peevishness. In this, as in all other instances, she ought to give no example which her charge might not render the model of his propensities and conduct in mature age. The most dire calamity that can imbitter and debase huma life-the loss of integrity-originates in harsh measures employed for the subjugation of infants, or in the artific for cajoling them into obedience.

"Habits are formed by repeated acts, and it is therefore of the utmost consequence to prevent one offence; for every new transgression tends to incurable depravity. Fear, or imitation, soon leads an infant to attempt imposition Fierce looks, loud reprimands, or blows, will terrify a baby. His ideas will be confused, and all his thoughts will be employed in escaping the present evil. He never will imbibe the lesson which a gentle teacher would successfully inculcate that, to control present inclination for the sake of future advantage, will make him good and happy ;-and if, in addition to harsh usage, the nurse shall try to cheat him into compliance, he will speedily penetrate many of her arts, and copy them for obtaining his own ends, or to void blame and chastisement.

"Though we are desirous to abridge our maxims, we must not sacrifice usefulness to brevity, by omitting circumstan ees, which though, on a slight glance they appear trivial, have a powerful tendency in forming the human characteri People laugh at the blunders of a prattling child, when be pronounces new words, and he slyly utters voluntary mis takes, which, as habits are progressive, will eventually ensnare him to more culpable deceits. By gravely setting him right, the attempt to deceive may be checked, and he will more speedily learn to articulate distinctly. Fawn ing is a species of duplicity which may be discouraged, by mildly telling the child he can give no satisfactory proof of affection, except obedience. Until children can make clear distinctions between cunning and prudence, they never, should be forbidden to repeat what they see or hear. It is our part to keep from them the knowledge of incidents that ought not to be revealed; for in giving cautions they cannot distinctly comprehend, we shall but perplex their sense of right and wrong, and involve them in error.

To

exact

act a perfect system of prudence from little ones, and se rely to investigate their deviations, is the effect of over xiety in some worthy persons; and hence, through the isconduct of their offspring, much odium on religion has en poured by the licentious. No rule should be laid own to children, that may be liable to misconstruction. mple, short maxims, patiently reiterated, and clearly exained, are the only sure foundation for settled principles f integrity or wisdom; but amplified lectures, and gloomy alarming denunciations, though they may affect youthl sensibility, serve but to confuse their notions, and to ake them despair of following the intricate path recomended to them. What a melancholy view of human folly 3 exhibited, in considering, that children are taught to read hobgoblins before they hear that an invisible ALMIGHTY LORD GOD has a right to the homage of all their lowers! An infant, not three years old, will be possessed y fears of supernatural agency-and this reference to beings of a different order from his fellow-mortals, may be converted to the most blessed and indelible impressions of piety. All impositions on the timidity or credulity of children, are inimical to the qualities, or faculties, most indispensable to future excellence; and to the humbler classes of mankind, a terror for apparitions must prove peculiarly distressing, as they must go on errands alone by night, as well as by day; but a sense of the Divine Omnipotence and Omnipresence sustains and consoles in the midst of real dangers or sufferings, and restrains the passions against temptation: We see how soon a child conceives that a reJation, residing at a distance, may send tokens of affection. He will shew those gifts; and talk of his kind grandparents, his aunts, or uncles, with fond predeliction, though he has never seen them. This intuitive gratitude, may be directed to the GREAT OBJECT OF THANKSGIVING AND ADORATION; and we may inspire the tender mind with a deep and abiding conviction of His omniscience, who is the bountiful rewarder of all who sincerely endeavour to obey his holy commandments. We have known children, to entertain such a lively belief, that no thought, word, or action, could be concealed from their heavenly Father, as to produce the most exact obedience to their earthly parents-and these children were remark

able

able for the sportive innocent gaiety suitable to their age but, amidst their gambols, they circumspectly endeavoured to avoid evil.

"In giving religious instruction, let us imitate the allperfect model of benignity and wisdom. The blessed Sa viour accommodated his precepts and doctrines to the ca pacity of his auditors, though in manhood; but frail sons of the earth, misled by selfish vanity, desire to boast of their children's proficiency, and, unhappily, forget that committing sacred truths to memory, can never influence ther hearts, if slavish terrors, dejection, weariness and disgust, shall be the prevailing concomitant. A short portion read over, in addition to their daily task, and expounded so as to interest and edify the pupil, may be learnt on Sunday, with alacrity and pleasure. The catechism, or hymns, will be connected with agreeable associations, and seasonably recalled, by cherished recollections in every material occurence of their future course. But burdensome lessons, and heavy penalties for deficiency in their performance, will contradict a truth, which ought to be experimentally inculcated that, TO BE GOOD, IS TO BE HAPPY. All the exercises of religion ought to wear the most engag ing aspect; and though learning paragraphs by rote, is, doubtless, a help to advancement in knowledge-let us beware of mistaking the means for the end. Children may be able to repeat chapters, verses, and questions; they may have read the Evangelical books, and yet remain strangers to the SPIRIT OF DEVOTION, or the ESSENCE OF MORALITY. It is by conversing with their judicious, mild, and assiduous instructors, that they shall learn prac tically to apply those attainments. Indeed, we would dis suade from putting the Scriptures into the hands of little ones, until they can read fluently. Let their parents read aloud, and comment on such passages as they can understand-but it will be apt to impair the reverence due to holy text, to become familiar ere they are able to put sentences together; and the relish of those sublime writings cannot be fully retained. after undergoing much trouble in learning to spell the difficult words. Stated periods for devotion, and nightly self-examination, are habits that

ought

at to commence whenever a child can repeat a short ver, or remember the incidents of a day. His petitions t be expressed in such plain language as he can underd, and so concise, that he may be able to command his ntion while offering the morning and evening sacrifice ›re the Throne of Mercy. The practice of self-examiion will increase, and confirm the authority of con ence, and save the child from a too common and fatal take that saving appearances with the world is of re importance than the testimony of his internal moniBy keeping her children with herself, a mother y give those invaluable instructions, and the seniors of family will derive much benefit in listening, whilst she tiates the junior in those things that concern his tem ral and eternal felicity. An elder child, well taught, y be qualified for reminding the little one of all he has en told, and when due pains have been employed in coniating mutual kindness and forbearance, the members of amily will promote each other's attention to all the obrvances recommended. There is one axiom, that must so often repeated, as to require the aid of all with whom infant passes his hours; and, perhaps, no habit tends ore to integrity and circumspection than being accustom, from the first capacity for receiving a lesson, to rememr, that he ought not to touch any thing which does not long to himself, without asking leave of the owner. g permission in early years, will be found equivalent to plying for advice in the progress of time; and if, toether with the foregoing rule, little ones have been adonished TO DO TO OTHERS AS THEY WOULD BE DONE Y, those plain precepts will operate as general laws both f integrity and kindness. But the efficacy of precepts ust be corroborated by example, in the exact justice and eracity they experience from their governors, and in the igilance bestowed to guard against all devices of selfish lexterity in their dealings with each other. If a child has tad the lamentable misfortune to fall into customary deceit or falsehood, the most close inspection, tempered with gentleness, must seek his radical amendment. Let no question be proposed to the unhappy child, which he could be tempt ed to answer incorrectly, and should he begin to mention VOL. II.

TT

Ask

any

any circumstance, it may be of vast benefit to caution bim mildly, to take care that he repeats the most minute or tr vial particular just as it happened; or, if he is uncertain remembering them exactly, to own at once his defect memory. If the child acknowledges having forgotten part, let him be warmly commended for his frankness, since, to inspire the hope of regaining our confidence and good opinion, will restore him to the paths of rectitude more speedily and surely than the inexperienced parent can hope. When we detect him in speaking falsely, must lay before him, in a solemn, affecting strain, but i few words, the folly and guilt of trying to impose on his friends, knowing that HIS HEAVENLY FATHER SEES EVEN WHAT PASSES IN THE HEARD OF EVERY CREATURE, and often brings to light what wicked children have hoped might be concealed. The child's own conviction may be adduced as an instance divine retribution. To rebuke young people in the presence of strangers, hardens the bold, and quite depresses the timid To expose their imperfections at ten years old, may injure their prospects, as it may be recollected to their disadvan tage in maturity.

"They who have experienced rough, unfeeling management of themselves or others, are generally addicted to cruelty. Even the sight or habit of inflicting frequent pain upon animals, may eventually petrify the heart to commit murder. Children ought to be inspired with kind ness and compassion for their fellow-creatures, and with tumanity to every thing that has life. Self-interest alone may teach these lessons. An obliging, pliant, benevolent disposition, makes way for young persons in the world more successfully, than great talents joined to morose man ners; and a surly temper is often the source. of unfilial behaviour. Let it also be remembered, that little ones who have been permitted to torment insects and reptiles, to rob birds nests, and throw stones for diversion, or in anger, have afterwards fatally maltreated the cattle intrusted to their care, to the great detriment of their employers, and the ruin of their own character.

"The sooner we inure children to employment, the less opposition shall we find from their love of play or indolent

aversion