he original text.

"Only observe," continued he, "what divine sentiments, what holy
precepts, what devout ejaculations, what strokes of self-abasement, what
flights of gratitude, what transports of praise, what touches of
penitential sorrow, are found comprised in some one short sentence woven
into almost every part of the historical Scriptures! Observe this, and
then confess what a pity it is that children should be commonly set to
read the history in a meagre abridgment, stripped of those gems with
which the original is so richly inlaid! These histories and expositions
become very useful afterward to young people who are thoroughly
conversant with the Bible itself."

Sir John observed that he had been struck with the remarkable
_disinterestedness_ of Mr. Stanley's daughters, and their indifference
to things about which most children were so eager. "Selfishness," said
Mr. Stanley, "is the hydra we are perpetually combating; but the monster
has so much vitality, that new heads spring up as fast as the old ones
are cut off. _To counteract selfishness, that inborn, inbred mischief, I
hold to be the great art of education._ Education, therefore, can not be
adequately carried on, except by those who are deeply convinced of the
doctrine of human corruption. This evil principle, as it shows itself
early, must be early lopped, or the rapid shoots it makes will, as your
favorite Eve observes,

Soon mock our scant manuring.

"This counteraction," continued Mr. Stanley, "is not like an art or a
science, which is to be taken up at set times, and laid aside till the
allotted period of instruction returns; but as the evil shows itself at
all times, and in all shapes, the _whole force_ of instruction is to be
bent against it. Mrs. Stanley and I endeavor that not one reward we
bestow, not one gratification we afford, shall be calculated to promote
it. Gratifications children ought to have. The appetites and
inclinations should be reasonably indulged. We only are cautious not to
employ them as _the instrument of recompense_, which would look as if we
valued them highly, and thought them a fit remuneration for merit. I
would rather show a little indulgence to sensuality _as_ sensuality,
than make it the reward of goodness, which seems to be the common way.
While I indulged the appetite of a child, I would never hold out that
indulgence which I granted to the lowest, the animal part of his nature,
as a payment for the exertion of