" This arose purely in the boy's own mind, because I am very
careful not to anticipate any judgments; I think it of the highest
importance that they should learn to form their own opinions, so
that we never attempt to criticise a character until we have
mastered the facts of his life.
Another thing I am doing with them, which seems to me to develop
intelligence pleasurably and rapidly, is to read them a passage or
an episode, and then to require them to relate it or write it in
their own words. I don't remember that this was ever done for me in
the whole course of my elaborate education; and the speed with
which they have acquired the art of seizing on salient points is to
me simply marvellous. I have my reward in such remarks as these
which Maud repeated to me yesterday. "Lessons," said Alec gravely,
"have become ever so much more fun since we began to do them with
father." "Fun!" said Maggie, with indignant emotion; "they are not
lessons at all now!" I certainly do not observe any reluctance on
their part to set to work, and I do see a considerable reluctance
to stop; yet I don't think there is the least strain about it. But
it is true that I save them all the stupid and irksome work that
made my own acquisition of knowledge so bitter a thing.
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