200 



THE BEASON WHY. 



" Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me ; for 

 of such is the kingdom of heaven." MATTHEW xix. 



it leans towards the natural desires of childhood, and wins those desires into 

 a proper direction. Love existing between parent and child is the best tie 

 to home, and the strongest incentive to duty. There is also something in the 

 gentleness of childish nature which may influence for good the sterner mould 

 of man, too often warped and clouded by the cares of life. 



Fig. 48. THAUMATBOPE, OB " WONDEB-TTTENEB." 



In Kay's " Life of Sir John Malcolm," we find an admirable and apt passage. 

 Sir John says : " I have been employed these last few hours with Johu Elliot, 

 and other boys, in trying how long we could keep up two cricket-balls. Lord 

 Minto caught us. He says he must send me on a commission to some very 

 young monarch, for that I shall never have the gravity of an ambassador for a 

 prince turned of twelve. He, however, added the well-known and admirable 

 story of Henry IV. of France, who, when caught on all fours carrying one of his 

 children, by the Spanish envoy, looked up and said, ' Is your excellency 

 married ?' ' I am, and have a family,' was the reply. ' "Wnll, then,' said the 

 monarch, 'I am satisfied, and shall take another turn round the room,' and off 

 he galloped, with his son on his back flogging and spurring him. I have 

 sometimes thought of breaking myself of what are termed boyish habits ; but 

 reflection has satisfied me that it would be very foolish, and that I should 

 esteem it a blessing that I can find amusement in everything, from tossing a 

 cricket-ball, to negotiating a treaty with tiie Emperor of China. Men who will 

 give themselves entirely to business, and despise (which is the term) trifles, are 

 very able, in their general conception of the great outlines of a plan, but they 

 feel a want of knowledge, which is only to be gained by mixing with all classes 

 in the world, when they come to those lesser points upon which its successful 

 execution may depend 



