JANUARY. 
THE SNOWDROP—INFANCY. 
‘ The frail snowdrop, 
Born of the breath of winter, and on his brow 
Fixed like a pale and solitary star.’ 
KNOW not whence I came into this dying life 
(shall I call it ?) or living death. But then, 
immediately, 0 Lord my God, did the comforts 
of Thy compassion take me up. Thou didst bestow 
the food of my infancy, according to Thine ordinance, 
whereby Thou distributest Thy riches through the 
hidden springs of all things. Thou also gavest me to 
desire no more than Thou gavest; and to my nurses will¬ 
ingly to give me, with a heaven-taught affection, what Thou 
gavest them. For from Thee, O God, are all good things, 
and from Thee is all my health. I knew but to suck; to repose in 
what pleased, and cry at what offended my flesh: nothing more. 
Afterwards I began to smile; first in sleep, then waking : for so it 
was told me of myself, and I believe it, for we see the like in other infants, 
though of myself I remember it not. Thus, little by little, I became 
conscious where I was ; and to have a wish to express my wishes to 
those who could content them ; and I could not; for the wishes were 
within me, and they without : nor could they by any sense of theirs 
enter within my spirit. So I flung about at random limbs and voice, 
making the few signs I could, and such as I could, like, though in 
truth very little like, what I wished. And when I was not presently 
obeyed (my wishes being hurtful or unintelligible), then I was indignant 
with my elders for not submitting to me, with those owing me no 
service, for not serving me ; and avenged myself on them by tears. 
Such have I learnt infants to be from observing them; and that I 
myself was such, they all unconscious have shown me. 
St. Augustine. 
