St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-03
AIR AND DIRT.
a Doctors Sensible Prescription for ChfE-
dren.

children.
"Well, I 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 du-
biously. 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 always tried to
do just what her. brother did.
Mrs. Weldon could not understand
why the clean, well-aired nursery was
not as healthy for children to play in as
out doors in the dirt They had a 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 doctor was
summoned again, and his prescription
was the usual ne-dirt and air.
=. So one fine morning the little family
Started out with the intention of spend
ing several hours in the park. A baby
carriage was procured ut the entrance
for the children, and for half an hour or
more everything progressed in an order
lymanner. Then Master Willie grew
tired and demanded to be allowed to
walk This was the signal for grand
outburst from the baby, who staunchly
declined to remain a 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 arrangement was of
short duration. Master Willie spied
bird, and with almost a bird IS 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 fiat on his
face in a not over-clean spot There
was 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
8 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 Of
fered Mrs. Weldon wash cloth. 1tWas
as white as snow and just damp enough
for the purpose.
III always take three or four with
me on such occasions, = she said with
q smile, holding up the oil silk bag,
which contained these most necessary
articles.
Il believe in dirt, = she added, 1'but it
certainly has its place.
e.Your little ones do not seem to be
much trouble Mrs. Weldon OBJ
served thoughtfully, in the course OF
their chat.
II have reduced this business to .
science, said her companion. 'sYou
sac used to be very much annoyed and
dissatisfied with my nurse for allowing
the children to get into SO much dirt,
and 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
dirtP'' Mrs. Weldon inquired anuously.
ut doesn't seem to me, she added,
ssthat dirt is necessary to child
health or happiness. :
II have found out, said the lady,
ssthat dirt is necessary to my children 8
happiness, and for this reason, and this
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. It is impossible for mother
or nurse to keep from losing their good
nature under such circumstances. /
discovered after while that my chill
tiren were simply little animals, and
that to constantly interfere with their
instincts was to do them grievous
wrong. a wrong that was sure to react
upon myself. My little boy would be
happy for half an hour with stone that
would soil his dress. To dig a hole in
the dirt with stick and scoop it out
with his little hands was q pleasure I'M
possible to exaggerate. If for the sake
of his finerY I tried to prevent such en-
5oynent. the result was a conflict ex-
fremely demoralizing to both of us. 1
have known him to scream and kick
until he was completely exhausted, and
would remain irritable all the rest OF
the day. a morning in the park with
my children and good nurse to look
after them would make me Ill for
week. Now, under this regime often
prefer to serve alone. 1t is real rest and
comfort to me. Z Eleanor Kirk, an COT
tage Hearth.