right, that is in relation to the uncontrollable | and leaves them scattered about the floor. children of ill-controlled adults: and right in Or a handful of flowers, brought in from a relation to a state of society in which such ill-morning walk, is presently seen dispersed controlled adults make up the mass of the over tables and chairs. Or a little girl, makpeople. As already suggested, educational ing doll's-clothes, disfigures the room with systems, like political and other institutions, shreds. In most cases the trouble of rectifyare generally as good as the state of human ing this disorder falls anywhere but in the nature permits. The barbarous children of right place: if in the nursery, the nurse herbarbarous parents are probably only to be re-self, with many grumblings about "tiresome strained by the barbarous methods which such little things," etc., undertakes the task; if parents spontaneously employ; while submis- below stairs, the task usually devolves either sion to these barbarous methods is perhaps the on one of the elder children or on the housebest preparation such children can have for maid; the transgressor being visited with the barbarous society in which they are pres-nothing more than a scolding. In this very ently to play a part. Conversely, the civilized simple case, however, there are many parents members of a civilized society will spontane- wise enough to follow out, more or less conously manifest their displeasure in less vio-sistently, the normal course-that of making ent ways-will spontaneously use milder the child itself collect the toys or shreds. measures: measures strong enough for their The labor of putting things in order is the better-natured children. Thus it is doubtless true consequence of having put them in distrue that, in so far as the expression of parent-order. Every trader in his office, every wife al feeling is concerned, the principle of the in her household, has daily experience of this natural reaction is always more or less fol- fact. And if education be a preparation for lowed. The system of domestic government the business of life, then every child should Ever gravitates towards its right form. also, from the beginning, have daily experiBut now observe two important facts. In ence of this fact. If the natural penalty be the first place, observe that, in states of rapid met by any refractory behavior (which it transition like ours, which witness a long- may perhaps be where the general system of drawn battle between old and new theories moral discipline previously pursued has been and old and new practices, the educational bad), then the proper course is to let the child methods in use are apt to be considerably out feel the ulterior reaction consequent on its of harmony with the times. In deference to disobedience. Having refused or neglected dogmas fit only for the ages that uttered to pick up and put away the things it has hem, many parents inflict punishments that scattered about, and having thereby entailed lo violence to their own feelings, and so visit the trouble of doing this on some one else, the on their children unnatural reactions; while child should, on subsequent occasions, be dether parents, enthusiastic in their hopes of nied the means of giving this trouble. When mmediate perfection, rush to the opposite next it petitions for its toy-box, the reply of Extreme. And then observe, in the second its mamma should be “The last time you place, that the discipline on which we are in- had your toys you left them lying on the isting is not so much the experience of pa- floor, and Jane had to pick them up. Jane ental approbation, or disapprobation, which, is too busy to pick up every day the things n most cases, is only a secondary. conse-you leave about; and I cannot do it myself. quence of a child's conduct; but it is the expe- So that, as you will not put away your toys ience of those results which would naturally when you have done with them, I cannot let low from the conduct in the absence of pa- you have them." This is obviously a natural ental opinion or interference. The truly in- consequence, neither increased nor lessened; tructive and salutary consequences are not and must be so recognized by a child. The hose inflicted by parents when they take penalty comes, too, at the moment when it is pon themselves to be Nature's proxies; but most keenly felt. A new-born desire is balked hey are those inflicted by Nature herself. at the moment of anticipated gratification; We will endeavor to make this distinction and the strong impression so produced can lear by a few illustrations, which, while they scarcely fail to have an effect on the future how what we mean by natural reactions as conduct; an effect which, by consistent repecontrasted with artificial ones, will afford tition, will do whatever can be done in curing ome directly practical suggestions. the fault. Add to which, that, by this method, a child is early taught the lesson which cannot be learnt too soon, that in this world of ours pleasures are rightly to be obtained only by labor.

In every family where there are young children there almost daily occur cases of what mothers and servants call "making a itter." A child has had out its box of toys,

These few familiar instances, here chosen because of the simplicity with which they illustrate our point, will make clear to every one the distinction between those natural penalties which we contend are the truly efficient ones, and those artificial penalties which parents commonly substitute for them. Before going on to exhibit the higher and subtler ap plications of this principle, let us note its many and great superiorities over the princi ple, or rather the empirical practice, which prevails in most families.

Take another case. Not long since we had | commonly forthwith buy him another; not frequently to listen to the reprimands visited seeing that, by doing this, a valuable lesson on a little girl who was scarcely ever ready is lost. In such a case, a father may properly in time for the daily walk. Of eager disposi-explain that penknives cost money, and that tion, and apt to become thoroughly absorbed to get money requires labor; that he cannot in the occupation of the moment, Constance afford to purchase new penknives for one never thought of putting on her things until who loses or breaks them; and that until he the rest were ready. The governess and the sees evidence of greater carefulness he must other children had almost invariably to wait; decline to make good the loss. A parallel disand from the mamma there almost invaria- cipline may be used as a means of checking bly came the same scolding. Utterly as this extravagance. system failed it never occurred to the mamma to let Constance experience the natural penalty. Nor, indeed, would she try it when it was suggested to her. In the world the penalty of being behind time is the loss of some advantage that would else have been gained: the train is gone; or the steamboat is just leaving its moorings; or the best things in the market are sold; or all the good seats in the concert-room are filled. And every one, in cases perpetually occurring, may see that it is the prospective deprivations entailed by being too late which prevent people In the first place, right conceptions of caus from being too late. Is not the inference ob- and effect are early formed; and by frequen vious? Should not these prospective depriva- and consistent experience are eventually ren tions control the child's conduct also? If Con-dered definite and complete. Proper conduc stance is not ready at the appointed time, the in life is much better guaranteed when th natural result is that of being left behind, and losing her walk. And no one can, we think, doubt that after having once or twice remained at home while the rest were enjoying themselves in the fields, and after having felt that this loss of a much-prized gratification was solely due to want of promptitude, some amendment would take place. At any rate, the measure would be more effective than that perpetual scolding which ends only in producing callousness.

good and evil consequences of actions are ra tionally understood, than when they ar merely believed on authority. A child wh finds that disorderliness entails the subs quent trouble of putting things in order, o who misses a gratification from dilatoriness or whose want of care is followed by the los or breakage of some much-prized possession not only experiences a keenly-felt cons quence, but gains a knowledge of causation both the one and the other being just lik those which adult life will bring. Wherea a child who in such cases receives some re rimand or some factitious penalty, not onl experiences a consequence for which it ofte cares very little, but lacks that instructio respecting the essential natures of good an evil conduct, which it would else have gatl ered. It is a vice of the common system artificial rewards and punishments, long sinc noticed by the clear-sighted, that by subst tuting for the natural results of misbehavic certain threatened tasks or castigations,

Again, when children, with more than usual carelessness, break or lose the things given to them, the natural penalty-the penalty which makes grown-up persons more careful-is the consequent inconvenience. The want of the lost or damaged article, and the cost of supplying its place, are the experiences by which men and women are disciplined in these matters; and the experience of children should be as much as possible assimilated to theirs. We do not refer to that early period at which toys are pulled to pieces in the process of learning their physical properties, and at produces a radically wrong standard of mor which the results of carelessness cannot be guidance. Having throughout infancy an understood; but to a later period, when the boyhood always regarded parental or tutori: meaning and advantages of property are per- displeasure as the result of a forbidden a ceived. When a boy, old enough to possess a tion, the youth has gained an established a penknife, uses it so roughly as to snap the sociation of ideas between such action an blade, or leaves it in the grass by some hedge- such displeasure, as cause and effect; an side, where he was cutting a stick, a thought-consequently when parents and tutors hav less parent, or some indulgent relative, will abdicated, and their displeasure is not to b

feared, the restraint on a forbidden action is system. Instead of letting children expe

in great measure removed: the true re- rience the painful results which naturally folstraints, the natural reactions, having yet to low from wrong conduct, the usual course be learnt by sad experience. As writes one pursued by parents is to inflict themselves who has had personal knowledge of this short- certain other painful results. A double missighted system:-"Young men let loose from chief arises from this. Making, as they do, school, particularly those whose parents have multiplied family laws; and identifying their neglected to exert their influence, plunge into own supremacy and dignity with the mainevery description of extravagance; they know tenance of these laws; it happens that every no rule of action-they are ignorant of the transgression comes to be regarded as an reasons for moral conduct-they have no offence against themselves, and a cause of foundation to rest upon-and until they have anger on their part. Add to which the furbeen severely disciplined by the world are ex-ther irritations which result from taking upon tremely dangerous members of society."

themselves, in the shape of extra labor or Another great advantage of this natural sys- cost, those evil consequences which should tem of discipline is, that it is a system of pure have been allowed to fall on the wrong-doers. justice; and will be recognized by every child Similarly with the children. Penalties which as such. Whoso suffers nothing more than the necessary reaction of things brings round the evil which obviously follows naturally upon them-penalties which are inflicted by from his own misbehavior, is much less like-impersonal agency, produce an irritation that ly to think himself wrongly treated than if is comparatively slight and transient; wherehe suffers an evil artificially inflicted on him; as, penalties which are voluntarily inflicted and this will be true of children as of men. by a parent, and are afterwards remembered Take the case of a boy who is habitually reck- as caused by him or her, produce an irritation less of his clothes-scrambles through hedges both greater and more continued. Just conwithout caution, or is utterly regardless of sider how disastrous would be the result if mud. If he is beaten, or sent to bed, he is apt this empirical method were pursued from the to regard himself as ill-used; and his mind is beginning. Suppose it were possible for parmore likely to be occupied by thinking over ents to take upon themselves the physical his injuries than repenting of his transgres- sufferings entailed on their children by ignosions. But suppose he is required to rectify rance and awkwardness; and that while bearas far as he can the harm he has done-to ing these evil consequences they visited on clean off the mud with which he has cov- their children certain other evil consequences, ered himself, or to mend the tear as well as with the view of teaching them the improhe can. Will he not feel that the evil is one priety of their conduct. Suppose that when of his own producing? Will he not while a child, who had been forbidden to meddle paying this penalty be continuously conscious with the kettle, spilt some boiling water on of the connection between it and its cause? its foot, the mother vicariously assumed the And will he not, spite his irritation, recognize scald and gave a blow in place of it; and simmore or less clearly the justice of the arrange-ilarly in all other cases. Would not the daily ment? If several lessons of this kind fail to mishaps be sources of far more anger than produce amendment-if suits of clothes are now? Would not there be chronic ill-temper prematurely spoiled-if pursuing this same on both sides? Yet an exactly parallel policy system of discipline a father declines to spend is pursued in after years. A father who punmoney for new ones until the ordinary time ishes his boy for carelessly or wilfully breakhas elapsed-and if, meanwhile, there occuring a sister's toy, and then himself pays for a occasions on which, having no decent clothes new toy, does substantially this same thing to go in, the boy is debarred from joining the-inflicts an artificial penalty on the transrest of the family on holiday excursions and gressor, and takes the natural penalty on féte days, it is manifest that while he will himself: his own feelings and those of the keenly feel the punishment, he can scarcely transgressor being alike needlessly irritated, fail to trace the chain of causation, and to If he simply required restitution to be made, perceive that his own carelessness is the ori- he would produce far less heartburning. If gin of it; and seeing this, he will not have he told the boy that a new toy must be bought that same sense of injustice as when there is at his, the boy's cost, and that his supply of no obvious connection between the transgres-pocket-money must be withheld to the needful sion and its penalty.

extent, there would be much less cause for Again, the tempers both of parents and ebullition of temper on either side; while in children are much less liable to be ruffled the deprivation afterwards felt, the boy under this system than under the ordinary would experience the equitable and salutary

consequence. In brief, the system of disci-perience of the good and bad consequences pline by natural reactions is less injurious to caused by them. Second. That the child, temper, alike because it is perceived on both suffering nothing more than the painful efsides to be nothing more than pure justice, and because it more or less substitutes the impersonal agency of nature for the personal agency of parents.

Before replying to these questions, let us consider the bearings of a few illustrative facts.

fects brought upon it by its own wrong actions, must recognize more or less clearly the justice of the penalties. Third. That, recognizing the justice of the penalties, and reWhence also follows the manifest corollary, ceiving those penalties through the working that under this system the parental and filial of things, rather than at the hands of an inrelation will be a more friendly, and there- dividual, its temper will be less disturbed; fore a more influential one. Whether in par- while the parent occupying the comparaent or child, anger, however caused, and to tively passive position of taking care that the whomsoever directed, is more or less detri-natural penalties are felt, will preserve a commental. But anger in a parent towards a parative equanimity. And Fourth. That child, and in a child towards a parent, is es- mutual exasperation being thus in great pecially detrimental; because it weakens that measure prevented, a much happier, and a bond of sympathy which is essential to a be- more influential state of feeling, will exist beneficent control. In virtue of the general law tween parent and child. of association of ideas, it inevitably results, both in young and old, that dislike is con- "But what is to be done with more serious tracted towards things which in our experi- misconduct?" some will ask. "How is this ence are habitually connected with disagree-plan to be carried out when a petty theft has able feelings. Or where attachment origi- been committed? or when a lie has been told? nally existed, it is weakened, or destroyed, or or when some younger brother or sister has turned into repugnance, according to the been ill-used?" quantity of painful impressions received. Parental wrath, with its accompanying reprimands and castigations, cannot fail, if often repeated, to produce filial alienation; while Living in the family of his brother-in-law, the resentment and sulkiness of children can- a friend of ours had undertaken the educanot fail to weaken the affection felt for them, tion of his little nephew and niece. This he and may even end in destroying it. Hence had conducted, more perhaps from natural the numerous cases in which parents (and es- sympathy than from reasoned-out conclupecially fathers, who are commonly deputed sions, in the spirit of the method above set to express the anger and inflict the punish- forth. The two children were in doors his ment) are regarded with indifference, if not pupils and out of doors his companions. with aversion; and hence the equally numer-They daily joined him in walks and botanizous cases in which children are looked upon ing excursions, eagerly sought out plants for as inflictions. Seeing, then, as all must do, that estrangement of this kind is fatal to a salutary moral culture, it follows that parents cannot be too solicitous in avoiding occasions of direct antagonism with their children-occasions of personal resentment. And therefore they cannot too anxiously avail themselves of this discipline of natural consequences-this system of letting the penalty be inflicted by the laws of things; which, by saving the parent from the function of a penal agent, prevents these mutual exaspera-ested as the boy was in some amusement of tions and estrangements.

him, looked on while he examined and identified them, and in this and other ways were ever gaining both pleasure and instruction in his society. In short, morally considered, he stood to them much more in the position of parent than either their father or mother did. Describing to us the results of this policy, he gave, among other instances, the following. One evening, having need for some article lying in another part of the house, he asked his nephew to fetch it for him. Deeply inter

the moment, he, contrary to his wont, either

Thus we see that this method of moral cult-exhibited great reluctance or refused, we forure by experience of the normal reactions get which. His uncle, disapproving of a cowhich is the divinely-ordained method alike ercive course, fetched it himself; merely exfor infancy and for adult life, is equally ap- hibiting by his manner the annoyance this plicable during the intermediate childhood ill-behavior gave him. And when, later in and youth. And among the advantages of the evening, the boy made overtures for the this method we see-First. That it gives usual play, they were gravely repelled-the that rational comprehension of right and uncle manifested just that coldness of feeling wrong conduct which results from actual ex-naturally produced in him, and so let the boy

experience the necessary consequences of his | be established between parents and children; conduct. Next morning at the usual time for on the existence of this relation depends the for rising, our friend heard a new voice out- successful treatment of these graver offences. side the door, and in walked his little nephew And as a further preliminary, we must now with the hot water; and then the boy, peer-point out that the establishment of this relaing about the room to see what else could be tion will result from adopting the system we done, exclaimed, “Oh! you want your boots," and forthwith rushed down stairs to fetch them. In this and other ways he showed a true penitence for his misconduct; he endeavored by unusual services to make up for the service he had refused; his higher feelings had of themselves conquered his lower ones, and acquired strength by the conquest; and he valued more than before the friendship he thus regained.

advocate. Already we have shown that by letting a child experience simply the painful reactions of its own wrong actions, a parent in great measure avoids assuming the attitude of an enemy, and escapes being regarded as one; but it still remains to be shown that where this course has been consistently pursued from the beginning, a strong feeling of active friendship will be generated.

At present, mothers and fathers are mostly This gentleman is now himself a father; considered by their offspring as friendacts on the same system; and finds it answer enemies. Determined as their impressions completely. He makes himself thoroughly inevitably are by the treatment they receive; his children's friend. The evening is longed and oscillating as that treatment does between for by them because he will be at home; and bribery and thwarting, between petting and they especially enjoy the Sunday because he scolding, between gentleness and castigation; is with them all day. Thus possessing their children necessarily acquire conflicting beliefs perfect confidence and affection, he finds that respecting the parental character. A mother the simple display of his approbation or dis- commonly thinks it quite sufficient to tell her approbation gives him abundant power of little boy that she is his best friend; and ascontrol. If, on his return home, he hears that suming that he is in duty bound to believe one of his boys has been naughty, he behaves her, concludes that he will forthwith do so. towards him with that comparative coldness" It is all for your good;" "I know what is which the consciousness of the boy's misconduct naturally produces; and he finds this a most efficient punishment. The mere withholding of the usual caresses, is a source of the keenest distress-produces a much more prolonged fit of crying than a beating would do. And the dread of this purely moral penalty is, he says, ever present during his absence: so much so, that frequently during the day his children inquire of their mamma how they have behaved, and whether the report will be good. Recently, the eldest, an active urchin of five, in one of those bursts of animal spirits common in healthy children, committed sun-treatment conduces to the happiness of that dry extravagances during his mamma's absence-cut off part of his brother's hair and wounded himself with a razor taken from his father's dressing-case. Hearing of these occurrences on his return, the father did not speak to the boy either that night or next morning. Not only was the tribulation great, but the subsequent effect was, that when, a few days after, the mamma was about to go out, she was earnestly entreated by the boy not to do so; and on inquiry, it appeared his fear was that he might again transgress in her absence.

We have introduced these facts before replying to the question-"What is to be done with the graver offences?" for the purpose of first exhibiting the relation that may and ought to

proper for you better than you do yourself;" "You are not old enough to understand it now, but when you grow up you will thank me for doing what I do; "-these, and like assertions, are daily reiterated. Meanwhile the boy is daily suffering positive penalties; and is hourly forbidden to do this, that, and the other, which he was anxious to do. By words he hears that his happiness is the end in view; but from the accompanying deeds he habitually receives more or less pain. Utterly incompetent as he is to understand that future which his mother has in view, or how this

future, ne judges by such results as he feels; and finding these results anything but pleasurable, he becomes sceptical respecting these professions of friendship. And is it not folly to expect any other issue? Must not the child judge by such evidence as he has got? and does not this evidence seem to warrant his conclusion? The mother would reason in just the same way if similarly placed. If, in the circle of her acquaintance, she found some one who was constantly thwarting her wishes, uttering sharp reprimands, and occasionally inflicting actual penalties on her, she would pay but little attention to any professions of anxiety for her welfare which accompanied these acts. Why, then, does she suppose that her boy will conclude otherwise?