Without one care where every morn he rose, "As it is usual with me," says Sir Richard Steele, "to draw a secret unenvied pleasure from a thousand incidents overlooked by other men, I threw myself into a short transport, forgetting my age, and fancying myself a School-boy. This imagination was strongly favoured by the presence of so many young boys in whose countenances were legible the sprightly passions of that age, which raised in me a sort of sympathy. Warm blood thrilled through every vein, the faded memory of those enjoyments that once gave me pleasure, put on more lively colours, and a thousand gay amusements filled my mind. It was not without regret that I was forsaken by this waking dream. The cheapness of puerile delights, the guiltless joy they leave upon the mind, the blooming hopes that lift up the soul in the ascent of life, the pleasure that attends the gradual opening of the imagination, and the dawn of reason, made me think most men found that stage the most agreeable part of their journey." There are, however, high authorities who maintain, that Childhood has attached to it no peculiar gratifications. Buffon says that, "the first fifteen years of our existence may be regarded as nothing; every thing which passes during this long period is either obliterated from the memory, or has so little connection with the views and objects which afterwards occupy our attention, that it ceases entirely to be interesting. The train of our ideas, and even the nature of our existence, suffer a total change. We do not begin to live, in a moral sense, till after we have learned to arrange our thoughts, and direct them towards futurity." And Gibbon bears a decided testimony against the joys of childhood. He thus frankly expresses himself: "I am tempted to enter a protest against the trite and lavish praise of the happiness of our boyish years, which is echoed with so much affectation in the world. That happiness I have never known, that time I have never regretted; and were my poor aunt still alive, she would bear testimony to the early and constant uniformity of my sentiments. The poet may gaily describe the short hours of recreation, but he forgets the daily tedious labours of the school, which is approached each morning with anxious reluctant step!" This is a singular acknowledgment from a man, who, judging from his distinguished attainments, one would have supposed must have taken a delight in his learning from the earliest years, up to maturity. In general, however, we look back to the days of CHILDHOOD, as a period of felicity gone by for ever; thus the poet: TIME ceases not his course-but yesterday As the young squirrel, ever at its play, Lost, gone-like wild flowers wreath'd around the dead, Well, soon life's dream of mystery will be past, And this quick feverish pulse grow still and cold at last! Other extracts might be introduced, but it is unnecessary. The prevalent opinion that, generally speaking, Childhood is happy, cannot well be disputed. Exceptions there are indeed, attaching to every thing, but we are unwilling to adopt the melancholy side of our subject. From this contrariety of sentiments respecting the enjoyments of Childhood, this inference may be drawn with safety. Much depends on the treatment which children receive from their parents in the first instance; and on the temper of the master under whose tuition they are trained for futurity. And well does it become PARENTS not to embitter the life of their offspring by unnecessary restraints, and ill-timed severity. Between a forbidding austerity, and foolish indulgence, there is a sober and equitable medium. Dr. Kippis mentions that, the appearance of the devout and excellent Colonel Gardiner, had, towards his son, too much of fear and repulsion; so that this failing is incident even to men of piety. A parent should be the friend, not the tyrant of his child. This is the only proper basis for filial affection and gratitude. And as to MASTERS, those who are entrusted with the care of youth, highly does it behove them to conciliate the regard of their pupils as the best ground of improvement. A strange notion prevails, that a severe master produces good scholars. But something besides scholarship should be sought after in a well-regulated system of education. To sour the temper, and break the spirit of youth, is doing them an irreparable injury. The sprightliness of a child should be moderated, not vanquished. The animation which pervades this early period will propel the individual to improvement, and rouse him to the discharge of those arduous duties which are incumbent upon him as a member of the community. Sufficient will occur of trials and difficulties in the ordinary progress of life, to exercise the disposition, and agitate the heart. Our probationary condition is indicated by the constant anxieties, and incessant bustle of mortality. Our Maker has sent us into the world for wise and important purposes. He has given us faculties, and bestowed E upon us energies which are adapted to the sphere in which we move. Both PARENTS and MASTERS should so train up the rising generation, as to cooperate with the Supreme Being in his intentions ▸ respecting the children of men. Then the Spanish proverb: "to Parents, to Tutors, and to GOD allsufficient, we cannot give too much praise," will be admitted to possess strict truth, and inimitable propriety. The following classic Ode on EDUCATION, spoken in 1794, at the annual visitation of Dr. Knox's School at Tunbridge, will further illustrate the subject: Down the steep abrupt of hills, Furious foams the headlong tide; YOUTH! with stedfast eye peruse, Bids thee see thyself pourtray'd : Infant sense to all our kind, Pure the young ideas brings; Issuing at a thousand springs : |