This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ...be similar to that of almost every other woman, who has reared a family. It would be of a life spent in the interest of husband, children, and others who came within her sphere of action. Home and family seemed by providence destined to be my special field of duty. Whatever other influence I exercised, if any, was only a sort of radiation from that center. I think, however, the woman who discharges well her duty to her children and other members of her household, has ample scope for the exercise of all her powers, mental, moral and physical. My husband has given the principal points of interest in his history: he has also spoken of our children, each individually. If I had strength to do it, I would like very much, to add something to each one, but this I cannot undertake, as the subject is one on which I would be pleased to dwell. I might tax my own strength and at the same time, the patience of the reader: it will be seen, however, from my husband's history, that he was at different times, away from home several weeks and sometimes months, thus leaving the care of the family with me. His longest absence from home was during the war: this was a trying time for all of us. When the call was made for volunteers, Dr. Ford just dropped every thing and went into the service. He had not time to put his business into any kind of shape. His unsettled affairs were left mostlv in my hands for adjustment; those who remember the circumstances know about what success I had in this emergency: but to those who know nothing of the trials and hardships incident to-this situation, these details would be uninteresting. Neither have I the strength or inclination to give them. Suffice it to say, our business affairs were in quite a'-good, if not in better...