her go. To engage in wordy 

 encounters with one's help in order to ensure 

 her against home-sickness ? No ; that game 

 was not worth any kind of a candle. 



Let us suppose, O reader, that you are a 

 quasi-invalid, and that one of these persons, 

 for the modest sum of ^"48 to ^72 per 



