GRAND MOTHER'S LECTURE ON BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 23

GRAND MOTHER'S LECTURE ON BABIES.

The other day Nellie G-ray ca me to our house to visit, and elie had the cunningeEt little bundle in her arms ; there was edging, ruffles, tucks and embroidered blankets, and such a pile of muslin and ribbons ; well if I had not heard she had a little baby, I could never have guessed what it was," except there waß a continued squeaking away down in the depths that sounded no more like a baby crying, than it did like a mouse in the wall, " Sakea alive ! Nellie, give me the baby I" " Oh, grandmother ! I shall be so glad to ; and do tell me what I shall do with is ; cry, cry, front one day's end to the other. Ain't there work in taking care of babies, though ? bat it is a darling ! Juet see 1" and she took off a oloak, two blankets, and a veil ; an d 'smoothed out the beautiful dress that swept clear on to the flo9r, as the little thing lay in my lap. The baby, had on a thick crocheted aacque and all you could see of the little mite was its bare head, puckered up face, and the tips 'of its little red fingers. ; "Ob, how warm it iB!" said the young mother, as she wiped the drops off her face ; "I hope baby has not got cold ; it is the first time I have carried him to ride, " "JS ellie Gray, sit down, and let me tell you something, — you don't know more than a calf about taking care of a baby ; no wonder the little thing crips ! I wonder it is alive ! Just look here ! the thermometer stands at 90° in the shade, and you are about melted in your muslin dress, and here is this wee baby, bundled up with as many wraps as it would need in winter, and a thick nacque, and a pinning blanket, two flannel petticoats, a cotton one and a dress ; and as sure as you are alive socks on the little feet ! What on earth, are you thinking of, to pile all this stuff on a two-months-old baby ?" " Why, grandmother ! I supposed I must !" " And Nellie ; you have got your waists and bands so tight that baby can hardly draw a breath. No wonder at all, that baby cries ! more wonder that the baby don't die 1 Now, just take off these extra fixings ; one skirt and the dress are enough, and loosen your waists, and let the little atom have one good breath and a chance to stretch itself." Its mother did as I told her, and in a few minutes the little thing cuddled down to sleep. "Let me lay it down, Nellie, I'll show you how ; and so I laid it down on its side, a little curled up, like a kitten, and there it lay- and slept, two long hours, ito mother going every few minutes to see if anything ailed it. ' ' You let it a*lone, Nellie ! Lot her hive her nap out, and she will be happy when she wakes up, and you will be rested too." Baby never cried again all day ; she slept two hours at a time, and her mother was bb happ3' as could be. She kissed me when she went away, because I had taught her to take care of her little one.