“The deluge drowned
The world around—”
continued these instructions in history and science. Biblical example was thus enforced for the benefit of Harriet:
“Young pious Ruth
Left all for truth;”
and, for Henry’s sake, this:
“Young Obadias,
David, Josias,
All were pious.”
That great New England classic, comprised in a mere booklet, three by four inches in size, contained also the “Alphabet of Lessons for Youth,” which Ma’am Kilbourne did not fail to enforce. She taught them to read from the printed page what they already knew in the better way—by heart, the immortal prayer, “Now I lay me,” and the hymns, “Hush, my dear,” and “Give ear, my children,” and other hymns and prayers. There were also “Moral Precepts for Children in Words of One Syllable.” They were tedious, but think of the glory of really knowing them by heart!