in benefiting any body at arm's length. We have lived to very little purpose, if we have not long since learned that it is not headpower, but heart-power, which is to move the world.

intendent.

The isolation of country teachers makes them to be in peculiar need of being sustained and encouraged by the county superWorking alone, as they do, seldom meeting their fellow teachers, or receiving words of cheer from them, they often sink under a weight of sheer loneliness and fail to do their best simply because there is nobody to appreciate that best when it is done. Such sorely need the strength which a sense of companionship affords. Superintendents can make themselves the link which connects these isolated ones with the electric current of the entire county; the weakest teacher, strength ened by assurance of fellowship, goes to her work sustained by the strength of all.

RECORD OF A KINDERGARTEN WEEK.

MISS ELEANOR BEERE.

MONDAY-3D GIFT.-I let the youngest children play as they like at first, after carefully uncovering the cube, while I dictate to the older ones, after I leave them, and, taking a box for myself I play with the He always makes a barn with his box, with the cover Eddie doesn't like to build what we do.

little ones.

for the door, and a fence with his blocks. I think best to let him make it till he tires of it, and joins us of his own accord, especially as he seems so absorbed in it. When I returned to the older ones Ella complained that Allie had consented to unite blocks, and then wanted them again. I found that Ella asked the others to give her their blocks, then she did all the building. It didn't occur to her that she was selfish in doing all the play herself. After I talked about it she willingly gave the barn and dog house up to be rebuilt according to the taste of the others, but did not want the hotel disturbed; as it was a fine one, we all agreed to that.

They planned a close ring for the hive (next time we
invent a play for it. So we discussed it carefully.
play it, I'll remind them that a hive is generally square,
and see if they can form a square instead of a circle),
some children in the centre would be bees in the hive,
who fly out as we begin singing, and go to the plants
and gather honey; then when we sing the humming
chorus they return to the hive. When the song is
ended they tell us what plants they like best to gather
honey from, and what they will do with it.
tell them Mrs. Putnam's story of "Buffy" soon, and
that will give them real facts to aid their imaginations.
Cora invented most of the play.

We play the games out of doors, as our room is so small. Just before going out, Cora asked if we might One of the most important duties a super-play "Busy Bee." I said I was willing, if they would intendent owes to the schools under his charge is to bar their doors against drunkenness, lewdness, profanity, vulgarity, and vice of every kind, by refusing certificates to all who are not of good moral character. It often requires back-bone to refuse a certificate to a popular teacher because he drinks or swears, or is in any other way immoral, but without back-bone we are no better than tow strings. Here, as everywhere, we need to take a brave, decided stand upon the principles of right, and not allow ourselves to be frightened, wheedled, or ridiculed, by any party, out of our position.

Last, and most important of all ways in which county superintendents can benefit their schools, is by presenting in their own lives examples of noble, Christian manhood and womanhood; by being, in Dr. Reynolds' expressive phrase, clean men and women, in the sight of God and man; pure within and

without.

The very sense of responsibility resting upon them, with hundreds of teachers and thousands of little children looking to them for guidance, must, it seems to me, make them long to be better men and women, and lead them to seek help from Him who alone can sustain and guide them aright. For upon them rests the burden of souls, and God never asks human strength to bear this burden unaided by Omnipotence. Seeking thus, they shall find; striving thus, they shall attain; and by God's help, lift both themselves and their schools into clearer light and nobler living.

Educational Weekly.

I shall

TUESDAY.-Cora wore a toy watch, which attracted every child's attention, but she wouldn't allow any one to look at it. She annoys me often in that way, bringing books and toys, proclaiming it loudly, then refusing to let any one enjoy them with her. She yields when I talk to her about it, but in a day or two repeats it. I can only hope that time, and the influence of some of my generous, kind-hearted little ones will change her. She is bright and quick, but so selfish and unkind. In singing this morning her choice was "O see the snow is falling now.”—After singing it she said: "There isn't any snow now, and its real warm. Then why do the children choose that now? I think they ought to chose something else." Why Cora, you chose it yourself!" they all exclaimed. I didn't say anything, thinking her mortification the best reproof and remedy for her fault-finding habit.

Square tablets to-day. I enclose a cube in them, then ask who will buy the top of a cube, the bottom, etc. Then, with my knife, I play at cutting off each side carefully till all are cut off. It proves a pleasant way of impressing the connection between solid and surface. We made a picture of the stove with them and a part of the pipe above the elbow. I see they are learning to attend carefully to dictation, and also to love order, for when they take up the tablets at the close of the play, they, of their own accord, put them in the box in neat little piles. They all drew busily,

and asked to have their names written on their slates that they might continue their patterns next time.

Addie asked me to cut them into cubes; so I cut cubes, oblongs and squares, and when Addie served them, I asked them to tell me, which of those they received were perfect or imperfect. They enjoyed this new way of serving apple. Weaving after recess. Bertie doesn't care for it. I gave him—and the rest of the little ones-mats with wide and narrow strips alternating, as I think they catch the idea of opposites more easily by them. I call his needle, threaded with narrow strip, a little fish who must swim under the big rocks and over the little ones; threaded with the wide strip, it is a big fish, who can swim over the big rocks. He thinks that a funny play.

The younger ones drew standing or lying lines, one
square long-some of the older ones are combining
them-I told them to draw first their right then their
left, elbows, for the simplest combination: then
their opposites, raising their arms to illustrate, if they
didn't see it readily, thus. Some are making
"stools":, upright, inverted, lying with legs
pointing to the right, and to the left. Cora, Ella and
Addie have united the elbow in the square, and now
are forming pretty patterns of squares in various posi-a
tions-I find this way more interesting to them than
the drawing so many vertical lines first, and they find
the opposite much more easily too.

Cora said there was a pretty pattern on their oilcloth at home that she would like to try to make, so I let her take a slate and pencil home to try. She is growing to be observing and inventive.

Eddie is forgetting self rapidly. At first he wouldn't take any part at all; wouldn't touch the blocks or papers. Now he is the most industrious and correct of the younger ones. He has a protecting way toward little Minnie and corrects her mistakes for her. He sang this morning for the first time. He is a slow, quiet child, and so shy that I must be careful, must not urge him or call attention to him.

As there were so few, I gave most of my time to Willie, "our baby," as the children call him. He won't be three years old for three or four months yet. He has no idea of constructive play yet, but plenty in destructive play. He throws his blocks on the floor, breaks his sticks, scatters beads and destroys the bead-box. To-day I gave him a new box, deep, to prevent the beads spilling easily, and bright-red, hoping to please him with the color. I gave him red and blue beads (he has had only red before). He soon learned to tell them apart and strung a dozen, laughing over each one put on. Could I give Lucy is very careless in her folding. Allie is not all my time to him, he would soon enjoy all the gifts, neat either, but she is slow and painstaking and does but as soon as I leave him to attend to the others, the her best. Cora at first was extremely careless, and destructive spirit possesses him again. With fifteen, insisted on taking her work home, whether or no. of all ages up to seven, I can't give him as much time Now she folds well and fast, and is so eager, that it as I would like. Being with the others, though, is is hard to induce her to stop at the right time. But educating him. He is bettter-tempered than when he I am delighted at her awakening love of work. Now began five weeks ago. Though my work is harder I hope to keep her so happy and busy that her quar- for having my four little ones, yet it has a good influrelsome and unkind habits will be starved out. She ence on the older ones. Addie is a perfect little gives me much anxiety. She is so capable and mother, so gentle to them and self-denying. Cora shrewd that she will cause much unhappiness to her- loves to pet them-and tease them too, and they don't self and others unless she is helped now out of her like her-but every child here will be the better for present condition. Addie's sweet patient motherliness. I sometimes have to take two of the little ones on my lap at once always when I tell a story.

WEDNESDAY.—I have urged Cora to sing, as she knows the songs better than the others. I thought it would please her to be a help to me. But, often since, she will not sing. This morning, in the "Star song," she was one to represent the star replying to the child. After the first stanza I asked why she didn't sing; she laughed and said "because she didn't want to," so I said Eddie might sing in her place. She said, "I want to now." I told her she might think, instead, if she hadn't been unkind to us all. She insisted, but I wouldn't let her sing. But I do think she is improving. I'm sure that even two weeks ago she would have been very angry and have troubled me all the morning. She yielded quietly, and sang the next song.

Stormy to-day, only eight of my fifteen present. Ella's mother thought she had better stay at home, but Ella said she must come.

Sticks. I gave each one five and dictated a doghouse. I have cut out some little paper animals, so they asked for the little dogs. I gave them bluntpointed scissors, and yellow paper, to cut straws for the dogs' beds. Cora wanted green, to make grassMattie wanted inch sticks to make steps. Harry asked for some and made a hall to his house-Cora made a fence before hers, and steps, to climb a hill. After standing and playing "tic toc old clock" for a rest, I gave them the wires and cork cubes. Most of them made rolling pins and dough-boards (the square), and I gave them wood-colored paper to cut covers for them. Afterward Ella wanted to play, the corks were tiny blocks—like their third gift-so I let them build with them, while I pared the apples for lunch.

THURSDAY-While singing "Two Robin Redbreasts," Cora made a nest of one hand and put the fingers of the other hand in for birds. That suggested to me a way of representing it. So we played, our bodies were trees, our left arms, held out, a branch, left hand a nest on the branch, then the little finger and the next one were little robins and the thumb another very fat little one. The first-finger on these, was the mother-bird hovering them and the middle finger the big papa-bird, who sat on the edge of the nest and "sang merrily." When we sing "I'll try," etc., we have the right hand in the air, moving the fingers, to show how they fly by trying.

The older ones had the 4th Gift to-day, the younger ones the 3d. The little ones made from the two chairs, Papa's boots standing together after he has come home tired and put on his slippers. Then we turned them till the toes touched, took off the tops, and built a chimney at the back, then we each had a fireplace. I told them how people cooked with them before the age of stoves. They were delighted with the idea of a turkey, roasting, hanging by a string and twirling about, so I took the balls, fastened a thread in them, showed them how to twist the string, then they held the ball over the fire-place and roasted a turkey. The older ones became interested and asked that they might roast turkeys. I said yes, if they would ask the little ones to lend the balls, and could invent a fire-place with their oblong blocks. They planned several kinds, all good. Then they wanted a fire. I gave them wax-balls for coal.

Harry wanted wires for wood; Cora wanted a long wire for a poker and a short one for a match, and paper and more wires for kindlings. I furnished them all, then they played, build a fire and roast a turkey.

After lunch, the oldest had bookmark-work. Some are beginning crosses, over which they are very eager and happy. The little ones had papers and straws, and the others, not yet ready for bookmarks, had beads and copper wire. I had them string one red, two blue, and three yellow beads. When the wire is full, they bend it into shapes, circles, squares,

etc.

the gift of second-sight, then I could be prepared to do and say first what was best for her. Now she takes me by surprise sometimes, and my patience does not then rise to meet her vagaries with the right remedy. By and by, when I thought twas all forgotten, she said quietly, "Sometime I'm going to put a chunk of lead down Mattie's back," I said "Would you like to have her put one down your back?" "No, but she can't. "Does your papa I can run faster than she can." ever do unkind or teasing things to you?" "No," she said emphatically. But he is stronger than you, and can run faster, can't he?" "Yes," she said slowly. "Your papa is kinder to you because he is FRIDAY-After singing "Happy every morning" stronger than you, Cora, so you must be kind to MatLucy suggested, that, at each table, the middle child tie, just because you are stronger and can run faster cross hands and give them to its neighbors, and those than she." She seemed to understand the compariat the ends give hands across to their opposite neigh- | son. bors, thus making a circle. I like to follow their suggestions if possible, so we sing it again shaking hands in time till after we had sung "Love is all uniting." We have been talking about "Music in the Valley," I tell them about one stanza each morning. After singing it, they say "Now please tell us more about music," then I take up each line and tell them all I can think of in connection with it, and ask their thoughts about it. I told them about "Music in our sorrow" and in "our care" this morning, and they sang that part softly, then sang loudly and joyfully the next line "Music in our gladness." We are learning a Spring song. I simplified it some, nearly everything written for children needs that. One line I put in is, "As on the green branches you're merrily swinging," there, of their own accord they make the motion of swaying branches with their arms. How they delight in active expression--and in imagery too. The line they like best is "I want you to unite the brooks with your fingers."

I am pleased with Mollie this week. Before she has been indolent and inattentive. She has had some of the Gifts in another kindergarten (?), where she was not told anything about them, but always played as she liked with them. So she has acquired the habit of sitting idly, with finger in her mouth, or twisting her hair. She has been quite busy to-day.

When I criticised her carelessly drawn "chairs" to-day, she said she "was playing they were worn out, just going to go to pieces." Her answer was so good that I agreed to it, saying, "Well, let's play they must be put away in the attic, and mamma has bought some pretty new ones, and won't you make them for me?" So she drew two, and they were the best drawing she has ever done. At lunch, after passing the orange, there were four pieces left. Six children said at once "I want a piece." I said there wasn't enough for six. Cora said "Give it to me and Eddie?" Mattie said "Can't you give it to me?" "But the rest want some just as badly as you do-some one must give up, who can?" All said "I'll give up" except Cora. I told them how glad I was to see so many willing to give up, and asked if they didn't think the best way was to give it to the younger ones, all agreed but Cora. Her sister was one of those willing to give up, which seemed to make Cora angry. She broke out with "I'll bring a pop-corn ball and I won't give you any, Mattie." I said "Why not, Cora?" "Because I don't want to." Then I lost patience and exclaimed, "Cora, what does make you so selfish!" A very absurd question to ask a child-though 'twas not really a question, as I didn't expect an answer-only the weak expression of my discouragement and impatience. I wish for poor wayward Cora's sake I had

Clay to-day. Cora forgot her ill-feeling entirely, and was very happy making a flower pot and a cube, her work is very good. Addie is very slow and careful. Often she doesn't get anything made, as she isn't easily satisfied. Her work must be nearly perfect, or she won't keep it. She is Lucy's opposite. I believe, clay is one of the best gifts for very young children. Willie likes it greatly. He holds it up to me and smiles very broadly. He can't destroy it and yet it yields to him.-New Education.

N

NAUGHTY MIKE.

AUGHTY Mike! I am sorry to say I had sometimes a very naughty boy or girl. I had met such a surprising success in my little rooms with my few scholars, that my fame had spread about the town. I received many calls from the school committee, and was at last induced to take charge of the school in the village.

Here I had over ninety pupils. Just imagine one hundred and eighty feet to make a noise! one hundred and eighty eyes, black, blue and gray, watching you! one hundred and eighty restless hands! and the buzzing of ninety mouths!

I never had had any real trouble, and imagined all children to be manageable, although I knew some were lazy, some studious, and nearly all more or less rough. I soon had my ninety under control, and things were going on finely, when one day we received a call from two of the committee.

I had the children read and sing, and was feeling quite proud of them, when one of the gentlemen, a kind old man, said he wished to say a few words to the school.

You may imagine my surprise when he said:

"Children, I am here on a very sad errand. I am hunting for a thief, and he is either in this room or the school above this. But I am quite sure we have tracked him to this room."

There was a terrible stillness. As soon as I could speak, I assured the gentleman there must be some mistake, as I was certain all in my school were honest children.

"I hope so," said he. "But there have been several nice pencils, pens, and so forth taken from both rooms, and I am sorry to say I think you are mistaken. Eight pencils have been taken to-day from the upper school, and as all the pupils there can give a satisfactory account of themselves, I think the thief must be here."

I ran my eyes over the faces. Some looked frightened, some indignant, but not one dishonest. I felt