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Alabama - Mrs. Blanchard, Professional Mother

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the cushions. My son gave me that on my birthday. He is the sweetest
boy in the world to his mother. I declare! I do believe I have the
best children in the world. Sometimes I think the Lord blessed me that
way particularly, to make up for other things. You know I am not with
my husband. We separated when the children were quite small. I live
entirely for them. And outside of my home I have little interest.

"I didn't go to college. My father was well-to-do, but after I
graduated from High School, I decided I'd just stay at home and help
my mother with the housekeeping. In that way I'd learn how to manage
a home of my own, and be more certain of making a success of marriage.

"Somehow I never had any doubt that I would marry. I had too many
beaux for one thing, to stay single. You can ask anybody who knew me
in those days if Ellen Weaver wasn't the prettiest and most popular
girl in her crowd. I was a nice girl, too, and to this day I haven't
any patience with those who say a girl can't be popular and decent at
the same time.

"Other popular girls sometimes wondered if they would ever marry,
but I never had any doubts on that subject. I just felt within myself
that I was cut out to be happily married. I felt too, that while a few
'happy marriages' might be made in Heaven, the majority were planned
for and attained, just like any other successful achievement. So I
made up my mind that when I did fall in love, I'd use my head as well
as my heart. 'No rich, pampered, society idlers for me,' I said to
myself. And my father encouraged me in the idea.

"We thought that money was synonymous with dissipation, and that
rich men's sons were invariably worthless. And since my family repeat-
edly cautioned me against the folly of marrying an attractive ne'er-do-well,
I never permitted myself to become deeply interested in any of the
frivolously fashionable young gentlemen of my acquaintance.

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