with the belief that his
hands were made for the support of the body,--a very correct idea, all
things considered.

He is lolling from side to side in a reckless way, and his eyes are
rolling in concert with him, and altogether his behavior is highly
suggestive of fits.

Lower down, Amelia Jennings is making a surreptitious cat's cradle,
which is promptly put out of sight, behind her back, every time her
turn comes to give an answer; but, as she summarily dismisses all
questions by declaring her simple ignorance of every matter connected
with Biblical history, the cradle progresses most favorably, and is
very soon fit to sleep in.

Mrs. Branscombe, having gone through the seventh chapter of St. Luke
without any marked success, falls back upon the everlasting Catechism,
and swoops down upon Amelia Jennings with a mild request that she will
tell her her duty to her neighbor.

Amelia, feeling she has no neighbors at this trying moment, and still
less catechism, fixes her big round blue eyes on Mrs. Branscombe, and,
letting the beloved cradle fall to the ground behind her back,
prepares to blubber at a second's notice.

"Go on," says Georgie, encouragingly.

Miss Jennings, being thus entreated, takes heart, and commences the
difficult injunction in excellent hope and spirits. All goes "merry as
a marriage bell," until she comes to the words "Love your neighbor as
yourself," when John Spriggs (who is not by nature a thoroughly bad
boy, but whose evil hour is now full upon him) says audibly, and
without any apparent desire to torment, "and paddle your own canoe."

There is a deadly pause, and then Amelia Jennings giggles out loud,
and Spriggs follows suit, and, after a bit, the entire class gives
itself up to merriment.

Spriggs, instead of being contrite at this flagrant breach of
discipline, is plainly elated with his victory. No smallest sign of
shame disfigures his small rubicund countenance.

Georgie makes a praiseworthy effort to appear shocked, but, as her
pretty cheeks are pink, and her eyes great with laughter, the
praiseworthy effort rather falls through.

At this moment the door of the school-house is gently pushed open, and
a new-comer appears on the threshold: it is Mr. Kennedy.

Going up unseen, he stands behind Georgie's chair, and having heard
from the door-way all that has passed, instantly bends over and hands
the notorious Spriggs a shilling.

"Ah! you again?" says Mrs. Branscombe, coloring