The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-10-27

let me see-for II minutes yet. AL
the books insist you must not feed
him too often. You know we must
begin right with him. Douglas. AL
mis- future life depends on the train.
ing We give him now. No. don't rock
him or hush him. Mrs. Coddle. Why
one book says the smallest babe is
so sensitive to the power of mind and
environment, hat he acts just as the
people about him make him act"
"Fiddlesticks." remarked Mrs. Cod.
die, cheerfully. I'll warrant the per.
son that wrote that never lived under
the same roof with a live boy. OF
he'd never have called him a babe.
A boy amt . babe, nor yet some
girls"
About Don Deacon Creak, driving
back to his farm from town. stopped
to consult his pastor about some
church matters. AS he was leaving,
he remarked. mildly:
Child cries some"
"Some." exclaimed Mr.. Bell,
That remark ranked in his mind
l dlt|I IL uCdCOH "dS SOHC. II SccUltU
to imply that a child could cry more.
1t opened up fearful vistas of posi-
bility.
1t was winter. and the house had
double windows. but that did not pre-
vent the nearest neighbor. who lived
half a block away. from coming in
some hours later. to say that she'd
like to see a child she couldn't quiet"
She went her way after awhile.
though with every symptom of nervous
prostration, but before she went she
remembered to say: II wouldn't let
him cry like that if I were you. He'll in
jure himself"
Then Mr.. Bell went for the doctor.
1t was growing dark and stormy. and
the old gentleman was quite unwilling
to go out just because a boy cried, but
Mr.. Bell put the Ease to him strongly.
This was all the more trying. for when
they reached the house. a mile and a
half away, Mrs. Coddle met them at the
door with her finger on her lip.
Hes just this minute fallen asleep"
she whispered, reassuringly; "but 1
think you'd better leave something to
quiet Mrs. Bells nerves. DOCTOR"
After this, whenever they sent for
him. which was sometimes two or
three times a day, the doctor was al
ways either out or just going out to a
farm ten miles west of town, or else he
couldn't go out at all on account of an
imminent case right in the neighbor-
hood. or he had just gone to bed with
a frightful chill. But. as may be in
ferred, he vas a resourceful man,
and a sleeping partner in the drug
store. and he always had something to
recommend, something that would GER
tainly cure the baby now, if they didn't
overfeed him.
But I just suppose you keep him
stuffed full all the time" he remarked.
tartly. to Mr.. Bell. Il warrant you
the chap hasn't got room to turn but
what the cork comes out"
But it's only milk" demonstrated
Mr.. Bell.
Only milk" The doctor glared at
him. Then he looked solemn.
L itli Nou- hN Soou Sitt. HIN quite
dangerous enough for a boy that was
bern with an undeveloped stomach"
An undeveloped stomach, I don't
believe it," retorted Mr.. Bell. holly.
Mrs. Coddle says he's the finest boy
she ever saw"
say. just the same. Go home and
think about it," There was a twinkle
in the doctors eye but Mr.. Bell was
too much wrought up TO SEE such a lit
tie thing as that.
He hurried home to Mrs. Bell and
broke it to her gently.
1t seemed. to them both n fearful
thing. and they spent hours triumph
antly repelling the suggestion. until
Mrs. Bell exclaimed triumphantly:
Why. it just can't be true. Douglas.
Of course it can't. Why. if it was. he
never could cry like he does"
Mr.. Bell looked as if he failed to
grasp to point.
Don't you see. dear?" continued his
wife, urgently. Those deep low notes
in his voice-he must have plenty Of
of stomach to do them. I'm sure"
You dear Betty" said her husband.
tenderly: and there the matter
dropped. for the baby inadvertently
fell asleep. though it was only two a.
m. and his parents actually forgot
they had been staying awake
for.
BY this time their house reSembled
drugstore. They had never intended
their child to be corrupted by medi-
cine. believing firmly that nature was
the greatest physician, but in mo-
ments of frenzy they few in the face of
They started out. or rather in.
with lime wae>r. Then they tried cat
nip. and peppermint and aniseed. and
caraway seeds. They began
with the remedies singly: then they
look them in groups, and there were
even fearful moments when they emp
tied them all into him at once. They
-olled him up in congresses until he
vas as tight and hollow as a drum.
BUT he escaped with his life. and-his
Then they undid him. and sat
linn in hot water up to his chin. while
hey poured a pint of it down his
.hroat.
Then finally, in a fit of utter despera-
ion. they threw their morals to the
winds and vanished him inside. and
nassaged him outside. with-whisky.