[There is plenty of misery which can not be helped. The world is full of it. But what so pitiful as unnecessary sorrow! Marion Harland, in the October Babyhood, tells us how by our thoughtless teasing of little children we bring misery where it need not come. Let her true, keen words open our eyes to our cruelty.]
The domestic tease commences operation upon Baby almost as soon as he is born. When he can recognize his playthings as desirable objects he has handled and would like to have again, they are alternately offered to and withdrawn from him; held just beyond his grasp, while he is incited to strain and spring for them, until the tremble of the chin, or an angry scream, announces the exhaustion of patience. I have seen a hungry six-months-old tantalized by the sight of his full bottle danced up and down before him. His starting eyes, the wide mouth, like that of a callow nestling, his futile leaps and eager calls, bore witness to his frantic desire and afforded genuine amusement to the lookers-on, the mother joining in the laugh. Up to this age the infant wants nothing so much as food. The craving stomach is his vulnerable point. Hence the aim of the Tease. The only harm done is to worry the child now and make him irritable in future.
Opportunities for the exercise of the jester's art thicken as Baby grows apace.
