Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-13
Chinese Children,

WHEN a son is born, a "milk-name" is
given him in connection with the rejoic'
ings of the family. This corresponds with
our pet names. Later, the boy receives
his regular names. The important cere-
mOny of binding the wrists is observed in
connection with the thank offerings to the
goddess mother. 1t varies in details. A
common plan is to tic piece of red cot
ton loosely round the wrists another is
to iasten some ancient copper coins on the
wrists for several days by means Of red
cotton. In some families this is not final
ly removed from the infants wrists for
several months, though it is more usual
to take it off after fourteen days. The
idea is that the binding of the wrists to-
gether will prevent the baby from being
wicked and disobedient, not only in child
hood, but also in after life In allusion
to this singular custom, when children
are troublesome or naughty, they are
asked if their mothers neglected to bind
their wrists.
When the baby is a month old the head
is shaved for the first time, and in the case
of a boy this ceremony is performed be-
fore the Ancestral Tablets. A feast is
also given, to which the relatives and in.
innate friends are invited, and it is Gus
tomary for them to bring presents Of toys,
food, money, etc. they also frequently
club together and send the infant silver
plate, on which they inscribe three char
acters, meaning Longevity, Honor and
Happiness. Shortly after this the parents
make their Acknowledgements to their
various friends for their congratulations,
and for the presents which they have sent /;
this is commonly done by sending a small
present of cakes in return. At a subse-
quent entertainment which sometimes
takes place when the child is four months
old, the happy father" it is said, " bows
down before the goddess { MothorD, and
begs that the child may be good-natured
and easy to take care of, that it may grow
fat, that it may sleep well at night, and
that it may not be given to crying" etc.
The maternal grandmother, when boy
is year old, sends him present Of cap
and pair of shoes, as well rs some other
garments, and on this occasion another
family feast is held to celebrate the birth
day.
Our mothers whose children are back
ward walking will be amused at the fol
lowing piece of Chinese nursery supcrsti
tion: " 1t is the custom in many families,
when the child is just beginning to walk
alone, for a member of the family 10 take
large knife--oiten such as is used in the
kitchen to cut up egetables-and, ap-
preaching him from behind as he is tod
ding along, to put it between his legs, or
hold it little way from him, the edge
downward, and then 10 bring it to the
ground, as If in the act of cutting some
thing. This is called 'cutting the cords OF
his feet and the motion is srepeatcd two or
three times. 1t is done in order to iacili
tate his learning to walk, and is supposed
TO be of great use in keeping the child
| from stumbling and falling down"
After the shaving oi the head no the end
of the first month il is Il common prpc
tice to allow patch of hair 10 grow on
top If the child be u boy, and on both
sides II II girl; the hair is braided iuto
tight little queues, which stick out and
give the children a very comicul look in
their early years. When a girl, however
reaches womanhood, she ceases io wear
these es.-AH tie YedT Rouad