The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-17

DOlllng water, tll u tOrmS a lelly, anu give ~
nearly cold. Attend to the chllds bowels
will send an aperient to be taken directly"
Under Providence my child recovered from
this serious attack, which happily had no
fatal result. After this / began to think my
troubles from mismanagement were nearly over
Dot was lust twelve months old, and was Begin
ming to walk, though not alone: 1t was SO
weary to be STOPPING and holding him up that
began to look about for some easier mode of
teaching him. Some of my friends advised me
to tie silk handkerchief round his waist, and
hold him up by the ends at the back This
always leaned upon 1t and stuck his heels into
the ground instead of planting his feet firmly,
as a baby can do. In fact, he got lazy over IT,
and the holding him in this manner did not
relieve me. Another friend suggested that |
should put him on the floor as much as possi-
bic, and let him crawl In reply / said |
wanted him 10 learn to walk, and not 10 crawl;
but as had discovered how excessively igno-
rant was in all that pertalned to children, /
was really anxious to get and act upon any
advice, without judging OF the quality.
THIS new mode was relief to me- certainly,
and the child became highly amused and would
stay for hours. He became an accomplished
adept in crawling rapidly to any part of the
room. he did not get on his knees, but pro-
PEELED himself by the inside of his legs aud
ankles, IN way which will be scarcely Inteli-
BILE in describing, and soon found that one
ankle became very weak. "Ah well, there is
no royal road to walking. l must put my
shoulder 10 the work, or else the dear fellow
Will oe lame to certainty" There was nothing
for it but with my hands under his arms to give
him two or three turns across the room.
Then placed him in high chair, with a soit
seat covered with hannel-not cold calico or
prickly horsehair 10 make the chair torture.
1t hao the usual flat bar which is attached to
the 'front.' of all similar chairs. / found this of
great benefit in giving frmness to the ankles, as
when he wanted to reach toy which might be
little out of his reach on the table he 1nvaria-
bly,, alter he acas taught to do so, stood on the
bar for the purpose.
1t may be asked why did not let girl teach
him to walk. Not alone because OF the expense
eff having a second servant, but chiefly because
girls cannot be trusted. Out OF sight it was
easier TO carry the child hanging half over the
arm, with the lDtanVs knees pressed against the
girl; and thus the legs would become crooked
or bowed, at which girl or boy becomes Justly
eXasporated when grown up.
1 found that by giving the child walk for
about six or seven minutes every two hours
both he and myself were less 1atigued. Only
this trouble was entailed upon me-he was
always wanting to be on his feet, and IL was
difficult to make him understand that this was
not TO be. 1t was nearly fifteen months before
he could fully walk alone, for he was of trem-
bling nervous temperant. Fear seemed inhe
rent in Lin by nature. | was very careful
not to encourage this failing by plying or even
mentioning it before him. At the same time,
never left him in the dark, nor unheeded his
calls.
had myself been a weakly child, and to this
hour can recollect the terror with which fire.
quently awoke IN the night and found darkness
around me-the bitter hours l passed with my
head under the bedclothes, starting at all un-
recognized sounds, which seem TO haunt every
room between midnight and dawn. Had seen
anything unpleasant or witnessed an accident
during the day, 1t was sure to repeat itself with
additional horrors during my sleep; and so
much had L suffered from this, and from the
unheeding nature OF the people surrounding me,
that my child nature, which should have been
happy and Joyous, was blighted into grave
stupidity, or what passed as such, by the terrors
OF the night of which l became afraid to speak.
Irrespective of these reproductions of the brain,
my dreams were always of a black bear hug
glng me so that could not breathe or that
was being compelled to pass through narrow
passage in which / felt stuffed. Strange to say,
this went on for years. l became thin, sallow,
almost cadaverous. Then was sent to farm
house to get country air. Here l was no longer
haunted, and rapidly regained my health; but
| was no sooner home, and occupying my usual
little bed, than the same terrors returned. On
my mother mentioning this circumstance to a
very judicious friend whom she had not seen
for years, she said at once:-
Her bedroom is badly ventilated. Is there
an unclosed fireplace in it?
'"ThPre is none at all !" returned my mother.
"Ah thought so. Just leave the door a lit
tie way open at night and be careful that
through the day the room is kept thoroughly
ventilated bv having both door and window
open. Moreover, do away with any carpet there
may be in It, except narrow strip by the bed
Sl0e ana DeIOre the tOleI-UdDl6 anu WdSl-StaDu.
Take away the counterpane from the bed, and
give her an extra blanket, and let her lie be-
tween flannel instead OF sheets. Let her be
kept warm, but without pressure from calico or
linen, which only confines the perspiration, and
makes the child irritable. Also, the last thing
at night go into her room with a light, tuck in
the clothes, and quietly speak to heT. So sooth-
ing will this be that she will not wake till the
morning. If she desires to have a light, give
her one, but let it be placed out Of the level of
her eyes, and away from any draught, so that it
does not fling dancing shadows over the room;
outside the open door would be the best place"
Truly this friend was my guardian angel, tor
on her plan being adopted had no more ter
rors, my nights were passed in refreshing slum
bers, and by day my benumbed intellect began
to awaken. | have since, through the informa-
tiOn of an obliglng medical friend, learned the
cause OF my early misery, independent OF the
want OF ventilation.
''You were child" said he, ''of highly or
ganized nervous temp eramenC. Even rough
wlndmade you shudder, and the slightest noise
startled you. If any one cut finger in your
presence, you ielt the wound by sympathy,
which, like an electric shock, ran down your
spine. Existence was dOubly sweet TO you in
the open air, and depression arose If you were
in confined atmosphere. Your heart beat fast,
very last, and you turned pale when you were
suddenly spoken to or saw stranger. Is not
this trueW
could not but acknowledge it.
"Well then, y he continued, stronger natures,
whose nerves are of iron, who can detect no
atmospheric changes, DO unpleasant smells, and
whom the toughest breeze and the tempestuous
ocean only eXhnarate, who eau stand and see a
limb cut OIL, albeit not used to such sights
such can have no sympathy with more delicate
organisms than their own. How, then. can they
understand Their management? Why it Is
moral death to nervous child TO he nlacad
under such care. All are not born with The
same temperament, or the same feelings, and 50
each will act differently under various infu
ences. do not always listen to child who
saws be is afraid to stir in the dark. THIS COW