should have taken it to master, because he would know if it was bad better than you.”  This was a convincing argument, and to my great delight, the boy replied—­“How much did the song cost?” The reply was, “A half-penny.”  “Here, then, take it,” says the child, “I had one given me to-day; so now remember I have paid you for it, but if you bring any more songs to school I will tell master.”  This seemed to give general satisfaction to the whole party, who immediately dispersed to their several amusements.  A struggle like this, between the principles of duty and honesty, among children so very young, must prove highly interesting to all who love them, and exemplifies, beyond a doubt, the immense advantage of early instruction.

Another thing to be noticed is, a regard for truth.  Nothing is so delightful as this.  There is no conversation so agreeable as that of the man of integrity, who hears without any design to betray, and speaks without any intention to deceive; and this admitted, we should strive to the utmost to induce children to remember it.  But our success, in a great measure, will depend on the means we employ.  Many children are frightened into falsehood by the injudicious methods of those who have the care of them.  I have known a mother promise a child forgiveness if it would speak the truth, and, after having obtained confession, she has broken her engagement.  A child, once treated in this manner, will naturally be guarded against a similar deception.  I have known others who would pretend not to punish the child for confession, but for first denying it, and afterwards confessing.  I think that children should not be punished, on any account, after having been promised forgiveness, truth being of too great importance to be thus trifled with; and we cannot wonder if it is lightly esteemed by children, after the example is set by their parents.  Having had several thousand children under my care, I have had favourable opportunities of observing the bias of the infant mind, and I must say, that I have not found them so inclined to evil and falsehood as I had previously imagined.

When morality is adverted to in this volume, let it never be forgotten, that by it is meant the pure and perfect morality of the sacred Scriptures.  From this source alone the great truths and precepts can be derived, for regulating the conscience and improving the heart.  The infant system, however, would aim to steer perfectly clear of the more remote theological opinions entertained by Christians of different denominations.  With these, little children can have nothing to do, and institutions for their express benefit should receive the support of all.  What kind of religious doctrine and faith infants ought to be taught, I will not here determine, but leave it for consideration in a future chapter devoted more expressly to that subject.  It must be the wish of all true Christians that they should be taught the fundamental truths