Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-11-25
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD.
Sone of the Things Remembered by a Man
Of ProsaIc DisposItIon.

of Prosaic Disposition.
1t is said great men retain vivid recol-
lections of the scenes and incidents Of
their childhood. Perhaps they do. II
their writings arc founded upon verify,
they do certainly.
They remember tho old abbey that
filled them with dread and dismay; they
remember the -crumbling tombstones in
the churchyard, with the moss-covered
epitaphs; they can soc 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 tho later life in the
Southdowns, where the wind was always
blowing, and great ships were always
sailing in the great arm of the aea-
They recall the bronzed old hulk of
sailor, with his strange sea-words, the
boats he used to whittle out Of thom
with his cutlass or marlinspike, and tho
mimic voyages they took to China and
Holland. They recall the Squire's little
black-eyed niece-she is still looking
out at them from tho past.
Well, let her look. 1t is probably
easy enough to be a great man when a
person is in youth situated where these
interesting objects arc found native; but
] could not remember any crumbling abb
bey, without making myself out liar,
nor any explorations of the wind-swept
downs.
can not recall any sailor; I do not
''romember my father us quiet. still
man. not fond OF children, Think" and
II a. historian were to found himself on
my memory, he would havo to write
that there wero no rough hunting,
shooting squires In my neighborhood.
1t was evidently planned by the Fates
that should mover 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 boen a
fluent memorist anyhow. Probably
Nature intended me for the deposition,
affidavit and witncss-chair president OF
a largo corporation. .s.ts4 fH
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 1 do not remember
them.
'Wh on my mothor came down dressed
for the ball, there was hectic flush on
each check" No doubt OF 1t, only had
forgotten 1t entirely; and 1t has quito
slipped my memory that "tho days
which followed our return from London
wero bleak and drear."
All that can remember, anyhow, are
a few things that recall by thinking
back. But these would not make
novel, and they would not comprise
more than people knew atithc time.
There was an, occasion. quito discon-
nccted from any other occasion before
or after. when had been sitting on tho
floor, trying to make frionds with my
grandfather by petting his cur dog
most appropriately named Curly. The cur
bit me through the check, and thought
l could not yell loudly enough to express
my feelings and my grandfather stated
that sit served him right My old-maid
aunt, more than twenty-five years old,
inquired Of the pleasant old man, II he
were not ashamed.
He wasn't
do not remember whother the wound /
over got we'll or'not. a
Again | with difficulty climbed into q
buggy standing at our gate. Tho horse,
(named Mike), with true Irish troach-
cry, made an excuse OF the circum- 1
stances to move off,. He walked, he 4
trotted, he trottod faster. went sail
ing through the village streets, remark-
Ing. as ] am credihy informed: "a,
~ don't want to gol ! don't want to |
go!" !
Thus early / evinccd vein Of truth 1
lulness.
remember q blue cloak / onco had. |
10 came to my kneos, and must have |
been fourteen inches long. tore this
,loal, and tho whito cotton came out at
he rent "And l had done nn awful
Iced"
Colcridge tore his cloak In youth, and
,hus came to know what really ternibio
hing rcmorso is, and what Is irromedi-
lble crime. remember, one day, / got
whipped five times, and people claimed
resc nbled Napoleon tho Little or tho
'uban royolutionlsts. --Williston Fish, !
n Puck. ..~'--...s t4.,.s..h
as...r-- u : - = .-----7- 4.i,