The Country-Woman's Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 16

The Country-Woman's Corner

By

Jean

Special for the Otago Witness.)

PROFITS AND LOSSES. “ Did anyone ever really suffer from working too hard ? Haven’t you know if people who seemed never to leave oil, and yet were perfectly fit? Why was that? It was because they did not worry?”—Daily Chronicle. “That very frosty morning I slipped t and spilt the week’s cream.” This was the contribution made by the new farm bride to the conversation around the. huge log fire. A party from a South, land town had taken a trip to the. Coast,” and were spending a quiet Easter on a mountain farm. It is doubt; ful if life on a farm, however, isolated, mav be said to be “ quiet.” There is so much to do from morning till night. Wireless is truly the great-, est blessing that has been given to the country dweller, and the. motor car is like the magic carpet of the Eastern fairy tale ready to take one far away when the mood comes on, but if there is to be time for listening to wireless and going on motor trips work must be got through in double quick time. There is need for economy too, so the assembled housewives knew only toq well how much petrol, storage batteries, and next summer “ braws ” could be reckoned to have disappeared with that can of cream! “We lost all the p-ofit, she con ; tinned in a doleful voice. “Never mind,” a neighbour consoled her “One gets used to small worries of that kind, just as one gets used tq walking with a can of cream on the frosty ground.” It is astonishing how one in that locality gets used to ' quaky- conditions and frost all the year round.. The same sublime faith and confidence with which these mountain dwellers can rise superior to the terror of natural forces which paralyse ordinary peop e is something like the courage of thq fisher folk. We had read and admired “ Red Rust,” that wonderful book written by woman ane one who under: stood all about the. struggles of those trving to make a living on the land.. But she shows that the things that come against us are really blessings in aismiise, these setbacks and material losse§ are more than counterbalanced by the examples of cheerful endurance and urn selfishness that are of greater 'ahic tq a country than all the wealth of hui mines and fields and foiests. The earthquakes have brought home tq us all the important part played by earth movements in determining the occupations and prosperity of the people 'G o were later to settle on the land. It is deeply necesary for all men to consider the magnificence of the accomplished purpose, and the depth ot the. wisdom and love which are manifested in the ordinances of the hills. A harder su J? stance had to be prepared for eveiy mountain chain, yet not so hard bu that it might be capable of crumbling down into earth to nourish the alpine forest and the alpine flower; and the peak was to be lifted and the cliff rent, as high and as steeply as was possible, in order yet to permit the shepherd to feed his flocks upon the slopes and the cottage to nestle beneath their shadow. All° the writing and research work bearing on the importance of the relation between geology and farming, though slow and tedious and to. many people useless and unnecessary, is now being given a recognised place by all practical farmers. It has been left to a woman writer to illustrate in story ioini how the farmer may work with Nature, and following along the lines of natural — selection improve the quantity and j quality of his crops. “Red Rust’ . ' shows how this was done: “ Whv, chief,” says young . Noyes, “ its tlie greatest tiling . that’s ever happened to wheat in this country. What do vou think that fellow has been doing for'vears? A fellow who went to school about 10 months in his whole life has been experimenting in raising ; wheat seed, and he’s beaten you and me lew- with all the education that’s been thrown :on- away on us besides. I’ll never be ves satisfied with my country for all its '? id boosters until we take time to pick out i, 10D the really great ones in our. midst and a to gi ve them a chance. I’m tired of oui W pampered mediocrity. He didn t. complain. He got lots out of life. It s tht tcr> rest of us who are losers.” sted This fascinating subject of soil studj luce lna v lead to endless discussions am ne ss experiments interesting alike to tin ■ scholar and simple peasant. Referring ii\n to the influence of mountains in thu »rcd respect Ruskin says: “The third gica iiich use of mountains is to cause perpetua tro] change in the soils of the earth. With Do- O ut such provision the ground unde: ould cultivation would in a scries of year .1 1 become exhausted, and require to be up turned laboriously by the hand of man cted But the elevations of the earth s sur hree face provide it for a perpetual renova one tion.” This continual breaking down e eing the rock fragments, to be at lengt and «thrown down on some new natura pr°- garden in the dingles beneath, is one c '\i, a the greatest functions of the mountain none to be regarded with as full a depth c gratitude as the laws which bid the tre

bear fruit or the seed multiply itself upon the earth.” The desolation and destruction that have overtaken the farmers in the fertile valleys and cosy homesteads of our alpine districts have thrown new light on many incidents in “Red Rust.” To work out a theory as that outlined in the story involves continual labour, many sacrifices, and disappointments. It requires, too, a clever head and an easy conscience. There is'also the need for careful calculation, and at stocktaking time there are many things that one must decide to do without if the final goal is to be gained. With the passing of years, the press of circumstances, and hard times many a fherished dream has to be put aside. Nothing has done very well this year, Money is tight and hard to get, Everything s sure to be very dear. How the cattle are going to be fed, How we’re to keep the boys at school; Its a kind of debit and credit sum— I can’t made the balance rule. The farm wife reminds her husband that for 30 years they have managed to get along, and have always enjoyed good health, and that their six boys are doing well, and, though not as prosperous as they would like to be, thev have much to be thankful for. Into all lives rain must fall, pver all land the storm must beat, But when the pain and the storm are o’er, ■the after sunshine is twice as sweet. Through every straight we have found a road, In every grief we have found a song. We have had to bear and had to wait, But somehow or other we’ll get along. <3ood man, I wish you would sinoke again, And think how well we’ve got along. He filled his pipe with a pleasant laugh, He kissed his wife with a tender pride He said, “I’ll do as you tell me, dear,’ I II just count up on the other side.” She left him then in his better thought. And lifted her work with a low, sweet song; A song that followed me many a year— Somehow or other, w*e get along.”