*Our method of educating our children is this. As our design is to fit them for good servants, we endeavour as early as possible, to inure them to labour, early-rising and cleanliness. We have now eleven. Three of these, (two of whom are eleven years old, the other, between nine and ten) rise at four. One lights the nursery fire, one mine, the other, that below. At five, the rest of the family are called. And when the children are drest and have prayed, they go (in summer) in the garden from six till half an hour after, while the bigger ones make the beds, and clean the rooms. At half hour after six we all join in family prayer: at seven breakfast in the same room; two or three upon herb tea, the rest upon milk-porridge. At eight, the bell rings for school, where they continue till twelve; and then after a few minutes spent in prayer, come to us. In winter, this is their hour for exercise, instead of the morning and evening. In hot weather we read to them something they are pleased with, or converse familiarly, so as (without seeming to aim at it) to instil into them principles of religion, at the same time giving them some kind of employ, which is rather amusement than business: yet it just takes off the appearance of idleness. For, from the very beginning, they have been carefully taught, never to do any thing, but what they could give God a reason for. On this account we never use the term _play_, nor suffer any to give them those toys or play-things, which children are usually brought up to spend half their time in. And when some of these were privately given, they threw them aside without any bidding. Their recreation consists in diversifying their business, which is varied even during their school-hours. Only the very little ones now and then run in the garden for a quarter of an hour; but still with a degree of seriousness; and they know it is for their health. At one we dine: at two school begins again, except on Saturdays. At five they return to us. About six they sup. At half after six they begin to be washed, and at seven go to bed. Indeed in summer their supper is sooner, so that they have an hour with us in the garden. During this time they are all employed, some in watering, others in fetching the water, the rest in pumping. And work of this kind they are all very fond of.
*But O! what a want of wisdom do I find! I see in them, what I cannot put in practice. I want the children not to be a moment from under the _eye_ and the _attention_ of some judicious person: so that if the eleven children were at work in so many different parts of the garden, one might observe, that each works _diligently_. For sloth in temporals always produces sloth in spirituals. Yet at the same time their work must not be a _task_; for then it would not answer the end. Again, their thoughts all the day long will naturally tend to evil. And their words will be trifling. To _bid_ them do otherwise, avails no more, than to bid the blackamoor be white. And to reprove them continually, would be a burden greater than they could bear. But if by little stories and hints, their minds could be insensibly drawn to better subjects, they would be at length brought to remember, that God is present, and is looking upon them every moment. When I consider this, and many more things, which I see afar off, but cannot bring to effect, I am constrained to say, “O Lord! I am not yet _throughly furnished to every good work_.”
Some may say, “This is worldly wisdom, not gospel simplicity. And after all you cannot change their hearts.” Most certain. But hath not God said, _Train up a child in the way it should go_? Now I think true simplicity is to obey God, and leave the consequence to him.