The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-13

tured rather than instructed, and wish that
il might be universally substituted through
out the world by one Of more humane,
sationsl, and efiectuai character.
-
Without entering into one Of the namer.
ous fancies in which al enthusiastic imag-
ination might be tempted to indulge on the
consideration oil this system, it may not
be entirely unintercsting, to give short
account OF the progress OF one little child,
IN the brief career he has thus far had an
opportunity to pursue in one OF our infant
Schools. He was born to such poverty,
that after some weeks had been spent in
preparation by his mother the best suit she
could find to array him in was so poor, that
it would have debarred his entrance al
most any where else. He surveyed the a.
partment, the teachers, the pupils and the
apparatus with mingled apprehensions, hope
and 10y. UP to that moment OF his life, IT
would appear, no one had ever taken the
pains to instruct him in any thing useful !;
his parents, like many Of The poor, and not
a few OF the rich, appeared TO have exert
ed themselves TO control him only so far as
was convenient; he had been a close though
silent observer Of the degraded manners
4
ly passing before the Dyes in many OF the
narrow aud crowded streets Of the city,
and was learning to dlssemble, after the
example OF those around him, and even
those Of his parents, who would persua dc
| him with false promises, or terIify him with
bugbears, as best suited their Temporary
convenience. He had heard Of the criini.
nalty Of fslsehood, but he had seen it re
\ h,, ia, frin IL q hn
Of securing their own interests. Those n
| round him had sometimes spoken OF duty
and religion, Of death, future world, and
perhaps a Saviour; but none had ever ap
peared to think these mighty subjects OF
Importance to him, or within the compass
Of his understanding. His curiosity had
often been awakened about things which
he knew existed, by some of those eviden
Ices which lead even childrens' thoughts to
consider unseen objects; his heart had
been impressed with the Importance OF
truths Of which he would fain have learn
ed something and all this at period OF
I life when perchance he could no, have
,fromed a question Alright concerning the
subject he would have pried into. There
had been none TO anticipate these natural
longings Of the mind, there were none who
and he had begun to sink into that llstless
ness and torpor Of the intellect, which nc.
cesSarily seizes on q mind thus early dis
couraged in its attempts TO proceed, and
barred out from every avenue to knowl.
edge.
How many lovely children are there in
such lamentable condition on all sides oi
US How many are there, (let tho rich
ha lna oil Q In al
the ignorant, ask themselves the question: y
who seek in vain that support and nurture
for their youthful minds which they require
, and which it is so unparental as well as ir
rcparably injurious to withhold. Even a
mong that class of our countrymen VIII,
! o"J"[ ~'v,y facility for '-aining up their
/ children IN the way they should 90, and
= who fancy they do aiuiost a "v'L ~f-.r~~
erogation when they condescsnd ccasion
, ally 10 inquire iuto the progress of their
children, Of their tutors; how many are
there who devote not one half the atten
: ton or money to their early instruction
which they bcstow ~ consulting their van
| Ity in dress or their whms in eating. Bu
, Il is in vain To- waste lamentations on wha
~ little likely to be amended in the cduca
Ion Of young children, as any Of the grea
and fundamental errors and abuses which
, prevail in the whole plan Of what is term
I'd the fashionable bringing up of their el
= dcrs. To the eye OF human observer
o Ignorunt OF what was in pre- paration for lit
. tie helpless beings like him, this boy woul'
have appeared destined to that ignora nc,
Of moral, intellectual and religious truths
Il by which as standard so many Of us ar
. | ready to measure the conduct Of the de
o spised and neglected poor. But Providence
i for him, as for few like him, had richie
4, gitts in store.
-, When entered the abode of peace, ,har
o mony, knowledge and happness--thc In
, fant School--hc, in his little coarse sui,
=, stood on the elevated stage to which hi
merits and application had promoted him
!, his meek but intelligent eyes cast on tn
gronnd.bis little hands clasped in dccoruu
and his humble lips beginning to repeat tn
-, hymn which had been assigned for morn
ing worship. More than two hundred ii!
tie ones, whom the same charity had soug gl
out in abodes almost as miserable as that i
- which she had found him, stood in simila
attitudes around the room while one
;, their number who surpassed in intelligenc
q all but the humble hero Of this humble ste
y ~. from station Of secondary dis,inctio
> caught from his lips the solemn words b
o /, had uttered, and then joined with his mu
i scsl voice in the peal Of infantile harmc
ny whicb,t next moment, resounded fror
e all sides. In all lessons, he was leader G
10 two hundred.
% Thus far has one individual proceeded i
~ this new course Of instruction and in III
10 mean time hundreds Of others have nc
s. been idle. Every closing day marks th
u progressive improvement Of many it'll
mind in useful knowledge, which, by an ir
e creasing ratio, may in time proceed bs