ic as the Mind of a Little Child, and that it is
perfectly appalling how we fill it with trivial absurdities that haven't
even the virtue of being accurate. So that's why we're trying to be so
careful with Baby. You didn't mind my speaking, I know, Aunt Hannah."

"Oh, no, of course not, Billy," retorted Aunt Hannah, a little tartly,
and with a touch of sarcasm most unlike her gentle self. "I'm sure
I shouldn't wish to fill this infant's plastic mind with anything so
appalling as trivial inaccuracies. May I be pardoned for suggesting,
however," she went on as the baby's whimper threatened to become a lusty
wail, "that this young gentleman cries as if he were sleepy and hungry?"

"Yes, he is," admitted Billy.

"Well, doesn't your system of scientific training allow him to be given
such trivial absurdities as food and naps?" inquired the lady, mildly.

"Of course it does, Aunt Hannah," retorted Billy, laughing in spite of
herself. "And it's almost time now. There are only a few more minutes to
wait."

"Few more minutes to wait, indeed!" scorned Aunt Hannah. "I suppose the
poor little fellow might cry and cry, and you wouldn't set that clock
ahead by a teeny weeny minute!"

"Certainly not," said the young mother, decisively. "My 'Daily Guide for
Mothers' says that a time for everything and everything in its time, is
the very A B C and whole alphabet of Right Training. He does everything
by the clock, and to the minute," declared Billy, proudly.

Aunt Hannah sniffed, obviously skeptical and rebellious. Alice Greggory
laughed.

"Aunt Hannah looks as if she'd like to bring down her clock that strikes
half an hour ahead," she said mischievously; but Aunt Hannah did not
deign to answer this.

"How long do you rock him?" she demanded of Billy. "I suppose I may do
that, mayn't I?"

"Mercy, I don't rock him at all, Aunt Hannah," exclaimed Billy.

"Nor sing to him?"

"Certainly not."

"But you did--before I went away. I remember that you did."

"Yes, I know I did," admitted Billy, "and I had an awful time, too.
Some evenings, every single one of us, even to Uncle William, had to
try before we could get him off to sleep. But that was before I got my
'Efficiency of Mother and Child,' or my 'Scientific Training,' and, oh,
lots of others. You see, I didn't know a thing then, and I loved to rock
him, so I did it--though the nurse said it wasn't good for him; but I
didn't believe _her_. I've had an awful time changing; bu