Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-28
Cotton Wool" Children
N . senslbla Mother


gir''s delicate. e shf bM Of 900,
4.sfiHQ hef a1d cossetino her nc Mrs.. yonc'
essgbis irsotmeai. ord fSoes sohat tRs deit
49, ~ o. Y3nf lgHliig ,etli 81 eyte,r Roa Rosa1tgs y
I'm really sorry for poor little esrtrud,
Jones, who lives In our street. She Is
fhe only child OF rather elderly parents
end very great treasure She has never
been particularly strong, and her mother
= always In terror on the score OF her
health, not because there's anything
radically wrong with Gertrude. but Just
because Mrs. Jones Is a fussy sort of
woman.
The child isn't allowed to go to school
with all the rest OF the little ones In
our etreet-it is thought that the strain
OF learning lessons in a big class would
be too much for her. So she goes to
private school, a dreadfully dun place,
where there are only half dozen
children; and l know. for fact, that
the teacher is asked to keep an eye on
her and report to her mother n she
looks ut all pale or seems tired during
the course Of the mornings work
Gertrude came to tea with my Jill
ard Jerry last Saturday, and, really II
was too funny! I had bought them half
penny currant buns, two buns for each
child and one over for mother
n Limited menu
Jill and Jerry, with their healthy APP
petites. put away couple OF thick slices
Of bread and butter each, and then
started ON their tea buns, while Ger
trude was stil nibbling daintily at her
first piece of bread
''wouldn't you like to leave that and
60 on to cake now, dear2' I said; and
she frightened up as she answered, "Hes,
please"
But. n you'll believe me- that child
picked every single currant out Of her
bun before she ate it. She ranged them
in a neat row on her plate, while Jerry
watched his eyes almost popping out of
his head with surprise.
why do you do that he asked at last, |
''Mother won't let me eat currants,'
Gertrude replied. "She says they might |
make me ill.,"
And mother won't let her eat any |
sweets because Of her teeth; or any pas
try because OF her complexion; or any |
alsh because she once felt poorly after |
too many shrimps at the seaside; or any
uncooked fruit, because II may be over
ripe. And she maynt drink tea because
Of her nerves; or coffee, because 1t keeps
her awake at night; or unboiled water
because II may have typhoid germs In II;
or unboiled milk. for fear of consumption.
Really, I sometimes wonder what she is
allowed to take, poor little dear.
Lonely Exercises
She isn't allowed TO romp with other
children, because it's too exciting for her
and may make her nervous; so, In order
tn get enough exercise she has to swing
Indian clubs and do skipping all by her
self In the back garden I went in, the
other night, and found her at her lonely
club exercises. She looked quite CHEEKY
about 1t, for she's a wonderfully sweet
tempered child. II she had been as pep
perry as my two, believe she would have
run away from home long ago.
She wears some sort Of patent "all-
WOOL underclothing, sleeps in a particu.
lar make of bed and has special strength
ening salts in her bath. No doubt she
Goes many other weird things as well. but
haven't heard of any more so far.
I'm afraid she'll grow UP into a woman
who enjoys poor health" and Is never
good for much all her life long. But II
does seem such pity. for she's a well.
made child with a nice disposition. who
might be turned into a happy. hearty,
useful woman by few years of sensible
Il eatment