Second, that the school-room requires to be thoroughly cleaned; and, thirdly, that many of the mothers are obliged to wash the children's clothes on a Saturday because they have not a sufficient change, and if they do not have the Saturday, they will break the Sabbath by washing them on Sunday.
I shall next speak of the _daily routine_ of instruction.
If we would be successful in our labours, we most ask for help,--we must solicit aid from that Being who never yet denied it when sincerely and fervently implored.

A minister who desires to instruct his flock with effect, never fails to commence his work with supplication; and certainly every teacher must ask for help, and instruct his pupils to do so too, if he really wish to be successful.
If the wisest and best of men ask assistance from God to teach their fellow-men, and feel and know it to be necessary so to do, who would not ask assistance to instruct infants?
"To lead them into virtue's path, And up to truth divine." If we had only to educate the _head_, prayer might be less necessary.
But the promoters of _infant schools_ want to affect the _heart_; to operate upon the will and the conscience, as well as on the understanding; to make good men rather than learned men--men of _wisdom_, rather than men of _knowledge_: and he who has this work to accomplish, should remember the Saviour's declaration, "Without me ye can do nothing." Whilst therefore I would avoid too frequent repetition of the divine names in tire presence of the children, and never fail to let them know the difference between talking religion and doing religion, and in every case avoid the very appearance of the form without the essence, I would in such case, avoid long prayers, and take care that what was said in their presence should be short, and to the point, keeping in mind the scripture maxim, to avoid long repetitions as the heathen do, who think they shall be heard for their much speaking; and little children cannot have the simple truths of the Word pourtrayed to them in too simple a manner.
To use prayers with little children composed of hard words taken from scholastic theology, is contrary to common sense.

How is it possible that they can either understand or feel them?
To utter prayer before them in dull and melancholy tones, and with grimaces of countenance, is calculated to give a false and gloomy impression of religion, and has often done so.

I have known little children alarmed and frightened at such things; for sounds and appearances speak more strongly to them than words .-- Christ said of the Pharisees, "they disfigure their faces." Our Saviour's direction is, after this manner, pray ye--"Our Father," thus directing us to draw near to the Most High God as a heavenly father, rich in mercy to all them that call upon him.

True, indeed, it is that "all have sinned," but a "new and living way" is provided whereby we may "draw near with boldness to a throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Cowper never penned a truer line than this; "True piety is cheerful as the day;" and such an impression of it should ever be given to the young.