New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-04
YOUNG FOLKS, COLUMN.

YOUNG FOLKS COLUMN.
A. the editor has kindly devoted por.
ton OF his paper to the exclusive use of the
young folks have ventured to say a few
words to my companions (for am only a
little school girl, concerning things which
have always interested me from nv earliest
recollection: and am sure there arc some
among the many children Of our city who
possess as much curiosity as myself.
! desire to learn all can concerning those
people who lived long years ago. and who
first spoke our language and wrote works
in that tongue, in England. Although ours
Is called the English language, il was not
the original language Of that country. but
was introduced among the Britons by tho
Saxons. who conquered England. For q
long time the people resisted the invaders,
but az length they gradually became recon-
ciled 20 more civilized motions, and were
willing to adopt the conqueror's language
As their own. Whom the SaxonA invaded
Britain they found inhabitants who were
uniearned as far as books we're concerned.
for in those days che people received in
formation by traditions which were handed
down from father 60 son. select England,
her authors and other great men as the sub
ject Of my sketches. as the history OF that
country is so closely associated with OUT Rs,
and we naturally feel most interested in
that which relates 70 ourselves.
No doubt your surprise would equal my
own if you attempted to read English before
the days Of Chaucer. who modified and i'm.
proved the language , great deal. For
instance. what would our teachers think OF
our spelling afterwards" after toed, and
''tather" fathder. and ''Almighty" Almigh-
tig. The first writer who appeared in the
year 600 was named Gildas. and so little is
known Of him that not even the place of
his birth il recorded. He wrote in Latin,
and only produced few religious tracts.
Gildas was followed by Colubanus, who
was of Irish parentage. He became . monk
and wrote several religious histories, and
his fame spread over . great portion OF
Europe; he died in 6l5. The next author
Of any Importance who appeared. and really
the first who over either wrote or translated
other works into English was Coadm0n,
who lived during the year $50 and died
sometime during $50. He was of the lower
class, uueducated and brought up to herd
cattle, but, like Burns. saw and felt poetry
in all nature. He was unconscious Of
tho talents he possessed, and only acct
dent discovered to the world his gifts.
During the period Of which speak it was
customary TO give large suppers. 70 which
numerous persons were invited, and after
all had satisfied their appetites, it was ex-
pected that each in turn would afford en-.
tertsinment to the guests by singing OF
playing upon the harp. Those called upon
would generally give utterance to some le
gend, romance or ballad, just as the occa
sion might require. These recitstions we're
often original, and il found worthy Of praise
we're memorized by others, and again re-
peated upon some future occasion. 1t wai
1T just such feast that Coadmon hap
pened to be on guard over the stable, and
after having become 1atigued he fell asleep
! At length no was aroused fr ON his slum
bers by a stranger calling upon him to sing
something. He replied that he was igno
ran: and knew nothing: but the strange,
insisting. COadmon asked for . subject
whereupon he was told 90 cling the
Creation" He began and repea ted some
beautiful lines, which attracted the atten
ton of the most learned men of that Dor
ton Of the country. They were so pleased
with his production that they offered to
educate him. and an abbess named Hilaa
persuaded him to become an inmate of hel
household. He was there instructed in the
Saxon language, and aftccward wrote many
works tn. most remarkable of which was
the "Fsil OF Man. This poem. contained
many grand and original thoughts, and at
| tract the attention Of scholars. In after
years tho great Milton admi red it very
much, and some writers have declared tina,
he borrowed ideas from the humble COW
herd for his "Paradlse Lost"
have said enough for this time, and
trust that when we consider ali the Difficult
ties that our forefathers had to contend
WITH and the poor advantages afforded
them, we may appreciate the means within
our grasp and seize every opportunity fol
improvement. The little folks of those
times were not like us-unable to cultivate
their tastes and minds; nor did they have
kind teachers who took an interest in
their welfare.
If you all feel an interest in reading abou
such things, l will continue my short
sketches every Sunday. So for the present
leave you, with promise to introduce
the Venerable Babe" in my next.
EINNIM.