The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-11
AIR AND DIRT.

said a sensible medical man to the
mother of two pale. delieate-looking
children.
We'll. can't see that they get any
| thing but dirt out of doors. the lady
responded. somewhat fretfully.
Mrs. Weldon looked at the tucked
and ruffied dresses that her little ones
wore. the broad ribbon sashes, the elab-
crate lace caps, and shook her head
obviously. Dirt and disorder were very
| distasteful to her. The children never
| went out with their nurse-a woman
who had been specially selected for
neatness and care-taking qualities
that they did not return the worse for
wear. The excuse for this was that
Master Willie-four years old-would
| pick up all the stones and sticks that
came in his way, and Baby Ruth al
ways tried to do just what her brother
| did.
! Mrs. Weldon could not not UNDER
stand why the clean, well-aired nursery
was not as healthy for children to play
/ In as out doors in the dirt They had
drive every pleasant day, and why
wasn't that enough? She believed that
it was, but the children grew thinner
and paler and more fretful. The doc
tor was summoned again. and his
/ prescription was the usual one-dirt
/ and air.
SO one fine morning the little family
started out with the intention of spend
/ ing several hours i'll the park. A baby
carriage was procured at the entrance
for the children, and for half an hour
| or more everything progressed in an
orderly manner. Then Master Willie
grew tired and demanded to be allow
ed to walk. This was the signal for a
grand outburst from the baby, who
staunchly declined to remain moment
longer than his brother did. Mrs.
Weldon took the latter infant by the
hand, while the nurse led the baby and
propelled the carriage. This arrange
ment was of short duration. Master
! Willie spied bird, and with almost
birds quickness, started in pursuit.
In vain did his mother call to him to
return. On and on he went. but the
momentum was too great, and before
long Master Willie had collided with
another little boy, falling flat on his
face in not over-clean spot. There
was a great splash OF mud on his beau
| tiful crimson sash, mud on his pretty
cap, mud on his embroidered skirts, and
his poor little nose had met with very
hard fate, indeed. A lady who had
just seated herself on an opposite
bench. and who also had two little
ones with her, appeared at this crisis
and offered Mrs. Weldon a wash cloth.
1t was as white as snow and just damp
enough for the purpose.
Il always take three or four with me
on such occasions, she said with a
smile, holding up the oil silk bag,
which contained these necessary arti-
cles.
Il believe in dirt" she added, ''but
it certainly has its place.
Your little ones do not seem to be
much trouble" Mrs. Weldon observed
thoughtfully in the course of their
chat.
Il have reduced this business to
SCIENCE" said her companion. '.You
see l used to be very much annoyed
and dissatisfied with my nurse for al
lowing the children to get into so much
dirt, and l took the matter into my
own hands. The result was that not
only found she was not to blame, but
had really done her work admirably; in
fact, better than could"
''But don't you think it would be as
well to train children to keep out of
the dirt?" Mrs. Weldon inquired anxi-
ously. 1T doesn't seem to me-" she
added, '.that dirt is necessary to
child's health or happiness"
81 have found out" said the lady,
'that dirt is necessary to my children's
happiness, and for this reason. and this
reason alone, is necessary to their
health. Think of the strain upon your
nerves, to be necessarily watching
your little ones to prevent them from
soiling their clothes. 1t is impossible
for a mother or a nurse to keep from
losing their good nature under such
circumstances. / discovered after a
while that my children were simply
little animals, and that to constantly
interfere with their instincts was to do
them grieyous wrong, wrong that
was sure to react upon myself. My
little boy would be happy for half an
hour with a stone that would soil his
+ dress. To dig hole in the dirt with
stick and scoop it out with his little
! hands was a pleasure impossible to ex-
aggerate If for the sake of his finery
/ l tried to prevent such enjoyment. the
result was conflict extremely demor-
, alizing to both of us. / have known
, him to scream and kick until he was
! completely exhausted, and would re-
. main irritable all the rest of the day.
4 A morning in the park with my chill
Y dren and good nurse to look after
: them would make me i'll for a week.
: Now. under this regime often prefer
! to serve alone. 1t is real rest and COM
r fort to me. ''-Esednor KIRK, in Cottage
: Hearth.