第8章

Thetumultsofalittlechild’spassionsofangerandgrief，growingfewerashegrowsolder，ratherincreasethanlessenintheirpainfulness。Thereisafullerconsciousnessofcompletecapitulationofallthechildishpowerstotheoverwhelmingcompulsionofanger。Thisisnottemptation；thewordistooweakfortheassaultofachild’spassionuponhiswill。Thatlittlewillistakencaptiveentirely，andbeforethechildwassevenheknewthatitwasso。Suchaconsciousnessleavesallbabyhoodbehindandcondemnsthechildtosuffer。Foracertainpassageofhislifeheisneitherunconsciousofevil，ashewas，norstrongenoughtoresistit，ashewillbe。Thetimeofthesubsidingofthetumultisbynomeanstheleastpitiableofthephasesofhumanlife。Happilytherecoveryfromeachtroubleisreadyandsure；sothatthechildwhohadbeenabandonedtonaughtinesswithallhiswillinanentireconsenttothegloomypossessionofhisanger，andwhohadlaterundergoneahaggardrepentance，hashiscaptivitysuddenlyturnedagain，"likeriversinthesouth。""Forgetit，"hehadwept，inakindofextremityofremorse；"forgetit，darling，anddon’t，don’tbesad；"anditishe，happily，whoforgets。Thewastedlookofhispalefaceiseffacedbythetouchofasinglecheerfulthought，andfiveshortminutescanrestoretheruin，asthoughabrokenlittleGermantownshouldinthetwinklingofaneyeberestoredasnoarchitectcouldrestoreit——shouldbemadefresh，strong，andtightagain，lookinglikeafullboxoftoys，asatownwaswonttolookinthenewdaysofold。

Whenhisruthlessangersarenotinpossessionthechildshowsthegrowthofthistardyreasonthat——quickened——ishereaftertodosomuchforhispeaceanddignity，bythesweetestconsideration。

Deniedasecondhandfulofstrawberries，andseeingquiteclearlythatthedenialwasenforcedreluctantly，hemakeshastetoreply，"Itdoesn’tmatter，darling。"Atanysuddennoiseinthehousehisbeautifulvoice，withallitslittledifficultiesofpronunciation，isheardwiththesedulousreassurance："It’sallright，mother，nobodyhurtedourselves！"Heisnotsurprisedsoastoforgetthisgentlelittleduty，whichwasneverrequiredofhim，butisofhisowndevising。

AccordingtotheopinionofhisdearandadmiredAmericanfriend，hesaysallthesethings，goodandevil，withanEnglishaccent；andattheAmericanplayhisEnglishaccentwasirrepressible。"It’stoocomic；no，it’stoocomic，"hecalledinhisenjoyment；beingtheonlyperfectlyfearlesschildintheworld，hewillnotconsenttotheconventionalshynessinpublic，whetherhebethememberofanaudienceorofacongregation，butmakeshimselfperceptible。Andevenwhenhehasadesperatethingtosay，inthemomentofabsoluterevolt——suchathingas"ICAN’Tlikeyou，mother，"whichanonhewillrecantwithconvulsionsofdistress——hehasto"speakthethinghewill，"andwhenherecantsitisnotforfear。

Ifsuchachildcouldberuled（orapproximatelyruled，forinquisitorialgovernmentcouldhardlybesomuchasattempted）bysomesmallmeansadaptedtohissizeandtohisphysicalaspect，itwouldbewellforhishealth，butthatseemsattimesimpossible。

Bynoeffortcanhiseldersaltogethersucceedinkeepingtragedyoutofthelifethatissounreadyforit。Againstgreatemotionsnoonecandefendhimbyanyforethought。Heistheirsubject；andtoseehimthusdevotedandthuswrung，thuswreckedbytempestsinwardly，sothatyoufeelgriefhashimactuallybytheheart，recallsthereluctance——thequestion——wherewithyouperceivetheinteriorgriefofpoetryorofadevoutlife。CannottheMuse，cannottheSaint，youask，livewithsomethinglessthanthis？Ifthisisthetruerlife，itseemshardlysupportable。Inlikemanneritshouldbepossibleforachildofseventocomethroughhischildhoodwithgriefsthatshouldnotsocloselyinvolvehim，butshoulddealwiththeeasiersentiments。

Despiteallhissimplicity，thechildhas（bywayofinheritance，forhehasneverheardthem）theself-excusingfictionsofourrace。

Accusedofcertainactsofviolence，andunabletorebutthechargewithanyeffect，hefliestotheoldconvention："Ididn’tknowwhatIwasdoing，"heavers，usingagreatdealofgesticulationtoexpressthetemporarydistractionofhismind。"Darling，afternurseslappedmeashardasshecould，Ididn’tknowwhatIwasdoing，soIsupposeIpushedherwithmyfoot。"HismotherknowsaswellasdoesTolstoithatmenandchildrenknowwhattheyaredoing，andarethemoreintentlyawareasthestressoffeelingmakesthemomentsmoretense；andshewillnotadmitapleawhichherchildmighthavelearnedfromtheundramaticauthorshehasneverread。

Farfromrepentingofheroldsystemofrewards，andfarfromtakingfrightatthenameofabribe，themotheroftheChildofTumulthasonlytowishshehadatcommandrewardsampleandvariedenoughtogivetheshockofhopeandpromisetotheheartofthelittleboy，andchangehispassionatitsheight。

THEUNREADY

Itisrashlysaidthatthesensesofchildrenarequick。Theyare，onthecontrary，unwieldyinturning，unreadyinreporting，untiladvancingageteachesthemagility。Thisisnotlackofsensitiveness，butmerelengthofprocess。Forinstance，achildnearlynewlyborniscruellystartledbyasuddencrashintheroom——

achildwhohasneverlearnttofear，andismerelyovercomebytheshockofsound；nevertheless，thatshockofsounddoesnotreachtheconscioushearingorthenervesbutaftersomemoments，norbeforesomemomentsmoreisthesenseoftheshockexpressed。Thesoundtravelstotheremotenessandseclusionofthechild’sconsciousness，astheroarofaguntravelstolistenershalfamileaway。

Soitis，too，withpain，whichhaslearnttobesoinstantandeagerwithusoflateragethatnopointoftimeislostinitstouches——directastheuninterceptedmessageofgreatandcandideyes，unhamperedbytrivialities；evensoimmediateisthecommunicationofpain。Butyoucouldcountfivebetweentheprickofasurgeon’sinstrumentuponababy’sarmandthelittlewhimperthatanswersit。Thechildisthentooyoung，also，toreferthefeelingofpaintothearmthatsuffersit。Evenwhenpainhasgropeditswaytohismindithardlyseemstobringlocaltidingsthither。Thebabydoesnotturnhiseyesinanydegreetowardshisarmortowardsthesidethatissovexedwithvaccination。Helooksinanyotherdirectionathaphazard，andcriesatrandom。

See，too，howslowlytheunpractisedapprehensionofanolderchildtrudgesafterthenimblenessofaconjurer。Itisthegreatestfailuretotaketheselittlegobe-mouchestoagoodconjurer。Hissuccessesleavethemcold，fortheyhadnotyetunderstoodwhatitwasthegoodmanmeanttosurprisethemwithal。Theamateuritiswhoreallyastonishesthem。Theycannotcomeupevenwithyouramateurbeginner，performingatclosequarters；whereasthemasterofhiscraftonaplatformrunsquiteawayattheoutsetfromthelaggingsensesofhishonestaudience。

Youmayrobachildofhisdearestplateattable，almostfromunderhisingenuouseyes，sendhimoffinchaseofit，andhaveitinitsplaceandoffagaintentimesbeforethelittlebreathlessboyhasbeguntoperceiveinwhatdirectionhissweetshavebeensnatched。

Teachersofyoungchildrenshouldthereforeteachthemselvesahabitofawaiting，shouldsurroundthemselveswithpausesofpatience。

Thesimplelittleprocessesoflogicthatarrangethegrammarofacommonsentencearetooquickfortheseyoungblunderers，whocannotusetwopronounsbuttheymustconfusethem。Ineverfoundthatayoungchild——oneofsomethingundernineyears——wasabletosay，"I

sendthemmylove"atthefirstattempt。Itwillbe"Isendmemylove，""Isendthemtheirlove，""Theysendmemylove"；not，ofcourse，throughanyconfusionofunderstanding，butbecauseofthetardysettingofwordsinorderwiththethoughts。Thechildvisiblygrappleswiththedifficulty，andisbeaten。

Itisnodoubtthisunreadinessthatcauseslittlechildrentoliketwice-toldtalesandforegoneconclusionsintheirgames。Theyarenoteager，forayearortwoyettocome，forsurprises。Ifyouhideandtheycannotseeyouhiding，theirjoyinfindingyouiscomparativelysmall；butletthemknowperfectlywellwhatcupboardyouarein，andtheywillfindyouwithshoutsofdiscovery。Thebetterthehiding-placeisunderstoodbetweenyouthemorelivelythedrama。Theymakeaconventionofartfortheirplay。Theyoungerthechildrenthemoredramatic；andwhenthehouseisfilledwithoutcriesoflaughterfromthebreathlessbreastofachild，itisthatheispretendingtobesurprisedatfindinghismotherwherehebadeherpretendtohide。Thisisthecomedythatnevertires。

Lettheelderwhocannotunderstanditscharmbewarehowhetriestoputamoreintelligibleformofdelightintheplaceofit；for，ifnot，hewillfindthatchildrenalsohaveamannerofsubstitution，andthattheywillputhalf-heartedlaughterintheplaceoftheirnaturalimpetuousclamours。Itiscertainthatveryyoungchildrenliketoplayupontheirownimaginations，andenjoytheirownshortgame。

Thereissomethingsopurelychildlikeinthedelaysofachildthatanyexerciseaskingfortheswiftapprehensionoflaterlife，fortheflashesofunderstandingandaction，fromthemindandmembersofchildhood，isnopleasuretosee。Thepiano，forinstance，asexpertsunderstandit，andevenasthemoderately-trainedmayplayit，claimsalltheimmediateaction，theinstantaneousness，mostunnaturaltochildhood。Theremaypossiblybefeatsofskilltowhichyoungchildrencouldbetrainedwithoutthisspecificviolencedirecteduponthethingcharacteristicoftheirage——theirunreadiness——butvirtuosityatthepianocannotbeoneofthem。Itisnodelight，indeed，toseetheshynessofchildren，oranythingthatistheirs，conqueredandbeaten；buttheirpoorlittleslownessissodistinctivelytheirown，andmustneedsbephysiologicallysopropertotheiryears，somuchanaturalconditionoftheageoftheirbrain，thatofallchildishnessesitistheonethattheworldshouldhavethepatiencetoattendupon，thehumanitytofoster，andtheintelligencetounderstand。

Itistruethatthemovementsofyoungchildrenarequick，butaverylittleattentionwouldprovehowmanyapparentdisconnexionstherearebetweenthelivelymotionandthefirstimpulse；itisnotthebrainthatisquick。If，onavoyageinspace，electricitytakesthusmuchtime，andlightthusmuch，andsoundthusmuch，thereisonelittlejoggingtravellerthatwouldarriveaftertheothershadforgottentheirjourney，andthisistheperceptionofachild。Surelyourownmemoriesmightservetoremindushowinourchildhoodweinevitablymissedtheprincipalpointinanyprocessionorpageantintendedbyourelderstofurnishuswithahistoricalremembranceforthefuture。Itwasnotourmerevaguenessofunderstanding，itwastheunwieldinessofoursenses，ofourreplytothesuddennessofthegrownup。WelivedthroughtheimportantmomentsofthepassingofanEmperoratadifferentratefromtheirs；westaredlonginthewakeofhisMajesty，andofanythingelseofinterest；everyflashofmovement，thatgottelegraphicanswersfromourparents’eyes，leftusstragglers。Wefelloutofallranks。Amongthesightsproposedforourinstruction，thatwhichbefittedusbestwasaneclipseofthemoon，doneatleisure。

Ingoodtimewefoundthemooninthesky，ingoodtimetheeclipsesetinandmadereasonableprogress；wekeptupwitheverything。

Itistoooftenrequiredofchildrenthattheyshouldadjustthemselvestotheworld，practisedandalert。Butitwouldbemoretothepurposethattheworldshouldadjustitselftochildreninallitsdealingswiththem。Thosewhorunandkeeptogetherhavetorunatthepaceofthetardiest。Butweareapttocommandinstantobedience，strippedofthelittlepausesthatachild，whileveryyoung，cannotactwithout。Itisnotachildoftenortwelvethatneedsthemso；itistheyoungcreaturewhohasbutlatelyceasedtobeababy，slowtobestartled。

Wehavebuttoconsiderallthatitimpliesoftheloiteringofsensesandofanunpreparedconsciousness——thiscapacityforreceivingagreatshockfromanoiseandthisperceptionoftheshockaftertwoorthreeappreciablemoments——ifwewouldknowanythingofthemomentsofababyEvenaswemustlearnthatourtime，whenitislong，istoolongforchildren，somustwelearnthatourtime，whenitisshort，istooshortforthem。Whenitisexceedinglyshorttheycannot，withoutanunnaturaleffort，haveanyperceptionofit。Whenchildrendonotseethejokesoftheelderly，anddisappointexpectationinotherways，onlylessintimate，thereasonisalmostalwaysthere。Thechildcannotturninmid-career；hegoesfast，buttheimpetustookplacemomentsago。

THATPRETTYPERSON

Duringthemanyyearsinwhich"evolution"wasthefavouriteword，onesignificantlesson——soitseems——waslearnt，whichhasoutlivedcontroversy，andhasremainedlongerthanthequestionsatissue——aninterestingandunnoticedthingcastupbythestormofthoughts。

Thisisadisposition，ageneralconsent，tofindtheuseandthevalueofprocess，andeventounderstandakindofreposeintheverywayfaringofprogress。Withthisisaresignationtochange，andsomethingmorethanresignation——adelightinthosequalitiesthatcouldnotbebutfortheirtransitoriness。

What，then，isthisbuttheadmiration，atlastconfessedbytheworld，forchildhood？Timewaswhenchildhoodwasbutbornewith，andthatforthesakeofitsmerepromiseofmanhood。Wedonotnowhold，perhaps，thatpromisesohigh。Even，nevertheless，ifweheldithigh，weshouldacknowledgetheapproachtobeastateadornedwithitsownconditions。

Butitwasnotsoonce。Astheprimitivelullabyisnothingbutapatientprophecy（themother’s），sowaseducation，sometwohundredyearsago，nothingbutanimpatientprophecy（thefather’s）ofthefullstatureofbodyandmind。TheIndianwomansingsofthefuturehunting。Ifhersongisnotrestless，itisbecauseshehasasenseoftheresultsoftime，andhassubmittedherhearttoexperience。

Childhoodisatimeofdanger；"Woulditweredone。"But，meanwhile，therightthingistoputittosleepandguarditsslumbers。Itwillpass。Shesingspropheciestothechildofhishunting，asshesingsasongabouttherobewhileshespins，andasongaboutbreadasshegrindscorn。Shebidsgoodspeed。

JohnEvelynwasequallyeager，andnotsosubmissive。Hischild——

"thatprettyperson"inJeremyTaylor’sletterofcondolence——waschieflyprecioustohiminasmuchashewas，toosoon，alikenessofthemanheneverlivedtobe。Thefather，writingwithtearswhentheboywasdead，saysofhim："AttwoandahalfyearsofagehepronouncedEnglish，Latin，andFrenchexactly，andcouldperfectlyreadinthesethreelanguages。"Ashelivedpreciselyfiveyears，allhedidwasdoneatthatlittleage，anditcomprisedthis："HegotbyheartalmosttheentirevocabularyofLatinandFrenchprimitivesandwords，couldmakecongruoussyntax，turnEnglishintoLatin，andviceversa，construeandprovewhatheread，anddidthegovernmentanduseofrelatives，verbs，substantives，ellipses，andmanyfiguresandtropes，andmadeaconsiderableprogressinComenius’s’Janua，’andhadastrongpassionforGreek。"

Grantthatthismaybealittleabated，becauseaveryseriousmanisnottobetoomuchbelievedwhenheisdescribingwhatheadmires；itistheveryfactofhisadmirationthatissocuriousasignofthosehastytimes。Allbeingfavourable，thechildofEvelyn’sstudioushomewouldhavedoneallthesethingsinthecourseofnaturewithinafewyears。Itwasthefactthathedidthemoutofthecourseofnaturethatwas，toEvelyn，soexquisite。

Thecourseofnaturehadnotanybeautyinhiseyes。Itmightbebornewithforthesakeoftheend，butitwasnotadmiredforthemajestyofitsunhastingprocess。JeremyTaylormournswithhim"thestrangelyhopefulchild，"who——withoutComenius’s"Janua"andwithoutcongruoussyntax——wasfulfilling，hadtheyknownit，anappropriatehope，answeringadistinctiveprophecy，andcrowningandclosingaseparateexpectationeverydayofhisfiveyears。

Ah！theword"hopeful"seems，tous，inthisday，awordtooflatteringtotheestateofman。Theythoughttheirlittleboystrangelyhopefulbecausehewassoquickonhiswaytobesomethingelse。Theylostthetimelyperfectionthewhiletheyweresointentupontheirhopes。Andyetitisourownmodernagethatischargedwithhaste！

Itwouldseemratherasthoughtheworld，whateveritshallunlearn，mustrightlylearntoconfessthepassingandirrevocablehour；notslightingit，orbiddingithastenitswork，notyethailingit，withFaust，"Stay，thouartsofair！"Childhoodisbutchangemadegayandvisible，andtheworldhaslatelybeenconvertedtochange。

Ourfathersvaluedchangeforthesakeofitsresults；wevalueitintheact。Tousthechangeisrevealedasperpetual；everypassageisagoal，andeverygoalapassage。Thehoursareequal；

butsomeofthemwearapparentwings。

Toutpasse。Isthefruitfortheflower，ortheflowerforthefruit，orthefruitfortheseedswhichitisformedtoshelterandcontain？Itseemsasthoughourforefathershadansweredthisquestionmostarbitrarilyastothelifeofman。

Alltheirliteraturedealingwithchildrenisbentuponthishaste，thissuppressionoftheapproachtowhatseemedthentheonlytimeoffulfilment。Thewaywaswithoutresttothem。Andthisbecausetheyhadtheillusionofaresttobegainedatsomelaterpointofthisunpausinglife。

Evelynandhiscontemporariesdroppedtheverywordchildassoonasmightbe，ifnotsooner。Whenapoorlittleboycametobeeightyearsoldtheycalledhimayouth。Thediaristhimselfhadnocausetobeproudofhisownearlyyears，forhewassofarindulgedinidlenessbyan"honouredgrandmother"thathewas"notinitiatedintoanyrudiments"tillhewasfouryearsofage。HeseemseventohavebeenayouthofeightbeforeLatinwasseriouslybegun；butthisfactheisevidently，inafteryears，withatotallackofasenseofhumour，ratherashamedof，andhardlyacknowledges。Itisdifficulttoimaginewhatchildhoodmusthavebeenwhennobody，lookingon，sawanyfuninit；wheneverythingthatwaspropertofiveyearsoldwasdefect。Astrangegoodconceitofthemselvesandoftheirownageshadthosefathers。

Theytooktheirchildrenseriously，withoutrelief。Evelynhasnothingtosayabouthislittleonesthathasasignofasmileinit。Twicearechildrennothisownmentionedinhisdiary。Oncehegoestotheweddingofamaidoffiveyearsold——acuriousthing，butnot，evidently，anoccasionofsensibility。Anothertimehestandsby，inaFrenchhospital，whileayouthoflessthannineyearsofageundergoesafrightfulsurgicaloperation"withextraordinarypatience。""TheuseImadeofitwastogiveAlmightyGodheartythanksthatIhadnotbeensubjecttothisdeplorableinfirmitie。"Thisiswhathesays。

See，moreover，howthefashionofhurryingchildhoodprevailedinliterature，andhowitabolishedlittlegirls。Itmaybethattherewereinallages——eventhose——certainfewboyswhoinsisteduponbeingchildren；whereasthegirlsweredociletotheadultideal。

Art，forexample，hadnolittlegirls。TherewasalwaysCupid，andthereweretheprosperousurchin-angelsofthepainters；theonewhoishaulinguphislittlebrotherbythehandinthe"LastCommunionofSt。Jerome"mightbecalledTommy。Buttherewereno"littleradiantgirls。"Nowandthenan"EducationoftheVirgin"istheexception，andthenitisalwaysamatterofsewingandreading。Asforthelittlegirlsaints，evenwhentheyweresoyoungthattheirhands，likethoseofSt。Agnes，slippedthroughtheirfetters，theyarealwaysrecordedasrefusingimportunatesuitors，whichseemsnecessarytomaketheminterestingtothemediaevalmind，butmarsthemforours。

Sodoesthehurryingandignoringoflittle-girl-childhoodsomewhathamperthedelightwithwhichreadersofJohnEvelynadmirehismostadmirableMrs。Godolphin。ShewasMaidofHonourtotheQueenintheCourtofCharlesII。Shewas，asheprettilysays，anArethusa"whopassedthroughallthoseturbulentwaterswithoutsomuchastheleaststainortinctureinherchristall。"Sheheldherstatewithmenandmaidsforherservants，guidedherselfbymostexactrules，suchasthatofneverspeakingtotheKing，gaveanexcellentexampleandinstructiontotheothermaidsofhonour，was"severelycarefulhowshemightgivetheleastcountenancetothatlibertywhichthegallantstheredidusuallyassume，"refusedtheaddressesofthe"greatestpersons，"andwasasfamousforherbeautyasforherwit。Onewouldliketoforgettheageatwhichshedidthesethings。Whenshebeganherserviceshewaseleven。WhenshewasmakingherrulenevertospeaktotheKingshewasnotthirteen。

Marriagewasthebusinessofdaughtersoffourteenandfifteen，andheroines，therefore，wereofthoseages。ThepoetsturnedAprilintoMay，andseemedtothinkthattheylentagracetotheyeariftheyshortenedandabridgedthespringoftheirmanysongs。Theparticularyeartheysangofwastobeaparticularlyfineyear，aswhoshouldsayafinechildandforward，withcongruoussyntaxattwoyearsold，andellipses，figures，andtropes。EvenaslateasKeatsapoetwouldnothavepatiencewiththeprocessoftheseasons，butboastedofuntimelyflowers。The"musk-rose"isneverinfactthechildofmid-May，ashehasit。

TheyoungwomenofAddisonarenearlyfourteenyearsold。Hisfearoflosingtheideaofthebloomoftheiryouthmakeshimsotamperwiththebloomoftheirchildhood。Theyoungheiressofseventeeninthe"Spectator"haslookeduponherselfasmarriageable"forthelastsixyears。"Thefamousletterdescribingthefigure，thedance，thewit，thestockingsofthecharmingMr。Shapelyissupposedtobewrittenbyagirlofthirteen，"willingtosettleintheworldassoonasshecan。"Sheadds，"Ihaveagoodportionwhichtheycannothindermeof。"Thiscorrespondentisoneof"thewomenwhoseldomaskadvicebeforetheyhaveboughttheirweddingclothes。"Therewasnosenseofchildhoodinanagethatcouldthinkthisanopportunepleasantry。

Butimpatienceofthewayandthewayfaringwastodisappearfromalatercentury——anagethathasfoundallthingstobeonajourney，andallthingscompleteintheirdaybecauseitistheirday，andhasitsappointedend。Itisthetardyconvictionofthis，ratherthanasentimentreadymade，thathascausedthechildhoodofchildrentoseem，atlast，somethingelsethanadefect。

UNDERTHEEARLYSTARS

Playisnotforeveryhouroftheday，orforanyhourtakenatrandom。Thereisatideintheaffairsofchildren。Civilizationiscruelinsendingthemtobedatthemoststimulatingtimeofdusk。Summerdusk，especially，isthefrolicmomentforchildren，bafflethemhowyoumay。Theymayhavebeeninapotteringmoodallday，intentuponallkindsofcloseindustries，breathinghardoverchoppingsandpoundings。Butwhenlatetwilightcomes，therecomesalsothepunctualwildness。Thechildrenwillrunandpursue，andlaughforthemeremovement——itdoessojolttheirspirits。

Whatremembrancesdoesthisimplyofthehunt，whatofthepredatorydark？Thekittengrowsalertatthesamehour，andhuntsformothsandcricketsinthegrass。Itcomeslikeanimp，leapingonallfours。Thechildrenlieinambushandfallupononeanotherinthemimicryofhunting。

Thesuddenoutbreakofactioniscomplainedofasadefianceandarebellion。Theirentertainersaretired，andthechildrenaretogohome。But，withmoreorlessoflifeandfire，thechildrenstrikesomeblowforliberty。Itmaybetheimpotentrevoltoftheineffectualchild，orthestrokeoftheconqueror；butsomething，somethingisdoneforfreedomundertheearlystars。

Thisisnottheonlytimewhentheenergyofchildrenisinconflictwiththewearinessofmen。Butitislesstolerablethattheenergyofmenshouldbeatoddswiththewearinessofchildren，whichhappensatsometimeoftheirjauntstogether，especially，alas！inthejauntsofthepoor。

Ofgamesforthesummerduskwhenitrains，cardsaremostbelovedbychildren。Threetinygirlsweretobetaught"oldmaid"tobeguilethetime。Oneofthem，anut-brownchildoffive，waspersuadinganothertoplay。"Ohcome，"shesaid，"andplaywithmeatnewmaid。"

Thetimeoffallingasleepisachild’simmemorialandincalculablehour。Itisfulloftraditions，andbesetbyantiquehabits。Thehabitofprehistoricraceshasbeencitedastheonlyexplanationofthefixityofsomecustomsinmankind。Butiftheinquirerswhoappealtothatbeginningrememberedbettertheirowninfancy，theywouldseeknofurther。Seethehabitsinfallingtosleepwhichhavechildrenintheirthralldom。Trytoovercometheminanychild，andhisownconvictionoftheirhighantiquityweakensyourhand。

Childhoodisantiquity，andwiththesenseoftimeandthesenseofmysteryisconnectedforeverthehearingofalullaby。TheFrenchsleep-songisthemostromantic。Thereisinitsuchasoundofhistoryasmustinspireanyimaginativechild，fallingtosleep，withasenseoftheincalculable；andthesongsthemselvesareold。

"LeBonRoiDagobert"hasbeensungoverFrenchcradlessincethelegendwasfresh。Thenurseknowsnothingmoresleepythanthetuneandtheversethatsheherselfslepttowhenachild。Thegaietyofthethirteenthcentury，in"LePontd’Avignon，"isputmysteriouslytosleep，awayintheteteeteteofchildandnurse，inathousandlittlesequesteredroomsatnight。"Malbrook"wouldbecomparativelymodern，werenotallthingsthataresungtoadrowsingchildasdistantasthedayofAbraham。

IfEnglishchildrenarenotrockedtomanysuchagedlullabies，someofthemareputtosleeptostrangecradle-songs。Theaffectionateracesthatarebroughtintosubjectionsingtheprimitivelullabytothewhitechild。AsiaticvoicesandAfricanpersuadehimtosleepinthetropicalnight。Hisclosingeyesarefilledwithalienimages。

THEILLUSIONOFHISTORICTIME

Hewhohassurvivedhischildhoodintelligentlymustbecomeconsciousofsomethingmorethanachangeinhissenseofthepresentandinhisapprehensionofthefuture。Hemustbeawareofnolessathingthanthedestructionofthepast。Itseventsandempiresstandwheretheydid，andthemererelationoftimeisasitwas。Butthatwhichhasfallentogether，hasfallenin，hasfallenclose，andliesinalittleheap，isthepastitself——time——thefactofantiquity。

Hehasgrownintoasmallerworldashehasgrownolder。Therearenomoreextremities。Recordedtimehasnomoreterrors。Theunitofmeasurewhichheholdsinhishandhasbecomeinhiseyesathingofpaltrylength。Thediscoverydrawsintheannalsofmankind。Hehadthoughtthemtobewide。

Foramanhasnothingwherebytoorderandplacethefloods，thestates，theconquests，andthetemplesofthepast，exceptonlythemeasurewhichheholds。Callthatmeasureaspaceoftenyears。

Hisfirsttenyearshadgivenhimtheillusionofamostaugustscaleandmeasure。ItwasthenthatheconceivedAntiquity。Butnow！Isittoadecadeoftensuchlittleyearsasthesenowinhishand——tenofhismatureyears——thatmengivethedignityofacentury？Theycallitanage；butwhatiflifeshowsnowsosmallthatthewordagehaslostitsgravity？

Infact，whenachildbeginstoknowthatthereisapast，hehasamostnoblerodtomeasureitby——hehashisowntenyears。Heattributesanoverwhelmingmajestytoallrecordedtime。Heconfersdistance。He，andhealone，bestowsmystery。Remotenessishis。

Hecreatesmorethanmortalcenturies。Hesendsarmiesfightingintotheextremitiesofthepast。HeassignstheParthenontoahillofages，andthetemplesofUpperEgypttosiderealtime。

Iftherewerenochild，therewouldbenothingold。He，havingconceivedoldtime，communicatesaremembranceatleastofthemysterytothemindoftheman。Themanperceivesatlastalltheillusion，buthecannotforgetwhatwashisconvictionwhenhewasachild。HehadonceapersuasionofAntiquity。Andthisisnotfornothing。Theenormousundeceptionthatcomesuponhimstillleavesspacesinhismind。

Buttheundeceptionisrudework。Themanreceivessuccessiveshocks。Itisasthoughonestrainedleveleyestowardsthehorizon，andthenwerebiddentoshortenhissightandtoclosehissearchwithinapoorhalfacrebeforehisface。Now，itisthathesuddenlyperceivesthehithertoremote，remoteyouthofhisownparentstohavebeensomethingfamiliarlynear，someasuredbyhisnewstandard；again，itisthecomingofAttilathatisdisplaced。

Thosetenlastyearsofhishavecorrectedtheworld。Thereneedsnootherrodthanthattenyears’rodtochastisealltheimaginationsofthespiritofman。Itmakeshistoryskip。

Tohavelivedthroughanyappreciablepartofanycenturyistoholdthenceforthamerecenturycheapenough。But，itmaybesaid，themysteryofchangeremains。Nay，itdoesnot。Changethattrudgesthroughourownworld——ourcontemporaryworld——isnotverymysterious。Weperceiveitspace；itisajog-trot。Evenso，wenowconsider，joltedthechangesofthepast，withthesamehurry。

Theman，therefore，whohasintelligentlyceasedtobeachildscansthroughashortenedavenuethereachesofthepast。Hemarvelsthathewassodeceived。Foritwasaverydeception。IftheArgonauts，forinstance，hadbeenchildren，itwouldhavebeenwellenoughforthechildtomeasuretheirremotenessandtheiractswithhisownmagnificentmeasure。Buttheywereonlymenanddemi-gods。Thustheybelongtohimasheisnow——aman；andnottohimashewasonce——achild。Itwasquitewrongtolaythechild’senormoustenyears’rulealongthepathfromourtimetotheirs；thatpathmustbeskippedbythenimbleyardintheman’spresentpossession。

DecidedlytheArgonautsarenosubjectfortheboy。

What，then？Istherecordoftheracenothingbutabundleofsuchlittletimes？Nay，itseemsthatchildhood，whichcreatedtheillusionofages，doesactuallyproveittrue。ChildhoodisitselfAntiquity——toeverymanhisonlyAntiquity。TherecollectionofchildhoodcannotmakeAbrahamoldagaininthemindofamanofthirty-five；butthebeginningofeverylifeisolderthanAbraham。

THEREistheabyssoftime。Letamanturntohisownchildhood——nofurther——ifhewouldrenewhissenseofremoteness，andofthemysteryofchange。

Forinchildhoodchangedoesnotgoatthatmerehastyamble；itrushes；butithasenormousspaceforitsflight。Thechildhasanapprehensionnotonlyofthingsfaroff，butofthingsfarapart；anillusiveapprehensionwhenheislearning"ancient"history——arealapprehensionwhenheisconninghisownimmeasurableinfancy。IfthereisnohistoricalAntiquityworthspeakingof，thisistherenewedandunnumberedAntiquityforallmankind。

Anditisofthis——merelyofthis——that"ancient"historyseemstopartake。RomewasfoundedwhenwebeganRomanhistory，andthatiswhyitseemslongago。Supposethemanofthirty-fiveheard，atthatpresentage，forthefirsttimeofRomulus。Why，Romuluswouldbenowhere。Buthebuilthiswall，asamatteroffact，wheneveryonewassevenyearsold。Itisbygoodfortunethat"ancient"

historyistaughtintheonlyancientdays。So，foratime，theworldismagical。

Modernhistorydoeswellenoughforlearninglater。Butbylearningsomethingofantiquityinthefirsttenyears，thechildenlargesthesenseoftimeforallmankind。Forevenafterthegreatillusionisoverandhistoryisre-measured，andallfancyandflightcaughtbackandchastised，theenlargedsenseremainsenlarged。Themanremainscapableofgreatspacesoftime。HewillnotfindtheminEgypt，itistrue，buthefindsthemwithin，hecontainsthem，heisawareofthem。Historyhasfallentogether，butchildhoodsurroundsandencompasseshistory，stretchesbeyondandpassesontheroadtoeternity。

Hehasnotpassedinvainthroughthelongtenyears，thetenyearsthatarethetreasuryofpreceptions——thefirst。Thegreatdisillusionshallnevershortenthoseyears，norsetnearertogetherthedaysthatmadethem。"Farapart，"Ihavesaid，andthat"farapart"iswonderful。Thepastofchildhoodisnotsingle，isnotmotionless，norfixedinonepoint；ithassummitsaworldawayonefromtheother。YearfromyeardiffersastheantiquityofMexicofromtheantiquityofChaldea。Andthemanofthirty-fiveknowsforeverafterwardswhatisflight，eventhoughhefindsnogreathistoricdistancestoprovehiswingsby。

Thereisalongandmysteriousmomentinlongandmysteriouschildhood，whichistheextremestdistanceknowntoanyhumanfancy。

Manyothermoments，manyotherhours，arelonginthefirsttenyears。Hoursofwearinessarelong——notwithamysteriouslength，butwithamerelengthofprotraction，sothatthethingscalledminutesandhalf-hoursbytheelderlymaybesomethingelsetotheirapparentcontemporaries，thechildren。Theancientmomentisnotmerelyoneofthese——itisaspacenotoflong，butofimmeasurable，time。Itisthemomentofgoingtosleep。Themanknowsthatborderland，andhasacontemptforit：hehaslongceasedtofindantiquitythere。Ithasbecomeacommonenoughmarginofdreamstohim；andhedoesnotattendtoitsphantasies。Heknowsthathehasafrolicspiritinhisheadwhichhasitswayatthosehours，butheisnotinterestedinit。Itistheinexperiencedchildwhopasseswithsimplicitythroughthemarginalcountry；andthethinghemeetsthereisprincipallytheyetfurtherconceptionofillimitabletime。

Hisnurse’slullabyistranslatedintothemysteriesoftime。Shesingsabsolutelyimmemorialwords。Itmatterslittlewhattheymaymeantowakingears；totheearsofachildgoingtosleeptheytellofthebeginningoftheworld。Hehasfallenasleeptothesoundofthemallhislife；and"allhislife"meansmorethanolderspeechcanwellexpress。

Ancientcustomisformedinasinglespaciousyear。Achildisbesetwithlongtraditions。Andhisinfancyissoold，soold，thatthemereaddingofyearsinthelifetofollowwillnotseemtothrowitfurtherback——itisalreadysofar。Thatis，itlooksasremotetothememoryofamanofthirtyastothatofamanofseventy。Whatareamerefortyyearsofaddedlaterlifeinthecontemplationofsuchadistance？Pshaw！

Footnotes：

{1}Itisworthnotingthatlongafterthewritingofthispaper，andtheascriptionofaStevenson-likecharactertothequotedphrase，aletterofStevenson’swaspublished，andprovedthathehadreadLucyHutchinson’swritings，andthathedidnotloveher。

"IhavepossessedmyselfofMrs。Hutchinson，whom，ofcourse，I

admire，etc……IsometimeswishtheoldColonelhadgotdrunkandbeatenher，inthebitternessofmyspirit……Thewayinwhichshetalksofherselfmakesone’sbloodruncold。"Hewasyoungatthattimeofwriting，andperhapshardlyawareofthelessoninEnglishhehadtakenfromher。Weknowthatheneverwastedtheopportunityforsuchalesson；andthefactthathedidallowhertoadministeronetohiminrightseventeenth-centurydictionisestablished——itisnottooboldtosayso——bymyrecognitionofhisstyleinherown。Ihadsurelycaughttheretrospectivereflexnote，heardfirstinhisvoice，recognizedinhers。

{2}Ifounditafterwards：itwasRebecca。