wich
Islanders once were; for it is to such nations that the missionary's eye
should be specially directed.

I shall mention first, _the difficulty of keeping children from the
pollutions and vices of the heathen_. Children have eyes, and among the
heathen what do they see? I need only refer you to the knowledge you
already possess of the naked condition, vile habits, and gross vices of
a barbarous people. There is much in heathen society which cannot be
described, but which children must more or less witness. The state of
things, in this respect, is very much improved at the Sandwich Islands;
but I refer to that condition in which they once were--to that condition
in which all barbarous nations are, without the light of the Gospel.
Imagine then to yourself this feature of heathen society, and then
repeat the inquiry, What do children see?

Again, children have ears, and they cannot be so effectually closed as
to be kept from learning in some measure the language of the heathen.
And if they become acquainted with the language of the heathen, what do
they hear day after day? In many a pagan country they are liable to hear
disputes, contentions, revilings, execration and blasphemy; but what is
more, they are liable to hear in familiar, unblushing and open
conversation, words and phrases which are not so much as to be named.
The heathen have no forbidden words in their language. Every term is
liable to be brought into public and frequent use without the least
sense of impropriety.

On account of this pernicious example and vile conversation, many
missionaries, where it is practicable, make walls about their houses,
and endeavor by strict inclosures to prevent their children from having
intercourse with the natives. This can be done in some places, and to
some degree, while children are young; but when they are somewhat grown
up, it is preposterous to think of keeping them within inclosures. And
as soon as they are out of their inclosures, there are a thousand
pitfalls ready for their feet, on the right hand and on the left. How
much solicitude was felt by Abraham and Isaac for their children, on
account of the heathen population which surrounded them. This pernicious
influence, better imagined than described, and still better seen than
imagined, is one of the reasons which lead missionaries to undergo the
agony of separation, and to send their children to a Christian land.
This evil at the Sandwich Islands is much dimin