USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > Annual reports of the receipts and expenditures of the town of Salem, N.H. : for the year ending 1854-1870 > Part 10
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$62 64
RECAPITULATION.
Whole amount in Selectmens hands, Schools,
1275 89
Roads and Bridges,
223 81
Non Resident Highway Taxes, 1859,
89 20
Snow Paths,
51 81
Contingent Expenses,
2445 74
Repairs of Old Causeway,
548 75
Repairs of Bridge, near N. Duston's,
442 98
J. L. Clendenin's Notes,
88 91
Alms House Expenses,
62 64
Discount, Abatemements, and Bills Paid,
517.50
John F. Tenney, Uncollected Taxes, 1859. Cash in Treasurer's hands,
167 77-6408 83
Deduct outstanding orders, not returned,
4 30
$6404 59
OUTSTANDING DEBTS AGAINST THE TOWN.
Jemimah Allen's note, due Jan. 1st, 1860, 178 65
Abiah Bailey's 66 May 6,
638 75
Thomas Duston's " 66 Feb. 28, 66
421 88
Robert Emerson's, " 66 March 1st, « 200 00
Wm. Moore's, 66 66 May 6th, «
337 08
Joseph Ayer's 66 66 July 15th, 1859,
530 00
Benja. Foster's, 66 April 1st, 1860,
132 50
Enoch Taylor's, 66 Dec. 12th, 1859,
1000 00
School Dist. No.10,“ 66 Dec. 15th, 1859,
134 00
School Dis. No. 2,“ 66 Dec. 16th, 1859,
134 00
B. Foster's ye's sal. as Supt. and O'rseer of Poor, 250 00-3956 86
ALMS HOUSE. COMMITTEE'S NOTES.
Ebenezer Kimball's note, due June 19th, 1859, 224 72
Crawford's, "
Dec. 29, 66
594 70
Nathaniel Clark's 66
66 July 9th, 66
224 72
James W. Smith's, 66 Aug. 15th, 66 1029 26
David Loud's 66 Aug. 27th, 66 318 00
Obadiah Duston's, 66 Feb. 22, 1860, 172 27-2563 67
6520 53
6404 59
493 89
12
DUE THE TOWN.
From John F. Tenney, Collector, 1859, 493 89
Chas. Kimball, Treasurer, 167 77
John L. Clendenin's notes,
588 91
Liquor on hand and Fixtures rec'd from late Ag't. 27 19 Overseer of the Poor, 42 53-820 29
Leaving a balance against the Town of All of which is respectfully submitted,
$5700 24
ASA S. AUSTIN, GILMAN E. SLEEPER, Auditors.
EDWARD GRIFFIN,
REPORT OF OVERSEER OF POOR.
TOWN OF SALEM,
CR.
By cash for beef and hide,
$19 00
hay and straw,
75 50
oats,
10 00
shoats,
32,20
6 cords pine wood,
27 00
2 bushels potatoes,
1 00
146 lbs. butter,
35 00
lard,
10 11
2 calves,
9 00
I03 lbs. cheese,
12 86
92 1-2 lbs. pork,
11 10
17 70 Cash received for work off Farm, County money, 300 00
Add. bal. in Overseer's hands, March 4th, 1859.
3 26-$566 99
TOWN OF SALEM,
DR.
To paid Morrison & Co., for potash
1 65
Abel Page, for print,
1 80
Chas. Austin, for posts,
90
for shad,
2 11
Jonathan Rowell, cash.
1 00
Huldah Jones, cash.
3 00
2 pair shoes,
1 25
Wm. B. Kimball, use of bull,
75
Morrison & Co., 4 lbs. yarn,
3 60
Hat for Wm. Greenleaf,
75
A. S. Jordan, for potash,
1 94
R. R. Whittier, for print and sheeting,
7 29
1-2 bushel onions,
53
Edward Woodbury, bbl. apples,
2 50
Mrs. Jona. Rowell, for cash,
5 00
Jerome Kelley, labor on well stone,
1 50
3 stove pipe thimballs,
30
1
13
Dr. B. E. Woodman's bill,
8 25
John Davis, chopping cord wood,
9 00
Labor on farın, 69 87
J. Q. A. Kelley, pasturing stock,
21 50
Leverit Emerson, cheese press,
75
Stephen Bailey, to leave town,
1 50
Dudley Jones family, to leave town,
1 00
Mary Austin's passage to Boston,
1 50
Benj. Foster, cow and calf,
35 00
Jona. Taylor, 5 cords hard wood, 14. 00
Use of wagon, 5 00
Moody Foster's bill, supplies,
13 77
Bricket Bradley, 4 ft. of wood, deliv'd to J. Rowell,
1 50
Issac Thom, lumber,
3 25
Isaac Woodbury, getting county money,
1 00
E. C. Gordon's bill for smithwork,
15 37
Transcient poor,
1 25
John Downing,
50
John Dunlap, support of S. Dunlap, 46 00
Abner D. Gage, support of N. Parker,
46 00
Sarah T. Howarth, support of Wm. H. Howarth,
30 60
Beriah Foster, bill supplies,
69 85
Geo. H. Austin, bill supplies,
46 37
Afred Page 66
8 59
J. C. Ewins, 66
10 86
M. H. Taylor, 66
12 92
Joseph Webster, shoe stock,
4 02
A. B. Poor, meat, &c.,
4 84
Wm. G. Crowell, taking affidavit,
50
Smith & Sutrliffe, supplies,
4 04-$524 46
Balance in Overseer's hands,
42 53
$566 99
APPRAISAL OF PROPERTY AT THE ALMSHOUSE.
Taken Feb. 21st, 1860 :- 1 yoke oxen, 133.00; 8 cows 240.00; 2 two year old heifers, 32.00; 1 yearling, 8.00; 1 horse, 90.00 ; 20 fowls, 8.00 ; 3 shoats, 36.00 ; 12 tons Eng- lish hay, 204.00 ; 1-2 ton straw, 4.00 ; 1-2 ton meadow hay, 4.00; 40 bushels corn, 40.00; 10 bushels oats, 5.00 ; 5 bush- els rye, 5.00; 5 bushels beans, 10.00; 1-2 peas, 1.00; 6 bushels meal, 6.00 ; 60 bushels potatoes, 30.00 ; 3-4 bbl. flour 6.00 ; vegetables, 8.00 ; 1 bbl. cider and vinegar, 2.00 ; 115 lbs. ham, 16.10; 400 lbs. salt pork, 50.00 ; 50 lbs. butter, 12.50 ; 105 lbs. cheese, 13.65; 88 lbs. lard, 11.44 ; apples, 1.00 ; 6 gals. molasses, 2.00 ; 5 lbs. coffee, 50c ; 1 1-2 lbs. tea, 75c ; fluid and oil, 35c ; 2 lbs. saleratus, 14c ; spices, 25c ; 1 1b. tobacco, 25c; feeting and yarn 75c; 3 doz. eggs, 75c 2 lbs. soap, 18c; 2 pair steelyards, 60c; 1 cheese press 75c; 2 vinegar casks, 2.50; 4 meat bbls. 2.00; 3 tubs, 1.00; casks and boxes, 3.00; feed trough, 2.00; 4 kegs, 2.00 ;
14
2 buckets, '1.00; 6 pails, 1.00; cheese hoop and tub; 2.00 ; 1 churns, 3.00; 2 brass kettles, 6.00; 2 mirrors, 25c; 1 clock, 1.75 ; lamps and candlesticks, 1.25 ; chests and trunks 3.75 ; trunks and drawers, 4.50 ; 11 yards carpeting, 3.00 ; trunks and clothing, 7.00.
-$1030 96
Two stoves, funnel and apparatus 12.00; chairs and tables 11.00; 10 beadsteads and cords 23.00 ; 13 feather beds and ticks 78.00; 15 pairs sheets 11.50 ; 13 pair pillow cases 3.50; coverlets and quilts 18.00; 17 towels 1.87; ticking 40c; wear- ing apparel 126.00; 15 curtains 3.00 ; straw ticks 14.00; 39 pillows 13.25; 3 blankets 2.00; 2 table covers 80c ; knives, forks and spoons 1.00; cupboard 3.00; books 2.50; 1 safe crib 12.00; 3 milk cans 1.50; firkins 1.00; leather 1.00; boxes and casks 3.50; salt 40c; mats 30c; medicine 25c; 5 baskets 1.00; 2 trays & morter 1.75; wicking 10c; lantern 75c; lumber 5.00 ; 13 cords prepared wood 52.00 ; 1 ox sled 1.00; 1 drag 2.00; 1 ox cart 9.00; 1 harrow 3.00; 4 plows 17.00; old iron 2.00 ; 6 hay forks 2.25; 2 manure forks 75c ; 5 shovels 2.25; 3 rakes 75c ; 1 ox yoke 3.00 ; 1 horse rake 5.00 ; 1 cart rope 40c; clevis and pin 50c; 1 horse wagon 5.00; 1 sleigh and harness 8.00 ; 2 grinding stones 1.00; 3 draught chains 3.00; 2 small chains 50c; I whiffletree and chain 1.50 ; 2 iron bars 2.00 ; 3 hoes 75c; 1 manure hook 50c; 1 wheelbarrow, 4.00 ; 4 axes 2.00 .; 1 cultivator 1.50; scy- thes and snaths 3.50 ; 2 augers 30c; 1 bog hoe 25c ; 1 hay rack 2.00 ; pick and wrench 80c; 2 ladders 1.00; 1 hay cut- ter 4.00 ; corn cutter and sickle 50c ; square and plane 75c ; 1 beetle and wedges 75 ; shave and hammer 80c ; blanket and halter 2.50 ; 1 buffalo robe 5.50 ; 1 garden hoe 35c ; 2 wood saws and horse 2.00; meal bags 2.00; 10 lbs. tallow 90c; 13 doz. candles 1.82; soft soap and cask 1.75; 4 flat irons 1.50; I trough and spout 3.00 ; tin ware 7.00 ; crockery ware 5.00; 6 spice boxes 50c; 1 stone jar 1.00 .-
Sugar 3.00; 1 bed pan 75c; 1 warming pan 75c; 1 meal seive 25c ; 2 wash-boards 33c; 1 pair handcuffs 1.00.
Total, APPRAISAL OF REAL ESTATE
$1570 53
Owned by Town, not included in the foregoing, viz : Town Farm, 4700 00
Wood Land, 350 00
Town House, 1000 00
Personal Property at Town Farm, 1570 53
-7620 53
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Superintending School Committee,
OF THE
TOWN OF SALEM,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING, MARCH 13, 1860.
The Superintending School Committee for the current year, sub- mits the following REPORT :
That for the purposes of analysis and comparison it is desirable to perpetuate the practice of furnishing, in the Annual Report, a statistical review of the several Schools in town. Your attention is, therefore, first invited to such an exhibit of our Schools, compiled from the registers kept by the Teachers.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
Teachers-Summer, Miss H. Dinsmoor ; Winter, Mr. Jos, R. Clark.
Whole No. of scholars : Summer, 72; Winter, 70. Average at- tendance : Summer, 58; Winter, 54. Length of Schools : Summer, 16 weeks; Winter, 10 weeks. Wages of Teachers: Summer, $21 per month, including board ; Winter, $35. Appropriation : Town, $162.25; Literary, $20.07; Railroad, $13.21.
The Teacher of the Summer term had the advantage of much ex- perience in teaching and also of having taught in this District seven
16
months previous to last Summer. The progress of the School and its general management were creditable to the Teacher and very gen- erally satisfactory to the District.
The Winter term under the tuition of Mr. Clark was not quite as satisfactory. Still, considerable progress was obviously made ; and perhaps, nearly as much as could reasonably be expected, consider- ing the number of scholars, and the uncomfortable condition of the School room.
DISTRICT NO. 2 .. Teacher, Miss M. J. Bailey.
This School has but one term of nearly four months, relieved- sometimes by a vacation of a week or two about the middle of the term. The average number of Scholars reported is only 5. Length of School, 14 weeks. Wages of Teacher, $16. Appropriation : Town, $51.51 ; Literary, $6.35; Railroad, $13.21. The Teacher discharged her duties, under the unpleasant circumstances of so small a School, with commendable patience and fidelity, and showed her good sense by not teaching the children to death.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Teacher of both Summer and Fall terms, Miss Sophia A. Greenleaf.
Whole No. of Scholars: Summer, 21; Fall, 19. Average at- tendance : Summer, 19; Fall, 14 1-2. Length of School in Sum- mer, 8 weeks; Fall, 10 weeks. Wages of Teacher $14 per month, including board, both terms. Appropriation : Town, $56.21; Lit- erary, $6.93 ; Railroad, $13.21.
To say that the Teacher did well in the poorest School house in town, is perhaps, sufficient praise. The School appeared well when visited, and especially at closing examinations.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
Teacher, Summer and Winter, Miss Rosetta Wason.
Whole No. of Scholars: Summer, 36; Winter, 32. Average at- tendance : Summer, 34 ; Winter, 26. Length of School : Summer, 12 weeks ; Winter, 12 weeks. Wages of Teacher : Summer, $20; Winter, $22. Appropriation : Town, $122.84; Literary, $15.15; Railroad, $13.21.
17
With an excellent School House, and a faithful Teacher, the School during both terms was pleasant and profitable. The final examination was well sustained.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
Teachers-Summer term, Miss Lizzie D. Wheeler ; Fall term, Miss Harriet A. Langley.
Whole No. of Scholars: Summer 28; Fall, 33. Average attend- ance : Summer, 23 and a fraction ; Fall, 24 and a fraction .- Length of School in Summer 9 weeks; in Fall 13 2-3 weeks. Wages of Teachers in Summer $16, in Fall $19. Appropriation : Town, $100.83; Literary, $12.44 ; Railroad, $13.21.
The School was well managed and successful, both Summer and Fall. The examination in both cases were highly satisfactory.
DISTRICT NO. 6.
Teachers, Summer term, Miss Harriet A. Woodbury ; Winter term, Mr. Joseph H. Whittaker.
Whole No. of Scholars: Summer 60; Winter 55. Average at- tendance: Summer 41 1-4; Winter, 37 34-64. Length of School : Summer, 14 weeks; Winter, 12 4-5 weeks. Wages of Teachers, in Summer, $18; in Winter, $31.66. Appropriation: Town, $154.51; Literary, $19.06; Railroad, $13.21.
This School is large, but with the advantages of a good School House, and an experienced and faithful Teacher, the Summer term was quite prosperous and the closing examination satisfactory. The Winter term has been somewhat deficient in order-the progress made has hardly equalled the anticipations indulged at the beginning of the term ; but at the close the School appeared well-better than was expected.
DISTRICT NO. 7.
Teachers in Summer, Miss Julia M. Scott; Winter, Mr. Edward Cross. Whole No. of Scholars : Summer, 29; Winter, 42. Aver- age attendance : Summer, 26; Winter, 34 2-5. Length of School : Summer, 10 weeks ; Winter, 11 weeks. Wages of Teachers : Sam-
18
mer, $14; Winter, $28. Appropriation : Town, $96.27; Literary, $11.88; Railroad, $13.21.
This was the first school with both the teachers, and both acquit- ted themselves well. The best of order was maintained and the school made excellent progress during both terms.
DISTRICT NO. 8.
Teachers-Summer term, Miss Adelaide E. Clark ; Winter term, Miss Harriet A. Woodbury. Whole number of scholars in Summer, 30; in Winter, -. Average attendance : Summer, 24; Winter, -. Length of school : Summer term, 10 weeks; Winter term, -. Wa- ges of Teachers : Summer, $14; Winter, -. Appropriation :- Town, $90.39; Literary, $11.14; Railroad, $13.21.
This School was commenced by Miss Adeline P. Hall who on account of feeble health, resigned it after a few days to Miss Clark. The School was well managed and made fair progress. The Winter term, under Miss Woodbury, is still in session and doing well.
DISTRICT NO. 9.
Teacher, Miss Esther G. Middleton, both Summer and Winter.
Whole number of Scholars: Summer, 21; Winter, 23. Average attendance : Summer, 18; Winter, 17. Length of School : Sum- mer, 12 weeks ; Winter, 18 weeks. Wages of Teacher : Summer, $13; Winter, $20. Appropriation : Town, $103.70; Literary, $12.79; Railroad, $13.21.
This School is small, and composed mostly of small scholars, and consequently appears backward ; but the Teacher has succeeded in giving very good general satisfaction. The School closed with a fair examination.
DISTRICT NO. 10.
Teacher of both Summer and Winter terms, Miss Sarah L. Sawyer. Whole No. of Scholars : Summer, 25 ; Winter, 29. Average attend- ance: Summer, 22; Winter, 21. Length of School : Summer, 10 weeks; Winter, 12 1-2 weeks. Wages of Teacher : Summer, $14; Winter, $18. Appropriation : Town, $79.38; Literary, $9.79 ; Railroad, $13.21.
The Teacher has been attentive to her duties, and the School has
19
made satisfactory progress. The closing examination was well sus- tained.
Having completed a statistical review of the condition of the sev- eral Schools, it is proper that your committee should suggest, and urge, such considerations as he judges to be necessary to the steady improvement and increasing efficiency cf our Schools. To be able to do this the more intelligently your committee has carefully and faithfully visited all the Schools to the extent, and beyond the ex- tent, that the law requires ; generally spending nearly a whole session at each visit, in order to observe the more closely the condition of the Schools, and the mode of teaching and governing on the part of the Teachers. The suggestions which follow, therefore, are not in- troduced merely to fill out the Report, but solely for their intrinsic importance.
The first of these, and one fundamental to all the others, is, a thorough renovation of most of our School Houses ; or, which would be still better, the substitution of new and modern ones for the old. It is hardly possible in such old, shabby, uncomfortable School Houses to have good Schools. They may be good so far as interest- ed, well qualified Teachers, and studious, obedient scholars can make them so; but some pernicious elements of influence are always in- termingled, under such circumstances, which seriously mar the effect designed to be produced. The School House is not merely the place where the child receives the first rudiments of learning; it is to some extent an educational agent, producing impresssons that will modify, more or less the intellect and character of its young and sensitive oc cupants through life. What influences, for instance, will such base surroundings have on the tastes of children ? How can you induce children to respect and love a place that is so unworthy of either ? How impress them with the importance of education, when the School room furnishes proof, every day, that parents and guardians feel very little interest in the subject-not enough, at least, to be willing to provide them with decent and comfortable accommodations in order to enable them the better to attain it? And who has not learned by observation, or experience, or both, that it is next to impossible to prevent mischievous boys and girls from abusing (if that can be,)
20
such decaying structures, by scratching, whittling, and breaking the seats, desks and walls ? Put these same children into a neat, plea- sant and tasteful School room, and their innate sense of propriety will prevent them from defacing any part of it. Were it in the power of your committee he would say something that would reach the sensibilities of the citizens of the town in regard to this matter. Those who have no children to educate ought certainly to possess enough of public spirit to induce them to seek the common weal.
The reputation of the town is largely involved in its educational advantages. Every man's real estate is also affected, in its value, by this consideration. And can it be necessary to entreat those who are parents to provide needful educational facilities for their own chil- dren ? Who will do it if they do not ? Earnestly does your com- mittee appeal to the friends of our common Schools in the several Districts where the necessity for it exists, to rally without delay and institute measures that shall roll away our reproach, and introduce a new and brighter era for the rising generation among us. It should be done, it can be done. Another consideration worthy of attention is that of raising more money for school purposes. Our schools, as a general thing, especially in the Winter, are too short. It is a sad pity to have-as is sometimes the case-only seven or eight weeks school- ing in the Winter. This is the season when many of our older schol- ars are more at liberty, and could best be spared to attend school. Three months at least, should be secured for the Winter term. And means sufficient for this purpose should be cheerfully provid- ed. It is much better policy to empty our purses into the heads and hearts of our children, to qualify them for the realities and respon- sibilities of life while they are young, than to hoard up our proper- ty to engender strife and produce, perhaps, alienation of feeling between the nearest friends in the future. Nor is it reasonable to find fault with paying teachers who deserve patronage at all, a liberal compensation. The pay of teachers has not increased in undue pro- portion, compared with other callings, nor indeed, more than in a just proportion to the expenses of living compared with the past. Who does not know that many of our best teachers leave us every year, for Massachusetts and other places where they are more amply
21
paid for their services.
In six of the districts-including two which have their second term in the Fall, instead of Winter, Female Teachers have been em- ployed in the Winter schools. This is deemed good policy. In most of the Districts female teachers would be equally efficient, as male teachers, both in teaching and governing the schools; and the differ- ence in wages goes to lengthen the terms in that proportion. Cus- tom, perhaps, has made too much difference in wages between male and female teachers. The same amount of scholarship actually costs the female as much money, as it does her male competitor; and if, when equally qualified, she can do as much work and do it as well, why should she not be as well paid for it ? Good teachers-and no others should be knowingly employed-deserve to be well paid, whether male or female, whether in our Summer or Winter schools. The niggardly policy of hiring the cheapest teachers in the market, and hiring them for the least possible amount, is discouraging to well qualified teachers, and ruinous to our schools.
The foregoing remarks lead very naturally to another suggestion of prime importance. I allude to the great care and discrimination necessary in the selection of teachers. Without good teachers, we can not of course have good schools. "Like teachers, like schools," is a maxim that seldom fails to hold true. Of course too much pains can scarcely be taken in the selection of teachers. Young applicants of good acquirements, should be encouraged, as they must soon take the places of others more experienced. In fact young teachers of promise often make up in unwearied pains, for what they lack in ex- perience. And besides without opportunity to try how would it ever be known whether they can succeed or not ? Other things being equal, however, experienced teachers especially if they love their work and are energetic in it-should doubtless be preferred. Teach- ers should never be selected on the principle of relationship or per- sonal friendship, to the exclusion of others better qualified, and to the injury of the districts. Nor should sectarian feelings be allowed to decide the question. Persons of good moral character should al- ways be sought, and in fact, persons of decided Christian piety should be preferred; but farther than this we may not properly go. Least
22
of all should party politics ever be appealed to for the purpose of deciding a question of this kind. The idea is so foreign to the sub- ject, so uncongenial to the school room, so absurd in itself and be- trays a mind so embittered by party bigotry as to merit the hearty condemnation of all good citizens. The oath of office binds the prudential committees to procure for the districts the best teachers they can obtain under the circumstances, and with the means at their disposal.
Our schools are seriously injured by the irregular attendance of the children. Parents, it would seem fail to understand the importance of this point. It is a fact, nevertheless, that a child cannot be absent a single half day without suffering loss. Several lessons are recited in his absence, which he must skip over if he continues with his classes. Should he be often absent the loss will be proportionally greater. The student acquires by this irregular mode of study, not the due developement of. the principles of science in consecutive order, but rather isolated scraps of knowledge, having in his mind little connection with each other, and leaving but a faint impression upon the memory. To allow frequent absences merely for the trifling services they mightreceive at home, or to gratify the 'capricious inclin- ations of the children themselves, would, in the judgment of your committee, be a grave error in parental management. Downright sickness, of course, is a good excuse for absence, and the unavoidable loss must be compensated by the best means we can devise. Children should not be put to school too early-seldom under five years of age, but when they are sent they should be taught habits of punctu- ality, regularity, and perseverance in their studies.
Another evil which affects our schools very unfavorably is the al- lowing our children to finish their education in the districts schools, and graduate at too early an age. Very few, comparatively, of either sex, over fifteen or sixteen years old are found in our common schools. Where are our young people between the ages mentioned and their legal majority ? A few, your committee has found in the several schools, and the fact is named with peculiar pleasure. A few others, doubtless, go from home to attend some Academy a term or two; and in rare instances others fit for college and acquire a
23
liberal education. But the great majority of this class, I suspect, have finished their education, and are making no arrangement for further advancement in scientific knowledge. If they have learning enough they may well pause; but if, with a suitable interest on the part of parents, and an invincible determination on their own, they might greatly improve their qualifications and prospects for future usefulness, then indeed, the object is worthy of the effort. Then would our "sons be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daugh- ters as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."
The suggestion of my worthy predecessor in office, Rev. Mr. Page, in regard to a better arrangement of some of the Districts, is hereby renewed from a conviction that the best interests of the town and also, that of the districts concerned, would be promoted thereby, Districts No. 1 and No. 6, have more scholars than can have justice done them by one teacher whether male or female, in Summer, or in Winter. It certainly appears injudicious to expend so much money, in district No. 2, for so small a number of scholars as are embraced within its present limits-especially when the district might be so easily, and so cheaply, enlarged, to the great relief and benefit of District No. 1. The present arrangement is extremely unpleasant for the teacher in district No. 2, for what enthusiasm can be excited and maintained with such a meagre number of scholars! In conclu- sion I hardly need to say that our educational interests are among the most precious committed to the care of our citizens. It is dis" creditable to be relatively far behind other towns in devotion to the cause of education. And besides, whatever goes to promote the in- telligence, thrift, and enterprise of the town, is needed to establish a social character and reputation, that will be attractive to those who may be seeking a pleasant home. Such a state of things is also neces- sary in order to content our children as the grow up and settle in life. If we would have our children qualified to go out into the world and exert themselves manfully in its various pursuits, we must afford the means without stint, for the developement of the intellect-the cul- tivation of the heart, the formation of the manners, and in a word for the acquisition of true excellence of character. Let parents first educate their children-then whether they start in life with little or
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