A poor old poppy-seller singing in a Tihrán street, a bird fancier whose nightingales rode on his head, a beloved uncle, the taste of his first words: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remembered His earliest childhood in particulars, and wondered aloud at how they clung to Him. The same memory holds a seven-year-old’s tuberculosis, a winter ride that left a small boy’s bones feeling crushed for a fortnight, hungry years, and the descent into a dark dungeon to find His father bent under chains, a sight that made Him lose consciousness. Play and humour survive beside the hardship: a sharpshooter’s boast that silenced a hostile consul, candles snuffed at long range. Luke, telling of the boy Jesus among the teachers and then of His parents’ anxiety and His growth in wisdom, shows how sacred biography likes to hold significance and ordinary family life together [1]. The tenderness of these memories ripens into the later conviction that it cannot be right to kill birds and animals for sport. They belong with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s other autobiographical accounts and with the wider narrative of His life.
It is very strange indeed how many particulars of my earliest childhood always stick to my memory. I remember when I was four or five years old there was a very poor old man in our street whose name was "Insouciant." When the season of poppies came around he filled his tray with them and brought around to sell them to the little boys. As he walked from one end of the street to another end he sang aloud these lines:-
Green and verdant are my poppies,
Aha! Ahoy, come out, O boys!
"Insouciant" is here with joys.
Hearing his voice I would run out of the house and buy his poppies. This "Insouciant" often gathered us children around himself and related to us many funny stories.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-Feb-22 -- ABU2634)
02
In our street, close by to our house lived one of the Farrashes of the palace. He was a bird fancier and in a peculiar manner all his own he had tamed a number of nightingales which followed him everywhere, sitting on his head and shoulders and while he walked in the streets they warbled melodiously. He had cut a piece of the lower bills of the poor birds;- so that they could not pick up the grains and were forced to eat out of his hand.
Often he used to come to our garden with the nightingales perched on his head. As a child I was delighted with the strange spectacle. The birds flew away and sat on the branches of the trees singing. Then suddenly the man whistled and they returned back swiftly, roosting on his head, shoulders and hands. This sight especially pleased me and I clapped my hands with glee as I watched them.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-May-01 in Haifa -- ABU1782)
03
O family of the honored Uncle! That illustrious Uncle is seated upon the throne of truth in the presence of the Mighty Sovereign and gazes upon those left behind, his pure soul being present. Therefore strive so that that illustrious person may attain the utmost joy and delight in the Kingdom of the Beautiful Lord. That embodied spirit was very kind to 'Abdu'l-Baha, and in childhood in Nur would shower affection day and night and embrace him.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Jul-30, to Awrangi, Zahra mother of Mirza Fadlullah et al -- AB03992)
04
I was born in Persia and while I nursed with my mother's milk I received truth. When a little child my first words were, 'Ya Baha El-Abha!'
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr Chant, Fugeta, et al, spoken on 1919-Dec-26 -- ABU1012)
06
In Tehran when I was a child of seven years old, I contracted tuberculosis. There was no hope of recovery. Later its wisdom became clear - that if I had not been ill I would have had to stay in Mazandaran, but because of this illness I stayed in Tehran during the imprisonment of the Blessed Beauty and for this reason traveled to Iraq in His company. When the time came, suddenly after all doctors had given up hope, health was obtained, even though all had said it was impossible for this illness to be cured.
The point is that in whatever occurs there is consummate wisdom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the friends at Rue St. Didier 30 in Paris, 1913-Mar-08 -- ABU0678)
07
When I was a very little child in Teheran it became necessary and urgent that I should carry a message [of] great importance to the General of the army garrisoned about 30 miles away from the Capital. I was so small that it precluded of course my riding alon[e.] Therefore Abdul Vahhab Bay, our servant placed me before himself on the sad[le] of the horse and started out. It was the beginning of winter and the long stretches of hilly country was covered with great speed and without waiting refreshment anywhere.
… He kept me safe in front of himself on the saddle and lashed the horse mercilessly to add to its speed. On and on we sped along and every now and then I asked about the little hamlet but there was no answer. After hours and hours of racing I saw from afar the familiar walls of the Capital and the outlines of the buildings but I was so tired and exhausted that I could not raise a voice of protest.
When we reached home and I was taken into the parlor on the arms of the servants I was already sleep but benumb[ed] with cold. A fire was made in the chimney and while I was kept in a remote corner my limbs were little by little warmed up. That night and the following day I could not eat anything and for more than two weeks I was like a child whose brittle organs and bones were crushed to pieces.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1914-Dec-22 -- ABU0968)
08
At the time of our arrival in Bagdad I was a small lad, taking an active part in all the diversions and plays [illeg.] to that period of life.
I remember one day, accompanied by a number of grown-up people we called on the Persian Consul who was considered an amateur sport and hunter. He cherished in his heart a great hate for Baha'u'llah and whenever His Name was mentioned his eyes became red with rage and wanted to pop out of their sockets. Nevertheless he showed us outward courtesy and hospitality [and] did not let his hate become manifest.
He had given his rifle to be [polished] and while we were there they brought it in. Proudly he took it in his hand[s] and began to examine it. Looking at me with a malicious smile in his face he asked me: "Are you Tir Andaz? (sharp shooter) 'Yes' I answered. 'Can you shoot a bird while flying in the air?' 'Assuredly.' I said. 'This is very easy; but I can also shoot a man while walking on the earth.' And I looked at him significantly.
He thought this was a warning and therefore was sorely afraid and stopped his outward persecution of the Blessed Perfection.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Tirandaz, spoken on 1914-Oct-29 -- ABU1838)
09
The Master apropos of revolver shooting said:- "When I was young they would light ten candles and at the range of a very long distance I would put out the lights one after another without missing one."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Ahmad Sohrab, spoken on the Champs-Elysees on 1913-May-07 -- ABU3517)
10
I recalled how as a child I was taken to see him at the prison where he was confined in Teheran. I went down a long flight of steps leading to the dungeon, which had no other outlet. It was absolutely dark. I peered through the gloom endeavoring to see some one, but could see nothing. Then I heard his blessed voice saying to the guard who had brought me, "Why did you bring that child? Take him back! Take him back!" I was then led upstairs. The guards told me that it was customary to bring the prisoners out at midday for half an hour, at which time they were allowed to breath the fresh air and wash. I waited until noon, when they were brought out. They bore chains so heavy that some could hardly carry them. Among them I saw Baha'u'llah and one of his followers chained together. His neck was bent under the weight of the chain, and he walked with great difficulty. His clothes were tattered, and he was in a very pitiable condition. His health was visibly failing. The guards took him to a pool that he might wash his face. When he was led back to the dungeon my emotion was indescribable. Although I was only a child I was so overcome that I lost consciousness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Oct-24 in San Francisco -- ABU1294)
11
At Bagdad I rode on horse back; at one time I had an idea that I would like to hunt. So on a certain occasion I joined a party of hunters and went with them to the chase. But when I saw them killing birds and animals, I thought this could not be right. Then it occurred to me that better than hunting for animals, to kill them, was hunting for souls of men to bring them to God. I then resolved that I would be a hunter of this sort. This was my first and last experience in the chase.