4144. There are vain words, and idle words, and hasty words, and spiteful words, and silly words, and empty words, and profane words, and boisterous words, and warlike words.
4145. Kind words also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is. They sooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his sour, and morose, and unkind feelings. We have not yet begun to use kind words in such abundance as they ought to be used.
4146. Gossiping.—If you wish to cultivate a gossiping, meddling, censorious spirit in your children, be sure when they come home from church, a visit, or any other place where you do not accompany them, to ply them with questions concerning what everybody wore, how everybody looked, and what everybody said and did; and if you find any thing in this to censure, always do it in their hearing.
4147. Amusements for Children.—These should be provided. Children must play; a large portion of their waking hours must be passed in action if we would make them healthy and happy.
4148. School and study should not occupy more than three hours of the day, till the child is over ten years of age.