276 FAREWELL TO FLIPPY. 



twelve," continued Lawrence, "which I call the Noisy Age. 

 The boy has by this time become somewhat accustomed 

 to the strange world that he finds himself brought into, 

 and feels more at home in it, and begins to see more clear- 

 ly the difference between truth and falsehood in it. His 

 powers and faculties have become enlarged and developed, 

 his strength is increased, and he begins to like to produce 

 sensations and effects. One of the easiest effects that he 

 can produce is noise. He likes to hear it, and he makes a 

 great deal of it. Indeed, the more bustle and noise there 

 is, the better, especially if he makes it himself. So I call 

 this the Noisy Age. In this age the boy, if left to him- 

 self, and is strong and healthy, breaks into a room rudely 

 where people are quietly talking, and if reproved and asked 

 to be more quiet, he goes out sometimes slamming the door, 

 and making more noise in going out than he did in coming 

 in." 



"Yes," said John, smiling, and at the same time looking 

 a little ashamed, " I used to do so." 



" In this age, too," continued Lawrence, " boys are fond 

 of rough and noisy plays. They are always pushing each 

 other, chasing each other, and tripping each other up, with 

 a vast amount of shouting and hallooing by way of music- 

 al accompaniment. 



"Next comes the Teasing Age," continued Lawrence. 

 "The boy's mental faculties have now become somewhat 

 more fully developed, and the effects that he now likes to 

 produce are such as relate somewhat more to the minds 

 of people than merely to their eyes and ears. He takes 

 special pleasure in making fools of people, in getting boys 

 or dumb animals angry with each other, and seeing them 

 fight. If he has any sisters, he seems sometimes to take 

 special pleasure in teasing them. That is the reason why 

 I call it the Teasing Age." 



