I did not wish to tell you the reason, for fear of frightening you while you were passing by the tree.

But I knew that you would obey me without any reason.

You always do, and that is why I always like to have you go with me when I take a walk." [Illustration: INDULGENCE.] Louisa is much gratified by this commendation, and the effect of it, and of the whole incident, in confirming and strengthening the principle of obedience in her heart, is very much greater than rebukes or punishments for any overt act of disobedience could possibly be.
"But, mother," asked Louisa, "how did you know that there was a wasp's nest under that tree ?" "One of the boys told me so," replied her mother.
"And do you really think there is one there ?" asked Louisa.
"No," replied her mother, "I do not really think there is.

Boys are very apt to imagine such things." "Then why would you not let me go there ?" asked Louisa.
"Because there _might be_ one there, and so I thought it safer for you not to go near." Louisa now left her mother's side and resumed her excursions, running this way and that, in every direction, over the fields, until at length, her strength beginning to fail, she came back to her mother, out of breath, and with a languid air, saying that she was too tired to go any farther.
"I am tired, too," said her mother; "we had better find a place to sit down to rest." "Where shall we find one ?" asked Louisa.
"I see a large stone out there before us a little way," said her mother.
"How will that do ?" "I mean to go and try it," said Louisa; and, having seemingly recovered her breath, she ran forward to try the stone.

By the time that her mother reached the spot she was ready to go on.
These and similar incidents marked the whole progress of the walk.
We see that in such a case as this firm government and free indulgence are conjoined; and that, far from there being any antagonism between them, they may work together in perfect harmony.
_Mode of Management with Hannah_.
On the other hand, there may be an extreme limitation in respect to a mother's indulgence of her children, while yet she has no government over them at all.