I cannot bear to have them grow up in wild ignorance."

"No; youth must be guided. No greater evil can befall a lad than to be
left to do as he pleases. Yet in well-born children, such as yours,
much may be trusted to nature. I rely on human essence. Freedom is the
best school. I don't believe we are born with evil passions and base
propensities. God made our faculties. The doctrine of total depravity
slanders the Creator. The perfect man uses all, abuses none of his
organs or energies. To educate a man is to give his hands, brain, and
heart their maximum power. This can be done outside of academies. The
free schooling out of school, which your sons now enjoy, is a
discipline towards success in life. Those fellows will be of some
account, depend upon it. The ancient Eastern wisdom said, 'Know
thyself'; the new Western oracle says, 'Do something worth doing.'"

"How true and how encouraging," exclaimed the enthusiast at his side.
"I wish Mr. Blennerhassett could hear your broad views. But I am not
sure you are right in relying entirely on weak human nature. I was
taught to mistrust the natural man. Is not conversion necessary?"

"In case the soul begins with a pure inheritance, I see no necessity
for regeneration. We come into the world potentially complete. The
thorough development of body and mind will furnish the world with a
perfect man. The best education gives man's natural powers the right
direction and the greatest efficiency. _We must trust_ in what we
are,--in our own selfhood. Give man elbow room, give him breathing
space, liberty to think, feel and do. This is true living."

Mrs. Blennerhassett stooped to pick up a blood-red leaf. They were
nearing the boat-landing. The way was overarched by spreading branches
of gigantic maple-trees. The boys had wandered to the head of the
island, two furlongs away.

"What of woman's education? Should it differ from man's?"

"No; I train my daughter as I might train a son."

"Are her thoughts like yours?"

"I put slight restraint on her thoughts or emotions. There is no sex
in soul. Woman should be free as the free breeze singing in the leaves
over our head, and ruffling the waves out yonder on the river."

"You grow eloquent. Is it the singing breeze or the rippling water
that causes you to put your principles in language so poetical?"

"Do I speak poetically? That grand oak tree may shed Dodonian
influence. It looks the king of trees--the emperor. These magnific