Each In His Own Place

I know a farm woman who is wearing overalls this spring at her

outdoor work. "They wear overalls in the munition factories," she says.

"Isn't the raising of food to preserve life as important as the making

of shells to take it? Why should I be hampered in my work and

tormented by skirts flapping around my ankles when I am out in the field?"

 Sweet, Orr and Company overalls for women advertisement

(1917)

Why indeed! When every bit of one's time and strength can be put to such

good use in work that it is so very necessary to the world, it seems foolish to

spend any of it uselessly. The simpler and more suitably we can dress the

better. This year of our Lord 1917 is no time for giving much attention to frills;

and when we remember the tight skirts of recent date, we surely cannot accuse

overalls of being immodest.  As the Man of the Place said to me,

"Just hunt up a couple of your old tight skirts and sew them together,

then you'll have a pair of overalls."

We all feel that we would like to do something to help our country in

these perilous times, however, much we may regret the necessity.

We may do this; without leaving our homes or exposing ourselves to

new and fearful dangers. Not that country women would hesitate to

take these risks if it were necessary, but it is natural to be glad that

we may help as much or more in our own accustomed ways.

Women in the towns and cities can be spared to work in the

factories, to make munitions, to join the Navy, or to go as nurses

with the Red Cross; but what would happen to the world if the

farm woman should desert their present posts?

Our work is not spectacular and in doing it faithfully we shall win

no war medals or decorations, but it is absolutely indispensable.

We may feed the field hands, care for the poultry, and work in the garden with

the full assurance that we are doing as much for our country as any other person.

Here in the hills, we have helped plant the potatoes and corn; we help with

the milking and feed the calves and hogs; and we will be found on the line

just behind the trenches, "fighting for Uncle Sam," as I heard one woman say;

and every extra dozen eggs, pound of meat, or bushel of vegetables we

raise will help beat back the enemy, hunger.

Some women were talking over an entertainment that had been planned

for the crowd. They seemed to be taking only a half-hearted interest in the

subject, and finally one of them exclaimed:  "I can't feel right about doing this!

It does not seem to me that this is a time to be feasting and frolicking. I do

not think we ought to eat an unnecessary mouthful, and sometimes I feel

like choking on the food I do eat when I think of people in the world

who are hungry and starving."  I fully agree with her.

When there seems to be not enough food to go around, we ought to be

as careful and economical with it as possible. If it is true, as we are told,

that most of us have the bad habit of overeating, now is a good time

to break that habit.  I am sure that we farm women will not be found

second to those of any other occupation in willingness to bear our part

in effort or in self-denial, and if, as experts say, "armies travel on

their stomachs," we are doing our best to enable the soldiers of

the United States to go as far as those of any other nation.

"Each In His Place"

(May 1917)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

(1867-1957)

Prolific American writer,

 patriot, and pioneer girl.

From the book,

"Little House In The Ozarks"

A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler

The Rediscovered Writings

Edited by Stephen W. Hines

Guideposts Edition

(1991)