460 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE FARM MOTHER AND HER FLOWERS. 



MRS. MINNIB A. CUMMINGS, EDEN PRAIRIE. 



The farm mother, generally speaking, is a very busy mother, 

 and especially so in the summer time, the time of flowers. 



In the spring, when the fields are planted, every acre is planned 

 for, and the time seems too short to accomplish what is desired, and 

 the flower garden is generally pushed one side. But if the mother 

 loves flowers — and most mothers do — she can by the help of the 

 children find the time to start a flower garden. 



The time is coming when the farm mother is to be also the edu- 

 cated mother, for the farmer is not always, as many suppose, the 

 man that has chosen his work because he was fitted for nothing else. 



I was visiting in a fashionable home in this city, a few years 

 ago, when the young lady daughter of the family came into the 

 room and said, "Mamma, the milkman is in the kitchen and wishes 

 to see you ;" then added, "I declare, mamma, the man is quite decent 

 looking." The farmer of today fits himself by education especially 

 for his business, and if he is sensible he chooses an educated help- 

 meet for the mother of his children. This mother has many advan- 

 tages on the farm to help her in the training of her children that 

 are denied the mother that trains her children in the city home. 

 Think of bringing up the children in a flat compared to the oppor- 

 tunities on the farm. There is toil, self-sacrifice and self-discipline, 

 but there are also beauties of nature that teach as valuable lessons. 



Educators tell us that flowers are the natural playfellows of the 

 children. Who has not seen with what delight the little child finds 

 the first spring flowers ? How lovingly the little furry, fuzzy pasque 

 flower is brought to mother ! No wonder the children call them gos- 

 lings, for they seem to be covered with down, and the instinct is 

 to smooth and fondle them. 



How fittingly the mother can use this blossom to unfold truths, 

 deep and beautiful, that shall impress their mark on the child's char- 

 acter ! One mother I knew was so charmed with the fields all purple 

 with the wind flower that she taught her little child these verses 

 while she was busy with her mending. 



THE PASQUE FLOWER. 



Little furry pasque flower, wrapped up from the cold, 

 First little flower to peep — so brave and so bold. 

 How did you dare to come, 'mid snow and sleet, 

 Out of your earthy bed the cold wind to meet? 



