Darwin生物进化理论手稿扫描件.docVIP

1 Our poor child, Annie, was born in Gower St on March 2d. 1841 expired at Malvern at Midday on the 23d of April 1851.— I write these few pages, as I think in after years, if we live, the impressions now put down will recall more vividly her chief characteristics. From whatever point I look back at her, the main feature in her disposition which at once rises before me is her buoyant joyousness tempered by two other characteristics, namely her sensitiveness, which might easily have been overlooked by a stranger her strong affection. Her joyousness and animal 2 spirits radiated from her whole countenance rendered every movement elastic full of life vigour. It was delightful cheerful to behold her. Her dear face now rises before me, as she used sometimes to come running down stairs with a stolen pinch of snuff for me, her whole form radiant with the pleasure of giving pleasure. Even when playing with her cousins when her joyousness almost passed into boisterousness, a single glance of my eye, not of displeasure (for I thank God I hardly ever cast one on 3 her,) but of want of sympathy would for some minutes alter her whole countenance. This sensitiveness to the least blame, made her most easy to manage very good: she hardly ever required to be found fault with, was never punished in any way whatever. Her sensitiveness appeared extremely early in life, showed itself in crying bitterly over any story at all melancholy; or on parting with Emma even for the shortest interval. Once when she was very young she exclaimed Oh Mamma, what should we do, if you were to die.— [Added in pencil by Emma Darwin:] Mamma: what shall we do when you are dead? 4 The other point in her character, which made her joyousness spirits so delightful, was her strong affection, which was of a most clinging, fondling nature. When quite a Baby, this showed itself in never being easy without touching Emma, when in bed with her, quite lately she would when poorly fondle for any length