e,
containing more oil than is contained in tea, it can be made hotter
before it turns into vapour."

Children may be led to acquire a taste for chemistry by slight hints
in conversation.

(July 22d, 1794.) _Father._ "S----, can you tell me what is meant by a
body's falling?"

_S----_ (seven years old.) "A body's falling, means a body's dying, I
believe."

_Father._ "By _body_, I don't mean a person, but any thing. What is
meant by any thing's falling?"

_S----._ "Coming down from a high place."

_Father._ "What do you mean by a high place?"

_S----._ "A place higher than places usually are; higher than the
ground."

_Father._ "What do you mean by the ground?"

_S----._ "The earth."

_Father._ "What shape do you think the earth is?"

_S----._ "Round."

_Father._ "Why do you think it is round?"

_S----._ "Because I have heard a great many people say so."

_Father._ "The shadow.--It is so difficult to explain to you, my dear,
why we think that the earth is round, that I will not attempt it
_yet_."

It is better, as we have often observed, to avoid all _imperfect_
explanations, which give children confused ideas.

(August 18th, 1794.) Master ---- came to see us, and taught S---- to
fish for minnows. It was explained to S----, that fishing with worms
for baits, tortures the worms. No other argument was used, no
sentimental exclamations made upon the occasion; and S---- fished no
more, nor did he ever mention the subject again.

Children sometimes appear cruel, when in fact they do not know that
they give pain to animals.

(July 27th, 1794.) S---- saw a beautiful rainbow, and he said, "I wish
I could walk over that fine arch."

This is one of the pleasures of Ariel, and of the Sylphs in the Rape
of the Lock. S---- was not praised for a poetic wish, lest he should
have learnt affectation.

(September 3d, 1794.) Mr. ---- attempted to explain to B----, H----,
S----, and C----, the nature of insurance, and the day afterwards he
asked them to explain it to him. They none of them understood it,
except B----, who could not, however, explain it, though she did
understand it. The terms were all new to them, and they had no ships
to insure.

(September 19th.) At dinner to-day, S---- (seven years old) said to
his sister C----, "What is the name of that man that my father was
talking to, that sounded like Idem, Isdal, or Izard, I believe."
"Izard!" said somebody at table, "that name sounds like Lizard; yes