Milford chronicle., 1889-03-01
CURIOUS CRADLES.
Brief Descriptions Of Some Of the Beds
in which Babes RepOse.


Brief Descriptions Of Some Of the Beds
in which Babes RePOse.
The Chinese havo a queer Institution which
they call the winter cradle It Is shaped like
an hour glass, and stands on end. There Is
an opening above and below, I'D the waist
which is contracted, serves to eeep the celes-
tial baby on his feet Day after day little
almond shaped eyes peep over the top OF this
cradle, and little hands play with miniature
dragons and other toys till the nurse puts In
an appearance. Some OF these winter cradles
are made of wickerwork and are beautifully
painted by Chinese women artists. Il is
almost impossible for one TO be upset; but
now and then, when two are placed together
and the occupants declare war and measure
arms, two cradles roll over the floor to noises
that "bring down the house"
The Lapp baby very often has snow
cradle, for when the indulgent mother at
tends church she makes hole in the snow
outside ana deposits the Laplander therein
It is no uncommon sight to see circie Of
these snow cradles IN front Of a Lapp
chapel, and now and then lot OF fierce look
ing dogs are on guard to keep of tho wolves
that might mediate a raid on the baby con-
tingent.
The Lapp cradle in material differs essen
TALLY from that used by the Bushman baby,
whose mother digs hole in the hot sand and
chucks him therein in the shadow OF some
lonely bush. Sometimes the cradle is at hand
in the shape Of an ostrich nest, and now and
then some Of the feathers left by tho mighty
bird help to soften the nest Of the future
Bushman warrior.
There Is a tribe in the palm region OF ths
Amazon that cradles the young In palm
leaves. A single leaf turned up around the
edges by some native process makes an excel
lent cradle, and now and then 1t Is made to
do service as bath tub Strong cords are
formed from the sinews Of another species Of
palm, and by these this natural cradle Is
swung alongside a tree, and the wind rocks
the little tot to sleep. Long ago the ANA
zonian mother discovered that It was not wise
to leave a baby and cradle under oocoa
palm, for the hischieVoLs monkeys delighted
to drop the nuts downward with unerring
precision. An older child is stationed near
by to watch the baby during his sleep, and
the chatter Of the monkeys overhead e
enough to cause speedy migration
Patagonian babies are kept in cradles made
of fat pieces Of board. Twopieces Of guanaco
skin are 50 arranged across the table that the
child is firmly fastened inside, and can be
carried thus suspended from a saddle bow
without danger. IA. liS rude huS OF this
people these cradles are hung hammock wise
to the rafters, and, amid the smoke that
darkens everything, including his very ma
ture, as II seems, the Patagonian irfant passes
the first stage Of babyhood When the VII
lage migrates, the cradle Is swung from the
saddle; and in swimming a stream It doats
like canoe on the surface, while the horse
is almost entirely submerged Sir Francis
Head, who saw q good deal Of Patagonian
life years ago, leaves on record the statement
that the PatagoniRn baby In its queer cradle
Is one of the best natured representatives Of
tho infant world.
One would hardly go to Kafflrland for fan
tastic cradle, and one almost as queer as It Is
fantastic. Yet he would find such q one there.
The Kafir baby when he comes into the
world, is put into cradle or bag made Of
antelope skin, with the hair on. This baby
castle, narrow toward the bottom, widens 70
within a few inches Of tho opening, when Il
again suddenly contracts The skin Is turned
inward, giving the young Kafiir as soft a bed
as some found In the cradles Of royalty.
-Four long strips Of antelope skin are attached
to tho cradle, and enable the mother 10
swing it ON her back after a peculiar fash
ion.-Halls Journal Of Health