days, than the parent can undo in as many weeks. A single instance of bad example is dangerous. How destructive, then, must be its frequent repetition; and how important must it be to guard the sacred work of education from such interruptions, and to make great sacrifices to effect this object! Parents are too apt to make their own taste and convenience the great, if not the only, rule in the selection of their acquaintance. Now, ought not the safety and welfare of their children to enter at least equally into their consideration ? Here, probably, is the most vulnerable point, and here ought provident caution and measures of defence to be most carefully employed. Parents frequently leave their home and their circle of acquaintance for a considerable time, in order to afford to their children an opportunity of acquiring accomplishments. Shall there be less interference with old habits, less change of situation, or of acquaintance, when the object is to shield them from the allurements of sin, and to give them a taste for the paths of true religion and virtue? Are we not called upon to apply the spirit of the precept, to cut off the offending right hand and to pluck out the offending right eye, to the case before us, and resolutely, though with all mildness and courtesy, to avoid in our social intercourse whatever may be dangerous to our children? It is true, that the question is one of comparison. Some risks to the young family must be incurred, if we would not do extreme violence to private friendship, to the ties of relationship, or to the duties of hospitality. But those who feel the importance of preserving

their tender charge from the contagion of evil, will allow great weight, in forming a decision, to the circumstances which belong to that side of the question. With respect to forming new connexions, there is seldom much difficulty; but with regard to old associations, we shall of ten be called to introduce changes as to the frequency and duration of visits, and sometimes as to their continuance-changes which may appear unkind to others, and will be extremely unpleasant to ourselves. Let it, however, be our earnest prayer and endeavour to do all in the spirit of christian affection; and this will greatly facilitate our object.-I remember many years ago being struck by a little incident in a parish, where the incumbent, a man of most extraordinary christian benignity, when in company with a clerical friend, rebuked in very plain. terms one of his parishioners for gross misbehaviour on a recent occasion. The reproof was so severe as to astonish his friend, who declared, that, if he had addressed one of his own flock in similar language, he should have expected an irreconcileable breach. The clergyman of the parish answered him, with a gentle pat on the shoulder, and with a smile of christian wisdom, "O, my friend, when there is love in the heart, you may say any thing." And in like manner, I believe, when there is true and warm love in our hearts, and our measures are prompted by a calm and sincere sense of duty, we may do almost any thing without giving great offence; at least without giving offence deep and lasting.

After what has been said respecting servants, little needs to be added to guard parents against suffering a child to make them his companions. He should always treat them with kinduess, but should be led not to amuse himself with their society in his play-hours. This remark applies with particular force to the men servants, who will generally be much more dangerous to children than the maids. But, with very few exceptions, both the one and the other, if treated by the children as favourites, will be apt to flatter and humour them, and teach them to be guilty of little deceits, and to be fond of self-indulgence. Vulgarity of manners and of language, though the most obvious, is perhaps the least of the evils to be apprehended from such companions.

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CHAP. IX.

Hardihood.-Moderate Habits.-Artificial Hardships.Moderation favourable to elevation of Character.— Rules.-Preparation for Prayer.-Self-Examination. -Prayer-How long Boys should be kept under domestic Education.-Preparation for School.-Governesses. IN In a system such as I have recommended, marked by the absence of harshness and violence on the part of the parent, and of contests and collisions among the children, there may appear to be some danger of a want of the hardihood requisite in the troubles and disappointments that will be met with in life. But though the circumstances which in general tend most powerfully to promote this quality are excluded by our plan of education, yet, under the guidance of a parent who turns his attention to this point, those which remain will be sufficient for the attainment of our object. Even in the best regulated families troubles will arise among the children. The loss of a plaything, a personal accident, a lesson i learned, above all, a hope disappointed ;-all these, and numberless other circumstances of constant recurrence, will chequer their happiness, and accustom them to difficulties and trials, which it will be the parent's endeavour to convert into lessons of patient endurance, if not of cheerful resignation.

But there is another course, perfectly compatible with that just mentioned, of high importance for arming the young mind against the difficulties and troubles of life: this is, to accustom children to moderation, and to teach

them from the first to do as much as may be for themselves, instead of depending on others for their conveniences and comforts. Moderate habits have been celebrated as sources of happiness by Mr. Paley, and with the felicity with which he handles most topics unconnected with his erroneous principle (as I deem it) of general expediency. It is, therefore, perfectly unnecessary for me to enlarge on the value of such habits.* It is apparent, how contented with a little those are prepared to be whose habits lead them to look for a little; and how large a portion of the trials of those who are used to flattery, luxury, and self-indulgence, will pass over their heads. The want of delicate food and a soft bed will not be felt by a child who has been used to plain fare and a matrass; and rising early in the winter will be no hardship to one who has been always accustomed to it. The habits also of shifting for themselves (to use a homely but expressive phrase) will not only stimulate the activity of children, and call forth their ingenuity, and makė them more pleased with little acquisitions, as fruits of their own skill and exertions, but it will powerfully tend to preserve them from sources of discontent. There is no bound to the unreasonable wishes of those who are taught to think it the business of others to obtain for them what they wish. They will often appear to wish almost sole* Vide Moral Philosophy, chapter on IIuman Happiness. "Will pass over their heads :” The meaning of this phrase in this connexion is not immediately obvious; the phrase, they will escape, would, perhaps, render the sentence more perspicu AMER. ED

ous.