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suffer the natural consequences of his offence. If he intentionally hurt his brother with a whip, the whip must, for a time, be taken from him. If he betray impatience and selfishness at table, let him be served the last, and with the least indulgence. Such gentle measures, administered with decision, will generally succeed, for it is much more the certainty and immediate execution, than the seve rity, of punishment, that will avail. A child, who is sure of being confined a quarter of an hour, if he strike his companion, is less likely to commit the of fence than another who has only the apprehension that he may be detained an hour; for the hope of escaping with im+ punity, adds no little force to temptation. Correction, also, is not to be unne cessarily delayed or prolonged.” Delay renders it less effectual, and more trying to the temper; whilst any needless continuance, in every way, increases the

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evils, and lessens the benefits which might result from it.

There is much, in education, to be done by watching our opportunities, by acting at the right season. With most children there is an era, and this often takes place as they are emerging from babyhood, in which a struggle is made for the mastery, in which it is to be decided who is to rule, the child, or those who are placed over him. At such a juncture, in order to determine the matter, and firmly to establish authority, it will be necessary to employ vigorous measures, and to suppress the first risings of a rebellious and disobedient spirit, by punishment, decisive; and repeated till submission on the part of the child, and victory on that of the parent, are completely secured! So great is the importance of these contests; so great the difficulty of carrying them on with the temper,

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and the union of firmness and affection which they require, that it is desirable they should be conducted only by a parent. Punishment is more often to be inflicted simply as the consequence, of a fault, and not with the idea, that it must be prolonged till the particular action required has been performed.

A child is desired, for instance, to put up his play things, and he refuses with so much self-will, that his attendant cannot overlook it, and is under the necessity of telling him that he must be confined in the next room for a quarter of an hour; but let her beware of adding, that there he shall stay till he will put them up. This would serve merely to engage in the combat his pride and his obstinacy. At the end of the quarter of an hour she should release him from his imprisonment, without waiting to make conditions for his future obedience. yo Call to w gm.

It has been said, indeed, that submis sion, on the part of the offender, is the object of punishment, and such submiss sion as may entitle him to receive comeq plete forgiveness. When a child has been corrected, we should not rest satis fied till this object has been attained; but it is not, in all cases, to be expected, either during the continuance of the punishment, or immediately afterwards.

A well-trained child, if affectionately admonished after correction is over, not being irritated at the idea that it may be continued, will generally yield at once: but it is not to be considered necessary. to put this always to the proof. He has committed a fault, and has suffered the consequences. Here it is often wisest to leave the affair for the time, choosing the earliest favourable opportunity, when he has more perfectly recovered himself, for receiving his submission, and assur-y ing him of forgiveness.

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If his attendant have conducted herself in the right spirit, he will have felt the force of her correction, though he may not have shewn it at the time. The next day, if she desire him to put up his play-things, he will, pretty certainly, obey with more than common alacrity.

When a child has been punished, he should be restored as soon as possible to favour; and when he has received forgiveness, treated as if nothing had happened. He may be affectionately reminded of his fault in private, as a warning for the future; but, after peace has been made, to upbraid him with it, especially in the presence of others, is almost a breach of honour, and, certainly, a great unkindness. Under any circumstances, to reproach children in company is equally useless and painful to them, and is generally done from irritability of temper, with little view to their profit.