No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 327 



"In the heavens above 



The angels whisj)ering to one another, 



Can find among their burning terms of love, 

 None so devotional as that of mother." 



Just a parting word to the girls. A friend of mine laughingly 

 questioned my ability to cope with this topic, saying: "You're not 

 a mother, what do you know about it?" True, I'm not a mother, 

 but I am, or have been a daughter. And I had a mother similar 

 to the one portrayed by the first girl I mentioned. She left me 

 a short time ago^ the 'curtain of silence has fallen between her 

 dwelling-place and mine, and the sweetest memories I have now are 

 those wherein .she was my confidant, my friend, my "chum" as well 

 as mother. I loved her none the less because she took the place of 

 sister also. With her has gone so much of my own life. So many 

 things occur continually I want to tell her as of old. And from 

 my own experience let me say with Longfellow: 



"Lead thy mother tenderly 



Down life's steep decline; 

 Once her arm was thy support. 



Now she leans on thine. 

 Thank God for thy mothers' love; 



Guard the priceless boon; 

 For the bitter parting hour 



Cometh all too soon." 



And I know of no way to soften that parting hour like filling the 

 present so full of sweet memories that the bitterness of duties unful- 

 filled can find no place there. Make sure you are to your mother 

 noio all she wants you to be, allowing her to be to you all her loving 

 heart prompts as mother and as "chum." Won't you, please? 



DOMESTIC SCIENCE AND THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



By MISS SARA C. LOVEJOY, State College, Pa. 



The subject of the high cost of living has been so thoroughly dis- 

 cussed in every newspaper and magazine in the country that there 

 is no one here who can not give at least five assigned reasons for 

 the present high prices. Daily papers, religious weeklies, monthly 

 literary magazines, and all periodicals dealing with the farm and 

 the home are v;\ing with each other in exxjlaining most fully the 

 the causes and cures for existing conditions. 



What are some of these? As given by different authorities, they 

 are: Too much gold; too little gold; increased knowledge and pur- 

 suit of agriculture; decrease in agriculture, owing to other occupa- 

 tions, high tariff, low tariff, trusts — particularly the meat trust; 



