Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-03-17
The s,essins Of Babies.

;. strange mauii some OF o
10 for reducing everything to figur' S
"A then trying to prove some poetu-
80 with the figures. The tastes. ex-
| lie is the California State BOARD of
9th. " hich has been at some pains
discover what it costs to raise babies
I'd what they are worth when they
ars reared. They have found heaven
tone knows by what process-that the
ayersge expense of a child from birth
4,p. twentieth year is s4,l50, while
a, it, twentieth year the average COM
~,.reisl value of that child is only S4,-
oo 3 clear loss, economically consider
ed, OF $3.50
common figure of speech is to talk
.hont acoId" figures, and surely hg-
nros were never put TO colder use
.bsn in figuring out the profit and loss
=, hsbies. FLOODED science argues
va suppose, that everything that is
oor he reduced to a mathematical pro-
position: but with all our respect for
scieree, we know in our hearts that
there il much that is great and beauti-
ful in lite that is beyond its ken. What
so,,res about the cost of babies can
van use to total up the benign and
boly influence they exercise upon the
sonIs of men and women? How shall
we nut down i'll the cost column the
first locks of golden hair that the
Young mother clips from the baby's
head snd treasures with that fond
alteration which is part of the divinity
within her, and which, radiating from
her. makes her and those come in con.
tact with her better and stronger and
mother?
All! It was no idle speech that he
uttered, rebuking his disciples, when
he said: "SUfler the little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not,
for of such Is the kingdom of God"
Mathematics tells us that babies cost
more than they ars worth; but what
can mathematics tell us of their worth?
How shall mere figures appralse the
tug of tiny fingers at tired mothers
apron stringsr What value shall we
place upon the little hands that tear at
dsddv's hair? How shall we estimate
the sOftening influence of the baby's
tears that in all love and gentleness
we brush away, finding our peace and
comfort in the baby's happy smile?
Can the price of heavenly smiles from
baby eyes oe set down in tigures-the
prond delight in the first toddling steps
/ that maj their way across the floor?
What is there III life more of value
than tn joy of watching The budding
life, tine growing inteiligenc, the my
sterious lr2s esse, of life-life for whict
through Gods mercy, father anG
Imother are r,spon sibie, and in which
their W s. nth and babyhood ana
|nearn( So TO heaven are renewed.
Yes, they cas-! But how many OF the
/ ricl woul not divide their fortunes 10
hear The sound OF a baby's laughtei
within the house! You may, perhaps
meas re the cost of the food they eat,
the clothes they wear, their DOCTORS
bills, their education; and when you
have added it all up, try, if you can
to measure what it means against the
awful possibility of losing the baby ana
having the expense cease. No; the cost
cannot be estimaIed-ner the joy. Only
IN our hearts can we know-without
any figures at all-that without bless.
: ing Of babies this would be sad old
4 world, wthoutjoy or hope .-Exchange.