Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/44

 32 HISTORY OF THE GERM AX PEOPLE dicite " and " Gratias " before and after meals ; to be temperate in eating and drinking, and to be modest in the streets. Item : they should be clothed simply and unostentatiously, and be taken to mass, to hear vespers and sermons, and taught how to serve at the mass.' Parents are advised ' to inspire their children with reverence to their betters, to correct them with mode- ration, to use the rod when necessary, and to be careful to keep them from bad company.' At the beginning of the chapter parents are warned that most of the evil in the world is the result of bad education in the family ; that the welfare of their children depends on strict discipline, and that parents who allow their children to follow their own will prepare for themselves a scourge. ' The Christian house should be a Christian temple ; above all on Sundays and holy days, when father and mother, children, man-servant and maid-servant, old and young, should join in praising God and reading His word ; which, however, need not prevent joyous play and merriment during the rest of the day. On those days especially, parents should show their chil- dren the practical aspects of religion through alms- giving, the forgiveness of injuries, and other works of mercy. This would be a good example, which would not be lost.' Johann Nider, in his sermons to parents and chil- dren on the Ten Commandments, speaks in the same sense : ' Are you so poor that you cannot give a penny to the beggar at the church door? Well, then, give him a Pater Noster, that he may bear his lot with patience. If you see some one belonging to you doing wrong, correct him ; if some one do you a wrong, leave