be dreadfully
dark by and by, won't it?

We have given enough for a specimen. The composition though faulty in
many respects, illustrates the point we had in view.

7. INSINCERE CONFESSION. An assistant in a school informed the Principal
that she had some difficulty in preserving order in a certain class,
composed of small children. The Principal accordingly went into the
class, and something like the following dialogue ensued.

"Your teacher informs me," said the Principal, "that there is not
perfect order in this class. Now if you are satisfied that there has not
been order, and wish to help me discover and correct the fault, we can
do it very easily. If, on the other hand, you do not wish to co-operate
with me, it will be a little more difficult for me to correct it, and I
must take a different course. Now I wish to know, at the outset, whether
you do or do not wish to help me."

A faint "Yes sir," was murmured through the class.

"I do not wish you to assist me, unless you really and honestly desire
it yourselves; and if you undertake to do it, you must do it honestly.
The first thing which will be necessary, will be an open and thorough
exposure of all which has been wrong, and this you know will be
unpleasant. But I will put the question to vote, by asking how many are
willing that I should know, entirely and fully, all that they have done
in this class, that has been wrong."

Very nearly all the hands were raised at once, promptly, and the others
were gradually brought up, though with more or less of hesitation.

"Are you willing, not only to tell me yourselves what you have done, but
also, in case any one has forgotten something which she has done, that
others should tell me of it?"

The hands were all raised.

After obtaining thus from the class a distinct and universal expression
of willingness that all the facts should be made known, the Principal
called upon all those who had any thing to state, to raise their hands,
and those who raised them, had opportunity to say what they wished. A
great number of very trifling incidents were mentioned, such as could
not have produced any difficulty in the class, and consequently could
not have been the real instances of disorder alluded to. Or at least, it
was evident if they were, that in the statement, they must have been so
palliated and softened, that a really honest confession had not been
made. This result might in such a case, have been expected.