Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-21
MELoDRAMA OF cHILDHooD.
The Resources of Children who
Find Themselves Companion

EihG luGIloGlN6S companion
less.
Lonely children particularly develop the
dramatizing faculty, creating companions,
as, lacking toys, they are ingenious at in
venting playthings. A brotherless and
sisterless 4 year old of my acquaintance,
taken upon Journey, gave her fond mother
some sensation, the little one being over
heard reciting to friendly stranger the
outrageous pranks, including theft, assault
and battery and incendiarism, TO which her
"big brother Peter'' was addicted. AS an
offset 10 the disgrace of this relationship,
she dwclt with sweet enthusiasm upon the
winning traits of her little sister, Sally
Pinker." On being questioned by her
mother, it appeared that this hypothetical
brother and sister were very distinct
realities to the solitary child not for long
time would she drop them from the lists OF
kinship
As child, my record for truth telling ana
righteousness OF behavior was never in.
peached; yet / recall instances of mental
chicanery which, had they been made
patent would have sufflced to raise grave
doubts in the minds OF my natural protect
ors whether should not become pcrjurer
of the blacklist stamp. Well do | recall that
dull, rainy afternoon, when, open air sports
being out of the question, | cast about FOR
some novel entertainment in doors. I had
heard of the extraordinary delusions which
had seized upon a relative OF mine while in
the deliiium Of % fever |, TOO, wou d be
delirious, see visions ana talk wildly. /
succeeded so well at this kind Of fCigning
that not only was my tender mother
alarmed, but | myself became genu-
inely i'll unnerved by the vividness of my
II
ing character OF my own incoheront ut
terances. Also, well remember being tax
en- TO the photographers, and the lugubrious
result attending the united efforts of the
artist my parents-and myself How
ever eXhorted to- smile the record of each
experiment showed a uniform grimncss Of
pursed lips, saucer eyes and lightly cor
rugatcd brows. The "infant SPHINX as
this photograph was aftCrward known in
the family, was often clandestinely inspect
ed by me with extreme delight. Before and
during tho operation / had resolved that il
] were to have my picture taken ] would look
noble synonymous in my mind with SeVCre).
That had succeeded in my design was the
fond impression retained for several years.
Beside this witness to the theatrical i'm
pulse in children might be placed another
portrait which was lately shown me-that
of a laughing eyed, dimplug. cOquettish
Lalagc lace The lady whose child self is
thus daintily memorializcd tells me that he
nOllNc OF the sister was TO look as lhou@n
my sweetheart Lad just kissed me! 1t was
this same elf who, having been corrected by
his mother, conceived plan for decorating
the heart Of the injurious parent Her eyes
being at the height of their showCry 1T, she
caught up precious crimson bound picture
book, ana, bending over it, let fall upon its
admired cover two great tear drops, with in
finite satisfac,i ion watching the spreading
circles of stain which in future years should
so poignantly reprCach the maternal dcspot.
The little red book is still eXtant. and have
seen il, with its twin hieroglyphs express
i've Of so much naivete and iinesse.-Atlan-
tic Monthly.