Newark post., 1911-09-20
Written for "The Post.')
BIRTHDAY MEMORIES.

We all like folks to notice olI
birthdays, SO because September
is his birth month, | am going to
tell you the story of Eugene Field
"a man who loved little ones.
When Eugene Field was only
seven years old, just the age OF
the little ones to whom | am now
talking. his mother died and the
little boy went to make his home
with a kind aunt. He was not
able to see his father very often,
but had to do his talking with him
by way of letter writing. Prob
ably this is the way he learned to
love to write.
AS he grew into a tall broad
shouldered boy his father sent him
to college. He wanted him to be-
come lawyer like himself. The
boy tried because he was anxious
to please, but he gradually dri:ted
into what was for him a much
pleasanter task-writing beautiful
verses for the little folk.
His favorite companions were
boys and girls. During the last
twelve years Of his life he lived in
a rambling old house, surrounded
by large shaded lawn. 1t was
on a quiet street in the city of
Chicago. Every child in the neigh
borhood knew where this jolly
friend lived.
When the weather was nice he
would bring his work out on the
lawn. 1t wasn't a quiet place to
work, and he had many Interrupt
tions. He tells us himself it was
a place where
Dear little children go romping
about,
With dollies and tin tops and
drums;
And my how they fsolic and scam
per and shout
Till bedtime too speedily
comes"
His poems that we all love SO
we'll were written in the midst of
the shouts of children from whom
he gained the suggestion and in
spiration.
When he went to visit older
people, if there were children in
the house, it was never long BE-
fore he was off i'll a corner with
them. One time he went to visit
a famous minister. Soon after he
entered he was introduced to the
boys and girls. He greeted them
with the question: Where is the
kitchen?" They all trooped eff to
that part 0: the house and found
the remains of turkey which was
placed in the centre Of the din
ing room table. They had fine
time around tois banquet board,
their visitor telling them wonder
full stories all the while.
The people all ov er the land
wanted to hear this man read and
tell his own stories, for when he
told them they wcie even more
beautiful than ever.
He used to travel about reading
Lullabies, Little Boy Blue, etc.,
before large audiences. When
away on these trips he never for
got that he had seven merry boys
boys and girls at home. It was
his habit to buy all sorts of queer
playthings. Sometimes it was a
fine drum he bought, sometimes a
pop gun, red top or gay trum.
pet; but quite as often it was a
dolly, little boat, some cakes or
candy
All of his own children he called
by some odd pet name.
When his first daughter was
born, he called her "Trotty,' while
"Pinny', Daisy" "Googhy" a,le
"Posy' were names given tc
others in the family.
One evening III early Novem
Der this devoted iather spent /;
quiet time in his home. He anc
the one of the boys whom he call
ed Daisy" went to sleep together
as usual. Early in the morning
the boy aWoke to find that as hi
father was dreaming all ange
song" had awakened him just a
his own Little Boy Blue" During
the quiet hours of the night h,
had slipped into the far unknown
conutry from which none hay,
ever returned, and all Americ;
mourned the loss of one OF he