Mother's Remedies by Thomas Jefferson Ritter (positive books to read txt) 📕

touch to the coverlet, and they can be quickly removed and easily laundered.

The Greatness of Love.—There are no little events with the heart; it magnifies everything. It places in the same scale the falling of an empire and the dropping of a woman's glove; and the glove generally weighs more than the empire. —Honore De Balzac.

Oranges as Medicine.—One of the most valuable adjuncts in acquiring a generally good complexion in youth is that of eating oranges in quantities. Let the mother give her children two or three oranges every day, as they possess many virtues, especially upon the action of the liver. The mother who buys plenty of oranges for the children will note the reduction in her medicine bill.

THE HUMAN FACE.

   When I meet a human face,
   Lit for me with light divine,
   I recall all loving eyes,
   That have ever answered mine.
                   —Phoebe Cary.

The Art of Entertaining Children.—Entertaining convalescent children is quite an art in itself. Nurses who expect to make a specialty of caring for children sometimes take a brief course in kindergarten work, and certainly such knowledge is a valuable asset. Quiet games that do not call for too much exertion, paper-doll plays, the ever-delightful "cutting out" of pictures or fashion book people, making scrap books for children's hospitals and simple knitting or crocheting all help to amuse the little folk. Almost all children enjoy being read to, but care must be taken not to select stories that will depress the child or so excite him as to keep him awake at night or cause unpleasant dreams.

Tireless Talkers.—A sick man that gets talking about himself, a woman that gets talking about her baby, and an author that begins reading out of his own book, never know when to stop.—O. W. Holmes.

Unselfishness.—Unselfishness is the key of a happy and beautiful life, and this is one of the first things that should be taught to the little one, says a writer in The Woman Beautiful. Insist upon her sharing her pleasures, even at a great sacrifice with other children. One mother whom I know has trained her baby to extend an entire box of bon-bons to her little friends with the words "Hop yourself," and she does this with a charm and spontaneity which makes her irresistible.

[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 807]

A Cheerful Giver.—We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.—Seneca.

Indulgence.—It takes far more than the mere mother love to bring up children. It takes training, study, knowledge, says the New York Tribune. It takes self-control in the parents themselves. The mother who spoils a child through weak indulgence does not truly love her child. She loves her own pleasures in going along the line of least resistance.

Selfishness.—When parents spoil their children, it is less to please them than to please themselves. It is the egotism of parental love.—Carlyle.

Method.—Now that school days are here, mark umbrellas by writing name on muslin with ink and sewing to inside of top with black thread; overshoes and rubbers by writing name on the lining, and handkerchiefs by writing name across the center with ink.

System.—Marshal thy notions into a handsome method. One will carry twice more weight packed up in bundles, than when it lies flapping and hanging about his shoulders.—Fuller.

Baby's Meals.—To make a healthy baby of eighteen or twenty months wait for the meal times of adults before feeding, is putting too great a strain on the little system. Its diet should be adapted to its needs, says a careful mother. Five light feedings are much more scientific, the first at about six-thirty in the morning since baby keeps early hours. Milk and toast should be given at this time. At ten-thirty a. m., well cooked and well strained cereal might be served with rich milk. Cream is for older children. Stewed prunes, baked apples, and oranges are also good. Dinner at one-thirty might include meat broth, or soft boiled eggs, and bread and toast. Soups must be free from grease. Crackers or toast with a cup of milk should be served for the five o'clock supper, and another cup of milk at bedtime.

Forbearance.—There is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.—Burke.

The Romper.—The romper has become an essential part of the young child's wardrobe. They are developed mostly in linen, galatea, and less expensively still in chambray. The best colors are dark blue, brown, green, tan and natural colored linen; green perhaps is best for summer. It is cool looking and it does not show grass stains. Short flowing sleeves are most satisfactory.

[808 MOTHERS' REMEDIES] BABY'S PURPOSE.

   With mighty purpose in his mind,
   He clambers up. And then,
   With purpose quite as well defined,
   He scrambles down again.
                 From "Seven Ages of Childhood."

Picnic Supplies.—Women taking small children to picnics should carry along a heavy quilt or blanket to place on the ground for the babies to sit on. There is always more dampness in the woods than out in the open, and summer colds are not pleasant for grown folk, much less wee tots. A few safety pins, needle and thread will not take up space in the big basket, and how often such articles are needed.

THE MYSTERIOUS FUTURE.

   I've been a little girl so long,
   That, somehow, it seems almost wrong
   To think how grown-up I shall be
   In days that have to come to me.
                     —Carolyn Wells.

Zweiback Noodles.—When making soup for children zweiback or Jew's bread is excellent for making noodles. Pound the bread to a powder, roll it with the rolling pin, sift and use the same as flour. It can also be used in milk as a baby food, and is often given to children with very delicate stomachs.

AFFECTION.

  In the soft soil of little lives
  Affection quickly springs and thrives
     And grows like anything;
  Its tiny tendrils Love puts out,
  Not knowing what it's all about
     But glad to smile and sing.
                    —Carolyn Wells.

Playgrounds for Boys.—In a certain Ohio city there is a large placard "Boys, you can play here," It is a large corner lot thronged the whole day through during the good weather with boys playing ball and other games. This lot which could be sold for thousands of dollars, has been donated to the boys for a playground near their homes, The owner realized that the streets are not suitable playgrounds for the children and that accidents occur there almost daily. The streets of our cities are poor places in which to play, bad for the boys, and still worse for the community, If you have vacant lots turn them over to the boys this summer. A boy never forgets a favor, and American boys are not going to abuse good privileges. The loneliest boys are those who are not allowed to play on the beautiful lawn at home, are not allowed on the streets, and wander about from place to place to be told "Move on," every place they go.

ALL GIRLS AND BOYS.

Fourscore, like twenty, has its tasks and toys;
In earth's wide school-house all are girls and boys.
                                   —O. W. Holmes.

[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 809]

Disinfection of Toys and Books.—All toys that have been used by a child suffering from an infectious disease should be either burned or thoroughly disinfected before they are used again. Books read by the little patient should be especially guarded against.

FROM LOWELL'S "AFTER THE BURIAL."

  In the breaking gulfs of sorrow,
     When the helpless feet stretch out
  And find in the deeps of darkness
     No footing so solid as doubt,
  Then better one spar of Memory,
     One broken plank of the Past,
  That our human heart may cling to,
     Though hopeless of shore at last!

Keep Dainties Away from the Beginning.—The well-trained child does not crave unaccustomed dainties. It is natural that he should feel a curiosity with regard to a dish with which he is not familiar, and ask some questions about it. But that does not mean that any of it is to be given to him. A boy whose digestive organs were very delicate was taught from babyhood to sit in his high chair at the table and eat what was on his tray and was perfectly content with what he had, as he knew no other diet. Once in awhile he would ask: "Is that good for little boys?" and when his mother would answer gently, "No. darling, that would make little boys sick," he was perfectly satisfied. Never having tasted things not suited to his age he did not crave them. One cannot miss that which he has never had. As he grew older he reaped the benefit of the strict regime and his digestion was perfect.

PROGRESS.

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future's portal with the Past's blood-rusted key.
                                          —James Russell Lowell.

Temperature of Nursery.—Sixty degrees Fahrenheit is the proper temperature for the nursery, either in summer or in winter. This is not sufficiently warm to be weakening nor sufficiently cool to cause chills. Of course, when the natural heat of the atmosphere is higher than sixty degrees the temperature of the nursery cannot be kept that low, but with darkened windows during the heated portion of the day and good ventilation the room can be kept at a reasonably comfortable temperature.

ROCK ME TO SLEEP.

  Backward, turn backward, O Time in your flight,
  Make me a child again just for to-night!
  Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
  Take me again to your heart as of yore;
  Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
  Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
  Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;
  Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
                               —Florence Percy.

[810 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

The Pinafore.—The ideal dress for children is, of course, the pinafore style. It is so easy to renew the overdress and under bodice as required and it is, moreover, invaluable to suit the weather changes from day to day. The serge overdress can have a little cotton or flannel blouse, just as thermometers demand.

WEDDING CELEBRATIONS.

Three days —Sugar. Sixty days —Vinegar. 1st anniversary —Iron. 5th anniversary —Wooden. 10th anniversary—Tin. 15th anniversary—Crystal. 20th anniversary—China. 25th anniversary—Silver. 30th anniversary—Cotton. 35th anniversary—Linen. 40th anniversary—Woolen. 45th anniversary—Silk. 50th anniversary—Gold. 75th anniversary—Diamond.

Afternoon Gowns.—Short afternoon gowns are proper for formal wear; especially for those who can wear the full skirts attached to narrow hem-bands. The dresses escape the floor by several inches and reveal the slippers and an inch of the colored hosiery.

A SONG OF LONG AGO.

  A Song of Long Ago:
  Sing it lightly—sing it low—
  Sing it softly—like the lisping of the
  lips we used to know
  When our baby-laughter spilled
  From the glad hearts ever filled
  With music blithe as robin ever thrilled!
                                  —Riley.

Rather Hard on the Baby.—Here is some advice that appeared in a paper for mothers the other day: "The bottle must be kept perfectly clean. When the babe has finished drinking it should be unscrewed and laid in a cool place under the tap." One feels rather sorry for any babies thus treated.

Learning Wisdom.—We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success; we often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery.—S. Smiles.

Nursery.—Today the nursery is looked upon as an essential apartment in a house where children abide, and from a hygienic standpoint, it may justly be called a sensible room, for children after they walk should not sleep in the mother's room. Whether the room is large or moderately small it should, by an means, have plenty of ventilation, the more windows the better. The room should be papered in light colors, also painted in light tones, though the blinds should be the darkest shade, to darken the room when necessary.

[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 811]