Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/390

 guilty. He will be careful to avoid another common error of parents, who often, by oversight, lead their children to incur the penalty, and then enforce it, when in reality it is they, and not the children, who ought to pay the forfeit. I should pronounce the same sentence on the master, who punished a boy at school, for playing, or making noise, if it appeared that he had provided him with no better employment. This is the great fault in all our country schools. The children spend three fourths of their time in downright idleness, and when fatigued with the listlessness of inaction, have no other resource, but in making noise, or doing mischief."

"But surely, sir," said William, "the master cannot hear them all say their lessons at once?"

"True," replied Mr Gourlay; "but while he hears one, may not the others be at work the while? I will shew you a book written by one Mr David Manson,