CHAPTER XIV.
GEOGRAPHY.
_Its attraction for children--Sacred Geography-Geographical song--and lesson on geography_.
* * * * * "From sea to sea, from realm to realm I rove."-- _Tickell_.
* * * * * Geography is to children a delightful study.

We give some idea of it at an early period in infant schools, by singing, "London is the capital, the capital, the capital, London is the capital, the capital of England," and other capitals in the same way; and also by pictures of the costumes of the various people of the world.

To teach the four quarters of the globe, we tell children the different points of the play-ground, and then send them to the eastern, western, northern, or southern quarters, as we please.

A weathercock should also be placed at the top of the school, and every favourable day opportunities should be seized by the teachers to give practical instructions upon it.[A] [Footnote A: If the lesson is on objects it will shew how children are taught the points of the compass, with which we find they are very much delighted, the best proof that can be given that it is not injurious to the faculties.] Sacred geography is of great importance, and children are much pleased at finding out the spots visited by our Saviour, or the route of the apostle Paul.
THE EARTH.
The earth, on which we all now live, Is called a globe--its shape I'll give; If in your pocket you've a ball, You have it's shape,--but that's not all; For land and water it contains, And presently I'll give their names.
The quarters are called, Africa, Europe, Asia, and America; These contain straits, oceans, seas, Continents, promontories, Islands, rivers, gulfs, or bays, Isthmusses, peninsulas,-- Each divides or separates Nations, kingdoms, cities, states,-- Mountains, forests, hills, and dales, Dreary deserts, rocks, and vales.
In forests, deserts, bills, and plains, Where feet have never trod, There still in mighty power, He reigns, An ever-present God.
THE CARDINAL POINTS.
The _east_ is where the sun does rise Each morning, in the glorious skies; Full _west_ he sets, or hides his head, And points to us the time for bed; He's in the _south_ at dinner time; The _north_ is facing to a line.
The above can be given as a gallery lesson, and it will at once be seen that it requires explanation: the explanation is given by the teacher in the same way as we have hinted at in former lessons, though for the sake of those teachers who may not be competent to do it, we subjoin the following: Q.Little children what have we been singing about?
A.The earth on which we live.

Q.What is the earth called?
A.A globe.