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Entered at Second-Class Postage Rates. ■ A JOURNAL OF LITERATURE AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY. PUBLISHED MONTHLY. Athens, Ga., Dec., 1888. Edited by KATE GARLAND, ASSISTED BY THE BEST TALENT IN THE COUNTRY. Subscription price, CO cents a year. Great inducements to club-raisers. Send for our terms to agents and make money. ADVERTISING RATES. Subject to Monthly Change. Sixty cents per inch each insertion. The increase in circulation during a six months or yearly contract, amounts to a very liberal difference in favor of the steady advertiser. Twelve lines nonpareil type make one inch. A column is fourteen inches. Copy should be received by the 20th of each month for the following month’s issue. Orders may be sent direct, or through any responsible advertising agency. Communications intended for editorial depart ment should be addressed to the Editress, at Athens, Georgia. Ail subscriptions and business communica tions should be addressed to T. L. Mitchell, Publisher and Proprietor. Athens. Ga. To each and all who have aided us in any way—by encouraging words, by sub scriptions or by contributions —we extend our heartfelt thanks. In commencing our second volume, the incentives for increased effort to please our readers and promote home comfort and happiness, are greater than ever. Again the grandest season of all the year for the Christian world has come. Joy ous, because it brings festivity and merri ment, glorious for what it commemorates, it is the anthem of the year, bringing rest and peace, as the benediction that follows prayer. Is it not a glorious thought, that once in a year, the heart of the great world can give one throb in unison, and that a throb of love! That once, the busy work-a-day life can pause, and think and feel what a beautiful thing is love—that love which was given with the blood of a Savior—that Heaven-sent gift to man, one touch of which will lift the most fallen and give to them something of the Divine? At this time let it reign supreme, not only for our very own, but for all creatures. Where there are tears on this day, let the radiance of love touch them and cast a bow of hope and faith across the clouded sky of a troubled heart. The knowledge of a gift so pure, Sb sweet, so grand, that it can never be taken from us, but will live and burn and grow more perfect and beautiful through all eternity, is enough to penetrate the deepest gloom cast by any sorrow. And those who have only cause to smile and be glad at this Christmas-tide,the smile should grow gentle and more tender, and the joy be mellowed by a sympathy for those who are lonely and forsaken; who are hungry and are not fed. In all mirth let there be praise; in rejoicing, thankfulness. Woman’s Work, with its kind greetings for Christmas and good wishes for the New Year, sends something that is deeper and better than what these conventional com pliments convey:— “I wish for you the gladness That conquers pain or sadness, The rest and peace of feeling That Christ is always near ; And wishing this, 1 wish for you, The gladdest, happiest year.” “Glimpses of Sunshine in Woman’s Cen tury” is the title of a neat little bo k from our valued contributor, Mrs. Carrie M. Ashton, Rockford, 111. Those desiring the opinions of distinguished individuals on the subject of woman’s suffrage, will be pleased with this compilation. Price, 50 cent*. This is our second Christmas with some friends and the first with many others. Woman’s Work is again sent to you for your pleasure and profit, and we cordially invite you to abide with us another year. Not only stay yourself, but bring all your friends with you, so that when the next holiday season comes the number of friends and subscribers will be increased ten-fold. Be sure that the more there are, the mer rier it will be. If you want the paper that is devoted to your interests and entertainment, to suc ceed and grow even more admirable and more meritorious than it now is. give it your help and support, and the result is unquestionable. All that is done to in crease the circulation and popularity of Woman’s Work, helps to give you a better paper. Os its substantial worth there is no doubt, but we wish a rich prosperity to bring with it an additional elegance and finish. Will you help do this for us and your selves by sending new subscriptions for the coming year? And now the “Brightest Baby.” Which one is entitled to the medal for 1888? We are ready to present it, and desire all to be satisfied with the manner of presentation. Let every one who sent matter that has appeared in “Bright Babies,” write us and express a preference of methods for deciding the contest. Shall it be deter mined by one or two idividuals, or left to a vote of our readers ? If the former, name the lady or gentleman in Georgia to whom you wish the matter submitted. If you prefer the latter plan we will call for a vote of subscribers in our January issue, and the result will appear in our February number. Os these two plans the one re ceiving the largest vote will be adopted; and if an individual is to decide, the one receiving the most votes will be chosen. The letter expressing preierence must reach the publisher on or before January 15, 1888. If you vote for an individual we prefer a person of prominence either in Athens or Atlanta, as we can more con veniently reach them. Be sure to vote at once if you have had something in the “Bright Baby” column. OUR CONTRIBUTORS. We give to our readers this month a portrait of Mrs. F. M. Howard. We are glad to do this, for she has spoken to us well and pleasantly through the columns of Woman’s Work. In a recent letter from our esteemed friend and contributor, Maude Meredith, she says: “Mrs. Howard is happily mar ied to a gentleman of high mental endow ments and congenial tastes, and has three beautiful children now living. “She is, first and foremost, always the loving wife and mother, and perfect house keeper ; after that the writer who has made her name and productions well known and appreciated in countless homes. Although she had written almost from childhood, it was not until 1886 that Mrs. Howard began her regular work fur the press—her entire time having been de voted to her home duties. “During a visit from her friend and for mer classmate--Mrs. Amory, now a popular lowa writer—her interest in literary work was renewed and she has since contributed to many of our leading publications. In a letter to me she once said: “In writing 1 usually take my subjects from real life and so tar, I have found so much that is really path itic or ludicrous in the lives around me that I have not been obliged to do but very little purely imagi native writing. When 1 see thevastreach of topics and experiences before me I feel as if I could , write a life time and not touch them all 1” ’ W’e are sure our readers will appreciate this introduction to Mrs. Howard, both for her individual merit and because she is cne of the much loved Woman’s Work circle. By circle we do not mean that the num ber is complete and the ranks closed. There is room for all to join and we hope to see it glow to many times its present proportions.” “Rosa,” a pure and entertaining serial will commence in Woman s Work early next year. Charming and ennobling, vi vacious and pathetic, it appeals with equal , power to the heart and fancy. It belongs to the highest class of fiction, and will be a rare treat to the reading public. . We | hope to add many thousand subscribers be fore the opening chapters appear. Let our readers make a general informa tion bureau of the Correspondence depart ment, in which all may feel free to ask and answer questions. What more valuable feature could a home paper possess? Can’t write for Woman’s Work? Did you ever try? You won’t find it very difficult, and your favorite recipe, or meth od of doing something to add to the brightness or comfort of home may help some one out of a difficulty. If you know nothing to tell, suppose you ask for some information and thus afford an opportunity for others to express themselves. For Woman’s Work. RULES FOR NURSING THE INFANT. NO. 3. BY ABRM. LIVF.ZEY A. M., M. D„ YARD LEY. PA. From the very first moment the infant is applied to the breast, it is essential t<> its well-being that it be nurs'd upon a fixed plan. Regularity is as essential to the mother’s health as it is to that of the infant. In most instances, the child will be able from the first to derive sufficient nourish ■ment from its mother’s breast, except per haps, in first confinements, where a de ficiency may exist for three or four days, which must be supplied by an artificial diet as closely resembling the breast-milk as possible. This is obtained by taking of healthy young cow’s milk one-third and boiling water two-thirds, slightly sweeten ing the mixture with granulated sugar. A few spoonfuls (not a half tea-cupful) of this are to begin—not by the medium of a spoon and thus spoil the infant at once—but through a nursing bottle, so as to secure I the delicate little stomach against repletion. • It will not be apt to suck more than it re quires, while much more than is for its good may be forced upon it through the pleasure or thoughtesslness of a nurse or newly-made auntie. Besides, the act of suckingpromotes the flow of saliva, and its mixture with the milk being taken,is very necessary for the promptand easy digestion of the same. At tention to this single and simple point alone I will often prevent subsequent derangement of the stomach,such as acidity, flatulence and colic. When the breast milk is fully es tablished, all artificial foods are to be put aside and henceforward the child is to be nourished from the breast alone. The most fruitful source of disease and I the larger portion of the suffering and mortality of infantile life is improper man- ! agement in relation to nursing and diet. For the first week or ten days, the desires | of the infant as manifested by it, may guide j the mother in some measure as to the fre- 5 quency of nursing—remembering only, that J the stomach is small and feeble, and unac- 1 customed to food; its wants easily satisfied for the present, but requiring frequent re newal. But alter a period of ten days or a fortnight, until the end of the lying-in month, an interval of three hours should elapse between each nursing. This length of time is necessary for each fresh supply to become digested and to allow a little rest to the stomach, preparatory to the re ception and digestion of the next. Fret fulness and the constant cry incident to some nurseries, wherein the breast is ever and anon being given the babes, are thus avoided. The young mother must not pursue a contrary course and give the breast every half hour, and thus keep the stomach of her babe overloaded, which will soon cause indigestion, disorderthe bowels, excite fever, and if persisted in, may ultimately destroy its life. After a month or two, the mother can (and should) do away with the night nurs ing altogether, at least between the hours of ten p in. until five a. m. and she will find this course redound both to her health and her babes. “ Sleep is as necessary for the restoration of strength as nourishment itself, and the deprivation of it will soon diminish and deteriorate the quantity and quality of the mother’s milk, and sometimes will drive it away altogether.” It the mother be an ordinarily healthfu' woman, she will in general be capable o' supplying all the nourishment that the ■ babe needs until the appearance of the first teeth, without any assistance from “ Infant Foods ” or from the table, at which the child should never be placed for months yet to come. After the first teeth appear, if the moth er’s milk is not in good supply or if the babe is not thriving well, a little artificial food—as Reed and Carnrick’s Soluble Food or Lactated Food, or good fresh cow’s milk with a little farinaceous food of any kind, may be given twice a day. Much care should be taken that the ves sel is clean and sweet, in which the food is prepared—that quantity given at first be small— that the child be fed slowly—the quantity increased month by month, while the breast is offered less frequently, and thus prepare for weaning without inconve nience or injury. A BABY’S DIARY. Impressions of a Stranger Just Ushered Into This Existence. First Day.— Wonderful; heavenly ! At last lam really in the world ! Who would have thought that one could breathe so freely and cry out so loud! lam curious to see if all will be as 1 dreamed. How I shall enjoy the sunshine, the blue sky, and the fresh, pure air that will cool my heated skin ! Oh. if I might only see and feel them now ! Second Day.— What a dreadful heat! How disappointed I am! This air, this water, this light—how different it all is from what I imagined. Paiience! I shall be better off after a while. This old woman who nurses me doesn’t seem to understand me at all. Fifth Day.—No deliverance yet! If it goes on like this I can’t hold out much lon ger. The whole live-long day I lie smoth ered in feathers. I can scarcely get a breath of air. lam bound up in one wool en and two linen swaddling-bands ; then a little skirt and a worsted jacket are put on to me. lam placed on a long feather pil low, and a feather coverlet is laid over me. The hangings of my crib are closely drawn, double curtains darken the room, and the windows are tightly shut, and there I, poor little creature, must lie from morn to eve. My glowing skin is even worse off than the stove beside me, for that can give off its heat. Oh! if I knew what to do. It I cry,that old woman gives me hot milk to drink, and I am hotter than before. If my hands feel cold, because my head is burn ing, that cruel nurse brings a pair of feath er pillows for them. lam ready to die with pain. I turn my half-closed eyes from side to side seeking some escape, and my tormentor says. “ The child is shiver ing, he needs more warmth;” and she catches up the thickest blanket she can find, heats it on the stove and throws it over me. Is no one coming to help me? Tenth Day.—Another fearful night! The air is stifling! I cry my best, but no one understands me. I must drink, drink, and drink again until I overflow. This morning I was longing for my bath, hop ing it might be a little cooler than usual. They began to undo me, but all at once they bound me up again and put me in that horrible pillow. The nurse was fright ened about something, and off she sent for the doctor. He came and looked at me in my pillowy grave, and—did nothing to help me, although I looked at him most pitifully and tried so hard to tell him of my suffer ings. Half an hour later I had to swallow a spoonful of nasty sweet stuff that smelt horribly; that was to do my poor stomach good. Air, air, fresh, cool air ; light, wa ter! Shall I never know them in this world ? Twelfth Day.—Well! It can’t last much longer! There was a grand conclave of all my aunts and female cousins yester day ; each had a new remedy for me, and all agreed that a cold was the cause of my illness. They ordered tnat I should be kept warm; they gave me prepared food and some strong wine that went through my heated brain and made me like one dead. They bound a flannel tightly around my stomach so that after every spoonful of food I had to throw some off. My legs were drawn down straight and fastened tightly so that I could not even draw them up to ease my aching stomach a little. lam gradually becoming insensible. Oh! that it may only be soon over. Thirteenth Day.—Farewell thou beau tiful world! Thy light, thine air have not been given me. lam going to where there are no bands, and all are free. The above needs no comment. Though there is something ludicrous in putting such words in the mouth of a baby, they are so true a picture of what we see every day that many an observant and intelli gent mother will feel much more like cry ing than laughing, wheh she reads the sad •* Farewell ” of the little one, who perished for the want of light and air, and from injudicious drugging.