Page 69 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

68 THIRD BOOK OF
2. At a later age, but still very early, the child distinguishes readily between a mineral mass, a vege­ table, and an animal, and thus his mind has already noted the three great classes of natural bodies, and has acquired a certain degree of acquaintance with natural history. He also soon understands the phrases, "a lling body," "the rce of a moving body," and has, there re, some perception of the great physical laws of gravity and inertia.
3. Having seen sugar dissolved in water, and wax melted round the wick of a burning candle, be has learned some phenomena of chemistry. And having observed the conduct of the domestic animals, and of the persons about him, he has begun his acquaintance with physiology and the science of mind. Lastly, when he bas learned to count his ngers and his sugar-plums, and to judge of the irness of the divi­ sion of cake between himself and his brothers, he has advanced into arithmetic and geometry.
4. Thus, within a year or two, a child of common sense has made a degree of progress in all the great departments of human science, and, in addition, has learned to name objects, and to express feelings, by the arbitrary sounds of language. Such, then, are the beginnings or undations of knowledge, on ,vhich ture years of experience or methodical education must rear the superstructure of the more considerable attainments, which be t the various conditions of men in a civilised community.
5. The most complete education, as regards the mind, can only consist of a knowledge of natural history, and of science, and a miliarity with lan­ guage. As regards the body, it consists of the rma- , tion of various habits of muscular action, performance