Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-06-29
SeIsttso TaIs.
From Chambers Journal
THE SECOND BABY.

mot exactly In our line, bat interesting to the
authors eountrywome 10 whom he addresses H.
Between the first baby and the
second what falling off is there, my
countrywomen! Not in the intrinsic
value. for the second may chance to be
"as pre.ty a piece of flesh as any in
Messina," but in the imaginary value
with iich it i invested bv its nearest
kin aud more distant belongings
The coming OF a first baby in a house
hold creates an immense sensation
ths. of the second is comparatively
common place affair. The first baby
is looked for with great anxiety, mrs
ed with devotion, admired with en-
thusiasm, dressed with splendor and
made to live upon system. Baby
Number Two is not longed for by any
ore, except perhaps the mother; is
nursed as matter of course, and adj
mired rs matter of co irtesy; is dress
cd in the cast off clothes of Number
One, and gets. .iAitiased into life without
uuCn Ccttnoiy VI oJ -beb
Such was my reflection the other
day, rs watched the assembled fami-
ly welcome the little stranger-the
second in our hou-ehold. ! am but
bachelor uncle. and my opinion on
such matters may be httle worth; but
it seemed to me that this second child
was much superior to the first, seeing
that it was larger, quieter. and not
quite so red, as his elder brother
Thereupon. rctii nc TO lly accustomed
corner of the spacious family parlor, /
INDUCED in various lucub.alions APP
propes of babies generally, aud second
babies in par .icular, whichl took care
not TO deliver pipa poce at the time. but
which 1 amused myself afterwards by
committing to paper, and now offer to
the reader.
"a babe in the house is well
spring Of joy" said a mordern philos-
opher. lie speaks from experince.
doubtless. and the saying shows that
he hs'h never had any misgivings
abort getting the daily bread for the
babe, or for the mother that give il
suck. Yes, TO all people with health,
percc and competence. babe in the
house is well spring ofjoy; but to
people who are INDECENT. harassed,
aud of doubtful health. fear tits a
well spriag Of something very differ
pnt'
l know shall seem like an old
brr . o. n bachelor TO sentimental la'
dies for saying such things; but this is
is lard of freedom of Speech, where
a man may "speak the thing he wlll.'
And this will say on behalf of babies
themselves, that IL they had any sens,
a. all they woald wish that they had
never been bo. n-at all events the see
ond would, ard every succeeding baby
Of tie aoove rnhopeful parentage.-
The first baby is generally welcome
even, TO pa,en.s, who are doubtful
about to-morrows meals. II filings 1
poetry over their poverty; they lool
on il with anutterable love, with ten
der respect. as n charge committed Il
their trust by God himself. as arenew
al Of their own lives-a mystic bond o
love that no time and not even eterni
ty itself, can unite. IL is a new ant
wonderful thingl They can't get fa
: miliar with the wonuer OF il! IL
whole being is n narvelors work: an,
the hearts Of the parerts, especially o
the mother, glows with pure ectas.
when they take IL in their arms, ant
think, This is my child my owl
flesh and bloodl From the care ant
love of this creature, | thank God
nothing can set me frecW So il Il
with the first child. Indeed one woe
think no child hr1 ever been hon
in the world before, when one listen
to couple talking Of their first hon
during its first year. To them it is
as it was with Adam and Eve whei
they hung together over their infan
Cain; it is a new and grand experience
Thoughts Of God and Paradise are il
il: God is near above them smiling hi
blessing; the gates OF Paradise ar
close at hand, and wide open; and th
angels look forth with sy,npathisin
eyes upon their JOY. All! there
scarcely any Joy in lifn equal TO tina
Joy at the birth of the first child!
never comes again: there is never an
other first child. OF course, parent
will say and will feel that the secon
child sis very precious. that indee
they love il as well as the irst;" TIN
each child brings it share of love wit
it; and that
True love In this differs fiom gold aud clay
That TO divide Is not to take away.
so that they can love n dozen us well |
n one. But let them compare their sci
sations mt the first birth with their SCI
sations Mt the second. and ii they ha'
any faculty Of self observance.
be sure, they will acknowledge a wi,
difference; to the love of the child
the one case. is super-added the aoy,
ty Of the parentage.
Itby no means follows, that becau
the first child creates so much mo
70, vivid sensation in the household th'
the second. it deserves to be low
more. AS general rule, you W
find the second child in various WA
n. superior to the first-superior to
succeeding children. where the fami
is numerous. The law and socie
give the preference TO the eldest so
'a and daughters; fairy tales invariat
give the preference to the Youngest.
set myself, in this particular. agaiI
both existing social system. and I
won't and usage of fairyland, and
est think the second child generally {
best. physically, intellectually a
morally. With all due considerati
for the Octavias and Septimuses.
Sextus and Quintus, and with the u
al due consideration for Mr.. Prim
and my lady Una, contend that tn
second brother or sister is likely TO
eel them all. j am not prepared
oo IN IN the stake as n martvr. for 1