less guarded; for in many cases, it is not so much the matter of fact, as an improper spirit in conveying it, which is injurious to the mind. MANNERS AND ORDER. Locke considers that manner is the object of next importance to religion and virtue, to be preferred to learning, and it is evident that there is no passport so good in the world; nothing that adds so great a lustre to virtue, or that so well brings into daily use, more solid acquirement. "Good man ners are the blossom of good sense," and may it not be added, of good feeling too? for if the law of kindness be written in the heart, it will lead to that disinterestedness in little as well as in great things-that desire to oblige, and attention to the gratifi cation of others, which is the foundation of good manners. If, therefore, we are suc cessful in inspiring children with such a disposition, we secure the most important means of rendering them pleasing. We should endeavor early to infuse the spirit of that precept "Honor all men ;" to teach them that kindness and civility are due to all; that a haughty, peremptory, or con temptuous manner is not only ill-bred, but unchristian; and this is, especially, to be guarded against in their behavior to servants. Nor will young people, generally, be tempted to treat with unkindness those, whose services claim a return of affection and gratitude, unless they are led to it by the example of others. It will also be necessary to guard children against vulgar habits, against roughness of manner, as well as coarseness of mind; as loud talking and laughing, the use of violent exclamations and expressions, "shocking! terrible! monstrous!" &c.; nor should they be allowed to continue their infantine lan guage too long: the imperfect words and broken sentences of an infant, will be unpleasant and appear like affectation, when used by elder children; but this habit is often encouraged by the affected and babyish tones* of voice in which their attendants * Children ought never to be spoken to in what is called "babyish" language, but always in as correct expressions as we should use with grown persons; thus they will easily acquire an accurate manner of speaking, which will save them, as it were, the learning of another language.-AM. ED. frequently address them. It is essential to good breeding, that children be taught to express themselves well, and to speak distinctly and grammatically. As satire and ridicule are instruments ill calculated to be employed in education; so any tendency to these dispositions in children themselves is to be repressed; mimickry, also, though highly amusing, ought to be discouraged, as being likely to induce an unpleasing and improper turn of mind. Good conduct at meals, is, with children, a fair criterion of good manners, and meals may be made use of as favorable opportunities for inculcating propriety of behavior. Children should be taught to sit down and rise up from the table at the same time; to wait, whilst others are served, without betraying eagerness or impatience; to avoid noise and conversation, and if they are no longer confined to the nursery, to be able to see delicacies, without expecting or asking to partake of them. To know when to be silent is more important to good manmers, than is generally supposed. Speaking, K when it interrupts reading or conversation, and the habit of contradicting others, should be checked, as also that ill-timed garrulity, so unpleasing in some children, and which, generally, springs from an undesirable selfconfidence and forwardness of character. Nor is the person to be neglected in early life; for it will spare children many awkward feelings as they grow up, if they are taught to walk and to carry themselves well; to enter, leave a room, and to address others with ease and propriety. With many, the acquirement of this external polish will prove a very slow work, and a subject of considerable difficulty; but if we see an amiable and obedient disposition, there is every reason to hope that roughness of manner will be smoothed down by time and the example of others. Parents ought not, therefore, to allow themselves, from their own irritability and impatience, to render manner, as is the case in so many families, the cause of daily vexation, and of continual though fruitless complaints. We must receive with patience and good nature |