Mother. Quarrels-quarrelsome. Children. A person who often quarrels, is called a quarrelsome person. Mother. Which of you can find two words of the same family, expressing quite the contrary of the two preceding words. Emily. Peace-peaceable. A man who loves peace, is called a peaceable man, &c. Sentences on number, calculated to lead children to a distinction between cardinal and ordinal numbers. Mother. The school-room contains diligent children. Of what do I say something? What do I say of it? What do you know concerning the children? The school-room contains children. Do you know something now concerning the children? Children. No; except that there is more than one child in the school-room. Mother. The school-room contains many children. Do you know now more concerning the children. Just so--concerning their number, you know something more. If there happened to be but two or three children, I might say, The school-room contains children; but could I say, many children? As yet, then, you only know that there is more than one child in the school-room; but not how many. The school-room contains sixty children. What do you know now concerning the children? Children. We know now exactly how many children are in the school-room. Mother. You now know the number of the children; but beyond this, you know nothing of them. The school-room contains attentive and diligent children. You know now something of the children in general. What do you know of them? Children. We know, &c. Mother. Of the sixty scholars, thirty-five are boys, and twenty-five are girls. Here, then, are more boys than girls, and less girls than boys. Children repeat. Mother. Do you know more exactly the number of the boys and that of the girls, when I say here are thirty-five boys, and twenty-five girls; or when I say here are more boys than girls? In what, then, do these two sentences differ? Children. According to the first sentence, we know exactly the number of the boys and of the girls; but according to the second, we do not. Mother. In the school-room are twelve benches. What does this sentence express concerning the benches? Exactly so it mentions nothing but their number, Our neighbour has many children. Do I know by this, how many he has ? me so? Children. How many has he? Mother. From this you perceive, that the numerical words, 1, 2, 3, 10, 18, &c. exactly determine the number; but that the words many, few, more, less, &c. few, more, less, &c. express num ber in an undetermined manner. Our village has 140 houses: the village How would you express this, if you were to speak in an undetermined manner? Children. Our village has many; but the village N. has but few houses. How many lines are here? (pointing to the slate.) Count them. Why do you count, one, two, three, &c. Mother. A. received seven shillings, and B. received the eighth shilling. Which of them received most? But surely eight is more than seven ? (The children hesitate.) You, undoubtedly, are aware right; but you cannot prove it. I will explain it to you. that you are Listen to me, A. actually received seven shillings; B. on the contrary, received but one shilling, which, in a certain row or order, happened to be the eighth. Children repeat. The Mother will, of course, not confine herself to the letter, in these exercises; but will vary them according to the age and capacity of her little pupils: she will endeavour to select sentences, as much as possible, from surrounding objects, and from circumstances most likely to prove interesting. Had time been at command, the present Number, as well as the preceding Numbers, might have been less imperfect. It is, however, hoped, that they may not prove unserviceable, as Hints; and that they may, at least, have the good effect of inducing others to produce something still more Pestalozzian. THE plan of treating a variety of subjects in their early stages only, instead of continuing F |