Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-04
uow A BABY GROws.
a Fond Father Made Sad by Few
Facts and Figures.

Chicago News.l
Yesterday we were honored with a call
from Alexander Slason Thompson, com-
piler OF the " Humber Poets and asso-
ciate editor of our esteemed hebdomadal
contemporary. The AHlcrico. He was
looking SO well and so happy that we
could not forbear congratulating him
upon his robust appearance and upon
the peace OF mind and the tranquility OF
temper which his cheerful couDtenance
and lively conversation betokened.
"Yes," said he, business affairs are
in a highly prosperous condition. The
paper is adding thousands OF names
weekly to its subscription list, advertise
ments are plentiful, and from every part
of the country We are receiving assu-
RANGES that our efforts toward encou-
raging a better class OF literature are
heartily appreciated. But, cheering as
all these things are, none of them con-
tributes 30 largely 10 my happiness as
does the well-being OF my little daugh-
ter, that voiceful cherub which Heaven
vouchsafed TO me six weeks ago last
Wednesday"
"Ah, that is true" said we; "and
how is the child--how thrives the little
Eugenia 2"
Most parents, answered Nr. Thomp-
son, "ars so blinded by prejudice as to
be wholly incompetent to pass an impair
tiaI opinion upon their progeny; there
fore have applied myself with uncom-
mon earnestness Of purpose to weighing
the merits and dement's of this child, to
the end that | might be able to give an
intelligent and unbiased judgment there
on and find that. divesting my mind
Of all the prejudices incident to pater-
nifty, the little Eugenia is indeed the
most beauteous. the most amisble, and
the most precious intent | ever had TO
do with. Therefore it is with pride and
Joy that I note her constant and rapid
physical growth and the gradual but dis-
tinct development OF her mental powers,
which in their unfolding reminds me Of
the unfolding of n rose bud.
"She is now six weeks old, you say }"
Eyes, and when slro was born she
weighed only four pounds. But unless
all signs are wrong she will speedily IL
lustrate the truth of that homely saying
which teaches us that 'big oaks from
little acorns grow.
Weighing but four pounds at birth
she weighed six pounds when she was
one month old. Now, my friend Bryan
Lathrop, who has that genius at figuring
which all Vermonters have, tells me that
if the child continues to gain at the rate
she has grown since her birth she will
weigh forty-eight pounds when she IS
six months old. ii she does, she will
be the biggest baby on the North Side.
You see she has gained 30 per cent. IN
weight the first month, andif she keepslt
up che will increase materially every
month. The indications are that she
will, and pray 10 Heaven that these
sweet promises will be fully realized
unhappy man," we cried, "you
know not what you say. 1t is not with
in reason TO suppose you seriously hope
that Eugenia will actually gain 90 per
cent. in weight each month f"
Certainly, do, said he, and there
is every prospect that she will, Heaven
be praised
"Alss," we sighed. "most wretched
OF human beings, you know not what
you invite! If Eugenia continues to
gain 80 per cent. in weight each month,
she viii at the end of the year weigh
more than any other person on earth
sob, you get out-you be darned J"
"Take your pencil aud figure it for
yourself. She weighs 4pounds at birth,
6 pounds at one month, 9 pounds at two
o.