A CHILD-STORY.
[To THE EDITOR OF TUE "SPECTIT0101 SIR,—In the Spectator of December 8th, 1894, you publish a letter about a child who referred to a cemetery as a place where people left their clothes. I have recently heard two stories which show that children frequently regard their present suit of " clothes" as only one out of many. The little daughter of a friend of mine recently remarked, "Dada, I couldn't be a black man, could I ? But if I was to die and rise again in Africa, I might be, mightn't I ? " The other story is as follows :—A lady was playing with her nephew, and remonstrating with him for his roughness, said, " Oh please, don't ; if you pull my finger off you know I can't very well get a new one."—" No," said the little five-year-old meditatively ; " Auntie couldn't get a new finger until Auntie dies and grows up quite a new body." The idea of rebirth is certainly gaining a more respectful hearing amongst us than formerly ; but if we paid more attention to the prattle of our nursery population, we should be surprised to find to what an extent the plurality of the soul's lives is taken for granted. Can it be that things hidden from the wise and prudent have been revealed unto babes ?—I am, Sir, &c., H. PERCY LEONARD.
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