New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-14

hushed within. The door opens 1t s nobody but
one OF The largest boys who went home at no0R
There ere sleigh bells spproaching-ha do they
stop? yes, up in Captain Clark S shed. Now there
IS another tread, then distinct and contidentrap
The master opens the door and the minister
lutes bin, and, advancing. receives the simnlta
neous bows and courtesies Of the awed ranks in
front. He is seated in the most conspicuous and
honorable place, perhaps in the magisterlal desk
Then some of the neighbors scatter in, and re
ceiye the same homage though it is proffered with
a more careless action and aspect
Now commences the examination. First, the
younger classes read and spell. Observe that
little fellow, as he steps from his seat TO take his
place the floor. 1t is bis day of pubic triumph,
for he is at the head he has been there the most
times, and ninepence swings by flaXen string
from his neck. His skin wants letting out it will
hardly hold the important young gentleman. His
mother told him, this morning, Wien he left home.
. 10 speak up like minister" and his shrill ora
tory IS almost at the very pinnacle OF utterance.
The third class have read. They are now spell
ing. They are famous photographers the might
lest words OF the spelling columns do not intimi-
cate them Then come the numbers, the abbre-
ylatlons, and the punctuation Some OF the little
throats are almost cholled By the hurried election
OF big words and strngy sentences.
The master has gone through with the several
accomplishments of the class They are about
10 lake their seats please to let them stand a
few words TO them, myself says the minister.
Now, look out. They expect words as long as
their finger, from the widest columns Of the
spelling-book, or perhaps such as are found only
in the dictionary Spell wrist, says he to the
little sweer at the head. 40, what an easy
word R-ist, wrist. 1t is not right. The
next, the neXt-thcy all try or rather do not at
tempt the word for if ris-t does not spell wriSt,
they cannot conceive what does spell g0lcn
Anna. G-ound go no, it is gomn not gound.
The next try None of them can spell this.
He then puts out penhn!te, which is spelt without
the k, and then 0ndir0n, which his honor at the
headrattes OF in this way, "h-and hand, TURN,
hand-iuln
The poor little things are confused as well as
discounted They hardly know what it means.
The teacher is disconnected and mortified. 1t
dawns Oh him that while he has been following
the order OF the book, and priding himself that SO
young scholars can spell such monstrous great
words-words which perhaps they viii never use
they cannot spell tue names of the most
familiar objects. The minister has taught him
lesson
The writing books are now examined The
mighty pile is lifted from the desk and scattered
along through the hands OF the visitors. Some are
commended for the neatnoss with which they have
kept their manuscripts some for Improvement in
writing OF some. probably of the majority, is said
nothing at ALL
"Whew p softly breathcd the minister, as he
opened a writing. book, some of whose pages were
a complete ink-souse. He looked on the outside,
and Simon Patch Was the name that lay SPRAYING
in the dirt which adhered to the newspaper cover
Simon spied his book in the reverend gentlemons
hands and noticedhis queer stare at it. The min
lister looked up; Simon shrunk and looked down,
for he felt that his eye was about to seek him.
He gazed intensey;in the book before him without
seeing word at the same time earnestly suck
ing the pointed lapel Of his Sunday coat. But ST
mon escaped without any audible rebuke.
Now comes the arithmetical examination; that
is, the proficients in this branch are required to
say the rules. Alas me had no reputation at
all in this science. | could not repeat more than
half the rules had been over nor more than half
Of that half in the words OF the book as others
could. What shame and confusion OF face were
mine on the last day, when we came to be ques.
toned in Arithmetic But when Mr.. Ellis had
his examination looked up little, and felt that
was not so utterly incompetent my previous
teachers together with myself, had supposed.
Then came the display in Grammar, our know
ledge OF which is especially manifested inparslng
piece is selected which we nave parsed In the
course of the school, and on which we are AGAIN
drilled so as TO become as familiar with the parts
Of speech and the governments and agreements VI
Which, as We are with the buttons ami button
holes of Your jackets We appear OF course
amazingly expert
We exhibited our talent at reading likewise,
over and read over until the dullest might call
all the words right, and the most careless mind
all the " stops and marks.
But this examination was stupid piece Of bu
siness to me- as is evident enough from this stu
pid account of it. The expectation and prepare
ton were somewhat collaborating, as | trust has
been perceived but as soon as the anticipated
scene had commenced, it grew dull, and still! more
dull lust like this chapter
But let us finish this examination, now we are
about it. Suppose it finished then. The minister
remarks to the teacher, "Your school appears
very well, in general, sir then he makes
speech then a prayer, and his business is done
So is that of schoolmaster and school. \ gu are
dismissed is uttered for the last time this sea
son 1t is almost dark, and but little time lett
for last tnp.up, SNOWFALL, or slide down MI;
The little boys and girls with their BOOKS ana
dinner baskets ride home with their parents, II
they happen to be there. The larger ones have
SOME last words and laughs together, and then
they leave the Old School-house till December
comes round again.
E G. p. Putnam has issued series of elc
giant Gift socks appropriate to the season, con
sisting Of Miss CooPERS " RURAL HOURS, "
THE PICTURESQUE SOUVENIR or, LETTERS OF
4 TRAVELLER by WILLIAM c. BRYANT, and
"BERANGERs SoNGsn translated by WILLIAM
YOUNG They are got mp in superb style, rich
in gold and purple, and embellished with spirited
and beautiful engrayingg. The Illustrations to
the Rural Hours are mostly colored engrav-
ngs of birds described in the volume, and pre-.
sent delightful specimens of American Ornitho-
logy. Brysnts Letters of Traveller are
embellished with variety of views representing
the most interesting scenes which he visited in
Europe and this country, "BERASGER's SoSGs, y
consists Of two hundred of his most spirited lyrics
translated with great accuracy and taste, by the
Editor of the Albion newspaper His work is
evidently the fruit OF faithful study ofthe original
and shows cordial appreciation Of the poetical
merits Of Beranger, with rare fidelity to the
rhythm, verbal niceties, and general movement Of
the songs selected for translation. Yhe fiery sym,