o be a
sufficient power of voice and a respectable number who were willing to
join in the performance, it was proposed one day, that singing should be
introduced as a part of the devotional exercises of the school.

The first attempt nearly resulted in a failure; only a few trembling
voices succeeded in singing Old Hundred, to the words, "Be thou," &c. On
the second day, Peterborough was sung with much greater confidence on
the part of the increased number of singers. The experiment was tried
with greater and greater success for several days, when the Teacher
proposed that a systematic plan should be formed, by which there night
be singing regularly at the close of school. It was then proposed, that
a number of Singing books be obtained, and one of the scholars, who was
well acquainted with common tunes, be appointed as chorister. Her duty
should be, to decide what particular tune may be sung each day, inform
the Teacher of the metre of the hymn, and take the lead in the exercise.
This plan being approved of by the scholars, was adopted, and put into
immediate execution. Several brought copies of the Sabbath School Hymn
Book which they had in their possession, and the plan succeeded beyond
all expectation. The greatest difficulty in the way was to get some one
to lead. The chorister, however, was somewhat relieved from the
embarrassment which she would naturally feel in making a beginning, by
the appointment of one or two individuals with herself, who were to act
as her assistants. These constituted the leading Committee, or as it was
afterwards termed, _Singing Committee_.

Singing now became a regular and interesting exercise of the school, and
the Committee succeeded in managing the business themselves.

19. TABU. c. An article was one day read in a school relating to the
"Tabu" of the Sandwich Islanders. Tabu is a term with them which
signifies consecrated,--not to be touched--to be let alone--not to be
violated. Thus according to their religious observances, a certain day
will be proclaimed _Tabu_, that is, one upon which there is to be no
work, or no going out.

A few days after this article was read, the scholars observed one
morning, a flower stuck up in a conspicuous place against the wall, with
the word TABU in large characters above it. This excited considerable
curiosity. The teacher informed them, in explanation, that the flower
was a very rare and beautiful specimen brought by one of the scholars,
wh