Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Page 2

strictly adhering

to his rules. If I can accomplish any of these objects, I shall be amply repaid by the
pleasing satisfaction that I have been of some little service to the rising generation.
2. _Then you consider it important that I should be made acquainted with, and be well
informed upon, the subjects you have just named_?
Certainly! I deem it to be your imperative duty to study the subjects well. The proper
management of children is a vital question,--a mother's question,--and the most important
that can be brought under the consideration of a parent; and, strange to say, it is one that
has been more neglected than any other. How many mothers undertake--the responsible
management of children without previous instruction, or without forethought; they
undertake it, as though it may be learned either by intuition or by instinct, or by affection.
The consequence is, that frequently they are in a sea of trouble and uncertainty, tossing
about without either rule or compass; until, too often, their hopes and treasures are
shipwrecked and lost.
The care and management, and consequently the health and future well-doing of the child,
principally devolve upon the mother, "for it is the mother after all that has most to do
with the making or marring of the man." [Footnote: Good Words, Dr W. Lindsay
Alexander, March 1861.] Dr Guthrie justly remarks that--"Moses might have never been
the man he was unless he had been nursed by his own mother. How many celebrated men
have owed their greatness and their goodness to a mother's training!" Napoleon owed
much to his mother. "'The fate of a child,' said Napoleon, 'is always the work of his
mother;' and this extraordinary man took pleasure in repeating, that to his mother he
owed his elevation. All history confirms this opinion..." The character of the mother
influences the children more than that of the father, because it is more exposed to their
daily, hourly observation.--_Woman's Mission_.
I am not overstating the importance of the subject in hand when I say, that a child is the
most valuable treasure in the world, that "he is the precious gift of God," that he is the
source of a mother's greatest and purest enjoyment, that he is the strongest bond of
affection between her and her husband, and that
"A babe in a house is a well-spring of pleasure, A messenger of peace and
love."--Tupper,
I have, in the writing of the following pages, had one object constantly in view--namely,
health--
"That salt of life, which does to all a relish give, Its standing pleasure, and intrinsic
wealth, The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune--health."
If the following pages insist on the importance of one of a mother's duties more than
another it is this,--that the mother herself look well into everything appertaining to the
management of her own child.
Blessed is that mother among mothers of whom it can be said, that "she hath done what
she could" for her child--for his welfare, for his happiness, for his health!
For if a mother hath not "done what she could for her child"--mentally, morally, and
physically--woe betide the unfortunate little creature;--better had it been for him had he
never been born!

ABLUTION
3. _Is a new-born infant, for the first time, to be washed in warm or in cold water_?
It is not an uncommon plan to use cold water from the first, under the impression of its

strengthening the child. This appears to be a cruel and barbarous practice, and is likely to
have a contrary tendency. Moreover, it frequently produces either inflammation of the
eyes, or stuffing of the nose, or inflammation of the lungs, or looseness of the bowels.
Although I do not approve of cold water, we ought not to run into an opposite extreme, as
hot water would weaken and enervate the babe, and thus would predispose him to disease.
Luke warm rain water will be the best to wash him with. This, if it be summer, should
have its temperature gradually lowered, until it be quite cold, if it be winter, a dash of
warm water ought still to be added, to take oft the chill [Footnote: A nursery basin
(Wedgwoode make is considered the best), holding either six or eight quarts of water, and
which will be sufficiently large to hold the whole body of the child. The baton is
generally fitted into a wooden frame which will raise it to a convenient height for the
washing of the baby.] (By thermometer = 90 to 92 degrees.)
It will be necessary to use soap--Castile soap being the best for the purpose--it being less
irritating to the skin than the ordinary soap. Care should be taken that it does not get into
the eyes, as it may