, slept, and sucked again. He crowed in the morning like a cock,
screamed when he was washed, stared at the candle, and made wry faces
with the wind. Six months passed in these innocent amusements, and then
he was put into shorts. But I ought here to have remarked, that Mrs
Easy did not find herself equal to nursing her own infant, and it was
necessary to look out for a substitute.

Now a commonplace person would have been satisfied with the
recommendation of the medical man, who looks but to the one thing
needful, which is a sufficient and wholesome supply of nourishment for
the child; but Mr Easy was a philosopher, and had latterly taken to
craniology, and he descanted very learnedly with the doctor upon the
effect of his only son obtaining his nutriment from an unknown source.
"Who knows," observed Mr Easy, "but that my son may not imbibe with his
milk the very worst passions of human nature."

"I have examined her," replied the doctor, "and can safely recommend
her."

"That examination is only preliminary to one more important," replied
Mr Easy. "I must examine her."

"Examine who, Mr Easy?" exclaimed his wife, who had lain down again on
the bed.

"The nurse, my dear."

"Examine what, Mr Easy?" continued the lady.

"Her head, my dear," replied the husband. "I must ascertain what her
propensities are."

"I think you had better leave her alone, Mr Easy. She comes this
evening, and I shall question her pretty severely. Dr Middleton, what
do you know of this young person?"

"I know, madam, that she is very healthy and strong, or I should not
have selected her."

"But is her character good?"

"Really, madam, I know little about her character; but you can make any
inquiries you please. But at the same time I ought to observe, that if
you are too particular in that point, you will have some difficulty in
providing yourself."

"Well, I shall see," replied Mrs Easy.

"And I shall feel," rejoined the husband.

This parleying was interrupted by the arrival of the very person in
question, who was announced by the housemaid, and was ushered in. She
was a handsome, florid, healthy-looking girl, awkward and naive in her
manner, and apparently not overwise; there was more of the dove than of
the serpent in her composition.

Mr Easy, who was very anxious to make his own discoveries, was the
first who spoke. "Young woman, come this way, I wish to examine your
head."

"Oh! dear me, sir, it's quite clea