CHAPTER VIII.
MUSIC.
_Infant ditties--Songs on natural history--Moral lessons in verse--Influence of music in softening of the feelings--Illustrative anecdote_.
* * * * * "Music hath charms" * * * * * Music has been found a most important means of _mental_ and _moral_ improvement.

Its application took place from my finding a great difficulty in teaching some children, especially the younger ones, to sound their letters; and hence I determined to set the alphabet to a simple tune.

I sang it frequently to the children when they were low or dispirited, and although none attempted the same sounds at first, I had the satisfaction of observing unusual attention.

My next effort was very injudicious; for I urged on them the imitation of these sounds before they were actually capable of so doing; and hence, as more reflection would have shewn, only discordance arose.

Having told them then to listen _only_, as they did at first, I soon discovered that having learned the tune through the proper organ--the ear, they were able to imitate it with the voice.