I do not like to do any thing like that, about it;
besides, I do not know how to write an indictment."

"Oh!" I replied, "they will like to have a good trial. It will make a
new sort of case. All our cases thus far have been for _offences_, that
is what they call criminal cases, and this will be only an examination
of the conflicting claims of two individuals to the same property, and
it will excite a good deal of interest. I think you had better bring it
into court."

She went slowly and thoughtfully to her seat, and presently returned
with an indictment.

"Mr. B. is this right?"

It was as follows:--

I accuse Miss A. B. of coming to take away my seat, the one Mr. B.
gave me.

Witnesses. { C. D.
{ E. T.

"Why, ---- ---- yes,--that will do; and yet it is not exactly right. You
see this is what they call a civil case."

"I don't think it is very _civil_."

"No, I don't mean it was civil to take your seat. But this is not a case
where a person is prosecuted for having done anything wrong."

The plaintiff looked a little perplexed, as if she could not understand
how it could be otherwise than wrong, for a girl to usurp her seat.

"I mean, you do not bring it into court, as a case of wrong. You do not
want her to be punished; do you?"

"No; I only want her to give me up my seat; I don't want her to be
punished."

"Well, then, you see, that although she may have done wrong to take your
seat, it is not in that point of view, that you bring it into court. It
is a question about the right of property, and the lawyers call such
cases, _civil_ cases, to distinguish them from cases where persons are
tried for the purpose of being punished for doing wrong. These are
called criminal cases."

The aggrieved party still looked perplexed. "Well, Mr. B." she
continued, "what shall I do? How shall I write it? I cannot say anything
about _civil_, in it, can I?"

A form was given her, which would be proper for the purpose, and the
case was brought forward, and the evidence on both sides examined. The
irritation of the quarrel was soon dissipated, in the amusement of a
semi-serious trial, and both parties good humoredly acquiesced in the
decision.

9. TEACHERS' PERSONAL CHARACTER. Much has been said within a few years,
by writers in the subject of education, in this country, on the
desirableness of raising the business of teaching to the rank of a
learned profession. There is but one