I ant thoroughly convinced that the first seven years of a child’s life is the golden period, and if I can induce mankind generally to think with me, and to act on the principles humbly laid open in the succeeding chapters of this book, I may feel some consolation that I have not lived in vain.  Sure I am that if the world will only give man a fair chance, and train him from the beginning with care, with prudence, with caution, with circumspection, with freedom, and above all with love, he will bear such fruit, under the blessing of God, as will make even this world as a paradise.  From childhood up to age has this truth been perfecting and strengthening in me, and I have no more doubt that it is a truth, than I have of my own existence.  Who can look upon a child without admiring it, without loving it?  With my feelings it is impossible!  When I compare the Revealed Will of God,—­the Scriptures, with His other Great Book, the book of nature, which I read so early in life, and read with delight to this present hour, I see the one illustrates the other.  I see that the best ground produces the rankest weeds—­but not if cultivated.  What does not care do for all things in nature, why not then for man?  Let him run wild through neglect, and undoubtedly he produces weeds; but this, to my mind, is an argument in his favour, and shews the ground is capable of producing rich fruits.  When we study the true nature of his mind, with the same assiduity as we now do study the nature of his body, then will mankind see it in this light, begin at the right end, and cultivate from the first the beautiful faculties of his own species.  I say beautiful! and are not the budding faculties of childhood both beautiful and lovely?  “Feed my lambs,” saith the Lord Jesus.  But, reader, are they all duly fed in this rich, wealthy, and christian country?  How many, on the contrary, are fed with evil influences, street associations, and are thus poisoned at every pore, until their being is thoroughly contaminated through neglect, public and private, and, when not orphans, even parental neglect also; and then after having increased our county rates, enlarged our prisons, and built union workhouses (with respect to morals and training for the young, I say pest-houses) we add ragged schools.  We allow them to become contaminated, and when that is accomplished, we go to work to undo what has been done.  If this does not succeed we punish by law the poor neglected beings for taking the poisons we really offered them!  Oh, rare consistency in this boasted age of light, and science, and learning!  Let us, therefore, first seek an education worthy of the name, and then find the best means of carrying it out.  What exists at present is fundamentally defective, especially by beginning too late, and as regards the plans and principles laid down for infants in many cases, much has been merely travestied, and many of the most essential parts entirely set aside or overlooked.