Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-06
MELooRAMA OF CHILDHOOD.
The Resources of Children Who Find
Themselves Companionless.

Themselves Companionless.
Lonely children particularly develop the
dramatizing faculty, creating companions,
as lacking toys they are ingenious at invent
ing playthings. A brotherless and sisterless
4-year-old of my acquaintance, taken upon a
journey gave her fond mother some sensa.
tion, the little one being overheard reciting
to friendly stranger the outrageous pranks.
including theft, assault and battery and in
cendiarism, to which her 'big brother
Peter" was addicted. AS an offset to the dis
grace of this relationship, she dwelt 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, nor for
a long time would she drop them from the
lists of kinship.
As child, my record for truth telling and
ingenuousness Of behavior was never i'm
peached; yet l recall instances of mental
chicanery which, had they been made patent,
would have suff1ced to raise grave doubts in
the minds of my natural protectors whether
should not become perjurer of the black
est stamp. Well do recall that dull, rainy
afternoon when, open air sports being out of
the question, cast about for some novel en-
tertainment indoors. had heard Of the ex-
traordinary delusions that had seized upon
relative OF mine while in the delirium of
fever. l, too, would be delirious see visions
and talk wildly. | succeeded so well at this
kind of feigning that not only was my tender
mother alarmed, but myself became genu-
inely ill, unnerved by the vividness OF nv
own hgments and the blood chilling charac-
ter of my own incoherent utterances. Also,
| well remember being taken to the photog-
raphers, and the lugubrious result attending
the united efforts of the artist" my parents
and myself. However exhorted to smile,
the record of each experiment showed a uni
form grimness of pursed lips, saucer eyes and
slightly corrugated brows. The Infant
sphinx" as this photograph was afterward
known in the family, was often clandestinely
inspected by me with extreme delight. Be-
fore and during the operation l had re-
solved that if were to have my picture taken
would look noble Synonymous in my mind
with severe). That l 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, dimplish, coquettish Lalage
face, The lady whose child self is thus daint-
lily memorialized tells me that the motive of
the sitter was to 'look as though my sweet
heart had just kissed mel" 1t was this same elf
who, having been corrected by her mother,
conceived plan for lacerating the heart of
the injurious parent. Her eyes being at the
height of their showery fit she caught up
precious crimson bound picture book, and,
bending over it, let fall upon its admired cover
two great tear drops with infinite satisfac-
ton watching the spreading circles of stain
which In future years should SO poignantly
reproach the maternal despot. The little red
book is still extant, and have seen it, with
its twin hieroglyphs expressive of SO much
naiyete and finesse-Atlantic Monthly.