Robert Louis Stevenson in Hawaii - Music by Rita Leonard

Music is all that a human can conceive in the way of consolation.
-R.L.S.

SPECIAL SONNET TO HIS GODSON WHO DIED IN INFANCY

Robert Louis Stevenson waited a long while
to receive his work of children's poetry from the publisher.
When at long last the first printed copies arrived
he hastened to send off the most beautiful
A Child's Garden of Verses.
One copy was given to the famous artist John Singer Sargent,
who had painted the portrait considered to be by Stevenson's closest of friends,
closest to his likeness.
Another copy was sent to his Godson,
accompanied by a letter dated March 11, 1885.
Within this letter RLS revealed to Mrs. Robertson his anguish
at having been promised the book sooner from the publisher
and, for its having been delayed in the coming.
As fate would have it the Robertson's parcel had been mistakenly sent to Sargent,
and before the correction of parcels was realized and exchanged his Godson died;
thus Stevenson penned this sonnet as an inscription
within the gift intended for their precious child,
he sent on December 22, 1885, to the mourning family.

Before this little gift was come,
The little owner had made haste for home;
And from the door of where the eternal dwell,
Looked back on human things and smiled Farewell.
O may this grief remain the only one!
O may your house keep still a garrison
Of smiling children; and forever more
The tune of little feet be heard along the floor!
R.L.S.

Stevenson expresses his philosophy regarding the rearing of children.
In the letter of March 11, 1885 he wrote:

A Godfather is a merely ornamental figure; and I believe a very good thing;
but let me beg a special grace for this little person

and he proceeds to plead his case for the child and all children:
to be understood as imaginative beings and to be spared accusations and thrashings
he had often received for lying (in actuality his brilliant young mind at work)
and encloses in the parcel his paper entitled Child's Play.

I find his philosophy true to that of Alice Miller's, Betty Kamen's and my own,
and encourage parents interested in my works and the works of RLS
to read their books and visit their sites. Rita Leonard, born March 11th!

Alice Miller’s website on CHILDREARING www.alicemiller.org

Betty Kamen’s website on HEALTH & NUTRITION www.bettykamen.com

Rabbi Rita Leonard's website on SPIRITUALITY- lectures - counsel - cermonies www.rabbihawaii.org
This is to an older website, current information will be posted on www.ritaleonard.com. Check both
websites for the most complete information.

New works available in the artists hand: Sheet music of Rita Leonard's new works
are now available and written in her hand, the cost is $10. a copy for each new work.
For information and to order the new works,
call 808-960-5447 or 808-896-4845 or send email to: rebsender@hotmail.com

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