“The educational campaign goes on the year round. We have our own organ, the _National Cooperative Housewife_, issued monthly for members and filled with practical food suggestions, reports of local meetings, market reports and more market news. Just now the League is deeply interested in bringing producer and consumer together by means of parcel post shipments, and each of its members and directors has a copy of the _United States Parcel Post Produce List_, issued by the Cincinnati post-office. This gives the names of farmers, dairymen and poultry raisers in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, who will ship supplies by parcel post. “The ultimate aim of the League is, of course, cooperative stores and distributing stations for its members. Just now each director opens her home as the distributing center for her group.” “To whom are your local directors responsible?” asked Mr. Norton. “To the executive board. Of course, each director is anxious to make a record as a buyer. But the buying is not all. Our officers believe that education in such problems as nutritive values, substitutes for foods when certain supplies are scarce and costly, the proper way to prepare supplies after they have been purchased at the lowest possible figure is quite as important as mere price-shaving. The individual member must grow, or she is of no value as a member. The woman who joins merely to have a director save dollars and cents for her, soon finds herself out of harmony with the League. And quite generally she begins a course in self-education as a housewife, which is the biggest result an organization can bring about.” “But in buying such quantities,” suggested Mrs. Norton, “you must have the old-fashioned cellar to store potatoes, apples, etc.” “No,” answered Mrs. Tyler, “a cool dry attic does as well, with barrels well covered for a cold snap.” “Oh, I wish there was such a club in New York, so we could see it actually working,” sighed Mrs. Larry. “There is one _near_ New York--at Montclair, New Jersey,” said Mrs. Moore. “Suppose we women take a run over there next week and learn what our neighbors are doing?” CHAPTER V “_The housewife’s pocketbook can beat its owner at keeping thin._”--H. C. OF L. PROVERB NO. 5. Mr. Larry lounged in the doorway, watching Mrs. Larry array herself for her next adventure in thrift. Lena, the young maid, similarly occupied, sat on the shirt-waist box with Larry, Junior, and his wee sister snuggling close. “The money for the milkman is next to the sugar can,” announced Mrs. Larry, settling her hat above anxious brows. “And you may boil rice for the children’s luncheon.” “There ain’t any, ma’am,” answered Lena. “Oh, dear!” sighed Mrs. Larry, reaching for her veil. “I didn’t have time to go over the groceries yesterday. When you take baby out, buy a pound package at Dorlon’s.” “Yes’m,” murmured Lena. “But he’s a robber, Dorlon is. Our grocer sells two pounds for what Dorlon charges for one.”