and to form that kind of digest of their acquisitions, which impresses them upon their memory, and which will be useful in after life, from the power and the habit of regular thinking, which it induces. But this scrutiny must extend far beyond a mere effort of the understanding; it must proceed to the nature of the impressions which may have been received; for the uninformed mind may possibly, and even probably have obtained oblique or distorted views of a given subject, especially of one which is confessedly too great for finite reason to grasp; and the influence of error is always prejudicial, at a nearer or a more remote period; since where clear and adequate ideas may not have been formed, mistakes and misconceptions, will too often have arisen; and therefore, the mother's anxious inquiry will be directed to ascertain, whether the impressions received have been coincident with the impressing cause. And lastly, there is one step further; the parent will search into the practical influence of each impression, upon the particular character of the individual child; and according to this influence, will encourage, or modify, or give it its proper tendency; thus ascertaining the nature, the extent, and the probable influence of the knowledge obtained from reading. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things

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are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians iv, 8, 9.

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CHAP. XXV.

ON AMUSEMENTS.

THE mind, but especially, the youthful mind, stands in need of amusement. If it be not provided with relaxation, it acquires insensibly, a tone of severity, and austere reserve, which renders its intercourse with society less pleasing, as well as less instructive; while by being kept constantly stretched in one direction it loses power and elasticity; it receives a peculiar set form, and is no longer capable of extending its inquiries wherever intellect may roam, and religion guide. The tone and tension of health require for their preservation, alternate contraction and relaxation, and are disturbed by the violent efforts of excessive action, as well as by the perfect stillness of indolence.

Amusement should relax; but it should not be such, either in its nature, or its degree, as to dissipate; it should recreate, not unhinge; in the one case it will refresh, while in the other it must debilitate. Recreation again, is not idleness, than which, nothing can be more tedious and insipid, or more destructive to activity and energy of mind. There is nothing to which it is

naturally more repugnant, or which exerts a more fatal influence on its faculties, than to have nothing to do; for although the love of ease, may be predominant in the human bosom; yet it is averse from a state of indolence, because inaction is not only not ease: it is positively painful, to avoid which, as well as the curse of selfreproach, it will be occupied, and apparently interested by the pursuit of the merest trifles; for, engaged it must be, or at the least, it must seem to be so. Exertion is necessary to its peace; and this tendency will form a prominent indication for regulating the amusements of childhood. Thus, long intervals of listless inactivity, are not to be permitted; much less are they to be held up as a bonus for present activity and exertion; this would be to encourage idleness, and to give it such a hold upon the mind, as that it will never again readily quit; it would be sustaining indolence as the reward of activity, an inconsequence, which cannot but be prejudicial; and it would be teaching the child to esteem that as a great good, which it ought to dread and deprecate as a paramount evil. period of idleness, is one of security, of danger, and of liability to the influence of temptation; it is one in which evil dispositions and affections are likely to be called into action; it is an interval of employment, a pause of animation, which suspends mental industry, enervates intellectual power, and renders future instruction, a task much more difficult and arduous. The mind

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must be unbent but not enfeebled; it must in its moments of completest relaxation, preserve such a degree of tonicity, as shall enable it whenever called upon, to resume instantaneously all its plans, to call about it all its energies, and to put forth all the vigour of its strength. A spirit of idleness once produced, is not easily removed; it is the deadly nightshade of the soul; its poison lurks concealed under a beautiful berry; and the unsuspicious and unwary, greedily swallow the destructive fruit; the calm of the narcotic steals upon them, and while they suffer from its influence, they flatter themselves all is well, and are unsuspectingly amusing themselves with gaudy trifles, on the very verge of destruction, surrounded by dangers imperceptible to their palsied eye, and increasing in intensity, exactly in direct proportion to the fatal security of the victim. It may sometimes happen, that instruction may be blended with amusement; the former however must be of a light kind; neither will its impression be durable; but it may be useful from being obvious, and from the frequency of its

recurrence.

After all, the power of amusement to convey instruction is not of an extensive nature there can be no such thing as amusing the mind into knowledge, the acquisition of which requires labour, earnestness, and diligence. However the natural difficulties of the way may be smoothed by a judicious instructor, still it will always remain a steep ascent, and will ever demand effort.