The moral instructor ...

Front matter

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Preface

TO THE SEC O If D EDITION.

All reflecting persons admit the importance of giving moral and religious instruction to children. But many teachers and many parents do not feel qualified to communicate such in¬ structions, and when they are prepared by knowledge, reflec¬ tion, and fluency of speech, they lack, in some cases, the time, and in others, the inclination. And often when such instruc¬ tions are given verbally, by parents or teachers, they find that children will not listen, or speedily forget.

All children need a regular and systematic course of in¬ struction, in reference to all their duties and obligations to God, to themselves, and to their fellow creatures. To meet this want, a book is required, which shall be used for daily study and recitation, just like a Grammar or Geography. Ought not children to study their duties as carefully as they do Grammar and Geography?

But in planning such a work, the writer encountered many more difficulties than those would imagine, who have not learned by experience, how much easier it is to discover when a book for children is wrong, than it is to make it right. Few who write for mature minds, are aware of the difficulty of changing style, subjects, and modes of illustration, in order to interest and instruct children.

How shall a work on ethics be made interesting to children? How shall topics, which in all other works, are spread over octavos, be condensed to the limited dimension of a popular school book? How shall the clashing theories of ethical wri¬ ters, be so met or evaded, as not to enlist committed partisans against such a work? How shall those points in theology, which must necessarily be introduced, and at a period when there is so much sensitiveness on such topics, be so adjusted as not to give alarm or offence? How shall the peculiarities that divide parties and sects be avoided, and yet the most im¬ portant duties and motives be presented?

An attempt has been made in this work to surmount the dif¬ ficulties suggested in these queries. The rapid sale of the first edition, and the great satisfaction expressed by teachers

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PREFACE.

who have introduced the work into their schools, deepen the conviction that a work of the kind was greatly needed, and encourage the author to hope that she may have succeeded, better than she feared might be the case.

After attentively and carefully considering the extensive and minute criticisms with which various friends had favored her, the writer has prepared this second edition. One chapter has been added, several have been re-written, and various in¬ accuracies (occasioned by a first attempt to write for children, and in a colloquial style) have been rectified.

This volume is mainly confined to moral instruction, because many parents will allow their children to receive such in¬ structions who would object to the introduction of religious topics generally into common schools.

The Bible Lessons in this work can be used for daily reci¬ tation, or be reserved as a Sunday lesson. Competent teach¬ ers will use this work as a kind of text book, furnishing topics for farther discussion and illustration. If children should be encouraged to converse with their teachers, and other anec¬ dotes and illustrations should be furnished, both by teachers and pupils, the interest and benefit of the study will be great¬ ly increased.

TO THOSE FOR WHOM THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN.

My Dear Young Friends:

There is nothing more interesting to the writer'of'this book, than the happiness of the young. I have spent many years in studying the best ways to make them useful and happy, and I seldom see their fair and smiling faces, without wishing I could do something for their good.

I tell you this, because we always feel more interested in reading a book if it is written by a friend; and when you know how much interest is felt by the writer, in all young persons, I hope you will consider her as your friend.

I have illustrated the instruction of this book by anecdotes, because I think it will prove not only more interesting, but more useful.

I have in reserve many more stories, which will be intro¬ duced into two other books, which I intend to prepare for you very soon.

I hope you will like this first book so well, thai you will wish to read the other two when they are done.

I am truly your friend,

CATHARINE E. BEECHER.