Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-05
EVENING STAR.
o q r B A BY BOY q.
BY ROSE EGLANTINE.

There is that ugly title again, wonder
what more is to be said on so PETIT a subiect1
Really, it is high time to exclaim az ainst hav-
ing ones patience and taste eternally worn
out and insulted by the garrulity of these con-
ceited, foolish mothers, Babies, nothing but
babies Even the magazines like that fool
ish old Hermann Knickerbocker) have their
corners for baby love, and fairs are actually
got up to show off their squealing and other
pretty propensities. Isn't il too much
wonder what Messrs. Ho Tong and Chi Fung
would say to all this? Wouldn't they laugh
and call us fools, baby-fools, eh?
Thus we imagine you are soliloquizing, dear
reader, as you glance at our heading But
We will not deceive you for we are going to
talk fondly and plainly of our baby boy, as
| he is no ordinary one. Qualities like his are
rare, and they form an exception to the rules
which define the characteristics of babydom.
SO we feel bound 20 publish them, and thus
| show the grabbed old cynical bachelors who
snarl and growl and say ugly things about
babies, and they are all nightly at fault
Well, first he is not crying baby" Not
he. He has more sense and better manners
than to commit such an unenviable act He
sets higher value on the attentions Of papa
and mamma than to annoy them. If he wants
anything, (e.g., piece Of miIk-bread,) he
motions for it. To be loquacious, he thinks
vulgar, and so uses head and hands in the
oeSou VI VIC uiOutn purposes Ol cOmmunl-
cation Just observe that pretty motion of
his dear little hand; it expresses a wish to
be fed. There he moves his head, covered
all over with hair softer and prettier than
down, accompanying 1t with little tune, not
a cry, (that S too common a word for infantile
music,) and we lift him up. Then all is
silent, often to our regret; for so "few and
far between" are these musical efforts that
We gladly welcome their return. So you sec
you can't call Our-baby- boy" a cross, cry
ing one. No; and don't dare to, or like Don
QuiXotte, we will 20 in search of you, who
ever OF wherever you are.
Pleasant Will Shakespeare describes the lit
tie royalists of his day as
"Mewling and puking in the nurses srm,,m
description which VIC think will well ft
many of the embryo republicans on this side
OF the ocean, but not our baby. The great
bard was no ardent admirer of the period of
babyhood, if we may judge from this and one
or two other naughty slurs he has written of
1t. Though he is reliable authority, and
though the verse we quote is generally re-
ceIved as standard account of early baby
life, yet we enter caveat against its appli-
cation in the case Of " our baby boy"
But here is another popularity of our boy
which must be noted: his Morpheus-like dis
position. He is fair specimen Of that class
OF inactives of whom Solomon gives such a
vivid history. He sleeps, wakes up, folds his
hands, and then (bless him y sleeps arain
Was ever child like this ? Indeed, we think
1t would be worth the while of a learned gem
ealogist to trace his ascent, mot deScent,) as
we feel sanguine he would be found nearly re-
lated to the renowned family of the Seven
Slcepers. Medicine men" say that plenty
of sleep is good for babies 1T makes them
grow so. Ugh. what giant will our Harry
be, then,
IL.
| slnglebleSsednesS, what think you of our
"baby-boy 90 Isn't he a character dear,
dear darling? Docs he not deserve to be can
onized as baby saint?
But as we have been somewhat funny, let
US become a little serious. Having spoken of
our baby's quietness, his delicacy, and his
mapping propensity let US speak of the com
fort we enjoy from possessing this gem, far
more precious than any in which glitters in
the diadems Of unhappy monarchs.
Tupper, With no less wisdom than simple
beatuy, has said
=" A babe in a house 10 a well-spring Of pleasure,
messenger Of peace and love;
resting place for innocence on earth, a link be
tween angels and men,
Every parent will recognize the force of these
lines. Though the advent Of an infant be ac-
companied by an increase of care and anxiety
yet In the wise orderings of Providence it
and originated. The daily buildings forth of
infantile traits, with the very helpiessness of
infancy, form so many silver cords to bind us
closer and closer to our offspring. Every day
we look for some new flower of joy, and find
1t full blown In our pathway. Do we thirst
tor tranquil, domestic pleasure Behold "
well-sprlng OF 1t In the house wherein dwells
little one Every estate of man has its re-
sponsibilities, but none so important as that
of the narant Thau avfand 70 tbsppS f,t,,
as we'll as present. What would thousands of
parents give for one glance in a magic mirror,
that they might see the dangers and tempta-
tiops likely t0 beset their darling child, and
so arm it for the encounter How many run
to their closets and there offer up earnest
prayers for blessings upon their helpless of
spring, and grace to wishstsnd the assaults of
evil. 1t was this thought of futurity that FL
filled the mind of COleridge on first beholding
his infant child. In a sonnet addressed to a
friend, who had asked him what impression
the event made on him, he says:
"Charles my slow heart was only sad when, frst
Ii scanned that face Of feeble infancy!
For dimly on my thoughtful spirit burst
All had been, and all my child nsigAt be-"
Were thoughts of the moral future of a child
more plentiful, there would be less of sin, of
writehedness, ofwoe. Think, then, o parents,
when ye gaze on the face of innocent, plastic
infancy. how much is owing to your wisdom
and godly nurture. o, remember to
"Hold the little hands In prayer, teach the weak
knees their kneeling;
Let him see thee speaking, to thy God: he will
not forget ii afterwaTd;
When old and gray will he feelingly remember
mothers tender piety,
And the touching recollection Of her prayers shall
arrest the strong man In his SIN"
PHYSICAL BENEFIT OF SUNDIy Sab