Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 2).djvu/201

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directed to the practice of truth, humanity, and a proper pride to disdain a mean or unworthy action. "Pardon me, my dear Sir (added he) for presuming to dictate to you, but I am well convinced, that were children accustomed from the earliest dawn of reason to a strict observance of truth, humanity, and generosity; if the virtues were inculcated with the same care, which is generally bestowed to teach them different languages before they are capable of understanding their own properly; if the morals of children were more attended to as the foundation for future improvements, we should see wiser and happier men than are generally met with; but unhappily, in most seminaries for education, the useful is neglected, because the shining, or rather superficial part, is supposed to reflect most credit on the master."

Mr. Dunloff received those remarks of Ferdinand with much complacency, and assured him, that whilst he presided over the child, it should be his unremitting study to