Mother's Remedies Part 206

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 sh.o.r.e 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 sh.o.r.e, 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]

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 gla.s.ses were purchased.