St. Landry democrat., 1889-11-02
The Baby's Sleep.

Something more than loss of conscious
ness goes to make up sleep and whether
it is benefit or otherwise, depends upon
t~surrounding conditions. Too many
motasrs and almost all nurses take it for
granted that slumber is safe condition,
and free from all the dangers that sur
round waking, restless child hence they
resort to many ways to force sleep, with
less outlay of thought and knowledge than
they would force hyacinths for the market.
From first to last the human being can
regulate all the acts of life without assis
lance, when in natural state and one of
the first lessons young mother has to
learn is to respect the individuality of her
child. Systems for hampering the young
life are in vogue all over civilized coun-
tries. If the first cry could be translated,
it would mean, Let me alone, | can do it
myself" | knew little fellow who was
being Taught to talk by fond papa; in
the midst of a learned discourse on the use
of ~" in "you," this Benjamin looked up
and said, sweetly, "Where was 'oo fore
taught 'oo?" And the little heavenly
teacher went unmolested until his VS.
grew. Another bright lassie of three and
half years, on being coaxed to "shut
both eyes and go to sleep" answered, with
a pretty, puzziing smile, "1m too busy
to sleep on both sides at once" Busy GO
ing back to paradise for hints and helps
how to get through with the sudden re-
were the features of the new existence,
with all their induetions and deductions,
passing in panorama before the child
mind?
What is sweeter than child awakening
q rafr oil ned
eager for action, it is an inspiration for the
weary mother, the delight of it's brothers
and sisters, the gem of the evening when
''father is home all tired out" But alas
for the child who is rocked and walked,
or, even worse, dosed or mesmeTized, to
sleep.
',Isn't jamie well3 p father asks, and
mother signs softly when she says, 81
think she slept little too long and is fret
full and peevish," and science is not there
to say, Certainly she slept too long; for
did not you say mentally, 4 will put jamie
to sleep, and she will wake up after din
ner, and then [ won't be interrupted in the
cooking by her crying r." Oh, dear little
mother, do you not know that these psy
Geological effects are the gain or loss Of
your child7 Which shall it be, freedom
and. strength, or slavery and weakness
Mamma, I" said baby boy of three,
"when you sing, 60 to sleep, my baby
up and down, am good; but when you
sing it wrong side out, l always feel
naughty when | wake up"
What a sermon on sleep
Are there any memories SO sweet as
those of evening romps, followed by
prayer at mothers knee, then the sttuck
ing in, and the few last words about being
good, the sweet goodnight kiss, and ais
WE'LL tell the harbor of Morning is reached,
and all ashore for happy day Would
that all the little sailors on life sea could
have good commander -.
AS lay in my bed slepe full unmete
Was unto me, but why that ne might
Rest, ne visit for there n as earthly wight
CAS- supposel had more of herte's ease
, Than l, for n ad sicknesse nor disese,"
-Chaucer.
For as the sunset peeps into wood,
So saw he painting light, and towards it went
Through winding alleys and To-, wonderment
Upon soft verfure saw,.One here. one there,
Cupids a-slumbering on their pinions fair. -
Keats.