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child possesses so much as an enormous credulity
and no limitations。 If we consider for a
moment we see that there has been little or
nothing to limit things for him； therefore
anything is possible。 It is the years of our life as
they come which narrow our fancies and set a
bound to our beliefs； for experience has taught
us that for the most part a certain cause will
produce a certain effect。 The child； on the
contrary； has but little knowledge of causes； and as
yet but an imperfect realisation of effects。 If
we； for instance； go into the midst of a savage
country； we know that there is the chance of
our meeting a savage。 But to the young child
it is quite as possible to meet a Red Indian
coming round the bend of the brook at the
bottom of the orchard； as it is to meet him in
his own wigwam。
The child is an adept at make…believe； but his
make…believes are； as a rule； practical and serious。
It is credulity rather than imagination which
helps him。 He takes the tales he has been TOLD；
the facts he has observed； and for the most part
reproduces them to the best of his ability。 And
〃nothing；〃 as Stevenson says； 〃can stagger a
child's faith； he accepts the clumsiest substitutes
and can swallow the most staring incongruities。
The chair he has just been besieging as a castle is
taken away for the accommodation of a morning
visitor and he is nothing abashed； he can skirmish
by the hour with a stationary coal…scuttle；
in the midst of the enchanted pleasuance he can
see； without sensible shock； the gardener soberly
digging potatoes for the day's dinner。〃
The child； in fact； is neither undeveloped
〃grown…up〃 nor unspoiled angel。 Perhaps he
has a dash of both； but most of all he is
akin to the grown person who dreams。 With
the dreamer and with the child there is that
unquestioning acceptance of circumstances as they
arise； however unusual and disconcerting they
may be。 In dreams the wildest； most improbable
and fantastic things happen； but they are
not so to the dreamer。 The veriest cynic amongst
us must take his dreams seriously and without
a sneer； whether he is forced to leap from
the edge of a precipice； whether he finds himself
utterly incapable of packing his trunk in time
for the train； whether in spite of his distress at
the impropriety； he finds himself at a dinner…
party minus his collar； or whether the riches of
El Dorado are laid at his feet。 For him at the
time it is all quite real and harassingly or
splendidly important。
To the child and to the dreamer all things are
possible； frogs may talk； bears may be turned
into princes； gallant tailors may overcome giants；
fir…trees may be filled with ambitions。 A chair
may become a horse； a chest of drawers a coach
and six； a hearthrug a battlefield； a newspaper
a crown of gold。 And these are facts which the
story…teller must realise； and choose and shape
the stories accordingly。
Many an old book； which to a modern grown
person may seem prim and over…rigid； will be
to the child a delight； for him the primness
and the severity slip away； the story remains。
Such a book as Mrs Sherwood's Fairchild Family
is an example of this。 To a grown person
reading it for the first time； the loafing
propensities of the immaculate Mrs Fairchild； who
never does a hand's turn of good work for anyone
from cover to cover； the hard piety； the
snobbishness； the brutality of taking the children
to the old gallows and seating them before the
dangling remains of a murderer； while the lesson
of brotherly love is impressed are shocking
when they are not amusing； but to the child
the doings of the naughty and repentant little
Fairchilds are engrossing； and experience proves
to us that the twentieth…century child is as eager
for the book as were ever his nineteenth…century
grandfather and grandmother。
Good Mrs Timmin's History of the Robins；
too； is a continuous delight； and from its
pompous and high…sounding dialogue a skilful
adapter may glean not only one story； but one
story with two versions； for the infant of
eighteen months can follow the narrative of the
joys and troubles； errors and kindnesses of
Robin； Dicky； Flopsy and Pecksy； while the
child of five or ten or even more will be keenly
interested in a fuller account of the birds'
adventures and the development of their several
characters and those of their human friends and
enemies。
From these two books； from Miss Edgeworth's
wonderful Moral Tales； from Miss Wetherell's
delightful volume Mr Rutherford's Children；
from Jane and Ann Taylor's Original Poems；
from Thomas Day's Sandford and Merton； from
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Lamb's Tales
from Shakespeare； and from many another old
friend； stories may be gathered； but the story
teller will find that in almost all cases
adaptation is a necessity。 The joy of the hunt；
however； is a real joy； and with a field which
stretches from the myths of Greece to Uncle
Remus； from Le Morte d'Arthur to the Jungle
Books； there need be no more lack of pleasure
for the seeker than for the receiver of the spoil。
End