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FIRESIDE EDUCATION. |
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the children in various branches of knowledge, but to repress bad passions, and, at the same time, to develop the better feelings of the heart. Now we all know that, simple and easy as the task may seem, it is a matter of the greatest nicety to adapt instruction to the various capacities, tastes, and tempers collected together in a school-room. And without such adaptation, there can be little success. The study of human character is one of the most subtle that can be presented to our minds, and, when understood, it requires infinite address to deal with it effectively. Even children, guileless and unsophisticated as they may seem, often baffle our scrutiny, and set at nought the suasive influence of authority. There is also great diversity among them, and they require to be treated according to their several characteristics. Some children are habitually superficial, and require to be trained in habits of reflection. I have heard of a Scotch lad, who, on being asked who made him, replied, ''- Hout, rnon, I was na made, I just grew up." The celebrated Pascal, on the contrary, was a philosopher even in childhood. At a very early age, he was taught the ten commandments. For several days after, he was observed to be measuring the growth of a blade of grass. When asked the meaning of this, he replied, |
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