Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
THE FALLACY OF OUR
HAPPY CHILDHOOD

Written for The Evening Star by Josephine Dodge
Daskam.
When we passed by his house he was sit
ting on the front stoop. Bent over, his
hands hanging dejectedly between his open
knees, his eyes on the step below him, he
sat. motionless, silent as the grave.
"Ah," said my friend. sentimentally, 'the
happy days, the happy days! See the little
steam engine and the blocks he has propped
it up with. Dear me, how soon IT will all
pass But he doesn't appreciate it, alas!'
I'm afraid he doesn't" I said. "He
looks to me very much as II he wished 1t
would pass somewhat mora rapidly just
about now
isn't he happy?"
''In that case he conceals 1t admirably"
said I. "Do you feel happy when you sit
that way?"
'Oh. nonsense she objected. tits dif-
ferent with me. You know perfectly well.
I have something to sit that way about.
But when l was five
"Oh, yes, when you were five 1t was all
one rosy dream! Trailing clouds Of glory
and all that. I remember. Probably he
has loaned his clouds to his sister, who is
even now weeping violently in the rear Of
the house. Do you hear herT'
"But that is only temper, not SORROW"
she explained.
Whatever it is it's not very happy. Go
up and ask him what's the NATTER sug-
gested. Find out why he's not trailing
his clouds this morning.
She approached the stoop.
Good morning, my little man." she be-
gan, with ostentatious cheerfulness.
He gave no Sig n nor raised his eyes from
the lower step.
She repeated her salutation.
ST amt man. he replied brightly, still
motionless.
Il said little man, DEAR" she insisted.
IT amt little I'm big f. m age" he
stated Succincty.
Baffled, she tried new tack
"a little tired with playing, aren't you.
here in the sun? Is that your engine?
WHAT fine one"
At this he raised his eyes. I would not
have encountered that look for great
DEAL He could not be said to stare at her
precisely He merely directed blank, I'M
seeing gaze at the space she occupied.
There was nothing SO personal as contempt
in it, though it suddenly became apparent
to both Of us that the engine was not fms
one, being bolstered up with blocks and at
tached to the tender with Irvine.
No, It was stark ennGl. Hamlet found
life no flatter, staler and less profitable than
did that pudgy infant that day. So far as
that morning was concerned he had had
enough. In any other mood have no doubt
he would have managed to pull himself to-
gether and exert a little Of that perfunctory
their usually hnbecile attempts at CONVEX
sation necessitates. but now he was beyond
speech.
Good morning. old fellow murmured,
I'm sorry for you:" and We went on. There
was nothing else to do.
It Is In all readers, of course, that happy
spring time-of-hfe motif. Why, bless your
heart I, even I, who know SO much better,
am quite likely to put las happy as q
child into nay next poem. But it won't be
true.
Ann I the only person who has grown
more contented and amused, less despond-
emit and intolerant with my declining years7
I think not.
The great lesson of life Is to learn that
there are compensations for 1t. and how can
a child know this? What recent misery
of subjective nature-win stand out In
my mind fifteen years from today like an
affliction that nearly turned my hair gray
at ten? It was because could not wear
a separate waist and skirt. They were
the same color, and they inevitably button
ed in the back. Now. indeed. they are of
the same color. because I have discovered
that It Is more artistic. and they some
times button in the back, too; but I wish
it SO. At that period did not. VOLTA la
difference.
Heavensi The humiliation I endured.
begging them for one dress-only one-that
should button in the front They were
adamant 1t would look ridiculous.
What do you want 1t for. anyway" they
said.
could not tell them that wanted to
borrow a watch, tie red ribbon bow into
the ring at the end and insert It somewhere
between the buttons on my proud chest.
Such desire would have meant nothing
to them. and besides they knew that had
no watch and no Immediate prospect OF OBJ
tanning xn< Euf fa1t that ~ ev.r <-,| .