Fry, Elizabeth Gurney, 1780-1845; Prison reformers -- Biography
"2d. I shall not speak of moral conduct, which, if religious principles
be kept to, we may believe will be good; but I shall give certain hints
that may point out the temptations to which schools are particularly
liable. I have observed a want of strict integrity in school-boys, as it
respects their schoolmasters and teachers--a disposition to cheat them,
to do that behind their backs which they would not do before their
faces, and so having two faces. Now, this is a subject of the utmost
importance--to maintain truth and integrity upon all points. Be not
double-minded in any degree, but faithfully maintain, not only the
upright principle on religious ground, but also the brightest honor,
according to the maxims of the world. I mourn to say I have seen the
want of this bright honor, not only in school-boys, but in some of our
highly-professing society; and my belief is that it cannot be too
strictly maintained, or too early begun. I like to see it in small
things, and in great; for it marks the upright man. I may say that I
abhor anything like being under-handed or double-dealing; but let us go
on the right and noble principle of doing to others as we would have
others do to us; therefore, in all transactions, small and great,
maintain strictly the correct, upright, and most honorable practice. I
have heard of boys robbing their neighbors' fruit, etc.; I may truly say
that I believe there are very few in the present day would do such
things, but no circumstances can make this other than a shameful
deviation from all honest and right principles. My belief is, that such
habits begun in youth end mostly in great incorrectness in future life,
if not in gross sin; and that no excuse can be pleaded for such actions,
for sin is equally sin, whether committed by the school-boy or those of
mature years, which is too apt to be forgotten, and that punishment
_will_ follow."
In a letter to her eldest son she begs him to try to be a learned man,
not to neglect the modern languages; but so to improve his time at
school that he may become in manhood a power for good; and then, by
various thoughtful kindnesses manifests her unwearying care for his
welfare.
She gratefully acknowledges, in another communication to a sister, the
assistance which that sister rendered in educating some of the elder
girls, for a time, so enabling Mrs. Fry herself to be set free for the
multitude of other duties awaiting her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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