ave her seat and whisper, but
she must do nothing which will disturb others. When it is _down_, all
the duties of school are suspended and scholars are left entirely to
their liberty.

As this is the only rule of the school, it deserves a little more full
explanation; for not only your progress in study, but your influence in
promoting the welfare of the school, and consequently your peace and
happiness while you are a member of it, will depend upon the strictness
with which you observe it.

Whenever, then, the study card goes up, and you hear the sound of its
little bell, immediately and instantaneously stop, whatever you are
saying. If you are away from your seat go directly to it, and there
remain, and forget in your own silent and solitary studies, so far as
you can, all that are around you. You will remember that all
_communication_ is forbidden. Whispering, making signs, writing upon
paper or a slate, bowing to any one,--and in fact, _every_ possible way,
by which one person may have any sort of mental intercourse with
another, is wrong. A large number of the scholars take a pride and
pleasure in carrying this rule into as perfect an observance as
possible. They say, that as this is the only rule with which I trouble
them, they ought certainly to observe this faithfully. I myself however
put it upon other ground. I am satisfied, that it is better and
pleasanter for you to observe it most rigidly, if it is attempted to be
enforced at all.

You will ask, "Cannot we obtain permission of you or of the teachers to
leave our seats or to whisper, if it is necessary?" The answer is, "No."
You must never ask permission of me or of the teachers. You can leave
seats or speak at the _direction_ of the teachers, i. e. when they of
their own accord, ask you to do it, but you are never to ask their
permission. If you should, and if any teachers should give you
permission, it would be of no avail. I have never given them authority
to grant any permissions of the kind.

You will then say, are we never on any occasion whatever to leave our
seats in study hours? Yes you are. There are two ways.

1. _At the direction of teachers._ Going to and from recitations, is
considered as at the _direction_ of teachers. So if a person is
requested by a teacher to transact any business, or is elected to a
public office, or appointed upon a committee,--leaving seats or
speaking, so far as is really necessary for the accomplishing such a
pu