188 SCHOOL-CHAT IN PLAY-HOURS.

“ Don’t you think I could learn to draw and paint,
Mr. Adler ?”

“Certainly, Charles ; that is, Gf you have eyes, hands,
and a good deal of patience,”

Charles laughed, and said, “I believe I have as many
hands and eyes as other folks, but I am a little afraid
about the patience.”

“ Wait a little, then ; it is one of the things we shall
try to teach you.” |

“What, sir! teach patience ?”

“Why not? Is it not a good thing .”

“QO yes, sir, it is a very good thing. I wish I had
more of it ; but who ever heard of teaching it! You
must be quizzing me.”

‘‘ No, indeed,” said Carl; “Iam in earnest, These
things are not set down in our programme of studies ;
but why did your parents send you here 2”

“To learn reading and writing, and arithmetic, and
geography, and Latin, and French ; not to learn pa-
tience, and such like.” |

“If you inquire of your dear mother, you will find
that she desires and intends more for you than what
you have said. For, suppose you should go home to
Brooklyn, two years hence, full of Greek and Latin,
but cursing, swearing, and drinking—”

“Oh, dreadful, sir!” said the little boy, interrupting
his teacher, who had by this time folded his portfolio,
and taken the child on his knee. “That would be