14 ROBERT DAWSON.

to compel obedience. He must understand that from
fs you must,” there is no appeal.

I was at the head of my arithmetic class. What
‘boy that has attained this honour, under the old sys-
tem of ‘teaching, forgets how great the honour, how
exquisite the satisfaction! What a length and breadth
- of proportion one feels! I well remember ‘how I
seemed to fill up the whole school-room with my little.
. self, By something that some boys would calla lucky
hit, Charley was next to me. Every month, ten os
twelve “test questions,” as they. were called, were
given to the class, comprising and combining the prin-
ciples and rules which we had just been studying.
The committee of examination, on such occasions.
usually visited the school, and each scholar felt desirous
of making a creditable appearance. On this occasion —
I raced home with my slate and pencil; and, with
great alacrity, finished splitting and bringing in my
wood before supper, that I might deyote the whole
eyening to the lesson, How carefully did I wash and
(ry the old slate, and cut and point my pencil! I