Year: 1876

"Have you any idea of putting that boy to school, Mrs Easy 9'' asked Dr. Middleton of eccentric old Nicodemus Easy, the father of Jack Easy. 9a

 MT. Easy crossed his legs, and clasped his hands together over his knees, as he always did when he was about to commence an argument.

 "The great objection that I have of sending boy to school, Dr. Middleton, is, that conceive that the discipline en- forced is not only contrary to the rights of man, but also in opposition to all sound sense and common judgment. Not content with punishment, which is in itself erroneous, and an infringement of social justice, they even degrade the minds of the boys still more by apply ing punishment to the most degraded part, adding contumely to tyranny. Of course, 1t IS intended that boy who is sent to school should gain by precept and example but is he to learn bonevo- lence by the angry look and the flourish of the vindictive birch-or forbearence by the cruelty of the ushers-or patience, when the masters over him are out of all patience-of modesty, when his neither parts are exposed to general ex- animation? Is he not daily reading 8 lesson at variance with that equality which we all possess, but of which we are unjustly depriveda Why should there be a di tincticn between the flogger and hoggee Are they not both fashioned alike after Gods image, en- dowed with the same reason, having an equal right to what the world offers, and which was intended by Providence to be equally distributed9 Is it not that the sacred inheritance of all, which has tyrannously and impiously been ravished from the many for the benefit of the few, and which ravishment, from long GUS tom of iniquity and medication of false precepts, has too long been basely sub mitted to9 Is it not the duty of a father to preserve his only son from imbibing these dangerous and debasing errors, which will render him only one of the vile herd who are content to suffer, pro vided that they live9 And yet are not these very errors inculcated at school, and impressed upon their minds inverse ly by the birch9 Do not they receive their first lesson in slavery with the first lesson in A B O.; and are not their minds thereby prostrated, so as never to rise again, but ever to bow to despotisn, to cringe to rank, to think and act by the precepts of others, and to tacitly disavow that sacred equality which is our birthright 2 No, sir, without they can teach without resorting to such a fundamental error as logging, my boy shall never go to school. .-.f

 And MT. Easy threw himself back in his chair, imagining, like all philoso phers, that he had said something very clever.

 Dr. Middleton knew his man, and therefore patiently waited until he had exhausted his oratory.

 "I will grant," said the doctor, at last, that all you say may have great truth in it but, MT. Easy, do you not think that by not permitting boy to be edu- cated, you allow him to remain open to that very error of which you speak ? It Is only education which will conquer prejudice, and enable man to break through the trammels of custom. Now, allowing that the birch is used, yet it is period when the young mind is so elastic as to soon become indifferent |: and after he has attained the usual rudi- ments of education, you will then find him prepared to receive those lessons which you can yourself instill."

 .I will teach him everything myself, g replied MT. Easy, folding his arms con- sequentially and determinedly.

 1T do not doubt your capability, MT. Eesy; but unfortunately you will always have difficulty which you never can get over. Excuse mo, know what you are capable of. and the boy would. indeed. be happy with such 8 preceptor, buff I must speak plain-you must be aware as well az I am that the maternal fond ness of Mrs. Easy will always be bar to your intention. He is already so spoiled by her. that he will not obey i; and without obedience you cannot in culcate." "a

 "I grant, my dear sir, that there Is difficulty on that point; but maternal weakness must then be overcome by paternal severity"

 ''May I ask how, Mr. EasyG for it appears to be impossible