Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-07-23
CHE polpnesian.
The First BABY.

NY o'o eSuoohShOW, Mary lnOrniey, nat
been married nearly two years when made
my first call upon her in her capacity of ,
mother.
"Did you ever see such darlings" sh,
exclaimed, tossing the infant up and dowr
in her arms. "There, baby, that's mas ole
friend Jane. He knows you already, de-
clare, said the delighted parent, as it smiled
at a bright ring which held up to it. "Yor
never saw such a quick child He follow.
me with his eyes all about the room. Notice
what pretty little feet he has, the darling
footsy-tootsies; and taking both feet in one
hand, the mother fondly kissed them.
"lt certainly is very pretty" said /, try.
ing to be polite, though could not perceive
that the infant was more beautiful than 9
dozen others | had seen. "It has your eye.
exactly, Mary"
Yes, and da-da's mouth and chin," said
my friend, apostrophising the child, sc hasn't
1t, precious? And she almost smothered
it with kisses
AS walked slowly homeward, / said to
myself, "I wonder if, when marry, I shall
ever be so foolish. Mary used to be SEN
sible girl" In about fortnight called on
my friend again.
"How baby grows" she said; ''don't you
see il? never knew child grow so fast.
Grandma says it is the healthiest child she
ever knew"
To me it seemed that the babe had not
grown an inch; and, to avoid the contradic-
tion, / changed the theme But, in mo-
ment, the doting mother was back 10 her in
fant again.
:" l do believe it's beginning to cut its
teeth" she said, putting her finger into the
little ones mouth. "Just feel how hard the
gum is there" Surely that's tooth coming
through. Grandmother will be here to-day,
and I'll ask her if it isn't so.''
laughed as replied, 81 am entirely ig-
norant Of such matters, but your child really
seems very fine one.''
ooh! yes; everybody says that. Pretty,
pretty dear!" And she tossed it up and
down till thought the child would have been
shaken to pieces; but the little creature
seemed to like the process very much. els
it Growing at its mother? It's laughing, is
it: Tiny, niny little dear. What sweet
precious it isl" And she finished by almost
devouring it with kisses.
When next called, the baby was still fur
ther advanced
"Only think, )" said my friend, when had
made my way TO the nursery, where she now
kept herself from morning till night, " baby
begins to eat. ] gave it a piece of meat
to-day-a bit of real broiIed beefsteak -
"What!" said in my ignorance, for this
did lock wonderful, "the child eating beef
steak already"
''Oh," laughed my friend, seeing my mis-
take, ''what sad Ounce you are, Jane! But
wait till you have babies of your own. She
says you eat beefsteak, darling" added the
proud mother, addressing the infant, when
you only suck the juice. You don't want to
choke yourself, do you, babyl Eat beef
steak! It's funny, baby, isn't it!" And
again she iaughed-laughing all the more
because the child sympatheticalIy crowed in
return.
1t was not many weeks before the long-ex-
pecfed teeth really appeared.
"Jane. Jane, baby Mas three teeth" tri-
cried the mother, as entered the
nursery. ''Three teeth, and he is only nine
months old! Did you ever hear of the like?"
confessed that l had not The whole
hing, in fact, was out of my range of know
edge. knew all about Dante IN the origi-
nal, and dozen other fine lady accomplish
nents; but nothing about babies teething.
''Just look at the little pearIs!" exclaimed
my friend, as she opened the child's mouth.
'Are they not beautiful? You never saw
anything so pretty-confess that you never
lid. Precious darling continued the mo-
her, rapturously hugging and kissing the
child, ''it is worth its weight in gOld!"
But the crowning miracle of all was when
'baby" began to walk. Its learning to creep
rad been duly heralded to me. So also had
It's being able to stand alone; though this
meant, found, standing with the support of
4 chair. But when it really walked alone,
he important fact was announced to me in a
note, for my good friend could not wait till
called.
''Stand there" she said to me in an exult-
ing voice. "No, stoop, mean; how can
you be SO stupids" And, as obeyed, she
took her station about yard of, holding the |
little one by either arm. "Now, see him,
she cried, as he toddled towards me, and
hnally succeeded in gaining my arms. though
once or twice fancied he would fall, a con-
ingency from which he was protected, how
ever, by his mother holding her hands on
either side of him. an inch or two off. |
There, did you ever see anything so extra
ordinary? He's not a year old either"
BY this time began to be considerably in
crested in ''baby" myself He had learned
o know me, and would begin to crow when
ever entered the nursery; and was there
ore, almost as delighted as my friend, when,
or the first time, he pronounced my name.
Diane" he said, "Djane!"
His mother almost deyoured him with
lisses in return for this wonderful triumph of
he vocal organs; and when she had finished
!, in turn, smothered him with caresses.
/ never after that smiled. even to myself,
II the extravagance of my friends affection