Page:Home Education by Isaac Taylor (1838).djvu/75

 might safely be taken as an indication of the height of the genuine feeling of affectionate reverence, prevailing in the minds of children. A prompt regard to and  is that, without which no solid improvement can be made;—on this point there can be no room for a question; but it remains to be asked, by what means should this necessary observance of modes and seasons be effected?

Now it will generally be found in families where the filial sentiment is infirm, and therefore variable, that order, if maintained at all, is enforced by the means of a hundred petty and vexatious formalities—by fines and penalties, and complicated regulations, the general tendency of which is to damp the hilarity of childhood, to stagnate the understanding, and to generate a habit of eye-service, and a regard to the letter more than to the spirit of the law; from all which may easily spring a temper of mind incompatible alike with open-hearted simplicity of character, and with intellectual energy.

But where a warm affection is the real spring of obedience, and where children are actually happy, from day to day, an exact regard to times and to plans, or as much exactness in this respect as can be deemed useful, may be secured—no one sees by what immediate means, for the whole movement is spontaneous—the machine is a living one; and inasmuch as it is not on a very large scale, the known will of the supreme power comes in the place of whatever is formal or palpable. Along with the substantial advantages of regularity, there may therefore be enjoyed a feeling of liberty and of individual spontaneousness, highly conducive to vigour of mind, and especially to a clearly expressed originality of personal character. Too much law breaks down all minds to a dull uniformity.

Stern punctuality in a family, effected by force of statutes and penalties, indicates, as I have said, a low temperature of the affections; for there must be a great