The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-08-31
Twentieth Child
Is Born to Pair
sJust as Easy to Care for 20 as
for Five" Declares Wife OF :
New England Farmer.

Portsmouth. N. H.-Twentieth GEN.
eury mothers who limit their families
20 one or two children are looked upon
with scorn by Mrs. Mary J. Barton OF
kelleyyilie, who presented her hus-
band, LenIuel. with husky baby girl
aud hung up a new record for large
families In New Hampshire. Dora
Hattie, the name Of the latest arrival,
II the twentieth heir to the home OF
Barton. There are no twins or triplets
An the family.
The mother Of the twenty is still
JOung woman. She is forty-five years
old and not gray hair Is visible In
her head. Her husband is fifty-fve,
fypical Yankee farmer" who believes
that 1t Is every mans duty to his
country to raise as many good citizens
as the Lord will allow him.
Though her husband has difficulty
remembering the names AMI ages or
his ten sons and ten daughters, Mrs.
Barton can rattle off their names and
ages In chronological order and with
out a moments hesitation. Three of
fhe Barton girls have married, five are
working away from home and the re-
manning twelve children are playing
or working on the 260-acre farm In
Kelleyville, a part Of Newport, but six
miles from the center Of the town.
Birthdays Come often.
birthdays are plentiful ut the Bar
aon homestead. Nearly every month
on the calendar Is represented by a
child, July particularly, as five were
born In this month.
Their names were adopted from the
relatives on both sides Of the house
until the supply gave out; then the
names of friends were used. They
rover a wide range-Biblical, old-fash-
ioned and new-fangled names are all
represented.
"They are all fine and healthy,
fhank Cod" said Mrs. Barton. "All
of my children have lived and the only
sickness they have suffered were chill
dren's diseases We had regular
epidemic of whooplng cough In the
house five years ago. Thirteen Of the
children had 1t at once. A few years
iater my husband and twelve of the
children were taken down with the
measles. Lemuel was very dangerous
ly sick, and for a time 1t looked as
Though the children would lose their
father.
"As the children grow older they are
able to assist me In caring for the
younger ones" Mrs. Barton continued.
'The clothes, Of course, can be
handed down from one to another and
they are certainly worn out before
they are thrown away In this house.
love each one ms though he or she
were the only child we had, and babies
will continue to- be welcome here so
long as God cares to send them. 1t Is
as ensy to take care Of twenty as Of
I'VE, have found"
Six of the Barton children are
pupils ut the rural school mile from
the farm. They comprise one-fourth
Of the entire enrolment Of the school.
In past wears the Bartons made up
more than half Of this school.
The original Barton homestead In
the south part Of the town was the
Birthplace of eighteen of the children.
Married 80 Years.
Mr.. and Mrs. Barton were married
Shirty years ago, at Haverhill, N. Y,
where Mrs. Barton lived. Before her
parriage she was Mary J. Young, and
both the husband and wife are de
scendants Of Revolutionary stock. The
Bartons were among the first families
20 settle In New Hampshire. Mrs.
Rarton's ancestors went to Pennsyl-
wania on their arrival from England.
Though Mrs. Barton took no course
n child culture and followed no set Of
modern rules for rearing children, her
wide experience has qualified her as
m "expert In motherhood" She gives
she following rule to mothers:
"Teach your children to love and