However, there is probably no place of greater opportunities for developing sober judgment in the growing girl than that afforded by the ordinary farm home. For here the business management of the household and of the farm affairs are practically merged. There is the further advantage of a considerable variety of ways whereby the daughter may be remunerated for what she does. But, how may we best interpret this question? First of all, what in a practical sense is a satisfactory business training for a young woman, a farmer’s daughter in particular? Do we desire that she become a shrewd money-maker and successful a some sort of commercial life? Few would take such a position. But in order that the young woman may be fully prepared to fill her heaven-ordained place as the center and source of love and influence in a family, we must provide that she be given just such instruction in the use of money as will enable her to occupy her high position with the greatest possible success.
Why the girl leaves the farm
Under the title above the Farmer’s Voice prints portions of two letters which help to throw not a little light on this much-neglected subject. Miss Alta Hooper writes:—
“The one great cry going out from the people, and one also much in need of an answer, is ‘how to keep the boy on the farm.’ It is very seldom that the girl of the farm is alluded to, although it may be that she is included, in a general way, in the great amount of literature concerning her brother. But, take it from the farmer girl that she is a live one, and unless money is coming into her pockets, unless she is comparatively independent and has some interest to keep her awake, she isn’t going to ‘stay put,’ but will get out where she can earn some money of her very own, to buy the little things so dear to the hearts of girls; and she will not be questioned and lectured and scolded over every little expenditure.
“Oh, the girls on the farm have minds and pride and ambition just as big as their brothers’ too; and in many cases they are not given half a chance to realize one iota of this ambition. It is then that a career off the farm and away from the farm home appeals to them. Then the thought comes that even though the salary to be earned may be small, still it is all one’s own, and there is no fear in planning where and in what it shall be invested.”
Likewise, Mrs. F. L. Stevens, writing for Progressive Farmer, says:—
“How often have we seen young girls leaving comfortable farm homes to go into typewriting, clerking, or bookkeeping, in order to have their own money. An allowance for personal expenses in the beginning would have solved this problem. But the father has not seen it that way.
Plate XXVI.
