a book appears under
the name of two authors, it is natural to inquire what share belongs
to each of them. All that relates to the art of teaching to read in
the chapter on Tasks, the chapters on Grammar and Classical
Literature, Geography, Chronology, Arithmetic, Geometry, and
Mechanics, were written by Mr. Edgeworth, and the rest of the book by
Miss Edgeworth. She was encouraged and enabled to write upon this
important subject, by having for many years before her eyes the
conduct of a judicious mother in the education of a large family. The
chapter on Obedience, was written from Mrs. Edgeworth's notes, and was
exemplified by her successful practice in the management of her
children; the whole manuscript was submitted to her judgment, and she
revised parts of it in the last stage of a fatal disease.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Letters for Literary Ladies.

CONTENTS.

Chapter Page

I. _Toys_ 9
II. _Tasks_ 40
III. _On Attention_ 71
IV. _Servants_ 109
V. _Acquaintance_ 121
VI. _On Temper_ 137
VII. _On Obedience_ 153
VIII. _On Truth_ 168
IX. _On Rewards and Punishments_ 198
X. _On Sympathy and Sensibility_ 232
XI. _On Vanity, Pride, and Ambition_ 261
XII. _Books_ 276

PRACTICAL EDUCATION.

CHAPTER I.

TOYS.

"Why don't you play with your playthings, my dear? I am sure that I
have bought toys enough for you; why can't you divert yourself with
them, instead of breaking them to pieces?" says a mother to her child,
who stands idle and miserable, surrounded by disjointed dolls, maimed
horses, coaches and one-horse chairs without wheels, and a nameless
wreck of gilded lumber.

A child in this situation is surely more to be pitied than blamed; for
is it not vain to repeat, "Why don't you play with your playthings,"
unless they be such as he can play with, which is very seldom the
case; and is it not rather unjust to be