24 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



on her first trial trip. She was found to be perfectly 

 docile under command, and altogether to behave on 

 the water in the most satisfactory manner. 



In his management and upbringing of his family 

 our father was most indulgent. He made friends and 

 companions of his children, and by his never-failing 

 sympathy with them in all their pursuits won their 

 confidence no less than by his great attainments, con- 

 sistency of character, reasonableness and impartiality, 

 he commanded their implicit respect. Every liberty 

 within reasonable and innocent limits was allowed us, 

 and very seldom was recourse had to punishment. 

 Whatever might happen or be done through mere 

 youthful thoughtlessness, waywardness, or inadvertence, 

 was lightly passed with an admonition. Only for 

 palpable disobedience to express and clearly defined 

 commands, or for anything approaching to prevarica- 

 tion, did we incur inevitable and stern chastisement, 

 which effectually impressed upon us the desired lesson. 

 Himself truthful and straightforward in every word and 

 action, any description of deceit was abhorrent to him as 

 mean, cowardly, and unmanly, and he inculcated upon 

 his children before everything else the strictest observ- 

 ance of what he was wont to call " pellucid truth." In 

 a few matters which may appear to some of no great 

 consequence, but were considered by him as very im- 

 portant, he was most particular, and to his orders in 

 regard to them he enforced the strictest obedience. 

 For one thing he made it a rule in the house that 

 no vessel containing hot liquids — tea-pot, tea-cup, 



