CHAPTER XV.

PICTURES AND CONVERSATION.

Pictures—­Religious instruction—­Specimens of picture lessons on Scripture and natural history—­other means of religious instruction—­Effects of religious instruction—­observation.

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“The parents of Dr. Doddridge brought him up in the early knowledge of religion.  Before he could read, his mother taught him the histories of the Old and New Testament, by the assistance of some Dutch tiles in the chimney of the room where they usually sat; and accompanied her instructions with such wise and pious reflections, as make strong and lasting impressions upon his heart”—­See his Life.[A]

[Footnote A:  This gave me the idea of introducing Scripture pictures for the infants; and that they are successful can be vouched for by hundreds of teachers besides myself.]

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To give the children general information, it has been found advisable to have recourse to pictures of natural history, such as of birds, beasts, fishes, flowers, insects, &c., all of which tend to shew the glory of God; and as colours attract the attention of children as soon as any thing, they eagerly inquire what such a thing is, and this gives the teacher an opportunity of instructing them to great advantage; for when a child of his own free will eagerly desires to be informed, he is sure to profit by the information then imparted.

We use also pictures of public buildings, and of the different trades; by the former, the children acquire much information, from the explanations which are given to them of the use of buildings, in what year they were built, &c.; whilst by the latter, we are enabled to find out the bias of a child’s inclination.  Some would like to be shoemakers, others builders, others weavers, others brewers, &c.; in short it is both pleasing and edifying to hear the children give answers to the different questions.  I remember one little boy, who said he should like to be a doctor; and when asked why he made choice of that profession in preference to any other, his answer was, “Because he should like to cure all the sick people.”  If parents did but study the inclinations of their children a little more, I humbly conceive, that there would be more eminent men in every profession than there are.  It is great imprudence to determine what business children shall be of before their tempers and inclinations are well known.  Every one is best in his own profession—­and this should not be determined on rashly and carelessly.