The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-11-19
From Blackwood's Magazine.


The Hiot,-dn dnecdOfe. heart, ia
many instances, is better judge, oven Of
propriety in manners, than the Judgment
The Judgment in cases touching the con-
duet OF individuals, 10 perhaps often too
severe; for example, we arc apt to regard
with equal contempt the behaviour Of the
weak ond the silly, without considering,
that under tho zero Of reason there arc ma
ny degrees before the human intelligence
sinks to That Of the animal instinct. At
least It is charitable TO believe SO, and il
cherishcs amIablo soniimonts to nculcHte
thnt doctrine.
Every reader Of dramatic history has
heard Of Garrick's contest with madam
Clniron, Ond the triumph which the Eng
lish Roscius achieved over the Siddons Of
the French stage, by his representation of
the father struck with fatuity on bohold-
ing bis only infant child dashed to pieces
by leopng in It's joy from h!s arms. Per
h6ps tho solo remaining conquest for his
| trlOnlc tragedy is some where in tho uncx-
plored regions Of the mind below the or
dinary understanding, amidst the grRda-
tons Of idiocy. The various shades and
degrees ofsense and sensibilty which lie
there unknown, Genius. in some gifted
moment, may discover. In the meantime,
as q small specimen Of its undivulged drn-
mntlc ire nsures, we submit 10 our readers
tho following lit,0 anecdoto.
4 poor widow, IN a small town in tho
north Of ofEngland, kept 4 booth or stall Of
apples and swcn'meats. She had an idiot
child, SO utterly helpless and dependent,
that ho did not appear 90 b. ever Give to
anger or scif-defence.
Ne sat oil day at hor feet, end seemed
u be poss esscd oflo other sentiment oftho
human kind 'han confidence in his moth
er's love and drcBd Of the schooIboys, 6y
whom he was ofta ANNOYED. His whole oc
cupaton, ss he sat on the ground, wos in
swinging backwards ana forwards, sing
"pal l0l"in a low pathetic voice, caly iater-
rupted nt intervals on tn9 appearances Of
his iormentors, when he clJng 10 lis moth.
er ~ alarm. l#
From morning 10 evening be sung his
piaintive and aimleso dltty; az night, when
his poor mother gathered upher little ware
to return homo, sc doplorable did his dc
fects appear, that while sse carried the
table on her head, hor little stock Of mer.
chandso in her Gp, and her stool in one
hnnd, she was obliged to lead him with
tho other. Ever and anon as any Of the
schoolboys appeared in view, the harmless
thing clung close to her, and hia@his face
in her bosom for protection.
a human creature SO for below the
stondard of humsnity whs no where ever
seen; he had not even tho shallow cunning
often found among these unfinished be.
ings; and his simplicity could not even be
measured by the standard we would apply
10 the capacity of lamb. Yet il had a
feeling rarely manifested even in tho af.
feciionate dog, ga knowledge never shown
by any mere animal.
lie was sensible OF his mothers kind.
ness, and how much he owed to her case.
At night when she spread his humble pal
let, though he knew not prayer, nor could
comprehend the solomnities OF worship, he
Frustrated himself at her feet, aod as he
kissed them, mun,bled kind Of mental
orison. as If in fond and holy devotion. In
the morning before sho went abroad to re.
sumo her station in the market place, he
peeped anxiously out 10 reconuoitro the
street, and as often as be saw any Of the
schoolboys in the way, he held her firmly
back, and sang his sorrowful "pal lal."
One Cay the poor woman end her IDIOT
hoy were mlssed from the market place,
and the charity of some Of the neighbors
induced them 10 visit her hoyel. They found
her dead on her sorry couch, and The boy
sitting beside her, holding her hand swing.
ing and singing bis lay more sorrowfllly
than he had ever done before. Iio could
not speak, but only uttered british CAB.
tle sometimes. boweyer he iooked as if
he comprehended something of what was
said. On this occasion, when the neigh.
scrs spoke TO him, he looked up with the
tear in his eve, ard clasping the colo hand
more tendcr,y sung the strain of his mourn.
ful opal laln into softer and sadder key.