dread in meddling with hot. The painted figure upon the china cup they have been told would bite them, if they touched it; but they have ventured, and, contrary to the assertion of the nurse, have touched it without injury. Little confidence can they, therefore, place in what she advances. From the smoking of the hot water alone they cannot learn its nature; but by giving the finger such a slight dip into it as occasions some degree of pain, it becomes at once intelligible. How many shocking accidents might be thus prevented! A child who from experience knew the nature of the danger that awaited him, would not rashly overturn a tea-urn, or set his frock on fire.

I once saw a gentleman (very wisely as I thought, though very cruelly in the opinion of some others of the spectators) dip his son, then a boy in petticoats, into a pond in the garden, which had long been a subject of disquiet to the anxious mother, who had observed her darling's predilec

tion for this favourite spot. In spite of her remonstrances and injunctions, no sooner did this infant Narcissus find himself at liberty, than he ran to the side of the pond, and kneeling down stretched over to view the pretty baby in the water. In this position he was found by his father; who, taking him up in his arms, and explaining to him the nature of his danger, calmly told him he should now judge for himself of the truth of what he said, and then very deliberately plunged him into the water; by which seeming cruelty, it is more than probable, he saved the life of his child.

Let a child who has been instructed in the nature of danger from his own experience, but whose mind has never been weakened by repeated sensations of terror, and one whose infant education has been conducted upon principles exactly contrary, be both for the first time presented with a new and striking object. Observe the grave and penetrating looks of the former, while he sagaciously examines the

appearance of the object before him, in order to form a judgment of its qualities. After having looked at it on every side, he ventures, though with submit it to his touch.

way harmless, he becomes

much caution, to

Finding it every

reconciled to it,

and dismisses all apprehension. While the poor infant who has been accustomed to quake at unknown phantoms presented to his imagination, associates this strong though undefined idea of evil with every new object of uncommon appearance, and, without venturing on examination, gives vent to his feelings in shrieks and lamentations. Are the minds of these two children equally prepared for entering on that most material part of education, which must be derived from experience ? How many sources of information are open to the one, which to the other are by his fears shut up! And is it not probable, that a great and decided difference will mark their characters through life?

If we analyse the slavish fear of death, which constitutes no trifling portion of hu

man misery, we shall often find it impossible to be accounted for on any other grounds than those of early association. Frequently does this slavish fear operate in the bosoms of those who know not the pangs of an accusing conscience, and whose spirits bear them witness, that they have reason to have hope and confidence toward GOD. But in vain do reason and religion speak peace to the soul of him whose first ideas of death have been accompanied with strong impressions of terror. The association thus formed is too powerful to be broken; and the only resource, to which minds under its influence generally resort, is to drive the subject from their thoughts as much as possible. To this cause we may attribute the unwillingness which many people evince toward making a settlement of their affairs; not that they entertain the superstitious notion of accelerating the hour of their death by making

a will; but that the aversion to the subject of death is so strong in their minds, that they feel a repugnance to the consideration of whatever is even remotely connected with it.

How often the same association operates in deterring from the serious contemplation of a future state, we must leave to the consciences of individuals to determine. Its tendency to enfeeble the mind, and its consequences in detracting from the happiness of life, are obvious to common observation ; but as every subject of this nature is best elucidated by examples, I shall beg leave to introduce two from real life, in which the importance of early association will, I trust, be clearly illustrated.

The first instance I shall give of the abiding influence of strong impressions received in infancy, is in the character of a lady who is now no more; and who was too eminent for piety and virtue to leave any doubt of her being now exalted to the enjoyment of that felicity, which her en