ing in
vain; the scholars near the door, saying, 'Oh it is only the little
girls.'"

"Yes sir," was heard from all parts of the room.

I found from farther inquiry that this had been the case, and I closed
by saying,

"I am satisfied, that those who have inadvertently fallen into this
practice are sorry for it, and that if I should leave it here, no more
cases of it would occur, and this is all I wish. At the same time, they
who have done this, will feel more effectually relieved from the pain
which having done wrong must necessarily give them, if they individually
acknowledge it to me. I wish therefore that all who have done so, would
write me notes stating the facts. If any one does not do it, she will
punish herself severely, for she will feel for many days to come, that
while her companions were willing to acknowledge their faults, she
wished to conceal and cover hers. Conscience will reproach her bitterly
for her insincerity, and whenever she hears the sound of the door bell,
it will remind her not only of her fault, but of what is far worse _her
willingness to appear innocent when she was really guilty_."

Before the close of the school I had eight or ten notes acknowledging
the fault, describing the circumstances of each case, and expressing
promises to do so no more.

It is by such methods as this, rather than by threatening and
punishment, that I manage the cases of discipline which from time to
time occur, but even such as this, slight as it is, occur very seldom.
Weeks and weeks sometimes elapse without one. When they do occur they
are always easily settled by confession and reform. Sometimes I am asked
to _forgive_ the offence. But I never forgive. I have no power to
forgive. God must forgive you when you do wrong, or the burden must
remain. My duty is, to take measures to prevent future transgression,
and to lead those who have been guilty of it, to God for pardon. If
they do not go to him, though they may satisfy me, as principal of a
school, by not repeating the offence,--they must remain _unforgiven_. I
can _forget_, and I do forget. For example, in this last case, I have
not the slightest recollection of any individual who was engaged in it.
The evil was entirely removed, and had it not afforded me a convenient
illustration here, perhaps I should never have thought of it
again,--still it may not yet be _forgiven_. It may seem strange that I
should speak so seriously of God's forgiveness for such a