the children-第5章
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resolved to keep to herself。 She will set up a sudden song to
distract attention from the fact that she is placing herself out of
the dog's way； and she will pretend to turn to gather a flower；
while she watches the creature out of sight。 On the other hand；
prudence in regard to carts and bicycles is openly displayed； and
the infants are zealous to warn one another。 A rider and his horse
are called briefly 〃a norseback。〃
Children； who see more things than they have names for； show a fine
courage in taking any words that seem likely to serve them； without
wasting time in asking for the word in use。 This enterprise is most
active at three and four years； when children have more than they
can say。 So a child of those years running to pick up horse…
chestnuts； for him a new species； calls after his mother a full
description of what he has found； naming the things indifferently
〃dough…nuts〃 and 〃cocoa…nuts。〃 And another； having an anecdote to
tell concerning the Thames and a little brook that joins it near the
house； calls the first the 〃front…sea〃 and the second the 〃back…
sea。〃 There is no intention of taking liberties with the names of
thingsonly a cheerful resolve to go on in spite of obstacles。 It
is such a spirit of liberty as most of us have felt when we have
dreamt of improvising a song or improvising a dance。 The child
improvises with such means as he has。
This is； of course； at the very early ages。 A little laterat
eight or ninethere is a very clear…headed sense of the value of
words。 So that a little girl of that age； told that she may buy
some fruit； and wishing to know her limits in spending； asks； 〃What
mustn't it be more than？〃 For a child； who has not the word
〃maximum〃 at hand； nothing could be more precise and concise。 Still
later； there is a sweet brevity that looks almost like conscious
expression； as when a boy writes from his first boarding school：
〃Whenever I can't stop laughing I have only to think of home。〃
Infinitely different as children are； they differ in nothing more
than in the degree of generosity。 The most sensitive of children is
a little gay girl whose feelings are hurt with the greatest
facility； and who seems； indeed； to have the susceptibilty of other
ages as well as of her ownfor instance； she cannot endure without
a flush of pain to hear herself called fat。 But she always brings
her little wound to him who has wounded her。 The first confidant
she seeks is the offender。 If you have laughed at her she will not
hide her tears elsewhere than on your shoulder。 She confesses by
her exquisite action at one her poor vanity and her humility
The worst of children in the country is their inveterate impulse to
use death as their toy。 Immediately on their discovery of some
pretty insect； one tender child calls to the other 〃Dead it。〃
Children do not look at the sky unless it is suggested to them to do
so。 When the sun dips to the narrow horizon of their stature； and
comes to the level of their eyes； even then they are not greatly
interested。 Enormous clouds； erect； with the sun behind； do not
gain their eyes。 What is of annual interest is the dark。 Having
fallen asleep all the summer by daylight； and having awakened after
sunrise； children find a stimulus of fun and fear in the autumn
darkness outside the windows。 There is a frolic with the unknown
blackness； with the reflections； and with the country night。
EXPRESSION
Strange to say； the eyes of children； whose minds are so small；
express intelligence better than do the greater number of adult
eyes。 David Garrick's were evidently unpreoccupied； like theirs。
The look of intelligence is outwardfrankly directed upon external
things； it is observant； and therefore mobile without inner
restlessness。 For restless eyes are the least observant of all
they move by a kind of distraction。 The looks of observant eyes；
moving with the living things they keep in sight； have many pauses
as well as flights。 This is the action of intelligence； whereas the
eyes of intellect are detained or darkened。
Rational perception； with all its phases of humour； are best
expressed by a child； who has few second thoughts to divide the
image of his momentary feeling。 His simplicity adds much to the
manifestation of his intelligence。 The child is the last and lowest
of rational creatures； for in him the 〃rational soul〃 closes its
long downward flight with the bright final revelation。
He has also the chief beauty of the irrational soul of the mind；
that is； of the lower animalwhich is singleness。 The simplicity；
the integrity； the one thing at a time； of a good animal's eyes is a
great beauty； and is apt to cause us to exaggerate our sense of
their expressiveness。 An animal's eyes； at their best； are very
slightly expressive； languor or alertness； the quick expectation；
even the aloofness of doubt they are able to show； but the showing
is mechanical； the human sentiment of the spectator adds the rest。
All this simplicity the child has； at moments； with the divisions
and delicacies of the rational soul； also。 His looks express the
first； the last； and the clearest humanity。 He is the first by his
youth and the last by his lowliness。 He is the beginning and the
result of the creation of man。
UNDER THE EARLY STARS
Play is not for every hour of the day； or for any hour taken at
random。 There is a tide in the affairs of children。 Civilization
is cruel in sending them to bed at the most stimulating time of
dusk。 Summer dusk； especially； is the frolic moment for children；
baffle them how you may。 They may have been in a pottering mood all
day； intent upon all kinds of close industries； breathing hard over
choppings and poundings。 But when late twilight comes； there comes
also the punctual wildness。 The children will run and pursue； and
laugh for the mere movementit does so jog their spirits。
What remembrances does this imply of the hunt； what of the predatory
dark？ The kitten grows alert at the same hour； and hunts for moths
and crickets in the grass。 It comes like an imp； leaping on all
fours。 The children lie in ambush and fall upon one another in the
mimicry of hunting。
The sudden outbreak of action is complained of as a defiance and a
rebellion。 Their entertainers are tired； and the children are to go
home。 But； with more or less of life and fire； they strike some
blow for liberty。 It may be the impotent revolt of the ineffectual
child； or the stroke of the conqueror； but something； something is
done for freedom under the early stars。
This is not the only time when the energy of children is in conflict
with the weariness of men。 But it is less tolerable that the energy
of men should be at odds with the weariness of children； which
happens at some time of their jaunts together； especially； alas！ in
the jaunts of the poor。
Of games for the summer dusk when it rains； cards are most beloved
by children。 Three tiny girls were to be taught 〃old maid〃 to
beguile the time。 One of them； a nut…brown child of five； was
persuading another to play。 〃Oh come；〃 she said； 〃and play with me
at new maid。〃
The time of falling asleep is a child's immemorial and incalculable
hour。 It is full of traditions； and beset by antique habits。 The
habit of prehistoric races has been cited as the only explanation of
the fixity of some customs in mankind。 But if the enquirers who
appeal to that beginning remembered better their own infancy； they
would seek no further。 See the habits in falling to sleep which
have children in their thralldom。 Try to overcome them in any
child； and his own conviction of their high antiquity weakens your
hand。
Childhood is antiquity； and with the sense of time and the sense of
mystery is connected for ever the hearing of a lullaby。 The French
sleep…song is the most romantic。 There is in it such a sound of
history as must inspire any imaginative child； falling to sleep；
with a sense of the incalculable； and the songs themselves are old。
Le Bon Roi Dagobert has been sung over French cradles since the
legend was fresh。 The nurse knows nothing more sleepy than the tun
