I have been advised to dismiss twenty such children, rather than retain them by the above means; but if there be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance, ought not such a feeling to be encouraged on earth, particularly when it can be done by means that are not injurious to the orderly, but, on the contrary, productive of the best effects?  The child just mentioned afterwards went into the National School, with several others who had been nearly as bad as himself, but they scarcely ever failed to come and see me when they had a half holiday, and the master of the school told me that not one of them had ever been absent without leave, and that he had no fault to find with them.  I have further to observe that the moment I perceived a bad effect produced by any method of punishment, it was relinquished.  But I feel it my duty here to caution the reader against the too frequent practice of many to object.  It may cost a man many years to find out what may be desirable and workable; but to become an objector requires no thought, accordingly the most thoughtless are generally the greatest objectors.

I believe that there was not a child in the school who would not have been delighted to carry the broom, if I had called it play; the other children might have laughed as long as they pleased, for he would have laughed as heartily as any of them, and as soon as he had done, I should have had a dozen applicants, with “Please, sir, may I? please, sir, may I?” but it was called a punishment, and hence I had no applications whatever; they all dreaded it as much as they would a flogging.  I am aware that this plan of punishment may appear ridiculous, and perhaps it would be so to use it for older children; but with such young children I have found it to answer well, and therefore I have no wish to dispense with it.  I would, however, have care taken not to encourage the children to ridicule each other while undergoing this or any other punishment, except in extraordinary cases, such as the one I have mentioned; on the contrary, we should encourage them to sympathize with and comfort a child, as soon as the punishment is over, and I can truly add, that I do not recollect a single instance when any child has been undergoing the broom punishment, but some of the others have come, and attempted to beg him off, with “Please, sir, may he sit down now?” and when asked the reason why they wished the little delinquent to be forgiven, they have answered, “May be, sir, he will be a good boy.”  Their request has been complied with, and the culprit forgiven; and what have I seen follow?  Why, that which has taught me an important lesson, and convinced me that children can operate on each other’s minds, and be the means of producing very often better effects than adult people can.  I have seen them clasp the child round the neck, take him by the hand, lead him about the play-ground, comfort him