The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-07
WHERE SCIENCE RULES
~ THE NURSER y
Inane Go Unnoticed- Everything Serilzed-Foo
Measured to the Last Drop-"The Hand
That Rocks the Cradle
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

I baby Only the best patent "safeties" are
ever put in my chi1d's clothing, assure
you,'
" Then maybe he has the collie, I vol
unteered.
He hasn't the collie either. Every atom
or food he puts in his mouth is sterilized
and measured and given to him like clock
work by the nurse, and he couldn't pos
slbly have the collie. don't you see?" she
stated emphaticatly.
Il said I saw, but didn't" as l re-
Elected upon these new methods of baby
raising. '"Then what is the matter with
I him that he sends forth blood thirsty
cries?' asked.
Don't you know that a child has TO
cry certain amount, or he isn't healthy,
just as we must all eat a pound of dirt
during our natural lives" responded the
scientific mother
Don't you thing it might soothe him if
he were gently rocked?" I questioned.
Rocked? Rocked?" she reiterated in
shocked tones. DO you suppose for an
instant that I would start out to spoil my
baby by humoring and rocking him, and
cuddling him every time he chooses to
cry? Not much! l am far too practical
a mother for that sort of thing"
And at this juncture she suggested some
refreshments and went hurriedly to the
dining room to arrange for the repast.
While she was gone a sudden idea
struck me, that perhaps / might soothe
the little fellows cries, that were coming
sharp and fast from the nursery. and so
I gently tip-toed out and sought the little
fellow who was reposing in his cradle
alone and unprotected
1 surveyed the small boy, who by the
way is exactly seven months old, and as
I smiled at him his face Strengthened out
and his funny indefinite little mouth,
wreatched itself into smile, and his lit
tie chubby, doubled-up fists knocked to-
gether, while real tear rolled down his
lashes.
I said to him, as though 1 were talking
to a man of so:
Now, George Washington Jones, this
is where you are treated to real baby
methods, and all your scientific treat
ment thrown to the wind, because am
going to rock your cradle and give you
touch of baby life,' and at this I rocked
harder and faster and more furiously than
ever
after your little seance with me you
may not have sense enough to get through
quardratic equations, or to read single
book of Caesar, but at seven months old
and for once in your life you are going to
be real baby and be rocked like any
other one and at least not be a Sandow
as to muscle and lungs, if crying has to
make you one, or all for the lack of
little attention"
And I rocked and rocked and rocked
like mad, and in the meantime George
Washington went placidly to sleep and L
sneaked out like a thief in the night,
back to his literary, scientific mamma in
the library.
you see,' said my friend as we met
again, and she arranged the delicate lit
tie repast of salad and cakes upon a
coy table in front of the big fire, II
know exactly how to manage children.
George Washington Jones has gone peace
fully to sleep, and 1 have never been
near him, while If I had gone to the
nursery and made a fuss over him and
rocked him he would have been spoiled
to death, and would have expected 1t
every time he cried. l am raising my
boy according to rules as immutable as
the laws of the Modes and the Persians
and the precepts of science which | apply
to him and his bringing up will last him
through life'
And all the while she was talking was
thinking what shed say If she only knew
the little secret that George Washing
ton Jones and I knew, and what she'd
do to me if she ever found out the real
reason for the youngsters quiet and
peaceful slumbers.