The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-08-06
Too Careful of the Baby.


There are few things that cannot
be carried to excess, however excellent
they may be, in themselves considered.
Even a baby may be fused over, and /
fidgeted over, and taken care Of and /
coddled, till 1t Is in danger of growing |
up a weakling, II 1t grows UP at all. /
On this point the New York Tribune |
lately had few sensible paragraphs. /.
when my first child was born"
said Mrs. A, 81 had the usual young
mothers craze for daintily kept baby.
The layette was one of those gorgeous
gift affairs, with frocls which Victoria,
l am sure, would have thought much
too fine for the royal chIldren-be
sides every conceivable fantasia in
which the most luxurious-minded In
FAINT could by any possibility be attir-
ed l used to gloat over the sachet-
scented, exquisite little belongings,
and the moment l was up and about
! after baby's birth l began to play doll
with my small daughter, decking her
out in first one thing and then an
\ other.
II had one of those fussy French
nurses, immaculate as new pin; and
between us we scrubbed and polished
up that poor baby until it's a marvel 1t
didn't fade away before our eyes.
After a bath In almond meal-softened
water, with plenty of Lubin and sweet
smelling talcum, she did look darling
In her sheer, beribboned draperies, and
Foolish Ynnthar noticed her
languor and waXen skin.
81 did take note that her hair
wouldn't grow; that worried me, for.
no matter how becomingly dressed. a
child with a billiard ball style of Golf
fure does not realize the fondest dreams
of the maternal heart. | sewed dolls
crimps in her bonnets, which was all
very we'll for outings but inadequate
for home, so finally called in the doc
tor.
HE was a grumpy person, very curt
and not over-civil at times. 'Bathed
: too MUCH he said. briefly. Look al
her sl1,n-all the life washed out OF 1t
, Too much care given that child. Lee
her get dirty and stay dirty. Nothing
; better for children than judicious neg
} lect.'
1T was a new idea and | went t
E work at it. Very shortly we went t
s our country place, and | noticed IN
I farmers babies who ate almost an.
o kind of country food, sat in puddle
: and went bare-headed whether tn
, rain fell or the sun scorched. The
J. were inevitable victims of future dy'
e pepSa, but the fact remained tha
! as babies, they were sturdy and ROSY
g md mine wasn't; and | concluded
try judicious neglect.
, 81 invested in gingham p.nafore
Is and stout shoes, dumped load
: clean sand at the side door, and Il
l, augurated a perpetual feast of nut
pies. Pauline was instructed not
ie say Don't save in extreme moment
D. and baby began to live the life of
:. young animal left to the beneficent ca
= of sunshine and fresh air, undisturb'
= save at regular intervals for food al
: sleep.
i. Il bought a pig that she might han
"a over the pen and tickle piggy's ba
~ with a stick. 1t afforded her hou
or of pure rapture to echo the pigs grur
h. with her silvery COO, and in some N!
h. terious fashion the association W
n conducive to health. | never cot
A understand why only it was. $
would always return blooming a
,at serene and If to nap, slept BET
MS after having spent this pleasant peri
m. with her porcine friend.
ON 81 bought chickens that she mis-
es- feed them. got doves and other p
ost about the place, finding that amin
of gave interest but no overstimulus
the baby nerves. In short. | ne
to had my wax dolly again; but in
der autumn 1 carried home bloomi
rou sturdy little maid whose splendid 81
tu- its and perfect health more than &C
18th pensated for occasional mud sta
Few and torn plnafores."