ose you all admit, that I should require you all to
be here punctually at the time appointed for the commencement of the
school. I have done nothing on this subject yet, for I wished to see
whether you would not come early, on principle. I wish now however to
inquire in regard to this subject, and to ascertain how many have been
tardy, and to consider what must be done hereafter."

He made the inquiries and ascertained pretty nearly how many had been
tardy, and how often within a week.

The number was found to be so great, that the scholars admitted that
something ought to be done.

"What shall I do?" asked he. "Can any one propose a plan which will
remedy the difficulty?"

There was no answer.

[Transcriber's Note: The footnote marker for the following footnote is
missing.]
[Footnote D: The above, and one or two of the succeeding articles
have been before published, in periodicals.]

"The easiest and pleasantest way to secure punctuality, is for the
scholars to come early of their own accord, upon principle. It is
evident from the reports, that many of you do so; but some do not. Now
there is no other plan which will not be attended with very serious
difficulty, but I am willing to adopt the one which will be pleasantest
to yourselves, if it will be likely to accomplish the object. Has any
one any plan to propose."

There was a pause.

"It would evidently," continued the teacher, "be the easiest for me to
leave this subject, and do nothing about it. It is of no personal
consequence to me, whether you come early or not, but as long as I hold
this office, I must be faithful, and I have no doubt the school
committee, if they knew how many of you were tardy, would think I ought
to do something to diminish the evil.

"The best plan I can think of, is that all who are tardy should lose
their recess."

The boys looked rather anxiously at one another, but continued silent.

"There is a great objection to this plan from the fact that a boy is
sometimes necessarily absent, and by this rule he will lose his recess
with the rest, so that the innocent will be punished with the guilty."

"I should think, sir," said William, "that those who are _necessarily_
tardy, might be excused."

"Yes, I should be very glad to excuse them, if I could find out who they
are."

The boys seemed to be surprised at this remark, as if they thought it
would not be a difficult matter to decide.

"How can I tell?" asked the master.