Produced by Annie McGuire THE AMERICAN COUNTRY GIRL [Illustration: The American Country Girl. An abundance of sunshine, fresh air, good water, and healthful exercise in the open permit wonderful young life to reach its highest development.] THE AMERICAN COUNTRY GIRL BY MARTHA FOOTE CROW AUTHOR OF "ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING," "HARRIET BEECHER STOWE," ETC. _WITH FIFTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS_ NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS _Copyright, 1915, by_ FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY TO THE SEVEN MILLION COUNTRY LIFE GIRLS OF AMERICA WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY SEE THEIR GREAT PRIVILEGE AND DO THEIR HONORABLE PART IN THE NEW COUNTRY LIFE ERA CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE COUNTRY GIRL--WHERE IS SHE? 1 II THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM 13 III IS THE COUNTRY GIRL HAPPY ON THE FARM? 23 IV A CALENDAR OF DAYS 31 V WHAT ONE COUNTRY GIRL DID 45 VI STORIES OF OTHER COUNTRY GIRLS 59 VII THE OTHER SIDE 73 VIII THE INHERITANCE 83 IX THE DAUGHTER'S SHARE OF THE WORK 97 X THE HOMESTEADER 107 XI THE NEW ERA 121 XII THE HOUSEHOLD LABORATORY 135 XIII EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION 145 XIV AN OLD-FASHIONED VIRTUE 155 XV HEALTH AND A DAY 167 XVI THE COUNTRY GIRL'S WAGE 179 XVII THE DRESS BUDGET 193 XVIII FOUNDING A HOME 205 XIX THE FARM PARTNER 219 XX THE COUNTRY GIRL'S TRAINING 231 XXI A GREAT OPPORTUNITY 241 XXII THE ILLS OF ISOLATION 253 XXIII THE SOLACE OF READING 265 XXIV THE SERVICE OF MUSIC TO THE COUNTRYSIDE 277 XXV THE PLAY IN THE HOME 289 XXVI PAGEANTRY AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE 303 XXVII ASSOCIATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION 315 XXVIII THE CAMP FIRE 329 XXIX THE COUNTRY GIRL'S DUTY TO THE COUNTRY 341