284 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



6. In connection with the preceding symptom will 

 generally be found, instead of that natural brilliancy of 

 expression in the eyes and countenance, an unnatural 

 dullness and vacantness altogether foreign to child- 

 hood. This is a just ground for suspicion. 



7. Sleeplessness is another symptom of significance. 

 Sound sleep is natural for childhood; and if sleepless- 

 ness be not occasioned by dietetic errors, as eating indi- 

 gestible food, eating between meals, or eating late 

 suppers, it may justly be a cause for susj^icion of evil 

 habits. 



8. Failure of mental capacity without apparent 

 cause, should occasion suspicion of evil i^ractices. 

 When a child who has previously learned readily, mas- 

 tered his lessons easily, and possessed a retentive mem- 

 ory, shows a manifest decline in these directions, fails 

 to get his lessons, becomes stupid, forgetful, and inat- 

 tentive, he has probably become the victim of a terrible 

 vice, and is on the road to speedy mental as well as 

 physical ruin. Watch him. 



9. Ficldeness is another evidence of the working of 

 some deteriorating influence; for only a weak mind is 

 fickle. 



10. Untrustworthiness appearing in a child should 

 attract attention to his habits. If he has suddenly 

 become heedless, listless, and forgetful, so that he can- 

 not be depended upon, though previously not so, lay 

 the blame upon solitary indulgence. This vice has a 

 wonderful influence in developing untruthfulness. A 

 child previously honest will soon become an inveterate 

 liar under its baneful influence. 



11. Love of solitude is a very suspicious sign. Chil- 

 dren are naturally sociable, almost without exception. 

 They have a natural dread of being alone. When a 



