134 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



great, are more easily mastered if wisdom has 

 already guided the hand of the parent up to this 

 point. We are always reaping what we have al- 

 ready sown. So emphatic is this truth that if a 

 child's character-direction is now to be under- 

 taken for the first time, it would be a bold prophet 

 that would announce the probability of success. 

 We will assume that there is simply to be the 

 continuance of good work already begun. In this 

 case there will be no sharp corner to be turned. 

 The changes to be noted will not transpire some 

 bright morning, making that day's task greatly 

 different from what it was the day before. Never- 

 theless the changes are real, and one must be 

 prepared for them and be able to discern at last 

 when they have arrived, even though they have 

 approached by imperceptible increments. 



Former lines of activity still continue; some 

 to be intensified; some to dimmish gradually; 

 others are introduced that are more or less new. 

 Physically this is a period of slow growth, but 

 the health is good and the vigor strong, except- 

 ing that at thei age of eight or nine the child is 

 easily fatigued. There is great increase in man- 

 ual dexterity, and corresponding to it the sense 

 of utility has grown. "What can you do with 

 it!" "What 's it good for?" are frequent ques- 

 tions. There is an increase in objectivity of atti- 

 tude as distinguished from the imaginativeness 

 of the earlier period. Fact has more charm than 

 fiction now. The child insists on reality. He will 



