parishioners, including, of
course, the heads of the other two societies, for whose especial behoof
and edification the display was intended; and a large audience was
confidently anticipated on the occasion. The floor was carefully
scrubbed the day before, under the immediate superintendence of the three
Miss Browns; forms were placed across the room for the accommodation of
the visitors, specimens in writing were carefully selected, and as
carefully patched and touched up, until they astonished the children who
had written them, rather more than the company who read them; sums in
compound addition were rehearsed and re-rehearsed until all the children
had the totals by heart; and the preparations altogether were on the most
laborious and most comprehensive scale. The morning arrived: the
children were yellow-soaped and flannelled, and towelled, till their
faces shone again; every pupil's hair was carefully combed into his or
her eyes, as the case might be; the girls were adorned with snow-white
tippets, and caps bound round the head by a single purple ribbon: the
necks of the elder boys were fixed into collars of startling dimensions.

The doors were thrown open, and the Misses Brown and Co. were discovered
in plain white muslin dresses, and caps of the same--the child's
examination uniform. The room filled: the greetings of the company were
loud and cordial. The distributionists trembled, for their popularity
was at stake. The eldest boy fell forward, and delivered a propitiatory
address from behind his collar. It was from the pen of Mr. Henry Brown;
the applause was universal, and the Johnson Parkers were aghast. The
examination proceeded with success, and terminated in triumph. The
child's examination society gained a momentary victory, and the Johnson
Parkers retreated in despair.

A secret council of the distributionists was held that night, with Mrs.
Johnson Parker in the chair, to consider of the best means of recovering
the ground they had lost in the favour of the parish. What could be
done? Another meeting! Alas! who was to attend it? The Missionary
would not do twice; and the slaves were emancipated. A bold step must be
taken. The parish must be astonished in some way or other; but no one
was able to suggest what the step should be. At length, a very old lady
was heard to mumble, in indistinct tones, 'Exeter Hall.' A sudden light
broke in upon the meeting. It was unanimously resolved, that a