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"It was easy enough to make her see the consequences which must result from habitual falsehood, but difficult to give her an idea of all the moral obligations to be truthful; perhaps however the intellectual perception of these obligations is not necessary to the perfect truthfulness of a child, for such is his natural tendency to tell the truth at all times, that if his education can keep him from the disturbing force of any strong temptation, we may count upon his speaking straightforward, as surely as we may calculate upon a projectile moved by one force going in a straight line.

"Words are the natural and spontaneous representations of the thoughts; the truth is ever uppermost in the mind; it is on the surface, it is the single object, and cannot be mistaken; but for a lie, we must dive below the surface and hesitatingly fetch up one of the many that may be found at the bottom. There is little fear of Laura's losing that character for ingenuousness and truthfulness which she has always deservedly possessed." . . .

"The various attempts which I have made during the year to lead her thoughts to God, and spiritual affairs, have been for the most part forced upon me by her questions, which I am sure were prompted by expressions dropped carelessly by others, as God, Heaven, Soul, etc., and about which she would afterwards ask me. Whenever I have deliberately entered upon them I have done so with caution, and always felt obliged by a sense of duty to the child to make the conversations as short as possible. The most painful part of one's duty is often where an honest conviction forces one to pursue a line of conduct diametrically opposite to that recommended by those for whose superior talents and wisdom one has the greatest respect. It is said continually that this child should be instructed in the doctrines of revealed religion, and some even seem to imagine her eternal welfare will be imperilled by her remaining in ignorance of religious truths. I am aware of the high responsibility to God, and that love which I bear to the child forces me, after seeking for all light from others, finally to rely upon my own judgment. It is not to be doubted that she could be taught any dogma or creed, and made to give as edifying answers as are recorded of many other wonderful children, to questions on spiritual subjects. But as I can see no necessary connection between moral and religious life and the intellectual perception of a particular truth, or belief in a particular creed, I see not why I should anticipate what seems to me the course of nature in developing the mental powers. Unaided by any precedent for this case, one can look only to the book of nature; and that seems to teach that we should prepare the soul for loving and worshipping God, by developing its powers, and making it acquainted with his wonderful and benevolent works, before we lay down rules of blind obedience.

"Should Laura's life be spared, it is certain that she can be made to understand every religious truth that it may be desirable to teach her. Should she die young, there can be no doubt that she will be taken to the bosom of that Father in Heaven to whom she is every day paying acceptable tribute of thanksgiving and praise by her glad enjoyment of the gift of existence. With these views, while I am ready to improve every opportunity of giving what she seems to need, I cannot consent to attempt to impart a knowledge of any truth for which her mind is not prepared; and I would take this opportunity to beseech those friends of hers who differ from me, and who may occasionally converse with her, to reflect that while the whole responsibility of the case rests upon me, it is unjust in them to do, -- what they may easily do, -- instil into her mind notions which might derange the whole plan of her instruction.

"The following conversation, taken from my minutes made at the time, will give an idea of the course of her thoughts on spiritual subjects. During the past year one of our pupils died, after a severe illness, which caused much anxiety in our household. Laura, of course, knew of it, and her inquiries after him were as frequent and as correct as those of any one. After his death, I proceeded to break it to her. I asked her if she knew that little Orin was very sick. She said 'yes.' 'He was very ill yesterday forenoon,' said I, 'and I knew he could not live long.' At this she looked much distressed, and seemed to ponder upon it deeply. I paused awhile, and then told her that 'Orin died last night.' At the word died, she seemed to shrink within herself, -- there was a contraction of the hands, -- a half spasm, and her countenance indicated not exactly grief, but rather pain and amazement; her lips quivered, and then she seemed about to cry, but restrained her tears. She had known something of death before; she had lost friends, and she knew about dead animals, but this was the only case which had occurred in the house. She asked about death, and I said, 'When you are asleep does your body feel?' 'No if I am very asleep.' 'Why?' 'I do not know.' I tried to explain, and used the word soul. She said 'What is soul? ' 'That which thinks, and feels, and hopes, and loves,' said I, to which she added interrogatively, 'and aches?' Here I was perplexed at the threshold, by her inquiring spirit seizing upon and confounding material and immaterial processes. I tried to explain to her that an injury of the body was perceived by the soul; but I was clearly beyond her depth, although she was all eagerness to go on. I think I made her comprehend the difference between material and spiritual operations. After a while she asked, 'Where is Orin's think?' 'It has left his body and gone away.' 'Where? ''To God in Heaven.' She replied, 'Where? up?' (pointing up.) 'Yes!' 'Will it come back?' 'No!' 'Why? 'said she.