LETTERS. 293 



I hope you concluded the Christmas holidays on Mon- 

 day with the customary glee, and I hope my uncle was 

 well enough to partake of your merriment. You must 

 now begin your penitential days after so much riot and 

 feasting ; and with your three little prattlers around 

 you, I am sure your evenings will flow pleasantly by 

 your own fire-side. Visiting and gaiety are very well 

 by way of change, but there is no enjoyment so lasting 

 as that of one's omi family. Elizabeth will soon be old 

 enough to amuse you with her conversation, and I trust 

 you will talce every opportunity of teaching her to put 

 the right value on things, and to exercise her own good 

 sense. It is amazing how soon a child may become a 

 real comfort to its mother, and how much even young 

 minds will form habits of affection towards those who 

 treat them like reasonable beings, capable of seeing the 

 right and the wrong of themselves. A very little girl 

 may be made to understand that there are some things 

 which are pleasant and amusing, which are still less 

 worthy of attention than others more disagreeable and 

 painful. Children are, in general, fond of little orna- 

 ments of dress, especially females ; and though we may 

 allow them to be elevated with their trifling splendours, 

 yet we should not forget to remind them that, although 

 people may admire their dress, yet they will admire them 

 much more for their good sense, sweetness of temper, and 

 generosity of disposition. Children are very quicksighted 

 to discern whether you approve of them, and they are 

 very proud of your approbation when they think you be- 

 stow it : we should, therefore, be careful how we praise 

 them and for what. If we praise their dress, it should 

 be slightly, and as if it were a matter of very small im- 

 portance ; but we should never let any mark of con- 

 sideration, or goodness of heart, in a child, pass by without 

 som-C token of approbation. Still we must never praise 

 a child too much, nor too warmly, for that would beget 

 vanity ; and when praise is moderately yet judiciously 

 bestowed, a child values it more, because it feels that it 

 is just. I don't like punishments. You will never tor- 



