The Catholics say that if they may have the spiritual culture of the child till he is ten years of age, they will willingly surrender him into the hands of the teachers of any other faith, resting secure in the permanency of early teachings.  The great value of early religious instruction has always been conceded by the most learned.  “The first thing, therefore,” says Dr. Priestly, “that a Christian will naturally inculcate upon his child, as soon as he is capable of receiving such impressions, is the knowledge of his Maker, and a steady principle of obedience to Him; the idea of his living under a constant inspection and government of an invisible being, who will raise him from the dead to an immortal life, and who will reward and punish him hereafter according to his character and actions here.

ON THESE PLAIN PRINCIPLES

I hesitate not to assert as a Christian, that religion is the first rational object of education.  Whatever be the fate of my children in this transitory world, about which I hope I am as solicitous as I ought to be, I would, if possible, secure a happy meeting with them in a future and everlasting life.”

“A suspicious parent makes an artful child,” says Haliburton.  A tender parent makes a wayward son.  A cruel parent makes a timid son.  Be harsh when harshness is necessary, but be kind when kindness is needful, for as the grass of the fields needs the light of the sun, so does the human heart yearn for sympathy and kindness, in all the years of its wonderful growth.  Parents may in a great measure do much of the teaching which that

NOTORIOUSLY HARSH SCHOOLMASTER, EXPERIENCE,

deals out, who beats our boys and girls so brutally.  I cannot, in closing this chapter, do better than to quote the words of wise old Roger Ascham:  “He hazardeth sore that maketh wise by experience.  An unhappy sailor he is that is made wise by many shipwrecks, a miserable merchant that is neither rich nor wise but after some bankrouts.  It is a marvelous pain to find a short way by long wandering.  He needs must be a swift runner that runneth fast out of his way.  And look well upon the former life of those few who have gathered, by long experience, a little wisdom and some happiness; and when you do consider what mischief they have committed, what dangers they have escaped (and yet twenty for one do perish in the adventure) then think well with yourself whether you would that your own son should come to wisdom and happiness by such experience or no.”

[Illustration]

BROTHER AND SISTER

     The noble sister of Publicola,
     The moon of Rome; chaste as the icicle,
     That’s curdled by the frost from purest snow,
     And hangs on Dian’s temple.