OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 218, 3 June 1918, Page 8

OUR BABIES

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Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zoa.fd.nd Society for the Health of Women and Children. It is wiser to put, up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." A GRANDMOTHER'S LETTERS. (Continued.), Buring the past weeks our column has been devoted to the history of the ease of a delieate child who by Eimple, sensible treatment has become quite a. strong healthy little girl. We had heard notliinc further of her progress until April 21, 1912, when the following letter wbb received from tho grandmother :— I was reading in "Our Babies" col* nmn of a caise similar to what, littlo Annie's was. and thought I would like tn write and tell you how she is now. She will he seven years old next month, and is in splendid health—in fact, she is never still. Sho has been at school since December, and is getting on fine. I hope you will not. think I am troubling: you, but I thought it iju'eln help the case stated. The above letter is only one amonir many similar communications which come to hand from all directions, 'howini the keen interest, taken in our column by readers throughout the Dominion. By such means we. can he.lo one another and be indeed a Mutual Aid Society. Wo were much gratified: to hear that the little girl was doing so well, and we fully appreciate (he grandmother's kindly thought in writing thus in tlu- hope that the knowledge of her grandchild's continued progress might cheer other correspondents and give them faith that with due. attention their children also will over-n-mn.. their delicacy and grow up strong and capable. The foregoing-letters wore published six years ago. LATER- LETTERS. As letters reach us frequently regarding "beautiful babies" who have failed to fui fil their early promise we thought it would be interesting to keep in touch with little Annie's case so we sent a noto to her grandmother and received the following reply:— October 4. 1916. Thanks for your kind note. lam pleased to be ,ahle to tell you that Annie is in splendid health. She wa« II yoars old in Jfay, and she has grown such a tall girl I feel sure she would not ho as sho is now if the society had not fallen her in hand. We shall ncyer forget it or cease lo be grateful. She is also getting on well at school. T have sent you a- photograph of her and her brother (taken about- a- year ago). I thought I would like you to see what she is like now. The photograph shows two fine ehildreii, well grown and very intoliigent-looking. When thanking the grandmother we asked her to let lis know the weight, and height nf the children, and any other interesting particulars, and sho <eiu, us the following

November 12. 1916. Many thanks for your kind letter received last Wednesday. Annie now weigh?. sft. Bilb., and is <ft. 7*iii. in heieht in her stocking soles. She will he ilj years old nt the end of tie present "month. Her Mother it'nearly eight and a half years old, and is a. fine healthy boy. They both have their cold hath daily, they have plenty, of open-air -exercise, and good plain, wholesome food. I think myself that is how they are so •well and 'strong. i I am very pleased to hear tttfct my tintPß have ii?m helpful to mothers with delicate children. It may bo noted here that at 11 years Annie was' 31b. over the average in wight and Jin. over the average height for girls of her age. It is gratifying to know that her parents were adhering to the simple, health rules inculcated by tho society and that the results were to satisfactory both in Annie's case and ia that of her brother. . In reply to a. later inquiry, wo received the following notes:February 16, 1918. Thank? very much for your kind letter. Annio has not been too well lately, and for tho past thrm months she : has been Btaying in .Canterbury for a change In tho last letter I had from her she said she waß feeling much bettor. She is so tall; she is over twelve years of age. now. I will write to her and get her height and weight snd forward it on to you. She is in tho fifth standard at school, and scorns to bo getting on all right. She Btill takes her cold bath daily. . March 13. 19i3. I received the enclosed letter Irom Annio last week in answer to mine about her weight, etc. Her tV.hsr came to see me yesterday, and tola ni Annie was going to stay in Canterbury over the winter. I think myself i: >.< wise, as the weather here is so cold and changeable. Annie's Letter. March 3. 1515. I received your over-welcome letters some time ago, and was pleased to get them, but now as wo have started school there is not mucli time for writing. ... ... Well, about my weight, it is /at. iW.. and my hoight is 4ft. Uiin. I can manago the horn quite well now. It iB a beautiful day up here. I am keeping a groat deal better than before I loft home. . We are sure that Annie, will soon 1 e perfectly well again-cspccially as her ■weight is 81b. over the average for her age. A simple, regular life in tho country. living in tho open air, riding about and not working too strenuously at school, is the best thing possible for a girl about 13 years of ago, and we aro glad.that Annie's parents havo been who enough to provide this for her.