The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-08-01
BABY'S INTELLIGENCE
Nv MRS. HARRIET HELLER.

1t was to obtain important informa-
ton one morning not long ago that
ventured to ask admittance to beau
tiful rose-embowered cottage across
the street from my new home.
A charming young mother met me
at the door holding her baby on her
arm. She endeavored to answer my
question in gracious and nelghbOrly
way, but was constantly interrupted by
the childs cries.
While we stood there the infant was
gently changed from one arm to the
other, then put upon her shoulder.
Later when we were seated within, she
rested her upon her knee in the time
honored position supposed to give COM
fort to disturbed dummies" 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 l 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 purely i'm
personal infection, which she would
have used to say, "The machine Is cut
ting the thread'-as If teeth were
contrivance 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. baby was primarily mechan-
ism, and If she did not know of any
mechanical means Of correcting an up
set condition, she was quite at loss
what to do. Baby, for her part, 1t
seemed to me, was persistently deny
ing this classification. She was not
only something, but somebody, and she
wanted the fact recognized.
1 thought at once Of the way Froe-
bel. the founder of the kindergarten,
shows us how TO meet such need In
his Mother Play book, and how /
wished I could try it. Just then the
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
moment or two continued fretting and
tossing her hands restlessly. Leaning
over her touched the little fists gent
ly, thinking this greeting, "How do
you do, little one? You are getting to
be a big girl, and you want some one
to know. believe you want some one
to notice you and talk with you"
MY touch must have aroused her no
tice because she gave heed. l next
slipped my forefngers into the palms
of her hands and baby-fashion she
gripped them. "How do you like to
hold my fingers?" l asked. Very gent
" then l began to raise her into a
sitting position and she smiled as she
she could hold on no longer she fell
back. Three times l did this, allowing
her to fall back more quickly each
time. Baby enjoyed the slight shock
in falling, and In her little way In
creased in strength and in the con-
sciousness of strength. She was now
perfectly satisfied; her need for recog-
milton and self-activity had been met.
Song for Baby.
The conversation at the phone still
continued and while waiting tried to
recall the song to sing with this little
game. In few minutes, when baby
was ready to play Failing, Failing"
again, I sang softly, lifting her this
time by holding my hands at her back:
Down goes baby,
Mothers pet;
UP comes baby,
Laughing yet
-. 4.