8 4 



MINISTRY AT STAND. [Chap. III. 



boys before work begins again, to the great scandal of Mr. 

 Dean, who thinks that ' familiarity breeds contempt? The 

 boys are very fond of me, and I of them, but I have not yet 

 got them into discipline. They have been so trained on the 

 fear-of-beating system, that when that is removed they are 

 destitute of moral sense, and it takes a long time in getting up 

 a desire for right in boys that have neither bowels nor con- 

 science ! However, I don't despair ; only give me time : and 

 a little temporary disorder, if I can only succeed in arousing 

 their consciences, is better than making them quiet under fear 

 of the whip. They write letters once a week ; and I set them 

 once to tell me what I should do, to get the school in order. 

 One recommended beating ; one, separation ; one, setting 

 impositions ; one, keeping them in ; one, a very good Methodist 

 lad, said, 6 1 do not think I can do better than quote the words 

 of the inspired writer, " A rod for a fool's back," etc.' So I 

 wrote him a terse answer, to the effect that Solomon's plan for 

 teaching children was no rule for us ; that Christ never beat 

 boys, nor told us to beat them ; that if he loved me he would 

 behave well, because I wished it, etc. My plan is to keep 

 them in, in play hours ; and they like least of all to be kept in 

 after three o'clock, till all the work is done. Then I keep the 

 greatest sinners to the end, and always have succeeded in 

 making them penitent before I go. I had a great stir with the 

 arch-sinner yesterday, who, being clever, an only son, and one 

 of the congregation, expects to have his own way, and I expect 

 he won't. He was kept last, but was in a great rage, throwing 

 his slates about, etc. ; so I held him, and looked at him without 

 moving a muscle for a few minutes, till he was quite softened, 

 and then talked to him ; and soon he was in a state of great 

 penitence. Another boy, whom I had set some sums to do 

 before he went, was in the sulks, and sat stupidly still. He 

 would not move, nor answer me, nor do a figure, nor go to 

 warm himself, though he was shivering and crying. A 

 tremendous thunder-storm came ; but he was immovable. I 

 quietly went on with my work for upwards of an hour, when at 

 last he said, ' Please, sir, there's a mouse ! ' Useful animal ! 



