Looking back to those days of old ere the gate shut behind me I can see now that to children with a proper equipment of parents these things would have worn a different aspect. But to those whose nearest were aunts and uncles a special attitude of mind may be allowed. They treated us indeed with kindness enough as to the needs of the flesh but after that with indifference (an indifference as I recognise the result of a certain stupidity) and therewith the commonplace conviction that your child is merely animal.