All this feeling was wrong in us; all labor is honorable, it matters not what it is

Autobiography and reminiscences by John W. Carroll.

During these years of attending Hughes academy, clearing and fencing land, it was necessary for me to take part in all the duties of the household, my mother being always a delicate woman in feeble health, a great part of the time confined to the bed, unable to do her work, and father too poor to hire it done.  The younger children and I learned early to do all kinds of work—milk the cows, churn the milk, cook a meal of victuals, etc.  It was sometimes the case that brother and I would take the clothing of the family to the well and wash them, which we cheerfully did.  We sometimes felt a little mortified at seeing other young people of our age pass by in good clothes and happy, while we were bent over the washtub.  All this feeling was wrong in us; all labor is honorable, it matters not what it is, and washing being hard work I think boys should assist in doing the work where the family has it to do.  Boys are much stronger than girls, as a rule, and should always assist their mother and sisters in doing the hard work about the place.