In endeavoring to give in a brief space and a familiar way, advice which may practically help and teach the women into whose hands these papers may fall, I find that the subject of family life divides itself naturally into several branches, and in writing of them I shall give precedence to the one which is ©f invariable and permanent importance, viz: the care of children. I put this first, because the first fifteen or sixteen years of the life of a man or woman deter- mine largely what his or her character is to be, and it js over these first fifteen or sixteen years that parents, and especially mothers, have almost unlimited control. The physical care of the child during this period usu- ally devolves entirely upon the mother, and it is to the ignorance of mothers that a large proportion of the deaths among children under five years old is due. Children who are born healthy can easily be kept so by obedience to a few simple laws, and even delicate children will often become healthy adults, if properly cared for during the first years of life. A baby from the time of its birth until it is twelve months old should always, if possible, be nursed by its mother, for in this way only can it obtain food which is ON HABITS AND MANNERS. 1 27 natural, and, therefore, entirely safe. In cases where this is impossible, cow's or goat's milk diluted with lime water is the best substitute ; and after a baby is seven or eight months old, simple preparations of wheat flour, rice, crack- ers, etc., may be used, but always in small quantities and with great care. Indeed, until a baby has safely passed its first year, all but the simplest food should be prohibited, but after that age it is well, if the child is healthy, to begin with a variety of light food, as potatoes, eg^s, breal and butter, meat broths, simple preparations of the various grains, a little fruit, etc., gradually increasing the variety and quantity of the food given, but being always exceed- ingly careful to give nothing rich or indigestible, and to closely watch the condition of the stomach and bowels. Daring all the years cf growth a child's food should be nutritive and easily digested, and, even with very small means, a careful and thoughtful mother can provide such food for her family. Fish, meat, vegetables and fruit, plainly cooked, that is, boiled, broiled or roasted, without much grease or spice, cold, or better still, stale bread of Graham flour, wheat flour or corn meal, eggs, milk, sugar or molasses in small quantities, hominy, rice, etc., can each and all be safely eaten by children over three years of age : and from such food, given always at regular times and in proper quantities, nature can be trusted to build up the 123 ON HA1JITS AND MANNERS. healthy bodies which are so essential to the happiness of human beings. That meals should he given at regular intervals, and that nothing should be eaten between them, is ot the utmost importance, for the habit of permitting children to eat candy, nuts, fruit, etc., indiscriminately, is as harmful as it unfortunately is common. Simplicity and regularity are essential in feeding children, and the mother who, through ignorance or carelessness, disregards these two rules, may be sure that her innocent children will, sooner or later, suffer for her sin.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

In endeavoring to give in a brief space and a familiar way, advice which may practically help and teach the women into whose hands these papers may fall, I find that the subject of family life divides itself naturally into several branches, and in writing of them I shall give precedence to the one which is ©f invariable and permanent importance, viz., the care of children. I put this first, because the first fifteen or sixteen years of the life of a man or woman determine largely what his or her character is to be, and it is over these first fifteen or sixteen years that parents, and especially mothers, have almost unlimited control. The physical care of the child during this period usually devolves entirely upon the mother, and it is to the ignorance of mothers that a large proportion of the deaths among children under five years old is due. Children who are born healthy can easily be kept so by obedience to a few simple laws, and even delicate children will often become healthy adults, if properly cared for during the first years of life. A baby from the time of its birth until it is twelve months old should always, if possible, be nursed by its mother, for in this way only can it obtain food which is natural, and, therefore, entirely safe. In cases where this is impossible, cow's or goat's milk diluted with lime water is the best substitute ; and after a baby is seven or eight months old, simple preparations of wheat flour, rice, crackers, etc., may be used, but always in small quantities and with great care. Indeed, until a baby has safely passed its first year, all but the simplest food should be prohibited, but after that age it is well, if the child is healthy, to begin with a variety of light food, as potatoes, eggs, bread and butter, meat broths, simple preparations of the various grains, a little fruit, etc., gradually increasing the variety and quantity of the food given, but being always exceedingly careful to give nothing rich or indigestible, and to closely watch the condition of the stomach and bowels. During all the years of growth a child's food should be nutritive and easily digested, and, even with very small means, a careful and thoughtful mother can provide such food for her family. Fish, meat, vegetables and fruit, plainly cooked, that is, boiled, broiled or roasted, without much grease or spice, cold, or better still, stale bread of Graham flour, wheat flour or corn meal, eggs, milk, sugar or molasses in small quantities, hominy, rice, etc., can each and all be safely eaten by children over three years of age : and from such food, given always at regular times and in proper quantities, nature can be trusted to build up the healthy bodies which are so essential to the happiness of human beings. That meals should he given at regular intervals, and that nothing should be eaten between them, is ot the utmost importance, for the habit of permitting children to eat candy, nuts, fruit, etc., indiscriminately, is as harmful as it unfortunately is common. Simplicity and regularity are essential in feeding children, and the mother who, through ignorance or carelessness, disregards these two rules, may be sure that her innocent children will, sooner or later, suffer for her sin.

On habits and manners