534 ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH. teach them how to distinguish one thing from another by their different appearances, by their different properties, and by their different effects. Shew them how far some things agree with others, and how far they differ from them ; and above all things teach them, as far as their young understandings will admit, to distinguish between appearances and realities, between truth and falsehood, between good and evil, between trifles and things of importance, for these are the most valuable pieces of knowledge and distinction, which can be lodged in the young understand- ings of children. 2. The memory is another faculty of the soul, which should be cultivated and improved: endeavour carefully to im- press on their minds things of worth and value. Such are, short and useful and entertaining stories, which carry in them some virtue recommended, some vice ridiculed or punished; various human and divine truths, rules of piety and virtue, precepts of prudence, &c. Repeat these things often to them by day and by night ; teach them these things in verse and in prose; re- hearse them in their ears at all proper seasons, and take occa- sion to make them repeat these things to you. Be solicitous to know what it is they learn when they are out of your sight, and take good care that their memories be not charged with trifles and idle trumpery. The memory is a noble repository or cabinet of the soul, it should not be filled with rub- bish and lumber. Silly tales and foolish songs, the conundrums of nurses, and the dull rhimes that are sung to lull children asleep, or to sooth a froward humour, should be generally for- bidden to entertain those children where a good education is de- signed. Something more innocent, more solid and profitable may be invented instead of these fooleries. If it were possible, let a very few things be lodged in the memory of children which they need to forget when they are men. The way to strengthen and improve the memory, is to put it upon daily exercise. I do not mean that young children should be kept so close to their book as to be crammed with lessons all the day long, and made to receive and sustain a heavy load every hour. The powers of the soul (especially such as act in close concert with the body, and are so mph aided by the brain) may be over-burdened and injured, as well as the limbs : the mind may be perplexed and confounded, the head may be over- strained and weakened : and the health impaired in those tender years of life, by an excessive imposition on the memory : the . teachers of children should have seine prudence, to dintinguish their ages and their several capacities : they should know how to avoid extremes. But in general it maybe said, that the powers of the mind, as well as those of the body, grog- sttw+ger by a constant an¢
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