Domestic Pleasures, or, the Happy Fire-side by Frances Bowyer Vaux
page 70 of 198 (35%)
page 70 of 198 (35%)
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poisonous; so pray never put it in your mouth again.
_Sophy._ No, papa, I do not intend it, for it hurt me very much, I assure you. Oh! here comes Mary. Good night, dear papa and mamma. Good night all. Little Sophy, after receiving many affectionate caresses, retired in high good-humour, and soon forgot her sorrow for the little pigs, in a gentle slumber. _Louisa._ Mamma, I remember the names of the six classes in natural history, which you were so kind as to teach me yesterday. Mammalia, Birds, Amphibia, Fishes, Insects, and Worms; and now pray tell me the seven orders, for I do like to know a little of every thing. _Mr. B._ But that, Louisa, is exactly what I do not wish you to do. I would greatly prefer that your information should be rather circumscribed, provided it were correct, than that you should have a slight smattering of many things, and a thorough knowledge of none. You may impose upon the illiterate by this superficial information; but the really wise will soon discover your ignorance, and despise you for affecting a degree of knowledge you do not possess. Besides which, a mere smattering of learning is very apt to fill the mind with self- conceit and vanity, faults from which the really well-informed are always free. My favourite poet, Pope, says:-- "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Here shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, But drinking largely sobers us again." |
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