The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-04-26

The Bright and Eunny Genius or the
House.--9faining the Chfidren fer
the Play.

The Bright and Fanny Genius OF the
House.-- Training the Chiidren fer
the Play.
Mamie Dickens In Youths Companion
Ever SINCE can remember anything,
I remember him as the good genius Of
the house, and as the happy, bright and
funny genius.
he had q 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 he used to
sing to them before they went to bed.
One in particular, about an old man who
caught cold and rheumatism while
driving IN an omnibus, was q great
favorite; and as it was accompanied by
sneezes, coughs and funny gesticula-
tions, it had to be sung over and over
again before the small audience was
satisfied.
/ can see him now through the mist
of years, with child nearly always on
his knee, his bright and beautiful eyes
full of life and fun. I can hear his clear
and sweet voice, as he sang to those
children, as itshe had no other occupa
tion 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 these infantine amateurs
And these theatricals were under
taken as earnestly and seriously as were
those OF the grown-up people. He
would teach the children their parts
separately-teach them what to do, anc
how to do it, acting himself for thei
edification.
At one moment he would be thu
dragon in aFortunio;" at the next, on,
of the seven servants; and then taking
the part Of jockey, played by th'
youngest child, mere baby, whose
little legs had much difficulty to ge
into the top-boots until he had takel
every part in the play.
And before these children were o1t
enough to act regular pieces, the SAM
pains were taken about any littl
charade they might ask for, any son,
they were taught to sing, each chile
knowing well that such pains had to b.
taken before his approval could be wou
AS with his grown-up company o
actors, so with his juvenile compan
did his own earnestness and activit
work upon them and affect each pei
sonally. The shyest and most awkwar,
child would come opt quite brilliantl
under his patient and always encourae
ing training.
Then again, at the juvenile parties h
was always the ruling spirit. He ha
acquired by degrees an excellent CO.
lection of conjuring tricks, aud o
Twelfth Nights the eldest sons birtl
day-he would very often, dressed as
magician, give conjuring entertain
ment, when little figure which az
peared from a wonderful and mystel
ious bag, and which was supposed
be personal friend of the conjurel
would greatly delight the audience b
his funny stories, his eccentric voic
and way of speaking, and by his mirac
ulous appearances and disappearance
OF course, plum-pudding was mad
In hat, and was always one Of th
successes of the evening.
It would be almost impossible eve
to guess how many such puddings hav
been made since.
But surely, those made by Charlie
Dickens must have possessed som
special fairy power, no other conjure
being able to put into his pudding q
the love, sympathy, fun and thoroug
enjoyment which seemed to come frol
the very hands of this great magician