'n't lose myself, I know.

_Emily_. Well, we've got flowers enough, and now I'm tired and want to
go home.

_Charles. I_ don't; but, if you are tired, we'll go and find our
baskets.

_Emily_. Where do you think they are? We've been looking a great while
for them. I know we are lost, for when we went after the flowers we
only turned once, and coming back we have turned three times.

_Charles_. Have we? Well, never mind, I guess we shall find them.

_Emily_. I'm afraid we sha'n't. Do let's run.

_Charles_. Well, so do. Oh, Emily! here's a brook, and I am sure we
didn't pass any brook going.

_Emily_. Oh dear! we must be lost. Hark! Charles, didn't you hear that
dreadful noise just now? Wasn't it a bear?

_Charles_. Poh! I should love to see a bear here. I guess, if he should
come near me, I would give him one good slap that would make him feel
pretty bad. I could kill him at the first hit.

_Emily_. I should like to see you taking hold of a bear. Why, didn't you
know bears were stronger than men? But only see how dark it grows; we
sha'n't see ma to-night, I'm afraid.

_Charles_. So am I: do let's run some more.

_Emily_. Oh, Charles, do you believe we shall ever find the way out of
this dreadful long wood?

_Charles_. Let's scream, and see if somebody won't come.

_Emily_. Well (screaming), ma! ma!

_Charles_ (screaming also). Pa! pa!

_Emily_. Oh dear! there's the sun setting. It will be dreadfully dark
by-and-by, won't it?

We have given enough for a specimen. The composition, though faulty in
many respects, illustrates the point we had in view.

7. Insincere Confession.--An assistant in a school informed the
principal that she had some difficulty in preserving order in a certain
class composed of small children. The principal accordingly went into
the class, and something like the following dialogue ensued:

"Your teacher informs me," said the principal, "that there is not
perfect order in the class. Now if you are satisfied that there has not
been order, and wish to help me discover and correct the fault, we can
do it very easily. If, on the other hand, you do not wish to co-operate
with me, it will be a little more difficult for me to correct it, and I
must take a different course. Now I wish to know, at the outset, whether
you do or do not wish to help me?"

A faint "Yes, sir," was murmured through the class.

"I do not wish you to assist me unless you really and honestly desire it
yourselv