where they can learn nothing but
wickedness and ill manners.

The Good Family

What a different picture the other house presents to our view! The
parents of the Good Family are always cheerful and happy; the children
love each other and agree together; the servants are content and eager
to oblige, and visitors delight to come to the house, because they pass
their time there with both pleasure and profit.

MANLY EDWARD, the eldest son, is a fine youth, who makes himself the
friend and protector of his younger brothers and sisters. Edward has
true courage, for he will meet danger to help the helpless, to rescue
the oppressed, or in defence of the injured; yet he tries to avoid all
quarrels, and is very often the peacemaker among those who are engaged
in a dispute. His manners are gentle and graceful. He shuns the company
of the rude vulgar boys, yet insults no one by seeming to hold them in
contempt. It is not fine clothes or money that he pays respect to, it is
virtue and good manners; and if the poorest boy in the school has the
most of these good qualities, he gains the most of Manly Edward's love
and esteem.

STUDIOUS ARTHUR, the second son of the Good Family, does not learn
quickly, but what he wants of that power he makes up by diligence. As he
finds he cannot get his task by heart as fast as some other boys, he
therefore fixes his whole thoughts on his book; and no calls to go to
play, nor any sort of thing, can draw him from his lesson till he has
learned it perfectly. Arthur is seldom seen without a book in his hand;
and if he goes out to walk, he puts one in his pocket, to be ready if he
should chance to have a few minutes to himself. He never wastes any
time, and by that means he gains a great deal of knowledge. He is so
attentive that he never forgets what he reads and learns. Arthur will,
no doubt, become a very wise man, and already he often finds the
knowledge he has gained of great use to him. His parents commend him,
his friends admire him, and his schoolfellows respect him.

WELL-BRED CHARLES, the third son, is also a charming boy. He is greatly
remarked for his perfect good manners. He never forgets to behave with
politeness wherever he is. In the company of his parents and their
friends he is attentive to supply the wants of every one. He listens to
the discourse, and when he is spoken to he answers at once in a lively,
ready, and pleasant manner, but is never forward and talkative. When h