Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-08

less condition as are human beings
For the first fortnight after birth they
pass their time in being nursed, in
sleeping and looking about them. Dur
ing the whole of this time the care and
attention of the mother are most exem-
plary the slightest sound or movement
excites her immediate notice and, with
her baby in her arms, skillfully evades
any approaching danger by the most
adroit manpuvres. At the end of the
first fortnight the little one begins to
get about little itself, but always un-
der its mothers watchful care. She
frequently attempts to teach it to do for
itself; but never forgets her solicitude
for its safety, and at the earliest intima-
tiOn of danger sefZes it her arms and
seeks place of refuge. When about
six weeks old the baby begins to need
more substantial nutriment than milk
and is taught to provide for himself. Its
powers are speedily developed, and in a
few weeks it's agility is most surprising.
The mothers fOndness for her offspring
continues; she devotes all her care to
it's comfort and education, and should it
meet with an untimely end her grief is
SO intense as frequently to cause her
death. 1.-The care which the females
bestow upon their offspring" says Du-
that one would be almost tempted to at
tribute the sentiment to a rational rather
than an instructive process. It is Gu
rious and interesting spectacle, which a
little precautiOn has sometimes enabled
me to witness, to see these females carry
their young to the river, wash their
faces in spite of their childish Outcries,
and altogether bestOw upon their clean
illness time and attention that in many
cases the children of our own species
might we'll envy. The Malays indeed
related fact to me, which doubted at
first, but which I believe to be in
a great measure confirmed by my
own subsequent observations tits, that
the young sionaangs, while yet too weak
to go alone, are always carried by indi-
ers if they are males, by their mothers
if females" M. d'Osbonville states
that the parents exercise their parental
power. 1.-THE young ones were seen to
sport and gannbol with one another in
| the presence of their mother, who sat
ready to give judgment and punish mis-
demeanors. When any one was found
guilty of foul play or malicious conduct
toward another of the family, the parent
| interfered by seizing the young crimi-
nal by the tail, which she held fast with
one of her paws till she boxed his ears
with the other Chdnbers's Journal.
| DIsAGREEABLE HABITS. early all
the disagreeable habits which people
take up come at first from mere acci-
dent or want of thought. They might
easily be dropped, but they are persisted
in until they become second nature.
Stop and think before you allow your
self to form them.
There are disagreeable habits of body,
like scowling, winking, twisting the
mouth, biting the nails, continually
pick ing at something, twirling key or
fumhling at chain, drumming with the
fingers, screwing and twisting a chair,
or whatever you lay your hands on.
Don't do any of these things. Learn to
sit quietly-like gentleman, was go
ing to say; and / am afraid even girls
fall into such tricks sometimes. There
are much worse things than these, to be
sure; but we are speaking only of these
little things that are only annoying
when they are persisted in.
There are habits of speech also, such
as beginning every speech with "you
see," or ''you know" "now-a," "and-
a." ''see here" ''let me tell you," indis-
tinct utterance, sharp, nasa! tones !;
avoid them all. Stop and think what
YOU are going to say, and then let every
word drop from your lips just as perfect
as a new silver coin. Have care about
your way of sitting, and standing, and
walking. Before you know it you will
, find that your habit will have hardened
into a coat of mail, that you cannot get
: rid of without terrible effort.