I could relate anecdote after anecdote to prove the utility of this part of our system, but as it is now more generally in the training juvenile schools, and becoming better known, it may not be necessary, especially as the prejudice against it is giving way, and the public mind is better informed than it was on the subject, and moreover it must be given more in detail in the larger work on Juvenile Training or National Education.

CHAPTER XIV.

GEOGRAPHY.

Its attraction for children—­Sacred Geography-Geographical song—­and lesson on geography.

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“From sea to sea, from realm to realm I rove.”—­Tickell.

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Geography is to children a delightful study.  We give some idea of it at an early period in infant schools, by singing, “London is the capital, the capital, the capital, London is the capital, the capital of England,” and other capitals in the same way; and also by pictures of the costumes of the various people of the world.  To teach the four quarters of the globe, we tell children the different points of the play-ground, and then send them to the eastern, western, northern, or southern quarters, as we please.  A weathercock should also be placed at the top of the school, and every favourable day opportunities should be seized by the teachers to give practical instructions upon it.[A]

[Footnote A:  If the lesson is on objects it will shew how children are taught the points of the compass, with which we find they are very much delighted, the best proof that can be given that it is not injurious to the faculties.]

Sacred geography is of great importance, and children are much pleased at finding out the spots visited by our Saviour, or the route of the apostle Paul.

THE EARTH.

  The earth, on which we all now live,
  Is called a globe—­its shape I’ll give;
  If in your pocket you’ve a ball,
  You have it’s shape,—­but that’s not all;
  For land and water it contains,
  And presently I’ll give their names. 
  The quarters are called, Africa,
  Europe, Asia, and America;
  These contain straits, oceans, seas,
  Continents, promontories,
  Islands, rivers, gulfs, or bays,
  Isthmusses, peninsulas,—­
  Each divides or separates
  Nations, kingdoms, cities, states,—­
  Mountains, forests, hills, and dales,
  Dreary deserts, rocks, and vales.

   In forests, deserts, bills, and plains,
     Where feet have never trod,
   There still in mighty power, He reigns,
     An ever-present God.

THE CARDINAL POINTS.

  The east is where the sun does rise
  Each morning, in the glorious skies;
  Full west he sets, or hides his head,
  And points to us the time for bed;
  He’s in the south at dinner time;
  The north is facing to a line.