school, and that she did not wish to remove her children, on any account whatever,

I am quite satisfied, that if the persons who make these objections would visit those institutions, and make themselves acquainted with the facts that are to be there obtained, they would soon see abundant reason to alter their opinion; and, instead of appearing in the character of objectors, they would become cordial promoters of the plan; for it must be admitted, that no person can be in a situation to judge of the merits of a thing which they have never seen, and consequently can know nothing at all about. Many persons of the latter class have acknowledged their mistake in plain terms to me, and have confessed how much surprised they have been on witnessing the good effects of the plan.*

THE BOY AND THE SONG.

One day, while I was walking in the play ground, I saw at one end of it about twenty children, apparently arguing a subject, pro. and con. ; from the attitude of several of the orators, I judged it was about something that appeared to them of considerable importance. I wished to know the subject of debate, but was satisfied, that if I approached the children it might put an end

* I have since learnt that this same child, in the time of the late floods, came up to his knees in water, to the school, and there dried his shoes and stockings; and further, that he is engaged in teaching 15 children, after school hours, who cannot come to the school. The child in question is only five years of age.

to the matter altogether. Some of the bystanders saw me looking very attentively at the principal actor, and, as I suppose, suggested to the party the propriety of retiring to some other spot, for immediately afterwards they all retired behind a partition, which afforded me an opportunity of distinctly hearing all that passed, without being observed by them. I soon found that the subject of debate was a song. It seems that one of the children had brought a song to the school, and some of the monitors had read it, and afterwards decided that it was an improper thing for the child to have in his possession, and one of them had taken it from the owner, and destroyed it; the aggrieved party had complained to some of the other children, who said that it was thieving for one child to take any thing from another child, without his consent. The boy, nettled at being called a thief, defended himself by saying that he, as a monitor, had a right to take away from any of his class any thing that was calculated to do them harm; and he, it seems, was backed in this opinion by many others. On the other hand, it was contended that no such right existed, and it was doubtful to me for a considerable time, on which side the strength of argument lay. At last one of the children observed to the following effect:-" You should have taken it to master, because he would know if it was bad better than you." This was convincing argument, and, to my great delight, the boy replied- How much did the song cost?" The reply was, "a halfpenny." "Here, then, take it" says the child, "I had one given me to day, so now remember I have paid you for it; but if you bring any more songs to school I will tell master.' This seemed

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to give general satisfaction to the whole party, who immediately dispersed to their several amusements. A struggle like this, between the principles of duty and honesty, among children so very young, must prove highly interesting to all lovers of children, and exemplifies, beyond a doubt, the immense advantage of early instruction.

"Moderate exercise; appetites well governed; and keeping one's self from melancholy and all violent passion and disorder of the mind; do assist, preserve, confirm and finish what nature and complection at first began." CHARRON.

AS so much has been written on the necessity of proper exercise for children, one would have thought it absolutely unnecessary for me to have noticed the subject: but, "custom, that plague. of wise men, and idol of others," is not so easily: changed; hence a custom, although it may be quite contrary to reason, must be rigidly adhered to, for no other reason than because it is a custom.I trust, however, the time is fast approaching when every thing connected with the training and. educating of the rising generation will undergo a thorough revision, and that the legislative body will not think it beneath their notice to attend to this subject. If we examine the treatment of horses, dogs, and other animals, we shall find (strange as it may appear) that there has been more pains bestowed upon them than there has been upon the infant poor. It is not uncommon to see men take horses and dogs out for an airing, R

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and give them exercise, but it is very uncommon to see a governess or master giving their pupils exercise-I mean the children of the poor. It is true that we may sometimes see the children of boarding-schools taking a little exercise, but not nearly so much as they ought, and when they do, it is turned to no other account than merely for the walk. So much are they rivetted to books, and confined to rooms, that it has never entered the mind of many masters to teach by things instead of books; and yet no one will deny, that the wide world furnishes plenty of lessons, and that many of the objects in nature would prove the best of books, if they were but read-but no, this is not the custom. Ġive a child a book into his hand, and let him addle his brain over it for two or three hours, and if he does not learn his task set him down for a blockhead; never mind whether he understands the subject. If he does not learn his task, flog him. No questions al! lowed by any means. Nothing can be greater impertinence, than for children to desire explana↳ tion; let them find it out, as well as they can! This is part of the old system; but will it be argued that this is the best method to cultivate and treat the human mind? May I hope to be excused when I say, that I think, if only one half the pairs were taken to break in, train, and exercise the infant poor, that is taken with gentlemen's horses and dogs, we should very soon sensibly feel its effects. Of all the causes which conspire to render the life of man short and miserable, no one has greater influence than the want of proper exercise: Healthy parents, wholesome food, and proper clothing, will avail little where exercise is neglected; sufficient exercise will counterba