Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-09
Pto1emy's Protest.
BY BELLE MOSES.

Were you ever o baby? I am ono now.
and not very happy baby, either. don't
think babies are ever happy. I am now
six months old and quite wonder, mother
says. but am very much afraid that. like
most remarkable babies. may not fulfil
the promises of my youth.
But I have my troubles; oh, dear, yes!
In the first place. my name. Why was
/ called Ptolemyf I heard my father ex-
plain to some one that Ptolemy was q
great general, whatever that may be- Peo-
pie laugh when nurse tells them my name.
I hate It. It's no wonder mother thinks I
have collie very often: that dreadful
"Ptolemy' IL enough to turn me sick every
You can't imagine what we poor babies
endure by careless handling People don't
care how much they rumple US up by roll
ing us about; it's very disagreeable. Now
enjoy q good steady arm. Nurse holds
me very well, indeed, and mother some
times, when she's not giving me medicine
or kissing me; but I dread children. They
put their fingers in my eyes and tickle me
In the ribs and then think me bad II I
cry!
Babies are such helpless things! Dear,
me! II were calf or q PUPPY or KIT
as was born. but instead have to wait
and wait until some one shows me how.
+ heard mother say she hoped I wouldn't
walk soon because l might become bow
legged, and ! just know they are going
to put me or for months, though am sure
I could do 1t now. Mother Is q very good
woman and means we'll. but sometimes she
makes the most dreadful mistakes. One
Is, she always thinks I'm teething or
sleepy; she doesn't think there should be
anything the matter with healthy baby.
Mothers have the queerest notions, and we
babies have to put up with them as bess
we can.
l. howe haan brouobf nm entirely IN fba
bottle. Mother always flxes 1t herself and is
very particular. begin to feel lonely early
in the morning and mother Is really very
kind about getting up and tucking nice
bottle Of warm milk close beside me so I
can get it whenever I want 1t; 1t is very
comforting in the cold weather.
Once when I woke UP as usual, found
mother standing by my crib; instead of
giving me my bottle she took me up. This
puzzled me, but I waited to see what she
would do. 1t was very cold, and missed
my snug bed: could not help shivering as
mother began to take OF nay warm gown.
l thought she might be going to give me
bath. but no; there was no sign of such
thing. Still, she went on undressing me.
and found grew colder and colder every
minute. Then she put me In my crib just
as was. covered me up with the blanket,
and went back to bed. I tell you, I nearly
was nothing to do but to wake mother
again. She jumped up in u hurry this time,
for was crying with cold and fright; she
took me up to quiet me, and 1 cried out
In dismay. for there was like q little
Ticicle. clad in nothing but my own chubbi-
ness.
Poor baby-poor little Ptolemy!' she ex-
claimed. II must have been asleep when
I did such a thing" Then she must have
thought 1t funny, for she laughed and
laughed, although I could not see the joke.
But am thankful to say that she dressed
me In hurry and I was soon comfortably
settled in my crib and left to enjoy my bot.
tie In peace. don't mention this to blame
mother. although 1 can't deny it was care
less. but simply to show what we babies
often endure.
Some one said the other day that was
great pet and plaything. Now, I don't
mind being a pet. but not a plaything,
thank You. I really shudder when I think
of Susie 's-dols, with their broken heads
and pins stuck in their bodies
don't mean to complain, but just wish
that our parents would believe that we
babies have souls above collie and teething
and medicine.
There! I hear nurse. II she sees me
with this bit Of pencil in my hand she'll
think I've chewed the rest and call mother:
and then comes more medicine, and then
oh, where's that bottle? Quick! Maybe
she'll leave me alone If she thinks I'm
asleep