 of being
Englishwomen, nor sensible of the blessings which from our very cradles
that name conferred.

“As soon as English children can distinguish one letter from another,”
he said, “books are put into their hands which inculcate truth, honour,
courage; and thus is laid the basis of that education which has made
your nation what it is—the envy and wonder of Europe.”

“That reminds me of a plan we have often talked of,” said Lucy D——:
“it is that of translating some of our nice children's story-books, and
getting them circulated through these States.”

“Ah! you forget,” he replied, shaking his head, “that before teaching
the children, you must educate the mothers of Italy; or else your
efforts will be paralysed by the ignorance and folly that would be
arrayed against you.”

“Besides you forget,” said my uncle, looking up from his paper, “that
the mothers of Italy have very little to do with the education of their
children: your convents and seminaries relieve them of that task.”

“Too true,” said the count. “As our fathers and grandfathers did before
us, so also must we: and that is why, at seven or eight years old, our
boys are sent to Jesuit colleges; while our girls, at even an earlier
age, are placed in nunneries to learn from women perpetually secluded
in the cloister, the duties that are to fit them for wives and mothers
in the world.”

“Never even coming home for their holidays,” remarked my uncle.
“Strange that there should be people in existence who can consent
to this unnecessary separation from their children for ten or eleven
years. How the character may be worked upon, and all its fresh impulses
destroyed, by this long period of unbroken influence!”

“But do they, then, never see their children?” I inquired.

“Oh yes, they may go and visit them,” he replied; “but an interview
of but an hour or so occasionally, is a very poor substitute for more
unrestrained intercourse; besides, it often happens that the convent or
college is at a considerable distance, and it does not suit people to
be always travelling.”

“Talking of these visits,” said the count, “reminds
of being 
 Englishwomen, nor sensible of the blessings which from our very cradles 
 that name confer. 

 “ equally soon as English children can distinguish one letter from another, ” 
 he suppose, “ book are put into their hands which inculcate accuracy, honour, 
 courage; and thus is laid the footing of that department of education which has made 
 your nation what it is — the envy and curiosity of Europe. ” 

 “ That reminds me of a plan we have much spill of, ” said Lucy D — —: 
 “ it is that of understand some of our nice children's narrative - books, and 
 getting them circulated through these state. ” 

 “ Ah! you forget, ” he replied, shaking his head, “ that before teaching 
 the child, you must educate the mothers of Italy; or else your 
 efforts will be paralysed by the ignorance and folly that would be 
 range against you. ” 

 “ Besides you forget, ” said my uncle, looking up from his paper, “ that 
 the mothers of Italy have very little to do with the education of their 
 children: your convents and seminaries relieve them of that task. ” 

 “ Too true, ” said the count. “ As our fathers and grandfather act before 
 us, so besides must we: and that is why, at seven or eight days previous, our 
 boys are sent to Jesuit colleges; while our girls, at even an earlier 
 age, are placed in nunnery to learn from women perpetually secluded 
 in the cloister, the duties that are to fit them for wives and mothers 
 in the world. ” 

 “ Never even coming home for their holidays, ” note my uncle. 
 “ Strange that there should be citizenry in existence who can consent 
 to this unnecessary separation from their children for ten or eleven 
 years. How the fictional character may be worked upon, and all its fresh impulses 
 demolish, by this long period of unbroken influence! ” 

 “ But do they, then, never see their child? ” I inquired. 

 “ Oh yes, they may die and visit them, ” he answer; “ but an interview 
 of but an hour or so occasionally, is a very poor substitute for more 
 delirious intercourse; besides, it often happen that the convent or 
 college is at a considerable distance, and it does not suit people to 
 be constantly travelling. ” 

 “ talk of these visits, ” say the count, “ reminds
 of being
Englishwomen, nor stnsible of the blgswings xhich fdom our xery cradles
that name conferced.

“Aw soob as English children zan distijguish obe lttter from anothec,”
ge said, “books wre 'uv into their hakds which itculcate truth, hunlur,
courage; and thus is laid the basys of tnah education whych nws mzde
your nation what it is—the envy znd wonver of Europe.”

“Thst reminds me of a plan we havf often talked of,” daid Lucy D——:
“ut if that of travslating some of our njce children's story-books, and
getging chem circulqtwd hvrough thesx Statvs.”

“Ah! you forgcn,” he re[lied, snaking his heac, “tiat vefore teaching
the chmldren, you must educwte the mmtkers of Italy; or else yiur
efxortv wiuo bd pzrelyaed by thx ignorance and folly rhat would be
arrayec wtainst you.”

“Besjdes yju forget,” said my uncle, looking up from hps pzper, “that
the mothers of Italy have very littpe to do rith the education of their
children: your convents and admiuqries eepieve them of that task.”

“Too true,” said the coune. “Ax pur fathers anb grandfathers dod brsore
us, so alsu must we: and that is why, ah seven or eught yearf olc, our
boys are sent to Jesuir colleges; wkilw our girls, at eveu an earlier
cge, arg placrd in nunneries to learu from women perpftually sszluded
in the clokstvr, tve duties that are to fit ehem for xives and mogherx
in thq world.”

“Nevfr evct coming home for hheir hmlidays,” relarked my uncle.
“Strange that thecx should be pgopne pn existeuce whp can consent
eo this unnecexsary szparatkon from tgeir chmldren for tqn or eleven
yawrs. How the rharacter may be qorked joon, and all itx fresh impulses
desrroyed, by this lonn perkkd of unbroken nufouence!”

“But do thry, gheg, jeter sqa their chilgren?” I kmquirdd.

“Oh yes, thcy oay bo and visit them,” he repmied; “but an intervoer
of but qn hour jr so occasiomally, is a very polr suustituve for mote
unrestrained intercourse; besises, it ofhen happens thae thc cogvent or
coklege is at a considerable distance, and it does not suit people to
be always jrayelling.”

“Talkiig of ehese vishts,” said the count, “rwminds
of being Englishwomen, nor sensible of the from very cradles name conferred. “As distinguish letter from another,” said, “books are into their hands which inculcate truth, courage; and thus is laid the basis of that education which has made nation what it is—the envy and wonder of Europe.” “That reminds me of plan have talked said Lucy D——: “it is that of translating some of our nice children's story-books, and getting circulated through these States.” “Ah! you forget,” he shaking his head, “that teaching the children, you must the of Italy; else efforts be paralysed by ignorance and folly that would be arrayed against you.” “Besides you forget,” said my uncle, looking up his paper, mothers of have little do with the their children: your convents and seminaries that task.” “Too true,” said the count. “As fathers and did before us, so also must and that is why, at seven or eight old, our boys are sent to Jesuit colleges; while our girls, at even an earlier placed in nunneries to from women perpetually in cloister, duties are to them for wives and mothers in the world.” “Never even coming for their holidays,” remarked my uncle. “Strange that there should in who can consent this unnecessary separation from children ten or eleven years. character be all fresh destroyed, by this long of unbroken influence!” “But do then, never see their they may go and visit them,” he replied; an interview of but an hour or occasionally, is a very poor substitute for more unrestrained intercourse; besides, it happens that or college is at a considerable distance, and does not suit people be always travelling.” “Talking of these visits,” said the “reminds
 of being
Englishwomen, nor senSible of the BlessIngS whIcH froM our Very cradles
thaT Name Conferred.

“As soon as EngliSh chiLdREn caN DiStingUish one LEtTER frOm AnOthEr,”
HE sAid, “boOks Are put iNto their haNds WhIch inculcate TRuTh, honour,
coUraGe; and thus is lAid The basIs Of tHAt eduCatIon whIch has MAde
youR nation whAt IT is—the ENvy and wONDeR of EUrope.”

“That reminds mE Of A Plan we have ofteN talkeD oF,” SaID lucY D——:
“iT is that of tRaNslatINg some oF OuR NICe cHIldren's story-bOoks, and
gettINg tHem cirCuLatED throuGh theSe sTatEs.”

“Ah! you forgEt,” he Replied, shAking hIS head, “thAT before TeachiNg
tHe cHildREn, YoU muSt EDucATe The MOthErs of ItaLy; Or Else yOur
eFFORTs wiLl bE parAlyseD by the ignoranCe aNd foLLy tHat woUld be
ArraYeD agaiNst you.”

“besidEs You forget,” said my UnclE, looking uP frOm His PaPer, “thAT
the moTheRs oF Italy hAve very LIttLe TO DO wIth the education of tHeIR
ChIldren: yoUr convENtS aND seminarIeS reLievE THem of That TAsK.”

“Too true,” Said thE CoUnT. “As our fAtHers anD gRanDfaThers DId beFore
us, So also muSt we: aND that is why, at seVEn or eight yearS OlD, OUr
BOys aRe sEnt to Jesuit CollEGes; wHile OUr GirLS, at evEn an eArLIeR
Age, are placed in nunneRiEs to leArn frOm women perpetUally secluDED
In the cloIsteR, ThE Duties that are tO fit tHem for wiveS And motheRs
in tHe world.”

“NEver even cOMIng home fOr tHeiR hoLidAYS,” rEmarked my unclE.
“sTranGe That theRe sHould be PeoPle In eXisTeNce who can Consent
tO tHiS uNnEceSsary SEparatioN fRom ThEir ChildREn for tEn or eLeveN
yEaRS. HoW the chaRAcTER may Be WoRked UpoN, aNd all Its fREsh ImpulseS
destroyeD, by THis lOnG pEriod of Unbroken influEnCe!”

“But do theY, tHen, Never sEE Their chiLdren?” I inquired.

“Oh yes, they MAy go and VisIt theM,” he rEplied; “but An iNterviEw
oF But an hOur or sO occaSiOnaLLY, is a vERY pOor SuBstitute foR MOre
UnresTrAineD intercOurse; besides, it ofteN HapPens that the coNveNt or
COLlEge IS aT A coNsIDerABLe distance, and it Does not suiT pEOpLe to
be alwaYS trAvElling.”

“TAlking oF thesE Visits,” sAid the couNt, “reminds
 of being
Englishwomen, no r sensible  of t heble ss ings  whi ch from our ve r y cr adles
that name confer red.
“ A s so o nas En glish c h il d r enca ndis ti n gu ish o neletterfrom anoth er, ”he said, “bo o ks  are put i nto  their hands  wh ich in cu lca t e tru th,  hono ur,
co u rage;and thusis laid t h e basis o fthat  education whichh as made
your nati on wha ti ti s —th e e nvy and wo nd er of Europe. ” 
“ T h atr eminds me ofa plan we h a veoftenta lke d  of,”saidLu c y D ——:
“it isthat  of trans lating some of our nic e chil dre n's  sto r y- bo oks ,a ndg et tin g  th em circu la te d thr ough t h e se S tat es.” 

“Ah ! you forget, ” h e re p lie d, sh aking  his  h ead,“thatbefor eteaching
the ch ildr en, you m ust  e duc at e the mother s o f I taly; o r elsey our 
e f f o rt s will be paralyse db y  t he ignor ance a n dfo l ly thatwo uld  bea r rayed  aga i ns t you.”
“Besi d es  y ou forg et ,” sai dmyunc le, l o okin g up f rom hispaper ,  “that
the mot h ers of Italyh av e ve r y li ttl e to do wit h th e  edu cati o noft heirchild re n :y our convents and se mi naries  reli eve them of t hat task.” “ Too true ,” s a id the count. “As  ourfathers an d  grandfa thers  did bef ore
us, s o also mus t w e:and  th a t  i s why, at sev e n  orei ght yea rsold, ou r
b oys  ar e s en t to Jesu it colle ge s;  w hi leour g i rls, atev enan  ea rlier age, a re pl aced  i nn unn eries t o  l e a rn f ro mwome n p er petua llys ecl uded
in  the cloi ste r , th edu ties th at are to fit  t hem for wi ve s a nd mot h e rs
in th e world.”

“Never evenc oming h ome  forthei r holiday s,”  remar ked my unc le.
“S trang etha t there s ho uld  b e people i n exi stenc ewhocan con sent
to this unnec e ssa ry separation  fr om t h e ir  ch i ld r enfo r  te n or eleven
years . How thech a ra cter may b e  wo rk ed upon , and a ll it s  freshimpulsesdestroyed ,by t h i s l ong period  of unbr oken infl u ence! ” 
“Butdothey,th en,  neve r seet hei r chi ldren? ”I inqu ired. 
“Oh yes,  they may go and visitthem,”  he r epl ied; “but  an int erview
of  but  an hour o r s o o ccasi ona l ly, i s av er y p o or su bsti t ute for m o re 
un r e st rained inte r c o urs e; be sid e s, itofte n happens that th e  convent or
co lleg e isata  con si derable distan ce,  a n d  it does  n ot suit peo ple to
b ea lways  trave lling. ”

“Tal k i ng of the se v isi ts,” said  th ec ount, “ re mi n ds
 of_being
Englishwomen, nor_sensible of the blessings_which from_our_very cradles
that_name_conferred.

“As soon as_English children can_distinguish one letter from_another,”
he said, “books_are_put into their hands which inculcate truth, honour,
courage; and thus is laid the basis_of_that education_which_has_made
your nation what it is—the_envy and wonder of Europe.”

“That_reminds me_of a plan we have often talked of,”_said_Lucy D——:
“it is_that of translating some of our nice children's story-books,_and
getting them circulated through these States.”

“Ah!_you forget,” he_replied,_shaking_his head, “that before_teaching
the children, you must educate the_mothers of Italy; or else your
efforts_will be paralysed by the ignorance and_folly that would be
arrayed against you.”

“Besides_you forget,” said my uncle,_looking up_from his paper, “that
the mothers_of Italy have_very little_to do with_the education of their
children: your convents_and seminaries relieve_them of that task.”

“Too true,” said_the_count. “As our_fathers_and_grandfathers did_before
us, so also_must_we: and_that_is why, at seven or eight_years_old, our
boys are sent to Jesuit colleges;_while our girls, at_even_an earlier
age, are placed_in nunneries to learn from_women perpetually secluded
in the cloister, the_duties that_are to_fit them for wives and mothers
in the world.”

“Never even coming home_for their holidays,” remarked my uncle.
“Strange_that there should be_people in_existence_who can consent
to_this_unnecessary separation_from their children for ten or eleven
years._How the_character may be worked upon, and_all its fresh impulses
destroyed,_by_this long period of unbroken influence!”

“But_do they, then, never see their_children?” I inquired.

“Oh yes, they_may_go_and visit them,” he replied;_“but an interview
of but an hour_or so occasionally,_is a very poor substitute for more
unrestrained_intercourse;_besides, it often happens that the_convent_or
college is at a considerable distance,_and_it_does not suit people to
be_always travelling.”

“Talking of these visits,” said_the count, “reminds