I. Before the Sun Rises

“What do you think one of our lessons was about to-day, mother?” asked Ruth, coming in from school one afternoon.

“I couldn’t guess,” said her mother. “What was it about?”

“The milkman.”

“The milkman,” repeated Mrs. Duwell in surprise; “that must have been interesting.”

“Yes, we just talked. Teacher asked questions; she asked if we liked bread and milk or cereal and milk, and said that they made an excellent breakfast.

“What do you think, mother,” Ruth went on; “teacher told us that not many years ago the milkman came around with big cans of milk and measured whatever you wanted, a pint or a quart, into your pitcher or milk pail.”

“Yes, that is true,” said Mrs. Duwell. “That is the way they did when I was a little girl. How did they come to change? Did your teacher tell you?”

“People found that it was not san-i-ta-ry, teacher said. The milk was not always kept clean; so the milkmen put it into pint and quart [116]
[117]
[118]bottles, with paper caps to keep out flies and germs.”
family sitting at dining table looking off to the right
Tell a story about this picture.
Milkman next to a giant milk bottle iwth photographs in it
The next time you drink a glass of milk think about what a long journey it has taken.
The milk in the bottle in this picture came in a big can from the cow to the railroad station, on the train to the city dairy where it was bottled and tested. It was then sent out in a large auto truck to the delivery wagon which took it to the duwell family.
Does the milk which you use take as long a journey as that?

“Did you find out where the milk comes from?”

“Oh yes, from the farms. Teacher showed us pictures of cows; some with tan and white coats—Jerseys; and some with black and white coats—Holsteins, I think she said. I should love to see real cows.”

“So you shall, dear, the next time we go into the country.

“I remember,” continued Mrs. Duwell, “hearing your grandfather say that when he was a boy he had to be out of bed before daylight, sometimes as early as three o’clock, and go out into the cold barn to milk the cows.”

“Three o’clock in the morning!” exclaimed Wallace, who had just come in.

“Yes; then he had to hurry into the kitchen for breakfast, then out again, hitch up old Dobbin, load the milk cans on the wagon and drive to the nearest station to catch the milk train. He had to do all this by six o’clock—before most people in the city think of getting up.”

“My, there wasn’t much fun in that,” said Wallace.

“No, indeed. You remember the deep snow[119] in March last winter. I asked our milkman what time he started on his rounds. What do you think he said?”

“Six o’clock,” replied Wallace.

“Earlier than that, son,&rdq............