Motherlaughedon，andasshedidsoshedrewbackherhandsandstudiedthem。Thenshelookedathimagain，onepinkdimpleflashinghereandthere，alloverherface。
“Well，tobeginattherootofthematter，“shesaid，“thatisanenormousbigwordthatyouareusinglightly。Anyoneinpetticoatsisnotalady——bynomeans！Aladymustbebornofunsulliedbloodforatleastthreegenerations，oneachsideofherhouse。Thinkforaminuteaboutwhereyouaregoingtofulfilthatcondition。Thenshemustbegentlebynature，andrearing。Shemustknowallthereistolearnfrombooks，havewideexperiencetocoverallemergencies，shemustbesteepedinsocialgraces，anddiplomaticbynature。Shemustriseunruffledtoanyemergency，neverwound，neveroffend，alwayshelpandheal，shemustbeperfectindeportment，virtue，wifehoodandmotherhood。Shemustbegraceful，pleasingandbeautiful。Shemusthavemuchleisuretoperfectherselfinlearning，gracesandarts——“
“Madame，youdrawanimpossiblepicture！“criedMr。Pryor。
“Idrawthepictureoftheonlywomanonearthtrulyentitledtobecalledalady。Youuseagoodwordlightly。Ihavetoldyouwhatittakestomakealady——nowlookatme！“
Howshelaughed！Mr。Pryorlooked，buthedidn’tlaugh。
“Morethaneveryouconvincemethatyouarealady，indeed，“hesaid。
Motherwipedhereyes。
“Mydearman！“shecried，“I’mthedaughterofaDutchmiller，wholivedonaPennsylvaniamountainstream。Thereneverwasaschoolanywherenearus，andfatherandmotheronlytaughtustowork。PaulStantontookagristthere，andsawme。Hemarriedme，andbroughtmehere。Hetaughtmetoreadandwrite。I
learnedmylessonswithmyelderchildren。Hehasalwayskeptschoolinourhouse，everynightofhislife。Ourchildrensupposeditwasforthem；Iknewitwasquiteasmuchforme。
WhileIsatatknittingorsewing，Ispelledoverthewordshegaveout。Iknownothingofmyancestors，savethattheycamefromthelowlandsofHolland，downwheretherewerecities，schools，andbusiness。Theywerewelleducated，buttheywouldnottakethetroubletoteachtheirchildren。AsIhavespokentoyou，myhusbandtaughtme。AllIknowIlearnfromhim，fromwhathereadsaloud，andplaceshetakesme。Iexistinatwenty-mileradius，butthroughhim，Iknowalllands，principalitiesandkingdoms，peoplesandcustoms。Ineedneverbeashamedtogo，orafraidtospeak，anywhere。“
“Indeednot！“criedMr。Pryor。
“Butwhenyouthinkontheessentialsofareallady——andthenpicturemepatching，withaFirstReaderproppedbeforeme；
facingIndians，Gypsies，wildanimals——andtheyusedtobebadenough——why，ImindonetimeinOhiowhenourfirstbabywasonlyabletostandbesideachair，andthroughtheroughpuncheonflooracopperheadstuckupitsgleamofbronzygold，andshotitsdartingtonguewithinafootofherbareleg。Byallaccounts，aladywouldhavereachedforhersmellingsaltsandgracefullyfaintedaway；infact，aladyneverwouldhavebeeninsuchaplaceatall。ItwasmyjobtothrowthefirstthingI
couldlaymyhandsonsostraightandtruethatIwouldbreakthatsnake’sneck，andsenditsdeadlyfangsawayfrommybaby。
IdiditwithPaul’splane，andneatlytoo！ThenIhadtoputthebabyonthebedandtearupeverypieceofthefloortoseethatthesnakehadnotamateinhidingthere，forcopperheadsatthatseasonweregoingpairs。OnceIwasdriventofaceabigsquaw，andthreatenedthelifeofherbabywithared-hotpokerwhileshemenacedminewithahuntingknife。Thereisnotonecold，rough，hardexperienceofpioneerlifethatIhavenotendured。Shouldertoshoulder，andhearttoheart，I’vestoodbesidemyman，anddonewhathadtobedone，tobuildthishome，rearourchildren，saveourproperty。Many’sthenightIhaveshiveredinabarndoctoringsickcattleandhorseswecouldillaffordtolose。TimeandagainIhavehungonandbroughtthingsoutalive，afterthemengaveupandquit。Alady？Howfunny！“
“Theamusementisallonyourpart，Madame。“
“Soitseems！“saidmother。“Butyousee，Iknowsowellhowridiculousitis。WhenIthinkofthelifeawomanmustleadinordertobetrulyalady，whenIreviewthelifeIhavebeenforcedtolivetodomyshareinmakingthishome，andrearingthesechildren，thecontrastistoogreat。IthankGodforanypartIhavebeenabletotake。HadIlifetoliveover，IseenowwhereIcoulddomore；butneighbour，believeme，myhighestaspirationistobeaclean，thriftyhousekeeper，abountifulcook，afaithfulwife，asympatheticmother。Thatislifeworkforanywoman，andtobeagoodwomanisthegreatestthingonearth。Nevermindabouttheladies；ifyoucanhonestlysayofme，sheisagoodwoman，youhavepaidmethehighestpossibletribute。“
“Ihavenothingtochange，inthefaceofyourargument，“saidMr。Pryor。“OurlovedQueenonherthroneisnofinerlady。“
Thattimemotherdidn’tlaugh。Shelookedstraightathimaminuteandthenshesaid：“Well，foranEnglishman，asIknowthem，youhavesaidthelastword。Higherpraisethereisnone。
Butbelieveme，Imakenosuchclaim。TobeagoodwifeandmotheristheendtowardwhichIaspire。Toholdtherespectandloveofmyhusbandisthegreatestobjectofmylife。“
“Thenyouhavesucceeded。Youstandamonumenttowifehood；yourchildrenproveyourideaofmotherhood，“saidMr。Pryor。“Howinthisworldhaveyoumanagedit？ThemembersofyourfamilywhomIhaveseenarefine，interestingmenandwomen，educatedabovetheaverage。Itisnotidlecuriosity。Iamdeeplyinterestedinknowinghowsuchanendcametobeaccomplishedhereonthisfarm。Iwishyouwouldtellmejusthowyouhavegoneaboutschoolingyourchildren。“
“Byeducatingourselvesbeforetheircoming，andwiththemafterward。Self-control，study，work，joyoflife，satisfactionwithwhatwehavehad，never-endingstrifetogohigher，andtodobetter——Dr。FennerlaughswhenItalkofthesethings。HesayshecantakealittlenakedHottentotfromthejungle，andeducateittothesamedegreethatIcanoneofmine。Idon’tknow；butifthesethingsdonothelpbeforebirth，atleasttheydonothinder；andafterward，youareinthegrooveinwhichyouwantyourchildrentorun。Withallourtwelvethereneverhasbeenonewhoatninemonthsofagedidnotstopcryingifitsfatherliftedhisfinger，ortappedhisfootandtolditto。
Fromthestartwehaverigorouslyguardedourspeechandactionsbeforethem。Fromthefirsttinybabymyhusbandhastaughtallofthemtoread，writeandciphersome，beforetheywenttoschoolatall。Heisalwayswatching，observing，studying：theearth，thestars，growingthings；henevercomestoamealbuthehasseensomethingthathehasorwillstudyoutforallofus。
Thereneverhasbeenonedayinourhomeonwhichhedidnotreadanewinterestingarticlefrombookorpaper；workoutabigproblem，ordiscusssomephaseofpolitics，religion，orwar。
Sometimestherehasbeenalittleofallofitinoneday，alwaysreading，spelling，andmemoryexercisesatnight。HehasasisterwhotwiceinherlifehasrepeatedtheBibleasatestbeforeacommittee。He，himself，cangothroughtheNewTestamentandalloftheOldsavethebooksofthegenerations。
Healwayssaysheconsidersitawasteofgraymattertolearnthem。Hehasbeenaschoolmaster，hishomehisschoolroom，hischildren，wifeandhelpershispupils；thecommonthingsoflifeashemeetsthemeveryday，thebooksfromwhichwelearn。
“Iwasignorantatfirstofbookishsubjects，butinhisatmosphere，ifonewerenostudent，anddidn’teventrytokeepup，orforgeahead，theywouldabsorbmuchthroughassociation。
Almostalwayshehasbeenontheschoolboardandselectedtheteachers；wehavemadeapointofkeepingthemhere，atgreatinconveniencetoourselves，inordertoknowasmuchofthemaspossible，andtohelpandguidethemintheirwork。Whenthechildrencouldlearnnomorehere，formostofthemwehavemanagedthehighschoolofGroveville，especiallyafterourdaughtermovedthere，andforeachofthemwehaveaddedatleasttwoyearsofcollege，musicschool，orwhateverthepeculiarbentofthechildseemedtodemand。
“Beforeanydaughterhasleftourhomeforoneofherown，shehasbeentaughtallIknowofcleanlinessaboutahouse，cookery，sewing，tendingthesick，bathinganddressingthenewborn。Shehastobakebread，pie，cake，andcookanymeatorvegetablewehave。Shehashadherboltofmuslintomakeasshechoseforherbedding，andlinenforherunderclothing。Thequiltsshepiecedandtheblanketsshewovehavebeenhers。Allofthemhavebeenaswellprovidedforaswecouldafford。Theycanknit，darn，patch，tuck，hem，andembroider，setahenandplantagarden。Igoonavacationandleaveeachofthemtokeephouseforherfatheramonth，beforesheentersahomeofherown。Theyarestrong，healthygirls；Ihopeallofthemaremakingagoodshowingatbeingusefulwomen，andIknowtheyarehappy，sofaratleast。“
“Wonderful！“saidMr。Pryor。
“Fathertakestheboysinhandandtheymustgraduateinastraightfurrow，anevenfence，plantingandtendingcrops，trimmingandgraftingtrees，caringforstock，andhandlingplane，augerandchisel。Eachonemustselecthiswood，cure，fashion，andfithisownaxwithahandle，grindandswingitproperly，aswellascradle，scytheandsickle。Theymustbeabletoselectgoodseedgrain，boilsap，andcuremeat。Theymustknowanimals，theirdiseasesandtreatment，andwhentheyhavemasteredallhecanteachthem，anddoneeachthingproperly，theymaygofortheirtermatcollege，andmaketheirchoiceofaprofession。AsyetI’msorrytosaybutoneofthemhascomebacktotheland。“
“YoumeanLaddie？“
“Yes。“
“Hehasdecidedtobeafarmer？“
“Heisdeterminedtomakethesoilyieldhisliving。“
“Iamsorry——sorryindeedtohearit，“saidMr。Pryor。“Hehasbrainandeducationtomakeabrilliantfigureatlaworstatesmanship；hewoulddowellintrade。“
“Whatmakesyouthinkhewouldnotdowellonland？“
“Wasted！“criedMr。Pryor。“Hewouldbewasted！“
“Holdabit！“saidmother，herfaceflushingasitdidwhenshewasveryprovoked。“Myhusbandis，andalwayshasbeen，onland。
Heisfarfrombeingwasted。Heisapowerinthiscommunity。
Hehassonsincitiesinlawandintrade。Notoneofthemhasthefriends，andtheinfluenceonhistime，thathisfatherhas。
Anydayhesaystheword，hecanstandinlegislativehalls，andtakeanyparthechoosesinpolitics。Heprefershishomeandfamily，andtheworkhedoeshere，butletmetellyou，nosonofhiseverhadhisinfluenceoropportunity，oreverwillhave。“
“Allthisisnewstome，“saidMr。Pryor。
“Youdidn’texpectustocomeover，forceourwayinandtellyou？“
Itwashisturntoblushandhedid。
“Laddiehasbeenatourhouseoften，“hesaid。“Hemighthavementioned——“
Motherlaughed。Shewasthegayestthatmorning。
“He`might，’butheneverwould。NeitherwouldIifyouhadn’tseemedtothinkthatthemenwhodothethingsMr。StantonREFUSEStodoaretheonesworthwhile。“
“Hecouldaccomplishmuchinlegislativehalls。“
“Hefiguresinthelarge。Hethinksthattobeacommissioner，travelhiscountyandmakeallofitthebestpossible，tostandinprimariesandchooseonlyworthymenforalloffices，isdoingamuchbiggerworkthantotakeoneplaceforhimself，andstriveonlyforthat。Besides，hereallyloveshisland，hishouse，andfamily。Hesaysnomanhasarighttobringtwelvechildrenintotheworldandnotseepersonallytorearingandeducatingthem。
Hethinksthefarmandthechildrentoomuchforme，andhe’ssureheisdoingthebiggestthingforthecommunityatlarge，togoonashedoes。“
“Perhapsso，“saidMr。Pryorslowly。“Heshouldknowbest。
Perhapsheis。“
“Imakenodoubt！“saidmother，liftingherheadproudly。“AndasLaddiefeelsandhasfittedhimself，IlooktoseehimgoheadandshouldersaboveanyothersonIhave。Tradeisnottheonlywaytoaccumulate。Lawisnottheonlypathtothelegislature。
Comfort，independence，andfreedom，suchasweknowhere，isnotfoundinanycityIeverhavevisited。Wethinkwehavethebestoflife，andwearecontentonland。Wehavenotaccumulatedmuchmoney；wehavespentthousands；wehavehadabigfamilyforwhichtoprovide，andonaccountofthenewnessofthecountry，taxesalwayshavebeenheavy。Butwemakenocomplaint。Wearesatisfied。Wecouldhavebranchedoffintofiftydifferentthingsafterwehadafairstarthere。Wedidn’t，becausewepreferredlifeasweworkeditoutforourselves。Paulsayswhenheleavesthecity，andhishorses’hoofsstriketheroadbetweenourfields，healwaysliftshisheadhigher，squareshisshoulders，andfeelsamanamongmen。Toownland，andtoloveit，isawonderfulthing，Mr。Pryor。“
Shemademethinkofsomething。EversinceIhadaddedtomyquillandarrowmoney，thegreatbiglotatEaster，fatherhadsharedhischesttillwithme。Thecheststoodinourroom，andinitlayhisweddingsuit，hiseverySundayclothes，hisbesthatwitharedsilkhandkerchiefinthecrown，abundleofpreciousnewspapershewassavingonaccountofrarethingsinthemhewantedforreference，andinthetillwasthewalletofreadymoneyhekeptinthehouseforunexpectedexpense，hisdeeds，insurancepapers，allhisparticularprivatepapers，thebunchesofleadpencils，slatepencils，andtheboxofpensfromwhichhesuppliedusforschool。SinceIhadgrownsorich，hehadgonepartnerswithme，andImightliftthelid，openthetillandtakeoutmylittlepursethatMayboughtfromthehucksterformylastbirthday。Iwasn’ttotouchathing，savemyown，andIneverdid；butIknewpreciouswellwhatwasthere。
IfMr。Pryorthoughtmyfatherdidn’tamounttomuchbecausehelivedonland；ifitmadehimthinkmoreofhim，toknowthathecouldbeinthelegislatureifhechose，maybehe’dthinkstillmore——
Iliftedthepapers，pickeditupcarefully，andslippingbackquietly，IlaiditonMr。Pryor’sknee。Hepickeditupandhelditaminute，untilhefinishedwhathewassayingtomother，andthenhelookedatit。Thenhelookedlongandhard。Thenhestraightenedupandlookedagain。
“Godblessmysoul！“hecried。
Youseewhenhewassoastonishedhedidn’tknowwhathewassaying，hecalledonGod，justasfathersayseveryonedoes。I
tookasidelookatmother。Herfacewasalittleextraflushed，butshewasstillsmiling；soIknewshewasn’tangrywithme，thoughofcourseshewouldn’thaveshownthethingherself。Sheandfatherneverdid，exceptaseachofusgrewbigenoughtobetaughtabouttheCrusaders。Fathersaidhedidn’tcarethesnapofhisfingeraboutit，exceptasitstoodforhardihoodandbravery。ButMr。Pryorcared！Hecaredmorethanhecouldsay。
Hestared，andstared，andoverandoverhewonderinglyrepeated：
“Godblessmysoul！“
“WheredidyougetthecrestoftheEarlofEastbrooke，themasterofStantonhouse？“hedemanded。“Stantonhouse！“herepeated。“Why——why，thename！It’sscarcelypossible，but——“
“Butthereitis！“laughedmother。“Amerebaubleforshowandamountingtonothingonearthsaveasitstandsamarkforbravemenwhohavestriventoconquer。“