LITTLE THINGS BY Charles Robert Morrison

atmosphere and surroundings favorable to growth; either of them may
triumph over adverse conditions, master circumstances, and stand
supreme in the midst of difficulties, by meeting the conditions essential
to success.
What is education? It is primarily a leading forth; a training of the mental
powers; the informing and enlightenment of the understanding; the
formation and regulation of the principles and the character; the
preparation and fitting for any calling or business.
Channing said: "The true end of education is to unfold and direct aright
our whole nature. Its office is to call forth power of every kind . . .
power of thought, affection, will, and outward action;
power to observe, to reason, to judge, to contrive;
power to adopt good ends firmly, and to pursue them efficiently;
power to govern ourselves and to influence others;
power to gain and spread happiness.
The young are to be helped to help themselves. They should be taught to
observe and study the world in which they live, to trace the connections
of events, to rise from particular facts to general principles, and then to
apply these in explaining new phenomena.
This power, as thus described, dwells within; perhaps unknown to its
possessor until awakened, until called out by processes simple, various,
yet valuable.
Dr. Beaumont said: "Knowledge is to be taught as nature teaches--
gently, softly, kindly; a little now and a little then, a little here and a
little there, a little this way and a little that way. See how nature trains
her plants in the field--the sunshine, the rain, the combination of air
and soil, slowly, gradually; germ, blossom, growth, form; then fruitage,
awaiting the harvest."
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