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unable to answer, let them freely confess it, and beware of assuming power or knowledge which they do not possess: for all artifice is not only sinful, but is generally detected, even by children; and we shall experience the truth of the old proverb, "a cunning trick helps but once, and hinders ever after." No one who is not experimentally acquainted with children, would conceive how clearly they distinguish between truth and artifice; or how readily they adopt those equivocal expedients in their own behalf, which, they perceive, are practised against them.

Great caution is required in making promises, and in threatening punishments but we must be rigid in the performance of the one, and in the infliction of the other. If, for example, we assure a child unconditionally, that, after his lessons, he shall have a top or a ball, no subsequent ill behaviour on his part

should induce us to deprive him of it. Naughty or good the top must be his; and, if it be necessary to punish him, we must do it in some other way than by breach of engagement. For our word, once passed, must not be broken.

We should labour to excite in children a detestation of all that is mean, cunning, or false: to inspire them with a spirit of openness, honour, and perfect honesty; making them feel how noble it is, not merely to speak the truth, but to speak the simple unaltered truth, whether it tell for or against themselves; but this we cannot effect, unless our example uniformly concur with our instructions. We should teach them not only to confess their faults, but to confess them freely, and entirely, without prefacing them by excuses, or endeavouring to lessen their own offence, by laying blame upon another. When referring to others

their mutual complaints and disputes, they should be warned to relate the case honourably and fairly; to state both sides of the question-to be willing to accuse themselves as well as their companions. In these points, even conscientious children, who dread a falsehood, are extremely prone to equivocate, and to keep back, at least, part of the truth.

It will also be important to guard children against that inaccuracy and exaggeration very common in general conversation, and which, in their effects, are so highly injurious, though often arising more from thoughtlessness than ill intention. Dr. Johnson observes, “ Nothing but experience can evince the frequency of false information; some men relate what they think as what they know; some men of confused memories and habitual inaccuracy ascribe to one man what belongs to another, and some talk on without thought or care. Accustom

your children, therefore, to a strict attention to truth, even in the most minute particulars: if a thing happened at one window, and they, when relating it, say that it happened at another, do not let it pass, but instantly check them; you do not know where deviation from truth will end. IT IS MORE FROM CARELESSNESS ABOUT TRUTH, THAN FROM INTENTIONAL LYING, THAT THERE IS SO MUCH FALSEHOOD IN THE WORLD."

On no account whatever let any thing be said or done in the nursery, that Mamma is not to be told.

In case of any unpleasant occurrence, it is the duty of a nurse to take the earliest opportunity of informing her mistress; and to do this, when she can with propriety, in the presence of the children.

*See Boswell's Life of Johnson, octavo, vol. iii. pp. 249, 250.

She is ever to enforce the same habit among them, encouraging them, if they have met with an accident, or committed a fault, at once, (for in these cases, de lays are dangerous,) to go to their mo ther, and freely to confess it to her.

It is desirable, as far as possible, to manifest confidence in the honour and veracity of children; for we should wish deceit and falsehood to be considered among them as offences of which we do not even suppose them capable: to accuse a child falsely, breaks his spirit, and lowers his sense of honour. If we have, at any time, reason to suspect a child of telling a falsehood, or of concealing the truth, great caution is necessary in betraying that suspicion. We should endeavour to ascertain the fact by our own observation, or the evidence of others, rather than by the common expedient of questioning the child himself, or strongly urging him to confession; for, in so