The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-05-10
Five Mothers Work OFT a Co
operative Scheme Of Caring for Babies

dressed in outdoor wraps, and we
played games on the porch and on the
steps and front walk (tl1e lawn was
sopping) until 4, when we all tumbled
in, went through the complicated bust
ness of taking off wraps, which was
less a business than in the morning,
and got over more quickly with the
prospect of refreshment, which we all
assisted to prepare and which the chill
dren seemed to find just a~dequate-as
much certified milk as they wanted.
And they had a lesson in pouring from
little squat jugs which had taken my
eye at a Decent store. / had cut my
weekly batch of cookies In fancy
shapes and the children were delight
ed.
My husband appeared at S o'clock
and although l had a story prepared he
offered to take the Riddles off my
hands until 1t was time to dress to go
home. He corralled them in the liv-
ing room II told them a funny story
which was largely illustrated by pam
tomlme, l think But I was scurrying
about in the kitchen, folding up tables
and preparing our own dinner. At
$50 o'clock fathers or mothers began
to arrive and in fifteen minutes we
were alone.
l had corrected our little boy several
times during the day., but he had been
O. 5N1S oSN"bLSN III LSdSlliliS d 9IkiGLl
lady how to button her ankle strap
and whenever there was a pause in
the programme he would return to the
lesson with the persistence of extreme
youth.
Tired but Gratified.
I was tired. ! do not deny it.. But
it had been an interesting day. l had
been able to observe my own child as
if he were just one Of a bunch, and I
| hnI coon Cyhnf I bod nTrn cHnr b1fHrn
that every baby of , or : or 5 really
is a prodigy. a miracle of beauty or
cleverness.
Then came the reckoning. We have
no margin of income, no account call
ed miscellaneous" SO that it is neces-
sary for us to see just what everything
represents.
l had spent a scant 81 for food and
Eof course, | had three-fourths of the
cookies left for our own use. There
was some milk also which made our
dessert, and the leaving of the scraped
beef l had put on while the children
were eating their dessert, and by ev-
ening there was a big bowlful of broth
for my boy to eat with his evening egg.
There also was bread and butter to
spare. | had kept Il iugful Of bottle
water on a low stand in the hall where
the older children could help them
selves and the younger one be con-
stantly reminded that they wanted a
drink.
The Financial Outlay.
My expenses were as follows:
Milk ........ $0.50I Rice ........ 10
Bread ...... .30I Prunes ...... .25
Beef ........ .3Ol Cookies 900. Is
Butter ...... .2Oi -
Potatoes .... .2Ol Total .-...$2.0O
The boy was not excited, but he was
well tired out n sat quietly through
his supper-something he had not Oft
en- done. He went to bed the usual
time without a murmur. Next morn
ing he slept a half hour longer than is
his custom and l blessed him for that
little nap.
A good bath. a 1eisurely breakfast
and half an hour for odd occupations,
brought us to s o'clock and to our mex
door neighbours front door, which
stood Hospitality open. ready for the
first arrival. 1 did not linger about.
There was a busy day of cleaning and
mending and some calls in front of me,
| but once or twice during the morning,
I heard the children singing all to-
gether and once 1 heard the woman's
voice alone, high, sweet, pure.
With That Youngster Away.
My own house was lonely enough at
| first, but the day passed quickly. In
the afternoon I also found time to go
downtown. coming nome IN the
crowded car I was thankful that my
little boy was quietly and happily oc-
cupied far away from the dirt and
racket of the street.
I gave myself time to get dinner be-
fore I went to bring him home. He
was ready, waiting in the hall, and was
glad enough to see me, but at supper
| he had plenty to tell of adventure and
novelty. Again he went dutifully to
bed. again he slept his twelve solid
hours.
And SO it is going round our little
circle. There will be little bitches,
| naturally, but our ternpers should be
| less strained and our resources less
taxed by the entire charge of five ba-
| bies one day a week and one baby on
| Sunday than they were formerly.
How the other mothers Jared l have
not yet heard.
We agreed not to "pry."