book2

PRESENT TO MBS. EENTON. 61
Now there were a few, who knew her history,
who felt for her, and occasionally tried to help her ;
at least they talked about helping her, which
was worth something to themselves, because it
helped to educate their children. The young, at
every age, are much more influenced by the con
versation which takes place in the family than we
are aware of ; and their feelings and thoughts, in
connection with such familiar conversation, have
a great deal to do in the formation of their char
acter: in other words, such conversation edu
cates them.
Now, it had never occurred to Mr. and Mrs.
Williams, when they were talking often about
poor Mrs. Fenton, that they were educating
their children to sympathize with the poor and
distressed ; yet Henry and the rest of the family