South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-08
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MARRIED LIFE THE
FIRST YEAR AFTER
THE HONEYMOON
THE BARY,S BATH.
BY Mabel Herbert Urner. )
X X X X X X X X X X X :.

THE BARN'S BATH.
1t was Sunday morning. And Sun
days was always a difficult time.
Everyone got up later and the ma
chinery OF the household seemed
never 10 run quite smooth.
While on week days Warren was
off TO his office by nine, on Sundays
he rarely got up until ten. But in
stead Of the long rest being beneficial,
II seemed to make him more irritable
And this morning IL was raining.
which kept him from his accustomed
morning walk and added TO his irrita-
bility
OF the four Sunday papers which
he always took only three had been
delivered that morning The irregu-
larity in the delivery OF papers had
been frequent of late. and now he
started into the nursery TO complain
to Helen about it. (Whatever went
wrong he somehow always managed
TO make her feel respOnsible.) AS he
opened the door he found the room
sitting hot and close, with the radi-
ator sputtering loudly in the corner
BY George. What are you trying
to make OF this room a hot-house?"
Helen was kneeling before the low
er drawer of the chiffonier laying out
some fresh clothes for the baby.
"Oh. Warren. shut the door-we're
getting ready for the baby's bath"
We'll, ii will be a steam bath in
this room-why. it's sickening"
Warren, don't stand there talking
and keeping that door open. Either
come in or Out-but shut the door,
But Warren stood obstinately. still.
holding the door open. Don't you
know such heat as this isn't good
for anyone? Why. the child will be
sick If you battle it in here"
And it will have the Group If you
keep that door openl"
mo, 1t won't What are you trying
TO make of it, anyway hot-house
plant? l tell you right now, I'm not
going to have any child of mine,
raised that way. want a rugged,
hardy, healthy child-not frail
sickly, pampered thing"
But this is baby. Warren lit
tie baby! You can't begin"
"Oh, yes you can-you can't begin
too soon. Accustom it now to plenty
Of fresh air-dOn't weaken it in a
room like this"
II suppose you'd advise an ice
bath with all the windows open %
Well by Jove. I'm not so sure even
that wouldn't be better than this"
oh" YEARLY, what do you know
about baby's bath. Please shut
that door and go await will take
half an hour 10 get the room warm
again. I've been bathing It every
morning so far without your sug-
gestion, and 1 think 1 can dispense
with them now"
This was a mistake. and she knew
it, but he had been irritable all morn
ing. and her own patience was almost
, at an end.
You can. en-" angrily. well I
guess right here Is wnere my sug-
gestions take effect" And he strobe
across the room and turned off the
sizzling radiator.
Now if that baby is to be bathed
this morning it is~to be done in a
moderately warm, well-ventilated
room, and not in this willing heat"
Helen disdained TO answer this and
went on laying out the baby's clothes
with elaborate care. Her silence only
served to further irritate him.
DO you hear what | say? Since
am the father of this child. / pro-
pose 10 have some voice in it's bring
ing up" Here the telephone bell rang
shrilly. With a muttered exclamation
he went in 10 answer it.
With flushed cheeks Helen was still
bending over the clothes when he
came TO the door again.
Jim Weston wants me 10 go out
TO the country club to play golf. The
rains about stopped now" he spoke
with careful attempt at carelessness.
Wen have lunch out there and can
easily get back for dinner"
Why, yes. Why don't you go"
stiffy
UNI think I will"
He went into his room. got into his
golf suit stra pped his sticks, and with
a strained and perfunctory "Goodby,
I'll be back around seven. hurried Off
The subject OF their controversy was
entirely ignored.
When the door banged after him.
Helen went back into the nursery.
turned on the radiator, which prompt
ly renewed its suffering. Then she
carefully closed all the doors and
with a sigh OF relief proceeded with
the babys bath.