The Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.T. [i.e. N.M.]) 1851-1854, 1852-11-27
THE FIRST BABY.


married nearly two years, when made my first
call on her in the capacity Of mother.
'Did you ever see such darling?' she excaim-
ed, tossing an infant up and down in her arms
'Thcre baby that's mas old friend Jane. He
knows you already, decare,' said the delighted
parent, as itsmled at bright ring which held up
to it 'You never saw such quick child. No
tice what pretty little feet he has, the darling
footsy. y.toutsies,' and taking both feet in one hand
the mother fondly kissed them.
1T certainly is very pretty said l, trying to be
polite, though could not perceive that the in.
fant was more beautiful than dozen others
had seen. III has your eyes exactly, Mary
'Yes, and daia's mouth and chin' said my friend,
aposrophisng the child hasn't it, preciOusT and
she almost smothered the child with kisses.
As walked slowly homeword, said to myself,
Il wonder if when | marry, shall ever be so
foolish. Mary used to be a sensible GIRL" In a
fortnight afterwards called on my friend agan.
'IIcw baby grows,' she said, Fdoh't you see il ?
never knew child grow so fast. Grondma says
she never stw child SO healthy ........
10 me il seemed that the baby had not grown an
inch; and 10 avoid the contradiction, | changed
the theme. But IN moment the doting mother
was back 10 her nfaut again. sf4 M
q do believe its beginning to cut its teeth,' she
said, putting her finger in the little ones mouth
Just feel how hard the gums are there, surely that
Is a tooth coming through. Grandmother will be
here to-day, 'nd III ask her il il isn't so.'
laughed as | replied, Il am entirely ignorant
of such matters, but your child really is very
fine one TilF
'Oh yes, every body says that Pretty, pretty
DEAR Aid she tossed it up and down until
thought the child would have been shaken to
pieces but the little creature seemed TO like the
process very much. is 1t growing at its mother?
its laughing is ?-Tinny- y-ninny, little dear. What
sweet precious II is And she finished by al
most devouring it with kisses.
When Inext called, baby was still further ad.
vanced.
Only Think said my friend, when had made
my way to the nursery, where she now kept her.
self from morning to night, baby begins 10 eat,
| gave It piece Of meat to day--a bit of really
broiled beef steak
'WhaIp said 1 in my ignorance, for this did look
wonderful, the chIld eating beef steak already2'
'0h,' laughed my frend seeing my mistake,
what Ounce you are Jane. But wait uatl you
have babies of your own. She says you eat beef
steak, darlng,' added the proud mother, addressing
the infant, when you only suck the juice You
don't want to choke yourself, do youtabyp Eat
beef steak It's funny, baby, isn't itY' And
again she loughed-laughing all the more, because
the child sympathetically crowed in return
II was not many weeks before the long expected
teeth appeared.
Jne, Jane, the baby has got three tech' trum-
phanty cried the mother, as entered the nursery.
Three teeth, and he isn't nine months old. Did
you ever hear the like of that?'
| confessed that had not The whole thing in
fact was out Of my range Of knowledge knew
all about Dante in the original, and dozen other
lady accomplishments, but nothing about babies
teehng. H
Jus. look at the little pearls exclaimed my
Friend, as she opened the chlds mouth, ARE they
not beautiful You never saw anything 50 pretty
-confess that you never did. Precious little dar-
ling
But the crowning miracle Of all was, when baby
could walk. lis learning 10 creep had been duly
heralded to me. But when really walked alone,
the important fact was announced to me in a note
for she could not wait till | called.
Stand there she said TO me, in an eyul,ing
voice, mo- stoop, mean, how can you be so stu.
pid,' Ard as obeyed, she look her station about
yard off, holding the little one by either arm
'Now see him. she cried, as he todlled TO.
wards me, and finally succeeded in gaining my
arms, though once or twice fancied b, would
fall, a contingency from which he wds protected
however, BY his. mother holding her hands on either
side Of him an inch or two of. There, did you
ever see anything SO extraordinary He's not a
year old, elther.'
BY This time began TO be considerably interested
in the baby myself. lie had learned 10 know me,
and would begin 10 crow whenever | entered the
4 nursery and | was therefore almost as delighted
as my FREUD, when for hefrst time he pronounced
my name
Diane, Diane, he said.
His mother almost dcvoured him with kisses
/ in return for this wonderful triumph Of the vocal
4 organs; but when she had done, | in turn smooth
cred him with caresses.
| Inever after that smiled, even to myself, at the
i extfayagance Of my friends affection for her baby