WILLIE HOWLAND
Williams Howland Jr. (Willie) was born October 24th 1850 in Portsmouth, NH
His parents were staying there temporarily while his father Williams oversaw construction of some sailing ships.
Just 4 weeks later they left for New York to board the Sea Serpent to begin Willie’s first journey.
At the time of the Journal they are on their 3rd Voyage Around the World!
At just 2 years of age, Willie has spent more time at sea than on shore!
What was Willie like?
Like any mother would, Sarah writes about Willie almost every day
so we know quite a bit about the little guy!
His Good Qualities…His Maladies…His Misbehaviors…His Playfulness…and Her Hopes for His Future!
It seems that in the mid-1800’s parents were encouraged to develop the “character” of their children – obedience, piety, generosity and a love of nature – beginning at a young age, but they were not encouraged to officially “teach” them anything until the age of six.
On most days Willie did exhibit those qualities of good character, but he also had a thirst for knowledge and a highly retentive memory that were remarkable for a child of such a young age and therefore could not be ignored.
Sarah seems to express pride, but also a little fear, when describing these encounters!
Sarah describes Willie’s love of the Moon and Stars I have ever endeavored to make him observant and call forth his love of the beautiful and I have ever, even from his infancy, met with a response. When no more than eight, indeed seven, months he loved to look at the moon and stars and would clap his little hands with glee to see them. I shall never forget my taking him out on the terrace the first time we visited China to see the full moon. It was August and he but 9 months. Owing to the long afternoons the little fellow had not seen this moon, but this evening his Amah had kept him out longer than usual and l kept him up on purpose a little longer. Mrs. Williams and several others were out on the terrace at the time I carried him out in my arms. They hardly knew what to think when they saw a baby stretch out his arms towards the moon and say “pretty, pretty moon”. He was delighted and would not take his eyes from the moon till I carried him in the house. I was told to make up my mind to the child’s being a poet; for one he certainly would be. Content shall I be if he is a noble and grand one – one to rank with the first, sorry if otherwise.
Willie not only remembers nursery rhymes and songs,
as Sarah describes here…Willie has, indeed, a wonderful memory. Of this we have been aware for nearly a year but I never was more struck with it than this evening. As soon as the little fellow finished his tea came the usual request, “Mama show Willie book”. I read him a little hymn of five verses that I had read to him the night before, and then only once. After I had read it once this evening, Willie said, “Willie say it, Mama”. So, I read the first few words and the little kittie finished the line, and this he did in many places. After he has heard it two or three times more he will know it perfectly. Since leaving home I have given him among others a little book called “Nursery Rhymes”. He already knows some dozen of them by heart, and a good many others imperfectly. I never attempt to teach him anything and hope I shall never be induced to until he is certainly six years old. But it is his greatest amusement to have his books read to him and to hear them read for him to learn.
…but also books meant for adultsSome months ago, Willie was particularly fond of looking at the pictures in an old school book of mine called “Lardner’s Outlines of History”. When he looked at the pictures he wanted to be told about them. It seemed foolish to tell him about Napoleon, Wellington, and Brutus, etc. but the child wanted it, and so we did. One day we found out what a retentive memory he had. He was sitting on my lap, looking at, and asking about, the pictures in the same book. The thought occurred to me to try and see if he remembered what I had told him about the several pictures. His father was sitting by and we were both so startled by the results, that a little fellow, not much more than two years old, should have his head filled not only with the contents of some dozen silly story books, but also with a partial of historical names and events, that we concluded to put the book away and say nothing more concerning it. It was done, and he has never seen it since.
However, day before yesterday, I asked him a few questions to try how retentive his memory might be – the result was that every question was answered correctly, so I concluded to let the matter rest.
…it seems to almost frighten them!
Willie Has Very Strong Feelings of
AFFECTIONWillie is the most affectionate little creature imaginable. He does love his Papa and Mama dearly and he would love to have them do everything for him. He is a good little darling and constantly improving in every way
I now have Mary’s letters received today. She writes particularly to Willie and sends him a kiss, the place of which is marked down on the paper. I took the little fellow on my lap and read it to him and when I came to the kiss and showed it to him, he took the letter in his own hands and then clasped it to his breast – with a look full of love and pleasure, and then he kissed it again and again and wanted me to read it over. This I did, and the little darling again took it, put his arms round it, and kissed it.
Lately he has talked a great deal of New York and of seeing dear brother and sister there, and dear, dear aunt Mamie. He says he will run up to them and put his arms round them and kiss them dearly. He is, and has been, a very good boy.
GENEROSITYWillie walked yesterday with the little Hunters. On his return he picked a flower to bring me, which he generally does. They met Mr. Loureiro. He had a basket of custard apples and gave each of the children one. Willie accepted his with a “thank you” and immediately presented Mr. Loureiro with the flower. Mary said that the old gentleman was delighted and his whole party of wife, daughter and the Governor were very much amused and pleased – demanded Willie’s name, which he at once gave them.
COMPASSIONA few days ago I bethought me of a little story I was very fond of when I was a child not much older than he. It was called “The Wishing Cap”. Now it is no less a favorite of Willie’s and I am called on for The Wishing Cap very often. Day before yesterday while sitting on my lap he asked for the story. I dwelt rather more particularly upon little Charlie’s lonely state as an orphan – telling Willie that he had not dear mama to go to for comfort when he felt sad or to love him or to take him on her lap and tell him pretty stories. The little fellow felt it very much, laid his head on my breast and took my hand kissed it again and again and then threw his arms around me. I was afraid he would cry but he did not though his eyes looked very red. I pleased to see this silent though strong manifestation of feeling and perfect comprehension of little Charlie’s lonely state but mentally determined not to weaken such feelings by often arousing them; I think it may be well sometimes.
EMPATHYA little scene has just passed – the steward punished Charlie on deck for disobeying him. I heard him whipping him and Charlie’s cry; but immediately I heard my little Willie crying also. I went up to the house and found him crying as if his heart would break, yet all the time trying to console Charlie. But in a few moments he ran up to the steward and commenced slapping him as hard as his little strength would allow, and scolding him in the greatest passion. Mary said while Charlie was being whipped, Willie fairly danced up and down with passion, commanding the steward to stop. I called Willie away from the scene. I regret much that he should have witnessed it, and took him with me to the Cabin. He was very angry with the steward and talked a great deal about him, calling him very naughty and said that he had better mind his own business. I talked to him for some time and tried to convince him that it was Charlie who was naughty and disobedient and that it was the steward’s business as his papa to punish Charlie and try to make him a good boy but all to no purpose. His feelings were too much enlisted in Charlie’s behalf. I regret this all very much – shall again talk to Willie tomorrow. He will then listen more coolly.
Willie Loves To Play!
He dearly loves to frolic, and he is as good as he can be all day.
He is a perfect treasure!
Willie amuses himself aboard ship with several toys they brought along –
like a Noah’s Ark, some pull toys and a menagerie of animals.
He enjoys playing active games with whomever will join in –
Hide and Seek (his favorite), playing “store” and even rolling an orange on deck.
The live animals onboard provide amusement as well!
Noah’s ArkThis morning after breakfast Willie sat by my side at the table playing most patiently with his “Noah’s Ark”. He would lay Noah and his family all down and hush them to sleep, then he would have them all standing up surrounded by the various animals, and then he would arrange them inside the rails of the ark and so pile them up till it was covered. Thus he sat quietly amusing himself a good part of the time I was reading.
Playing “Store”Lately Willie has taken a great notion to play “store” and we play it about every day. First, his playthings, of which he has the greatest variety, are all nicely arranged in his playroom. He is storekeeper and I buyer. He always rises and makes a bow when I enter the shop, shows me his goods, advising me as to what little boys like, and as I take my departure, always invites me to return another day. He amuses me much when he offers me broken toys, telling me how much better and prettier they are in that state. Also, he frequently warns me not to let my little boy suck the paint off a toy, as it will poison him. In days gone by, he has thus been warned. He remembers and says it all of his own accord.
Playing on DeckWillie seems quite well today. Dear little fellow, he enjoyed his play fairly this afternoon. Mary sitting him upon a piece of square canvas used for covering a skylight and then taking two ends in her hand, drew him around the deck for a long time, and he was perfectly delighted. His eyes shone like stars, so bright and clear they looked in their dark blue light. I hope his eyes will always look as dark. They are a beautiful deep, dark blue and the shape of them is perfect, but I fear they will grow lighter. Blue eyes are so apt to and I do not think that even now they are as dark as they used to be – it may be fancy only.
A Full Day of PlayHad a fine run and play with Willie on deck just after tea; we rolled an orange from one to another till he tired and then we had a game of hide-and-seek – Willie’s prime favorite. We have four or five games of it everyday. Then Mary made her appearance with his water barrel and hose and off the little fellow went drawing it after him on deck with orange on the rider’s seat. This lasted for awhile, when he asked for something other than neither of us could make out. As the little fellow sounded very anxious for this particular thing that sounded like rattle. I told Mary to take him down and let him find what he wanted. He went off delighted. Mary said he pointed to the upper drawer of the bureau as certain to find it there, examined most carefully, went to every drawer then to those under the berth, but evidently did not find what he was in pursuit of, but on the bottom of a lower drawer saw my large atlas of the Heavens. “This is what I want”. Soon he was on deck and delighted with the starry animals, and forms there portrayed. Willie has seen this atlas before, but months ago, sometime during our last voyage, but I cannot think that the child remembered ought about it. He found not what he wanted but the appearance of this pleased him, and he was perfectly satisfied to have it.
DrawingI was much amused with Willie this morning. Before breakfast Willie, his father and myself were looking at a volume of Punch. Willie, who is quite at home with “Mr. Punch”, as he calls him, was pointing out the different personages, Duke of Wellington, Lord Brougham, Sir Robert Peel and etc. Soon his father was called on deck and Willie himself went into the Cabin where the young gentleman called for paper and pencil to make “old men” with. His wants being supplied, and he on my lap, commenced making his head, or as he calls them “old men”. He made several and then said, pointing to one with a famous nose, “Mama, that is the Duke of Wellington” – another Lord Brougham, another Sir Robert Peel, etc. Another of his favorite personages is Mr. Punch himself, and Willie at all times draws him well enough for anyone to recognize. This passion for drawing “old men” is very great. The consumption of paper, in consequence the same.
Spending Time with Mother and FatherHide and seek is one of Willis’ pet plays. This afternoon nothing would do but his father must join the game and we three had quite a game in the Cabin. About five we went on deck and there Willie and his father had a fine play at running and catching one another and then as the ship was a little more quiet in its roll we each took a hand of our little darling and ran across the ship now up hill, and now down. This is an amusement Willie loves dearly and we kept it up till we were heated and tired out. That is, the old ones, as for the young one, he never seems to tire but is ever for more, more. Willie amuses Williams and myself by his close imitation of his father, everything he sees his father do, particularly while on deck, the little fellow does his best to do likewise. He looks at the sails, gives orders, walks, stands still, places his arms and legs just as his father does, or rather as he thinks he does. His extravaganzas amuse us not a little. I have enjoyed these two days very much. Willie has been good every moment of the time.
SingingWhat a sweet little companion our little Willie is – so full of intelligence, affection and life. Books continue to be his great amusement, very many of them (for he now has a large basket full) he knows them from beginning to end, and amuses as greatly by reading them aloud. Lately he has taken a great fancy to Robinson Crusoe. Colin Campbell has a fine copy full of illustrations and every day after tea is generally the time Willie wants me to go through the book with him, giving him a full account of every picture. The little fellow just two and one-half years, will sit by my side listening with the most fierce attention for an hour or more, and he remembers well what I tell him. Very often now, I call upon him to give the explanations and he is ever ready and right. Mary, his nurse, is quite a singer and sings a good deal for Willie and has quite a sweet voice. Willie has learned several of her songs and sings them with her, and ”soon” as he says “will keep the tune very nicely”. He amuses us upstairs much when he and Charlie pull the ropes, singing as he does with such a hearty good will.
Animals are a Favorite Topic
In BooksWillie’s power of observation is indeed wonderful. Indeed, before two years old, he knew a great many animals as seeing them in prints. Never mind if on the most minute scale and badly done, he never made a mistake. A wolf never was named for a fox, etc. His father, and indeed myself, often amused ourselves by perhaps tracing the outlines of cows’ heads. He had only to see the lines drawn. He would call out a cow. But instead of going on with the body of the cow we would add to the head the long, curved neck of a horse. Willie would instantly say, “Why that’s a horse”. I have also done it with just the outline of the back of a horse or a cow. The child would know instantly – and so it was and is with all other animals that he knew anything of.
As ToysYesterday after dinner Willie was creeping around imitating a pussy cat. I don’t think he has seen one, even for a few moments, more than once or twice. I could no longer resist the pleasure of giving him a very pretty cat with her two little kittens his aunt Marie had given me for him. The little fellow was perfectly delighted and has played with it very prettily ever since; holds it on his lap and stroking it says the little song of “I love little pussy, her coat is so warm”. His bow-wow along with pussy has come into great favor, he seems ever to associate the two together. Willie improves very much and is a dear good child, very bright and interesting with a heart full of affection and love. It is really wonderful how much that a child of twenty-nine months knows. It seems to me he remembers pretty much everything that is told him. He is very fond of looking at pictures and always wants them explained. With all kinds of animals, he is delighted and even wants to know their names. A family book with him is a geography with pictures many, and maps. The hour after tea is a great time with Willie; “Mama show Willie pretty book”. “Yes Willie, what shall it be?” “Oh big book”. The geography then is introduced. Two or three evenings ago to try the little fellow I commenced with “Willie what’s that” and I was perfectly surprised to hear that child name animal after animal with perfect correctness, as also nearly all the pictures in the book – and very long and hard some of the names were.
A 2 1/2 year old Birthday Surprise!Willie is two and one-half years old today and we have been celebrating the event by presenting him with a very fine menagerie. The little fellow was delighted enough. He is fond of anything in the shape of animals for playthings and this is really a very pretty affair on quite a large scale. I had intended giving him a new plaything but said nothing of it. However, his father in our last evening’s walk also proposed doing so, saying that Willie had been such a good boy he must have the menagerie. The gift pleased me, and so this morning while Willie was on deck, we arranged the whole establishment on the dining table and then Williams went for Willie. His eyes looked wondrous large when they first beheld the sight. Most of the animals he knew and called at once by name. How delightful it is to be able to please the little fellow.
And also on the occasions when he came across a live animal..
A Dog on the ShipYesterday, after finishing unpacking and arranging drawers, I went on deck to enjoy the delightful afternoon; found Willie, Noah and little Charlie in high glee. A bow-wow had been found, one belonging to a sailor. That alone would have delighted Willie, but Noah had fastened him to Willie’s little wagon and set the dog to scampering about the deck. Noah guiding the dog by a string and Willie following, fairly dancing and jumping with delight. Dear child, I am glad he has got the two boys to run and play with, for however much Mary, his nurse, and myself might amuse and play with him, yet it could not take the place of children playing together, and Willie dearly loves children, always making friends whenever he sees them, and that, I am sorry has necessarily been very seldom.
A Dog on ShoreMrs. Williams had a little black dog, Charlie. He and Willie became very good friends. Willie really enjoyed having a live dog to play with him. They would run together and Willie would feed him from his hand with the most perfect fearlessness.
And a Pony in Macao!In the afternoon we had out little Emmie’s pony just arrived from Manila – it is a perfect little beauty. It has a dear little side saddle to correspond. Willie was the first to mount, he was delighted, not in the slightest degree afraid. All the children rode in turn and felt no fear.
Like Most Little Boys
Willie Can’t Wait to “Grow Up”
Willie Often Imitates his Father on DeckWillie highly amused his father and myself yesterday morning. We were all on deck before breakfast. The wind was unsteady and the sails required his watchful eye most of the time and very often he had to give orders to the sailors. While doing so he would generally stand at the forward end of the quarter deck and clasp his hands behind him. Willie with the most serious face imaginable would stand by his side, hands clasped behind, eyes now raised to the sails, even to the topmast, and then off on the clouds – and when an order was given his little voice was heard repeating it in his loudest tones. Then when his father would turn to walk up and down the deck, Willie would walk by his side both hands clasped behind. It seems to be Willie’s ambition to do all things as much like his father as possible, and nothing pleases him more than to have me talk about his being a big man like his father.
This great desire is to be a big boy, and the first thing when he awakes in the morning is to have me take hold of his hands as he stands up in the berth to see how much he has grown since the day before. He is delighted as he finds that his head nearly touches the large beams. Dear lovely child, how precious he is.
Unfortunately, he also wants to imitate the Steward’s son, CharlieWillie has been too noisy and wild of late. He has been too much on deck playing with Charlie. We think it best to restrict him somewhat in this. Willie shows a good deal of passion at times when not allowed to have his own way. This makes me feel my own responsibility greatly.
Willie’s parents were a little happier that Charlie was only on the first leg of the journey…
I expect he will miss little Charlie very much. I am sorry that he has no child to play with but cannot say I am at all sorry that Charlie has gone. He was not a good boy and consequently no good companion for Willie. I found it necessary to keep the watch over him whenever he was with Willie. Children are great imitators and Charlie being a number of years older, Willie seemed to think him very smart and very wise and, of course, whatever Charlie did or said he wanted to do the same.
Willie did have his moments of Misbehavior
Almost always, his parents preferred kinder methods of punishment.
A Naughty DayWilliams and I have been troubled lately with one or two naughty sayings of Willie’s, he having heard Charlie say them, such as “I will slap you on your mouth” and when checked in any way telling us to “mind our own business’. Of course, we spoke to him at once on hearing such expressions and tried to make him understand that they are naughty but to no purpose. They are used sometimes many times a day. Last evening we determined that stop must be made to it. He used them both to me this afternoon. I then told him if I heard them again I should take him to my room and shut the door, this being my punishment for Willie. The little fellow at once repeated them. I immediately carried him to my room, shut the door and sat down. This is a great punishment to Willie. He walked up and down crying and demanding to go out. This I will not allow until all crying has ceased and he has promised to be a good boy. When the kiss and embrace of forgiveness is given the little fellow looks as bright and happy as can be.
His little bright, intelligent mind develops itself so beautifully.
May we be able to guide it aright, also his disposition and the feelings of his heart –
check and prune where necessary and aid to develop all that is lovely and beautiful.
Testing Boundaries