WIVES. 187 



what it was before the pretty daughters married and went 

 away, that our Whittier caught that song of "Life 

 Among the Hills." 



'Twere well if often 



To rugged farm-life came the gift 

 To harmonize and soften. 



If more and more \ve found the troth 



Of fact and fancy plighted ; 

 And culture's charm and labor's strength 



In rural homes united. 



The simple life, the homely hearth, 



With beauty's sphere enshrouding, 

 And blessing toil where toil abounds, 



With graces more abounding." 



Is not this a pleasanter home-woman to look at than 

 she who as some one says, "begins by being worth more 

 than a hired girl at twelve dollars per month, and ends 

 in a nervous, fretful, empty-minded, ' broken-down ' old 

 woman at forty-five " ? 



Religiously consider, then, a few little rules and regu- 

 lations that will help you to maintain health and to pre- 

 serve in yourself the beauty and freshness of mind, and 

 looks that will make you not only a comfort to yourself, 

 but a cheering comrade to your husband and the fond 

 friend and genial companion of your children. 



Fresh air, cleanliness of person, comfortable clothing, 

 nourishing food, sufficient sleep, and occasional recreation 

 and diversion, are six indispensable requirements for 

 Good Health. If I were addressing any but a farmer's 

 wife, or an active home-keeper anywhere, I should add 

 " plenty of exercise," which you already have. 



In summer, where a farm-house is favorably situated, 

 the morning work in kitchen and dairy, and I trust a 

 bit of flower garden, is all done in "fresh air." For 

 the afternoon there is generally a shady porch or a pleas- 

 ant open window, where pure, blood-sweetening air can 



