Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-30

solve never TO DOW 10 tue unhappy
and harmful custom, the foolish and
tyrannical custom of treating
Prof. &. E. Foster, M. p.
~%$--
Sick Children.
1t is said that half the children
who are born die before the age of
FIVE years. There is little doubt
that proper knowledge and care
would prevent half, at least, Of this
terrible mortality, and also half the
sickness which does RAt Feeult 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
a family has proved to me that moth
ers may do much to prevent and cure
disease, without calling physician,
by the use of simple medicines, and
regulating the diet, &C., OF the child.
| know family where the children
think it rather funny to have a bad
cold or slight attack Of Indigestion,
for when one of them is thus slightly
i'll the mother prescribes, and allows
the other children to ''play doctor"
by administering the efficient but
agreeable sugar pills. Another
plays nurse by bolstering up the lit
tie 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 SER
vice, if possible /; it is little incon-
venient sometimes, but it is better
than to hear the child worry and
fret, and increase his malady by un-
happiness. If the child is too young
for story, give him almost anything
in the honse that will take his mind
from himself and please him.
Thus by prompt treatment and
pleasant surroundings children may
be spared weeks of sickness, and
perhaps death itself, while the moth
er may save herself nights of watch
ing and days of anxiety, and some
times save the little life that is dear
Ell 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 ear
" age. We all know that fOrtitude
aud patience actually..lessen our suf
ferings, and also increase the chances
of our recovery. When your child
gets 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 him that we must all bear
pain more or less, and that he must
be brave and train himself to bear
without complaining. / know a lit
tie boy who was lauShingly 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.
eyes, it did," replied the boy, "but
I gwinned and beared it; didn't |,
2"
: 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 stifled his sobS aud attempt
ed to smile, while the tears were run
n;ng down his face, and his whole
frame quiyering with pain, and SAID:
Il bear ii, don't |, mamma !! In
this case the effort to be quiet was
too great, and the mother was OBJ
liged 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
fretfulness, or crossnesS, as it Is us
ually termed, in cases of triflng in
Jury or illness, should be corrected.
[ know family, four Of whom, be-
tween the ages oe 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 seem to think more of
saving work for their mother than OF
having their own wants supplied.
They had it very lightI", it is true,
but it was that terrible disease,
which. in it's mildest form, is far
from agreeable. Mothers, take care
of the little ones; be watcnful and
patient, and though it may cost you
labor ald self-denial, you Will be
amply repaid by seeing 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- ork.
Don Pedro. Emperor of Brazil,