And as it is to be feared that some parents, &c. are guilty of too much neglect on this hand, so others govern with too much restraint on the other. If you mean that your children should learn to govern themselves, you must learn it to them by experience; that is, by giving them a little lenity, together with your good counsel and advice, and according to their improvement, give them more and more, until they learn the art of self-government. But if you endeavor to keep them wholly under restraint, and never let them learn from experience the different manners and customs of people abroad; if they should happen to break out of your reach (as most likely they will, at certain times) they will (according to the vulgar expression) behave more like _hogs let out of the sty_; than like ladies; and not knowing the art of self government, they will be likely to break over all rules of decency and decorum. But although parents, &c. may pay the strictest attention to their children, &c. unless there is the greatest degree of caution and circumspection attended to, on the part of the children, it will avail but very little. Young people are apt to be insensible to the danger they are in, until their name is stained with a blot that is very hard to wipe away. The wise man has justly observed, that “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” The reputation of youth, a young maiden more especially, may be compared to china ware, or transparent glass, which is very easily broken, but impossible to mend, so but what it will leave a blemish behind. How often does the thoughtless youth, in some unguarded hour, fall into some trifling folly or other which stamps a blur upon their characters, and fills their minds with shame and remorse. And it is too frequently the case, that in order to prevent the evils of one piece of bad conduct, they run into another, which only sinks them deeper and deeper. They then begin to give up all hopes of recovery, their minds become dissipated, and they give themselves over to all the vain delusions and allurements of time and sense. And as they travel on in the paths of folly, they become lost to all sense of virtue and morality, consequently happiness is fled, and they generally become slaves to misery and discontentment. Such a life as this would be thought scarcely worth possessing! yet how often do we behold those who appeared to be very promising when they first started in life, and presented to us the most pleasing prospects, land on these shores at last, and drag out a miserable life, with shame and ignominy: while on the other hand, it often happens, that those who make a small appearance, and are thought but a very little of, when they first set out in life; yet by attending to good instruction, and the strictest caution and prudence, they have arisen to honor and dignity in the world, and are loved and esteemed by all virtuous people.