Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-04-28
HAO GRAPHHCAE4.

az A'iiONlbR Interesting ShClCl N"e
prepared by Mrs. Sigourney, for the March
/ Number Of the Juvenile Miscellany. The
| facts are highly interesting of themselves.
faud derive additional interest from the
highly gifted author, who, from her per
sonal knowledge, y0uches fer the TRUTH.
BIOGRAPHY OF AN INFANT.
Ills uot.oGen that the character and hab
ITS OF an infant whose existence is COM
prlsed in a circle of less than two and a
half years, furnish materials for the biogra-
Ipher. Yet am persuaded that my rea-
ders viii be interested in the statement
here presented TO them, on the truth Of
which they may implicitly rely.
( PoRTER BRNsuADE was born at Hart
ford, Conn February 18th, 1927 His
mother was impressed with the belief that
the mind Is susceptible Of culture at an
earlier period thanis generally imagined
Thus at an age when infants are consid
cred but little more than pleasant objects
Iof the eye. or toys for a leisure hour. he
was the subject of instruction and discip
line. From the age of four months, his
iateDtiou was directed at fitting intervals
to surrounding objects, until the names of
( the articles of furniture. Of his own dress.
and the parts ofms body had become f.
mIllar. At ten months he commenced
learning the alphabet, by the aid Of small
blocks Of wood, or which each each letter
was separately painted This task was
soon completed Not that he was able at
this nlautie period 10 utter the correspon-
[ don't sOInd, but when a letter was inquired
for. he would produce itwthout mistake
and ir one w8s placed Ia an inverted posi-
ton by any other hand, would immediate
ly restore It to i,s proper siuude. BY the
assistance Of prints paste5 OH cards he
was next taught tie names of animals 2"d
birds, and @ comprehensive system ofNa'
tural History was Iudiciously untoidod 20
his view. lie was encouraged to make
himself complete master Of one print ere
he was permitted TO take another Thus
basis was laid for habits Of application.
and tHc idle curiosity restrained with
which children are wont to wander from
picture to picture. His pareuts 10 show
ur Mm 70 landscape or historical paUlwC,
accustomed .m1 TO regard every object
however minute, with an accurate eve. and
so reUnne was hi, memory, that what.
bad been thoroughly impressed, be seldom
forgot There were fc~ foys from which
b. derived satisfaction bat seemed 90 fnI
pictures aad books, with the explanations
winch they elected, his principal delight
LIs careful treatment of books was re
markabc, and a little circumstance whicI 4
occurred when he was quite young. an.
do.5,ed.y contributed 70 produce IT, H..
hid torn the paper cover Of a small yo-
uue. HIS mother remarked upon it with
q serious couuteuance, and to thc members /
LOT the family as they entered, mentioned /
what had been done IN a tone OF sadness .
Presently h,s Up quIverod, and The telr
g.lslened 10 his eve. The lesson bad
been sufficiently strong. and II became ne !
cessary 20 c0utou hum. Afterwards, el,
pensl,e volumes were fearlessIy submit |
ted to him, and the most splendid English
ANIMALS sustained no injury from hls re- !
pcated examinations.
Geography. as exhibited on maps, be-
came a favorte study. and ere he had nun
bered his second birth day, l saw han.
with surprise aud admiration, point out
upon am atlas, seas, rivers, lakes, and
countries. without hesitation or error.
A short time after ] found that he had
made ACQUAINTANCE with the rudiments of
Geometry, and was continually increasing
his knowledge of printed words, which.
with their definitions, and combinations IN
simnIe phrases. were rapidIy initiating
him to bic native language. It may pos
siblv be imagined that he was made a
mere book-worm, or was naturally def |
cient in animal spirits On the contrary.
nothing was taught him by compulslOn'
and no child could be more fall Of haPpl-
ness.
His sports, his rambles in thc garden,
and the demonstrations of Intantlle pleas
ure were sweet to him. His mother was
his companion, his playmate, and his IN
misunderstanding her chIld's mind OF
more value than any other feminine pur-
suit of enjoyment, she devoted her time to
hts cultivation, and to her perseverance,
and the entire concurrence Of ms father
m the intellectual system devised for him.
tbis uncommon attaInments may be lmpu-
led. more than to any peculiar GIT OF Ma
lure. Sui. | am not prepared TO say, thai
Ith. re was aot something orgi ally extra
ordinary 70 his capacity; at least have
never seen his doclllty, application and re-
tentye power equaIled IN the early stages
lof existence. Portions Of every Gay, SUIT
ed in their length to HI, infancy were reg