40 THE LAW OF THE SQUARES OF THE DISTANCES. 



study hours. Time spent in writing letters or journals, or 

 in reading books chosen by him for his entertainment, is 

 not to be so reckoned. 



" 5. The whole responsibility of keeping an account of 

 the time, and of seeing to it that he studies three hours 

 every day, devolves on him, and not at all on me. 



" 6. He may gain to the extent of one hour for any par- 

 ticular day, if he wishes, by studying over his time on the 

 preceding ones ; but if he falls short of his time any day, 

 he can not make it up on succeeding ones. 



" 7. Inasmuch as all human plans and arrangements are 

 subject to unforeseen and unavoidable difficulties and in- 

 terruptions, an allowance is made of one day each fort- 

 night for failures. If the accidental failures do not exceed 

 this number, the engagement on his part will be under- 

 stood to be faithfully kept. 



" 8. In case of failures greater in number than this, or in 

 case of general remissness and neglect on his part in the 

 fulfillment of his duty as herein stipulated, there is to be 

 ho penalty whatever, except the loss of credit which he 

 will sustain as a young man to be relied upon for honora- 

 bly fulfilling his engagements. 



" LAWRENCE WOLLASTON. 



" Agreed to by me, 



"JOHN WOLLASTON." 



John's father, when these articles were presented to him, 

 read them very attentively. John stood by watching him, 

 to observe the effect. 



"The penalty does not seem to be very heavy," said he. 



" Now, father," said John, " I think it is very heavy in- 

 deed. I would not lose my credit with my cousin Law- 

 rence for honorably fulfilling my engagements on any ac- 

 count whatever." 



