The beast-fable has never quite gone out of fashion, and never will so long as men retain their world-wonder, and childishness of mind.

It is none of the least frightful features in that condition, that there is no childishness in its dwellings.

Every woman who enjoyed the privilege of her friendship felt the magnetism and charm of a rare nature; while, with all her force and power, there was a childishness about her that impressed one with the idea that the naïveté and innocence of childhood had never been wholly lost in the woman.

Such childishness as this, I may say, is of the essence of a walking trip, in which, from moment to moment, you take quite infantile interest in all manner of idle observation and quite useless lore.

If he had beenas all this childishness at first led us to believea very young manwe should have discussed the matter with him in a more conciliatory and persuasive tone; but we find that he is, what we must call, an old offender.

The next door of death sads him not, but he expects it calmly as his turn in nature; and fears more his recoiling back to childishness than dust.