Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-09-19
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD.
Some of the Things Remembered by Man
of Prosaic DispOsition.

VI Irosdic DlspoSiUioH'
1t is said great men retain vivid recol-
lections of the scenes and incidents OF
their childhood. Perhaps they do II
their writings are founded upon verify,
they do certainly.
They remember the old abbey that
filed them with dread and dismay; they
remember the crumbling tombstones in
the churchyard, with the moss-covered
epitaphs; they can see to their latest
day the prim rectory, or the parsonage.
And perhaps there were years, per.
haps only days, between the life among
these and the later life in the
Southdowns, where the wind was always
blowing, and great ships were always
sailing in the great arm OF the sea.
They recall the bronzed old hulk of
boats he used to white out of them
with his cutlass or marlinspike, and the
mimic voyages they took to China and
Holland. They recall the Squirrels little
black-eyed niece-she is still looking
out at them from the past.
Well, let her look. 1t is probably
easy enough to be great man when a
person is in youth situated whore these
interesting objects are found native; but
could not remember any crumbling alb.
hey, without making myself out liar,
nor any explorations of the wind-swept
downs.
can not recall any sailor; do not
remember my father as quiet, still
man. not fond of children, I Think" and
! if historian were to found himself on
my memory, he would have to write
that there were no rough hunting,
shooting squires in my neighborhood.
1t was evidently planned by the Fates
that should never be great man, for
none of the things that great men re-
member with such stunning effect were
located in my vicinity.
Probably | could never have been q
fluent memorist anyhow. Probably
Nature intended me for the deposition,
affidavit and witness-chair president OF
a large corporation.
could not possible remember how
"the Count laid his hand upon his
sword" and how my father gave him
one swift look" These things probably
happened, only l do not remember
them.
"Wh en- my mother came down dressed
for the ball, there was hectic flush on
each cheek" No doubt of it, only had
forgotten it entirely; and it has quite
slipped my memory that "the days
which followed our return from London
we're bleak and drear."
All that ! can remember, anyhow, are
few things that l recall by thinking
back. But these would not make a
novel, and they would not comprise
more than people knew at the time.
There was an occasion, quite discon
nected from any other occasion before
or after, when had been sitting on the
floor, trying to make friends with my
grandfather by petting his cur dog
most appropriately named Curly. The cul
bit mo through the cheek, and thought
could not yell loudly enough to express
my feelings, and my grandfather stated
that sit served him right" Ny old-maid
aunt, moro than twenty-five years old
inquired of the pleasant oldman, if he
were not ashamed
He wasn't.
i do not remember whether the WOUND
ever got well or not.
Again | with difficulty climbed into
buggy standing at our gate, The horse
(named Nike, with true Irish trcach
cry, made an excuse of the circum
stances to move off, lie walked, hi
tIotted, he trotted faster. | went sail
ing through the village streets, remark
ing, as am credibly informed:
II don't want to go! | don't want Il
go!"
Thus early evinced vein of truth
fulness.
| remember a blue cloak l once had
1t came to my knees, and must hav
been fourteen inches long. l tore thi
, cloak, and the white cotton came out a
t the rent. And L had done an awfu
, deed"
/ Coleridge tore his cloak in youth, an
, thus came to know whata really tcrribl
{ thing remorSe is and what is irremedi
! able crime. remember, one day, 60
=. whipped 1--WE times, and people elaine
l l reese mbled Napoleon the Little or tn
I Cuban revolutionists. -Williston Fish
D in Puck.
The Point of View.
r Railway enger-Isn' titwonderfu