Housekeeper.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 1 September 1904, Page 7

Housekeeper.

■ MISCHIEyMiS fcHILbREN. ~ THE mischievous ways of children,: especially boys, cattse unlimited' anxiety;to' their mothers, not,least among the many methods I 'adopted by the juvenile world of raising fears in the breasts of. elders being the dangerous habit!of putting toys, paints, pins, etc., in the mouth. Children, until they have reached years ofdiscretion, should never be given tin toys that are likely to, hurt them, nor toys from which the paint comes off easily, for everything goes into thotnputh of babies, and great caution, therefore, should be exercised in the choice of playthings given to them. I have lately heard of three cases where children,have swallowed sharp and dangerous articles, and the advice given by the doctors who attended may be useful in other homes. One child swallowed a large, black pin; another bit a piece of glass out of the tumbler he was drinking from and swallowed it; and the third was seen by his nurse to bo stuffing the key of a clockwork engine into his mouth—one of those Tshaped keys that are usually supplied with nursery engines of the kind, • What are you doing, Tommy?' asked his nurse, anxiously. ' Swallowing the key,' said the little boy, as with a gulp the instrument vanished down his throat. Now in each of tho houses there was naturally great consternation. The medical advice directed that the children should be given as much bread and milk or as many new buns, without plums, us they could take, so that tho swallowed implements should be enveloped in poultices, as it were. There was to be no flying to medicine, but the patients were to keep as quiet as possible, and I am glad to say not one of them seems the worse for his accident. EATING BEFORE RETIRING.

The old tradition that to eat anything just before going to bed is sure to produce indigestion and render sleep impossible is now happily exploded. It is not good, as a matter of fact, to go to bed with the stomach so loaded that the undigested food will render one restless; but something of a light, palatable nature m the stomach is one of the best aids to quietude and rest. Some physicians have declared, indeed, that a good deal of the prevalent insomnia is the result of an unconscious craving of the stomach for food in persons who have been unduly frightened by the opinion that they must not eat before going to bed, or who bave, like many nervous women, been keeping themselves in a state of semi-, starvation. Nothing is more agreeable on retiring for the night than to take a bowl of hot broth, like oatmeal gruel or clam soup. It is a positive aid to nervous people, and induces peaceful Slumbers. This is especially the case on cold winter nights, when the stomach craves warmth as much as any other part of the body. Even a glass of hot milk is grateful to the palate on such occasions, but a light, wellcooked gruel is better. PARENTAL DUTIES. Much of .the comfort and happiness of a family depends upon the. deportment of the young members. Only the most gentle firmness will restrain and guide without making the teaching galling, and a bondage that leads to deceit. Parents and teachers often fail to realize that they are under obligations to treat children politely. If our children do not see us practice the politeness which we inculcate, why should they believe our precepts are of any great importance? Children have as strong claims for civil, polite attention as their elders have.

Such gentle courtesy as we show to our friends, or are expected to, if extended to the children, will not interfere with the respect, deference or obedience to parental authority. Parents and teachers, on the contrary, will find an ample reward if they teach children good manners by their own example as well as by precept. True politeness and good manners cannot be taken on or put oil at pleasure. They must be homemade, instilled into the minds of the children from the cradle, to be the pure article.