-the-bye, don't let your children say parp-er and marm-er, as nine
children out of ten do. I daresay you never meant they should, having a
little mite of sense of your own. Now this is all a new mother ought
to read at once, so with lots of congratulations and thanksgivings,
good-bye.

The following is an extract from a letter to another friend, dated Feb.
20, 1875:

Your last letter was so eloquent in its happiness that in writing an
article for a magazine on the subject of education, I could not help
beginning "The King is coming," and depicting his heralds... I am indeed
rejoicing in your joy, and hope the little queen will long sit on the
right royal throne of your heart. Keep me posted as to Miss Baby's
progress. I know a family where the first son was called "Boy" for
years, the servants addressing him as "Master Boy."

Here are the opening sentences of the article referred to:

The King is at hand. Heralds have been announcing his advent in language
incomprehensible to man, but which woman understands as she does her
alphabet. A dainty basket, filled with mysteries half hidden, half
displayed; soft little garments, folded away in ranks and files; here
delicate lace and cambric; there down and feathers and luxury. The
King has come. Limp and pink, a nothing and nobody, yet welcomed and
treasured as everything and everybody, his wondrous reign begins.
His kingdom is the world. His world is peopled by two human beings.
Yesterday, they were a boy and a girl. To-day, they are man and woman,
and are called father and mother.

Their new King is imperious. He has his own views as to the way he shall
live and move and have his being. He has his own royal table, at which
he presides in royal pomp. His waiting-maid is refined and educated--his
superior in everyway. He takes his meals from her when he sees fit; if
he can not sleep, he will not allow her to do so. His treasurer is a man
whom thousands look up to, and reverence, but, in this little world,
he is valued only for the supplies he furnishes, the equipages he
purchases, the castle in which young royalty dwells. The picture is not
unpleasing, however; the slaves have the best of it, after all.

The reign is not very long. Two years later, there is a descent from the
throne, to make room for the Queen. She is a great study to him. He puts
his fingers into her eyes to learn if they are little blue lakelets. He
grows chivalrous and patronizing. So the world of hom