the elder child are violated.

It is true,

he was unkind and unobliging; but the cart and the cake were his own; and, by taking them from him, without his free and full consent, we shall not teach him generosity, but injustice.

HARMONY, GENEROSITY, &c.

THOROUGHLY to establish the prin ciples of strict justice in the conduct of those who rule, and in that of the chil dren, one toward another, is the grand means of securing the peace and good order of a nursery, and the only sure ground-work of harmony, mutual gene rosity, and, consequently, of love. The apprehension lest his property should be extorted from him; the fear of hav ing his own rights, in any way, infringed; the suspicion that he may not receive his due-renders a child irritable and contentious: whilst the certainty that he shall himself be treated with entire justice and impartiality, satisfies his mind, composes his spirit, and prepares him to impart, with liberality, what he knows is altogether in his own power. At the

same time, the habit of nice attention, on his part, to the rights of others, teaches him the invaluable lesson of subduing his desires, and of expecting limits to his individual gratification. Thus the principle of justice, brought into full effect, cuts off the main sources of dispute and contention; prepares the way for a free and liberal spirit; is the surest preservative against an envious, suspicious temper; and is the first step towards overcoming that selfishness, which is the prevailing evil of the human heart. This evil must be carefully watched, and perséveringly counteracted, especially by guarding against it in our own hearts and behaviour; for, let it be remembered, that generosity and affection are virtues, which, from their nature, do not admit of being enforced by authority. We must not attempt to command them; nor should we upbraid children for the want of them, even towards ourselves;

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though we may do much to promote their growth, by this strict adherence to justice, by influence, instruction, and a judicious improvement of those natural feelings of kindness, which almost all children occasionally display. There are few who will not discover emotions of sympathy and pity at the sight of any sorrow or suffering, which they understand to be such; and these are the occasions for awakening their benevolence and compassion, not only toward their fellow-creatures, but to every living thing. We should be particularly careful to lose no such opportunity of cultivating this tenderness of feeling among themselves. If one of the little flock be ill, or in pain, the others will, generally, shew an interest and sympathy-a desire to comfort and please him, which should be carefully cherished. The affections of elder children are also often called forth, in a lively manner, toward the younger.

Now, although their attentions to the little one may, at times, be troublesome to the attendant, she ought not hastily to suppress them :-rather let her commend the younger to the care and protection of the elder; ever bearing in mind the importance of nurturing that family affection, so invaluable in the progress of life, and of which the foundation is generally laid within the first ten years of childhood.

Elder children are, on the contrary, sometimes inclined to tease, and domineer over the younger; though it is commonly those who have themselves been treated with tyranny that are most disposed, in their turn, to become tyrants. This inclination is ever to be repressed: we are to point out the meanness, as well as the barbarity, of employing 'superior strength, in oppressing, or tormenting, the weak and the helpless; and uniformly to manifest our abhor