The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-11-23
a FIRST EXPERIENCE.
Tootsy -Wootsy Baby Begins His Reign
Over the Verdant Household.

Mrs. Filter and both grandmothers |
and all the great aunts have gone, and |
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Verdant are to
spend their first night alone with their
first.born, lusty youth. now five weeks
old. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles are nervous
and anxious. The babby is serenely in
different, and wholly non-committal as
to the programme he has mapped out for
himself.
What If any thing should happen?'
said Mrs. Charles, for the nineteenth
time, as she and Charles lie down for
the night, but not Gin peace to sleep"
so, | guess he'll be all right" says
Charles.
''You have every thing where you can
put your hand right on it at a moments
notice."
eyes, dear"
"The catnip, in case of collie, you
know"
Eyes, dear"
"And his food for the nightall ready?"
"Yes, it's all right"
81 wonder if there's alcohol enough in
the spirit lamp to last all night?"
80, yes; it's full
so, dear, don't believe l left his bot
tie full of soda and water; and it must be
left so as to keep it sweet, Mamma said.
DO get up and see!'
Charles gets up and finds the bottle all
right. He lies down YEARLY. Silence
for ten minutes; then
Charles, did Mamma and the nurse
say that his milk should be two-thirds
or three-fourths water? I'm so afraid
I've made mistake. I've got it written
down some place. Do get up and see;
it's on piece of paper in the left hand
small drawer of the bureau. l wouldn't
make mistake about his food for the
qcorM 1t might ruin his precious little
stomach"
Charles reports that the milk should
be about two-thirds water until baby is
five or six weeks old.
"What if he should have the croup?"
asks Mrs. Charles, with a gasp, at eleven
o'clock.
''Babies of his age don't have Group"
''You Sure?"
"The nurse said So"
80, I'm so glad. But, o, dear, if he
Should have a spasm"'
81 guess he won't
GLOW can you speak so calmly about
it? l should go aciLd if he did,"
At 11:3O Charles begins his first nap.
At 1875 his wife asks anXiously:
80, Charles, do you think he's breath
ing all right?'
Charles ear is held over baby's red
and wrinkled little mouth.
| "Why, yes; guess SO, dear"
/ so, don't you kno~!'"
"Why, yes; l feel quite sure"
sit seemed to me that he wasn't, and
wasSO worried. Charles Verdant, | should
die if any thing should happen to this
baby! Do you think the room is quite
warm enough? Do get up and look at
the thermometer! Babyhood says the
temperature should not be less than fifty
for young baby"
cts just fifty-four," says Charles, as
he stands enveloped in blanket, night
lamp in hand, before the thermometer.
'See what time it is
"Fifteen minutes until twelve"
! Gle must have his bottle at twelve.
- We might as well get up now, so as to
give ourselves plenty of time to get it
ready carefully. Bring in the milk.
do wonder if the milliman does bring US
milk from one COW. Baby must not have
mixed milk"
! At precisely twelve o'clock the in
viting-looking rubber cap on baby's bot
tie is slipped between his red gums, and
! Charles drops down YEARLY.
Mercy, Charles Verdant! You Almost
rolled on the baby. I'm 50 afraid you
arW roll on him some night and Kill him!
Such things hare happened. Why don't
he take his dinner?''
"He's asleep, guess"
81 wondr if he's well? DO bring the
lamp
Charles brings the lamp.
"What makes him twitch his mouth
and wrinkle up his brow like that?"
80, all babies do, | guess"
81 don't believeit. o, Charles, shouldn't
you go for Mammal"
80, no, dear; he's ali right
so, I'm Gtr0id he isn't. We'd neger
forgive ourselves if any thing happened
to him. You'd better go for Mamma (who
lives three miles away
Its nothing but little gripping in
his stomach
''Oh, the poor. poor little precious dar-
ling. Does his own little turlmicl1 hurt
him? Mamma won't 1T it hurt him
the naughty, n@nghty pain! Charles, get
up and warm that catnip, and light the
fire in the range, and heat this flannel
shawl hot, and be ready to go for mamma
and the doctor at moments notice! l
am so worried. You should better get
Bridget up. We may need her help any
moment. Bring me the powder-box and
two small and one large safety pins.
Light the gas. Look at the thermometer
again. Only forty-ntne! Go right down
and shake up the furnace! Don't take
your eyes off baby for an instant while
dress"
The gray dawn of the morning finds
Mr.. and Mrs. Verdant and Bridget how
ering over the kitchen range. They
have been lowering there most of the
night. But one person in that anxious
household has slept sweetly and peace
fullv and that nerSon is-the babV-