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The Brussels Post, 1972-05-17, Page 5ATTENTION Any person 14 years and older who would like to make a few extra dollars cleaning up paper, washrooms etc. during Centen- nial Days should FORWARD THIS AP- PLICATION to WAYNE LOWE. BOX 194, BRUSSELS. Name I Address Phone Starting time 6 a.m. to 9 or 10 a.m., --ammiiimmisommp tar NOTICE ONTARIO FARMERS The Goverment of Ontario announces... 1. THE ONTARIO BEEF CATTLE LOAN PROGRAM, a program of guaranteed loans. to farmers to purchase bred or open beef heifers, retroactive to April 1, 1972. These loans banks. On t per heifer, and the maxi period. Rep first two ye plus interes To be eligib r oss income 3,000. Applications will be available from the County and District Offices- of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. 2. CAPITAL GRANTS FOR FENCING. Effective immedia- tely the costs of materials used in the con- struction of new, permanent fencing for the con- tainment of livestock will be eligible for assistance under the "Capital Grants for Ontario Farmers" program. These grants will be applic- able to fencing constructed after April 1, 1972, subject to the maximum grant limitations of the program. 3. REMOVAL OF DEAD AND DISEASED ELM TREES.Effective May 19, 1972, grants will only be paid for the removal of dead and diseased elm trees from fence lines and open fields. Excluded are trees located in farM woodlots or forested areas. For complete details on these and other programs of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, contact your local Agricultural Office. ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD Box 159, 20 King St., Clinton. Phone 482-3428 ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD Box 398, Stratford, Ontario. Phone 271-0280 Hon. Wm. G. Davis Premier Hon. Wm. A. Stewart Minister will be availabl he basis of a ma the minimum loan mum $15,000. Te ayment schedule ars, equal payme t for remaining le a farmer must from farm opera e from chartered ximum loan of $250 shall be $2,500 rm - seven year - interest only nts of principal five years. have an annual tions of at least Former Brussels area resident is mother of the year at Goderich The Goderich SignalStar each year SelectS ,a Mother Of the Year and this year chose Mrs. Mary Bird, a former resident of the Brussels area This Is the Signal Star story; It, was John Masefield in The Widow In. The Bye Street who wrote, "Life can be bitter to the very bone when one is poor, and woman, and alone." John Masefield didn't, know Mary Bird, 202 Keays. Street, or he would never have written that line. In fact, Mary Bird has a line of her own which would put Mass- field's thought to shame. "I look forward to every day," says Mary Bird, a widOW for eight, years, the Mother of two sons and a foster Parent to boat. Life dealt Mary Bird a cruel blow almost eight years ago when her sons were two and four. That was the year that Mary's husband died of emphysema leav- ing the family to fend for them- selves on a farm near Brussels. For one year, Mary stayed on the farm until she finally decided to move to Goderich in 1965. Since that time, Mary Bird has made a good life for herself and her sons - and for 37 foster children, eight mothers with marriage problems, countless babysitting charges and several hoarders. Mothering is a way of We for Mary Bird. It is a, full,tirnelQb and getting more so, Not only does Mary Bird have the day,to- day routine of caring for an average of five children including her own, she is blessed with the additional, joy.of "Mothering" those children who have passed through her care from time to time and still regard her as someone who cares. This Mother's Day, for in- stance, Mary Bird will likely be remembered by her own sons as well as several other "sons" and "daughters" to whom she has been a friend. But she won't take all and give nothing in return - not even on Mother's Day. Her special guests this Sunday will be a family of eight children and their parents to whom she gave love and warmth when things were not going right for them. "People say I'm a bear for punishment," smiled Mary, "But it isn't what I would call work. These last seven years have just flown." What does it take to be a great Mother? "I wouldn't know," answered Mary. "I don't consider myself to be a great mother. I don't know it all. I wish I did. But I think you have to like kids. You have to like people in general." Are children changing? "Children know a lot more now than they used to know," observed Mary, staring out into the back yard where the family puppy was tangling himself up in his chain. "And there are more things for them to demand." "When I was a kid we got five cents when we went away," laughed Mary. "That was a big deal. Now if you give kids a quarter they look at you as though you had rocks in your head." "we got out on the 12th of July," Mary continued. "That was a big day - if we had the hay in. And. Christmas was .a big day. Now, every day is a big day." Every day is a big day for Mary Bird, too. She rises before seven in the morning, because that's when the little lad she is presently babsitting arrives. Then she gets her own children and her foster children off to school. The day is filled with all the regular housewife's chores in- cluding those jobs usually handled by the man in the family. Mary does most of her own gardening and painting and even the minor repair jobs. She just fixed the back fence to keep the boys' new puppy in the yard. And Mary handles the family accounts. That hasn't been an easy task because Mary Bird and her boys have been on mothers' allowance since her husband died. She can earn up to $48 per month by other means, but if she exceeds that amount, a percentage of her mothers' allowance cheque -is kept back for that month. 'The mothers' allowance cheque goes for the things we need," Mary explained. "Any- thing extra comes out of the money I earn by babysitting or whatever." Needless to say, Mary has become a shrewd shopper - and a fine cook. Her chief assistant in beating the budget is the family freezer which holds the bargains which Mary prides herself on finding. In the summer, Mary's kitchen is a beehive of activity as every kind of fruit and veget- able she can find is either canned in shining sterile jars or frozen in neat, easy to reach packages. Last year, Mother Nature smiled on Mary's four tomato stalks which grew in the family's little garden. Tomatoes were eaten at the table, they were made into chili sauce, they were frozen for casseroles , they were (Continued from Page 1) asked to mend their ways and not scatter their leavings on streets, lawns, sidewalks and boulevards. Parents should per- suade their children not to throw away wrappers, boxes or con- tainers of any kind whereever they want to get rid of them. Teenagers and adults should know better without being reminded. All should have pride in keep- E LE CTROHOME RADIO & TV SALES & SERVICE BLYTH, ONTARIO PHONE 5234840 canned for vegetables. "But. I can't shop for utili- ties," stated. Mary who pointed out that such normal and neces- sary increased living costs are an extra burden to folks on a fixed income, Entertainment for Mary Is simple. Mystery books are her real love. She likes the occasional game of cards - solitaire mostly or an evening of television. Once in a while, the family has an outing at the movies - but that is usually in the summer when her children and as many of the neighbours' children as Mary's car will hold can go to the local drive-in theatre fpr the price of one admission! Mary is a member of the new Parents Without Partners .group which is attempting to get underway in Goderich . . . but it isn't easy to attend because there's just not money in the budget to allow for babysitting expenses. There would be one organiz- ation which Mary would appreciate in Goderich if it was formed. That would be the Big Brother organization - where older boys and men would spend time with the sons of women who haven't husbands. A Big Sister club, on the other hand, would find concerned older girls and women spending time with the daughters of men who have no wives. Mary finds that being mother and father to two growing boys has its problems - especially when the boys' idea of a bang-up afternoon is fishing in the river or tramping through the woods. Somehow, Mary just doesn't get around to these activities too often. Has Mary Bird any real prob- lems now? "I guess everybody has their problems," mus.ed Mary. "I've got some too. But I like to remember the good times. And in the long run, I've got a great life. I'm lucky." "The kids keep me balanced," grinned. Mary. on the television set sits the testimony of Mary's boys. There is a tiny statue engraved in the words "I think you're terrific!" It was presented to Mary by her sons. "And everytime I look at it, it points straight at me," said Mary. "That makes me feel good." ing their village neat and clean. It is also a fact that it costs us all money to have such un- necessary litter cleaned up. *** *** *** The Brussels arena is again humming with activity after a short period of quiet following the cessation of skating, hockey and curling. It is now resounding to the whir of roller skates and the happy sounds of young people enjoying a favourite sport. The Brussels Lions are sponsoring and supervising roller skating here again this year. *** *** *** The Majestic Women's Ins- titute Centennial Quilt is now on display in the window of The House of Max. It is a beautiful piece of work anyone would be proud to own. Tickets can be bought. The Institute have pur- chased handsome W.I. signs to be erected at the four entrances to our village. Everyone is en- thusiastic, getting into the act of preparation for the Centen- nial. *** *** *** Hi fellows! If you want to play Fastball in the town league you will have to sign up by Midnight, Monday, May 22nd. That is the last possible date to do so. SHORT SHOTS Every week more and more people discover what mighty Jobs are accomplished by low cost Brussels Post Want Ads. Dial 887-6614. THE BRUSSELS POST, MAY 17, 1972-5