sed for the afternoon, and as the hour drew near,
Helen made preparations to accompany the party. Mrs. M. reminded her of
her lesson, but she just noticed the remark by a toss of the head, and
was soon in the green fields, apparently the gayest of the gay. After
her return from the excursion, she complained of a head-ache which in
fact she had; she threw herself languidly on the sofa, sighed deeply,
and took up her History.

"Tea was now on the table, and most tempting looked the white loaf. Mrs.
M. again heard the pupil recite, but was sorry to find the lesson still
imperfectly prepared. She left her, saying she thought an half hour's
study would conquer all the difficulties she found in the lesson.

"During all this time, Mrs. M. appeared so perfectly calm, composed, and
even kind, and so regardless of sighs and doleful exclamations, that
Helen entirely lost her equanimity and let her tears flow freely and
abundantly. Her mother was always moved by her tears, and would not her
aunt relent? No. Mrs. M. quietly performed the duties of the table, and
ordered the tea-equipage to be removed. This latter movement brought
Helen to reflection. It is useless to resist, thought she, indeed why
should I wish to. Nothing too much has been required of me. How
ridiculous I have made myself appear, in the eyes of my aunt, and even
of the domestics.

"In less than an hour, she had the satisfaction of reciting her lesson
perfectly; her aunt made no comments on the occasion, but assigned her
the next lesson, and went on sewing. Helen did not expect this; she had
anticipated a refreshing cup of tea, after the long siege. She had
expected that even something nicer than usual would be necessary to
compensate her for past sufferings. At length, worn out by long
continued watching and fasting, she went to the closet, provided herself
with a cracker, and retired to bed to muse deliberately on the strange
character of her aunt.

"Teachers not unfrequently threaten their pupils with some proper
punishment, but when obliged to put the threat into execution, contrive
in some indirect way, to abate its rigor and thus destroy all its
effects. For example, a mother was in the habit, when her little boy ran
beyond his proscribed play-ground, of putting him into solitary
confinement. On such occasions, she was very careful to have some
amusing book, or diverting plaything in a conspicuous part of the room,
and not unfrequently a piece of gingerbr