The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-09-10
REcOLLEcTIONS OF INFANCY.
A Famous Woman Talks of the Time
When She Was Todd1er.

Jean Ingelow writes in Longman's
Magazine: l had a lace cap, and 1
perfectly remember that I frequently
wore this when taken downstairs to
see company; and there is not much
in this recollection, for l have often
been told that my mother let me wear
it much later than most children, for l
had not much hair, and she thought it
becoming. There were little bows OF
satin ribbon in it, and | wore it till
about 2 years old.
After this my recollections grow
more distinct. L began to understand
a good deal of what people said-that
is, of what they said especially to me
and nearly the last of the remem-
brances, which l have called visions,
belongs to the summer when was
about years and months old.
was in honeysuckle arbor in the
garden, sitting on my mothers knee.
She had white gown on and her
pearl necklace. l saw two stars
planets probably - and l suppose l
pointed at them and asked her to give
one of them to me. l think that is
what l said, but do not in the least re-
member any words, and how the
knowledge was conveyed l have not
the least idea; but l was let to know
by my mother that the stars were not
hers-that there was some one up there
to whom they belonged and who had
made them. He was very good, and
if we were good he would be pleased
with us.
did not like this at all. Something
like awe, l suppose, made me hide my
face in her bosom, lest he should see
me; and for some time after this,
when we went out walking and there
were great white clouds in the sky,
used to look out, in case he might be
seen sitting on one of them.
The total want of any knowledge of
right and wrong was not altogether
willful then. Certain things were
only found out to be delinquencies
when punishment followed the doing
of them. remember seeing the dear
mamma and a young friend of hers
ornamenting some saucers and little
vases with tiny flowers made of va
rious-colored rice paper. The flowers
were cut out leaf by leaf, fastened to-
gether with gum, and then stuck onto
the vases, which were made of what
was called biscuit china. | used to
watch the making of these. They
were finished and put on table in the
drawing-room. | saw them-it was
long sofa table of rosewood. l man
aged to stand on little stool to ad-
mire more closely, and then by slow
degrees l picked every one of the
flowers off with the greatest care
and pains, and collected them in lit
tie cup. had nearly finished this
task, so happy l was, so industrious,
when my mother and her friend came
in. Great were the ordinations! Il
was very, very naughty, mischevous
child!' was scolded and punished,
and then found out that | had done
wrong.
About this time, and for some
months-perhaps more than year
after had habit of attributing intel
ligence to not only all living creatures
the same amount and kind of intelli-
gence that 1 had myself-but even to
stones and manufactured articles, |
used to feel how dull it must be for
the pebbles in the causeway to be
obliged to lie still and only see what
was round about. When l walked
out with a little basket for putting
flowers in l used sometimes to pick up
a pebble or two and carry them on to
have change; then at the farthest
point of the walk turn them out, not
doubling that they would be pleased
to have new view.
This difficulty in attaining to clear
distinction in the understanding be-
tween dead matter-I will call it the
world-and the youthful spirit OBJ
serving it is very much increased by
grown-up people. They suggest and
foster it. They teach the children to
kiss and fondle dolls, and to pat the
pictures in book, or to slap the
naughty floor" when they tumble
down and it has struck them.