What! grieve that time has brought so soon
The sober age of manhood on?
As idly might I weep, at noon,
To see the blush of morning gone.
--Bryant.
Mouth Breathing.--Little ones who habitually breathe loud or snore in
their sleep may be troubled with an adenoid growth.
Family.--A happy family is but an earlier heaven.--Bowering.
Obedience.--Prompt, unquestionable obedience in children seems to be a
thing of the past, is the criticism of a recent writer, who adds: The
up-to-date mother no longer tells her offspring that they must do or leave
undone certain things because it is right. She enters into elaborate
explanations and they need no longer blindly obey. This is not the wise
preparation for the adult life. Unless we have taught our children the
necessity for life's discipline, which they cannot at the time understand,
it will make them rebellious and fail to work out the peaceable fruits of
righteousness.
The Value of a Laugh.--A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any
market.--Lamb.
Sanitary Drinking Cups.--Supply the youngsters on going to school with
folded paper cornucopias which come in sealed packages for a small sum.
These are used for drinking cups instead of those found in public places.
Teach the children to make these useful little drinking cups from clean
white paper, and there will be no danger of contracting disease from a
drinking cup used by everyone who passes.
Easy to Misjudge Men.--Every heart has its secret sorrow which the world
knows not, and oftimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.--Anon.
Night Petticoats.--Night petticoats for baby have sleeves. If no petticoat
is worn, then an extra short jacket is provided in the coldest weather,
for most babes sleep best with hands and arms uncovered.
A Bathrobe.--A large Turkish bath towel makes a nice bathrobe for a baby
or small child. Use white cotton curtain cords for the girdle and make the
hood of the Turkish face cloth. This little robe is very serviceable and
convenient, and is easily laundered.
An Easy Task.--It is easy finding reasons why other people should be
patient.--George Eliot.
Money to Children.--Instead of paying children for doing work let them
understand that they have little duties that they must perform, but give
them money at intervals. Teach them the value of money and the principles
of saving.
[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 813]
Be Discreet.--Thy friend has a friend; thy friend's friend has a friend,
therefore, be discreet.--Anon.
Methods of Cooking Eggs.--If you find that your baby, who is just
beginning to eat solid food will not eat soft cooked eggs, and there are
many who do not like them, try scrambling them until they are well done.
If not found palatable in that form make an egg custard. A baby usually
enjoys this and receives the same amount of nourishment that he would if
the egg were cooked in any other way.
Politics and Veracity.--Politics and veracity have the same number of
letters, but there the resemblance ends.--Anon.
Songs and Story Telling.--It is an unusual child indeed who does not
delight in listening to story telling or bright little songs at bedtime
and the nurse who is much with children will do well to treasure up all
such material that comes in her way. Being used to children and having a
sincere love for them makes one's work much easier, as even very little
children seem to know instinctively who their real friends are and to be
more easily controlled by them.
Friendship.--Two persons cannot long be friends if they cannot forgive
each other's little failings.--Bruyere
Harsh Commands.--Can a parent who habitually speaks to his children in
tones of harsh authority, and gives his commands to them in a manner of an
officer addressing refractory troops, expect that they will feel for him
the affection that they would give to one who took the trouble to draw out
their better natures by loving treatment? The above is a question to be
considered by parents who govern wholly by "authority."
Maidenhood.--No padlock, bolts, or bars can secure a maiden so well as her
own reserve.--Cerantes.
Baby's Sleeves.--When baby's arms grow too large for the shirt sleeves,
while the body of the shirt is still large enough, purchase a pair of
infant's white cashmere hose. Cut the feet off and overcast neatly into
the armholes; putting in a little gusset under the arms is necessary to
enlarge armhole. The leg of the stocking makes the sleeves and the top
fits nicely around the little wrist,
Reading.--To read without reflecting, is like eating without
digesting.--Burkc.
Princess Skirt.--For long skirts, both flannel and white ones, the
princess skirt adds to comfort of the body; no bands or fullness around
the body or neck. Cut the material same as for princess slip, coming
narrow on the shoulder and low neck back and front, and to flare at the
bottom, which may be finished as desired. The flannel ones add to warmth,
having flannel to neck baby needs no little jackets,
The Two Symptoms of Love.--The first symptom of love in a young man, is
timidity; in a girl, it is boldness. The two sexes have a tendency to
approach, and each assumes the qualities of the other.--Victor Hugo
[814 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Securing Covering at Night.--If a delicate child has a habit of kicking
the clothes off at night and so contracting chills, it is a good plan to
sew a large button to each corner of the coverlet and attach a long tape
loop to each corner of the bed. When fastened this will keep the
bedclothes securely in place, however much the child may toss in its
sleep.
Honesty.--Socrates being asked the way to honest fame, said, "Study to be
what you wish to seem."
Amusing Baby.--A simple device for keeping the baby amused and happy is to
fasten at intervals upon a broad, bright ribbon the toys of which he is
most fond, suspending the ribbon above the bed upon which he lies, within
reach of his little hands, by securing one end to the head of the bed and
the other to the foot. He will then entertain himself by the hour pushing
the toys back and forth, and watching them swing above him.
Prominent Ears.--Prominent ears should always be corrected in childhood by
putting a thin cap on the child at night.
Disappointing a Child.--A day in a child's life is equal to a week in
ours; so think twice before you condemn a child to a whole day's
disappointment or unhappiness.
Baby's Veil.--Baby's veil, which should only be used in cold or windy
weather, may be either a Shetland veil or made of bobbinet.
Sweaters.--There are cunning little sweaters exactly like those made up
for older children, which come in sizes to fit an eight-months old baby.
Wild Flowers.--Every garden should contain a few wild flowers. The busy
mother will find that they grow without care if proper soil is provided
and will bloom where there is too much shade for other flowers. March
brings forth the lovely hepatica, and wild phlox or sweet william soon
follows. Next comes the wild geranium cranes bill, but as its petals fall
rapidly, it is not as effective as sweet william, which will be a mass of
delicate bloom for five weeks or more. The trillium or wake robin is
another desirable flower, and wild violets thrive where the cultivated
kind will not grow. The Indian turnip or Jack-in-the-Pulpit is an
interesting plant and a curiosity to many who never ramble in the woods to
see it in its native abode. All of these bear transplanting and are
satisfactory as garden plants, but choose sweet william if you wish the
most desirable for color, fragrance and duration of bloom.
Making Friends.--Blessed is the man who has the gift of making friends,
for it is one of God's best gifts.--Thomas Hughes.
Baby's Nose.--But the most pliable of baby's features is the nose. By
gently massaging this feature every day with the thumb and forefinger a
tendency to broadness may be promptly subdued. The bridge should be gently
pressed between the fingers in the course of an upward massage movement.
[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 815]
Flowers.--They are wreathed around the cradle, the marriage altar, and the
tomb.--Mrs. L. M. Child.
Bed Time.--One little chap was constantly being deceived as to his bed
hour, which was 7:30 o'clock. He could not tell the time, and his mother
or nurse would tell him that it was bedtime when in reality it was only
seven o'clock. He would look puzzled and only half convinced as his reason
told him it could not be that late; but he had no choice but to obey. It
would have been far wiser to set seven o'clock as his bed hour and to have
stuck to it.
Little Minds.--Minds of moderate calibre ordinarily condemn everything
that is beyond their range.--La Rachefoucauld.
Tea and Coffee.--Don't give your two-year-old child tea and coffee to
drink. What if she does cry for them? The crying will harm her far less
than the drink.