their own will, ask them the reason why they did it; and when you do anything that is for their good, show them the reason why you do it, and convince them that it was fit and necessary to be done, though perhaps it was not pleasing to them. Thus, in the earliest years of life they may be taught the use of their reasoning powers, and when sufficiently advanced in years they may be further instructed by pointing out to them the chief miscarriages that men are guilty of, in reference to the use of their reason, whereby this faculty is hindered in them from that service it might do and was designed for. They may be informed that there are some persons who seldom reason at all, but do and think according to the example of others, in order to save themselves the pain and trouble of thinking, and of others who put passion in the place of reason, and neither use their own nor hearken to other people's reason any further than it suits their humour, interest, or party, and of others who readily and sincerely follow reason, but for want of good common sense often fail to discover the truth they would attain.

By pointing out the miscarriages of others in this way, you awaken within them manly thoughts, and lead them to a rational and manly conduct. Thus you have an opportunity of persuading them to their duty and of saving them from error. But if their reasoning powers

be neglected, they will grow up like the mule, and reason will have but little power over them in their future career.

ON THE JUDGMENT.

Judgment is merely the greatness of the light of the mind. This light penetrates into the recesses of things, observes there everything remarkable, and perceives what appears to be imperceptible.

All persons of all ages are continually making comparisons, and judging of things, and the result which the mind comes to is called a judgment. Thus a judge, in a court of law, by comparison finds that a certain case comes under, or does not come under, a certain statute, and this finding constitutes his decision or judgment. A complete meaning as expressed in a grammatical sentence is a judg

ment.

Judgments form motives which put the will

into action.

Judgment in its most extended sense, Montaigne says, 'is a master principle of business, literature, and talent, which gives a person strength on any subject he chooses to grapple with, and enables him to seize the strong point with it.' How infinite then is its importance to every one, in every situation! It is the great teacher of our opinions, the guide of our conduct. Day by day we form opinions, adopt

tastes, establish maxims, surrender ourselves to theories, all of which, if not finished and governed by the sound and enlightened instruction of wise teachers and just models, will lead us into a thousand errors, perhaps into incurable vices, which will prove the destruction of our happiness, character, and usefulness.

All young persons should be taught that in order to a comprehensive survey of things, as the foundation of correct judgments, a tolerable degree of memory is necessary, as it is by reviewing the past we learn to judge of the future. They should pass no judgment on men and things rashly or suddenly, but withhold their judgment till they see sufficient reason to determine them. To this end they should be shown how often they are deceived. when they judge without reflection, and how often they are forced to change their opinions. They should judge not merely by outward show and Convince them that every man who has fine clothes is not rich, and that every man who talks hard words is not wise or learned. Tell them that they must not judge of things by custom, nor by common opinion; for these things may deceive them, and therefore they must use their reason in order to form a sound judgment. In short, every occasion should be taken to guard them against prejudices, and passing a judgment on men and things on insufficient grounds.

appearance.

We

Examples in abundance might be given to show how invaluable this faculty of judgment is as a means of securing success in life. may gather from the following instances that it is this quality, which, although not deemed the sublimest of the faculties, has been the principal architect of some splendid reputations. It is the exercise of judgment that has chiefly contributed to the fame of our most eminent men, whether judges, generals, statesmen, or men of business. Judicial deliverances, emphatically called judgments, the enunciation of the lawful and right amidst perplexing elements, has created the imperishable fame of such judges as Mansfield, and Howell, and Eldon. Judicious movements, well-planned campaigns, and master-strokes at the critical moment, created the military renown of such generals as Julius Cæsar, and Marlborough, and Wellington. It is chiefly to their good judgment in the conduct of political affairs that such statesmen as Pitt, Peel, Gladstone, Cobden, Disraeli, are indebted for any success they have attained, and we are told that it was a judicious investment which founded the golden house of the celebrated Rothschild.

Men's judgments are

A parcel of their fortunes.

64

ON THE RIGHT CONDUCT OF THE
EMOTIONS.*

The passions may be humoured till they become our master, as a horse may be pampered till he gets the better of his rider; but early discipline will prevent mutiny, and keep the helm in the hands of reason.

What war so cruel, or what siege so sore,
As that which strong affections do apply
Against the fort of reason evermore,
To bring the soul into captivity?

EMOTION is a term principally applied to the sensible changes and visible effects which particular passions produce upon the human frame, in consequence of a reaction or particular agitation of the mind. It is, however, sometimes used to express lively sensations which do not produce any visible effects.

All emotions may be divided into the following classes :

1. Those which arise from uncommon objects fitted to do us neither good nor harm. Admiration represents this class, to which are allied astonishment, surprise, wonder.

* Our readers will see that it is impossible in a work of this kind to give lessons on all the emotions we have named. We have, however, throughout the series of the Practical Moral Lesson Book given lessons on the most important of them.