MARCH. 83 
solemnly against that flaunting display of the Family Medicine Chest, 
which 1 have noticed in some nurseries. The position of our own was 
fulsome. Hach morning it met my awaking sight, with its hard, cold 
stare of brassy insolence; and it shone in the firelight, when I lay abed 
at eve, as though polished with the Oil of Castor. The expression of 
countenance with which the nurses pointed to that box was fiendish ; 
and the way in which they unlocked it, and loitered over the prepa- 
ration of its doses, was worthy of the Inquisition in its best and 
happiest days. Somebody filled the keyhole, on one occasion, with an 
unusual but ingenious combination of coal-dust and batter-pudding ; 
and somebody chuckled in his crib, you may be sure, when Nurse broke 
both lock and key. 
Now let me propose briefly to my brother Spades and others a 
thought or two concerning the treatment of little children in gardens. 
With regard to flowers, let children be taught from the very first to 
admire, to love, and to cherish them, not to regard them as temptations 
to mischief, and to connect them only with uneasy recollections of 
punishment. When Master Johnny decapitates his first Tulip, or 
brings in his first Hyacinth, roots and all, from the borders, don’t treat 
him as an abandoned ruffian, and make him frightened at flowers for 
life ; but show him with a calm and gentle tenderness the perfect beauty 
which his hands have spoiled, and tell him reverently Whose work he 
has undone. Let him draw near and gaze, where he may not gather ; 
point out to him the symmetry, the tints, the perfume ; remember that 
there are organs of Benevolence and Veneration, of Form, Order, and 
Colour, in the cerebral development of that curly pate, as well as of a 
Covetous and Destructive tendency; appeal to his higher, holier self, 
converse with the Christian that is in him; ignore what is evil (for he 
will understand your tacit abhorrence), until there is stern need of open 
censure; trust, instead of suspecting; talk. to him of prizes, instead of 
prisons, patting his back with your open hand, instead of shaking your 
fist at him; and, as surely as Love and Truthfulness are better and 
stronger than Deceit and Hate, you shall find in that little heart such a 
sympathy with all things pure and beautiful, as shall bow your head 
in shame. | 
With regard to fruit, I should be inclined, I think, to deal with little 
children, as confectioners and grocers are said to deal with their newly- ~ 
entered apprentices, and to give them a free range. I should, simul- 
taneously, forewarn them thus: ‘‘ Ladies and gentlemen, you are now at 
liberty to make yourselves as ill as you please. These sour Apples and 
unripe Plums are absolutely at your disposal. You will oblige me by 
abstaining from the green Gooseberries, until I have withdrawn a space, 
as the eranch is painful to my nervous system; but, subsequently, 
every bush is yours. Your meal will be followed by a variety of aches 
and pains, for which you will have to swallow some of the nastiest 
medicines known. These Nurse shall bring to you in a large teacup. 
If you would prefer to wait until dessert-time, you can have some nice 
ripe fruit with Papa and Mama, and a glass of Cowslip wine instead of 
Black Dose ; but pray please yourselves. Good morning.” 
They would attend dessert, ultimately at all events, to a man. Bolts 
