The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-16
4 Coed Word fer Romping Girls,

4 Coed Word fer Romping Girls,
Nest women have dread of these
Mothers would rather their little faucll-
tiers were called anything than romps.
They say to them, BE very quiet now.
my dears-don't run or iump-try and
be little ladies'" As if healthy child
could be still; as if it could take time to
walk or step over what came in its way
as if it could fold its little hands in its
lap, when its little heart is so brimful of
tickle. It is absurd and wrong for
mothers to talk 50; absurd and wrong
because it Is unnatural. Children, girls
as well as boys, need exercise. indeed
they must have it to be kept III healthy
condition. They need it to expand their
chests, strengthen their muscles. tone
their nerves and develop themselves
generally. And this exercise must be
out of doors, too. 1t is not enough to
have ealisthenics in the nursery or par.
Tor. They need to be out in the sun
shine, out inthe wind, out on the Grass,
out in the woods, out of doors some-
where, if it be no bigger place than the
common or park. They need a ronp
every day Of their lives. Suppose they
do tan their pretty faces. Better be as
brown as berry and have the pulses
quick and strong, than white as a lily
ana complain Of cold feet ana headache.
Suppose they do tear their clothes, tear
them ''every which way" suppose they
90 Wear out the shoes, pair month,
even; it don't try mothers patience
and strengthen half so much to patch
ana mend as it does to watch night after
night 4aerulous sick child; and it
don't drink a fathers pocket-book half
rs quick to buy shoes as it does to pay
doctors bills. The odds are all Oh the
side Of the rolnps. Indeed, we don't
believe there is prettier picture in all
the wide world than that of 4 little Girl
balancing herself on the topmost rail
OF al old zigzag fence, her bonnet on
Que arm and II basket of black bsyries on
the other, her cnyls streaming out in
the wind or ripping over her flushed
cheeks, her, apron helf torn from its
waist, and dangling to her feet, her fin
gers stained with the berries she has
picked, and her lips with those she has
eaten. Mother, mother, don't scold that
little creature when she comes in and
puts her basket on the table, and look
ruetully at therent in the new bingham
apron, and at the little bare toes stick
ing ont OF the last pair of shoes. Wash
OIL her hot face and soilcd hands. and
give her bowl of cool milk and LIGHT
bread, and when she has eaten her fill
and got rested, make her sit down he
side you and tell you about what she
she has seen off in those meadows and
woods. Her heart will be full of beau.
tiinl things-the sound of the wind, the
talk OF the leaves, the music of the wild
birds and the laugh of wild flowers, the
ripping of streams and the color Of
pebbles, the shade of the clouds and the
hue OF the sunbeams-all those will
have woven their spell over her limo
cent thoughts, and made her q poet in
feeling, if not in expression.
No, mothers, don't nurse I'D your lit
tie girls like house-planis. The daugh-
tiers of this generation are to be the
of the next, and if you would
have them healthy in body and genial
in temper, free from nervous affections,
fidgets and blues; if you would fit them
for life, its joys, its cares and its trials.
let them have good romp every day
while they are growing. 1t is natures
own specific, and, if taken in season,
to cure all the ills of the girl
and the WOman.-[ Exchange.