ticular friend in school, and who can recollect the
impression which the individual made upon them when they first saw her,
to rise, and then I should like to inquire in how many cases the first
impression was favorable, and in how many unfavorable."

"Yes sir." "Yes sir."

"Do you mean you would like to have the inquiry made?"

"Yes sir."

"All, then, who have intimate friends, and can recollect the impression
which they first made upon them, may rise."

[About thirty rose; more than two thirds of whom voted that the first
impression made by the persons who had since become their particular
friends, was unfavorable.]

"This shows how much dependence you can justly place on first
impressions."

"It was the next Monday morning, after I had attained the wise age
of 4 years, that I was called up into my mother's room, and told
that I was the next day going to school.

"I called forth all my reasoning powers, and with all the ability
of a child of four years, I reasoned with my mother, but to no
purpose. I told her that I _hated_ the school mistress then; though
I had never seen her. The very first day I tottered under the
weight of the mighty foolscap. I only attended her school two
quarters; with prejudice I went, and with prejudice I came away.

"The old school-house is now torn down, and a large brick house
takes the place of it. But I never pass by without remembering my
teacher. I am prejudiced to [against] the very spot.

* * * * *

"Is it not right to allow prejudice, to have influence over our
minds as far as this? If any thing comes to our knowledge, with
which wrong seems to be connected, and one in whom we have always
felt confidence is engaged in it, is it not right to allow our
prejudice in favor of this individual to have so much influence
over us, as to cause us to believe that all is really right, though
every circumstance which has come to our knowledge is against such
a conclusion? I felt this influence not many weeks since, in a very
great degree."

"No; it would not be prejudice in such a case. That is, a _prejudice_
would not be a sufficient ground to justify withholding blame. Well
grounded confidence in such a person, if there was reason for it, ought
to leave such an effect, but not prejudice."

* * * * *

The ab