early all talk_. The daughter's treatment soon underwent a special
scrutiny, and was found "wanting."

"Has the doctor ordered my daughter no milk punch?" she said to the
attendants. "Not a drop," they replied. She raised both hands in
astonishment. "How, then," she asked, "can the ninny expect she can ever
have any nourishment for that _boy_?" The attendants could not inform
her. "The doctor," they said, "gave reasons," but they could not fully
understand them.

"He did not probably understand them himself," said she. "There are no
reasons against it, I am confident. It is only a notion of his. These
young doctors are always full of their book wisdom. Why, a little
experience is worth a whole world full of theories. Now _I_ know--and so
does every other person who has nursed children--that a little milk
punch, in these cases, is necessary. Not a great deal, it is true; but a
little, just enough to give the system strength. Nature is weak in these
cases. I wish some of these young doctors themselves were obliged to
endure the trials we have to endure, and we should see whether they
could get along with no drink but cold water!"

The rebellion soon reached the daughter's ears, who, till now, had
confided in the "doctor's" prescription, and was doing well. She was
soon as uneasy with things as they were, as her mother and the nurse and
the neighbors. The husband was not of the clique; but then he was one of
those good-natured men who leave every thing to their wives; and though
they may not fully approve of every thing that is attempted, will yet do
and refrain from doing many things for the sake of peace. He interposed
no veto on the present occasion.

The mother, in short, soon reigned "sole monarch," and proceeded to
issue from her imperial throne, the sage decree that a little milk punch
must be made. Judith, the nurse, was to have it prepared so and so, and
she would herself administer it. Only just so many spoonfuls of rum must
be added to the tumbler of milk and water, and just so much sugar. It
must be weak, the decree said.

Mrs. D. drank freely of the punch, because her mother told her that it
would do her good. True, she asked after the first swallow, "what will
the doctor say to this?" but her mother bade her be quiet, she would see
to all that. "It is made very weak," said the mother, "on purpose for
you; drink of it a little and often. It will be both food and drink to
you. It will be good for the babe,