Welcome back to another installment of our Formation of Character Read Along. Today I will be sharing about the portions from Chapters 5-6 in Part 1 under the heading of Dr. Weissall’s Following. So far in Charlotte Mason’s fifth volume the stories all have been simple case studies primarily focusing on habits, the effect of poor habits, and how one might correct these habits, with Chapter 5 being a bit different in style. If you would like to read along see the bottom of the page for the schedule and links to previous narrations.
Part 1, Chapter 5- Consequences
Chapter 5 seems different from the previous chapters as it does not follow one particular person or family, but rather the topic of consequences. Giving instances of how children have learned certain adverse habits from quick tempered adults (parents or nursery teachers). Parents or guardians who thought little of the exchange but it helped to shape the child’s behavior and demeanor.
She goes on to share some of the thoughts she outlines clearly in Volume 2, Parents & Children, how we are to remember we as parents are not the ultimate authority but rather we are given an authority under God and are not to abuse it. She warns us to be wary of the authority and power we wield that we may not abuse the children in any form, especially physically.
I found it quite interesting her statement that, “Goodness and happiness are regarded as convertible terms, only we like best to put ‘happy’ as the cause, and ‘good’ as the consequent. And the child brought up on these lines is both happy and good without much moral effort of self-compelling on his own part, while our care is to surround him with happy-making circumstances until he has got into the trick, as it were, of being good.” This is an interesting observation in light of child raising today. The comment following is that children must “endure hardness” to create a manly or well formed adult, and life can’t be all rainbows and picnics. The theory being, described in mythological terms, better to suffer a little rather than to lose oneself completely to sin or foible.
Chapter 5- Mrs. Sedley
This is a short case study following a little girl who likes to make up stories. Through the parents discussion they discover she is not being malicious, but that it is a serious issue of lying. They consult the knowledgable Aunt Emma who shares that what the girl needs is more time in fairy land. She is filling her days with these pretends, lies truly, because her imagination is starving for creativity. She recommends that they give her a diet of fairy tales and beautiful well written stories that she will have no need to invent them in her everyday.
First they are to let the little child know how her lying has hurt others, and help her to know that while they still love her desperately she must stop this habit of lying. Aunt Emma also recommends that after giving her the stories to fill her imagination, they should also give her tasks in which she might be tempted to lie and check up on her. I think of the axiom “inspect what you expect.” The example being to give message to the cook, have the cook write down the message and see if she stuck to the truth. These simple steps followed will not only help train her out of the habit of lying, but will help to keep her from becoming the town gossip.
These chapters were a bit simpler, but do help to understand more habits with practical examples of how to approach them and the encouragement to be observers of our children so that we can even notice and identify their personality and habits. Next week we will read 3 chapters but it is less than 30 pages. Hopefully you are finding these narrations an encouragement to you as you read along. I am working to keep them simple and short, which is difficult for this long-winded gal, but narrating in short or long form is a trick to help us truly learn and retain information and not simply consume. Feel free to share your thoughts, narrations, or questions in the comments here or join in the conversation over on Instagram where I try to connect regularly. If you find yourself struggling with any of the readings please remember to check out the modern translation, summary, or audio version.
Happy Reading!
Wholehearted Homemaking 
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