538 ON THE eonCÁTIOÌV OF YOUTH. e. Let parents teach children to use their tongues properly and agreeably; not only to speak, but to pronounce their words plain and distinct. Let them be instructed to keep due and pro- per distances between their words and sentences, and not speak in a swift hurry, with a tumult of syllables and clutter upon their lips, which will sound like a foreign gibberish, and never be un- tierstood. Nor should they drawl out their words in a slow long tone, which is equally ungraceful and disagreeable. There are two other common faults in speaking, and where they are found they should be corrected early in children. The one is lisp- ing, which is a pronunciation of the letter S or Z, or C before E and I, as though it were TH. Thus, instead of spice they cry thpithe, instead of cease they say theathe. This may be cured by teaching them to pronounce a few such words as these, where the sound of the letter S prevails, with their teeth shut close : and by forbidding them to put their tongue between their teeth at any time, except when 1H is to be pronounced. The other fault is stammering, which I suppose may be com- monly prevented or cured by teaching children not to speak much, and to speak slow always ; and they should be warned against all anger or hastiness, or eagerness of spirit ; for such a temper will throw out their words faster than the organs of speech can accommodate themselves to form the syllables, and thus bring a hurry and confusion into their speech : and they should also gain a good degree of courage or becoming assu- rance, and not speak with much concern or fear; for fear will stop the organs of speech, and hinder the formation of words. But I insist no longer on the use of the tongue in speaking. 3. As God bath given them feet, let parents teach them to stand firm and strong, and to walk in a becoming and decent manner, without waddling from side to side, without turning either or both of their feet inward, without little jerks in their motion, or long strides, or any of those aukwardnesses which continue with many persons to old age, for want of having these irregularities corrected when they were young. Children should be indulged in their sports, sometimes in running swiftly, and in leaping, where there is no danger, in order to exercise their limbs, and make them pliant and nimble, strong and active on all occasions. As to their arms and hands, they were formed, not to lie folded in the bosom, but to be engaged in some useful work ; and sometimes with due moderation, in robust and hardy exercise and toil; not so as to over - strain their joints, but to acquire firmness of strength by exercise. And more especially they ¡vim and tenderness. To know how in such cases to divert a child, and make him cheerful pod happy in the company of a parent, is aims of the least importeut cares of edusauou.
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