Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1889 — Mrs. Barnaul Childhood [ARTICLE]

Mrs. Barnaul Childhood

One can fancy the little ossiduom girl, industrious, impulsive, interested in everything—in all life and all nature —drinking in, on every side, learning, eagerly wondering, fastening to all around with bright and ready wit There is a pretty little story told by Mrs. Ellis in her book about 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 felioity, since it supposes an accession oi happiness. “ I think you are mistaken, papa, ” says a little voice from the opposite side ot the table. “Why so, my child?” says the doctor. “Because in the chapter I read to you this morning, in the Testament, it is said that ‘ then is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repeneth than over ninety »nd nins 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 Lttle daughters lid in those days—to obey a somewhat Austere rule, to drop curtsies in the right place, to make beds, to preserve fruits. The father, after demur, but surely not without some paternal pride in her proficiency, taught the child Latin and French and Italian, and something ot 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 and boisterous manners, strictly forbade any communication with the schoolboys. Sometimes in after days, speaking of these early times and of the constraint •it many by-gone rules and regulations, klrs. Barb mid used to to this early, formal training smuething 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 u fanciful and high-spirited ohild, timid and dutiful, and yet snrongwilled, vocrotly rebelling against the rigid order ot her heme, and feeling lo ely 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, red perhaps she was unconsciously -longing for something more, and fa ling a want in her early life which no sdcut company can supply.—Cbm '•till Magazine,

A Texas young man shot himself because a young lady refused to dance with him. In his blind rage he probably mistook himself for a rival*