Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/33

Rh construct from his writings a picture of life among the Germans of Penn's Colony. One can vision the children busy at home, preparing for the day's duties; their march over hill and valley to the school; their entrance; the routine of the day's work with the teacher; and their hearty “good-night” as they turn again to their homes; the round of evening duties, and their weary footsteps as they move half asleep to their rest. One can vision their conduct in the home, on the street, in church and at all places where a child might be seen. In this multiform detail of child life he points out in simple precepts right conduct and proper behavior. And in all this he steadfastly holds up the religious life as the goal of all study, the perfection of all learning.

The writing of illuminated texts was common among the Germans of Colonial Pennsylvania. For this work Dock was peculiarly gifted, and the writing of these Schriften was a prominent feature of his school exercises. To this work of skill with his quill pen he added the additional ability of drawing in colors or writing with ink designs of birds and flowers. These designs were used as rewards for meritorious work on the part of his pupils. To possess one of these evidences of the teacher's favor was the ambition of many of Dock's pupils.

In the list of Schriften found in this volume I have included all that are known to be from the pen of Dock. One, by his pupil, Jacob Harley, is included to show the result of Dock's teaching.