went to the hoys’ door, and asked : “What are t 
is it?” thinking one of them was sick, and I 
Jack wild : “I guess it is the boy in the have 
cage.” so I asked : “What is it, RollO?” been 
“Get up: get up.” As it was 2 a. in., he nf on 
was told to keep still and have another that 
nap. Yes, we miss him. It is work to tiietji 
care for a parrot, but when the babies put 
are bigger. I must surely have another place, 
bird. 
Then, too, there is usually an accumu¬ 
lation of papers. These are glanced 
through during the Summer months, 
then laid away for a real reading in Win¬ 
ter. If there is something worth keeping. 
I clip it mit. then send tin* papers on to 
some other lonely one. 
Have you the catalog habit? If not. 
get it. Look over tin* advertisements, and 
send for catalogs in which you are inter¬ 
ested. Just now seed catalogs hold first 
place. Try something new each year. 
Even the small ones are Interested. Four- 
year-old Junior wants “Tom Finn" pop¬ 
corn in his garden. The oldest hoys want 
to try kiulzu. It is hardy in Vermont, 
hut we know nothing of it as a fodder si 
plant. 
Then. too. every Winter I intend to do 
one piece of long-wished fancy work, an 
e.speeiall.\ pretty crochet yoke, a pair of 
pillow cases, sot of doilies, etc . and each 
year I intend to piece one bed quilt By 
so doing there are always quilts enough. 
Have you tried rngmnkiug? If not. 
now is the time. I have never made a 
hooked rug. hut hope to this Winter. We 
had no real Winter up to February. There 
is l. r > or 16 in. of snow, and one week it 
was 10 degrees below zero two mornings, 
and 12 degrees below one other morning 
when the team started for town with the 
school children. They did not suffer any ; 
only came hack with rosier cheeks and 
better appetites. So far our roads have 
not drifted full, but when they do. the 
boys will get out their skis during days, 
and at night the games and books and ap¬ 
ples will appear, and apples disappear 
while the talking machine runs opposition 
to the music of the wind. 
Not lonesome days any more, just busy 
days. 
“When God folds his robe of glory 
That we may see but Him.” 
MOTHER REE. 
teachers and the best equipment where you people want, just as soon as you 
the isolated school cannot. In the latter make it dear to us that you want it. and 
type of school there are also special teach- are willing to pay the bills."’ But there’s 
ers for writing, music, drawing, physical the rub. Lots nf people want better school 
culture, etc. There are the splendid aids conditions for their children, but. they are 
to be found for the study of history and not willing "to pay the bill.” 
Whether a school district decides to 
maintain its own schools or consolidate 
with others. I believe there should be in 
it. an association of parents and teachers 
that will work together for the betterment 
of the children within it* bounds. If a 
few interested parents will start the or¬ 
ganization. others .will soon follow. One 
community that at first had some difficulty 
in getting the parents to attend such meet¬ 
ings solved the problem by having the 
school children give a short preliminary 
program for the first few meetings. Par¬ 
ents will go to see their children perform, 
hear them sing, or "speak a piece.” when 
no other attraction would bring them. If 
it. is a weakness, it is an amiable one. and 
it certainly does accomplish its purpose in 
getting the parents together. Tt seems 
to me that consolidation and all other 
school problems will solve themselves just 
as soon as there is a live interest in the 
schools of the community. 
MRS. CHARLES JOHNSTON. 
Having two school-teacher daughters, 
and’ all my life having been interested in 
schools, their discussion in the columns 
of our paper has greatly aroused my inter¬ 
est. Just now "to consolidate or not to 
consolidate” seems to he the burning 
question. Tu my own State ( Pennsyl¬ 
vania). it is not obligatory, but strongly 
encouraged and recommended by State 
educational authorities. I notice one of 
your correspondents, who has experienced 
consolidation, says: "Wo have never fa¬ 
vored consolidated schools, but so far it 
works out well.” I thought that rather a 
significant statement. Our well-loved 
Hope Farm man is opposed to consolida¬ 
tion. I see. and I am sure that his sen- 
hlr outlook on all rural matters has 
earned him a respectful hearing for his 
opinions. Nevertheless, I submit this 
question: Can a poor! v-eonstrncted, 
badly-heated and ventilated building, with 
poor equipment and the inexperienced 
teachers that an- most often found in our 
rural schools, offer the child an equal 
chance for an education with the school geography, in stereoscopes, lantern, and Butterscotch Pie— 
that lias a modern building, comfortably slides. In one such school of which I for top; 1% cup of 
heated, equipped with the splendid pres- know there is a visiting nurse and dentist, size of egg, two rour 
ent-day devices for the classroom, and I know we "got along" in our youth with flour; all well beaten 
with experienced teachers? Let. no teacher even less than the meager equipment of two cups of sweet mil 
of a rural school misunderstand me. I the poorest school of today, but that is cooked together. I’n 
know well that some of the finest men not the issue.. with meringue from * 
and women of the profession arp to he It. is a real hardship for children to and hake to a light Lu 
found there, but, nevertheless, rural dis- have to he transported miles in Winter in Buttermilk Pie—T 
triets will take inexperienced teachers unheated' conveyances. But if the public milk, butter the size r 
and city schools will m<t. After they demand that they he heated will they not a basin on stove, and 
have had two or three years nf experience he? Recently I heard a school director boil, add one egg. sa 
in country schools, the city and town address an assembly of parents and teach- two large tablespoon 
schools welcome those teachers. And they ers, who had discussed tin desirability of of sugar, one fee.spoor 
accept the uosit’ons in many instances be- several more supervisors in their schools, in a baked crust an 
cause .of the larger salaries offered. A in this fashion : "We school directors of egg beaten with oi 
consolidated school can afford the best will provide supervisors, or anything els* 
Embroidery Designs 
sffiygs mm? 
j6 F > . -AvL 
718. Design for embroidering baskets of 
flowers in crossed stitch style. 
W„m © 
l()r>3. Design fur border three indies high 
Two und one-,(Harter yards are given. 
Price of efleh, transfer pattern 20 cents. 
Some Fireside Thoughts 
A belated blizzard crowding hard on 
Soring, and putting a stop to outside ac¬ 
tivities ami neighborly intercourse, gives 
me time to sit. at my fireside, read a little, 
and muse on some present-day probterns. 
Tonight the roar of the wind outside 
gives just the fitting accompaniment to 
the cheery crackling of the flames. I sit 
here and fairly revel in light and heat, in 
pleasant contrast to the outdoor world 
“Snow Bound" tonight scorns very real, 
and is read with satisfaction for the hun¬ 
dredth time. Around me are the den- 
faces of loved ones. 1 ir by the fire and 
the soft glow from a reading lamp dn 
the table is a nut-brown basket filled wifli 
red apples, and a crystal vase with < nr 
d< zon exquisite pink roses, the gift of a 
friend to the shut-in member of our fam¬ 
ily. Our living room is simply but com¬ 
fortably furnished, and one side of the 
room is given over to our beloved books, 
whose mixture of dull and bright bindings 
give a pleasant note of color and add in¬ 
terest and dignity to the room. The lure 
of city life, with its dazzle, amusements, 
and jazz, does not appeal to any of onr 
circle tonight. And I thank God that we 
are able to appreciate real enjoyment, and 
that we have it in such large measure. 
It seems terribly out of fashion now¬ 
adays to enjoy simple pleasures or to find 
charm in the homely fireside joys. Movies 
and the latest dance are much more in 
fashion. I wonder if some of the Con¬ 
tempt in which a certain class of city 
rtce 
AT the Poultry Shows you like to watch how carefully 
ii the judges examine each entry. You note how each 
individual point is thoughtfully weighed before the awards 
are made. 
Just so in the selection of a tooth paste, you, like den¬ 
tists, can judge each point with utmost care. Common 
sense tells yo.u that you want a safe DENTAL CREAM 
which washes and polishes the teeth thoroughly, that has 
no harsh grit to “scratch” or “scour” the precious, protec¬ 
tive enamel. And you want one without strong drugs, one 
which does not harm the delicate tissues of your mouth. 
CleansTeeth the Right Way 
“Washes” and Polishes—Doesn’t Scratch or Scour 
Impartial tests made by dentists “gave the Blue Ribbon” to Colgate’s 
Ribbon. Dental Cream—more dentists recommend Colgate’s 
than any other. It not only cleans thoroughly but has a deli¬ 
cious flavor that encourages the habit of regular tooth brushing. You 
can get a LARGE tube of Colgate’s Ribbon Dental Cream for 25c. 
Ask also to see the other Colgate articles listed / 
below. If your store doesn’t have them all we / 
will mail you samples as called for in the Coupon. y 
/ COLGATE 
✓ &. CO. 
< Farm Household. 
/ Dept. 42 
y 199 Fulton Street, 
y New York, N.Y. 
V Please Send rue earn plea of 
the following articles. I en¬ 
close the amount of stamps 
shown for each one cheeked. 
[ ] Face Powder.6c 
t ] Baby Talc.4c 
[ 1 Shaving Cream . ... 4c 
[ J Ribbon Dental Cream, Free 
Name 
Dealer’s Name 
Address, 
