The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-11-03
Interesting ChiIdren.

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/ once visited q school, in one Of our
neighboring cities, which appeared very
dull and restless. After hearing a few
mOnotonous recitations, and seeing the
cause Of the difficulty, which was lack Of
interest, not of capacity,I / arose and said to
the whole school: What Runs?'-They
all looked up with apparent astonishment,
as repeated the same question. then
said, Some things run and some do not
run; want you to speak right out loud,
and tell me-
One boy said, Dogs rum another Horses
rum another said boys runs;' no said /,
you don't mean Boys runs You mean boys
run, don't youl Yes said he, 'that's
what means,' That is what you mean,
said l. Another looked up very roguish,
and said, Girls run;' another, woodchu,ks,
&c. &c. Ithen said, Cant you think of
something that runs that hasn't any legs!'
Yes said u little girl, Snakes rum an.
other said, Fishes run in the WATER Il
shouldn't call that running said.a little chap
away in one corner Of the room, should
call that swimming Said |, can you
think of anything that runs that is not
aliye!' The whole school seemed for mo.
meat to be engaged in deep thought, AT
last little black-eyed girl said, Yes, wa
ter runs;' others caught the idea, and said,
Milk luns;' Vinegar, Coffee, &c.-At last
after the others had all got through, little
fellow said, Molasses runs, but, twont run
very fast Which way said l, does wa
ter run, up hill or down! Down said q
whole chorus Of voices. (which way do
squirrels run!' said I. up the trees,'
said little boy, 'for have seen them,
Up and down. said as many voices. Does
the mind run!' said |, assuming a more Sc.
rious tone. 'Yes,' said very few voices
Said l, ifa boy gets very poor lessons,
plays truant, uses bad language, tells
wrong stories, doesn't obey his parents and
teacher, and is very cross and sulky, which
way is he runningr Running down. said
score of voices. Yes said I, he may be
growing up to be man, but he is running
down, and if he continues to do so, he will
be poor miserable man that nobody will
love or respect. Now if boy gets good
lessons, is very kind to everybody, and al
was tells the truth, which way is he run
ning!' Running up said almost the whole
school. want to know, how many of
these little scholars mean to run up.
Those who mean to be good boys and girls,
get good lessons, and always speak the
truth, hold up your hands. Almost every
hand in the room was up the instant the re-
quest was made, and many.held their hands
up for some time, wishing to show particu-
larly that they meant to.be good scholars.
All this was accomplished in much less
time than it has taken me TO relate it. An
interest was awakened, and lesson in
morals inculated which could not be for
gotten. -~..s.
The whole school was now perfectly
qniet, and had the attention of every
scholar. Questions in Geography were
then asked and answered with apparently
the same interest which had been manifested
the previous exercise. Several days after
this Ipassed by this school-house at the
time OF recess, Half dozen voices ex-
claimed, That's the 'man that talked to us
SO good, yes, that's the!same man. and they
all smiled upon me as passed, as much as
to say we wish you would come into the
school again and talk to JUS some more,--
Manchester Mirror.