Home 3Iakers' Conference. 347 



It is especially recommended to those who could not attend the 

 Conference and see these portions of food weighed out, that they at 

 home try weighing out and setting side by side some of the standard 

 portions here given. Nothing will help more quickly to give an idea 

 of total food values. 



THE BOY AND GIRL ON THE FARM. 



(Mrs. N. H. Gentry, President of the Homemakers' Conference, Sedalia, Missouri.) 



A pen that was never gifted and has lain idle for thirty-five years 

 can not do much in the way of writing an interesting paper to be 

 read befoi'e an intelligent motherhood. The hands and head that have 

 had the care and worry of a large family find it difficult to write an 

 article for the press. If there is one thing more difficult to do than 

 another it is to tell the best way to raise the boy and girl. I, who 

 have spent the greater part of my life on the farm, consider the farm 

 the ideal place to rear both the boy and the girl. The sweetness of the 

 air, the quietness that brings repose, the sunshine with it's health-heal- 

 ing properties, the birds that make the music, the nuts that gladden 

 us in autumn all go to make a stronger body, a brighter mind and a 

 purer conscience. Care only for the health and strength of the child 

 is all that is necessary in the first few years. The clothing and food 

 should be such as to conduce to the child's health. The doing and 

 saying of funny things should not be encouraged in children nor should 

 the same be repeated in their hearing. Fresh air, plenty of plain food 

 and clothing, a good bath every day will do all that is of any account 

 for the first few years. From the cradle the child should be taught to 

 obey. Obedience to father and mother, then teacher and nature's laws, 

 and later spiritual laws. 



Early in life the child should be taught to tell the truth and an 

 untruth should never be told to them. They should also be taught the 

 life of the Christ child in an easy, simple style that can be understood, 

 and while the body grows character will grow also ; for what is more 

 beautiful or more to be loved than a strong, healthy, obedieqat, truthful 

 child. At the tender age of six years our law has decreed the child 

 shall go to school, and education properly begins. "With the education 

 of the mind, the soul, heart and body should also be educated. Every 

 exercise that will develop physically should be practiced, and as much 

 of out-door life given as possible. Give your daughters the same chance 

 to develop physically as your sons. A family having several children 

 on the farm can have a teacher in the home with very little more ex- 

 pense than sending to the public school, and many ills avoided; such as 



