ced is that on
days when the child loved by another is away from school, the latter
child will be less attentive than usual. But the circumstances are
somewhat different when the object of affection is not a school-fellow.
Bell speaks only of cases in which the child-lovers are members of the
same class, and he refers to heterosexual inclinations only. In such
cases, the results of early amatory inclinations may even be good.
Hebbel relates of himself, how zealously as a little boy he attended
school, simply in order to meet in the class the girl he loved. The
presence of the loved one may, in fact, powerfully stimulate ambition
and the desire to work. A little girl who has fallen in love with her
schoolmistress or governess, will strive to please the latter by hard
work and attention; and, similarly, a boy who loves a boy or a girl
classmate, very often attempts to make an impression on the feelings of
the loved one by his performances at school. Whilst we recognise the
dangers attendant on the development of sexuality in the child, we must
not overlook the fact that this development may have its good side.

For, just in the same way, a child's altruistic feelings may be
stimulated by love. We see cases in which a child tries to help the
beloved schoolmate in every possible difficulty or trouble. Such a love
may also spur the lover on to excellence in other fields than the mere
work of the class. The boy, while still quite young, seeks to make an
impression on the girl by courage and steadfastness, just as he will
seek to do this somewhat later, when he has attained early manhood.

A spirited description is given by Gruenstein of boys engaged in a sham
fight. At first the contending parties are timorous, appearing afraid of
one another:--

"But when the girls draw near, to view
The slaughter of a stricken plain,
In mimic battle, at this cue,
The boys now join with might and main.

Under the spell of girlish eyes
Each strives his courage to display;
For wounds or death he may despise,
Who helps his side to win the day.

And as the factions join in strife,
They shout amid the battle's din;
Fighting as if for very life,
Each one will do his best to win.

Each hopes the victory to gain;
Each would the bravest warrior prove.
Hurrah! they cry, and each is fain
To win bright glances from his love."

As I have previously explained, the existence of sex