No matter how trifling the thing done, or the knowledge acquired, a great point is gained by giving the desire for employment.
Children frequently become industrious from impatience of the pains and penalties of idleness.

Count Rumford showed that he understood childish nature perfectly well when, in his House of Industry at Munich, he compelled the young children to sit for some time idle in a gallery round the hall, where others a little older than themselves were busied at work.

During Victoire's state of idle convalescence she acquired the desire to be employed, and she consequently soon became more industrious than her neighbours.

Succeeding in her first efforts, she was praised--was pleased, and persevered till she became an example of activity to her companions.

But Victoire, though now nearly seven years old, was not quite perfect.