a small foot cultivated by the use of
tight shoes.

2401. Nursemaids would do well to repeat to the parents
faithfully and truly the defects they observe in the
dispositions of very young children. If properly checked in
time, evil propensities may be eradicated; but this should not
extend to anything but serious defects; otherwise, the intuitive
perceptions which all children possess will construe the act
into "spying" and "informing," which should never be resorted to
in the case of children, nor, indeed, in any case.

2402. Such are the cares which devolve upon the nursemaid, and it is her
duty to fulfil them personally. In large establishments she will have
assistants proportioned to the number of children of which she has the
care. The under nursemaid lights the fires, sweeps, scours, and dusts
the rooms, and makes the beds; empties slops, and carries up water;
brings up and removes the nursery meals; washes and dresses all the
children, except the infant, and assists in mending. Where there is a
nursery girl to assist, she does the rougher part of the cleaning; and
all take their meals in the nursery together, after the children of the
family have done.

2403. In smaller families, where there is only one nursemaid kept, she
is assisted by the housemaid, or servant-of-all-work, who will do the
rougher part of the work, and carry up the nursery meals. In such
circumstances she will be more immediately under the eye of her
mistress, who will probably relieve her from some of the cares of the
infant. In higher families, the upper nurse is usually permitted to sup
or dine occasionally at the housekeeper's table by way of relaxation,
when the children are all well, and her subordinates trustworthy.

2404. Where the nurse has the entire charge of the nursery, and the
mother is too much occupied to do more than pay a daily visit to it, it
is desirable that she be a person of observation, and possess some
acquaintance with the diseases incident to childhood, as also with such
simple remedies as may be useful before a medical attendant can be
procured, or where such attendance is not considered necessary. All
these little ailments are preceded by symptoms so minute as to be only
perceptible to close observation; such as twitching of the brows,
restless sleep, grinding the gums, and, in some inflammatory diseases,
even to the child abstaining from crying, from fear of the increased
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