Thetumultsofalittlechild’spassionsofangerandgrief，growingfewerashegrowsolder，ratherincreasethanlessenintheirpainfulness。Thereisafullerconsciousnessofcompletecapitulationofallthechildishpowerstotheoverwhelmingcompulsionofanger。Thisisnottemptation；thewordistooweakfortheassaultofachild’spassionuponhiswill。Thatlittlewillistakencaptiveentirely，andbeforethechildwassevenheknewthatitwasso。Suchaconsciousnessleavesallbabyhoodbehindandcondemnsthechildtosuffer。Foracertainpassageofhislifeheisneitherunconsciousofevil，ashewas，norstrongenoughtoresistit，ashewillbe。Thetimeofthesubsidingofthetumultisbynomeanstheleastpitiableofthephasesofhumanlife。Happilytherecoveryfromeachtroubleisreadyandsure；sothatthechildwhohadbeenabandonedtonaughtinesswithallhiswillinanentireconsenttothegloomypossessionofhisanger，andwhohadlaterundergoneahaggardrepentance，hashiscaptivitysuddenlyturnedagain，\"likeriversinthesouth。\"\"Forgetit，\"hehadwept，inakindofextremityofremorse；\"forgetit，darling，anddon’t，don’tbesad；\"anditishe，happily，whoforgets。Thewastedlookofhispalefaceiseffacedbythetouchofasinglecheerfulthought，andfiveshortminutescanrestoretheruin，asthoughabrokenlittleGermantownshouldinthetwinklingofaneyeberestoredasnoarchitectcouldrestoreit——shouldbemadefresh，strong，andtightagain，lookinglikeafullboxoftoys，asatownwaswonttolookinthenewdaysofold。
Whenhisruthlessangersarenotinpossessionthechildshowsthegrowthofthistardyreasonthat——quickened——ishereaftertodosomuchforhispeaceanddignity，bythesweetestconsideration。
Deniedasecondhandfulofstrawberries，andseeingquiteclearlythatthedenialwasenforcedreluctantly，hemakeshastetoreply，\"Itdoesn’tmatter，darling。\"Atanysuddennoiseinthehousehisbeautifulvoice，withallitslittledifficultiesofpronunciation，isheardwiththesedulousreassurance：\"It’sallright，mother，nobodyhurtedourselves！\"Heisnotsurprisedsoastoforgetthisgentlelittleduty，whichwasneverrequiredofhim，butisofhisowndevising。
AccordingtotheopinionofhisdearandadmiredAmericanfriend，hesaysallthesethings，goodandevil，withanEnglishaccent；andattheAmericanplayhisEnglishaccentwasirrepressible。\"It’stoocomic；no，it’stoocomic，\"hecalledinhisenjoyment；beingtheonlyperfectlyfearlesschildintheworld，hewillnotconsenttotheconventionalshynessinpublic，whetherhebethememberofanaudienceorofacongregation，butmakeshimselfperceptible。Andevenwhenhehasadesperatethingtosay，inthemomentofabsoluterevolt——suchathingas\"ICAN’Tlikeyou，mother，\"whichanonhewillrecantwithconvulsionsofdistress——hehasto\"speakthethinghewill，\"andwhenherecantsitisnotforfear。
Ifsuchachildcouldberuled（orapproximatelyruled，forinquisitorialgovernmentcouldhardlybesomuchasattempted）bysomesmallmeansadaptedtohissizeandtohisphysicalaspect，itwouldbewellforhishealth，butthatseemsattimesimpossible。
Bynoeffortcanhiseldersaltogethersucceedinkeepingtragedyoutofthelifethatissounreadyforit。Againstgreatemotionsnoonecandefendhimbyanyforethought。Heistheirsubject；andtoseehimthusdevotedandthuswrung，thuswreckedbytempestsinwardly，sothatyoufeelgriefhashimactuallybytheheart，recallsthereluctance——thequestion——wherewithyouperceivetheinteriorgriefofpoetryorofadevoutlife。CannottheMuse，cannottheSaint，youask，livewithsomethinglessthanthis？Ifthisisthetruerlife，itseemshardlysupportable。Inlikemanneritshouldbepossibleforachildofseventocomethroughhischildhoodwithgriefsthatshouldnotsocloselyinvolvehim，butshoulddealwiththeeasiersentiments。
Despiteallhissimplicity，thechildhas（bywayofinheritance，forhehasneverheardthem）theself-excusingfictionsofourrace。
Accusedofcertainactsofviolence，andunabletorebutthechargewithanyeffect，hefliestotheoldconvention：\"Ididn’tknowwhatIwasdoing，\"heavers，usingagreatdealofgesticulationtoexpressthetemporarydistractionofhismind。\"Darling，afternurseslappedmeashardasshecould，Ididn’tknowwhatIwasdoing，soIsupposeIpushedherwithmyfoot。\"HismotherknowsaswellasdoesTolstoithatmenandchildrenknowwhattheyaredoing，andarethemoreintentlyawareasthestressoffeelingmakesthemomentsmoretense；andshewillnotadmitapleawhichherchildmighthavelearnedfromtheundramaticauthorshehasneverread。
Farfromrepentingofheroldsystemofrewards，andfarfromtakingfrightatthenameofabribe，themotheroftheChildofTumulthasonlytowishshehadatcommandrewardsampleandvariedenoughtogivetheshockofhopeandpromisetotheheartofthelittleboy，andchangehispassionatitsheight。
THEUNREADY
Itisrashlysaidthatthesensesofchildrenarequick。Theyare，onthecontrary，unwieldyinturning，unreadyinreporting，untiladvancingageteachesthemagility。Thisisnotlackofsensitiveness，butmerelengthofprocess。Forinstance，achildnearlynewlyborniscruellystartledbyasuddencrashintheroom——
achildwhohasneverlearnttofear，andismerelyovercomebytheshockofsound；nevertheless，thatshockofsounddoesnotreachtheconscioushearingorthenervesbutaftersomemoments，norbeforesomemomentsmoreisthesenseoftheshockexpressed。Thesoundtravelstotheremotenessandseclusionofthechild’sconsciousness，astheroarofaguntravelstolistenershalfamileaway。
Soitis，too，withpain，whichhaslearnttobesoinstantandeagerwithusoflateragethatnopointoftimeislostinitstouches——directastheuninterceptedmessageofgreatandcandideyes，unhamperedbytrivialities；evensoimmediateisthecommunicationofpain。Butyoucouldcountfivebetweentheprickofasurgeon’sinstrumentuponababy’sarmandthelittlewhimperthatanswersit。Thechildisthentooyoung，also，toreferthefeelingofpaintothearmthatsuffersit。Evenwhenpainhasgropeditswaytohismindithardlyseemstobringlocaltidingsthither。Thebabydoesnotturnhiseyesinanydegreetowardshisarmortowardsthesidethatissovexedwithvaccination。Helooksinanyotherdirectionathaphazard，andcriesatrandom。
See，too，howslowlytheunpractisedapprehensionofanolderchildtrudgesafterthenimblenessofaconjurer。Itisthegreatestfailuretotaketheselittlegobe-mouchestoagoodconjurer。Hissuccessesleavethemcold，fortheyhadnotyetunderstoodwhatitwasthegoodmanmeanttosurprisethemwithal。Theamateuritiswhoreallyastonishesthem。Theycannotcomeupevenwithyouramateurbeginner，performingatclosequarters；whereasthemasterofhiscraftonaplatformrunsquiteawayattheoutsetfromthelaggingsensesofhishonestaudience。
Youmayrobachildofhisdearestplateattable，almostfromunderhisingenuouseyes，sendhimoffinchaseofit，andhaveitinitsplaceandoffagaintentimesbeforethelittlebreathlessboyhasbeguntoperceiveinwhatdirectionhissweetshavebeensnatched。
Teachersofyoungchildrenshouldthereforeteachthemselvesahabitofawaiting，shouldsurroundthemselveswithpausesofpatience。
Thesimplelittleprocessesoflogicthatarrangethegrammarofacommonsentencearetooquickfortheseyoungblunderers，whocannotusetwopronounsbuttheymustconfusethem。Ineverfoundthatayoungchild——oneofsomethingundernineyears——wasabletosay，\"I
sendthemmylove\"atthefirstattempt。Itwillbe\"Isendmemylove，\"\"Isendthemtheirlove，\"\"Theysendmemylove\"；not，ofcourse，throughanyconfusionofunderstanding，butbecauseofthetardysettingofwordsinorderwiththethoughts。Thechildvisiblygrappleswiththedifficulty，andisbeaten。
Itisnodoubtthisunreadinessthatcauseslittlechildrentoliketwice-toldtalesandforegoneconclusionsintheirgames。Theyarenoteager，forayearortwoyettocome，forsurprises。Ifyouhideandtheycannotseeyouhiding，theirjoyinfindingyouiscomparativelysmall；butletthemknowperfectlywellwhatcupboardyouarein，andtheywillfindyouwithshoutsofdiscovery。Thebetterthehiding-placeisunderstoodbetweenyouthemorelivelythedrama。Theymakeaconventionofartfortheirplay。Theyoungerthechildrenthemoredramatic；andwhenthehouseisfilledwithoutcriesoflaughterfromthebreathlessbreastofachild，itisthatheispretendingtobesurprisedatfindinghismotherwherehebadeherpretendtohide。Thisisthecomedythatnevertires。
Lettheelderwhocannotunderstanditscharmbewarehowhetriestoputamoreintelligibleformofdelightintheplaceofit；for，ifnot，hewillfindthatchildrenalsohaveamannerofsubstitution，andthattheywillputhalf-heartedlaughterintheplaceoftheirnaturalimpetuousclamours。Itiscertainthatveryyoungchildrenliketoplayupontheirownimaginations，andenjoytheirownshortgame。
Thereissomethingsopurelychildlikeinthedelaysofachildthatanyexerciseaskingfortheswiftapprehensionoflaterlife，fortheflashesofunderstandingandaction，fromthemindandmembersofchildhood，isnopleasuretosee。Thepiano，forinstance，asexpertsunderstandit，andevenasthemoderately-trainedmayplayit，claimsalltheimmediateaction，theinstantaneousness，mostunnaturaltochildhood。Theremaypossiblybefeatsofskilltowhichyoungchildrencouldbetrainedwithoutthisspecificviolencedirecteduponthethingcharacteristicoftheirage——theirunreadiness——butvirtuosityatthepianocannotbeoneofthem。Itisnodelight，indeed，toseetheshynessofchildren，oranythingthatistheirs，conqueredandbeaten；buttheirpoorlittleslownessissodistinctivelytheirown，andmustneedsbephysiologicallysopropertotheiryears，somuchanaturalconditionoftheageoftheirbrain，thatofallchildishnessesitistheonethattheworldshouldhavethepatiencetoattendupon，thehumanitytofoster，andtheintelligencetounderstand。
Itistruethatthemovementsofyoungchildrenarequick，butaverylittleattentionwouldprovehowmanyapparentdisconnexionstherearebetweenthelivelymotionandthefirstimpulse；itisnotthebrainthatisquick。If，onavoyageinspace，electricitytakesthusmuchtime，andlightthusmuch，andsoundthusmuch，thereisonelittlejoggingtravellerthatwouldarriveaftertheothershadforgottentheirjourney，andthisistheperceptionofachild。Surelyourownmemoriesmightservetoremindushowinourchildhoodweinevitablymissedtheprincipalpointinanyprocessionorpageantintendedbyourelderstofurnishuswithahistoricalremembranceforthefuture。Itwasnotourmerevaguenessofunderstanding，itwastheunwieldinessofoursenses，ofourreplytothesuddennessofthegrownup。WelivedthroughtheimportantmomentsofthepassingofanEmperoratadifferentratefromtheirs；westaredlonginthewakeofhisMajesty，andofanythingelseofinterest；everyflashofmovement，thatgottelegraphicanswersfromourparents’eyes，leftusstragglers。Wefelloutofallranks。Amongthesightsproposedforourinstruction，thatwhichbefittedusbestwasaneclipseofthemoon，doneatleisure。
Ingoodtimewefoundthemooninthesky，ingoodtimetheeclipsesetinandmadereasonableprogress；wekeptupwitheverything。
Itistoooftenrequiredofchildrenthattheyshouldadjustthemselvestotheworld，practisedandalert。Butitwouldbemoretothepurposethattheworldshouldadjustitselftochildreninallitsdealingswiththem。Thosewhorunandkeeptogetherhavetorunatthepaceofthetardiest。Butweareapttocommandinstantobedience，strippedofthelittlepausesthatachild，whileveryyoung，cannotactwithout。Itisnotachildoftenortwelvethatneedsthemso；itistheyoungcreaturewhohasbutlatelyceasedtobeababy，slowtobestartled。
Wehavebuttoconsiderallthatitimpliesoftheloiteringofsensesandofanunpreparedconsciousness——thiscapacityforreceivingagreatshockfromanoiseandthisperceptionoftheshockaftertwoorthreeappreciablemoments——ifwewouldknowanythingofthemomentsofababyEvenaswemustlearnthatourtime，whenitislong，istoolongforchildren，somustwelearnthatourtime，whenitisshort，istooshortforthem。Whenitisexceedinglyshorttheycannot，withoutanunnaturaleffort，haveanyperceptionofit。Whenchildrendonotseethejokesoftheelderly，anddisappointexpectationinotherways，onlylessintimate，thereasonisalmostalwaysthere。Thechildcannotturninmid-career；hegoesfast，buttheimpetustookplacemomentsago。
THATPRETTYPERSON
Duringthemanyyearsinwhich\"evolution\"wasthefavouriteword，onesignificantlesson——soitseems——waslearnt，whichhasoutlivedcontroversy，andhasremainedlongerthanthequestionsatissue——aninterestingandunnoticedthingcastupbythestormofthoughts。
Thisisadisposition，ageneralconsent，tofindtheuseandthevalueofprocess，andeventounderstandakindofreposeintheverywayfaringofprogress。Withthisisaresignationtochange，andsomethingmorethanresignation——adelightinthosequalitiesthatcouldnotbebutfortheirtransitoriness。
What，then，isthisbuttheadmiration，atlastconfessedbytheworld，forchildhood？Timewaswhenchildhoodwasbutbornewith，andthatforthesakeofitsmerepromiseofmanhood。Wedonotnowhold，perhaps，thatpromisesohigh。Even，nevertheless，ifweheldithigh，weshouldacknowledgetheapproachtobeastateadornedwithitsownconditions。
Butitwasnotsoonce。Astheprimitivelullabyisnothingbutapatientprophecy（themother’s），sowaseducation，sometwohundredyearsago，nothingbutanimpatientprophecy（thefather’s）ofthefullstatureofbodyandmind。TheIndianwomansingsofthefuturehunting。Ifhersongisnotrestless，itisbecauseshehasasenseoftheresultsoftime，andhassubmittedherhearttoexperience。
Childhoodisatimeofdanger；\"Woulditweredone。\"But，meanwhile，therightthingistoputittosleepandguarditsslumbers。Itwillpass。Shesingspropheciestothechildofhishunting，asshesingsasongabouttherobewhileshespins，andasongaboutbreadasshegrindscorn。Shebidsgoodspeed。
JohnEvelynwasequallyeager，andnotsosubmissive。Hischild——
\"thatprettyperson\"inJeremyTaylor’sletterofcondolence——waschieflyprecioustohiminasmuchashewas，toosoon，alikenessofthemanheneverlivedtobe。Thefather，writingwithtearswhentheboywasdead，saysofhim：\"AttwoandahalfyearsofagehepronouncedEnglish，Latin，andFrenchexactly，andcouldperfectlyreadinthesethreelanguages。\"Ashelivedpreciselyfiveyears，allhedidwasdoneatthatlittleage，anditcomprisedthis：\"HegotbyheartalmosttheentirevocabularyofLatinandFrenchprimitivesandwords，couldmakecongruoussyntax，turnEnglishintoLatin，andviceversa，construeandprovewhatheread，anddidthegovernmentanduseofrelatives，verbs，substantives，ellipses，andmanyfiguresandtropes，andmadeaconsiderableprogressinComenius’s’Janua，’andhadastrongpassionforGreek。\"
Grantthatthismaybealittleabated，becauseaveryseriousmanisnottobetoomuchbelievedwhenheisdescribingwhatheadmires；itistheveryfactofhisadmirationthatissocuriousasignofthosehastytimes。Allbeingfavourable，thechildofEvelyn’sstudioushomewouldhavedoneallthesethingsinthecourseofnaturewithinafewyears。Itwasthefactthathedidthemoutofthecourseofnaturethatwas，toEvelyn，soexquisite。
Thecourseofnaturehadnotanybeautyinhiseyes。Itmightbebornewithforthesakeoftheend，butitwasnotadmiredforthemajestyofitsunhastingprocess。JeremyTaylormournswithhim\"thestrangelyhopefulchild，\"who——withoutComenius’s\"Janua\"andwithoutcongruoussyntax——wasfulfilling，hadtheyknownit，anappropriatehope，answeringadistinctiveprophecy，andcrowningandclosingaseparateexpectationeverydayofhisfiveyears。
Ah！theword\"hopeful\"seems，tous，inthisday，awordtooflatteringtotheestateofman。Theythoughttheirlittleboystrangelyhopefulbecausehewassoquickonhiswaytobesomethingelse。Theylostthetimelyperfectionthewhiletheyweresointentupontheirhopes。Andyetitisourownmodernagethatischargedwithhaste！
Itwouldseemratherasthoughtheworld，whateveritshallunlearn，mustrightlylearntoconfessthepassingandirrevocablehour；notslightingit，orbiddingithastenitswork，notyethailingit，withFaust，\"Stay，thouartsofair！\"Childhoodisbutchangemadegayandvisible，andtheworldhaslatelybeenconvertedtochange。
Ourfathersvaluedchangeforthesakeofitsresults；wevalueitintheact。Tousthechangeisrevealedasperpetual；everypassageisagoal，andeverygoalapassage。Thehoursareequal；
butsomeofthemwearapparentwings。
Toutpasse。Isthefruitfortheflower，ortheflowerforthefruit，orthefruitfortheseedswhichitisformedtoshelterandcontain？Itseemsasthoughourforefathershadansweredthisquestionmostarbitrarilyastothelifeofman。
Alltheirliteraturedealingwithchildrenisbentuponthishaste，thissuppressionoftheapproachtowhatseemedthentheonlytimeoffulfilment。Thewaywaswithoutresttothem。Andthisbecausetheyhadtheillusionofaresttobegainedatsomelaterpointofthisunpausinglife。
Evelynandhiscontemporariesdroppedtheverywordchildassoonasmightbe，ifnotsooner。Whenapoorlittleboycametobeeightyearsoldtheycalledhimayouth。Thediaristhimselfhadnocausetobeproudofhisownearlyyears，forhewassofarindulgedinidlenessbyan\"honouredgrandmother\"thathewas\"notinitiatedintoanyrudiments\"tillhewasfouryearsofage。HeseemseventohavebeenayouthofeightbeforeLatinwasseriouslybegun；butthisfactheisevidently，inafteryears，withatotallackofasenseofhumour，ratherashamedof，andhardlyacknowledges。Itisdifficulttoimaginewhatchildhoodmusthavebeenwhennobody，lookingon，sawanyfuninit；wheneverythingthatwaspropertofiveyearsoldwasdefect。Astrangegoodconceitofthemselvesandoftheirownageshadthosefathers。
Theytooktheirchildrenseriously，withoutrelief。Evelynhasnothingtosayabouthislittleonesthathasasignofasmileinit。Twicearechildrennothisownmentionedinhisdiary。Oncehegoestotheweddingofamaidoffiveyearsold——acuriousthing，butnot，evidently，anoccasionofsensibility。Anothertimehestandsby，inaFrenchhospital，whileayouthoflessthannineyearsofageundergoesafrightfulsurgicaloperation\"withextraordinarypatience。\"\"TheuseImadeofitwastogiveAlmightyGodheartythanksthatIhadnotbeensubjecttothisdeplorableinfirmitie。\"Thisiswhathesays。
See，moreover，howthefashionofhurryingchildhoodprevailedinliterature，andhowitabolishedlittlegirls。Itmaybethattherewereinallages——eventhose——certainfewboyswhoinsisteduponbeingchildren；whereasthegirlsweredociletotheadultideal。
Art，forexample，hadnolittlegirls。TherewasalwaysCupid，andthereweretheprosperousurchin-angelsofthepainters；theonewhoishaulinguphislittlebrotherbythehandinthe\"LastCommunionofSt。Jerome\"mightbecalledTommy。Buttherewereno\"littleradiantgirls。\"Nowandthenan\"EducationoftheVirgin\"istheexception，andthenitisalwaysamatterofsewingandreading。Asforthelittlegirlsaints，evenwhentheyweresoyoungthattheirhands，likethoseofSt。Agnes，slippedthroughtheirfetters，theyarealwaysrecordedasrefusingimportunatesuitors，whichseemsnecessarytomaketheminterestingtothemediaevalmind，butmarsthemforours。
Sodoesthehurryingandignoringoflittle-girl-childhoodsomewhathamperthedelightwithwhichreadersofJohnEvelynadmirehismostadmirableMrs。Godolphin。ShewasMaidofHonourtotheQueenintheCourtofCharlesII。Shewas，asheprettilysays，anArethusa\"whopassedthroughallthoseturbulentwaterswithoutsomuchastheleaststainortinctureinherchristall。\"Sheheldherstatewithmenandmaidsforherservants，guidedherselfbymostexactrules，suchasthatofneverspeakingtotheKing，gaveanexcellentexampleandinstructiontotheothermaidsofhonour，was\"severelycarefulhowshemightgivetheleastcountenancetothatlibertywhichthegallantstheredidusuallyassume，\"refusedtheaddressesofthe\"greatestpersons，\"andwasasfamousforherbeautyasforherwit。Onewouldliketoforgettheageatwhichshedidthesethings。Whenshebeganherserviceshewaseleven。WhenshewasmakingherrulenevertospeaktotheKingshewasnotthirteen。
Marriagewasthebusinessofdaughtersoffourteenandfifteen，andheroines，therefore，wereofthoseages。ThepoetsturnedAprilintoMay，andseemedtothinkthattheylentagracetotheyeariftheyshortenedandabridgedthespringoftheirmanysongs。Theparticularyeartheysangofwastobeaparticularlyfineyear，aswhoshouldsayafinechildandforward，withcongruoussyntaxattwoyearsold，andellipses，figures，andtropes。EvenaslateasKeatsapoetwouldnothavepatiencewiththeprocessoftheseasons，butboastedofuntimelyflowers。The\"musk-rose\"isneverinfactthechildofmid-May，ashehasit。
TheyoungwomenofAddisonarenearlyfourteenyearsold。Hisfearoflosingtheideaofthebloomoftheiryouthmakeshimsotamperwiththebloomoftheirchildhood。Theyoungheiressofseventeeninthe\"Spectator\"haslookeduponherselfasmarriageable\"forthelastsixyears。\"Thefamousletterdescribingthefigure，thedance，thewit，thestockingsofthecharmingMr。Shapelyissupposedtobewrittenbyagirlofthirteen，\"willingtosettleintheworldassoonasshecan。\"Sheadds，\"Ihaveagoodportionwhichtheycannothindermeof。\"Thiscorrespondentisoneof\"thewomenwhoseldomaskadvicebeforetheyhaveboughttheirweddingclothes。\"Therewasnosenseofchildhoodinanagethatcouldthinkthisanopportunepleasantry。
Butimpatienceofthewayandthewayfaringwastodisappearfromalatercentury——anagethathasfoundallthingstobeonajourney，andallthingscompleteintheirdaybecauseitistheirday，andhasitsappointedend。Itisthetardyconvictionofthis，ratherthanasentimentreadymade，thathascausedthechildhoodofchildrentoseem，atlast，somethingelsethanadefect。
UNDERTHEEARLYSTARS
Playisnotforeveryhouroftheday，orforanyhourtakenatrandom。Thereisatideintheaffairsofchildren。Civilizationiscruelinsendingthemtobedatthemoststimulatingtimeofdusk。Summerdusk，especially，isthefrolicmomentforchildren，bafflethemhowyoumay。Theymayhavebeeninapotteringmoodallday，intentuponallkindsofcloseindustries，breathinghardoverchoppingsandpoundings。Butwhenlatetwilightcomes，therecomesalsothepunctualwildness。Thechildrenwillrunandpursue，andlaughforthemeremovement——itdoessojolttheirspirits。
Whatremembrancesdoesthisimplyofthehunt，whatofthepredatorydark？Thekittengrowsalertatthesamehour，andhuntsformothsandcricketsinthegrass。Itcomeslikeanimp，leapingonallfours。Thechildrenlieinambushandfallupononeanotherinthemimicryofhunting。
Thesuddenoutbreakofactioniscomplainedofasadefianceandarebellion。Theirentertainersaretired，andthechildrenaretogohome。But，withmoreorlessoflifeandfire，thechildrenstrikesomeblowforliberty。Itmaybetheimpotentrevoltoftheineffectualchild，orthestrokeoftheconqueror；butsomething，somethingisdoneforfreedomundertheearlystars。
Thisisnottheonlytimewhentheenergyofchildrenisinconflictwiththewearinessofmen。Butitislesstolerablethattheenergyofmenshouldbeatoddswiththewearinessofchildren，whichhappensatsometimeoftheirjauntstogether，especially，alas！inthejauntsofthepoor。
Ofgamesforthesummerduskwhenitrains，cardsaremostbelovedbychildren。Threetinygirlsweretobetaught\"oldmaid\"tobeguilethetime。Oneofthem，anut-brownchildoffive，waspersuadinganothertoplay。\"Ohcome，\"shesaid，\"andplaywithmeatnewmaid。\"
Thetimeoffallingasleepisachild’simmemorialandincalculablehour。Itisfulloftraditions，andbesetbyantiquehabits。Thehabitofprehistoricraceshasbeencitedastheonlyexplanationofthefixityofsomecustomsinmankind。Butiftheinquirerswhoappealtothatbeginningrememberedbettertheirowninfancy，theywouldseeknofurther。Seethehabitsinfallingtosleepwhichhavechildrenintheirthralldom。Trytoovercometheminanychild，andhisownconvictionoftheirhighantiquityweakensyourhand。
Childhoodisantiquity，andwiththesenseoftimeandthesenseofmysteryisconnectedforeverthehearingofalullaby。TheFrenchsleep-songisthemostromantic。Thereisinitsuchasoundofhistoryasmustinspireanyimaginativechild，fallingtosleep，withasenseoftheincalculable；andthesongsthemselvesareold。
\"LeBonRoiDagobert\"hasbeensungoverFrenchcradlessincethelegendwasfresh。Thenurseknowsnothingmoresleepythanthetuneandtheversethatsheherselfslepttowhenachild。Thegaietyofthethirteenthcentury，in\"LePontd’Avignon，\"isputmysteriouslytosleep，awayintheteteeteteofchildandnurse，inathousandlittlesequesteredroomsatnight。\"Malbrook\"wouldbecomparativelymodern，werenotallthingsthataresungtoadrowsingchildasdistantasthedayofAbraham。
IfEnglishchildrenarenotrockedtomanysuchagedlullabies，someofthemareputtosleeptostrangecradle-songs。Theaffectionateracesthatarebroughtintosubjectionsingtheprimitivelullabytothewhitechild。AsiaticvoicesandAfricanpersuadehimtosleepinthetropicalnight。Hisclosingeyesarefilledwithalienimages。
THEILLUSIONOFHISTORICTIME
Hewhohassurvivedhischildhoodintelligentlymustbecomeconsciousofsomethingmorethanachangeinhissenseofthepresentandinhisapprehensionofthefuture。Hemustbeawareofnolessathingthanthedestructionofthepast。Itseventsandempiresstandwheretheydid，andthemererelationoftimeisasitwas。Butthatwhichhasfallentogether，hasfallenin，hasfallenclose，andliesinalittleheap，isthepastitself——time——thefactofantiquity。
Hehasgrownintoasmallerworldashehasgrownolder。Therearenomoreextremities。Recordedtimehasnomoreterrors。Theunitofmeasurewhichheholdsinhishandhasbecomeinhiseyesathingofpaltrylength。Thediscoverydrawsintheannalsofmankind。Hehadthoughtthemtobewide。
Foramanhasnothingwherebytoorderandplacethefloods，thestates，theconquests，andthetemplesofthepast，exceptonlythemeasurewhichheholds。Callthatmeasureaspaceoftenyears。
Hisfirsttenyearshadgivenhimtheillusionofamostaugustscaleandmeasure。ItwasthenthatheconceivedAntiquity。Butnow！Isittoadecadeoftensuchlittleyearsasthesenowinhishand——tenofhismatureyears——thatmengivethedignityofacentury？Theycallitanage；butwhatiflifeshowsnowsosmallthatthewordagehaslostitsgravity？
Infact，whenachildbeginstoknowthatthereisapast，hehasamostnoblerodtomeasureitby——hehashisowntenyears。Heattributesanoverwhelmingmajestytoallrecordedtime。Heconfersdistance。He，andhealone，bestowsmystery。Remotenessishis。
Hecreatesmorethanmortalcenturies。Hesendsarmiesfightingintotheextremitiesofthepast。HeassignstheParthenontoahillofages，andthetemplesofUpperEgypttosiderealtime。
Iftherewerenochild，therewouldbenothingold。He，havingconceivedoldtime，communicatesaremembranceatleastofthemysterytothemindoftheman。Themanperceivesatlastalltheillusion，buthecannotforgetwhatwashisconvictionwhenhewasachild。HehadonceapersuasionofAntiquity。Andthisisnotfornothing。Theenormousundeceptionthatcomesuponhimstillleavesspacesinhismind。
Buttheundeceptionisrudework。Themanreceivessuccessiveshocks。Itisasthoughonestrainedleveleyestowardsthehorizon，andthenwerebiddentoshortenhissightandtoclosehissearchwithinapoorhalfacrebeforehisface。Now，itisthathesuddenlyperceivesthehithertoremote，remoteyouthofhisownparentstohavebeensomethingfamiliarlynear，someasuredbyhisnewstandard；again，itisthecomingofAttilathatisdisplaced。
Thosetenlastyearsofhishavecorrectedtheworld。Thereneedsnootherrodthanthattenyears’rodtochastisealltheimaginationsofthespiritofman。Itmakeshistoryskip。
Tohavelivedthroughanyappreciablepartofanycenturyistoholdthenceforthamerecenturycheapenough。But，itmaybesaid，themysteryofchangeremains。Nay，itdoesnot。Changethattrudgesthroughourownworld——ourcontemporaryworld——isnotverymysterious。Weperceiveitspace；itisajog-trot。Evenso，wenowconsider，joltedthechangesofthepast，withthesamehurry。
Theman，therefore，whohasintelligentlyceasedtobeachildscansthroughashortenedavenuethereachesofthepast。Hemarvelsthathewassodeceived。Foritwasaverydeception。IftheArgonauts，forinstance，hadbeenchildren，itwouldhavebeenwellenoughforthechildtomeasuretheirremotenessandtheiractswithhisownmagnificentmeasure。Buttheywereonlymenanddemi-gods。Thustheybelongtohimasheisnow——aman；andnottohimashewasonce——achild。Itwasquitewrongtolaythechild’senormoustenyears’rulealongthepathfromourtimetotheirs；thatpathmustbeskippedbythenimbleyardintheman’spresentpossession。
DecidedlytheArgonautsarenosubjectfortheboy。
What，then？Istherecordoftheracenothingbutabundleofsuchlittletimes？Nay，itseemsthatchildhood，whichcreatedtheillusionofages，doesactuallyproveittrue。ChildhoodisitselfAntiquity——toeverymanhisonlyAntiquity。TherecollectionofchildhoodcannotmakeAbrahamoldagaininthemindofamanofthirty-five；butthebeginningofeverylifeisolderthanAbraham。
THEREistheabyssoftime。Letamanturntohisownchildhood——nofurther——ifhewouldrenewhissenseofremoteness，andofthemysteryofchange。
Forinchildhoodchangedoesnotgoatthatmerehastyamble；itrushes；butithasenormousspaceforitsflight。Thechildhasanapprehensionnotonlyofthingsfaroff，butofthingsfarapart；anillusiveapprehensionwhenheislearning\"ancient\"history——arealapprehensionwhenheisconninghisownimmeasurableinfancy。IfthereisnohistoricalAntiquityworthspeakingof，thisistherenewedandunnumberedAntiquityforallmankind。
Anditisofthis——merelyofthis——that\"ancient\"historyseemstopartake。RomewasfoundedwhenwebeganRomanhistory，andthatiswhyitseemslongago。Supposethemanofthirty-fiveheard，atthatpresentage，forthefirsttimeofRomulus。Why，Romuluswouldbenowhere。Buthebuilthiswall，asamatteroffact，wheneveryonewassevenyearsold。Itisbygoodfortunethat\"ancient\"
historyistaughtintheonlyancientdays。So，foratime，theworldismagical。
Modernhistorydoeswellenoughforlearninglater。Butbylearningsomethingofantiquityinthefirsttenyears，thechildenlargesthesenseoftimeforallmankind。Forevenafterthegreatillusionisoverandhistoryisre-measured，andallfancyandflightcaughtbackandchastised，theenlargedsenseremainsenlarged。Themanremainscapableofgreatspacesoftime。HewillnotfindtheminEgypt，itistrue，buthefindsthemwithin，hecontainsthem，heisawareofthem。Historyhasfallentogether，butchildhoodsurroundsandencompasseshistory，stretchesbeyondandpassesontheroadtoeternity。
Hehasnotpassedinvainthroughthelongtenyears，thetenyearsthatarethetreasuryofpreceptions——thefirst。Thegreatdisillusionshallnevershortenthoseyears，norsetnearertogetherthedaysthatmadethem。\"Farapart，\"Ihavesaid，andthat\"farapart\"iswonderful。Thepastofchildhoodisnotsingle，isnotmotionless，norfixedinonepoint；ithassummitsaworldawayonefromtheother。YearfromyeardiffersastheantiquityofMexicofromtheantiquityofChaldea。Andthemanofthirty-fiveknowsforeverafterwardswhatisflight，eventhoughhefindsnogreathistoricdistancestoprovehiswingsby。
Thereisalongandmysteriousmomentinlongandmysteriouschildhood，whichistheextremestdistanceknowntoanyhumanfancy。
Manyothermoments，manyotherhours，arelonginthefirsttenyears。Hoursofwearinessarelong——notwithamysteriouslength，butwithamerelengthofprotraction，sothatthethingscalledminutesandhalf-hoursbytheelderlymaybesomethingelsetotheirapparentcontemporaries，thechildren。Theancientmomentisnotmerelyoneofthese——itisaspacenotoflong，butofimmeasurable，time。Itisthemomentofgoingtosleep。Themanknowsthatborderland，andhasacontemptforit：hehaslongceasedtofindantiquitythere。Ithasbecomeacommonenoughmarginofdreamstohim；andhedoesnotattendtoitsphantasies。Heknowsthathehasafrolicspiritinhisheadwhichhasitswayatthosehours，butheisnotinterestedinit。Itistheinexperiencedchildwhopasseswithsimplicitythroughthemarginalcountry；andthethinghemeetsthereisprincipallytheyetfurtherconceptionofillimitabletime。
Hisnurse’slullabyistranslatedintothemysteriesoftime。Shesingsabsolutelyimmemorialwords。Itmatterslittlewhattheymaymeantowakingears；totheearsofachildgoingtosleeptheytellofthebeginningoftheworld。Hehasfallenasleeptothesoundofthemallhislife；and\"allhislife\"meansmorethanolderspeechcanwellexpress。
Ancientcustomisformedinasinglespaciousyear。Achildisbesetwithlongtraditions。Andhisinfancyissoold，soold，thatthemereaddingofyearsinthelifetofollowwillnotseemtothrowitfurtherback——itisalreadysofar。Thatis，itlooksasremotetothememoryofamanofthirtyastothatofamanofseventy。Whatareamerefortyyearsofaddedlaterlifeinthecontemplationofsuchadistance？Pshaw！
Footnotes：
{1}Itisworthnotingthatlongafterthewritingofthispaper，andtheascriptionofaStevenson-likecharactertothequotedphrase，aletterofStevenson’swaspublished，andprovedthathehadreadLucyHutchinson’swritings，andthathedidnotloveher。
\"IhavepossessedmyselfofMrs。Hutchinson，whom，ofcourse，I
admire，etc……IsometimeswishtheoldColonelhadgotdrunkandbeatenher，inthebitternessofmyspirit……Thewayinwhichshetalksofherselfmakesone’sbloodruncold。\"Hewasyoungatthattimeofwriting，andperhapshardlyawareofthelessoninEnglishhehadtakenfromher。Weknowthatheneverwastedtheopportunityforsuchalesson；andthefactthathedidallowhertoadministeronetohiminrightseventeenth-centurydictionisestablished——itisnottooboldtosayso——bymyrecognitionofhisstyleinherown。Ihadsurelycaughttheretrospectivereflexnote，heardfirstinhisvoice，recognizedinhers。
{2}Ifounditafterwards：itwasRebecca。