they grow up. The nervous child, as it grows up, is quite
likely to be erratic, emotional, indecisive, and otherwise easily
influenced by his associates and environment.

Nervous children are more highly suggestible than others, and if they
have not been taught to control their appetites and desires, their
wants and passions, they are going to form an especially susceptible
class of society from which may be recruited high-class criminals,
dipsomaniacs, and other unfortunates.

It is true that any spoiled child, however normal its heredity, may
turn out bad in these respects if it is not properly trained; but what
we are trying to accomplish here is to emphasize to parents that the
nervous child is doubly prone to go wrong and suffer much sorrow in
after life if he is not early and effectively taught self-control.

UNSPOILING THE CHILD

If the child of nervous tendencies forms the habit of crying, sulking,
or otherwise misbehaving when it is denied its desires, or when
something it wants done is not immediately attended to, it will be
found an excellent plan simply to stand still and let the little
fellow have it out with himself, in the meanwhile kindly reminding him
to say, "please mamma," "please papa," etc. I well remember one
nervous little girl who would yell at the top of her voice and become
black in the face the moment she wanted a door opened or anything
else. A few weeks of patience and firmness on the part of the mother
entirely cured her of this unbecoming trait.

As a rule, it will be found best not to argue with the nervous child.
The moment your commands are not heeded, when you have admonished the
child once or twice without effect, take him quickly to the crib or
the nursery and there leave him alone, isolated, until he is in a
state of mind to manifest a kindly spirit and an obedient disposition.
It is an excellent plan quietly and quickly to deprive such children
of their pleasures temporarily, in order to produce thoughtfulness;
and these methods are often more efficacious than the infliction of
varying degrees of pain under the guise of punishment.

Nervous children must be taught to go to sleep by themselves. They are
not to be rocked or allowed to hold the hand of the mother or the
caretaker. The nervous baby should not be encouraged to exhibit its
cuteness for the delectation of the family or the amusement of
strangers and visitors. He should be especially trained in early and
regular