THE SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
363 
respect for the wearer ; and these are, in church and at school. 
At a time when a gay dress is thought as necessary at church as 
in a ball-room, when constant excuses are made by women who 
have not much money to spare, mothers and daughters, that 
they cannot go to church because they have no " neto hat,'''' no 
" 7ieiv dress,"" when husbands and sons require new beavers and 
new broadcloth for the same purpose, it is honorable to that man 
or woman to whom Providence has appointed the trial of poverty, 
that a patched coat or a faded gown does not keep them from 
going to the house of God. And when one sees a family of chil- 
dren going to school in clean and well-mended clothing, it tells a 
great deal in favor of their mother ; one might vouch that those 
children learn some valuable lessons at home, whatever they may 
be taught at school. 
One can never look with entire indifterence upon a flock of chil- 
dren ; those careless little ones have a claim upon us all, which 
makes itself felt as we listen to their prattle and watch their busy, 
idle games. As much variety of character and countenance may 
be found among them, as exists in their elders, while the picture 
is so much the more pleasing, as the lines are always softened by 
something of the freshness of childhood. This sweet-faced little 
girl, that bright-eyed boy, this laughing, merry young rogue, 
yonder timid, gentle child, this playful, kitten-like creature, that 
frank and manly lad, will each in turn attract attention ; ay, even 
the dull, the cold, the passionate, the sullen, are not forgotten ; 
so long as they show childish faces, we look at them with an espe- 
cial interest, made up of hope as well as fear. Each has its claim. 
It will often happen that the most intelligent countenance is con- 
nected with ill-formed features, that the best expression of kindly 
