Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1885 — Mrs. Barbauld’s Childhood. [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Barbauld’s Childhood.

One can fancy the little aesatfuoni girl, industrious, impulsive, interested tn everything—in all life and all nature —drinking in, on every side, learning, eagerly wondering, listening to all around with bright and ready wit. There is a pretty little story told by Mrs. Ellis in her book abont Mrs. Barbauld, how one day, when Dr. Aiken and a friend “were conversing on the passions,” the doctor observes that joy cannot have place in a state of perfect felicity, since it supposes an accession of ; happiness. “ I think yon are mistaken, | papa,” says a little-voice from the opposite side ot the table. “Why so, my 1 child?” says the doctor. “Because in ; the chapter I read to yon this morning, in the Testament, it is said that ' there Is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repeneth than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.’” Besides her English Testament and her early reading, the little girl was taught by her mother to do as little daughters did in those days—to obey a somewhat austere rule, to drop curtsies in the right SI ace, to make beds, to preserve fruits. 'he father, after demur, but Burely not i without some paternal pride in her proficiency, taught the child Latin and French and Italian, and something ol Greek, and gave her an acquaintance with English literature. One can imagine little Nancy, with her fair head bending over her lessons, or, when playing-time had come, perhaps a little lonely and listening to the distant voices of the schoolboys at their games. The mother, fearing she might acquire rough ana boisterous manners, strictly forbade any communication with the schoolboys. Sometimes in after days, speaking of these early times and of the constraint of many by-gone rules and regulations, Mrs. Barbauld used to attribute to this early, formal training something of the hesitation and shyness which troubled her and never entirely wore off. She does not seem to have been in any great harmony with her mother. One could imagine a fanciful and high-spirited child, timid and dutiful, and yet strongwilled, secretly rebelling against the rigid order of her home, and feeling lonely for want of liberty and companionship. It was true she had birds and beasts and plants for her playfellows, but she was of a gregarious and sociable nature, and perhaps she was unconsciously longing for something more, and feeling a want in her early life which no silent company can supply.— The Cornhill Magazine.