Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-07-10
By BESSIE L. PUTNAM

nv BESSIE L. PUTNAM.D
children instinctively delight IN
nets The first chicks have an ire
sistible charm for the mere babe;
and this natural taste guided with
tact is a quality which stays with the
wears. There are many incentives of
real worth toward working with To-
animate objects, yet the real. live
things always arouse more of interest.
The work is so light as to be easily
within the ability of the average child.
Feeding chickens is one of the first
real duties assigned to the little one,
With growth comes the added pleas
ure of fashioning the coops-it may
be in the rudest form by means OF
discarded boxes, or It may be the
evolving of triumphant victory
through the department in manual
training. In almost every other form
duties too heavy for the child to per
form. Even Bookkeeping shows these
features at times. Gardening and
fruit culture, too, have their draw.
backs in which the help of an adult
is essential; but with the poultry
dependent.
It harmonizes nicely with school
work the most of the duties being
required night and morning: and IL at
certain seasons during the school
year supervision through the day Is
hnr IF n
family is usually willing to look after
1.-THE work being arranged for on q
strictly business basis, with poultry
or eggs given in payment and at the
ruling prices.
Il gives the needed outdoor exer-
else. and there is no reason why a
share OF the attention now claimed
exclusively for baseball should not be
diverted TO a more profitable occupa-
ton. The hustle in getting the flock
ready for the day adds to the relish
Of the child's breakfast.
1t fosters a spirit OF kindness TO
animals; for no poultry grower can
hope TO attain any measure OF sue
cess until the spirit of gentleness is
mastered in connection with his
wards.
1t fosters a love for nature study
and the lessons on this topic which
are learned In school find practical
applications which render them more
real and impressive. Thus the rela.
ton of bird life to insect life is EN-.
phasized In the chicks liking for bugs
and worms and its adroitness in Sc
curing them. And as the child notes
these facts 1t will more readily under.
stand the mission of the birds ~
keeping at bay the hordes of insect
pests.
The original investment may be al.
most nothing, and 1t is really best -
Keep II within moderate limits, teach.
ing the principle of making 1t self.
sustaining from the first. Give enough
at the start II convenient, as the eggs
and one, two or three hens; and for a
Time supervise the work. In nothing
else will the increase come so rapidly.
lana children are not content unless
they can see things grow.
with every detail in the work. The
care In fighting away pests when the
eggs are first given to the hen is but
specimen OF the care In this single
detail which must be given from start
10 finish. The cleanliness OF every
ming from drinking cup to roost EN-
phasizes this point.
Neatness In the preparation OF the
eggs for market is another wholesome
lesson In child development The
eggs which are spotless and present
20 IN clean wrappings are those which
are sure of the best prices. And II so
packed that there is no danger Of
oreakage,' the profits on the entire
lo' are assured. Show how the glossy
HhlSh given by nature is impaired
"hen the damp cloth must be used
'nJarlng the keeping qualities as well
as me appearance. and urge the ease
win which this trouble can be Oh
waited by the use OF clean straw.
responsibility is an element which
must never be lost sight of. Life
even though only that of a chick, IL
p NOT 10 be trifed with. The plant may
" allowed to wither and die through
neglect, and yet, there is only the loss
vi 'he plant. But with animal life
mere Is pain and suffering as a re
,ul OF neglect. And the child who
,"Ses UP this branch of work should
w IaIly Impressed with the attendant
responsibilities.
oscipline is gained through the en-
.o'ced regularity of work. There ia
Nv success without IT, Poultry grow
VIC must give the attention regularly
on trouhia viii fono "A