The American Country Girl

Excerpt: ...Lost sleep must invariably be made up. Try to go to sleep happy. Rest When you work, work efficiently; when you rest, rest efficiently; whatever you do, do it with all your might. When resting, relax perfectly; let go. Stop worrying; think of something else; think of something cheerful. Do not yield to impatience or to anger; they shorten life. Think pure and beautiful thoughts; learn the beautiful thoughts of others and say them over till they become your own. Cultivate a well balanced mind; preserve courage and cheer. Prevention of illness or of a depressed state of health Study the laws of hygiene and of sanitation. Avoid patent medicines of all kinds. When ill, consult a reliable physician. Prevent illness by following the laws of health and by regular health examinations. Pg 179 CHAPTER XVI THE COUNTRY GIRL'S WAGE Pg 180 "To preserve as things above all price The old domestic morals of the land, Her simple manners and her stable worth That dignified and cheered a low estate, . the character of peace, Sobriety, and order, and chaste love, And honest dealing, and untainted speech, And pure good-will, and hospitable cheer; That made the very thought of country life A thought of refuge, for a mind detained Reluctantly amid the bustling crowd." Wordsworth. Pg 181 CHAPTER XVI THE COUNTRY GIRL'S WAGE A vision had certainly visited the soul of a certain fifteen-year-old Country Girl of New York State who claimed that the girls of the present day have a progressive spirit, and that if this spirit of progress is not found on the farm, they will seek it in the city. The bearing of this spirit on the question of the Country Girl's wage has made her think more deeply and feel more keenly than words can express. She cannot resist the conclusion that unless the young people are paid definite wages for the work they do on the farm, it will not seem to them that they are getting on so well as they might in a city office. This is a delicate diagnosis of a very...