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and even spiritual creature； masculine and innocent〃a nice boy。〃
There is no other way of describing him than that of his own brief
language。
ILLNESS
The patience of young children in illness is a commonplace of some
little books； but none the less a fresh fact。 In spite of the
sentimental； children in illness remain the full sources of
perpetual surprises。 Their self…control in real suffering is a
wonder。 A little turbulent girl； brilliant and wild； and
unaccustomed； it might be thought； to deal in any way with her own
impulsesa child whose way was to cry out； laugh； complain； and
triumph without bating anything of her own temperament； and without
the hesitation of a moment； struck her face； on a run； against a
wall and was cut and in a moment overwhelmed with pain and covered
with blood。 〃Tell mother it's nothing！ Tell mother； quick； it's
nothing！〃 cried the magnanimous child as soon as she could speak。
The same child fell over the rail of a staircase and was obliged to
lie for some ten days on her back； so that the strained but not
broken little body might recover itself。 Every movement was； in a
measure； painful； and there was a long captivity； a helplessness
enforced and guarded by twinges； a constant impossibility to yield
to the one thing that had carried her through all her years
impulse。 A condition of acute consciousness was imposed upon a
creature whose first condition of life had been unconsciousness； and
this during the long period of ten of a child's days and nights at
eight years old。
Yet during every hour of the time the child was not only gay but
patient； not fitfully； but steadily； resigned； sparing of requests；
reluctant to be served； inventive of tender and pious little words
that she had never used before。 〃You are exquisite to me； mother；〃
she said； at receiving some common service。
Even in the altering and harassing conditions of fever； a generous
child assumes the almost incredible attitude of deliberate patience。
Not that illness is to be trusted to work so。 There is another
child who in his brief indispositions becomes invincible； armed
against medicine finally。 The last appeal to force； as his
distracted elders find； is all but an impossibility； but in any case
it would be a failure。 You can bring the spoon to the child； but
three nurses cannot make him drink。 This； then； is the occasion of
the ultimate resistance。 He raises the standard of revolution； and
casts every tradition and every precept to the wind on which it
flies。 He has his elders at a disadvantage； for if they pursue him
with a grotesque spoon their maxims and commands are； at the moment；
still more grotesque。 He is committed to the wild novelty of
absolute refusal。 He not only refuses； moreover； he disbelieves； he
throws everything over。 Told that the medicine is not so bad； this
nihilist laughs。
Medicine apart； a minor ailment is an interest and a joy。 〃Am I
unwell to…day； mother？〃 asks a child with all his faith and
confidence at the highest point。
THE YOUNG CHILD
The infant of literature 〃wails〃 and wails feebly； with the
invariability of a thing unproved and taken for granted。 Nothing；
nevertheless； could be more unlike a wail than the most distinctive
cry whereon the child of man catches his first breath。 It is a
hasty； huddled outcry； sharp and brief； rather deep than shrill in
tone。 With all deference to old moralities； man does not weep at
beginning this world； he simply lifts up his new voice much as do
the birds in the Zoological Gardens； and with much the same tone as
some of the duck kind there。 He does not weep for some months to
come。 His outcry soon becomes the human cry that is better known
than loved； but tears belong to later infancy。 And if the infant of
days neither wails nor weeps； the infant of months is still too
young to be gay。 A child's mirth； when at last it begins； is his
first secret； you understand little of it。 The first smile （for the
convulsive movement in sleep that is popularly adorned by that name
is not a smile） is an uncertain sketch of a smile； unpractised but
unmistakable。 It is accompanied by a single sounda sound that
would be a monosyllable if it were articulatewhich is the
utterance； though hardly the communication； of a private jollity。
That and that alone is the real beginning of human laughter。
From the end of the first fortnight in life； when it appears for the
first time； and as it were flickeringly； the child's smile begins to
grow definite and； gradually； more frequent。 By very slow degrees
the secrecy passes away； and the dryness becomes more genial。 The
child now smiles more openly； but he is still very unlike the
laughing creature of so much prose and verse。 His laughter takes a
long time to form。 The monosyllable grows louder； and then comes to
be repeated with little catches of the breath。 The humour upon
which he learns to laugh is that of something which approaches him
quickly and then withdraws。 This is the first intelligible jest of
jesting man。
An infant never meets your eyes； he evidently does not remark the
features of faces near him。 Whether because of the greater
conspicuousness of dark hair or dark hat； or for some like reason；
he addresses his looks； his laughs； and apparently his criticism； to
the heads； not the faces； of his friends。 These are the ways of all
infants； various in character； parentage； race； and colour； they do
the same things。 There are turns in a kitten's playarched
leapings and sidelong jumps； graceful rearings and grotesque dances…
…which the sacred kittens of Egypt used in their time。 But not more
alike are these repetitions than the impulses of all young children
learning to laugh。
In regard to the child of a somewhat later growth； we are told much
of his effect upon the world； not much of the effect of the world
upon him。 Yet he is compelled to endure the reflex results； at
least； of all that pleases； distresses； or oppresses the world。
That he should be obliged to suffer the moods of men is a more
important thing than that men should be amused by his moods。 If he
is saddened； that is certainly much more than that his elders should
be gladdened。 It is doubtless hardly possible that children should
go altogether free of human affairs。 They might； in mere justice；
be spared the burden they bear ignorantly and simply when it is laid
upon them； of such events and ill fortunes as may trouble our peace；
but they cannot easily be spared the hearing of a disturbed voice or
the sight of an altered face。 Alas！ they are made to feel money…
matters； and even this is not the worst。 There are unconfessed
worldliness； piques； and rivalries； of which they do not know the
names； but which change the faces where they look for smiles。 To
such alterations children are sensitive even when they seem least
accessible to the commands； the warnings； the threats； or the
counsels of elders。 Of all these they may be gaily independent； and
yet may droop when their defied tyrants are dejected。
For though the natural spirit of children is happy； the happiness is
a mere impulse and is e