KinSource - Tale of the Week

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Dispatch, June 6, 1895, p. 16

WIFEY WAS THERE,

And She Gave Him to Understand That He Could Not Hold the Baby Properly.

There is at least one thing about which a man knows absolutely nothing, and that is the taking care of a baby. If you don't believe it, ask any woman of your acquaintance, and she will tell you that a man knows no more about how to look after a baby than the average political knows about the financial question, and it's 16 to 1 that she's right. A striking instance of this was furnished on a Cass avenue car yesterday afternoon. A young couple got aboard at St. Louis avenue, the woman carrying two small valises, one umbrella, a box of lunch, a baby's cloak, a purse and a fare, and the man carefully handling a well wrapped up baby, apparently about 6 months old. When the man sat down he carefully placed the baby on his lap, only to be greeted with:

"Don't hold the baby that way -- that wind blowing in her face will give her the colic."

The baby was turned around so that its back was toward the front of the car.

"Now ain't you ashamed of yourself?" came from the woman. "Don't you know that riding backways will make her sick?"

Patiently the man shifted the little one, holding it this time up against his breast, so that its head rested on his shoulder. But the window behind him was open and the anxious one noticed it almost immediately.

"Don't you know any better than that? The wind is blowing right on her head and she will catch cold. Take her down right away."

Baby was taken down, and after a moment's thought, the man evidently anxious to do the right thing, but not knowing just how to do it, held the infant in front of him, its feet resting on his knees. The mother was busy adjusting her various belongings, but it did not take her long. She suddenly looked around and said testily:

"Now, haven't I told you often enough not to let her stand on her feet -- that is will make her bowlegged? Hold her right or let me have her."

The last suggestion seemed the only way out of it, so he started to hand the youngster over, but was interrupted with:

"No, you don't. You said if I'd go you would take care of her, and you have to do it."

But just then the little one began to cry and the mother reached for it, laid its face downwards on her lap and patted it on the back a few moments. The crying stopped, the man gave a sigh of relief and the reporter left the car.