The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-06
TALKS ON THRIFT
Bringing Up Nine Children

There is but one thing women can do now and that Is to choose food stuffs carefully, cook them to the best advantage and disseminate their knowl- edge of right eating and living among those who are not so well informed "- Henrietta D. Grauel.
 A mother who Is bringing up fami- ly of nine children in these times ought to know a good deal about how to man. age and her experience should be of value to others, even to those with much smaller families.
 There is such family in a Minnesota city (there are seven girls and two boys, ranging in age from to 24). The mother gives some facts about her domestic arrangements which are very interesting. They are summarized as follows:
 Food-Saving is considered to be largely wise buying. So there Is no hand to mouth ordering In this family cement walled and floored cold stor- age room in the cellar makes possible the purchase of 30 bushels of potatoes when they are cheapest. Proportionate quduiititS Ol taDpa6c6t bSotos edihiPo carrots celery, etc, are also bought and stored at the proper time. Flour and sugar are bought by the hundred pounds or barrel, vinegar and molasses by the gallon. eggs by the crate. A small vegetable garden contributes somewhat to reduce the cost of living in the summer, while extensive cannin s operations carry the war on into the winter. This fall 32 cans of tomatoes were put up and many feet of shelv- Ing in the cellar groans under the weight of tier after tier of glass jars of peaches, plums. pears. entrants and jellies. This family could withstand a siege of several months. but good food, cleanliness, early hours and general care have prevented any such necessity, for the family has never been quar- antined by the health authorities.
 Clothing-Buying in quantities Is the rule here also. When it's time to buy shoes and rubbers, paterfamilias musters a squad of six or eight children and marches them to the shoe dealer. who ia glad to give a liberal discount on such a sale. With a preponderance of girls 1t Is not strange that most of the dresses and bats are made at home, especially since several of the girls have, perforce, be- come adopts with the needle and scissors. They watch the bargain sales and also the fashion hints in the newspapers. End-of season remnants provide good material cheap for next seasons dresses. All cleaning and dyeing Is likewise done al home.
 The Home-There Is mixture of Scotch, French and German in this fam ily's ancestry so 1t Is not surprising that the home is owned. They rented part of a duplex" at first. Then bought it and made the rent money from the other part help pay for the property. Later the hus- band and father, who Is a building con- tractor, built home in part of the city more desirable for bringing up children.
 The Bank-Of course. the finances of tEis family are largely handled through 2 checking account, while most of the children have their own savings accounts or little metal bank at home. It goes without saying that they will be thrifty and successful. They could not be other wise with the wise example. precept and training Impressed upon them constantly.
 T. D. MACGREGOR