The finest lesson on the beauty of truth is enforced by a mother never herself saying what is false; for children pay great regard to consistency, and very soon detect any discrepancies between that which is taught and that which is practised.
The best method of inculcating truth on the minds of children is by analogy and illustration.

They cannot follow an argument, though they readily understand a comparison: and, by a judicious arrangement, every thing, either animate or inanimate, might be made to become a teacher.

What lesson on industry would be so likely to be instructive as that gathered from a bee-hive?
The longest dissertation on the evils of idleness and the advantages of industry would not prove half so beneficial as directing the observation to the movements of the bee--that ever-active insect, which, without the aid of reason, exercises prudence and foresight, and provides against the wants of winter.

A child will readily understand such instruction as this, and will blush to be found spending precious hours in idleness.

And in the same way with other duties, whether to God or mankind, the fowls of the air and the flowers of the field might be made profitable teachers, and the child would, wherever he went, be surrounded with instruction.
This mode of teaching has this special recommendation--it raises up no evil passions: and a child which would display an evil temper by being reproved in words, will feel no such rancor at a lesson being inculcated in a way like this.
This instruction will also be much longer remembered than one delivered in words, forasmuch as the object upon which the instruction is based would be continually presented to the eye.
And, we believe, almost all duties might be inculcated in this manner.