Page:Comenius' School of Infancy.pdf/91

 tional, they should be tempered with modesty and seriousness. The little story of the ass may illustrate this: “Once upon a time, an ass seeing a little dog caressing its master with its tail and leaping upon his bosom, the ass attempted to do the same, and for this civility got a cudgeling.” This story may be told to children, that they may remember what is due to every one. Children should be exercised so as to know what is becoming and what otherwise, both in external gestures and motions; how to sit straight, to stand upright, to walk decorously, not bending their limbs or staggering, or lounging. In case they need to ask for anything; how to return thanks when it is given; how to salute any one they meet; and when they salute how to bend the knee or stretch forth the hand; how, when they speak to superiors, to take off their hats, and many other things that appertain to the good and honorable, of which we need not speak more at length. It is sufficient here to have incidentally noticed some of these matters of conduct.