Learning to Work Together

by Mrs. A. J. Wilder. Mansfield, Mo.

The Bryant Farmers' Club held their first annual auction and stock sale November 2. This plan of an auction sale for a neighborhood is something new, I think, in the work of farmers' clubs. The idea originated in the mind of the president, M.L. Andrews and was eagerly adopted by the club members.

Every member listed what he had for sale and it was surprising how a little from every one mounted up in the total. There were 40 head of stock listed and a wagon load of household goods.

The day of the auction was pleasant and the old mill yard and the one street of the little town of Bryant were filled with wagons, buggies, horses and motor cars, while a lively crowd of about 400 men, women and children surrounded the auctioneer as he cried the sale, or gathered at the lunch counter for refreshment.

The sale was a success, considering the fact that it was the first of the kind and rather an experiment, it went off very well indeed. The members and officers of the club are learning from experience, however, and already plans are being made to insure that next year's sale shall be more satisfactory still. Some farmers are saying that, if they can list their stock together to sell at auction, there is nothing to hinder their shipping together in carload lots to market. And so the idea of co-operation keeps growing, when once it has taken root.

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I know a little band of friends that call itself a woman's club. The avowed purpose of this club is study, but there is an undercurrent of deeper, truer things than even culture and self improvement. There is no obligation and there are no promises, but in forming the club and in selecting new members, only those are chosen who are kind hearted and dependable as well as the possessors of a certain degree of intelligence and a small amount of that genius which is the capacity for careful work. In short, those who are taken into membership are those who will make good friends and so they are a little band who are each for all and all for each.

If one needs the helping hand of comradeship, not one but all are eager and willing to help, with financial aid if needed, but more often with a good word or a small act of kindness. They are getting so in the habit of speaking good words that I expect to see them all develop into Golden Gossips. Ever hear of golden gossip? I read of it some years ago. A woman who was always talking about her friends and neighbors, made it her business to talk of them in fact, never said anything but good of them. She was a gossip but it was "golden gossip." This woman's club seems to be working in the same way and associations of friendship and mutual helpfulness are being built up which will last for life. it is a beautiful thing and more than ever one is impressed with the idea that it is a pity there are--

So many gods, so many creeds,

So many paths that wind and wind

When just the art of being kind

Is all the sad world needs.

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"Money is the root of all evil" says the proverb, but I think that proverb maker only dug down part way around the plant of evil. If he had really gotten to the root of the matter, I am sure he would have found that root to be selfishness-- just selfishness pure and simple. Why all the mad scramble for money? Why are we all "money-mad Americans?" It is just for our selfish gratification with things that money can buy, from world dominion to a stick of striped candy - selfishness, just selfishness.

Not long ago I was visiting in a family where there were several children. The father lost his memorandum book and was inquiring for it. No one had seen in. "I wish," he said, "that you children would find it for me before I come back at noon." There was silence for a minute and then one of the children said: "Why don't you put up a quarter? That'll find it!"

"Well, I will," his father answered and at once the children were all eagerness to search. It seemed to me such a pity to appeal to a selfish interest in the home where there should be loving service, freely given.

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In the blacksmith shop, one hot day last summer, the blacksmith was sweating over his hot irons when two idle boys sauntered in and over to the water bucket. It was empty. "Ain't yuh got no water?" asked one of the boys.

"Not if the bucket is empty," answered the blacksmith.

Then the man, for whom the blacksmith was working, spoke up. "Why don't you go get a bucket of water?" he asked.

"I will for a nickel," said the boy.

"Yes, we'll go for a nickel," agreed the other boy.

"Were you going to pay for your drink?" asked the man innocently and the boys looked at him surprised and then slunk away, without filling the bucket. Just an example of selfishness made more contemptible by being so plainly unfair.

Co-operation, helpfulness, and fair dealing are so badly needed in the world and if they are not learned as children at home it is difficult for grownups to have a working knowledge of them.

So much depends on starting the children right!

Mrs. A. J. Wilder. "Learning to Work Together." Missouri Ruralist,  (December  5, 1916): page 11.

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