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。“