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to free houses from venomous snakes by play- fixed immovably in a listening posture, as if ing on flutes. unwilling to lose the last vibrations of these, The negroes are said to catch lizards by to him, celestial notes, or as if his soul had whistling to attract them. followed them and left his body behind in torpid insensibility."

Travelers report that the Arabs are in the habit of teaching goats to stand with their feet close together on the top of several little blocks of wood. But, however long the goats may have been trained to this exhibition, they succeed only during the playing of a tune. If there be any change in the movement or tune the goat immediately begins to totter, and the instant the music ceases, he falls.

Music too, has often the most happy effects

on minds untutored and debased like those of the savages, and on minds whose action is diseased and unnatural, as well as on bodily disease.

It is said that our Indians purchased of the Spaniards, when they first came to America, small bells, whose clear musical tinkling filled them with the wildest delight.

It is said that Democritus taught that many diseases may be charmed away by a flute, and that Asclepiades treated sciatica successfully with the obstreperous notes of a trumpet.

In the Auxerre Asylum, it is said, that many insane persons have been restored to reason by a right use of music; and in other lunatic asylums, music is tried successfully to induce a quietude and repose.

For the Schoolmaster.

The Importance of a Longer Course at
School.

THE age of fourteen is too apt to be thought the proper one for boys to leave the public schools, and where they do not intend to enter the high schools, to stop all book inA Jesuit missionary relates that at one time struction and enter at once into the occupahe was thrown into a company of fierce In- tion of tending store, so fascinating to school dians whose threatening aspect and menacing boys, and too often encouraged by inconsidgestures betokened a reception far from friend-erate parents as the beginning of learning to ly. But he, desiring no strife with them, in- earn their own living. In many cases this stantly commenced playing on a stringed in-plea is necessary, and the boy, unfitted by his strument, when their feelings were at once education to discharge the duties expected softened and all their rage was subdued.

from him by his employer,shifts from one occu

It is related of Casper Hunsen, whose mel-pation to another, ultimately regretting that he ancholy story is known to everybody, that had not spent more time in school, and feelsome weeks after his release from his dread-ing too old to return to his books. This is ful imprisonment, the nuptial procession of a no fancy sketch. A boy, to whom. I was peasant passed by, the tower with a band of talking about leaving a public school at fourmusic, close under his window. "He sud-teen, told me that his case was precisely like denly stood listening, motionless as a statue; that, and that he had been sorry for it ever his countenance appeared to be transfigured, since. Parents who prefer, even at some sacand his eyes, as it were, to radiate his ecstacy; rifice, to have their boys continue longer in his ears and eyes seemed continually to fol- school, find it difficult to carry their good inlow the movements of the sounds as they re- tentions into effect, for the boy will meet his ceded more and more; and they had long arguments as my boy did mine, by saying that ceased to be audible, while he still continued his classmates had left for the high school or

to tend stores, and if he were required to remain he could only go over former exercises and feel mortified that it should look as if he was not far enough advanced to do as his classmates had done.

Now the course, as it seems to me, for parents to adopt in this intricate question is to take every opportunity to impress, at an early age, upon the minds of their children the necessity and advantages of being willing to go to school for a longer time, and that the boys who leave at fourteen, or earlier, make no more real progress in putting themselves to earning their living than those who give more time to their studies, and when they do leave school, go ahead at once in getting better employment, for they are better qualified for obtaining it. Any intelligent employer will tell them that such is the fact. And that it is so is confirmed by the remarks of Mr. Mann that the large cotton mills in Lowell find that the most intelligent operatives are the most profitable. It may be observed that boys and not girls form the subject of remark. This is owing to the fact generally noted, that the girls remain longer at school and of course become better scholars. The first class in reading in our grammar schools contains so few boys that any visitor would observe, and if he should ask the reason the teacher would tell him that "the boys had left for the high school or for tending store."

The Calico Cloak.

"Have you seen the new scholar?" asked Mary Lark, a girl of twelve or fourteen years, as she ran to meet a group of schoolmates who were coming towards the school house; she cuts the most comical looking figure you Her cloak is made out of calico, ever saw.

and her shoes are brogans, such as the men and boys wear."

"Oh, yes, I've seen her," replied Lucy Brooks; "she is the new washerwoman's daughter. I shouldn't have thought Mr. Brown would have taken her into the academy; but I suppose he likes the money that comes through suds as well as any. cleaner, of course."

It is

And the air rang with the loud laugh of the girls.

"Come, let us go in and examine her," continued Mary, as they ascended the steps "I'm thinking she will of the school house. make some fun for us."

The girls went into the dressing-room where they found the new scholar. She was a mild, intelligent looking child, but very poorly tho' tidily clad. The girls went around her, whispering and laughing with each other, while she stood trembling and blushing in one corner of the room, without venturing to raise her eyes from the floor.

When they entered school they found the The writer hopes that he is not intrusive in little girl was far in advance of those of her these observations, and that the attention of age in her studies, and was placed in classes school teachers and parents will be called to with those two or three years her senior. the "failure in teaching" caused by the short This seemed, on the whole, to make those stay for the purposes of education, and the girls who were disposed to treat her unkindly consequent hurrying through the different dislike her the more; and she, being of a rebranches of instruction now so lamentably tiring disposition, through their influence had common, owing more to the ignorance or wil-no friends, but went and returned from school fulness of parents and children than to the negligence of the teacher.

VICE, Soon or late, brings misery.

alone.

"And so you really think," said Mary Lark, as she went up to the little girl a few weeks after she entered school, "that you are

going to get the medal? It will correspond nicely with your cloak!"

And she caught hold of the cape, and held it out from her, while the girls around joined in her loud laugh.

"Calico Cloak get the medal! I guess she will! I should like to see Mr. Brown giving it to her!" said another girl, as she caught hold of her arm, and peeped under the child's bonnet.

The little girl struggled to release herself, and, when she was free, ran home as fast as she could go.

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Oh, mother," she said, as she entered her mother's humble kitchen, "do answer Uncle William's letter, and tell him we will come to New York to live! I don't like to live in Bridgeville. The girls call me Calico Cloak,' and Brogans,' and you don't know, mother, how unkindly they treat me."

Lizzie, my dear," said her mother, "you must expect to meet with some who will treat you unkindly on account of your poverty; but you must not be discouraged. Do right, my child, and you will eventually come off conqueror."

Although Mrs. Lee tried to encourage her child, yet she knew that she had to meet with severe trials for one so young.

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But, mother, they are all unkind to me," replied Lizzie; "there isn't one who loves me."

And the child buried her face in her hands and sobbed aloud.

Mrs. L., learning that the scholars still continued their unjust treatment towards her child, resolved to accept her brother's invita tion, although he was a poor man, and become a member of his family, hoping that while there, her child could continue her studies, and perhaps, through his influence, lead a happier life among her schoolmates. Accordingly, at the end of the term, she left Bridgeville, and removed to New York. Although Lizzie had been a member of the school but one term, yet she gained the medal, and it was worn from the academy beneath the despised garment.

Weeks, months, and years glided away to the students of the Bridgeville Academy, and the little "Calico Cloak" was forgotten. Those who were at school with her had left, to enter upon the business of life.

Twelve years after Mrs. Lee and her daughter left town, a Mr. Maynard, a young clergyman came into Bridgeville, and was settled as the pastor of the village church. It was reported at the sewing circle, the week following his ordination, that it was expected that he would bring his bride into town in a few weeks. There was a great curiosity to see her, and, especially, after it was reported that she was a talented young authoress.

A few weeks after, Mr. Maynard gratified their curiosity by walking into church with young wife leaning on his arm. She was

his

a lady of great intellectual beauty, and eveIn Bridgeville Academy there were a few rybody (as they always are at first) was deepselfish, unprincipled girls, and the others join-ly interested in the young minister and his

ed them in teasing the little " Calico Cloak," as they called her, from thoughtlessness, and from a love of sport. But they knew not how deeply each sportive word pierced the heart of the litte stranger, and how many bit

wife.

The following week the ladies flocked to see her, and she promised to meet with them at the next gathering of the sewing circle.

The day arrived, and although it was quite

ter tears she shed in secret over their unkind-stormy, Mrs. Deacon Brown's parlor was fill

ness.

ed with smiling faces. The deacon's carriage

was sent to the parsonage after Mrs. Maynard, had caused considerable disturbance among and, in due time it arrived, bringing the lady the ladies of her own age, by making herself with it. The shaking of hands that followed known. her arrival can only be imagined by those who have been present on such an occasion. "How are you pleased with our village?" asked a Mrs. Britton, after the opening exercises were over, as she took a seat beside Mrs. Maynard.

"I like its appearance very much; it certainly has improved wonderfully within the last twelve years."

"Were you ever in Bridgeville before?" asked another lady, as those around looked somewhat surprised.

"O! I remember very well when the little 'Calico Cloak' went to the academy," said an old lady, as she looked up over her glasses, "and I think, if my memory serves me right, some of the ladies present will owe Mrs. Maynard an apology."

"I had no intention whatever, ladies," replied Mrs. Maynard, "to reprove any one present by making myself known; but, as it may seem to some that it was my intention, I will add a few words. Most of the younger ladies present will remember the little 'Calico

"I was here some months, when a child," Cloak;' but no one but the wearer knows

replied Mrs. Maynard.

Their curiosity was excited.

how deeply each unkind word pierced the little heart that beat beneath it. And as I again

"Have you friends here?" asked a third, hear the old academy bell ring, it brings back after a moment's silence.

"I have not. I resided with my mother, the widow Lee. We lived in a little cottage which stood upon the spot now occupied by a large store, on the corner of Pine street."

"The widow Lee?" repeated Mrs. Britton; "I well remember the cottage, but I do not recollect the name."

"I think I attended school with you at the academy," replied Mrs. Maynard; "you were Miss Mary Lark, were you not?"

That was my name," replied the lady, as a smile passed over her features at being recognized; "but I am really quite ashamed that my memory has proved so recreant."

"I was known in the academy as the little Calico Cloak.' Perhaps you can remember me by that name."

The smile faded from Mrs. Britton's face, and a deep blush overspread her features, which in a few moments was seen deepening upon the faces of others present.

There was a silence for some minutes; when Mrs. Maynard looked up, she found she

fresh to my mind the sorrows of childhood. But let no lady mistake me, by supposing I cherish an unkind feeling towards any one. I know that whatever the past may have been, you are now my friends.

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But, ladies, let me add, if you have children teach them a lesson from my experience, and tell them to treat kindly the poor and the despised. A calico cloak may cover a heart as warm with affection, and as sensitive to sorrow, as one that beats beneath a velvet covering. Whenever you meet a child who shows a disposition to despise the poor, tell it the story of the calico cloak;' it will carry its own moral with it."

"That is the shortest, but the best sermon I ever heard," said the old lady, as she put her handkerchief under her glasses; "I do not believe its moral effect will be lost upon any of us."

The old lady was right. The story went from one to another, until it found its way into the old academy. At the very time a little boy was attending school there, whose

mother was struggling with her needle to give him an education. The boys often made sport of his patched knees and elbows, and he would run sobbing home to his mother. But when the story of the "calico cloak" reached the scholars, the little boy, (for he was naturally a noble-hearted child,) became very popular in school; and the children, from that time, were very kind to "Little Patchey," as he had always been called.

When Mrs. Maynard heard the story of "Little Patchey," she felt that she was well repaid for all she had suffered in childhood.

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this way, even if all the literature of the country to meet her apprehension be comprised in Mother Goose.

Some persons may say, "That plan would take too much time; our children would never get around the world during the whole course of their schooling."

Perhaps not. But they will have formed good habits for the future, and have gained a knowledge of how to go to work to pursue study when alone. Above all, they will have

an appetite for it; they will know its real pleasures, and will thenceforth crave them. A wise old Scotch proverb says: "Do your turn weel, and none will spear what time ye took." Parents, do remember this, pray do;

"Ye mak' it not what is she?' but what and do not urge on the teachers of your childhas she!"-SCOTCH PROVERB.

THE law of association of ideas is a great help which Nature has granted to teachers, but they generally reject it utterly. For instance, a jumble of daily lessons, which are unconnected by any chain of interest, similitude, or natural relation to one another, is given to the scholars; and perhaps the succeeding day has another jumble, totally dif

--

ren, until they adopt an unsafe speed, which will end by running them off the track altogether.'

Teachers themselves often find this plan entirely too much trouble, and they cry, "We cannot help having variety in study. There are some exercises which necessarily recur every day, such as writing, in which constant practice is indispensable."

ferent. These tasks, from their diverse naGranted. Let a half hour be devoted to it, ture, are learned with effort, and without the under the same system of compelled attention, least expenditure of interest. It should be upon a plan like that adopted - perhaps dequite otherwise. One should lead to another vised-by a Mr. Fife of Philadelphia. He the geography of a country to the histori- gave a letter, or word, written upon a slip of cal facts connected with it history to the paper, to each scholar to copy. She had time biography of its great men-biography to given her to take a good look at it, and to literature - the noble poems, and plays, and make two or three imitations as carefully as narrations in prose. Thus pleasant memories she could. Then the whole class was requirwill cluster around the name of that country, ed to write it over and over again for a minand interest to know more will be fully arous-ute as fast as they could make their fingers ed; there you have a nucleus, a center of move. When the time was up, the pupils attraction, and accumulation for knowledge, counted the words they had written, and she which will last a lifetime. Thus dry studies, who had made the greatest number was proclaimed triumphant.

veritable tasks, become pleasures, which may excite even an enthusiastic pursuit.

Thus earnest effort, close attention, lively

A child cannot be too young to begin in interest, and diversity of action, which pre

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