environment depends upon the health of its mother and the quality of the
blood she is feeding it upon. After birth its health, its success, its
efficiency, depends upon the care it gets and the quality of its mother's
milk. A mother therefore must be in good physical and mental health if she
hopes to do her full duty as a mother.

QUALIFICATIONS OF A NURSERY MAID.--When a helper, or maid, is employed to
aid in caring for the baby, much precaution should be exercised in
selecting her. The association of the nursery maid and the child, is
necessarity an intimate one, and she should be willing to submit to a
medical examination to prove her physical fitness. Her lungs should be
examined thoroughly, so also should the condition of her mouth, throat and
nose be known. An observant and tactful mother will also find out if there
are any other objectionable conditions existing, which would render her
unfit for the position. A nursery maid should be naturally fond of
children, she should be industrious, and sensible; of quiet tastes and good
disposition. Her work should be a pleasure not a task.

* * * * *

[131]
CHAPTER XI

CONVALESCING AFTER CONFINEMENT

THE SECOND CRITICAL PERIOD IN THE YOUNG WIFE'S LIFE--THE DOMESTIC
PROBLEM FOLLOWING THE FIRST CONFINEMENT.

The first three or four months following the first confinement is the
second important period in the young wife's life. In one sense it is the
most critical period. The first important period you will remember we
stated to be the first few months after marriage. During these months the
young wife passed through the period of adaptation. She found out that
matrimony was not all sunshine and happiness. She learned that her husband
was not the paragon she had idealized. She discovered his human side. She
met daily trials and annoyances incident to domestic life. She found her
level, and, in finding it, she discovered herself. She is not very safely
anchored yet but she is trying to succeed and the future promises well.
Some day she awakes to the knowledge that she is pregnant and a multitude
of new speculations enter into the situation. She finds she must go on
striving and hoping and praying that she may have the strength and courage
to do her part. Time passes, and if she is an ordinary woman she scarcely
does justice to herself. Her duties are exacting, and