Page:Poems Sherwin.djvu/38

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his taste may lead him to desire and his industry enable him to procure for the amusement of himself and family during the short intervals of cessation from toil. Surely, none can better deserve enjoyments than those who obtain them by the "sweat of their brow."

How many families who at this moment go clothed in rags, and present to the view a meagre, half-starved appearance, might be living in comfort and respectability, pleasing instead of offending the eye, if their means of living were properly and frugally employed, which would, in all probability, be the case if the parents had, in childhood, received a good education. By early education I mean that the infant should have the advantage of being placed under the care of a person who would keep a strict watch over the opening mind, and take all possible means to en- courage the intellectual qualities to expand and predominate over the passions, to assist in mounting the first and most difficult steps to knowledge, without frightening the mind from further progress,—thus encouraging virtue, and crushing vice in the bud. The adoption of infant schools is a plan in favour of which too much cannot be said, and the various government schools, are invaluable blessings; but the nature of the instruction should be attended to. With habits of early piety should be instilled a knowledge of those sciences which expound the laws of nature, and as much general information as possible.

It is evident to the careful observer, that the most ignorant are the first to murmur, and the loudest in their exclamations against tyranny, whilst those who are pos-