70 HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 



" Now, children, this is Mr. Bigelow. He knows 

 everything about the trees, and flowers, and birds, 

 and bugs, and such things, and he has come here 

 to tell you all about them. [A large contract, I 

 thought.] Lay aside your books and papers ; 

 now sit up and fold your arms and pay strict at- 

 tention. You must be very still. He is going to 

 talk for three-quarters of an hour, and he will tell 

 us a great many interesting things, I am sure." 



After a minute or two made noisy by the put- 

 ting of books into desks, one could almost pain- 

 fully hear the tick-tock of the clock. The teacher 

 turned to me, and, as she nodded her head, said : 



" Now, Mr. Bigelow." 



Then she went to the opposite corner and stood 

 there, with eagle eye wide expanded to detect 

 the earliest sign of disorder. In the meantime 

 she had sent an assistant to the rear of the room. 

 I paused for a moment to enjoy the air of ex- 

 pectancy and the almost breathless stillness I 

 noted the glistening eyes of a few, and the soldier- 

 like indifference of most of the pupils. Three or 

 four big boys in the rear seats had especially 

 attracted my attention, by the look, half of dis- 

 gust, half of protest, with which they had swung 

 books out of sight, and stuffed their hands into 



