MOW TO RAISE A LARGE FAMILY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 100, 3 June 1914, Page 5

MOW TO RAISE A LARGE FAMILY.

{By Mrs E. F. Dunne, wife of the Governor of Illinois,' and thirteen times a mother.)

There is but one reliable rule to follow for the successful raising of a large family of children. Keep with them. From birth to manhood and woman-

hood the mother must be intimately as-

sociated with her children, and the father should be as intimately associated with them as the duties of his position in life permit. No mother can successfully raise a large family of children to manhood and womanhood unless she devotes herself to their care, comfort, and education, both physically and morally. She cannot shine as a mother and shine as a society leader at the same time. She cannot become a social climber or a club devotee. She has but; little time to spare for politics if she would become a devoted and successful wife and mother.

Between the ages of 22 and 42 I became the proud and happy mother of thirteen children, nine of whom are practically raised. I have never turned the care, custody, and education of these children over exclusively to nurses, tutors, or teachers. When my babies and youthful children .have been in charge of nurses it has been under my watehful care and supervision. No matter how trusted and tried has been the nurse to whose care a child of mine has been,entrusted, I have personally seen that child from time to time daring the day, and frequently at night.

I have seen to it that the food given them .was simple, healthful, and digestible. I have seen to it that their clothes were comfortable and suitable to the different changes of the weather. I have seen them and looked over them every morning before going to school, and when their ages permitted I have ' bad them with me at the family table. I have seen them on their return from School and kept them within reaching distance after school, and looked over their care and comfort before they had been finally disposed in their beds at < aiight. I have kept close watch upon ' their health and upon the slightest, indication of depression or fever I have looked them over carefully, giving them the wholesome, domestic care and family medicines usually prescribed in such . cases of incipient sickness before calling in the doctor. The careful housewife and mother in & very short time has in lier medicine closet the simple remedies for incipient sickness," and becomes acquainted, as I have become acquainted, with their application and use. All this constant care and watchfulness, of course, entails upon a devoted mother much sacrifice of social pleasure without the circle of the family home. But that sacrifice is one of the necessary incidents of motherhood, and, in my judgment, brings its reward in after life when the mother is surrounded with loving, children who are devoted to her and her happiness in her matured and older years. It is not necessary, however, for a :jnother to become a slave to her children, and I have found in the bosom of my happy family naught but solace, comfort, and happiness in depriving myself of some of the unnecessary de-

lights and pleasures of modern society. I have always found time to enjoy with

my husband reasonable vacations and rests between my terms of duty to my children, and while enjoying intensely the joys and pleasures of social inter-

course and travel, I have at all times been comforted and blessed with the joys and happiness of attentive motherhood.

To earn the crowning glory of ■motherhood, the constant and unremitting affection and loyalty to one's children, one must devote considerable time to the greatest of woman's clubs, "the home club." This I have done, and in the happiness of my home I have found my reward.