The Forrest City times., 1891-05-15
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
GGi. W J. J. MeohiitMA,N. Editors.
U,sc,pllne Through Prayer.

when nau Just graduated rom college l was invited to teach Natural Science in the Connecticut State Normal school. The position carried with it the title of Vice Principal" but this was. for most of the time, merely honorary, my duties being simply in the classroom.
 An exception occurred rather suddenly. The principal called me into the study one evening after school and said he was to be away for two or three days, and should leave the school in my hands. The chief caution he had to give me was as to three young ladies. They had asked permission to attend dancing-party that evening. and although this had been refused. they were. he suspected, intending to go. He wished me to find out whether they went. and if they did go to discipline them. 1 said "Yes sir" cheerfully enough, but in my heart of hearts hoped they would not go ; for how was to discipline those three great girls, older than l, and with great deal more experience
 Unhappily they did go. and all the next day the problem was heavy on my heart, how to discipline those girls. l went through my rectations mechanically. and as afternoon passed away and the hour of evening prayer approached, the minutes seemed to fly. The last period passed as usual clearing up the chemical apparatus and preparing the experiments for the next day; but at last the dreadful bell sounded, and l walked into the assembly room. mounted the platform. and prepared to un- dergo the ordeal. 1 had reached no solu- tion of the problem; had not the least idea how should begin with them. what l should say first, what they would be like ly to respond, and how l was to impress them with sense of my own dignity. and the responsibility that rested upon them as pupils. l chose the longest chapter could ind, and the hymn with the most words, but at last these were ended, and as rose to repeat in concert the Lords Prayer. be- fore the final dismisson, my mind was still struggling with that dreadful problem.
 In fact. was so absorbed in it that in the midst of the prayer found l had ab- so'utely forgotten what came next. Give us this day. our daily bread" had repeat ed, and there was dreadful pause 1t seemed minutes. and my embarrassment became painful. Nowaday, with my added experience and coolness. l shonld in such an emergency go back in my own mind to the beginning of the prayer, and come to the haiting-piace, sure that the momentum would carry me over; but at that age. and in that situation, l was not able to do this It seemed hours while that dreadful pause continued, and finally in desperation 1 mumbled in an indlstinct tone "Thine earthly Sabbaths. Lord, we love- The school had been pausing only for my voice, and as soon as they heard the tones of it, without waiting to distinguish the words, they took up the prayer again-''and for give us our trespasses as we forgive those who trcspass against us, and so on.
 Of course. this crisis had not decreased my discomfort of mind. and after l had given word that the three young ladies shouid go into the study. delayed about the desk as long as could make any ex- cuse to lengthen the conversations with those who came up to ask questions. At last the schoolroom was deserted and 1 could no longer delay the dreaded inter- view. 1 walked into the study. more at loss than ever; bat to my astonishment these bold hoydens whom had dreaded to encounter were dissolved in tears. At this my backbone stlfened and drew myself up with some dignity. One of them rushed forward. and said
 70. MT. Blank. can you ever forgive uSc We knew we were doing wrong and we felt guilty and conscience stricken all the time. the teachers here have been so kind to Us that it was sheer wickedness on our part to disohey just for the rashness of dis obedience. We thought of apoligizing any way; but when, in the Lords Prayer. you made that impressive pause before saying, and forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against lis, and we knew that you meant to say that you would forgive LIS too. we broke down en- tircly and now if you will forgive Us. we promise you there shall be no better scho- ars in this school than we three, who have made you so much trouble"
 Never did prisoner whose sentence was coinnuted experience a greater shock of relief than felt on hearing these words. 1t was no longer difficult for me to be dig nlfed, and when the principal returned, 1 reported the facts with self-posscssion He even complimented me upon the way in which l dealt with this case. and it wus years afterwards. and long after had be- come confident of fair discli binary power, that yentured to tell him what were the circumstances under which my reputation AS a teacher was saved by prayer.-N. Y. School Bulletin.