"Woman's suffrage would make women neglect their homes and housework and
let their children run loose into ruin."

I knowed she said it partly on Polly's account, but I sez in surprise,
"Why, Lorinda, it must be you hain't read up on the subject or you would
know wherever wimmen has voted they have looked out first of all for the
children's welfare. They have raised the age of consent, have closed
saloons and other places of licensed evil, and in every way it has been
their first care to help 'em to safer and more moral surroundin's, for who
has the interest of children more at heart than the mothers who bore them,
children who are the light of their eyes and the hope of the future."

Lorinda admitted that the state of the children in the homes of the poor
and ignorant wuz pitiful. "But," sez she, "the Bible sez 'ye shall always
have the poor with you,' and I spoze we always shall, with all their
sufferin's and wants. But," sez she, "in well-to-do homes the children are
safe and well off, and don't need any help from woman legislation."

"Why, Lorinda," sez I, "did you ever think on't how such mothers may
watch over and be the end of the law to their children with the father's
full consent during infancy when they're wrastlin' with teethin',
whoopin'-cough, mumps, etc., can be queen of the nursery, dispensor of
pure air, sunshine, sanitary, and safe surroundin's in every way, and then
in a few years see 'em go from her into dark, overcrowded, unsanitary,
carelessly guarded places, to spend the precious hours when they are the
most receptive to influence and pass man-made pitfalls on their way to and
fro, must stand helpless until in too many cases the innocent healthy child
that went from her care returns to her half-blind, a physical and moral
wreck. The mother who went down to death's door for 'em, and had most to do
in mouldin' their destiny during infancy should have at least equal rights