The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-03-23
DABIES.


BABIES.
Mr.. EDITOR :-Excuse few
thoughts on the above most Interesting
subject: Babies abound everywhere,
aud are of all colors, conditions aud
habits. They present almost all the
hues Of the solar spectrum. from its
darkest to its lightest colors, but Those
are most approved which have no color
at all. ln condition, some are squab6y,
others scrannel, some plump, others thin
Of flesh. Some are we'll, others sick
ly. Some clean, others dirty. In habit,
some are good, aud sleep ut night, 9th
crs bad, and make night hideous with
their screams. Some are smiling, COZ
ing, and hpppy; others arc cross, fretful
and miserable. 1t is astonishing, that
with all their varieties Cf color, habit and
condition, they arc all pronounced 6nc
and sweet, ut least by their mothers aud
maiden aunts, generally by their fathers,
aud sometimes by their cousins, aunts
aud other kin folks.
A baby is indispensable to- the happi
ucss ofa family. 1t becomes the great
centre ofattraction, and all the arrange.
mcnts Of the family are made in refer
ence to it. The mother cannot visit,
receive company. attend church, but
special arrangements must be made in
reference to the baby. AS soon as the
baby makes its apparence, the father
begins to look, suggest and plan for the
future. Tho questions q: support, dress,
education, all agitato tho mind, and he
realizes responsibility such as he never
felt before. The baby is at once a
stranger and relative, foreigner, yet at
home, the most dependent Of creatures,
and yet commanding the attention aud
services Of every one
Though thousands Of babies are born
every year, yet t. birth Of baby is
always hailed as novelty, aud becomes
the most interesting news of the neigh
borhood. Aunt Sallie comes in all cx-
element, cxclaiming. did you hear
the ncws?"Alrs.-has baby "''Is it pos,
sblc!" is the response. Then come tho
questions in quick succ' ssion, "Is it
a boy or siil? 2" "When was it born 2"
els it large or small How much does
it weigh ?""Wlat is the color of it's
hair? Z" "Dtcs it look like its mother or
father ?""What is.thc color of its eyes 2"
II wonder what they will name it p
"ls the father proud of it?" Aud thus
question follows question, and at nnrc
the baby becomes the hero of the whole
circle OF acquaintance, and rcigns su-
prcmc tor season Father, mother,
aunts, unclcs and cousins do homage
at its shrine, aud If it is not killed by
kindness, or over dosed with paregoric,
it lives the JOY aid pri'lo Of all
Almost every house has baby, and
every house ought to have one A
house without II baby, is like a dcsolaic
castle without inhabitants, except by
some crusty, ill-na,urcd old bachelor.
The baby is the life of the house. lifts
smiles aud cooimgs do not attract attcn-
tion. its Squallings will, for even the tears
OF infancy are beautiful and its c,ics
music
What would society be without babies ?
u drcary waste--a garden in the spring
time, without seeds or blossoms "A
musical Instrument without strings, pipes
or sounds. ~ day without the cheering
rays Of the sun. n dark night without
moon or stars {! The hope of every coun
try is in its babies. Without these,
dark despair would settle upon every
brow, and The days of hat unfortunate
people would soon be numbered!
Behold two unfortunates nitel
in the holy alliance Of matrimony, aud
mo baby, aud without Il prospect of ever
possessing one. The woman's arms
never embrace, the mans knees never
dondlc one Of their own, aud they cant
borrow one
This is IL second edition Of the old
bachelor and the old maid Restless
and unhappy, like a spoiled and iretful
child, they do not know what is the
cause Of their unhappincss, and in vain
they attempt to fill the empty void with
II cat, dog, flower or.a plant. Some body
ought to take pity on them aud lend
them one.