Momma from Ward's Catalog

Book excerpt: In the early 1900s the coming of the Wards Catalog, both the Summer and Winter issues, was an EVENT. There it appeared in the mailbox.... a picture book, a place for children to learn new words, the latest fashions and shoes. There was even a detailed method of measuring a child's foot. There was furniture, tools, toys and even baby chickens could be ordered. You could choose a variety of fowl, and even ask they to be sexed. There was no guarantee against a crowing 'hen' of two, it was just soup kettle for him. When outdated, the catalog furnished small, handy sheets of paper for multiple uses, and was finally relegated to the small house at the back of the property. So when Mr. John Hansen required a mother for his two young children, where would he look? That was a no-brainer for young Florie and Eddie... just look in the catalog.