The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-03
The Care Of Babies.

Their voices were raised ABOVE the
volume Of tone good form allows, and
their faces were flushed in the heat Of
argument. One was what the cruel
world Is wont to refer to as an 'old
maid of long standing in the sister
hood. The other was a callow youth
some 81 years of age, only three months
married, but who felt he was well
! qualified to discuss the subject in hand,
says a writer in the Chicago Inter
Ocean. They were standing in q
downtown office at an hour when busi-
ness was light, and the argument had
just reached its height when an elder
ly man. the father Of five stalwart
boys, Joined the group and became an
interested listener of what was pass
ing.
"Your electricity-run cradle that you
speak Of is all bosh," said the youne
man, warmly. "It is the rankest kind
Of nonsense to imagine that a baby
needs rocking"
II beg your pardon" interrupted the
old man. "All babies are not alike. It
is absolutely necessary that some chill
dren be rocked. If they happen to be
colicky nothing will soothe them like
the motion of a gently rocked cradle"
I'D like to hear you tell my sister,
in-law that sort of rot" put in the
young man. "She has boy Of years
who has never been rocked in his life.
He would be insulted IL anyone said
cradle or even rocking horse in his
presence. and he never lost any sleep,
and my sister-in-law was never prose.
cuted for cruelty to children, either"
''Your sister-in-law's baby may be
an unusual child, and that case does
not prove, anything. ! have friend
who, when her baby was old enough
to sit up. set him on the floor, sur
rounded by chairs, stuck few feath.
ers from a feather pillow on him. and
the baby would amuse himself whole
! hours picking the feathers of one hand
only to have them stick on the other,
and in like manner removing them from
the other hand. She tried the same
plan on the next baby that came, and It.
| didn't work at all. But little Willie
would git and crow by the hour"
II don't approve Of that sort Of pas
time for your children" interposed the
young husband. "They are apt to get
so interested that their minds become
unbalanced. don't believe in children
Growing. anyhow. but don't wonder at
it. with feathers for toys" And the
young man laughed, half with scorn o6
the old maids misguided notions and
half in appreciation Of his own Joke.
which the old maid chose to ignore.
How large family have you. mad
amp put in the father Of five boys.
"sir." snapped the old maid. tartly.
Then. as she noticed the elderly man
looking quite grave. she added: Il have
no family, but am member Of the
Cooperative Mothers society and know
thing or two about the care Of chill
dren."
"And your" queried the father. turn
ing to the young husband.
| 20. bother" exclaimed that youthful
individual. "You know a. well as I
do that haven't any family exceptins
q wife. ! lived with my sister-in-law.
however. long enough to know how to
bring up child. But you have had
plenty Of experience ana ought to be
able to settle our dispute: To rock or
not to rock. that Is the question" And
the young man laughed feebly 10 a.
! to appear At his ease
''Me7 Don't ask me. don't know
anything about IT, said the father Of
I'VE boys. a. he walked slowly away.
The little house that 10 my heart
! robbed Of treasure for his sake;
I had been glad with more to part.
And he. I'm sure. with more to take