240 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



(From ihe Nrwark (N. J.) Oaily Advertiser ) 



THE WIFE AT HOME. 



It has been one of my most serious apprehen- 

 sions, thai in the multitude of our societies and 

 public combinations, men and women might chance 

 to foig-et that they have anything- to do individually. 

 We have societies to take care of our health, and 

 societies to take care of our kitchens. Alms (riv- 

 ing, so far as done at all, is doTie chiefly by whole- 

 sale. Perhaps we may sec the day when we shall 

 dine together, like the Spartans, and when all fam- 

 ily cookery and education shall be done upon the 

 large scale. 



These thoughts were brought to my mind with 

 great force than common, a few days since, upon 

 my making a visit to the house of Mrs Nelson, the 

 wife of a reputable farmer, a few i.iiles from our 

 village. If I were to attempt a portrait of this 

 excellent lady, I should fill a volume ; I can only 

 give a sketchy outline. i\Irs Nelson is, in the 

 American as well as the English sense, a fine wo- 

 man, f Temperance, early rising, industry, and 

 above all serene choorfulness of soul, have left on 

 her check at forty, those roses which fashion an-d 

 excitement often blast before fifteen. 13ut what I 

 took my pen to notice, was that truly feminine and 

 christian trait of my good friend — she is a keeper 

 at home. Though I have been a church-going man 

 many years, I do not remember to have heard any 

 one of our clergy enlarge upon this scripture 

 phrase ; and yet the older I grow the more mean- 

 ing there seems to be in it. The best women in 

 the world are those wlio stay at home, such is the 

 opinion of the bast judges, to wit, their husbands. 

 The worst women are those who have no home, or 

 who love all other places better ; such is the ver- 

 dict of those who meet them abroad. A wife in 

 the house is as indispensable as a steersman at tJie 

 wheel. Who can count up the cases where poor 

 fello'.rs have been ruined by tlieir wives t* 



This is a hard saying, but if it were Stiftened, it 

 would be less true. Surely it is no- disrespect to 

 the better sex to.point »t these rare e.'cceptiuiis, 

 which like the dim tarnish on the face of the moon, 

 make the other tracks look all tlie brighter. After 

 you shall have exaggerated to the utmost the num- 

 ber and the faults of thq gadding, gossipping, and 

 idle women, we still have a million of American 

 house-wives, brightening a million homes and hearts. 

 Mrs Nelson is one of them. Her liusband is not 

 the meekest man in the country, nor by nature the 

 most hospitable, but she makes up for all, like the 

 credit side of an account.- In the exercise of the 

 passive virtues, she finds her greatest happiness. 

 She holds it to be one of the very first duties of 

 life to render her home delightful, first to her hus- 

 band, next to her children, and then to all who may 

 enter her hospitable doors. Eirly in life, she ob- 

 served that several of her husband's intimate 

 actpiaintanccs were becoming irregular in their 

 liabits, she and Nelson talked it over at length. 

 Ho being a rough man, declared it to be his inten- 

 tion to break off all intimacy witli Lang and Shep- 

 herd, on the spot. " O no ! husband," said she, 

 " that would be cruel, remember the proverb, ' A 

 sotY word breaketh the bone.' Let me alone to 

 bring them to their bearings ; at any rate, give me 

 a month for an experiment." " You ! Mary," he 

 exclaimed in astonishment, "you amaze me: surely 

 you will jiot follow them to the bar-room, as Jemi- 



NEW E N G L .^ N D FARMER, 



ma Murphy does her goodman." " No," said his 

 wife laughing, " but we women have some secrets 

 left still. Wait but a month." 



The month rolled round. Nelson had hard work 

 to refrain from falling upon the two men violently, 

 but he waited to see the issue, and even kept out 

 of their way that the incantation might be unin- 

 terrupted. At the close of less than the three 

 weeks Lang and Shepherd were two of the most 

 quiet, orderly, and domestic men in the neighb6r- 

 hood. " Why Miiry," said Nelson, " what in the 

 world have you done to them ?" — " I .' husband ! I 

 have not exchanged words with them for weeks" 

 " Then you have had some witchcraft at work." 

 " Not 1," she replied ; "the story is anon related, 

 I had observed for a long time that tlieir homes 

 were growing dismal, and I often told Mrs Lang 

 what I feared concerning her husband. Indeed I 

 had heard you tell of his repeating over his glass 

 that abominable saying, ' the devil's at home.' Af- 

 ter my conversation with you, I set to work — not 

 on the husbands, but their wives. Simple creat- 

 ures! they scarcely knew what I meant. They 

 wished indeed that the men would spend more time 

 at home, and even wept about their late hours and 

 rum drinking. But they were not prepared for my 

 telling them that they must redouble the attractions 

 ■of their own fireside and table — make the cheer 

 better — the fire brighter — the children cleaner — 

 the welcouie heartier ; call in a pleasant neighbor 

 to tea — have a little singing, in the evening, and 

 even invite to a comfortable supper two or three of 

 the husband's tavern cronies. The thing took ad- 

 mirably. The wives triumphed, and I hope you 

 are satished." 



Though it is likely Nelson did not just then sus- 

 pect it, this was the very course which had proved 

 successful in saving himself from ruinous liabits. 

 And most earnestly is it to be wished that all our 

 towns and villages were filled with such wives as 

 honor and love the family institution ! Every one 

 has made the observation that there are many more 

 women who are religious, than men ; but the final 

 cahse of this has not so often been remarked. 

 Divine providence by this discriminating favor to 

 the one sex, pours influence into the social fouii, 

 tain. As are the mothers of a nation, so will be 

 the sons and, in a measure, the husbands. But to 

 exercise full influence ; the wife must be a keeper 

 at home. She will find enough to employ her long- 

 est days, in the endless circle of household cares. 

 While she will welcome the evening visiter, and 

 often enlarge her frugal board for the bevy of 

 friends, or even join in the social party or the cheer- 

 ful sleigh ride, these things will be the exceptions 

 «6t the rule. So living, she will give happiness 

 to an ever increasing circle. "Her children arise 

 up and call her blessed; her husband also and ho 

 praiseth her." C. Q. 



JAKUARY :iO, 18 3 9 



FOR SALE, A t IRST RATK FARM, 



Well situated on the road leading from the Tlieoloiiou 

 Seminary in Andover, to the old Boston road : hilely ov 

 by Peter F. Shed, anil will known as the Oavid lihint Farm 

 containin!> 70 acres, more or less. There is ahout 20 ac 

 of good Woodland within sight of the liouse. The rema 

 der of tlie farin is in ffood condition, and is generally consid 

 ered, hy those acquainted wiih it, to i.g -'a garden spoi.' 

 There are from 300 to 500 apple trees on llie place. inde|ion 

 denily of other fruit trees of great value. The farm is wel 

 walled and watered, ihe buildings in first rate order, 

 there are upon it three wells of excellent, soft water. It i: 

 well situated lor a'gentlcinan '.vishing for a residence in ih 

 country, being retired, r.nd yet in the immediate vicinity n 

 the public Schools and the Theological Semiiuiry ;— or' /o 

 the farmer, who wishes to raise vegelahlcs lor market, ih 

 land being all good, and markets near. It lies about half . 

 mile from the Ballard Vale Factory, one mile from the Kai 

 Koad depot, and nine miles Irom I'.owell. There are upor 

 the place about ten cords of manure. 



The conditions of sale will be liberal, the owner b( 

 obliged on account of ill health, to go South.— For particu" 

 lars, inquire of the subscriber, on llie premises. 



ANDRliW B. STLMPSON. 

 -Andover, January 15, 1S39. 4w 



FARM FOR SAI.K. 



A Farm situated in the soiubwcslerly part of Townsend 

 on the road leading from Townsend west village lo Worces 

 ter. Said farm contains 110 acres of land divided into mow 

 ing and pasturing, and a large share of w.iod and limber; t 

 one story house, with two front rooms, kitchen, buttery, anci 

 two bed rooms well finished ; parlor ])apered ; wood house 

 well, under cover, forty feci barn, and shed, a large sheej 

 house, fifteen by thirty feet, a large cooper shop, and anotbei 

 small house well finished, on the lower flror; a good oque- 

 duct which comes into the born yard, an<l a good orchard. 



The subscriber will sell a part or all, and ei've possession 

 this lall er winter, or new spring. Those who wish to buy 

 will do well to call on the subscriber, who lives on theprem 

 iscs, and look lor themselves. AS.t H. AD\MS. 



Nov. 20,1838. 



KIULBfiRRT TREES. 



Wm. Pbikce & So.Ns will make sales of trees and cut- 

 tings of the genuine Chinese Moras Mullicaulis, Morus Ei- 

 pansa, Alpine, Broussa, Canton at\d other varieties, delivera- 

 ble to the purchasers at such period in the Spring, as is con- 

 veniept to them, and will enter into contracts accordmgly. 



Prices and terms for the trees and catlings will be forward- 

 ed to all who may apply for them by mail, as well as prices 

 of Silk Worms' Eggs, Mulberry Seeds, &.c. The Mullicau- 

 lis treos are remarkably vigorous, and as we lirst imported 

 the genuine tree, purchasers are sure of obtaining the ] 



ine kind. It is from this cause and from ihe great atle 



paid by them, ihat the trees that they have sold, have given 

 universal satisfact' — 

 Dec. ao, IS3S. 



2m Flushing, near New York. 



Recipe for Indian Cake. — A correspondent 

 furnishes us with the following recipe for making 

 that excellent Yankee viand, an Indian cake : 



Take three cups of Indian meal, three cups of 

 flour, three (juarlers of a cup of nudasses, two tea- 

 spoons full of salffratus stirred in the molasses 

 until it foams — add a little salt and mix it with 

 cold water the thickness of pound cake. Then 

 bake it. 



FAUJII IS BROOKLI.X'E. 



For sale a farm situated in Brnokliue, about four miles j 

 i of first rate Tillage Land, 

 nd pasture— with a good 



t-iiitiMiv-ic icuaii : nam. '^' *- " * 



1, &,C. 



The Farm will be sold low, together wilh the Stock, Hay, 

 Tools, &c. if applied for soon, at No. an. North Market St. 

 Boston, or Koxburv Sireet, near Boston line 



Dec. 26, 1838. JOHN HUNT. 



from Boston, containing forty _, 

 and thirty acres of Woodlimd 

 House in coinple-e repair ; Barn, Chaise-house, Corn farn 



NOTICE. 



A uerson now in the Nursery business, on a limited scale, 

 who has peculiar advantages (or its extension, not possessed 

 l),y any other individual in this country, wishes to connect 

 h mseir wilh some person who can furnish a small capital, 

 sntficienl to make the business both pleasant and profitable 

 Inquire at the office of the N. E. Farmer. 



Nov. 21, IS33. 



^VA^■TEu. 



In the Seed Garden, connected wilh the New England Ag- 

 ricultural Warehouse, a first rale farmer: one who has some 

 knowledge of the inanagemenf of hot beds would be pre- 

 ferred. Inquire at the N. E, Farmer Ofiice, Nos, 51 & 62 

 North Market St, JOSEPH BRECK & CO. 



Drunkenness turns a man out of himself and 

 substitutes a beast. 



THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



Is published every Wednesday Evenii.g, at S3 per ann.im 

 payable at the end of the year— but those who pay within 

 sixty days from the time of subscribing are entitled to a de- 

 duclionof 59 cents, 



TUTTLE, DE.NNETT AND CHISHOLM, PRINTERS, 



n SCHOOL 8TRSET... BOSTOM 



