A Child's Inheritance.

Children are born with two distinct characters. One inherited from the Fount of every blessing; the other from their immediate progenitors. The first, derived from God and Nature, is spiritual and eternal; the second, being the organic and constructive process, is arbitrary, and will not always continue. In after years, however, when the child is thoroughly drawn away from its in most consciousness by the illusions of the external senses, a third character informed, which is still more external and correspondingly ephemeral. And yet, owing to the impressibility of the spiritual life currents of the inmost, the mind and disposition are very generally fashioned in this world by the last character, which society, through its many and varied circumstances, has manufactured and put upon the individual spirit Although an Englishman is in esse the same as a Frenchman, yet they will conduct themselves differently—with different tastes, creeds, poetry, literature, philosophy, &c.—because, aside from the unlikeness arising from different parentage, these two persons, as spiritual beings, are, to some extent, necessitated to act and manifest themselves through the world-made character, which, though superficial and arbitrary, is nevertheless preeminently successful in its supremacy for the time being.

Assuming, as a fact, that the third character is educational, and that the Spirit is in general necessitated to act through and by means of it, (as a person is obliged to speak with the words he remembers,) we think parents should calmly consider what sort of teachers, what class of books, and lastly, what kind of schools are best adapted to unfold the real excellencies, and to develop the truest character of childhood.

Childhood, by itself considered, is the condition of simple super-sensuous consciousness. What is the proof? This: that the child-heart is earliest influenced by divine principles. What do we mean? That the young spirit is the first to take on the lesson of Innocent, unselfish love; and that its earliest impressions are page 16 redolent of divine simplicity and unsuspecting truthfulness. The spiritual integrity and unselfish lovingness of the young are facts of universal observation and consciousness. The mother's genial touch or her reverent spirit stealing its way into the young mind, may awaken thought, enkindle feeling, and quicken to duty, and explore the realms of consciousness—or, as in too many cases, the incapacitated parent may leave the tender, undepraved soil uncultivated—just as, perhaps, her own was neglected by those who gave if an embodied existence.

Children, because so spiritually impressible, should be fortified and guarded against the psychology of imitation. They assume unconsciously the thoughts and actions of their companions, as, by contact, they absorb the magnetism and likeness of epidemics-measles, mumps, croup, scarlet fever, &c. Yet it is never wise to deem children incapable of originality. If we regard, with more confiding attention, the chance-sayings that drop ever anon from their rosy lips, our own progress will he greatly accelerated angel-ward. Men fancy themselves wiser than children—because, forsooth, they have seen more of the world's contemptible ways. Let no one deem such knowledge, wisdom. The true, unspoiled child, is wise, and its unsophisticated genius is divine; compared with which the education of a Bacon is but transitional intelligence and systematic folly. Childhood is incessantly uttering sage words worthy of the oldest philosophy. Its simple improvisations are revelations of great future possibilities. Analyse a child's consciousness, listen now and then to its affirmations and aspirations for whatsoever is Good, and Beautiful, and Wise, and Spiritual, and you will be instructed beyond books and priests. Treat tenderly, never scoflingly, the bright visions of youth. Let childhood teach you to recall the spiritual kingdom away down in your own soul's heart. The gentle Nazarene believed that children would apprehend his teachings far quicker than the learned Rabbi and salaried priests of the temples. And he was not mistaken. Little children did comprehend his principles through his beautiful parables (or stories, with morals;) and besides these, may be mentioned the "mothers" and daughters of humanity; for wherever beats an intuitive heart, there the teachings of the true teacher are best appreciated.