In America, suddenly, we were let loose on the street.

Why?
Because my father having renounced his faith, and my mother being uncertain of hers, they had no particular creed to hold us to.

The conception of a system of ethics independent of religion could not at once enter as an active principle in their life; so that they could give a child no reason why to be truthful or kind.

And as with religion, so it fared with other branches of our domestic education.

Chaos took the place of system; uncertainty, inconsistency undermined discipline.