The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-21
SICK CHILDREN.


Topic That ought to Greatly Interest
Parents.
1t is said that half the children who
are born die before the age of five years.
There is little doubt that proper knowl-
edge and care would prevent balf at
least, of this terrible mortality, and also
half the sickness which does not result
in death. Yet with all the knowledge
and care which the most devoted and
intelligent mother can exercise will
children sometimes be sick, and what
to do for them and how to make them
the most comfortable, are questions of
very great importance with every
mother. Most cases of severe illness
may be prevented by carefully noting
the symptoms, and meeting the disease
in its first stages. An experience of
| twenty years with family has proved
to me that mothers may do much to
| prevent and cure disease without call
ing physician by the use of simple
medicines and regulating the diet, etc,
of the child. l know family where
the children think it rather funny to
have a bad cold or slight attack of in
digestion, for when one of them is thus
slightly i'll the mother prescribes, and
allows the other children to ''play doc
tor by administering the efficient but
agreeable sugar pills. Another plays
nurse by bolstering up the little patient,
| and carrying him slice of toast and
cup of weak tea. If the patient wants
to hear reading or a story all the family
is at his service, if possible; it is a little
inconvenient sometimes, but it is better
than to hear the child worry and fret,
and increase his malady by unhapp-
ness. If the child is too Young for a
story, give him almost anything in the
house that will take his mind from him
self and please him.
Thus by prompt treatment and pleas
ant surroundings children may be spared
weeks of sickness, and perhaps death
itself, while the mother may save her
self nights of watching and days of
anxiety, and sometimes save the little
| life that is dearer than her own. / think
mothers are not generally aware how
much they can help children to bear
the ills and accidents of life by training
them to endure pain even at an early
age. We all know that fortitude and
patience actually lessen our suflerings,
and also increase the chances of our re-
| cOvery. When your child gets a little
| bump or scratch or cut, kiss it carefully
and try to divert his mind to some
| other subject; or if he is old enough.
reason with him by telling that we must
all bear pain more or less, and that he
must be brave and train himself to bear
without complaining. know little boy
who was laughingly told when he got
hurt that he must grin and bear it"
One day he got hurt quite badly, and
when his father came home he told him
of it. did it hurt you much?" asked
his father. Yes, it did, replied the
boy, "but | gWjnned and beared it;
didn't |, mammal"
Another little fellow, four years old,
was one day running across the room,
when he stumbled and fell against the
stove, burning himself severely. He
cried from pain at first, as any child
would do; but in a few minutes
while his mother was trying to relieve
and comfort him-he stifed his sobs and
attempted to SMILE while the tears were
NONh MS ldCts anu MS NHOlt
frame quiyering with pain, and said: Il
bear it, don't |, mammapn In this case
the effort to be quiet was too great. and
the mother was obliged to tell the child
that it was better for him to cry when
he was suffering so much. A good,
loud hearty cry is both natural and nee.
essary sometimes, but whining and fret
fulnesS, or crOssness. as it is usually
tersned in cases of trilling injury or i'll
ness, should be corrected. | know
a family, four of whom, between the
ages of six and fourteen. had the scarlet
fever not long since, and through it all
not fretful word nor an unnecessary
complaint was heard from one of them.
Indeed, the older ones seemed to think
more of saving work for their mother
than of having their own wants sup
piled. They had it very lightly, it is
true, but it was that terrible disease,
which in its mildest form is far from
agreeable. Mothers, take care of the
little ones; be watchful and patient, and
though it may cost you labor and self
denial, you will be amply repaid by see
ing them grow up healthy and happy.
| Take care of them now, and they will
take care of you when sickness or age
shall render you incapable of taking care
of yourself. - Christian at Work.