THE MILKMAN
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 bottles, with paper caps to keep out flies and germs.”