UC-NRLF B 3 mt, Dt,3 -f .-.-.: BERKELEY LIBRARY UNIVERSrTY OF CALIPORNIA ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EARLY CORRECT EDUCATION OF CHILDEEN: EMBRACING THE MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF PARENT AND CHILD; AL30 THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DISCIPLINE OF TEACHERS, toitf) tl)cir ^mohtment, AND A PLAN SUGGESTED WHEREBY ALL OUR COMMOM SCHOOLS CAN ADVANTAGEOUSLY BE MADE FREE; THE WHOf-E INTERSPERSED WITH SEVERAL AMUSING, CHASTE ANECDOTES GROWING OUT OF THE DOMESTIC AND SCHOLASTIC CIRCLE. I TO WHICH IS SUBJOINED BY WAY OF AN APPENDIX, THE JDtclaration of inbtpeuDence BY THE THIRTEEN NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES, 4th July, 1776. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH- THAT OF THE STATES OF NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK, AS LATELY ADOPTED. \ BY DR. WILLIAM EUEN, OP 8HAWANGUNK, ULSTER COUNTY. NEW YORK: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, 1848. PRICS SlXTY-NINK CjCMTf. EDUC-PSYCH Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, BY WILLIAM EUEN, M. D., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. PREFACE. ^'^^" / The author, in g-iving publicity to the following pages, assures his readers that nothing would have affjrded him greater pleasure than to have had his ideas dressed and carried out, on the early and proper training of a child, by some one more intellectually endowed than him^ self, and one too enjoying sound health and natural vision, which latter blessing he has not possessed during the labor of composing and compiling the subject of present intrusion. Subscribers for this little work were, before its publication, made fully acquainted, by the Prospectus, of the author's sore affliction through total blindness, and the consequent necessity of assistance by a proxy, \vhich has been performed, so far as the mechanical part of the manu- script is concerned, by a son between thirteen and fourteen years of age. And in addition to nearly five years' bereavement of sight, such has been the impaired state of his general health, as to keep him for many months confined to his bed, and no hopes entertained by the most eminent oculists as to a future restoration of sight. Reduced in pecu- niary circumstances to the lowest ebb, one of two alternatives appeared only left for him to adopt, either directly to apply for public charity, or, by an amanuensis, so bring in requisition his humble mental powers, as would produce a work on some subject which might serve at least as an apology for a few cents at the hands of an indulgent and charitable public. The latter course proving more congenial to his feelings, and trust- ing in some measure to an experience of over fifty-two years, during which time he acted three years as principal in two of our common schools, and afterwards one year in an academy under higher regula- tions, in connexion with rearing and educating eight children of his own, he has been induced to select the subject as named in the title- 621 IT PREFACE. page of his present work. Conscious at the same time of not only unavoidable desultoriness, grovving out of afflictions already named, but also mental inability to do that justice which the importance of the subject demands ; and should he fail to meet the expectations of his readers, or in judgment hold contrary views with them, he trusts he may at least lead to correct suggestions oa the part of others, which, in no small degree, will remunerate him for both time and trouble. Respectfully, &c., WILLIAM EUEN. P. S. The author assures his numerous readers, that for their already extended liberality as subscribers, language is inadequate to express his gratitude for the same. ^V. K PARENTS AND CHILDREN. -••• CHAPTER I. The assembling and organizing ourselves into societies for the purpose of devising ways and means whereby spiritual bread may be scattered over lands now shrouded in heathenish darkness, ignorance, and superstition ; and the dispensation of alms to to the poor and needy of our own land, are among the highest ackno\\ledged privi- leges of a Christian community, yet the proverb (though old) is not less trite which says, " Charity commences at home;" and authority as high as Heaven itself declares that he who does not provide for his own household has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. A declaration so pregnant w'ith admonition, and direct from the archives of Heaven, \vould naturally seem to lead a reflecting parent or guardian to inquire what pro- visions are intended whereby an elevation can be secured above that of the rank of an infidel. Does it mean the mere providing of a shelter and raiment to protect our children from cold and pelting storms, or wholesome food to nourish and sustain their physical powers ? If so, then indeed man stands no higher in his boasted scale of crea- tion than the brute, which does the. same for its offspring throup-h channels of instinct. And while I am ready to admit that all these corporeal provisions are required at the hands of the parent or guardian, still I believe some- thing higher and nobler is embraced. The culture of the mind, the power and seat of thought — the soul of man, a spark of God himself, who, wonderfully condescending to dwell in man, as a diamond in the quarry, commands him to drag forth and improve this hidden intellectual trea- sure, withthe same imperativeness and clearness as he does the cultivation of the earth at the hands of the hus- _ bandmen. PARENTS AND CHILDREN. In the first place, education is a very comprehensive term. It includes the whole course of Physical, Moral, Religious and Scientific instruction and discipline. Its power is exerted on the body as well as the mind ; in other words, the whole individual must be trained, in order that every part may be duly benefited and every faculty of mind and body fully developed. Physical education consists, in that system of corporeal discipline by which the powers of the body are brought to perfection, and its faculties fully exhibited, and by which we acquire vigor and health, with a constitution suited to active business of life. This is best encouraged by the study of Anatomy and Physiology, or those laws which treat of the structure and functions which charac- terize living beings. These principles are best promoted, particularly in early life, by a proper system of diet, a free indulgence in the unrestrained sports and innocent amusements of child- hood, thereby establishing in the constitution, as a solid and permanent foundation, those immutable principles of Temperance and Truth on which we may with safetv build our hopes of future happiness and health ; bidding defi- ance, while earthly existence shall last, to those storms and tempests which so- frequently arise on the ocean of life, and by which so many of the thoughtless and igno- rant are doomed to perish. And although I intend to re- serve for following pages many of the duties of parents and guardians, still I deem it proper here to say, that youth is the fit time to encourage exercise and tempe- rance. The constitution is much injured by improper restraint in the healthftd and eheerful exercise of the limbs in the open air, at this stage of life. All nature teaches us that a large portion of tlve time of youth should be sacredly set apart, in the ways and manners already here suggest- ed, for the more effectual purpose of giving elasticity and buoyancy to the muscular system, to strengthen and con- solidate the body, that the mind, as the individual approxi- mates to manhood, may assume that tone and dignity of character, together with amiableness of disposition, as will enable him or her to enter upon their respective du- ties in a manner worthy of the Being who created them, PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 7 and the his^h station which they occupy in the immensity of his works. Moral education must also be coirimenced very early in life. That system of instruction and discipline which gives us a sensitive knowledge of the distinction between right and wrong, which erects in the mind a sacred regard for the immutable principles of Truths Justice^ and Moral Integrity^ and which erects in the soul a strong fortifica- tion against irregular and vicious habits, can never be successfully commenced if the individual is old enough to be brought under the influence of our higher seminaries. The foundation of the moral character must be laid under the inspection of the watchful parent. The affection- ate yet keen eye of the mother must detect in the cradle w^hal. needs restraint, and discover the various develop- ments of the disposition ; and it is at this stage of life that she is to adopt such measures, and by mature deliberation lay down such a system of rules and regulations to guide her in training her offspring, as will have a tendency to check the first dawnings of evil, and give a proper direc- tion to the early buddings of their young and tender minds. And this system should be constantly and rigidly adhered to, as you value their w^ell being in time and in eternity. Do not suffer yourselves to be turned aside from the path of duty by the false notion that the natural affection existing between parent and child forbids such a system of training and discipline. None but the ignorant and foolish can subscribe to such doctrines ; and speaking of discipline, I wish to be under- stood as including subordination, without which order (heaven's first law) can never be maintained, so as to properly unite the many and varied links that form the great chain of a useful and virtuous' education, and ad- mitted by the wisest of all ages as constituting and form- ii^g within the man a second nature, from the fact that mind is intimately connected with matter, and susceptible of being shaped, formed, or moulded almost in the same manner as a potter controls his lump of clay. A. celebrated physiologist, in speaking of early impres- sions upon the mind of the child, declares that those re- ceived when only three years old are the most permanent 8 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. and lasting, and for each of which, indentations or visible lines, are discoverable on the inside of the cranium. « That certain fissures or furrows are discernible on the human skull, as just named, is an undeniable fact ; but whether we are prepared or not to subscribe to this doc- trine, as based on sound physiological principles, one fact is certain, that impressions early made upon the mind are never erased or obliterated in after life, where nature has been left free and undisturbed in all her physical and men- tal functions. It is true affection that first prompts us to teach our little ones obidience, to watch over them with care and anxiety, and as far as we can prevent the sowing in their minds those seeds, the future growth of which may sap the foundation of their happiness not only in this life but that which is to come. The wise man said, " Correct thy son and he will give rest to thy soul ;" it should also be remembered, that *' whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," ''scourgeth every son whom he receivelh," and if this work is effectually accomplished, we cannot commence too soo.i to correct the evil propensities which begin to develope themselves in infancy, and implant in their place those principles which when once rooted, will abide with them through life. And if there is anything which the philanthropist should most ardently desire and devoutly pray for, that is so closely connected with the welfare and happiness of his beloved country it is this ; that the time may soon arrive when the eyes of all parents shall be opened to see the importance of this subject, and seeing^ may feel it their duty to commence and train up their children in the way they should go. Then shall we have taken one important step towards banishing from our land that fiend Ingrati- tude^ which is more hideous, when it shows itself in a child, than the sea monster. With regard to religious instructions, it may perhaps be thought superfluous by some for me here to enter into an exposition of my views on this subject, as there are so many religious sects, all differing from one another in their opinion in regard to religious instructions and training, especially as the remarks which I have already made on this subject of moral education were intended as a general PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 9 introduction to tliis subject. SufBce it to Scay, however, that in this work all sectarian feeling sijould be laid aside, and take the Bible for the man of our council, not forgetting the words of its holy author, to " follow charity" — that is, to arm yourself with that "love which thinketh no evil — that is not. puffed up, that suftereth all things," that " love which never faileth ;" then shall we be prepared by fear- ing God and keeping his commandments to instruct those committed to our care in the ways of religion and virtue. CHAPTER II. Solomon, Israel's third king, has by way of pre-emi- nence been styled the ivise man^ and we may evidently trace his wisdom as the result of an answ er to an honest and faithful prayer to God, in which he seemed to have a clear and distinct view as to the difference between wis- dom and knowledge. Among many of the various sayings of this great man, found on the sacred page of history, he says, " 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Infidels and sceptics have taken oc- casion to seize hold on this divine truth as one of their grounds whereupon to discredit the holy Bible, '' for (say they), we see children who have been trained up under the most rigid discipline of parents, whose walk and con- versation were in strict accordance with all the rites and ceremonies of the true church militant, turn out the big- gest devils on earth." For argument's sake, admit the position or charge, still it does not even cast a shade of untruth on Solomon's as- sertion, which like many other passages of sacred scrip- ture, is given us to be understood in a qualified sense, and evidently intended to convey the fact, that children pro- perly trained would be more likely to grow up correctly, and afterwards practise such habits as would not only make them pleasing to their Creator — an honor to their 1* 10 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. earthly parents, but shining lights of usefulness to their fellow men. In declaring that the page of holy writ -often requires certain qualifications, I trust not to be understood as en- deavoring to enter a wedge whereby its validity can in any instance be impaired, but merely intend to say, that while we take the letter, the spirit also is to be carefully sought for, which not unfrequently speaks to us in alle- gories or figurative language, and when the subject is be- yond our finite grasp it would be far better to seek divine aid by faithful prayer, than even to intimate a discrepancy in any part of God's Word. In order to show the value of this advice in guarding against the poisoning seeds of scepticism, and to prove how much better it would be at all times to distrust our own judgment than that of God, where an apparent am- biguity appears, I beg leave to mention a difficulty w^hich occurred to me when a child about twelve years old. Reading Moses's account of the purchase of a piece of land by Jacob, from the children of Hamor, recorded 33d chapter of Genesis, 19ih verse, he says, one hundred pieces of money were paid for the ^and. , The evangelist Luke, whom theologians generally ad- mit to be the writer of the acts of the Apostles, states in the 7th chapter and 16th verse, with direct reference to Moses's account, that the purchase was made from the sons of Emmor,and the marginal note of the large editions states that a hundred lambs were given. On this hobby infidels and sceptics have mounted, full booted and spurred, declaring' that, " although it does not alter or change the statement as to the land, still the per- sons from whom the purchase was made, and the mode of payment, has a lie stamped upon its face." I confess, on first reading these two statements, that my infant capacity was unable to reconcile these apparently contradictory accoimts ; and, applying to my aged sire, he too confessed his inability to give any other satisfaction than to say, " My son, God's word is true ; and whenever you find a passage handed down from him to man which you cannot understand yourself, either receive information from other finite minds of riper years, or by way of answer to an honest and faithful prayer to the Author from whom it emanated, ' Learn to trusty even if you have to wait PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 11 until that day when all the mysteries of His providence shall fully be revealed before assembled worlds ;" and continued to say there was " no more contradiction in the person, Ilamor and Emmor, from whom the land was pur- chased, thfin there is between Isaiah and Esais, which, in the original Hebrew, is always understood to be synony- mous, or meaning one and the same person." Admitting, as to the mode of payment, that he was unable to reconcile it in any other way than on credit, even in his own matured age ; which is first stated by Moses, on the marginal notes of some of the large editions of the Bible, to have been in lambs; and the second in Luke, who invariably states money. Thirty-six years after this advice, and twenty- eight subsequent to the decease of this father, I had the pleasure to liear a lecture, from John P. Durbin, D. D., (then President of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.), before the Wilbur Fisk Society, of Philadelphia, on the Harmony and Concord of the Holy Scripture. The learned gentleman opened his lecture by exhibiting several large drawings, '\)r paintings, on canvas, with a view to show the order of creation. First, the earth, in a state of chaos, or confusion; next, the separations, — water from the dry land, the former confined to its depths, and the latter diversified into mountains, hills, and vales; thirdly, vegetation ; next, animal creation ; and, lastly, man. During: the course of the reverend sjentleman's lecture three copper coins, or pieces of money, were introduced, stating, at the same time, that he w^as third in hand since their discovery, eighteen months previous, by a gentleman of unquestionable veracity, who stated he had obtained them in a subterranean passage of Persia, several feet below the surface of the earth. The coins varied in size, and were found, with many others, in three different strata, or layers of mason-work, evidently placed there by design. On one side of these coins was the figure of a Phoe- nician lady, and on the other that of a lamb ; clearly proving that in those days that Moses wrote there was a copper currency called lambs ; and, therefore, perfectly harmonizing with the evangelist's account as to certain pieces of money having been paid by Jacob for a parcel of land, as before stated, where, afterwards, his remains were interred. 12 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. To show the reasonableness of this conclusion, in assert- ing that there were in the days of Moses pieces of money styled Iambs, we have but to come to modern phraseology. Suppose an English gentleman is apked what he gave for his coach and horses, and replies, " two hundred and fifty sovereigns ;" would any one suppose he meant two hundred and fifty Queen Victorias? for she is a sovereign. Unquestionably not ; but two hundred and fifty pieces of gold coin, nearly five dollars in the United States currency. Again, an American is asked what he gave for his coach and horses, and answers, one huntlred Cc^gles ; would any one suppose he meant birds? for an eagle is a bird. Cer- tainly not ; but one hundred of the largest American gold coins, worth ten dollars each. And should a Frenchman state so many Napoleons, he certainly does not mean so many Bonapartes, but a French coin called a Napoleon. I have thus far extended my remarks growing out of Moses's and the Evangelist's account in reference to Jacob's land purchase, in order to show the danger in hastily deciding, upon any su'iject, particularly those points arising out of our holy religion of which we are not sufificiently enlight- ened or capable of understanding. Proverbs, 16th chapter, 10th verse, declares : "A divine sentence is in the lips of a king, his mouth transgresseth not in judgment." Thomas Hewis, LL.D. and M.D., Rector of Aldwinkle, Northamp- tonshire (England), thus defines the sacred passage just quoted : " This is only literally true of the King of kings, the divine Messiah, but it speaks what should be the con- duct of every ruler." '' A divine sentence or divination should be in their lips, their wisdom should be oracular, and their decisions never influenced by passion or favor, but guided by the rule of unerring truth of God." Hence Solomon was directed by more than human wisdom when he decided between the two women, each declaring to be the mother of a child brought before him. Holding the Bible as the only un- erring rule or standard whereupon a correct education of a child can be based, it therefore- behoves parents, guar- dians, or instructors, to early teach out of that book to dis- criminate as far as possible between the letter and the spirit, with a reconciliation of those passages which apparently (yet do not) clash or contradict each other, else fatal or erroneous ideas may be imbibed. And in order more faith- PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 1^ fully to discharge this all-important duty, they should, in connexion with hones.t prayer to God, as already herein suggested, seek the works of men whose writings are not only proverbially acknowledged for evangelical piety, but learned theologians, whose trade or pursuit in life better qualifies them, than those whose occupation is more ab- struse or of a different kind. In addition to the two passages already given as found in the word of God, requiring certain qualification, I beg leave to cite a few others which are similarly to be under- stood or comprehended. God is said to be every day angry witli the wicked, and then again it is declared that anger only rests in the bosoms of fools. Here the child is to be so taught the difference hetween the anger of man and the displeasure of a holy, just, and upright being, whose very character forbids the looking on sin in any other light than that of abhorrence and disgust. As we are faithfully to endeavor to correct the inordinate passions in the human breast; still, the child is to be so taught as to hate sin with a perfect hatred on account of its sinfulness ; at the same time pity, kindly feel, and extend advice as lar as possible to the victim, from whom it ema- nated through diabolical influence. CHAPTER m. The government of the tongue and the keeping under proper subjection all the human passions are declared to be superior to the cool acts of a general in comrnanding an army, and he who indulges in improper passions sus- tains (aside from an offence against the deity) other seri- ous losses — he dethrones a god-like mind by iiiviting a demon to usurp its place, and thereby renders him in- competent to display those powers which his Creator otherwise intended, besides giving his adversary an ad- vantage over him. This latter position reminds me of an eminent lav;yer of New Jersey, who some years since was attacked with 14 PAEENTS AND CHILDREN. a paroxysm of apoplexy, which soon yielded to proper medical treatment, and vvas afterwards assured by his phy- sician that unless he strictly guarded against sudden ebul- litions of immoderate anger, the construction of his neck, chest, and thorax, with general temperament, vvas such as to leave but little doubt it would cost him his life. About six weeks after this advice the lawyer had occa- sion to issue a writ, in order to recover one hundred and fifty dollars on a promisstiry note left in his hands for col- lection ; on the return term of the process the defendant desired to speak to the lawyer at the bar while the Court was in session, which request he granted by stepping to a remote corner of the court room, when the former accost- ed the latter with abusive language merely for a faithful discharge of his official duties. The lawyer, regardless of his physician's advice, and in opposition to his own better judgment when in a calm state of mind, suffered bis anger to rise in such a degree as to fall senseless on the floor, and in less than ten mi- nutes ceased further to breathe on the shores of time. I have already stated that the first developments in the mind of a child require the watchful eye of the mother, at the same time do not dismiss the co-working of the father, and among many of the valuable counsels given by Judge Hale (England's proud jurist. Christian, and philanthropist), he holds the following advice in relation to anger : '' When a person is accused, or reported to have injured you, before you give yourself leave to be angry, think with yourself, why should I be angry before I am certain it is true, or, if it be true, how can I tell how much I should be angry until I know the whole cause? *' Though it may be he hath done me wrong, yet, pos- sibly, it is misrepresented, or it was done by mistake, or it may be, he is sorry for it. " I will not be angry until I know the cause, and if there be cause, yet I will not be angry until 1 know^ the whole cause, for till then, if I must be angry at all, yet I know not how much to be angry. It may be it is not worth my anger, or if ic be, it deserves but little. '* This will keep your mind carried upon such occa- sions.in a%ue temper and order, and will disappoint ma- licious and officious tale-bearers." PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 15 A poet has said, "Childhood, happiest stage of life, free from care and free from strife." Tnis, to a cer- tain extent, is true; yet children, even two or three years old, have their troubles and trials ; and in their innocent sports not unfrequently evince vehement and angry pas- sions, which instead of being corrected by their parents are made the subject of laughter. Ha!)it, though slow, strengthens with age, and when children manifest anger tovvards one another the heinous- ness of their offence should be pointed out as considered by their Creator, who had endowed them with a mind capa- ble of understanding, to a certain' extent (even in early life) , the difference between right and wrong, and how worthy of imitation are the little unfledged birds, who never quarrel in their nests. The growth of all improper disposition in a child is no doubt often the offspring of a mistaken judgment on the part of the mother, who frequently declares her child too young to understand correction and thereby withholds it even in a degree ; whereas a child only able to sit alone who will throw itself back, rolling and tumbtiiig on the floor, should be gently raised by the rod. And if such passions in children are neglected, they will at last become incorrigible, and bring down the grey hairs of their parents with sorrow to the grave; while the thus uncon- trolled offspring, advanced to maturity, is either an inmate of some prison cell, or solitary dungeon, or else at large in society, more to be dreaded than the midnight assassin, being incapable of self government, or exercising the phi- losophy of a Socrates, who on a certain occasion said to -his servant, " I would beat thee if I was not angry." But intending in subsequent pages of this little work to further treat on the " Infant Nursery," I, at present, for- bear, and return to redeem my pledge, to instance one or two more of the many passages found in the Bible which require early explanations so as to enable a child to un- derstand and rightly receive the spirit, where apparently the letter presents a contrary view on the subject ; which I do in part by reciting the following dialogue said to have taken place between a little girl named Mary, and her mother, after the former had finished reading the 22d chapter of Matthew. Mary. — *' Mother have you not told me that which 16 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. Christ enjoined as a duty to be performed by the Jews was equally obligatory on us ?" Mother. — " Yes, my child, that which required the per- formance of the moral law by the Jews is equally obli- gatory on us Gentiles." Mary. — " Well, mother, have you not also told me that I should love you, father, brothers, sisters, and all other fellow creatures on earth ?" Mother. — " Yes, rny daughter." Mary. — '' Well, I find on reading this chapter (pre- senting the one just named) , that Christ in the 37th verse commands, ' Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and thy neighbor as thyrelf,' now, if this is binding on me and calls for all my love to be surrendered to God, where will I find any left for you, father, brother, sisters, &c. ? " Mother. — " The declaration you speak of, my child, was drawn from our Savior in answer, as you will per- ceive, to a taunting question put to him by a lawyer of the sect of Pharisees, viz. : "- 'Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' and, in order better to capacitate you to understand the answer in all its breadth, height, and depth, and to show that the requirements on my part from you to dis- charge filial duties towards 3'Our earthly parents, observing in connexion therewith a proper regard for the ties of con- sanguinity, with a general love to all mankind, is not at variance with God's Word, I will read to you a note or comment, by an able Gospel Minister, of the present da}^, — He says The meaning of ' thou shalt love the Lord thy God, &c.' is, thou shalt love him supremely, more than all other beings and things, and with all ardor possible, to love him with all thy heart is to fix the affection supreme- ly on him more strongly than on anything else, and to be willing 'to give up all that we hold dear at his command. " ' With all thy soul or with all thy life, this means to be willing to give up the life to him and to devote it to his service, to live to him, and be willing to die at his com- mand. *' ' With all thy mind, is to submit all our intellect to his will — to love his law and glory more than we do the de- cisions of our own mind. PARENTS AND CHILDREIf. 17 *' ' To be willing to submit all our faculties to his teaching and guidance, and to devote to him all our intellectual attainments and all the results of our intellectual efforts. *' ' With all thy strength, with all thy faculties of soul and body. To labor and toil for his glory and to make that the great object of all our efforts." ' Parents are too apt to repulse their children when in- terroo-atins: or seeking- information, excusingr themselves that time will not permit the hinch'ance, or the solution of the information sought is either so simple or nonsensi- cal as to require no reply. This I consider an error in judgment as filial, conju- gal, or those emotions arising from the heart of the ge- nuine philanthropist, may all spring in a less or greater degree iTom sinister or seliish motives of affection. But parental love alone exists without alloy. Dr. Franklin's opinion as to natural affections to the contrary notwithstanding; and there is nothing so insignificant in creation that cannot be made to improve the meanest in- tellect of a child, where its infant prattle (under proper subjection as to time and place), even as to the growth of a blade of maize, or spear of grass, the creation of an in- sect, the formation of a ball, the construction of a doll, may all be so explained by the parent as to prove bene- ficial to its oiTijpring in after life, and the course pursued by the mother with her daughter Mary, as just mentioned, is worthy of every parent's or instructor's imitation ; b':lll it is to be feared that explanations are often lefr in obscurit}^ for the want of certain v.ords not beino^ defined so as to reach the infant capacity. In expressing this fear, I do not advise the surrender of dignified language which can at all times be employed without descending to technicali- ties. The note of the able commentary as far as it goes is all very well, and wisely employed by the mother; still, Mary is left ignorant as to the true me;ining of " thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," which could have been happily explained by reference to our Savior's narrative of the good Samaritan's conduct towards a Jew journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, who fell amons; thieves, and was left by those who had robbed him, weltering- in his blood, nearly dead, and passed by unaided by those of his coun- trymen in high stations. Still the Samaritan who was 18 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. also travelling the same way, and actuated by true princi- ples of benevolence, on seeing a fellow creature thus situ- ated, humanely stepped forth and administered imto his necessitous situation, doing as he would like to be done by under similar circumstances, although the object as- sisted sprang from a tribe which the Samaritan had been taught on his mother's lap to hate, despise, and neglect. CHAPTER IV. The peruser of this little work may perhaps consider me as too frequently introducing the name of my father, but as 1 only beheld my mother with the eyes of an infant, it was to him alone that I principally looked up for sin- cere council and advice, which he never failed to grant in tenderness and love, though so stern and inflexible in all his Scotch parental demands, that never would he permit me to appear before him without my hat off, or leave his presence when under reproof; and should many of the oriental disciplines of parents towards their children be practised at the present day in this country, such parents would be branded with the epithet of tyrants, and the child be encouraged by not a few low-bred and illiterate serfs to flee its home for some distant land, and that too at a tender and dangerous stage of life. But in all his stern requirements for reverence and re- S})ect, still his soul delighted at all times to descend to my infant capacity, whereby I might not only profitably be instructed but amused. One instance in particular I beg leave to mention. When a child about six years old re- siding in my native town, Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, about sixty miles from the sea-board, to which there was no regular communication but once a week, on horseback by the mail carrier, though now there is a connected line of steam cars and stages running daily from Jersey City to Milford, Pa., embracing a distance of eighty miles, consequently fifty years ag6 Newton was rarely privileged (if so in truth it could be styled) , to those of PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 19 I the present day in scenes of amusement for the young, excepting spinning frolics and apple cuts. At last, however, a doivn-Easter ventured his way over stones and stumps, with one horse and wagon loaded with puppets, and such an apparatus as would enable him to give an exhibition in buffoonery, as the citizens of New- ton had never before witnessed, the corners of the streets, and the pumps thereof, with the two stores and two Inns^ were soon placarded, setting forth an array of amusements, the like of which never occurred in the brightest days of Sh'f.ksper.re. The hoop, marbles, ball, and even books which had before pleased, had now lost their charms. Al- though every child's eye (with not a few adults) beamed with joy at an early hour of the day in anticipation of the announced evening's performance, still it was left for mine to droop in despondency. My father was absent from home about ten miles distant, in the exercise of his pro- fession as a physician, and I further well knew that with- out his accompanying me I dared not " see the Elephant.^^ The room where the puppets were to be exhibited was lighted — playmates running from every direction of the village to gain an entrance — with me all I supposed was lost, when to my great joy and satisfaction I discovered my father on horseback wending his way homeward. With tears in my eyes I asked him if I might go that night and see the puppets dance, which other boys had told me was a beautiful sight and had already commenced. He assured me it had not, although the door Avas opened for the reception of visitors, still the performance w^ould not commence under half an hour ; having full confidence in his word, and being taught prompt obedience, I became calm and rcsio-ned. And in a few minutes taking his hand, I w^as conduct- ed into a thronged assembly, greeted by instrumental mu- sic. On the rising of the curtain, a little old gentleman and lady, in height about eighteen inches, called Punch and Judy, made their appearance on a small stage or platform, very obsequiously bowingand courtseyingtotheiraudience; after which in strains of the warmest conjugal love — kiss- ed with arms around each other's neck — Punch called upon the musician for an appropriate tune whereto he and his wife Judy might dance. The request was complied with, and the little old gentleman and lady commenced (which 20 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. I su^])osed was all real), several feats of agility, mostly confined to the feet — passed and repassed each other, hopped, jumped, wheeled about and turned about, to the great amusement of all the children present. Such was the ecstacy realized on my part that I cried for joy, which being observed by my aged sire caused him to smile — an evidence of his happiness in finding his son pleased, not however without a mixture of regret for my w^ant of ration- ality. Punch and Judy finishing their dance, immediately made their exit, as I supposed into a rear room, upon which ray father commenced a comment on the whole scene, as follows : '' My sort, what you have just seen was not real, but a mixture of imitations, or falsehood covered with dis- guise. Punch and Judy are nothing but pieces of inani- mate matter, and every part of their bodies, covered and uncovered is the work of ait and n( t of nature. The eyes are glass, the sockets in wdiich they are set are formed out of wood by a carver, together with the ears, nose, mouth, chin, arms, hands, legs, and feet; the articulations of their joints are produced by small wires so constructed as to be governed by the draw of a larger one unseen to you, by a man behind that screen (pointing to a large piece of green bviize about ten feet long, and reaching from the floor nearly to the ceiline). As he passed along in his expla}iations,he also defined in child-like style the meaning of imitation, disguise, inanimate, art; and at this latter word he took occasion to teach me the difference between art and science, and resuming the definition of words, ex- plained to me the meaning of socket, carver^ articulation (when applied to joints), constructed, governed, screen, which course he had always pursued, and subsequently practised throughout his life when in oral conversation. First scene closed as just named, a second opened by what was denominated in the bill of advertisement, babes in the wood, which was so represented as to show" a wicked uncle contractins: with two mercenaries for the death of a nephew and niece, aged about four and three years old, whereby he might obtain their large inherit- ance, which, being concluded, he made his exit. When the hired villains immediately on horseback conducted the children into a wiU'erness of great extent — one more com- passionate than the other refused to execute the murder- ous bargain, and in a quarrel vvith his relentless comrade i PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 21 slew him and instantly fled, leaving the children alone wandering to and fro in the woods until nearly dark, with- out being able to retrace their steps — when for want of food, fatigue of the day, and exhaustion of strength, re- posed themselves under the boughs of a mighty oak, and soon fell asleep in each other's arms, where robins cover- ed them with leaves. The next day at the dawn of morn- ing, renewed their efforts to find a way out of the woods, but fruitless as before, accompanied with loud lamenta- tions, famished for want of food again about sun-set, cried or w^ept themselves to sleep — to awake no more on the shores of mortality, and in like manner the kind services of the bird covered their little bodies — succeeded imme- diately by a convoy of mimic angels conducting them above (in appearance) to the realms of bliss. The whole scene was solemn and imposing, causing like the first (though under difTerent influence), tears again to flow down my little placid cheeks, creating at the same time in the countenance of my father evident satisfaction of pleasure in beholding the tender and virtuous emotions of my heart. This second scene closed, there was yet a third to be presented, during the intervals of which my father made several connnents on the inordinate love of money, which had so governed the uncle as to prompt the murderous act in connection with a diabolical violation of the tie of consanguinity, and all laws governing social, moral, and religious duties incumbent or binding on man. Next the providence of God, in the kind offices of the robin, and although the appearance of an immediate con- veyance of the children in the bosom of their her.venly father, was calculated to show^ the benefits that finally await the innocent, still he believed the representation of the angels to be a direct act of bla^phemy. The third and last scene irtrodaced Punch and Judy, not hovvever under the same influence or feelings of cour- tesy and respect for their audience, or in as happy and friendly a state of mind towards each other as in the first scene, but rushed upon the stage highly excited, and in language loud, criminating and recriminating each other, soon leading to blows. In the height of which, the devil was represented as coming up from below, belching forth from his mouth sul- 22 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. phiiric flames, long tail, horns on his head — feet cloven, who without any ceremony, seized upon the rioters and conducted them below to the regions of interminable mise- ry; this last scene caused me to shrink from fear, and clinging to the arm of my father, appeared to say — pro- tect me ; having as little knowledge of security as a little child of two years old with his head under mother's apron, or the ostrich when chased by the hunter mounted on horse- back^ on the ocean's beach thinks itself secure if in sand it can only cover its head. On our way home he resumed further comments on the exhibition, observing first that the fear I manifested dur- ing the last scene was a natural inherent principle of man, and could only be removed by the grace of God, who would never withhold the consolation of peace and secu- rity from those who sincerely loved and kept his com- mandments. Whereas " the wicked flee when no man pursueth,'' and I trust my son, your course of conduct through life will never cause you to be ashamed to live, or afraid to die, and as to the last scene of the puppets which w^e witnessed this evening, I am clear in the opinion as in the second that it was profane and alien in the sight of Heaven. And the principal reason for not permitting you to visit those kind of shows or exhibitions wilhout my presence, is to protect and guard your mind against poisonous, false, and erroneous implantations, w^hich otherwise might be made, and although I would not carry out in your educa- tion to the full extent of certain measures which the Spar- tans practised (particularly in making their servants drunk in order to show their children the evils therefrom) , still such is the power and force of ocular demonstrations (that in subsequent years should our lives be spared) , I may deem it proper to let you visit a theatre, where you may see pictured almost to life in the tragedy of the Gamester, the baneful influence of gambling. In the London Apprentice, or sometimes called George Barnwell, the blighting influence on a youth, who, when basking in the mild sunshine of innocence and virtue, was caught like a bird in the fowler's snare by a wncked Millwood, whose fatal charms allured, seduced, and at last dragged him down into a gulf of infamy, shame, and PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 23 misery, accompanied with blushes of conscious guilt — a thief — a fornicator, and afterwards — the murderer of his beloved uncle, for which latter deed he expired on an ignominious gallows. And although Barnwell's tender age, without counsel, father or mother, may have caused him to become an easier prey vStill, " All for Love, or the World well lost," shows that a wicked cunning woman in the person of a Cleopatra could seduce and hurl from his kingdom, even the cool, sagacious Anthony, at a moment, too, when he souglit her destruction as queen of Egypt. The tragedies of *' Julius Caesar," and that of "Richard the Third," point to plunder, blood and carnage, without regard to age or sex, as the legitimate offspring of inordinate ambition, while it is left for an Othello to show the despicable character of a- liar and a mischief- maker, in causing seeds of jealousy to be so sown and roottHl in the mind of a husband by a villanous lago, as not only to destroy the strong bond of true conjugal affec- tion, but lead to the death of a fond and affectionate wife, as represented in the beautiful and innocent Desdemona, and afterwards again by the same hand the assassination of him whose diabolical plot in creating jealousy had its ori- gin in covetousness, desiring the station of Cassio, whose overthrow he only contemplated without any design upon the natural life of Desdemona, though through slander he was willing to doubly murder her. Although a kind explanation with comments had been furnished by my father in relation to the exhibition just witnessed, with several unseen theatrical amusements, still I was left in ignorance as to the true cause by which the puppets appeared to speak or move, and notwith- standing during certain seasons (when not in time and place), he was very austere and repulsive, yet sacrificed much in answering all my childish questions, and a great number seemed rather to please than if I remained a mute, idle, or unobserving child. ^' My son, the seemed conversation of the puppets to which you so attentively listened this evening, proceeded from the same man who I told you held the long wire behind the screen, by an art, styled ventriloquism, possessed but by few persons, and a dangerous talent often producing death; as instead of naturally rising from the lungs it is drawn up from the 24 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. ^ abdomen direct into the thorax or "windpipe, without any motion of the lips, and to a bystander often appears to come from a distance or contrary way from the ventrilo- quist, and in addition to what I have already named about the wire pulling, you will find as you grow up to manhood a great many human puppets in the world, conspicuous in their movements, yet entirely governed, directed and controlled by deceitful, artful wire pullers, unseen and unheard by those against whom they intend to operate in some base pecuniary fraud or political juggling. In men- tioning the just preceding course of my sire, in relation to amusements, some of my readers may suppose that I am an uncompromising advocate for the theatres in affording youthful, mental recreations, whereas (though frank to ac- knowledge myself an admirer of Shakspeare's writings) , I believe the theatre has been productive of much harm in corrupting good morals, particularly by encouraging apprentices in large cities to purloin money from their masters, and while the present shilling houses of amuse- ment may have lessened the amount stolen, still it has dragged from the poor widow and fatherless children many a lodf of bread, and sent her ragged elder son alone to a theatrical pit, there to congregate with the low and vul- gar, whose examples are too often unchaste and immoral, to say nothing of the impurity of the matters represented in the play. It is held by many, that where children are daily afford- ed opportunities of beholding bills announcing plays, and parents invariably refuse to allow them any participation therein, the children are thereby rendered doubly disposed to play the truant and become refractory. As to the soundness of this los^ic, I leave my reader partly to decide; butonefacti- certain, that we should never " do evil that good may come," and if parents should oc- casionally deem it proper to indulge their children in visit- ing houses of amusement, not only great care must be ob- served in selecting the piece, but always personally ac- company them, and as far as possible by timely comment extract sweet from the bitter. Parents residing in the country are not so expo"=;ed as the class just named, and should they find occasion with any of their children to visit a large city, had better take them to an exhibition of natural curiosities, or visit a gal- PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 25 lery of fine arts, where the pencil has almost exhibited nature herself, or traverse the wharves and hear the bust- ling noise of commerce, with a view of the majestic ship which brings the produce of foreign climes in exchange for ours. And it is to be extremely regretted for the last few years, our museums have become greatly corrupted by the introduction of buffoonery, obscene songs, and negro extravao'anzas. In objecting to children visiting houses of amusement without their parents or proper guardian, not only false impressions may be imbibed, but also salutary opportuni- ties lost for profitable instruction; for instance, the tragedy of a Damon and a Pythias represented in the presence of a child, exhibits the strong chords of true and genuine friend- ship as to be willing to die for each other ; still, how weak and insignificant wdien contrasted with the unbounded and unparalleled love of the Savior of the world, loho died for his enemies that through his precious blood they might live here and hereafter in peace and happiness. To a great extent inordinate desires for theatrical amusements, might be lessened by a greater -familiarity on the part of parents in conversation with their children, the introduction of chaste books with innocent plays when at home. Playing cards as emplo3^ed by gamblers, should never be introduced to children, not even what is styled a genteel game of whist, and they should })e kept ignorant even as to the name or value in play of any card, and the same course pursued in after life growing out of this con- scious ignorance, will keep them secure against the frauds of gamblers and blacklegs. Drunkenness, though slow in its progress, v/ill ultimately lead to poverty; but the gambler in less than one hour may not only bankrupt him- self, but also a confiding friend or friends, who had en dorsed his business paper, besides bringing r round his domestic fireside a long train of misery, want and penury, inflicted upon a fond and affectionate wife and family of children. I have already hinted at some of the moral and physi- cal recreations necessary for children, and will add, as I may hereafter have occasion to speak, that while the body is sought to be improved the mind should not be neglect- ed; the sports of foot races and ball alleys for boys, exert a healthy motion on every part of the body as well as an 2 26 PARENTS AND CHILDREN. active vigilance on the mind, and the latter also affords a convenient place for girls to jump the rope, or enjoy a game of graces in tossing the hoop. But as a general rule, I cannot recommend jumping, hopping, or wrestling, for they are more or less attended with danger, and it is a source of deep regret that parents and teachers introduce gymnastics for the amusement of their children, which too often lead to the destruction of life, such as fire arms and swings ; the sensation of pleasure derived from the lat- ter is hut an undue rush of hlood to the head, and thereby produces dropsy on the brain. All games of chance should be avoided, and although the backgammon table is practised by many of the fashion- able and genteel, still it greatly depends upon chance in the throw of the dice. The billiard table, shuffle board, pitching quoits, and the ten-pin alley, though they exert an exercise of the pectoral muscle with a calculation of the mind, still they are generally productive of profanity in adults, particular- ly when a bet is pending, and boys become adults. As a mental exercise free from all work of chance, I can cheerfully recommend the checker and chess board, but in no instance should a wager pend on the final issue of any game, for he who extracts money or property from another without giving its value, and justifies himself on the ground that he risked the same amount will find his argument not only in the eyes of a holy and pure being, but in every good and virtuous man's a base subterfuge. I have already stated that the impressions made upon the mind of a child only three or four years old are the most permanent and lasting, consequently the neglect on the part of parents to properly instruct, or cause to be instructed their children at a tender age, may subject them in after life to imbibe fatal and pernicious errors, at a time too when the parent ceases to exist and no true friend at hand to correct the evil. Our beneficent Heavenly Father has furnished means whereby ends may be secured, and however laudable desires may exist in the human breast (under proper re- strictions) , as to this world's goods, a child should early not only be taught to cultivate all the social relations which bind man to his fellow-man, but also the infinite value of its soul, and the means whereby it may be made PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 27 happy here and in eternity, which we are taught, through the Bible, is a work entirely of grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; faith necessarily presupposes knowledge of this ohject, and all his attributes upon which it is ex rt- ed ; and as children die, this one of the many gracious means should early be inparted as far as possible, which like bread cast upon water, may many days afler be pro- fitably gathered up or collected. One instance which