CHAPTER II. SECTION I. On Teething, and the management of Infants during the often painful and critical period of Dentition. "I've often heard my Grandame say, "And in the cradle where they lay "Would leave their elvish changelings. "Now watch with care the techy babe, "And learn the spell which Grandame said "Would charm the Sprites. A Mother's arms "Are potent 'gainst all fairy charms; "And in their hallowed bounds will keep "The babe from Oberon's deceit." WE are now to suppose our infant charge arrived at that age when its sweet endearing I* smiles and innocent caresses begin to inte rest every beholder. How infinitely interesting then must they be to a mother who has watched with impatient fondness the first dawn of its rational faculties, eager to catch the earliest indication of our noble and exalted nature! How amply is she now repaid for the many hours of fatigue and anxiety spent in nursing its earlier infancy! This may be imagined by the effect produced on the foster nurse. How frequently do we hear it observed that she scarcely perceives any difference in her affection for her nursling and her own offspring. "Leaps his young heart with undissembled bliss "At the fond look, soft smile, or gentle kiss; "Whilst by his lips the milky orbs are prest "The soft affections spring within his breast, "Till the pleased hireling owns the tender claim "And to a mother's office joins the name." Ah, how is she to be pitied who is obliged thus to yield her sacred right to the earliest affections of her babe-and still more so that mother who voluntarily sacrifices such heartfelt bliss, for the empty pageantry of fashionable dissipation! Now every day, nay, every hour, some new charm is disclosed, some fresh emanation of mind unfolded, and some novel and fascinating gesture displayed. Let those ladies who seek variety in their pleasures, and yet banish their babes from their bosoms, be persuaded for once to try the talisman of infant blandishment, and they will acknowledge they have at length found that variety which chases the ennui of life. And here also we find our beneficent Creator has graciously blended our pleasures with our cares; for now our infants call for particular attention; it being absolutely necessary for their health, if not their very existence, that they should be faithfully nursed and constantly exercised and amused for several months of this portion of their lives, and the better to ensure those advantages, their heavenly Father has clothed them with such enchanting loveliness as none but brutes in human form could possibly resist hence every one is induced to notice them; they are frequently handed from one to another, each trying by every possible means to excite a smile, or other token of regard, and thus they acquire new ideas, and receive the exercise best adapted to promote their health. Now, too, the little creatures begin to drink more deeply of the bitter cup of mortal infirmity, as this is the age when they usually show the first indications of pain from the irritation of their gums, and often appear to suffer greatly even before there is any appearance of the teeth, either from the gums swelling or becoming inflamed, probably owing to the teeth shooting through the bones Rubbing the gums at this time is said to be of service," as it not only somewhat appeases pain, as adults sometimes experience in the common toothach, but it also forwards the growth of the teeth by drawing more nourishment to them, as well as assists their irruption, by pressing the gum and ner vous membane firmly against their points. The application of honey, or the syrup of white poppies, to the gums at this time is likewise recommended. It has long been thought by many, almost indispensable to furnish infants with the coral and bells, both as an amusement and assistant in the irruption of their teeth, but I have entirely thrown aside mine, being fully convinced that infants generally prefer to bite something that will yield more to the pressure than coral; and however they be at first attracted by the jingling sound of the bells, they soon grow weary of them, disgusted rather than amused by the monotonous sound and glittering appearance, and will throw them aside for a less gaudy toy, especially if they are in pain. I have been led to this conclusion from observing that whenever, from a wish to amuse them when fretful, I have jingled the bells before their eyes, they would avert their faces, and, sinking upon my bosom, seem to entreat me to desist: and while I reflected upon the distress we feel in after life, when tortured with pain at the teasing recurrence of any noise whatever, it appeared altogether unnatural to attempt amusing a sweet little sufferer by a means that would almost distract a much older patient. Besides, it should ever be remembered that the infant mind, eager for information, can receive no new ideas from the |