The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-30
AIR AND DIRT,

Keep the b 4bies in the open air ,~ said sensible medical man to the mother of two pale, delicate, looking children.
 Well, l cant see that they get any thing but dirt out of doors" the lady re- sponded, somewhat fretfully.
 Mrs. Weldon looked at the tucked and ruff1ed dresses that her little ones wore, the broad ribbon sashes, the elaborate lace caps, and shook her head dubiously. 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 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 one-dirt and air.
 So one fine morning the little family started out with the intention of spending several hours in the park. A baby car riage 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 ana AAnnanAAA t4 hA This was the signal for 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 ar rangement was of short duration. Mas ter Willie spied bird, and with almost a birds quickness, started in pursuit.
 In vain did his mother call to him to return. On and on he went, but the mo- mentum was too great. and before long Master Willie had collided with another little boy, falling fat on his face in a not over-clean spot. There was a great splash of mud on his beautiful crimson sash, mud on his pretty cap, mud on his embroidered skirts, and his poor little nose had met with very hard fate, in- deed. A lady who had just seated her self on an opposite bench, and who also had two little ones with her, appeared at this crisis and offered Mrs. Weldon a wash cloth. It was as white as saow and just damp enough for the purpose.
 always take three or four with me on such occasions" she said with smile, holding up the oil silk bag, which con- tained these necessary articles.
 |" 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.
 "l have reduced this business to a science" said her companion. "You see l used to be very much annoyed and dis satlshed 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 l could"
 But don't you think it would be as we'll to train children to keep out of the dirt?" Mrs. Weldon ina uired anxiously. " It doesn't seem to me-" she added, that dirt is necessary to a child's health or happinsss."
 I have found ou:," 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. It IS impossible for a mother or a nurse to keep from losing their good nature under such circumstances. discovered after while that my children were sim- ply 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 hole in the dirt with stick and scoop it out with his little hands was a pleasure impossible to exaggerate. If for the sake of his 6nery tried to pre- vent such enjoyment, the result was a conflict extremely demoralizing to both ot us. 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 geod nurse to look after them would make me i'll for a week. Now, under this regime often prefer to serve alone. It is real rect and comfort to me-"