In George Eliot's "Adam Bede," the author reflects on the fleeting nature of childhood happiness. The joy experienced during formative moments, such as resting in a mother's embrace or playing with a father, fades from memory as we grow older. Although these experiences profoundly shape our essence, they become elusive, leaving us unable to fully recall the emotions tied to those innocent times.

Eliot suggests that while the essence of childhood joy remains a part of us, the memories of those joyful moments escape our grasp. We are left with only a belief in the happiness that once was, akin to the way the sweetness of sunlight from the past influences the present. This bittersweet loss highlights the complexity of human memory and the deep-seated impact of early experiences on our lives.