Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

>Cares of Matrimony.—Husbands and wives talk of the cares of matrimony, and bachelors and spinsters bear them.—W. Collins.

Awkwardness Due to Eyes.—A school teacher has remarked that many children are awkward, not through being ungainly in walking, but wholly because of impaired vision. It has been her experience with children in her department who were usually awkward and who had their eyes examined that there was something wrong with the vision, which was quickly overcome when glasses were purchased.

Medicine.—The disease and its medicine are like two factions in a besieged town; they tear one another to pieces, but both unite against their common enemy, Nature.—Jeffrey.

Baby's Petticoats.—Fine white flannel is the best material for baby's petticoats. They may be made in one piece, in princess style, or may consist of a flannel skirt attached to a loose cambric waist. These are decidedly preferable for summer and are really quite warm enough for any season.

Charity.—Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.—Koran.

Tub for the Playroom.—Every playroom should be provided with a galvanized tub to hold water for sail boats. What boy does not like to play with water, boats and artificial fish? Do not expect him to be contented with toys or plays that amuse the little girl. The boy prefers splashing in water or making a noise with a hammer. Aquatic toys are numerous and reasonably cheap.

NOW OR NEVER.

  Gather the rosebuds while ye may,
     Old Time is still a-flying;
  And this same flower that smiles today
     To-morrow will be dying.
                             —R. Herrick.

Cleaning the Rug at Home.—Baby's fur rug may be cleaned at home by giving it a thorough bath in dry cornmeal. Rub the meal in as though it were soap, shake it out and rub in more meal, letting it remain in the rug for a day or two. Then shake out and the appearance of the rug will be much improved.

The Value of Wise Conversation.—A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years' mere study of books.—Chinese Proverb.

Tooth Powder.—Look well at the teeth of the little ones. Charcoal and tincture of myrrh are very beneficial to the teeth of the young, and both are easily procured at any drug store.

Silence.—Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refuse.—Show.

[812 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

A Dish for Children.—An old-fashioned dish which never fails to delight the children may be prepared as follows: One quart of cornmeal, one pint of ripe chopped apples, three tablespoonfuls of butter, pinch of salt, one and one-half cups of water. Sweeten the apples to taste and bake as ordinary corn bread.

THE NOON OF LIFE.

  What! grieve that time has brought so soon
  The sober age of manhood on?
  As idly might I weep, at noon,
  To see the blush of morning gone.
                                   —Bryant.

Mouth Breathing.—Little ones who habitually breathe loud or snore in their sleep may be troubled with an adenoid growth.

Family.—A happy family is but an earlier heaven.—Bowering.

Obedience.—Prompt, unquestionable obedience in children seems to be a thing of the past, is the criticism of a recent writer, who adds: The up-to-date mother no longer tells her offspring that they must do or leave undone certain things because it is right. She enters into elaborate explanations and they need no longer blindly obey. This is not the wise preparation for the adult life. Unless we have taught our children the necessity for life's discipline, which they cannot at the time understand, it will make them rebellious and fail to work out the peaceable fruits of righteousness.

The Value of a Laugh.—A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market.—Lamb.

Sanitary Drinking Cups.—Supply the youngsters on going to school with folded paper cornucopias which come in sealed packages for a small sum. These are used for drinking cups instead of those found in public places. Teach the children to make these useful little drinking cups from clean white paper, and there will be no danger of contracting disease from a drinking cup used by everyone who passes.

Easy to Misjudge Men.—Every heart has its secret sorrow which the world knows not, and oftimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.—Anon.

Night Petticoats.—Night petticoats for baby have sleeves. If no petticoat is worn, then an extra short jacket is provided in the coldest weather, for most babes sleep best with hands and arms uncovered.

A Bathrobe.—A large Turkish bath towel makes a nice bathrobe for a baby or small child. Use white cotton curtain cords for the girdle and make the hood of the Turkish face cloth. This little robe is very serviceable and convenient, and is easily laundered.

An Easy Task.—It is easy finding reasons why other people should be patient.—George Eliot.

Money to Children.—Instead of paying children for doing work let them understand that they have little duties that they must perform, but give them money at intervals. Teach them the value of money and the principles of saving.

[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 813]

Be Discreet.—Thy friend has a friend; thy friend's friend has a friend, therefore, be discreet.—Anon.

Methods of Cooking Eggs.—If you find that your baby, who is just beginning to eat solid food will not eat soft cooked eggs, and there are many who do not like them, try scrambling them until they are well done. If not found palatable in that form make an egg custard. A baby usually enjoys this and receives the same amount of nourishment that he would if the egg were cooked in any other way.

Politics and Veracity.—Politics and veracity have the same number of letters, but there the resemblance ends.—Anon.

Songs and Story Telling.—It is an unusual child indeed who does not delight in listening to story telling or bright little songs at bedtime and the nurse who is much with children will do well to treasure up all such material that comes in her way. Being used to children and having a sincere love for them makes one's work much easier, as even very little children seem to know instinctively who their real friends are and to be more easily controlled by them.

Friendship.—Two persons cannot long be friends if they cannot forgive each other's little failings.—Bruyere

Harsh Commands.—Can a parent who habitually speaks to his children in tones of harsh authority, and gives his commands to them in a manner of an officer addressing refractory troops, expect that they will feel for him the affection that they would give to one who took the trouble to draw out their better natures by loving treatment? The above is a question to be considered by parents who govern wholly by "authority."

Maidenhood.—No padlock, bolts, or bars can secure a maiden so well as her own reserve.—Cerantes.

Baby's Sleeves.—When baby's arms grow too large for the shirt sleeves, while the body of the shirt is still large enough, purchase a pair of infant's white cashmere hose. Cut the feet off and overcast neatly into the armholes; putting in a little gusset under the arms is necessary to enlarge armhole. The leg of the stocking makes the sleeves and the top fits nicely around the little wrist,

Reading.—To read without reflecting, is like eating without digesting.—Burkc.

Princess Skirt.—For long skirts, both flannel and white ones, the princess skirt adds to comfort of the body; no bands or fullness around the body or neck. Cut the material same as for princess slip, coming narrow on the shoulder and low neck back and front, and to flare at the bottom, which may be finished as desired. The flannel ones add to warmth, having flannel to neck baby needs no little jackets,

The Two Symptoms of Love.—The first symptom of love in a young man, is timidity; in a girl, it is boldness. The two sexes have a tendency to approach, and each assumes the qualities of the other.—Victor Hugo

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Securing Covering at Night.—If a delicate child has a habit of kicking the clothes off at night and so contracting chills, it is a good plan to sew a large button to each corner of the coverlet and attach a long tape loop to each corner of the bed. When fastened this will keep the bedclothes securely in place, however much the child may toss in its sleep.

Honesty.—Socrates being asked the way to honest fame, said, "Study to be what you wish to seem."

Amusing Baby.—A simple device for keeping the baby amused and happy is to fasten at intervals upon a broad, bright ribbon the toys of which he is most fond, suspending the ribbon above the bed upon which he lies, within reach of his little hands, by securing one end to the head of the bed and the other to the foot. He will then entertain himself by the hour pushing the toys back and forth, and watching them swing above him.

Prominent Ears.—Prominent ears should always be corrected in childhood by putting a thin cap on the child at night.

Disappointing a Child.—A day in a child's life is equal to a week in ours; so think twice before you condemn a child to a whole day's disappointment or unhappiness.

Baby's Veil.—Baby's veil, which should only be used in cold or windy weather, may be either a Shetland veil or made of bobbinet.

Sweaters.—There are cunning little sweaters exactly like those made up for older children, which come in sizes to fit an eight-months old baby.

Wild Flowers.—Every garden should contain a few wild flowers. The busy mother will find that they grow without care if proper soil is provided and will bloom where there is too much shade for other flowers. March brings forth the lovely hepatica, and wild phlox or sweet william soon follows. Next comes the wild geranium cranes bill, but as its petals fall rapidly, it is not as effective as sweet william, which will be a mass of delicate bloom for five weeks or more. The trillium or wake robin is another desirable flower, and wild violets thrive where the cultivated kind will not grow. The Indian turnip or Jack-in-the-Pulpit is an interesting plant and a curiosity to many who never ramble in the woods to see it in its native abode. All of these bear transplanting and are satisfactory as garden plants, but choose sweet william if you wish the most desirable for color, fragrance and duration of bloom.

Making Friends.—Blessed is the man who has the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts.—Thomas Hughes.

Baby's Nose.—But the most pliable of baby's features is the nose. By gently massaging this feature every day with the thumb and forefinger a tendency to broadness may be promptly subdued. The bridge should be gently pressed between the fingers in the course of an upward massage movement.

[NURSERY HINTS AND FIRESIDE GEMS 815]

Flowers.—They are wreathed around the cradle, the marriage altar, and the tomb.—Mrs. L. M. Child.

Bed Time.—One little chap was constantly being deceived as to his bed hour, which was 7:30 o'clock. He could not tell the time, and his mother or nurse would tell him that it was bedtime when in reality it was only seven o'clock. He would look puzzled and only half convinced as his reason told him it could not be that late; but he had no choice but to obey. It would have been far wiser to set seven o'clock as his bed hour and to have stuck to it.

Little Minds.—Minds of moderate calibre ordinarily condemn everything that is beyond their range.—La Rachefoucauld.

Tea and Coffee.—Don't give your two-year-old child tea and coffee to drink. What if she does cry for them? The crying will harm her far less than the drink.

FOUR THINGS.

  Each man has more of four thing than he knows.
  What four are these? Sins, debts, fears and woes.
                                   —From the French.

Sanitary Care of Baby's Bottles.—To wash and cleanse baby's bottles satisfactorily, have a good stout bottle brush; make a strong suds of hot water and soap or soap powder; wash the bottles thoroughly, using the brush, then rinse several times, using the hot water and borax, and