. I did not look through my own
eyes, but used the teacher's. I tried to keep from my work
all trace of myself, reflecting only my instruction, knowing
well that the teacher would praise his perfect reflection.
Sometimes I feel that the door of my soul has so far shut
that I can but get a glimpse of the real Me within.

Unless the school can trust children, show them that they
should also be interested in their less fortunate
school-mates, try to do always their best at the particular
work to which they are best adapted, it must go on failing. A
child had much better remain at home, a simple but
whole-souled creature, learning what he can from Nature and
wise books.

* * * * *

... I had talked to them long on making the most of their misfortunes.
This also which came from The Valley-Road Girl, I thought very tender
and wise:

MAY EVENING

A spirit of restlessness ruled me. Each night I retired with
the hope that the morning would find it gone. It disturbed my
sleep. It was not the constant discontent I had hitherto felt
with the world. This was a new disquietude.

One May evening I followed our little river down to the place
it flows into the Lake. Slowly the light of day faded. From
my seat upon the green bank of a stream, a wonderful picture
stretched before me. The small stream and the surrounding
country were walled in by dense green trees. To the west the
cool, dark depths parted only wide enough for the creek to
disappear through a narrow portal. Through small openings in
the southern wall, I caught glimpses of the summer cottages
on the sandy shore. To the north stretched the pasture-lands
with shade-trees happy to hide their nakedness with thick
foliage. Here, too, a large elm displayed all its grace. To
the east was a bridge and a long lane. From behind a misty
outline of trees, the sun's crimson reflections suffused the
western sky. Two men paddled a boat out into the light and
disappeared under the bridge. Nothing disturbed the peace of
the stream save the dip of the paddles, and the fish rising
to the surface for food. A circle on the surface meant that
an insect had lain at its centre; a fish had risen and
devoured it. Circles of this kind were continually being cut
by the circumferen