USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1853-82 > Part 20
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8 50
William D. Tuttle, services in letting out hill at West Acton, 3 00
Daniel Fletcher, for building wall at cemetery,
27 00
Dr. H. A. Barrett, professional services rendered Dixon and Ogle, 25 00
6 00
George W. Todd, for transporting firemen to Acton, John E. Cutter, for summonsing 21 persons to take oath of office, March 5, '63, 2 62
66
66 do. do., 7 persons, April 10, '63, 88
2 75
66 66 getting dogs licensed,
2 58
66 66 stamps on notes, 1 50
For set of measures,
Moses Taylor, for services in reducing number of en- rolled militia,
3 00
Varnum B. Mead, do. do.,
8 75
Daniel Wetherbee, do. do.,
8 00
J. K. W. Wetherbee, do. do.,
8 25
James E. Billings, do. do.,
10 36
George Prouty, for tolling bell for 5 deaths,
1 00
George Harris, do. do., 1 do.,
20
Quincey A. Fletcher, do. do., 23 do.,
4 60
Hiram J. Hapgood, do. do., 8 do.,
1 60
For table for town hall,
22 00
" wood do. do., 6 06
George M. Brooks, for advice respecting grading hill at West Acton, 2 00
George Harris, for opening town hall 77 times,
60 00
For 33 gallons oil and 1 pint fluid, 29 30
2 dozen lamp wicks,
72
coal for town hall, 31 39
two dampers for stove in town hall,
1 25
seven lamp chimnies for town hall,
87
one chimney brush for town hall,
17
one broom,
25
cleaning and leveling cellar of town hall,
1 50
repairing and putting up pump,
50
glazing at town hall,
15
repairing clock and taking care of same,
24 26
William D. Tuttle, 66 for material and fencing do.,
66 66
3 00
do. do., 22 persons, March 4, '64,
1 00
7
Fletcher and Tarbell, for burial of 40 persons,
80 00
" recording 45 deaths, 4 50
66
" coffin for state pauper, 9 85
Levi Dow, for damage to sleigh on highway near John
Hapgood's,
11 00
For rope for monument,
2 25
lamps for town hall,
34 00
express, postage and stationery,
7 10
$527 45
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY FEBRUARY 26, 1865.
-
RECEIPTS.
Balance in Treasury Feb. 26, 1864,
$2,286 66
State Tax for 1864,
2,424 00
County Tax for 1864,
746 10
Town Grant for 1864,
5,000 00
66 for schools,
1,700 00
Highway Deficiencies,
57 -33
Overlay on Taxes,
127 76
Corporation Tax,
479 40
State Aid to Jan. 1st, 1864,
2,431 21
School money from town of Concord,
20 00
Borrowed money,
3,893 30
Cash of E. F. Richardson, for school books,
29 11
State School Fund,
83 72
Cash from town of Groton, for support of Clarissa Nutting,
52 00
Received for use of Town Hall,
122 50
Cash from Almshouse,
10 79
For lumber, oil, &c.,
68 86
- -$19,532 74
EXPENDITURES.
For support of schools,
$1,809 19
repairs on school houses,
148 85
books and printing,
115 20
discount on taxes,
510 23
roads and bridges,
1,451 47
appropriation for soldiers and families,
6,408 36
support of poor,
200 46
Town Officers,
330 32
notes and interest,
1,830 47
miscellaneous expenses,
527 45
8
For State tax, County tax,
2,424 00 746 10
$16,502 10
Balance in Treasury Feb. 26, 1865.
$3,030 64
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN FEB. 26, 1865.
DR.
To balance as per report, Feb. 26, 1865, $3,030 64
amount due from the State for aid furnished families of soldiers, 2,188 47
$5,219 11
AMOUNT DUE ON NOTES.
CR.
By Cash of Jonas K. Putney,
$1,077 30
John R. Whitcomb,
500 00
Calvin Harris,
200 00
James A. Billings,
200 00
Daniel Harris,
805 34
Frederick Rouillard,
1,700 00
David M. Handley,
200 00
Mathew Mckinney,
100 00
Joel Hanscom,
680 00
Augustine Conant,
4,000 00
Eben Conant,
3,500 00.
Silas P. Blodgett,
1,211 27
James Keyes,
600 00
John Wood,
500 00
Elbridge J. Robbins,
500 00
Daniel Wetherbee,
1,500 00
Isaac T. Flagg,
100 00
823 00
Interest on notes, $18,196 91
Balance against the Town Feb. 26, 1865, without including the balance due as per Overseers' report for 1865, $12,977 80
AMOUNT OF STATE AID PAID EACH PERSON. Paid. $144 00 Mrs. Betsey M. Sawyer, Charlotte M. Pike, 144 00 Maria Fisk, 144 00
9
Mrs. Betsy Shehan,
144 00
. S. II. Wetherbee,
144 00
Catharine Dwelley,
144 00
Margaret Moore,
132 00
Sally Veazey, Margaret Fitzpatrick,
98 80
Mr. Thomas Kinsley,
96 00
Miss Henrietta Goss,
60 00
Mrs. Joanna Moulton,
54 00
Elvira Young,
52 00
Annie Dole,
52 00
Martha Wayne,
52 00
Anna Whitney,
44 28
Fannie Stevens,
42 42
Sarah J. Skinner,
36 00
Charlotte Blood,
35 00
Hattie S. Jackson,
35 00
Anna E. Robbins,
33 57
Sarah J. Taft,
31 00
Johanna Colman,
19 28
Nancy Huggins,
17 00
Mary Hurley,
13 14
$1,870 69
JAMES E. BILLINGS,
JONAS K. PUTNEY, J. K. W. WETHERBEE,
Selectmen of Acton.
Acton, Feb. 26, 1865.
2
103 20
REPORT OF THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES,
AT THE
ALMSHOUSE, IN ACTON,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 1st, 1865.
ARTICLES ON HAND, APRIL 1st, 1865.
1 pair oxen, $210, 1 horse, 70,00, $280 00
9 cows, 360, 2 shotes, 35,00, 395 00
3 1-2 tons hay, 105, 12 bush. corn, 18,00
123 00
7 bush. rye, 12,25, 8 bush. oats, 6,40,
18 65
47 bush. potatoes, 37,60, 10 fowls, 5,00,
42 60
300 lbs. pork, 60,00, 100 lbs. beef, 15,00,
75 00
76 lbs. ham, 16,72, 25 lbs. butter, 7,50,
24 22
18 lbs. lard, 3,78, 15. lbs. candles, 3,00,
6 78
4 lbs. tallow, .56, 26 lbs. dried apple, 5,20,
5 76
1 lb. tea, 1,50, 3 lbs. coffee, .39, 2 lbs. sugar, .40,
2 29
3-4 bbl. flour, 9,00, 3 bush. beans, 6,37, 55 M. skewers, 27,50, skewer timber, 4,00,
31 50
1 bbl. soap, 4,00, 1 bbl. pickles, 2,00,
6 00
1 bag salt, 3,00, 10 bush. ashes, 1,25,
4 25
1 bush. rye meal, 1,75, 1 bush. Indian meal, 1,50,
3 25
$1,033 67
RECEIPTS.
For milk, $422,85, oxen, 713, $1,135 85
apples, 125,07, pork, 73,19, eggs, 9,20,
207 46
skewers, 61,40, poultry, 25,73,
87 13
calves, 24,50, labor, 17,00, shote, 8,00,
49 50
boarding E. C. Brown, 4,00, squashes, 2,50,
6 50
keeping pedlers, 4,00, hide, 5,51,
9 51
straw, 21,70, peaches, 12,00, peas, .33,
34 03
old iron, 2,25, pasturing calf, 1,10,
3 35
15 37
11
For use of horse, .25, use of oxen, .75, cash of P. Smith, .58, hat, .30, potatoes, 3,25, work at cemetery, 10,25, work on road,
1 00
88
13 50
11 33
$1,560 04
EXPENDITURES.
Flour, $47,25, butter, 89,71, cheese, 14,98,
$151 94
Molasses, 42,94, sugar, 15,89, tea, 11,50, 70 33
Coffee, 13,57, meat, 81,99, fish, 7,00, tripe, 3,36,
105 92
Rye, 26,80, meal, 79,90, salt, 8,23,
114 93
Cloth and clothing, 60,70, shoes, 1,10, bread, 2,58,
64 38
Spices, 5,24, saleratus, .12, starch, .24, sage, .42,
6 02
Cream of tartar, .40, soap, .21, yeast, 1,00, oil, 3,53,
5 14
Soda, .34, saltpetre, .50, spirits, .17, seeds, 4,29,
5 30
Camphor, .24, potash, 7,03, matches, .60,
7 87
Sour milk, 7,20, medicines, 1,12, tobacco, 7,66,
15 98
Grass, 2,00, hay, 34,27, plaster, 2,00,
38 27
Scraps, 12,18, skewer timber, 9,75, sink, 2,50,
24 43
Tools, 8,58, earthen ware, 5,59, tin ware, 2,50,
16' 67
Glass and putty, .90, nails, 1,62, castings, 1,26,
3 78
Grafting, .75, repairing pump, 5,00, ropes, 1,42,
7 17
Brooms, 1,50, whips, .42, oil cloth, .80, shot, .36,
3 08
Coffin and robe, 7,50, cash to paupers, 1,85, Grape vines, 2,00, twine and wicking, .62,
2 62
Newspaper, 2,70, use of winnowing mill and cradle, 1,00,
3 70
Use of bull, 2,00, use of pasture, 20,00,
22 00
Shotes, 16,50, blacksmith's bill, 16,40,
32 90
Stove, 15,00, Dr. Cowdry's bill, 5,25,
20 25
Cows, 44,00, oxen, 525,45, barrels, 5,25,
574 70
Use of wagon and cart, 8,00, expenses to Boston, 7,99,
15 99
Weighing oxen,
24
Services of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Wetherbee,
300 00
James E. Billings' services,
6 00
Jonas K. Putney's services,
6 00
J. K. W. Wetherbee's, services,
6 00
$1,640 96
Amount of inventory, April 1, 1864,
$891 82
Interest on farm, 239 40
$1,131 22
$2,772 18
9 35
12
RECAPITULATION.
Amount of expenditures,
$1,640 96
Amount of receipts, $1,560 04
Cash from town treasury to balance account, 80 92
$1,640 96
Total amount of expenditures, $1,640 96
Amount of inventory, April 1, 1864,
891 82
Interest on the farm,
239 40
$2,772 18
Total amount of receipts,
$1,560 04
Amount of inventory, April 1, 1865,
1,033 67
$2,593 71
$178 47
Expense of victualing foreigners,
10 40
Total amount of supporting poor in Almshouse,
$168 07
Whole number of persons (exclusive of foreigners) supported in the almshouse, 5 ; average number, 4 ; present number, 3; cost per week, 81 cents.
JAMES E. BILLINGS, Overseers of
JONAS K. PUTNEY,
J. K. W. WETHERBEE,
Poor.
Acton, April 1, 1865.
1
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
BIRTHIS RECORDED IN ACTON, FOR THE YEAR END- ING DEC. 31st, 1864.
No. Date of Birth. Names of Children. Names of Parents.
1. Jan. 4, In Concord, Eunice Elizabeth Malloy, daughter of Thomas and Fanny Malloy.
2. Jan. 6, Frank Marion Shurtleff, son of Isaac M. and Sarah E. Shurtleff.
3. Jan. 20, Estella L. Hosmer, daughter of John E. and Emma E. Hosmer.
4. Feb. 28, Alice Gertrude Gardner, daughter of George and Violetta F. Gardner.
5. Feb. 28, George Frank Kendall, son of George M. and Henri- etta Kendall.
6. March 5, Hiram Edward Gates, son of George W. and Mary Gates.
7. March 19, Albertie S. Tuttle, daughter of Varnum and Sarah L. Tuttle.
.8. May 2, Herman Otis Hartwell, son of Henry and Augusta H. Hartwell.
9. May 10, Frank Lovell Hosmer, son of David W. and Harriet C. Hosmer.
10-11. June 4, Helen Lizzie Davis, and Freddie Warren Davis, twin children of William W. and Martha Davis.
12. June 11, Carrie Estella White, daughter of John and Sarah A. White.
13. June 26, Abbie McDonald, daughter of Walter and Louisa G. McDonald.
14. July 12, Alice Marion Lamb, daughter of Charles B. and Marion M. Lamb.
15. July 15, Edgar Horace Johnson, son of George E. and Mary , L. Johnson.
16. July 16, Patrick Powers, son of John and Eliza Powers.
17. Aug. 1, Mary Ann Hammond, daughter of Thomas W. and Mary Alice Hammond.
14
18. Aug. 23, A son to Daniel and Mary Mccarthy.
19. Sept. 8, Charles Lincoln Wood, son of Winthrop E. and Lydia A. Wood.
20. Sept. 18, George Robinson, son of Charles and Percis V. Robinson.
21. Sept. 21, Horace Frederic Tuttle, son of William D. and Eliz- abeth B. Tuttle.
22. Oct. 8, Rosella Estabrook, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Estabrook.
23. Nov. 13, Arthur B. Robbins, son of Simon and Nancy D. Robbins.
24. Dec. 1, Samuel H. Tuttle, son of Francis 2d and Sarah E. Tuttle.
25. Dec. 11, Arthur Edwin Holman, son of Nelson and Charlotte A. Holman.
26. Dec. 12, Arthur B. Weld, son of Marcellus and Maria L. Weld.
27. Dec. 24, A daughter to Warren and Lydia A. Houghton.
28. Dec. 24, Albert Henry Smith, son of Henry M. and Abbie B. Smith.
Aug. 20, 1863, Mary Elizabeth Cash, daughter of Hugh and Re- becca B. Cash.
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN ACTON, IN 1864.
No. . Date of Marriage. Names of Parties.
1. Jan. 2, Augustus B. Clarke, of New York City, and Miss Helen E. Cowdrey, of Acton.
2. Jan. 2, Nelson Holman, of Harvard, and Miss Charlotte A. Conant, of Acton.
3. Jan. 7, Charles H. Kidder, of Acton, and Miss Frank S. Fiske, of Saco, Me.
4. Feb. 2, Justin Brigham, of Acton, and Miss Ann McGurty, of Stow.
5. March 13, John F. Blood, Jr., and Miss Emma F. Robbins, both of Acton.
6. March 22, Norman Chaplin, of Acton, and Miss Lucinda A. Bride, of Berlin.
7. April 6, Henry L. Sawyer, and Miss Lucy A. Fuller, both of Acton.
8. April 20, William F. B. Whitney, of Acton, and Miss Annie McNernie, of Boston.
9. April 21, Silas P. Blodget, and Miss Anna E. Jones, both of Acton.
10. March 31, Cyrus Hosmer, of Acton, and Miss Mary E. Hutch- ins, of Westford.
15
11. April 28, Joseph Noyes, of Acton, and Mrs. Dolly Piper, of Boston.
12. April 30, Jeremiah Sheahan, of Acton, and Miss Hannah Col- lins, of Concord.
13. July 10, Francis E. Harris, and Miss Mandana S. Robbins, both of Acton.
14. Sept. 6, Francis E. White, of Needham, and Miss Sarah E. Knight, of Framingham.
15. Sept. 1, Albert T. Edmonds, of Acton, and Miss Mary M. Garfield, of Wayland.
16. Sept. 7, Edwin C. Parker, of Acton, and Miss Hannah H. Barry, of Ovid, N. Y.
17. Oct. 8, Patrick Maloney, of Acton, and Miss Catherine Love, of Concord.
18. Oct. 19, Lewis E. Fletcher, and Miss Lucy E. McCraken, both of Acton.
19. Oct. 30, George F. Proctor, of Littleton, and Miss Susannah C. Chaffin, of Acton.
20. Nov: 20, Walter A. Gilmore, and Miss Emeline A. Robbins, both of Acton.
21. Nov. 20, Warren B. Ball, and Miss Sophia L. Chaplin, both of Acton.
22. Nov. 27, Allen G. Smith, of Westford, and Miss Harriet E. Robbins, of Acton.
23. Dec. 4, Henry Brown, of Acton, and Miss Carrie A. Brooks, of Stow.
24. March 7, Marcellus Weld, of Acton, and Miss Maria L. Gold- smith, of Andover.
25. Dec. 18, Charles H. Edmonds, and Miss Annie Briggs, both of Acton.
26. Oct. 10, Peter Lynch, of Acton, and Mrs. Joanna Ogle, of Stow.
DEATHS RECORDED IN ACTON, IN 1864.
No. Date of Death.
Name and Age of Deceased.
1. Jan. 5, Elmer Ellsworth Jackson, son of Loring M. and Har- riet Jackson, aged 1 year, 9 months.
2. Jan. 11, Mrs. Louisa Fredericks, aged 65 years.
3. Jan. 14, Livonia W. Thomas, daughter of Henry C. and Amanda M. Thomas, aged 4 yrs. 8 mos. 27 days.
4. Feb. 11, John Murphy, son of Daniel and Elizabeth J. Mur- phy, aged 2 yrs. 7 mos. 26 days.
5. March 17, Mr. Benjamin F. Hapgood, aged 58 yrs. 4 mos, 14 days.
6. March 17, Mr. Nathaniel Hapgood, Jr., aged 47 yrs.
7. March 20, Mr. Lewis Rouillard, aged 80 yrs. 4 mos.
16
8. April 3, Mr. Richard Moulton, aged 65 yrs. 6 mos.
9. Feb. 22, Mr. William Kendall, of Dracut, aged 56 yrs.
10. April 27, Mrs. Sally Hosmer, wife of Mr. Jonathan Hosmer, aged 81 years.
11. May 8, Everett Giles, son of Israel H. and Lucy Giles, aged 12 yrs. 8 mos. 8 days.
12. May 28, John Nye, son of John and Clara F. Nye, aged 2 yrs. 9 mos.
13. June 8, Mrs. Clara B. Nutting, aged 44 yrs.
14. June 16, Mrs. Julia L. Edmonds, aged 46 yrs.
15. June 24, Miss Patty Smith, aged 86 yrs.
16. June 27, David T. Kinsley, son of Richard and Eliza Kinsley, aged 3 yrs.
17. June 28, Hattie E. Teel, daughter of William H. and Mary E. Teel, aged 1 yr.
18. July 6, Mrs. Lucinda W. Robbins, aged 59 yrs. 10 mos. 12 days.
19. July 15, Albert F. McDonald, son of George and Mary Mc Donald, aged 1 yr. 2 mos. 24 days.
20. July 17, Abbie McDonald, daughter of Walter and Louisa G. McDonald, aged 21 days.
21. July 31, Mrs. Catherine E. Chaffin, widow of Lewis Chaffin, aged 39 yrs.
22. Aug .. 1, Robert H. Todd, son of James and Margaret C. Todd, aged 1 yr. 1 mo. 18 days.
23. Aug. 15, Lyman Edwards Conant, son of Luther Jr., and Celeste J. Conant, aged 2 yrs. 6 mos. 21 days.
24. Aug. 24, An infant child of Daniel and Mary Mccarthy, aged 1 day.
25. Sept. 7, Mrs. Dolly H. Wright, widow of Mr. Joel Wright, aged 70 yrs. 11 mos.
26. Sept. 8, Herbert Augustine Conant, son of Luther Jr., and Celeste J. Conant, aged 1 yr. 1 mo. 7 days.
27. Sept. 11, Mary A. Kinsley, daughter of Richard and Eliza Kinsley, aged 13 yrs. 3 mos.
28. Sept. 17, Mr. Simon Tuttle, aged 71 yrs. 7 mos. 10 days.
29. Sept. 19, Martha C. Cutler, daughter of Elisha H. and Mary E. Cutler, aged 5 yrs. 6 mos. 24 days.
30. Sept. 20, Mr. James Keyes, aged 89 yrs. 7 mos. 7 days.
31. Oct. 9, Freddie W. Davis, son of William W. and Martha Davis, aged 4 mos. 5 days.
32. Oct. 16, Dora E. Curtis, daughter of Nehemiah and Martha C. Curtis.
33. Oct. 30, Mrs. Hannah McCarthy, aged 84 yrs.
34. Nov. 10, Mr. Jonas Handley, aged 57 yrs.
35. Nov. 25, Mr. Artemas M. Rowell, aged 42 yrs. 1 mo. 8 days.
36. Dec. 14, Mr. William Reed, aged 83 yrs. 4 mos. 14 days.
37. Dec. 22, Mr. John Putnam, son of Cyrus and Eliza Putnam, aged 30 yrs. 8 mos. 20 days.
17
38. Dec. 27, Mr. Charles HI. Moulton, son of Richard and Joanna Moulton, aged 22 yrs. 2 mos. 9 days.
SOLDIERS IN U. S. SERVICE.
No. Date of Death. Name and Age of Deceased.
1. April 10, Francis Kinsley, 2d, Co. E. 26th Regt., aged 21 yrs. 6 mos. 20 days, son of Thomas and Maria Kins- ley, died in Acton, while on furlough.
2. Nov. 10, Thomas Kinsley, Jr., Co. E. 26th Regt., aged 16 yrs. son of Thomas and Maria Kinsley, died at Camp Fry Hospital, in Washington, D. C., of disease contracted while in service.
3. Dec. 8, John A. Brown, color bearer in Co. E, 26th Regt., aged 25 yrs., died in hospital, at Winchester, Va., of a wound received in the battle of Winchester.
4. Sept. 19, Eugene L. Hall, Co. E, 26th Regt., aged 19 yrs. 6 mos. 8 days, son of Enoch and Emeline Hall, was killed at the battle of Winchester, Va.
5. May 13, Cyrus H. Stockwell, son of Ira and Maria Stockwell, aged 31 yrs. 10 mos., died at New Orleans, La., of a wound received at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads.
WILLIAM D. TUTTLE, Town Clerk.
Acton, March 25, 1865.
3
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE YEAR 1864-65.
To the Citizens of Acton:
.The School Committee respectfully submit their annual report.
As we review the character of our schools the past year, we believe we can truly say that they have, in a good degree, been successful. To be sure they have not attained that excellence at which we aim, but have made general progress. We see not a few imperfections in them, but these are to be found in every department of human effort. Although what the common schools accomplish for our youth is invaluable, yet many might improve the advantages they afford much better. There are scholars in town who possess a tolerably good knowledge of the common branches, and have more or less acquaintance with some of the higher ones, but these are comparatively few. We believe our schools furnish the opportunity, for every scholar of common abilities, of acquiring a fair knowledge of the common branches before they become of proper age to leave school.
We think, as a general thing, parents feel a commendable degree of interest in the prosperity of the schools. This is evinced by their occasional visits and large attendance at examinations. Every parent should feel that he has a great personal interest in the district school; that when it is in successful operation he is being greatly benefited, but when it is going wrong he is a great loser. The common school has done a great deal for Massachusetts. While in point of territory she is but a scrap of the country's surface, and while other states are outstripping her in population, almost rivalling empires, Massachusetts is heard and honored in the .
2
councils of the nation. If we would have her continue to occupy her distinguished position ; if we would not have her sink unseen and unheard among majestic states, we must nurse, with a mother's affection and much expense, her common school system. It is said that nothing develops the talents of a people like war, and doubtless the North is indebted in no small degree to the success she has already achieved in her conflict with the South, to the general diffu- sion of knowledge among her people. Knowledge enables a people to avail themselves of the appliances of war, and to employ with discretion the resources of the land.
As we have already remarked, our schools are not free from imperfections, to some of which we would call the attention of the town. We refer to them in a general manner, not wishing to be personal.
Attendance. Considerable time and money are thrown away by scholars being tardy and absent. The average attendance in some of the schools seems much below what it need to be, some terms it being but little more than seventy- five per cent. If this were the case with all our schools, several hundred dollars of the sum appropriated by the town would be absolutely lost. This shows that there are not a few parents who either do not know where their children are during school hours, or else do not appreciate education as they ought. Parents can in a great measure correct this evil. If our schools are what they should be, scholars are made both wiser and better by being punctual and regular, and the rising generation of men and women will be more or less cultivated and accomplished according to the improve- ment of the privileges the common schools afford. It presents a bad omen for the future prospects of a lad to hear of his playing truant. If parents would save their children from degradation and perhaps crime, they must not suffer it. If a youth is so indifferent to study as to run away from school, there is reason to fear he may be engaged in some vicious employment while absent. A scholar not only loses the hours he is absent, but discourages the teacher's efforts
-
3
in his behalf, is thrown off the track with regard to his studies, and thereby mortifies and discourages himself. The money and time devoted to our schools is more precious than diamonds, and the children of parents who lightly esteem them are to be pitied. Not a few children receive all the opportunities for education they ever enjoy in the common schools, and such certainly have no school hours to idle away. We think some of the children of this town are taken out of school quite too young. The services of those who are made to forego the privileges of school in so early youth must be very valuable.
Thorough Instruction. In some of our schools we witness a lack of thorough teaching. A sufficient amount of ground is passed over, but only the surface is touched. Half under- standing a principle does not give a scholar a practical knowledge of it. We desire that our children may possess such an education as they can employ in the various transac- tions of life. Merely committing rules to memory does not furnish such an education. The scholar needs to become acquainted with the principles upon which the rules are founded. To acquire this knowledge requires thorough instruction and close application, but when attained it is invaluable. When explaining a principle, the teacher must. aim to get the attention of his pupils. It amounts to but little to talk to sleepy or inattentive scholars. Children often need more than is found in the text book to animate them. Almost any one can read off questions, but to elucidate principles in an attractive manner requires talents of a high order. A good deal of oral instruction may be given in connection with every branch of study, and should be, even if quite so many questions are not put out from the book. The eye may be made to assist the understanding in no small degree. One knows what he sees with his own eyes. By means of the blackboard, maps, charts and globes, a great deal of knowledge may be presented to the eye which helps to a ready comprehension of the subject. A good teacher will seek as many channels as possible through
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which to impart instruction. It should be required of the pupils to answer correctly. A mistake of a word or two may perhaps altogether destroy the sense, so that not getting it all right may render useless what is acquired. To write compositions is a very profitable exercise. It learns one to spell correctly, to think comprehensively, to argue sensibly, and converse elegantly. It assists in acquiring a knowledge of grammar, and cultivates a power of thought and expression very desirable in life. Scholars should be encouraged by parents and teachers to write compositions. We believe many of our pupils are inclined to drop the study of Mental Arithmetic much too soon. Children should be put into this branch of study early, and not dismiss it until they have mastered the series now in use in our schools.
Character and Manners. It is not right for a teacher to be indifferent to the moral conduct of his scholars. Some may think it none of their concern if their scholars do quar- rel, use profane language, and trespass on neighboring fields and orchards, but this is a wrong view to take of the subject. A good character in a child is of the first importance ; unless he possesses it, whatever intellectual attainments he may arrive at, his life will doubtless be fruitful of more evil than good. It is the duty of teachers to see, so far as they are able, that nothing inconsistent with strict morality transpires in or about the school house. To instruct children " to love the Lord their God with all their hearts," and " to do unto others as they would that others should do unto them," com- mends itself to all good people.
Scholars should be taught good manners also. Ill manners appear worse in an intelligent person than in one who is ignorant ; whereas virtue and affability often hide a good deal of ignorance, and make many friends. True politeness is a virtue and pleases everybody.
Employing Teachers. The Local Committee occupy positions of much responsibility. It may sometimes be thought that it is of no very great consequence whom they engage, as the Examining Committee can reject the candidate
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if found incompetent; but the best way is to start right. When a good teacher is employed the success of the school may be considered almost certain.
It is indispensable that a teacher be well acquainted with the branches he is expected to teach, for there is no object in sending a scholar to school unless he can learn something after he gets there. He should have an excellent character, for we wish our children placed under correct influences. He should be a person of discretion, so that he may take no unjustifiable steps. He should be patient and amiable. If he is constantly finding fault, not satisfied with the perform- ances of his scholars when they do the best they can, they will lose their respect for him and not try to do anything. He must be of diligent habits as there is always work enough to do in the school room.
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