Prophetic Pin cushion In David Copperfield
In the first chapter of the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens there is a reference of prophetic pincushions. Pincushion simply means a cushion for holding pins. In the first chapter it has a special meaning. In the eighteenth and nineteenth century there was a popular convention to gift the newborns with layette pincushions. A cushion carefully arranged with pins containing the message "Health to the little stranger" or "Bless the Baby" was gifted to the newborns. These pin cushions are equivalent to modern day birth congratulation cards. They were generally given after birth. There was a superstition that these pins could increase birth pains felt by the mother at the time of birth; if this was given in advance. Clara had received such pins in advance before the birth. She put it in the drawers upstairs. Now she was expecting her baby; and was worried over the birth pains. The second sentiment means the second part of the message...