St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-02-11

HAVE MERCY ON THE BABY.

I HAVE MERCY ON THE eAsY.
Oct q Regard for nis eplnal ColaDD
Choose HIS N1fso with Care.
Mothers would be justly indignant II
accused of any lack Of care for their
little ones Yet how many Of them
watch and choose carefully the nurse
to whom they intrust their darlings9
To illustrate the culpable carelessness
Of some nurses may be given tho follow
ing true story by the wife Of an emf
nent physician: II have no doubt" she
said. in the course of conversation,
''that many Of the distressing chronic
troubles Of the spine and it more OBJ
scure ramifications and manifestations
might il parents but knew it. be di-
rectly traced to some act Of wanton
thoughtlessness on the part Of the nur-
sery maid 1t Is quite dreadful TO think
of such delicate little piece Of mechsn-
ism being given over to the care OF IN
ignorant, Indifferent person. The least
sudden jar. il the weight Of the body Is
resting at al on the spine. might be
exceedingly injurious, and for that rea-
son I would enact . law, il I had my
, way. to abolish baby carriages for in
fants under . year old at least II
your nurse Is too lazy or too weak to
carry her nursling get another woman.
but do not expose your helpless little
one to the jarring movements Of even
the best springs in lifting the carriage
across . curb. etc. Besides. the actual
heat of the human body Is . great pro-
lection against cold, and no amount OF
eider-down or woolen will take the
place Of the protecting warmth OF .
kindly bosom and strong, tender arms.
II will tell what l actually saw once. :"
she continued, after . moment's hesita-
too. ''Thc story is 50 painful that I
hardly like to tell it, but it may do
good in showing young mothers the
actual dangers to which their babies
arc exposed I was walking in -
street one afternoon, when . nurse who
was evidently belated passed me with
baby wagon At very quick pace. the
little carriage, with its sleeping baby,
swayed up and down ON its easy
springs, with the rapid motion. oh.
do take carer I exclaimed, As she passed
me with q sudden swerve Of the little
vehicle; yon will hurt the child The
girl gave an impertinent toss Of tho
head and muttcrcd something that !
did not catch. turning at the same time
into the basement area Of = large. 6ne
house, and without checking her career
she bumped the carriage down the
three or four steps that led to the en-.
closure. 4 will do Is would like to
be done BY said to myself on watch
ing the performance. although it is
small THINKS that will get, dare
say So ! ran up the steps. rang the
bel. and told the butler. who came to
the door, that I wished to see the lady
of the house. Luckily I found favor in
his sight for without remonstrauce he
showed me into . little side library,
and . second after . pretty young
woman walked in with an inquiring
expression on her pleasant face. 4
beg your pardon for intrudinS.' be.
gan, but I feel il my duty 70 tell you
that your maid will do your child ser.
ions injury If she jQts down the steps
in the manner have just noticed and
I was proceeding to give her little In.
formation about the delicate structure
Of the head. neck and spine Of yorng
infants when her manner froze me at
once. Thank you she said, haughtily.
but think I can trust to the exper-
ience Of my nurse As she spoke there
came the sound Of . rush Of rapid foot
steps in the hall and . maid burst in
upon uA Mrs. A., come quick- she
painted, the baby has fitr In IN in
slant tho mother was out Of the rom
and running down the basement stairs;
while I, feeling that I could be Of no
use. left the house. plying the poor
young thing too much to blsme her.
The next day passed by and noticed
with a start of horror the fatal insignia
of mourning ON the door-the baby was
dead. Did the doctors know, wonder.
ed, that it had been murdered?"-N 7.
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