Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-12-26
BABY's intelligence
nv mrs. r HELLER.

OkH0
Nv MRS. HARRIET HELLER.
n was to obtain important informa-
1,on one morning not long ago that |
yentured TO ask Abundance to Il beau
tfful rose-embowered cottage across
the street from my new home.
A chnrming young mother met me
at the door holding her baby on her
arm. She endeavored to nswer my
question in a gracious and neighborly
way, but wal constantly interrupted by
the child's cries.
While we stood there the infant was
gently changed from n arm to the
other, then PIT upon her shoulder.
Later when we were seated within, she
rested her upon her knee In the time
honored position supposed to give ON
fort to disturbed "tu,nlnies." All to
no purpose. The little one fused and
fused.
Quite naturally we fell to talking Of
babies. The young mother was thor
oughly versed In modern lore; she
knew rules. regulations, symptoms,
remedies, foods and all the rest, and
was enthusiastic about the modern sci
ence Of bringing up infants.
"As far as / can see, there Is moth
Ing the matter with her." she said.
"Possibly her teeth hurt her. She Is
young to have teeth, but sometimes
you know" and SO on. The observa-
ton about the teeth was made In the
same tone Of voice. with n purely i'm.
personal infection. which she would
have used to say. "The machine Is cut
Ting the thread"--as II teeth We're n
contrlyance to be adjusted by bolts
and screws. Not once in my presence
had she spoken to her baby.
Wanted to Be Noticed.
1t was evident to me that her mod
ern training, while essentially desir.
able, had largely destroyed the instinc-
tive expression of the natural mother.
TO her, bnby was primarily n mechan-
ism, and II she did not know Of any
mechanical means of correcting an up
set condition, She vas quite at a loss
what to do. Baby, for her part, 1t
seemed to me, vas persistently deny
ing this classification. She was not
only something. but somebody, and she
wanted the fact recognized.
thought at once Of the way Froe-
bel, the founder Of the kindergarten
shows us how to meet such 9 need In
his Mother Play book, and how
wished I could try it. Just then thu
young mother was called to the phone
and I seized my opportunity.
Miss Baby was comfortably depos
tied on a couch near me, but after q
moment or two continued fretting ant
tossing her hands restlessly. Leaning
over her ! touched the little fists gent
~, thinking this greeting, "How az
you do, little one: You are getting Il
be a big girl, and you want some on
to know. l believe you want some on
to notice you and talk with you."
My touch must have aroused her no
tice because she gave heed. l mex
slipped my forefngers into the palm
of her hands and baby.fashion sh'
gripped them. "IIow do you like Il
hold my lngers" I asked. Very gent
IL then l began to raise her into
sitting position and she smiled as sh
felt her head leaving the pillow. Whel
she could hold on no longer h re-
back, Three times I did this, allowin
her to fall back more quickly eac
time. Baby enjoyed the slight shoe
In falling. und in her little way II
creased 10 strength and In the COZ
seriousness Of strength. She was no
perfectly satisfied her need for recoi
milton and self-activity had been met.
Song for Baby.
The conversation at the phone sN
continued and while waiting I tried
recall the song to sing with this lit
game. In n few minutes, when bal
was ready to play sailing, Falling
agnin, I sang softly, lifting her tn
time by holding my hands Mt her bacl
Down gees baby,
Mothers pet:
Up comes baby,
Laughing yet.
BABY we'll may laugh ut harm.
While beneath Ia mothers arm.
7INNuv, vna~ bahv