“The children of our family should be like the fingers on a hand; each help the other, and each in his separate station promote the good of the whole. The joy of one should be the joy of the whole. Children in a house should agree together like the birds in a nest, and love each other.”
William. I thank you grandpa: I remember Watts’ hymn:
“Birds in their little nests agree,
“And ’tis a shameful sight,
“When children of one family,
“Fall out and chide and fight.”
The master Rebels often fight; many say that it is jealousy that makes them do so.—Pray, grandpa, what is jealousy?
Grandfather. A passion which I hope will never enter your breast. Your excellent parents love you all equally, and take care to make it appear that they do so. A good parent looks around with equal love on each child, if all be equally good, and each be kind to the rest. When a family is affectionate, how happy is every member of it! each rejoiceth at the happiness of the rest, and so multiplies his own satisfactions. Is any one distressed? the tender and compassionate assistance of the rest mitigates where it cannot wholly relieve his pain!
“Our joys when thus shared are always increas’d,
“And griefs when divided are hushed into peace.”