Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-07
THE FIRST BABY.

THE FIRST BABY.
Ny old school fellow, Mary Thornly, had
been married two years when made my first
call on her in her capacity of mother,
" Did you ever see such a darling ?" she ex-
claimed, tossing the infant up and down in hel
arms, ..Teers, baby, that's mas old friend
Jane. he knows you already, I declare, /" said
the eehshted parent, as it smiled at the bright
ring which held up to it, "You never saw
such quick child. He follows me with his
eyes all about the room. Notice what pretty
httio feet he has, the darling footy tootsies;; u
and taking both feet in one hand, the mother
fondly kissed them.
g 1t certainly is very pretty" said I, trying
to De polite, though 1 could not perceive that
the infant was more beautiful than a dozen
others had seen. 1t has your eyes exactly,
Yes, and da da's mouth and chin, - said nv
friend, apostrophising the child; "hasn't 1t,
precious :" And she almost smotfsrsd IL with
kisses.
As walked slowly homewarti, L said to nv.
self, wonder if, when marry, I shall ever
be so foolish. Mary used to be a sensible
girl" In fortnight afterwards called on
any friend again.
How baby grows" she said; "don't you
see 1t never knew a child to grow so fast.
ever knew"
10 me it seemed that the baby had not grown
an inch; and, to avoid the contradiction I
changed the theme. But in a moment the
doting mother was back to her infant again.
81 do selieve it's beginning to cut it's teeth, -
She said, putting her finger in the little one s
mouth just feel how hard the gum is there
surely that's tooth coming there Grand.
mother will be here to-day, and I'll ask her if
1t isn't so;
laughed as replied, 20 am entirely igno-
rant OF such matters; but your child really
seems very fine one"
Oh yes; everybody says that Pretty,
pretty dear :" And she tossed it up and dow n
till thought the child would have been sba.
ken TO pieces; but the little creature seemed to
IKE the process very much. 'It is growing at
its mother IL is laughing, is it2 Tiny niny
niue dear. What sweet precious it isl And
fhs finished by almost devOuring it with kisses.
hhen ! next called, baby was still further
'Only think" said my friend, when had
made my way to the nursery, where she now
Kept herself from morning till night, - baby
oeglns to eat. gavo it piece of meat to day;
piece Of real brOiled beefsteak"
What" said |, in my ignorance, for this
did look wonderful, "the child eating beef
steak already?" r
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 baby? Eat beefsteak!
Its funny, baby, isn't it?" And again she
Iaaghed-iauShing all the more because the
child, sympathetically, crowed in return.
1t was not many weeks before the long-ex.
pected teeth really appeared
JAMS Jane, baby has three teeth" triumph
anLiy cried the mother as / entered the nursery.
Three teeth, and he's only nine months old
Did you ever hear of the like?"
confessed that had not. The whole thing.
IN fact, was out OF my range Of knowledge. 1
knew all about Dante in the original, and a
dozen other fine accomplishments; but nothing
about babies teething
Just look at the little pearls,'' exclaimed
my friend, as she opened the child's mouth.
Are they not beautiful! You never saw any,
thing so pretty-confess that you never did
Precious darling, continued the mother, rap
turously hugging and kissing the child, 'it is
worth its weight in gold"
But the GROWING miracle of all was when
"0a6y began to walk. Its learning to creep
had been duly heralded to me. So, also, had
ITS being able to stand alone, though this meant,
found, standing with the support of a chair
But when il really walked alone, the important
fact was announced to me in a note for nv
friend could not wait until called
Stand there, " said she to me, in an exult-
ing voice - No stoop, mean, how can you
DC 80 stuPld anu 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 finally succeeded
In gaining my arms, though once or twice l
fancied be would fall, q contingency from which
he was protected, however, by the mother
holding her hands on either side of him, an
inch or two of. There, did you ever see any
thing so extraordinary? He's not year old,
either
By this time began to be considerably in
terested in BABY myself He had learned
to know me, and would begin to GROW when
ever entered the nurseryi and was, there
fore, almost as delighted as my friend, when,
for the first time, he pronounced my name.
"Dlane," he said Diane :"
His mother almost devoured him with kisses
in return for this wonderful triumph of the
vocal organs; and whom she had finished, I, in
turn, smothered him with caresses.
l never after that smiled even to myself at
the extravaganza of my friends affection for
the baby; the little love had twined himself
around my own heart strings. How could 1?
And now, that am a mother myself, / feel
less inclined still to laugh, as others may do,
over that mysteries of mysteries, a mothers
love for her baby.