otions that prevailed among some of our first patrons, and
prepare the way for a good suggestion.

The aim of this department is to enlarge the scope of the training work
of the institution by the employment of students, as far as possible, to
do the necessary work during vacations as well as the chores during the
school-terms; and by this means, reducing the number of hired helpers,
afford lucrative employment to the greatest number of students, as a
means of self help.

In view of the needy and helpless condition of the people in their new
homes, and the urgent prospective demand for more teachers, one would
naturally suppose every family would be eager to take advantage of such
an opportunity. The scheme however was a new one and it was regarded
with suspicion and disfavor. The effort to have leading families, those
that seemed to stand in the nearest relation to it by having previously
enjoyed its privileges most freely, co-operate in the establishment of
this plan, by permitting one of their children to remain at the academy
during the vacation period or even do extra work a part of the day
during the term, and thereby be able to continue and complete a course
of study that would fit them for teaching, proved a complete
disappointment. This disappointment was the occasion of two earnest
appeals before two different meetings of the Presbytery, but neither of
them received more than a respectful hearing, no favorable response.

Some, whose children had been previously carried from year to year
gratuitously, no doubt, regarded it as the innovation of a stranger, who
was adroitly depriving them of their former rights and privileges; while
others seemed to view it as a discovery to their neighbors, that they
were not able to pay for the education of their children. Some of the
larger girls at the academy, when requested to arrange to do some extra
work at the school declined, saying they had homes of their own and did
not have to work for others away from home.

A PROMISING GIRL

That this was not the sentiment, however, of all the larger girls
appears in the following incident. A very promising girl of sixteen came
to the school of her own accord. She was animated with the desire to
become a christian teacher. About the middle of the term, a younger
brother called with the request from her mother, that she return home.
No reason was assigned and she knew of no good one. She sent her mother
word that she desired