abhor a dastardly spirit as any boy in your school
can possibly do; but I would wish you to convince them that you merited
not that appellation, by showing through the whole of your behaviour,
a resolution that despised accidental pain, and avoided revenging an
affront for no other reason than because you were convinced it shewed a
much nobler spirit to pardon than to resent. And you may be assured, my
dear, few are the days that pass without affording us some opportunity
of exerting our patience, and showing that, although we disdain
quarrelling, still we are far from being cowards.

'I remember, when I was at school, there was one boy, who, from his
first coming, declined upon all occasions engaging in any battle;
he even gave up many of his just rights to avoid quarrelling, which
conduct, instead of gaining (as it justly deserved) the approbation of
his companions, drew upon him the insult and abuse of the whole school;
and they were perpetually teasing him with the opprobrious title of
coward. For some time he bore it with great good-humour, and endeavoured
to laugh it off; but, finding that had no effect, he one day thus
addressed us:--"If you suppose that I like to be called a coward, you
are all very much mistaken; or if you think me one, I assure you that
you are not less so; for no boy in the school should, if put to the
trial, show greater resolution than myself. Indeed, I think it no small
proof of patience that I have borne your repeated insults so long;
when I could, by behaving more like a savage beast, and less like a
reasonable creature, have established my character at once; but I abhor
quarrelling, my soul detests to treat my fellow-creatures as if they
were brutes, from whose fangs I must defend myself; but if nothing else
but fighting will convince you that I possess not less courage than
yourselves, I will now offer, in cold blood, to engage with the biggest
boy in the school. If I conquer him, it will be a sign that I know how
to defend myself; and if he conquers me, I will, by my behaviour, give
a proof that I am not wanting in resolution to suffer pain, although I
never will so far demean the character of a reasonable creature and a
Christian, as to fight upon every trifling disagreement or insult."
No sooner had he uttered these words, than every boy present was
loud either in his commendation or condemnation. One quarter of
them, convinced of the justness of his arguments, highly extolled his