Sponsors.—­The baby’s sponsors are chosen, by the parents’ agreement, from among their relatives and close friends, almost always those of their own communion.  The request is preferred verbally or by personal notes.  A boy has a godmother and two godfathers; a girl two godmothers and a godfather.  Occasionally this rule is broken and a godmother alone chosen for a girl, and one godfather for a boy.  Godparents are supposed to stand in a more intimate relation to their godchildren than to others, and to take a more personal interest in them, especially in case of the parents’ death.  It is a serious relation, involving a certain religious responsibility, and is not to be lightly entered into.

The godparents are expected to make christening gifts to the child on his baptismal day.  They are usually in the form of silver cups, porringers, silver spoons, forks, etc.; these should be solid, never plated ware.  If the babe is named for one of its godparents, the latter is expected to do something handsome in the way of a christening gift.  Sometimes a bank account is opened in the child’s name, the sum deposited being left at interest until he becomes of age.

Church Christenings.—­At a church christening, the babe is dressed in its handsomest robe and cap.  Formerly the robes were very long and miracles of lace and embroidery; at present the finest of linen lawn or batiste, with a little real lace at neck and sleeves, and a bit of fine French embroidery, is thought in better taste, even in the case of the very wealthy.  And many a blessed baby is given his name in a simple little lawn robe with no embellishment beyond a little tucking—­done by the mother’s own hands, perhaps.

The nurse carries the child into the church.  Sponsors and parents group themselves around the font, which is often decorated with white flowers.  The godmother has the privilege of holding the babe until it is time to lay him in the clergyman’s arms, the cap having been removed.  The parents make the responses; after the naming the godmother takes the little one again, holding him until the close of the service.  She should not wipe away any of the water placed on the child’s head.  A good baby is expected not to cry during the ceremony, and one advantage of an early christening is that the little fellow is less liable to be alarmed at strange surroundings.

The same forms are observed at a home christening, the hour being usually in the afternoon.

[Manners and social customs 749]

A luncheon to which the clergyman and the christening party, and a few friends if desired, are invited, customarily follows the church ceremony—­unless several children of other families are baptized at the same time—­and always follows the home christening.  It is not unusual to make some recognition of a clergyman’s services at a church christening, and always is in order at the home rite, though it is not expected as a clergyman counts on his wedding fee.