dom--Be kind to the boy, and he will despise you; put your
foot on his neck, and he will worship you. This deliverance must, of
course, as its eminent author intends, be read with sense, and with any
modification it must be disappointing to philanthropists, but it is
confirmed by life. Let a master, not very strong in character and
scholarship, lay himself out to be a boy's friend--using affectionate
language, overseeing his health, letting him off impositions, sparing
the rod, and inciting him to general benevolence--and the boy will
respond, without any doubt, but it will be after his own fashion. The
boy will take that master's measure with extraordinary rapidity; he will
call him by some disparaging nickname, with an unholy approximation to
truth; he will concoct tricky questions to detect his ignorance; he will
fling back his benefits with contempt; he will make his life a misery,
and will despise him as long as he lives. Let a man of masculine
character and evident ability set himself to rule and drill boys,
holding no unnecessary converse with them, working them to the height of
their powers, insisting on the work being done, not fearing to punish
with severity, using terrible language on occasion, dealing with every
boy alike without favour or partiality, giving rare praise with
enthusiasm, and refraining always from mocking sarcasm--which boys hate
and never forgive--and he will have his reward. They will rage against
him in groups on the playing-fields and as they go home in companies,
but ever with an intense appreciation of his masterliness; they will
recall with keen enjoyment his detection of sneaks and his severity on
prigs; they will invent a name for him to enshrine his achievements, and
pass it down to the generation following; they will dog his steps on the
street with admiration, all the truer because mingled with awe. And the
very thrashings of such a man will be worth the having, and become the
subject of boasting in after years.

There was a master once in Muirtown Seminary whose career was short and
inglorious, as well as very disappointing to those who believed in the
goodness of the boy. Mr. Byles explained to Mrs. Dowbiggin his idea of a
schoolmaster's duty, and won the heart of that estimable person,
although the Doctor maintained an instructive silence, and afterwards
hinted to his spouse that Mr. Byles had not quite grasped the boy
nature, at least in Muirtown.

"Yes, Mrs. Dowbiggin, I hav