to perspire more than adults, frequent change of their linen is a matter of some consequence; and all parents who can afford it, should give them clean dry linen every day. It is as much the duty of parents to wash and clean their children, as it is to feed and clothe them; and children that are frequently washed and kept clean, gradually improve in health and vivacity; cleanliness becomes familiar to them, their spirits are enlivened, and they grow up virtuous, polite and happy. simple dress would induce children to live with less restraint in the society of each other; and check that silly pride which leads them to ape the fashions of their superiors, and to value themselves on account of the finery of their clothes. During the first months, the head and breast may be slightly covered; but as soon as the hair is sufficiently long to afford protection, there appears little necessity for either hats or caps, unless in seasons of rain or cold. By keeping the breast and neck uncovered, they acquire more firmness, are rendered hardier, and less susceptible of being affected with cold. Be The Russians, with all their ignorance and rusticity of manners, are said to be superior to the more refined English, French and Germans, both in a de-sides, a child has really a more interesting aspect, licate sensibility of cleanliness, and in the practical use of the bath. A foreign gentleman, travelling in Russia, had hired one of the natives as his groom or postilion. After having travelled several days together in very sultry weather, the semi-barbarian, upon his knees, requested his employer to grant him leave of absence for two or three hours, to refresh himself with the luxury of a bath, which to him was indispensable, and the want of which he had long felt. In Russia almost every house has its bath; and the peasants in that country possess a refinement of sense, with respect to the surface of the body, with which the most elegant ladies in other countries seem totally unacquainted. Even the Ameri-able difference was attributed to the custom of the can Indians, who cannot change their furs so frequently as we can do our clothes, put under their children the dust of rotten wood, and renew it as often as it becomes damp. The clothing of children likewise requires some degree of skill and attention. This, indeed, is so simple a matter, that it is surprising that persons living in civilized countries should ever have erred so egregiously in regard to it; and yet it is a fact, that many children have been rendered deformed, and others have lost their lives, by the pride and folly of their parents in respect to this circumstance. The time has not long gone by, (if it have yet passed,) since a poor child, as soon as it breathed the vital air, had as many rollers and wrappers-sometimes ten feet in length-applied to its body, as if every bone had been fractured in the birth; and these were often drawn so tight as to gall its tender frame, and even obstruct its vital organs-a piece of folly so repugnant to the dictates of nature, that even the most savage nations never commit it; and hence deformed children are seldom or never found among them. By the weight and pressure of stays, bandages, heavy and tight clothes, children, who were well-proportioned at their birth, have afterwards appeared with flat breasts, high_shoulders, crooked spines, and other deformities. For when a child is cramped in its clothes, it naturally shrinks from the part that is hurt, and puts its body into unnatural postures; and every part of it, even the bones themselves, being soft and flexible, deformity, of some kind or other, is the natural result. To this cause physicians have ascribed the numerous instances of children dying of convulsions soon after their birth. when arrayed in the beautiful simplicity of nature, than when adorned with all the trappings which art can devise. The following anecdote, related by Herodotus, illustrates the advantage connected with a cool regimen of the head. "After the battle fought between the Persians, under Cambyses, and the Egyptians, the slain of both nations were separated; and upon examining the heads of the Persians, their skulls were found to be so thin and tender, that a small stone would immediately perforate them; while, on the other hand, the heads of the Egyptians were so firm, that they could scarcely be fractured by the largest stones." The cause of this remarkEgyptians shaving their heads from earliest infancy, and going uncovered in all states of the weather; while the Persians always kept their heads warm by wearing heavy turbans. Attention ought likewise to be paid to the proper covering of the feet. It is scarcely necessary for The general rule which reason suggests in regard children to use shoes before they are a year old; or to the clothing of children, is "That a child have if they do, the soles should be thin and soft. The no more clothes than are necessary to keep it warm, form of the human foot is such, that at the toes it is and that they be quite easy for its body." In con- broad, at the heel narrow, and the inside of the foot formity to this rule, the dress of children should be is longer than the outside a form which is evisimple, clean, light and cheap-free, wide and open, dently intended by Nature to enable us to stand and so as neither to impede the vital functions, nor the walk with firmness and ease. It is therefore a dicfree and easy motions of the body, nor prevent the tate of Nature, that shoes should be made in the access of fresh air, and be easily put on or taken off., same form as the feet, and be sufficiently roomy for The following cut exhibits the simple dress of a lit-the toes to move with ease; and in order to this, they tle girl. Pins should be used as little as possible, and the clothes chiefly fastened with strings, which would prevent the occasional scratching of their tender skins, and those alarming cries which so frequently proceed from this cause. Such a light and must be formed upon two separate lasts, corresponding to the right and the left foot. How shoes came at first to be made tapering to a point at the toes, almost like a bodkin-how high heels became the darling fashion of the ladies-and how a small foot 3 came to be reckoned genteel-I pretend not to deter- | ly clean; as dirty clothes not only gall and fret their mine; but certainly nothing can be more absurd tender skins, but tend to produce disagreeable smells, and preposterous. Such opinions and practices, vermin, and cutaneous diseases; and no mother or along with many others which abound, particularly nurse, however poor, can have any valid excuse for in the fashionable world, have a direct tendency to allowing her children to wallow in dirtiness. We may next offer a remark or two on the sleep counteract the benevolent intentions of Nature, and are nothing short of an attempt to arraign the wis- and exercise of children. The exercise of the cordom of the Creator, in his arranging and propor- poreal faculties is essentially necessary to the tionating the different parts of the human frame-health, the growth, and the vigor of the young.— as if puny man, by his foolish whims, were capable The desire of exercise is indeed coeval with our exof improving the workmanship of Infinite Intelli-istence, which is plainly indicated in the delight gence. The following figures (taken from Dr. which children take in beating with a stick, crawlFaust) plainly show the absurdity of the shapes ing along a floor, or climbing a stair, as soon as they which have been given to shoes. Fig. 1. shows the are able to make use of their hands and feet. It is, original shape of the sole of the left foot. Fig. 3. therefore, the duty of parents to regulate this natushows how the sole of the left shoe ought to be form-ral propensity, and direct it to its proper end. When ed; and Fig. 2. shows clearly that the shoes usually children are very young, they may be exercised by worn, and made on one last, cannot correspond to carrying them about, giving them a gentle swing, the natural shape of the foot. If they taper towards encouraging them to move their hands and feet, a point, the large toe, and some of the small ones, talking to them, alluring them to smile, and pointmust be crushed and pressed against each other, ing out every thing that may please and delight causing pain to the wearer, and producing corns. their fancy. When they first begin to walk, the The simplest and most accurate mode of taking the safest method of leading them about, is by taking true measure and form of shoes, is to place each hold of both the hands; and when they fall, they foot upon a sheet of paper, and then draw its shape should never be lifted up by one part only, such as with a pencil, to which two separate lasts should by one hand or one arm, as luxations, or loosening nearly correspond, after having ascertained the of the joints, may be occasioned by this practice.The practice of swinging them in leading-strings, curve of the upper part of the foot. is sometimes attended with hurtful consequences.-It induces them to throw their bodies forward, and press their whole weight upon their stomach and breast, by which their breathing is obstructed, and their stomach compressed. When they are able to walk with ease, they should be encouraged to run about in places where they are not exposed to danger, to exert their hands and limbs, and to amuse themselves in the company of their associates.— When they cannot go abroad, they may be exercised in running along a room or a passage, or in leaping and dancing. A certain eminent physician used to say, "that he made his children dance, instead of giving them physic." When children fall, or get into any difficulty in the course of their movements, if they are in no danger, we should never be forward to express our condolence, or to run to their assistance; but leave them to exert their powers, and to scramble the best way they can, in order to extricate themselves from any painful situations in which they may have been involved. By being too attentive to them, and appearing too anxious, in such cases, we teach them to be careless of themselves; by seeming to regard every trifling accident which befalls them as a dreadful calamity, we With regard to the clothing of children, in gene-inspire them with timidity, and prevent them from ral, it is the opinion of Dr. Faust, that from the beginning of the third to the end of the seventh or eighth year, "their heads and necks must be free and bare, the body clothed with a wide shirt, and frock with short sleeves, the collar of the shirt to fall back over that of the frock, with the addition of a woollen frock, to be worn between the shirt and the linen frock, during winter, and that the feet be covered only with a pair of socks, to be worn in the shoes." Such a cheap and simple dress, if generally adopted, would undoubtedly be beneficial to mankind in general, and tend to promote the strength, beauty, and graceful attitudes of children, and at the same time check the foolish propensity of parents to indulge their children in flimsy ornaments and finery, beyond what their means can afford. At present children are frequently muffled up with caps, hats, bonnets, cravats, pelisses, frills, muffles, gloves, ribbons, and other paraphernalia, as if they were to be reared like plants in hotbeds; so that the shape and beautiful proportions which Nature has given them can scarcely be distinguished. I shall only add, that the dress of children ought to be kept thorough 1 చి acquiring manly fortitude. With regard to the sleep of children, it is universally admitted, that they require far more than persons of adult age; and the younger the child, the more sleep he requires. An adult requires only about seven hours in the twenty-four; but very young children require double that number. However long they may happen to sleep, they should never be suddenly awakened. It is dangerous in the extreme to lull them asleep by doses of laudanum, or other soporific medicines, as is frequently done In order to inby mercenary and indolent nurses. duce children to repose, they are generally rocked in cradles; but there is no absolute necessity for resorting to this expedient. If they are constantly kept dry and clean, and accustomed to fresh air, and not frequently disturbed, they will sleep comfortably and soundly without any violent agitation. Some of my own children were never in a cradle, and yet they were far more easily managed, in respect to sleeping, and watching, and other circumstances. than those of them who were accustomed to it; and many similar instances, were it expedient, could be brought forward. But if they are to be rocked in tion of mind-which is always master of itself— cradles, it ought to be with the greatest gentleness. which is guided only by reason-and never acts unThe violence with which children are sometimes der the impulse of mere fancy or angry passions. If rocked, jumbles their brain, and makes them un- we wish such authority to be absolute and complete easy, giddy, and stupid, and is consequently injuri--and nothing short of this ought to be our aim-we ous, both to body and mind. If the practice of rock- must endeavor to acquire this ascendancy over the ing, however, were altogether laid aside, it would young at a very early period of their lives. Children be a great relief to mothers and nurses, and afford at a very early age are capable of reasoning, of comthem more uninterrupted leisure for the perform- paring different objects with each other, and of ance of other domestic employments. As it is view- drawing conclusions from them. I have seen a ed by some to be hurtful and dangerous for mothers child of eight months turn round and point at a to take their infants with them to bed,-in Italy, mo- portrait, when the name of the individual whom it thers who do so, use a machine, which protects represented was announced; and another, not much them from all injury and danger. It is called arcuc- older, point first to the original and then to the cio, and is 3 feet 2 inches long, and the head-board painting, indicating its perception of the resem14 inches broad, and 13 inches high. blance of the one to the other. And as the rational and perceptive powers soon begin to operate, so we find that stubbornness, obstinacy, anger, and a spirit of independence, display themselves at a very early period, even when the child is sucking its mother' breast. "What mean those cries, (say's Augustine,) those tears, the threatening gesture of the eyes, sparkling with rage, in an infant, when resolved to gain his point with all his force, or inflamed with jealousy against one another? Though its infantine members are weak and imbecile, its passions are sometimes strong and furious. I have seen a child burning with jealousy. He could not yet uiter a word, but, with a pale countenance, could cast a furious look at another child who was sucking with him at the same breast." I shall only observe further on the subject of physical education, that, when children begin to lisp out a few words, or syllables, great care ought to be taken to give them an accurate and distinct pronunciation. Every sound we wish them to pronounce, should be slowly and distinctly uttered before them, beginning with single sounds, and proceeding to easy words; and they should never be taught any pronunciation which they will afterwards be under the necessity of unlearning. The pleasure we feel at first hearing them aim at the use of language, is apt to dispose us to listen with such attention, as to relieve them from the necessity of acquiring a distinct and open articulation. The consequence is, that they get into a rapid, indistinct, and hesitating mode of speaking, which is afterwards very difficult, and sometimes impossible to correct. Would we teach them a plain and distinct articulation, we should uniformly speak with distinctness and accuracy in their presence; and refuse to answer their requests, unless they are expressed with the greatest precision and accuracy which their organs of articulation will permit. Attention to this circumstance would smooth the way to accurate and early reading, and prevent much trouble both to teacher and scholar, when the child commences a regular train of instruction. I have been induced to offer these few hints on this subject, from a strong conviction, that the physical education of children is intimately connected with the development of mind-and that whatever tends to promote health, and to strengthen the animal frame, will also tend to invigorate the soul, and call forth into exercise its energies and powers. These circumstances clearly point out the period for subduing the bad inclinations of children, and training them to submission and obedience. From the age of ten or twelve months, and earlier if possible, every parent ought to commence the establishment of authority over his children; for the longer it is delayed after this period, the more difficult it will be to bring them under complete control. This authority is to be acquired-not by passionately chiding and beating children at an early age-but by accustoming them to perceive that our will must always prevail over theirs, and in no instance allowing them to gain an ascendancy, or to counteract a command when it has once been given. Dr. Witherspoon recommends the following plan to accustom children to obedience:-"As soon as they begin to show their inclination by desire or aversion, let single instances be chosen, now and then, (not too frequently,) to contradict them. For example, if a child shows a desire to have any thing in his hand that he sees, or has any thing in his hand with which he is delighted, let the parent take it from him; and when he does so, let no consideration This is a subject of peculiar importance, to which whatever make him restore it at that time. Then, the attention of every parent ought to be early and at a considerable interval, perhaps a whole day is thoroughly directed. No duties are generally more little enough, let the same thing be repeated. In the trifled with than those which relate to the moral tui-mean time, it must be carefully observed, that no attion of infants; and even sensible and pious parents too frequently err on this point, and lay the foundation of many bitter regrets and perplexities in after life, both to themselves and to their offspring. On the mode in which a child is trained during the two or three first years of its existence, will, in a great measure, depend the comfort of its parents, and its own happiness during the succeeding pe 2. On the Moral Instruction of Infants. riods of its existence. tempt should be made to contradict the child in the intervals. Not the least appearance of opposition, if possible, should be found between the will of the parent and that of the child, except in those chosen cases when the parent must always prevail. Neither mother nor nurse should ever presume to condole with the child, or show any signs of displeasure at his being crossed; but, on the contrary, give every mark of approbation. This experiment, frequently repeated, will in a little time so perfectly habituate the child to yield to the parent whenever he interferes, that he will make no opposition. I can assure you from experience, having literally practised this method myself, that I never had a child of twelve months old but would suffer me to take any thing from him or her, without the least mark of anger or dissatisfaction, while they would not suffer any other to do so without the bitterest com The first and most important rule on this subject, and which may be considered as the foundation of all the rest, i3-that an absolute and entire authority over the child, should, as early as possible, be established. By authority I mean, a certain air and ascendant, or such a mode of conducting ourselves towards children, as shall infallibly secure obedience. This authority is to be obtained neither by age nor stature-by the tone of the voice, nor by threatening language; but by an even, firm, moderate disposi-plaints." Such experiments, if properly conducted, would | Dr. Witherspoon, "some persons often say, that gradually produce in children habits of obedience; they cannot correct their children unless they are but they require to be managed with judgment and angry; to whom I have usually answered, 'Then prudence, and gradually extended from one thing to you ought not to correct them at all.' Every one another, till absolute submission is produced; care, would be sensible, that for a magistrate to discover however, being taken that the child be not unneces- an intemperate rage in pronouncing sentence against sarily contradicted or irritated. The Rev. Mr. a criminal, would be highly indecent; and ought Cecil, in some of his writings, relates an experiment not parents to punish their children in the same disof this kind which he tried on his own daughter, a passionate manner?" little girl of about three or four years old. She was standing one day before the fire, amusing herself with a string of beads, with which she appeared to be highly delighted. Her father approached her, and said, "What is this you are playing with, my little dear?" " My beads, papa." "Show me these beads, my dear." She at once handed them to her father, who immediately threw them into the fire. "Now," said he, "let them remain there." She immediately began to cry. "You must not cry, my dear, but be quite contented." She then sat down on the floor, and amused herself with some other toys. About two or three days after this, he purchased another string of beads much more valuable and brilliant, which he immediately presented to her. She was much delighted with the appearance of the new set of beads. Now," said her father, "I make a present of these to you, because you was a good girl, and gave me your beads when I asked them." She felt, in this case, that obedience and submission to her parent were attended with happy effects, and would be disposed, in her future conduct, to rely on his wisdom and affection.* Children trained in this way, with firmness and affection, soon become happy in themselves, and a comfort to their parents; and those scoldings, contentions, and sounds of discord, so frequently heard in the family mansion, entirely prevented. One of the greatest obstacles in the way of acquiring complete authority, is the want of fortitude and perseverance, especially on the part of the mother. She is sometimes oppressed with anxieties and difficulties, busied with domestic affairs, or perhaps has a young infant at the breast that requires her chief attention, or strangers may have paid a visit to the family. Her older child becomes restless and fretful, and runs through the dwelling, disturbing every one with his cries. She tries to coax him with flattering promises; but it is of no avail. He is perhaps crying for something which she does not think proper to give. She at length scolds and threatens, and attempts to strike, which generally makes the child redouble his cries. Wearied out, at length, with his cries and tears, and anxious to attend to some necessary affairs, she allows herself to be vanquished, and submits to his desires. Sugar, jellies, or plumcakes, are supplied to pamper his depraved appetite, and put an end to his crying; and, being exhausted with screaming, in a short time he drops asleep. The same process is repeated, when similar circumstances occur.Now, it is admitted that there is a difficulty in such cases; but it is a difficulty which must be overcome, if we would not become slaves to our children, and render them disobedient and unhappy through life. Were a mother, for a few days, or weeks at most, In order to establish complete authority, and se- to make a strong effort, and to sacrifice for a little cure obedience, the following rule must be invaria- her own ease, and even some urgent business, and bly acted upon-that no command, either by word, never flinch from the object till complete submission look, or gesture, should be given, which is not intend- be accomplished, she would soon gain the requisite ed to be enforced and obeyed. It is the rock on which ascendancy; and, having acquired it, it would save most parents split, in infantile education, that, while her from a multitude of troubles and perplexities, they are almost incessantly giving commands to which must otherwise be felt during succeeding their children, they are not careful to see that they years-prevent the necessity of scolding, threatenare punctually obeyed; and seem to consider the ing, and whipping—and lay a sure foundation for occasional violation of their injunctions, as a very domestic harmony and filial affection. But the trivial fault, or as a matter of course. There is no longer she delays, the more difficult it will be to acpractice more common than this, and none more quire the requisite ascendancy; and the mother ruinous to the authority of parents, and to the best who trifles with this important duty, from day to interests of their offspring. When a child is ac- day, lays the foundation of many bitter regrets and customed, by frequent repetitions, to counteract the self-reproaches-renders her children curses instead will of his parent, a habit of insubordination is of blessings-and will, sooner or later, feel the gradually induced, which sometimes grows to such effects of her misconduct, and behold her sin in her a height, that neither entreaties, nor threats, nor punishment. corporeal punishment, are sufficient to counteract its tendencies; and a sure foundation is laid for many future perplexities and sorrows. The rule, therefore, should be absolute-that every parental command ought to be enforced. And, in order to this, it is requisite that every command be reasonable-that a compliance with it produce no unnecessary pain or trouble to the child-that it be expressed in the words of kindness and affection-and that it ought never to be delivered in a spirit of passion or resentment. Reproof or correction given in a rage, and with words of fury, is always considered as the effect of weakness and of the want of selfcommand, and uniformly frustrates the purpose it was intended to subserve. "I have heard," says This relation is not taken directly from Mr. Cecil's writings. If I recollect right, it was intended to illustrate the nature of faith; but it may likewise exemplify the benefits which flow from unreserved obedience to the commands of an affectionate parent. The violation of parental authority, especially among the children of the lower ranks, is so common, that it ceases to excite wonder or surprise. One can scarcely walk the streets without seeing parental authority disregarded. A father is beheld with a whip or a stick in his hand, driving home his stubborn son, as if he were "a bullock unaccus tomed to the yoke"-and a mother running after her child with looks of fury and words of execration, seizing him by the shoulders, beating him with her fists, and dragging him along like a piece of lumber, while the little urchin is resisting with all his might, and bellowing like an ox. A short time ago, I was passing along the suburb of a large town, when I beheld a child of about three years old amusing himself on the footpath before his dwelling. His mother approached the threshold, and called him in. "Come awa', Jamie, to the house, it's a cauld day." Jamie paid no attention to the command, but moved with the utmost deliberation to a greater distance. "Come awa'," says his mother a second time," and I'll gie ye some good thing." James, however, marched on to a still greater distance. "Come back, Jamie," rejoined the mother, "and I'll gie ye an apple." James paused for a moment, and looked back with a kind of leer; but, recollecting, perhaps, that his mother had often promised, and failed in performing her promises, he set off with more speed than before. His mother now became vociferous, and bawled out, "Come back, you little villain, or I'll whip you, as sure's I'm alive." James, however, who appeared to have known his mother better than she knew herself, still marched on. The foolish mother now became furious, rushed after the child, and dragged him home like a squeaking pig, lamenting that her children were so stubborn and disobedient; and forgetting, in the mean time, that she herself was their instructor, and the cause of their obstinacy and disobedience. Children brought up in this manner are not only unhappy in themselves, but not unfrequent-ingly that he had been drawn into the contest. He ly become pests in society, and particularly to the public instructors of youth, who find it extremely difficult, and sometimes next to impossible, to bring them under control and subordination to scholastic order and discipline-without which their progress in learning cannot be promoted. Some children, even in the same family, are pliant and of tender feelings, and are easily brought under subjection by a judicious parent; while others are naturally proud, self-willed and obstinate. But even in the worst supposable cases, it is quite practicable, by firmness and prudent management, to bring the most sulky and stubborn under subjection. This may be illustrated from the following fact, extracted from an excellent little work, entitled "The Mother at Home, or the Principles of Maternal Duty familiarly illustrated; by the Rev. John S. C. Abbot, of Worcester, America."-" A gentleman, a few years since, sitting by his fireside one evening, with his family around him, took the spelling-book, and called upon one of his little sons to come and read. John was about four years old. He knew all the letters of the alphabet perfectly, but happened at that moment to be in rather a sullen humor, and was not at all disposed to gratify his father. Very reluctantly he came as he was bid; but when his father pointed to the first letter of the alphabet, and said, 'What letter is that, John?' he could get no answer. John looked upon the book, sulky and silent. 'My son,' said the father pleasantly, you know the letter A.' 'I cannot say A,' said John 'You must,' said the father in a serious and decided While I was writing the preceding paragraphs this interesting little volume was put into my hands -a volume which I would strongly recommend to the perusal of every parent. Its style is simple and The conduct of the parent, in this case, so far perspicuous, its sentiments rational and pious, and from being branded with barshness or cruelty, was are uniformly illustrated with a variety of appro- the dictate of mercy and love. Had the son been priate examples taken from real life so that the permitted to obtain the mastery, it might not only most ignorant and illiterate may easily enter into have proved his ruin through life, but have introall the views and representations of the author, and duced a spirit of insubordination among the other feel their propriety and force. Were the principles branches of the family. The only fault which, perinculcated in this small volume universally recog-haps, may be attributed to the father, in the present nised and acted upon, the aspect of the moral world would, ere long, undergo an important change, and a new generation would soon spring up, to renovate the world, and to hail the commencement of the millennial era. The amiable author himself appears to be an affectionate and "Grateful Son" for, instead of attempting to curry favor with the great, by dedicating his work to the Earl of F. the Dutchess of G. or the President of the United States, he very appropriately dedicates it to his "Father and Mother," of whom he speaks with affectionate regard. The volume is very neatly got up, contains above 140 pages, pretty closely printed, and is sold, neatly bound, for only one shilling; so that it is within the reach of the poorest family. instance, was his insisting on his son pointing out the letters when he happened to be in a "sullen humor." But, after the contest was commenced, it was indispensable to the happiness and order of the family, that victory should be obtained on the part of the parent. And this circumstance suggests the following rule-that, When children happen to be in a fretful or sulky humor, any disagreeable command or injunction that is not indispensable, ought to be avoided; for it is best to prevent collisions of this kind, at a time when children are disposed to "summon up all their energies to disobey." Another important maxim in infantile instruction is, that nothing be told or represented to children but what is strictly accordant with truth. This maxim |