AGRICULTURAL, EDUCATION. 215 



blindfolded to make his way across a room to a particular point, 

 at first setting out turns his feet but very slightly from the direct 

 line, he finds himself, quite unconsciously, brought up at a very 

 different corner from that at which he aimed. In a distance not 

 great, I have seen persons, in this way, without their knowing 

 it, completely turned round, and pursuing an opposite direction 

 from that which they intended. I hope my readers will pardon 

 this homely illustration of a point of infinite moment to the 

 young ; I mean, that of setting out right what the French call 

 &quot; taking the first step.&quot; A misdirection, a slight aberration in 

 the beginning, an indulgence in itself wholly venial, may carry 

 them on blindfolded, and consequently without a consciousness 

 of their error, and so without the disposition to correct their 

 mistakes, until they find themselves at a result wholly unde 

 signed, and as deeply as possible to be deplored. 



I thought extremely well of this Brookfield School as a chari 

 table institution. The course of literary education was indeed 

 very limited ; but how valuable was the training of these chil 

 dren to habits of industry ! I think they might add to this in 

 stitution, with great advantage, some of the useful mechanical 

 trades, such as tailoring, shoemaking, carpentering, and black- 

 smithing ; and, for the girls, spinning and weaving ; knitting and 

 plain sewing they are of course taught. The mere giving of 

 money to the poor is the cheapest of all charities, and in its 

 expediency always the most doubtful. But to give these poor, 

 neglected outcasts a useful education ; to put into their hands, 

 beyond the power of its being wrested from them, the means of 

 getting an honest livelihood, and of being useful to the commu 

 nity ; to give them, during the exposed period of childhood and 

 youth, a comfortable home, and make them know that they 

 have friends who feel the deepest interest in their character and 

 good conduct ; is a benefaction of the highest order, as credit 

 able to those who bestow as it is useful to those who receive it. 

 &quot; To seek and to save those who were lost &quot; and perishing, was 

 a mission of the divine mercy, which angels came from their 

 celestial spheres to celebrate. How highly is man honored 

 when he is permitted, in his humble measure, to imitate the 

 beneficence of Heaven ! When one looks here, daily and 

 hourly, upon the thousands and millions, in Ireland, England, 

 and Scotland, of unprotected, uncared-for, squalid, neglected, 



