San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-14
INFANT 1YRANnIEs.
The Power of Habit ms Manifested I'm
Children.

Children.
81 can never get my baby to sleep any
where out Of my arms" said mother
who was not rich enough TO keep
nurse, or, indeed, a servant of any kind.
She had her own work to do for herself,
her equally Woodworking husband and
her one lovely baby.
"And I not only have to hold him in
my arms" she added, "but he must be
rocked to sleep, and don't know how it
happens, but he is sure to grow fretful
and sleepy just when the kettle is boil
ing over, or when his father is waiting
for his dinner"
I'm the latter case, why not suggest
that the father do the holding and the
rocking?" said her friend, who had
found her in. the midst of a hush-a-by
struggle, with the luncheon dishes still
unwashed and the beds unmade.
Unfortunately the boy will not be
hushed and rocked by his papa. He
seems to have made up his mind at ten
months old that tending babies is wom-
ans work, and kicks and rebels at all his
fathers experiments. But why am I
telling you all this when you have a
baby boy of your own, and know all
about it?"
"Yes, have baby boy, but haven't
your experience, thanks to good, kind
mother-in-law. She told me that she
learned, when my husband was baby,
that he could be dear little comfort or
dear little tyrant, just according to the
way began with him. OF course my
temptation was as every mothers is, I
believe, to hold and snuggle the child on
all occasions. The closer and the longer
I held him the happier was. But while
I INDUCED myself and the baby the fire
went out, the dishes piled up on the
kitchen sink, the beds lay unmade, the
floor unswept, and, worse than all, my
disposition suffered cruelty. Ihad mar
ried Harry, knowing his salarywouldno not
allow us a servant, but now began to
pity myself and blame him because
had none. Just then his mother came to
visit us, took hold and helped me plan
my work, showed me how to make my
head save my hands, and, best of all,
taught me how to train the baby to be a
great deal more comfortable and great
deal less care. There was little rebel
lion and few fits of crying that nearly
broke my heart, but the result was that
the rocking chair was abandoned, and
when nap time comes-which it does at
the same time every day-my laddie is
fed and laid in his crib or on the middle
of my big bed, where he crows himself
to sleep. He sleeps at night, too, in his
crib instead of in my arms"
81 shouldn't like that" said the other
mother. 81 should miss my child as
much as he would miss me-"
ITO be sure you would, but think how
much better is the cool pillow than your
warm neck for his little head-the free
dom to move the limbs about-fresh air
for the lungs. And the real mother love
cares first for what is best for the child.
Come and spend day or two with me
and see how my plan works"
II would like TO come so much" said
the tired young mother, ''but since baby
came 1 never have time to go out"
THAT'S all wrong. Bring the baby
and I'll invite your husband for dinner,
and I promise you that you will make
up all your lost time. if you will learn
how to use the time you have and to
regulate your little boys life while he is
a baby, so that the mother is not all
killed out of you and only the drudge
remains. "-Houseyyife