The Holbrook news., 1921-05-13
Progeny of St. Louis Man Range in Ages From 40 Down to
 Seven Years.
TELLS HOW HE MANAGED 1T
Hard Work and Industry the Secret Never Brighter, Merrier, Roster, Healthier Lot of Children
 Graced a Board.

St. LOuiS.-ParentS, you who find the rearing of even an average family problem these days, behold Frederick Walkenhorst, who is the father of twenty-five children, and tells how he has managed to bring them up on a laborers daily wage.
 The house in which he lives is one index to his methods. It is cottage of perhaps five rooms. Back of the house is barn and in the barnyard COW and flock of chickens.
 There is a best room furnished neatly but scantily, the superfuities consisting mostly of homemade handi- craft, shelf covers and their tidies of white linen crochet. The visitor is permitted to tarry here for a moment, but almost immediately is invited into the kitchen beyond, where three daughters busily scrubbing floors or preparing the midday meal cannot spare time to sit idle as they talk. Indeed, one is told that father will be in presently for his dinner, but he won't have time to talk, either, for several jobs of blowing are waiting TOT nm Tn the afternoon.
 Daughter Runs House.
 Hilda, the oldest daughter at home, apparently has been in authority since the death of the second Mrs. Walken- horst, five years ago. The first wife, the mother of 14 children, died when her last child was five days old. The second wife, a widow with one child, whom the stepfather also reared, be- came the mother of Il WalkenhOrsts.
 There are now 12 children at home, besides a small son of Hilda's.
 There are not enough chairs any where visible to seat all the family at table at once. But chairs are to be classified as luxuries that may be dispensed with, one observes later when six bright, rosy checked, blonde youngsters come dropping in from school and take places, standing, all attention, with spoons poised, ready to begin on the soup almost before Hill da has measured it into their plates.
 The ages of the WalkenhOrst progeny range from forty down to seven years. Besides the 12 children HOM dl ilOlAltss hNC nave dlCu ol val ous ages and the others, being older, have married and gone to homes of their own. There are eight grandchil- dren. Three of those who reside un- der the parental roof are working in factories in the town.
 How have I managed to take care of 25 children?" Frederick Walken- horst echoed after my question, after he had fed his horses out in the barn and stood rolling up his sleeves at the kitchen sink. By working hard every day" The hands he spread to view were testimony more eloquent even than the vigorous, clear ring of his voice, and his knitted coat, wet with precipitation, was further evidence of his hearty industry.
 No Signs of Worry.
 He is a tall, spare man, remarkably erect for his sixty years, fair and rud- dy, and the lines on his face are not those of worry but of good humOr. If his children take after him, dentist bills need not be one of the family problems. His teeth are strong and white. His eyes. he says, are fail ing One doctor assures him nothing can be done for them, so he thinks any further expenditure on them is useless.
 Never a brighter, merrier. rosier, healthier looking lot of children ever gathered about a millionaire's board than those 12. Their heavy shoes made a lot of noise on the bare