The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-06-16
Babies.
Babies are Of two kinds, rnalo and femal,

ago. They arc not confined to any particu-
lar locality, but are found plentifully dstribu-
ted over all parts Of the inhabited countries.
Their ages are various and have wide range.
We have known them as young as It's easy
to calculate time on watch dial, and then
again we have seen them where they had ac-
quired the healthy age OF twenty-five with
fair prospect of advancing still farther to ba.
byhood. Their weight depends great deal
on their heft, but as they have twenty.ona
years to grow in before it costs them any
thing, II don't matter so much how big they
happen to be when they commence.
Probably babies have more pet names than
any other known article of their size. In
the tender years Of their life, say the first
two. they are lovingly addressed by such en-.
dearing names as Old Beautiful, Sweetness,
IIoncycomb, Him Darling, Papa's Hope, Old
Blessed, Mammals Joy, Mole 'Andsome,
supposed to be contraction Of Old Hand
some. und hundreds Of other appcllations
which we could never translate.
For several years, until they get old
enough to play out of doors and soil their
faces, their lives are one long continuous
game Of Copenhagen, everybody laboring un-
der the delusion that all babies arc good Tor
is to kiss, consequently to see one is to kiss
il. We cannot recollect of ever finding our
selves in the presence OF u baby, but what
the fond mother would say to it, "Now be u
good little deary, and give the gentleman
nice sweet kiss" Of course we accept it.,
though kissing ain our forte. We are nat
urally modest and don't care to be seen kiss
ing anybody. We don't banker after it as
some of our friends do. We ure willing to
kiss pretty girl occasionally for her moth
er's sake, or even for her own, rather than
have any trouble, yet we think If said pref
ty girl owed us kiss. we should much pre-
fer to have II remain on interest to having it
paid when it became due; we never should
present our bill and demand payment--not
II we continue perfectly sane. We under
stand that there are quite number OF per-
sons who differ from us in regard to kissing,
ifso, let them diff we cannot stop to argue
the point, as our subject treats OF babies.
The nonotony of babies lives is varied by
such little incidents as an attack of the mca
sles, mumps or Group, and we would not ne
glect to speak Of cutting teeth. A baby
that has got safely through with NIL these in
fantile troubles, Is considered worth some
seventy five dollars more than one who has
them in prospect. The diseases are, how
ever, easily treated, as in q case of the mca-
sles all that is necessary is to have them
"break out' we'll. and zee to II that they
don't "strike In" With the mumps, just
let them "mump" round day or two, and
they will come round all right. With the
Group it is necessary to "strike ilc," gener-
ally "goose ile," and il applied in season,
will soon lubricate the throat without much
trouble. Cutting teeth runs longer than eli.
ther Of the other diseases, yet by u timely in.
vestment In rubber ring and rattle. you
generally get rid of DOCTORS bill. When
zoe were young, VIC cut our teeth on silver
dollar, but us dollars are now made OF paper,
they won't stand the wear and tear Of a
whole set OF teeth and tits cheaper in the end
to invest in the rubber ring.
Learning to talk and walk are two achieve
mcnts about which too much cannot he said.
The walking though is mere nothing
compared to talking, yet it Is more danger
GUS, and accidents oltener occur; still they
usually acquire tho art with the necessary
hrcakingof some crockery or furniture, which
they frantically clutch at, in order to save q
fall. During tho season Of their practising.
nothing can drop in the house, or the least
noise bo made but what mother will drop her
work, and cry out, There goos Willie,
what has he done now 7" and rush to tho
scene Of action to find perhaps aower-pot
on the floor. and Willie engaged in scatter
ing it's contents about tho room. After
clearing up tho debris. mother returns to her
work thanking her stars that it was only a
choice vcrbena that was ruined, and not
Willic's neck. ~ -..,,,l ..lt f.st rsfr
Their conversation, in tho beginning, is q
little difficult To understand They abbrc.
viate great deal, and throw inside all pro.
nouns as perfectly useless. Listening to
their talk is like attending an italian Opera
-one hears tho noise but cannot understand
what it means. The first Papa" or "Mam.
ma" distinctly spoken, is worth ivo dollars
to either of tho delighted parents. Babies
must not only talk themselves, but must bo
talked to, and the amount Of baby-talk used
in common-sized family Ia prodiGious.
Bahy's appearances opens new field to oil.
Tho old hands who have seen babies before,
converse in tho language quite auently, but
'tis indicrous to hear q beginner undertake
to master this difficult tongue. Talking ba.
by-talk is an art which few over acquire to
perfection, though. by constant practice tho
most stupid can partially acquire IL. yct IL
takes two or three generations Of babies TO
make perfect linguist. ~
The effect baby produces on family. no
matter how sober said family may be, is won.