Pleasant Pages for Young People; Or, Book of Home Education and Entertainment

tone just, the style fitted to form a pure taste. In these respects, the American publishers feel authorized to believe that they are introducing to families and individuals a work entitled to confidence; and they have been encouraged to issue it by the commendations of gentlemen whose experience as instructors and as scientific men gives value to their testimony. The great variety of subjects presented, and withal so skilfully treated as to make "truth simple " and attractive, renders it an admirable family book for summer days and winter nights. The lessons on drawing, alone, offer to the young learner an easy introduction to a source of almost inexhaustible pleasure and of permanent benefit. To cultivate habits of observation and thoughtfulness; to lead the tender mind to a knowledge of the works of God in nature and providence, and of his moral laws, as written in the structure of the soul and affirmed in the pages of revelation, - these are within the province peculiarly of home education, and deserve to be more diligently attended to in that primary school of which all are pupils. The present publication is tendered as an auxiliary to this object. And should the present volume prove successful, the publishers have made arrangements for a series of volumes by the same author.

PREFACE.

THE aim of "PLEASANT PAGES" is, THE FOUNDA

TION OF GOOD MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL HABITS IN

THE RISING GENERATION. In order to this end, it will endeavor to exhibit to the young the wondrous goodness and wisdom of the Creator in his works, and to excite within them a longing for the highest moral excellence. In attempting another of the higher objects of education, the development and training of the mind, — it will lead children to observe minutely and accurately, to reflect slowly, and to compare and generalize carefully. Whilst presenting to them much solid information, it will open to their senses new fields of observation, and, by rendering instruction pleasing and attractive, will aim to form a taste for reading, and a desire for knowledge.

These objects will be dear to all who love children. They will be dearer still to those who possess the interesting responsibilities of a parent; and to such the author of "PLEASANT PAGES" would earnestly present his work.

All the time asked for so important a design is ten minutes a day. The book, if regularly read by the parent to his child, at their morning meal, would 1*

render him his "DAILY INSTRUCTOR." It would, every morning, supply the child with a new idea, and set his mind in motion for the day, promoting its exercise and growth. May it thus become a familiar and welcome guest; looked for and required by children as much as they require their "daily bread;" and may the author be allowed the privilege of assisting parents in their most sacred function- the training of their offspring; a system of training which shall implant truth in the spring time of age, that it may take root; which shall, in cultivating the mind, so refine its perceptions, and exercise its higher powers of reason and judgment, that it shall truly grow; and, above all, shall aim to form the character of the child, quickening the desire for moral excellence, and teaching that God is in all things, and in us. When such

training shall have been realized, and we shall have placed, in their degrees of importance, the formation of the mind above the furnishing of the memory, and the formation of the "character" above the formation of the mind; then, and only then, will the retrograde progress of error be staggered by the onward progress of truth.

In order to make the work extensively useful, it is published at a price which will require a very large sale to protect the publishers from loss. He would therefore venture to ask all parents, who may approve of its details, to aid in its circulation.