Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-05-08
SOME BABY STORIES.
They May Not Be Entirely New, but They
are Worth Reading.

| are Worth Reading.
Nearly every one remembers the story
of the ingenious father who coddled his
wits to devise some means to keep his
youthful hope quiet while his wife did
her work, or he rested himself after re.
turning from work. After putting sew
eral ideas into practical form, he at last
hit upon scheme which seemed to fill
the bill. 1t consisted of dipping the in
dex fingers and thumbs of the baby's
hands into syrup or some other sticky
substance and then handing it small
feather. The effect was electrical The
child Immediately took to the idea, and
would amuse itself for hours picking
the feather from one hand to another.
The father looked upon himself as a
very smart man indeed, and lost no time
about letting his friends know of his
success as a nurse. Kelley did not feel
more elated when he put the finishing
touches to his motor than did this fond
father when he surveyed his plan in
practical operation But all great men
have their trials, and his came sooner
than he expected. From constantly
looking at the feather, the baby became
cross-eyed, and it cost that enterprising
meddler IN women's affairs quite nice
sum to have the child's eyes straight
ened. Now, when any of his friends
want to get him angry, they have sim
ply to ask him what his latest idea is
for keeping youngsters quiet.
Few people realize when they hear
baby cry that it must have some reason
for crying. The popular idea is that
they cry out OF pure cussedness," but
close and careful observation has over
thrown this popular theory. An infant
is human and suffers wants just as we'll
as we do. They are subject to the same
feelings that We are, only in more in
tense degree. When child becomes
old enough to talk it asks for what it
wants, but those that have not arrived
at that happy period initiate their elder
brethren as we'll as they can and cry.
1t is we'll, therefore, to reflect moment
and ask ourselves what the possible
cause of the uproar may be. Some
times it may be suffering from cold, to
which they are very susceptible, or
may be collie, thirst, or the pricking of
a pin. At any rate, there is cause at
the bottom of it all. which his babyship
would gledly explain if lie had the
power to do so. Man is an impulsive
animal, and liable to act without refec-
ton when irritated, but still, the nobil-
ity of Gods noblest work should assert
itself while dealing with those who are
too weak to help themselves, Robust
men and women falr," will be the re-
ward of those who sacrifice little of
their own comfort in order to promote
that Of the latest arrival.
Bandy legs, like bustles, are now
thing of the past. Any parent that will
allow child with crooked legs to grow
up in that deformed condition is guilty
Of criminal negligence. The advances
made in orthopedic surgery make it
possible for child, suffering in this
manner, to be thoroughly and perman-
emily cured. Crooked legs may be in
duced by number of causes, but the
principal one is lack of earthly matter
in the composition of the bone. Thanks
to the charity of some of our leading sur
geons, both rich and poor can share
alike the advantages of the recent dis
coveries and improvements made in the
field of surgical appliances. If per-
son is too poor to pay to have an oper-
alton performed on a child, let them
bring the child to some reputable hos
pital and the little sufferer will be
treated free. In any case, failure in
this line of duty can only be ascribed to
the grossest kind of criminal carelessness
on the part of the parent.-New York
Ne10s.