invectives and reproaches, directed
against the individuals guilty of it.

"Now boys," continued the master, "will you assist me in making
arrangements to prevent the recurrence of all temptations of this kind
hereafter? It is plain that every boy ought to have a nail appropriated
expressly to his use. The first thing to be done is, to ascertain
whether there are enough for all. I should like, therefore, to have two
committees appointed; one, to count and report the number of nails in
the entry, and also how much room there is for more; the other, to
ascertain the number of scholars in school. They can count all who are
here, and by observing the vacant desks, they can ascertain the number
absent. When this investigation is made, I will tell you what to do
next."

The boys seemed pleased with the plan, and the committees were
appointed, two members on each. The master took care to give the
quarrellers some share in the work, apparently forgetting, from this
time, the unpleasant occurrence which had brought up the subject.

When the boys came to tell him their results, he asked them to make a
little memorandum, in writing, as he might forget, before the time came
for reading them. They brought him presently a rough scrap of paper,
with the figures marked upon it. He told them he should forget which
was the number of nails, and which the number of scholars, unless they
wrote it down.

"It is the custom among men," said he, "to make out their report, in
such a case, fully, so that it would explain itself; and I should like
to have you, if you are willing, to make out yours a little more
distinctly."

Accordingly, after a little additional explanation, the boys made
another attempt, and presently returned, with something like the
following:

"The Committee for counting the nails report as follows:
Number of nails 35
Room for 15."

The other report was very similar, though somewhat rudely written and
expressed, and both were perfectly satisfactory to the preceptor, as he
plainly showed by the manner in which he received them.

I need not finish the description of this case, by narrating,
particularly, the reading of the reports, the appointment of a committee
to assign the nails, and to paste up the names of the scholars, one to
each. The work, in such a case, might be done in recesses, and out of
school hours, and though, at first, the teacher will f