1244. CHILDREN, Moral training of.—
When your sister arrives [in France] she will become a precious charge on your hands.
The difference of your age and your common
loss of a mother, will put that office on you.
Teach her above all things to be good, because
without that we can neither be valued
by others nor set any value on ourselves.
Teach her always to be true; no vice is so
mean as the want of truth, and at the same
time so useless. Teach her never to be angry;
anger only serves to torment ourselves, to
divert others, and alienare their esteem. And
teach her industry, and application to useful
pursuits. I will venture to assure you that
if you inculcate this in her mind, you will
make her a happy being herself, a most interesting
friend to you, and precious to all the
world.—
To Martha Jefferson.
Ford ed., iv, 375.
