instruction of private teachers.

From the time we had solemnly vowed at the baptismal font to
train our child, not for this perishing world, but for Heaven, and
thereby could claim the rich promise of a covenant-keeping God--"I
will be a God to you, and to your seed"--nothing had caused us more
anxiety than to know how wisely and faithfully to discharge our duties
towards her. Whether strictly to force her into measures, or, by a
mild and firm treatment, to win her to love the religion of her
parents, was often discussed by us when alone in our chamber. We
observed, with pain, that many of the children of our beloved church,
whose parents believed that they could do no better part by them than
strictly to carry out the rules of the church concerning worldliness,
and would not, for any consideration, allow them to learn how to dance,
or to attend a dancing party, were by far the giddiest and most
reckless of young people. Some, first uniting with the Church, and
afterwards disgracing their profession, while still under parental
guidance; others, waiting until they were married, and were
countenanced by a worldly husband, before throwing off all restraint,
and showing these "long-faced Presbyterians" how amazingly dashy and
gay they could be. With what natural grace and ease they can now
discuss the merits or demerits of the last play! What a keen relish
they have for balls! How charming the masquerade was! What delightful
sport, in masque, to tell disagreeable and sarcastic truths (or
falsities, perhaps), to some luckless ones who very innocently, but
ignorantly, preferred to look on at the droll sight with their faces
uncovered! Oh, what a disgrace to the child, who, for the sake of a
few years (perhaps days) of false and empty pleasure, can do such
violence to the feelings of parents, who, whatever their errors, truly
love, and would sacrifice everything, except their hope of Heaven, to
bless their children and do them good.

Your grandfather, my dear children, who was no extremist, but was
"moderate in all things," thought it best to let his child enjoy
everything that was innocent; that, while an act of disobedience--an
untruth, or any direct breach of "The Commandments"--would cause his
displeasure, and was followed by a look that penetrated your mother's
soul, and was a far greater punishment than the rod of her mother, yet
she might dance as much as she pleased, for "dancing was children's
sport." But