Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-11

the recollection of most of us could &c
further back than many of lis suppose
DO not know how far my own memory
may carry me back, but have no remem
brance of my childhood which is not i'm
mediately associated with him. He had
Il wonderful sympathy with children and
n wonderfully quicE ~e~ception of theii
character and disposition mort win.
ming and easy way with them, full of fun
but full, also, of graver sympathy with
! their many small troubles and perplexi
tieS, which made them recognize at once
a friend in h'r..
| have often seen mef5 babies, who
would look at no other stranger present,
put out their tiny arms to him with un-
bounded confidence, or place a small
hand in his and trot away with him, quite
proud and contented Mt having found such
II companion. And although with his
own children he had sometimes sterner
manner than he had with others, there
was not one OF them who feared to 90 TO
him for help and advice, knowing well
that there was no trouble too small or too
trivial to claim his attention, and that in
hun iheJ would always find unvarying
Justice and love. ii ar rreot Ind to be
asked for, the second little dau6n;o-, RI
ways apet of her fathers, was pushed in
to his study by the other children and al
wavs returned triumphant.
He wrote special prayers for them as
soon us they could speak, interested him
SELF i'll their lessons, would give prizes
for industry, for puuctuahty, for neat and
unblotted copybooks, A word of COM
mendation from him was indeed most
highly cherished and would set our hearts
glowing with pride and pleasure.
His study---to these chIdren-was rath-
cr Il mysterious aud lwe-lnspiriug cham
Der, and while he was at work nobody
was allowed to enter it, The little ones
had to pass the doors as quitely as posi-
bic and the little tongues left off chatter
ing But ut no time through his busy
life was he ever too busy to think Of them,
to anus them or to interest himself in
all that concerned them. Ever since |
can remember anything I remember him
us the good genius of the house, and rs
the happy, bright aud funny genius. He
had peculiar tone of voice and way of
speaking for each of the children, who
could tell, without being called by name
which was the one addressed. He had
funny songs which lie used to sing to
them before they went to bed. One in
particular, about an old man who caught
cold aud rheumatism while driving in an
omnibus, was great favorite and, as it
was accompanied Ivy sneezes, coughs and
funny CALCULATIONS, ii lad to be sung
over and over again before the small aui
dieuce was satisfied,
can see him now through the mist OF
years, with a child nearly always on his
kneehls bright beautiful eyes full of life
and fun. | can hear his clear and sweet
voice, as he sang to those children, MS If
he had no other occupation in the world
but to amuse them. And when they
grew older, and were able to act little
plays, it was the father himself who was
teacher, manager, prompter to those in
fantinc amateurs. And these theatri-
Gals were undertaken as earnestly and ser.
iously as were those of the grown up peo.
pie. He would teach the children theil
parts separately-teach them what to do,
and how to do it, acting himself for theil
ediication. At one moment he would be
the dragon in "Fortunio :" at the next
one Of the seven servants ; then taking the
part Of jockey played by the youngest
child, mere baby, whose little legs hat
much difficulty to get into the top boots
until be had taken every part in the
play.
And Lefore these children were ole
enough to act regular pieces the same
pains were taken about any little charadt
/ they might ask for, any song they were
| taught to sing, each child knowing wei
| that such pains had to be taken befor,
! his approval could be won. AS with hi
grown up company of actors, so with hi
juvenile company did his own earnestnes
and activity work upon them and effec
each personally. The shyest and mos
awkward child would come out quit,
brilliantly under his patient and alway
encouraging training.
Then, again, at the juvenile parties h
was always the ruling spirit He had ac
quired by degrees an excellent collection
Of coniuring tricks, and on Twelftl
Night-the eldest sons birthday--h
would very often, dressed as magician
give conjurlng entertainment, when
little figure which appeared from a won
derful and mysterious bag, and whicl
was supposed to be a personal friend {
, the coljuror, would greatly delight tn
} audience by his funny stories, his eccent
ric voice and way ef speaking. and by hi
miraculous appearances and disappear
ances. Of course, plum-pudding wa
made in II hat and was always one of tn
great successes of the evening Itwoul
be almost impossible even to guess ho'
macy such puddings have been mad
since. But surely those made by Charle
: Dickens must have possessed some spt
clnl fairy power no other conf uror BEN
! able 10 put into his pudding Nil the love
sympathy, fun, and thorough enioymer
which seemed to come from the yer
hands Of tins great magician,
/ Then when supper-tlme came he woul
: be evcrywht re ut once carving, cuttlu
the great Twelfth cake, dispensing ii
5 bon bOns, proposing toasts, and callin
e upon first one child and then anotht
c for II song or recitation. How eager I'll
= little faces looked for each turn to con
\ round, and how they would blush an
= brighten up when the msgician's ey'
t looked their way.
z One year before Twelfth Night dane
e whsn the two daughters were qnite tn
0 guls. he took 1t into his head that the
must teach him aud his friend (the la
1 Mr.. Leach, of Punch) the polka. III
/ lessons were begun and continued ft
- some time. 1t must have been rather
f funny sight to see these two small chill
rem teaching these two men-Mr. LeaC
y was over 6 feet-to dance, all four
g solemn and staid as possible. Az
J. everything he undertook so III this ine
t ance, did Charles Dickens throw his who
L heart into the dance. No one could ha'
n taken more pains than he did, or ha'
; been more eager and anxious, or mo
d conscientious about steps than he wa
d And often, when the lesson was going o
It he would jump up and have a lit
e practice by himself. When the mig
|, of the party came, both the small dan
e ing mistresses must have felt little an
Y ious. know that the heart of one be
d very fast when the moment of starting
h arrived, But bothpupils acquitted thel
n of all beholders
o. Sir ROGER 1a Cnvarlav was alwovs \