The Unusual Boyhood of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Bahíyyih Khánum, the sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, remembered the years in Baghdad when Bahá’u’lláh had gone away alone to the mountains of Kurdistan:

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“I have stated that my brother was deeply attached to His father; this attachment seemed to strengthen with His growth. After our father’s departure He fell into great despondency. He would go away by Himself, and, when sought for, be found weeping, often falling into such paroxysms of grief that no one could console Him. His chief occupation at this time was copying and committing to memory the tablets of the Báb.

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The childhood and youth of my brother was, in fact, in all respects unusual. He did not care for play or for amusement like other children. He would not go to school, nor would He apply Himself to study. Horseback riding was the only diversion of which He was fond; in that He became proficient, being reputed to be a very skillful horseman.”

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