from you any thing that would make you happy?" "Yes.' "Well, then, why do you

ask a second time for what we would have given you at once if it had been proper?" After some such short dialogues as this, it was almost needless to say more. He might, perhaps, a few times, have urged a request, with the hope of subduing us: but after giving him two or three practical proofs of its inefficacy, there never was occasion to speak twice. Why will any parents, to save themselves the pain of a momentary decision, encourage a practice which, when formed into a habit, is equally injurious to one party, and vexatious to the other! A child that can conquer, by cries or entreaty, once in twenty times, will be sure always to make the effort: for, however the chances may be against him, a mind intent on its object will convert the mere possibility of success into a sufficient probability to justify the perpetual attempt.

We were equally anxious NEVER TO BE CONQUERED BY HIS OBSTINACY. As he was to reign only in our affections, our will, when

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once announced, was the law of the house. In cases where his mind was capable of perceiving the reasons of a decision, we often assigned them but anxious to convince him that there always were reasons, we demanded an entire acquiescence in our determination, whether he saw its reasonableness or not; assuring him, that he would himself, when older and wiser, see that we had done right. When about two years of age, the question was brought to a practical issue: he obstinately refused for two hours to comply with a demand from his mother to beg her pardon for an offence. She was inflexible; and at length, he modestly turned round, submissively fell on his knees at her feet, and, in the most penitential accents, said, "I beg your pardon, mamma, and will never be so naughty again." The consequence of this patient decision was permanent. I am confident, that from that moment to the hour of his death, he never meditated opposition to our will, nor said or did a thing of which he feared we might seriously disapprove. In the merest trifles, no less really than in the most momen

tous engagements of his life, he was ever studious of our happiness; and he felt that, in consulting this, he was securing his own.

These remarks may seem both trifling and unnecessary to those who have paid little or no attention to the philosophy of education; and who conceive it to consist only in the whipping and dicipline of a school and a college: nor, in truth, do I entertain much hope that they will derive any material benefit from such minuteness. If not already aware that on these trifling circumstances much of the future character depends, I can scarcely calculate on finding among them a sufficient share of discernment to perceive the force of arguments by which the actual importance of these seeming trifles can be demonstrated. I wish to present before the public a youth of no ordinary character, equally distinguished by the brilliancy of his mental powers, the sweetness of his temper, and the strength and steadiness of his christian principles :—and it is not unnatural that I should give in detail the particulars of that process of education,

by which, under God, those powers were developed, and that entire character formed. The first five or six years generally determine that which constitutes the individuality-the leading peculiarity, of the man through life. And he must have been a careless observer, who has not perceived the permanence of early associations and early habits. Circumstances, in after life, may modify that peculiarity, but they will never be able wholly to destroy it. And even the power of divine grace, which may effect a total moral revolution; which may implant principles, that, after unfolding themselves here, shall receive their more complete development in another world; will leave it to the end of time almost untouched. It has become too intimately a part of the mental constitution to be annihilated by any thing short of that solemn event, which shall dissolve every earthly tie, and place us in a region of light and love, whose transforming influence shall leave no portion of the character unassimilated to the likeness of our God and Saviour. As the efficacy of even religious principles, in forming the character, is

so materially affected by these previous associations and habits, it is of immense importance to the individual and to society that special attention should be paid to the minuter circumstances of early life. These remarks will, it is hoped, be deemed sufficient to justify the past, or any future, detail of particulars.

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