Page:Jesuit Education.djvu/652

632 admonish their pupils, practise them diligently and zealously, and gradually advance them, as well those of slower perception as those of ready perception, as Paul the great Apostle says: 'We became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children.'"

One should, therefore, never be surprised at mistakes or moral faults; least of all should one be vexed at fickleness, unsteadiness, fits of laziness. These are defects of age, or weakness of character, not signs of bad will, consequently they are to be treated kindly. There are some things which the teacher should take good-humoredly. Many teachers feel irritated on discovering that the boys have given them a nickname. Why not take it good-naturedly and heartily laugh about it? In general, a cheerful disposition combined with a great amount of patience will make many of the troubles of school life more endurable.

Another most powerful means for overcoming the trials of teaching, and at the same time for laboring successfully, is prayer. The "modern" systems have little to say about it, and many educators may be inclined to sneer at such a pedagogical help. Still there is a sublime truth in what Tennyson says in his beautiful lines:

One who believes in the fundamental truths of Christianity cannot ignore our Savior's words: "Without me you can do nothing," and the other: "What-