\7ocabu lar v x*> jsP f O*~ ^^ - or ^^HA \bantffather5 %9 <^ UC-NRLF GIFT OF Harry East Miller y, X- /? Pit-t e e! A VOCABULARY FOR YOUNG FATHERS BY O. N. E. [Compounded and compiled after the most careful researches into the psychology governing the telepathic interpretation of infantile intelligence.] Illustrations from life by ESTHER P. HILL NEW YORK DODGE PUBLISHING COMPANY 214=220 EAST 230 STREET t c. \c\ o f Copyright, 1908, by Dodge Publishing Co. [VOCABULARY 6] CAST A VOCABULARY FOR YOUNG FATHERS IT has often occurred to me, and I dare say it has occurred to many other young fathers, that in this age of the making of many books the most crying need has been strangely overlooked. Where in the lengthy lists of Books of the Hour", can one find a guide for the illumination of the understanding of mere man as to the meaning of the uncouth and cryptic utterances of his infant offspring? Mothers have no need of this [7] M81818 FOR YOUNG FATHERS A * FOR VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS assistance. Nature seems to have pro- vided them and indeed, grand- mothers, aunts, nurses and other females, as well with an instructive bibliography on this subject, by which they interpret fearlessly and instan- taneously the gummy outpourings of infantile intelligence. Feeling that light on this re- condite subject will be widely appre- ciated and that its popularity will at once place it at the head of the " Six Best Sellers," the author has under- taken to compile a number of the simpler and more common phrases and their meanings ; and cheerfully dedicates this effort to the inexperi- enced of his kind. [9] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS GOO. This is usually the first word attempted and the meaning de- pends largely upon the inflection, the time uttered and the persons present. (a) If delivered with a smile and a gurgling accent after eating, is an ex- pression ^{content. (b) Attended by persistent closing of eyelids denotes a desire for slumber, (c) If accent seems dry and throaty, with note of impa- tience, denotes hunger. (Fathers who are left in charge should note the in- flection carefully, as an upward choking inflection, accompanied by a strained look about the eyes, invariably indicates a desire to relieve an overcharged meal ticket. Inattention to this shade of meaning A VOCABULARY FOR YOUN& FATHERS results in the purchase of a new suit.) Must not be confounded with AH-GOO, which is strictly a word of greeting and bestowed ex- clusively on mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females. [13] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS MA-MA. This is also one of the first words used and is considered a sign of most remarkable intelli- gence, (a) Usually a term of endear- ment) applied to mother, grand- mother, aunt, nurse or other females. (b) Sometimes indicates contentment, pleasure, hunger or physical discom- fort. Must not be confounded with [15] A VOCABULARY FOR YOUNG FATHERS DA-DA, which is confined to a form of greeting to father, to dogs or to the nursing bottle. [17] -A FOR VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS BOO. Girl babies usually add this word early to their vocabulary. (a) It means boy. (b) When uttered by a boy baby is interpreted as "bow- wow," or dog. Used by both sexes to ask for bread^ nursing bottle or baby buggy^ to express appreciation of the beautiful and to indicate the pre- sence of a pain. (c) It is also inter- preted, when uttered with a playful inflection, to mean a desire to engage in game with father ; as alternately raising and lowering newspaper and repeating the word with sportive or pretended force. (d) This word also means book if the child's eyes or hands rest in the near or even remote vicinity of a volume. [19] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS BY-BY. This phrase is one of the most widely comprehensive in the whole infant vocabulary. Its mean- ing depends entirely upon surround- ing circumstances. (a) It sometimes means a desire to walk, to ride^ to accompany a visitor home, to don a cap and coat, to go to sleep^ or to drag a small cart by a string. Even mothers^ grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females sometimes find difficulty in determining the meaning of this utterance, (b) Accompanied by waving of hands means fare- well." (c) Sometimes the whole range of definitions is tried without satisfying the infant, thus proving that [21] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS this term is not yet clearly under- stood in its entirety. BAY-BAY. Baby, Biscuit. Where the child is allowed to suck a strip of bacon attached to cord around its neck, indicates a desire for the tid-bit. [23] A VOCABULARY FOR Y FATHERS NAN-NAN. May mean grand- mother^ aunt y nurse or any female ex- cept mother. [25] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS WAW-WAW. Water. Usually a nocturnal expression, seeming to be especially suited to the hours of three to five A. M. This night-thirst is one of the most mysterious demands of complex nature and has been the subject of much discussion, the con- census of opinion among fathers many of them eminent scientific authorities - - regarding it as a mere habit, while mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females invar- iably insist that it is a firmly-fixed principle of child nature, which it would be cruel to eradicate by disciplinary methods. It may be well to note that it is advisable, when complying with request for drink, to maintain strict [27] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS watch on cup and contents, as a few drops on infant's person at this time results, with startling quickness, in a croupy cough. Often confounded with WAW, which is a convivial form of greeting, conforming to our "hello/' Must not be confounded with WOW, which expresses pain, surprise, remorse or disgust, according to emphasis or inflection. [29] A VOCABULARY FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS PIT-TEE. The acquirement of this word marks an advance in brain power and cunning. It is usually pronounced with a guileless look and an expression of gleeful enthusiasm, the hands outstretched confidingly toward some cherished but fragile ob- ject of art. If allowed to grasp the article, the infant gazes upon it for one fleeting moment then swiftly dashes it to the floor and as earnestly as before requests something else. [31] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YODN& FATHERS UNH-UNH. This expression has two distinct significations. (a) If uttered while in charge of mother, grandmother, aunt, nurse or other female denotes a wish to partake of a repast, but (b) if in father's care that said parent's thumbs, elbows, knees, coat-buttons or other appurtenances are in too close proximity to certain portions of infant anatomy peculiarly susceptible to such pressure. Young fathers are exhorted to exercise par- ticular watchfulness in this regard, as carelessness, or ignorance, results in bruises, welts, contusions, which, while invisible to masculine eyes, are pro- nounced by mothers, grandmothers, [33] A VOCABULARY FOR YOUN& FATHERS aunts, nurses or other females to be the greatest torture to the tender in- fant constitution. \ [35] A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS POO. Does not, as some may suppose, indicate contempt or impa- tience. Is a request for spoon or other article, which, if pounded inside of crib or chair, will produce noise. Is frequently uttered at night, im- mediately after requests for water and food have been complied with. There is no rule known to fathers for the controlling of the granting or refusing of this demand. Mothers, grand- mothers, aunts, nurses and other females hold a special sitting of court each time, weighing actuating motives, mitigating circumstances, probable consequences and similar considera- tions, generally giving verdict in favor of compliance. [37] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS BLUB-BLUB. One of the most striking phrases in the infantile vocab- ulary. Is accompanied by blowing of small bubbles between lips and is instantaneously followed by violent ejections of the food last partaken of. So far as is known, no father has yet been able to interpret the bubbling phenomenon quickly enough to avoid disaster to clothes, carpets, curtains and furniture within a radius of six feet, but it is hoped that a close study and faithful application of the defini- tions here set forth will lead to ultimate dexterity in the interpretation of this call. In this connection it may be noted, as an instance of sex superiority, that mothers, grandmothers, aunts, [39] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A VOCABULARY FOR YOUN& FATHERS no nurses and other females find difficulty in diverting the aforemen- tioned outpouring into safe channels. [41] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YODN& FATHERS YUM. The first hearing of this word by inexperienced fathers is apt to recall tender sentiments of the days of ardent courtship, but further observation will develop the fact that this word, as an infanticism, is merely an expression of animal satisfaction, and ordinarily follows the relinquish- ing of a semi-yielding substance, as a rubber nipple. This sound resembles the pop of a puckered rose leaf on the forehead. [43] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YODN& FATHERS BED or BET. Usually uttered in an imperative tone and reiterated, with increasing emphasis, until after a trial of every bed in the house, ringing all the bells, collecting all the belts, and finding none of these suc- cessful in reducing the violence of the demand, the bread box is acciden- tally stumbled upon. A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS DAM. At the risk of shocking some mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females, this word is included in this aid to paternal understanding, owing to its simplicity, it is caught by the infant mind with astonishing ease and retained and used with marvelous faithfulness. It is generally the first word of unadulter- ated, every day form used by a child left much in its father's care. [47] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS DAM-PA. An alarming word, whose suspiciousness is only allayed by the pointing of finger or other unequivocal corroboratory action in direction of grandfather. [49] FOR YOUNG FATHERS A p FOR VOCABULARY J YOUNG FATHERS It is hoped that the exposition of these few words may shed light on the path of some few young fathers with intelligence and application sufficient to grasp their intricacies. A sub- sequent treatise will discourse of phrase combinations and whole sen- tences, tracing their derivations to archaic and obsolete roots. I 51 ADDENDA. Although this Vocabulary has very nearly covered the range of in- fantile utterances, the young father who has mastered its contents must not suppose himself completely equipped for the proper care of his offspring. There are numberless ex- pressions of countenance, which, to a mere man, seem on the surface to be plain indications of certain mental states, according to the verdict of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females, are mere heiro- glyphics, whose manifest form has no bearing on their spiritual interpreta- tions. Two courses are open to fathers [52] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YOUN& FATHERS who would rank high in domestic training either a long, appreciative study of the symbols under the tutor- ship of one of the aforementioned interpreters, or the committing to memory by rote a few of those rules which operate by the law of opposites. Heading this list is the prolonged wail accompanied by contortions of countenance expressive of the extrem- est anguish of mind or body. As it is difficult for a father to search for pins or the seat of pain in a squirm- ing anatomy, it is a relief to know that neither dandling nor petting is required to relieve this situation. Merely lay aside everything that per- tains or is conducive to personal [53] comfort or pleasure and take the child outdoors for a prolonged outing in directions which he will indicate. The air, the dirt, the birds, the neighbors and even strangers are full of interest to the little chap and a few hours of such diversion, unless hunger intervenes, will soothe him into angelic slumber. There are many minor desyllabized requests, such as fretting, crawling into fire- place, overturning work-basket, etc., which are translated by mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nurses and other females as " Bay-bay want to go by-by with Daddy." A smacking of lips indulged in during slumber need not be inter- [54] A p FOB VOCABULARY J YODN& FATHERS preted as imitative of paternal flirta- tions. Neither need you exert yourself to search the medicine closet merely lift infant and place in close proxim- ity to mother and you will find that, while the sounds seem to increase for a period, they will soon subside into peaceful-long-drawn breathing. There is no more appalling ethnicism than complete silence. A calm, serene face, a soul-searching gravity of gaze, unaccompanied by motion of any nature, strike terror to the ordinary understanding. A close comparison of cause and effect, how- ever, will show these to be nothing more than the sign of a full stomach. No attempt has been made to inter- [55] pret the continuous and monotonous babbling which even mothers, grand- mothers, aunts, nurses and other females admit to be a mere hereditary potentiality, shadowing the talking instinct. -A * FOR VOCABULARY J Y FATHERS THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. 27NOV6ILU , . ^ fcbt 5 2003 LD 21-100m-7,'4C THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 'TH BROS. k$. Kodaks ; >^v, Pictures