Pentecost or Whitsuntide in summer; that wheat is gathered in autumn, etc. All these things, although children of themselves may understand and remember them, yet nothing hinders the parent from talking to them about such things, according to the occasions and opportunities.
8. Children ought to be exercised in history,[1] and in the remembrance of things, as soon as they begin to talk; at first by such simple questions as, Who gave this to you? Where did you go yesterday? When will be Wednesday? Let the child answer, At my grandfather’s, at my grandmother’s, at my aunt’s, etc. What did they give you? What did your grandfather promise to give you? etc. Other things will fix themselves in their memories; only there is need of circumspection, in order, as the youthful memory begins to store away treasures for itself, that it may lay up nothing but that is good and useful in obtaining virtue and promotive of the fear of God; all things of a contrary kind ought never to be permitted to meet their eyes or their ears.
9. The first and following year will be the beginning of economics (i.e. the due performance of household matters); for children then begin to distinguish their fathers, mothers, and nurses, and afterwards others in the house. In the third, they will learn that father and mother rule, and that others obey. In the fourth and fifth, let them begin to learn carefulness, which is their clothing for holidays, and which for common days; and let them be careful not to stain or tear their clothes, or sweep the floor with them. Then they will easily discover the use of chests, presses, closets, cupboards, bolts, bars, and keys, namely, that all may not have access to these places. They may learn to know the necessary domestic furniture by seeing it, or they may learn
