d passed the preliminary examination. But he was only sixteen, and
in temperament a very young sixteen at that. He was engaged at a more
generous salary than usual, and was perfectly prepared to
revolutionize our records. But, alas, not only was their little
building practically unfit for habitation, but after a week's waiting
not one single scholar had come to his school. The contrast between
the two opportunities was too great--except for frothing criticism.
Gladly, to help our neighbours out of a difficulty, we divided a big
classroom into two parts, added a third teacher to our school, and
were thus able to make an intermediate grade.

The great majority of the whole reconstruction and work of the school
was made possible by the generous and loving interest of a lady in
Chicago. Added to the other anxieties of meeting our annual budget, we
did not feel able to bear the additional burden for which this venture
called. One cannot work at one's best at any time with an anxious
mind. The lady, however, was generous enough to give sufficient
endowment to secure two teachers among other things, though she
absolutely refused to let even her name be known in connection with
the school. Our consolation is that we know that she has vision enough
to realize the value of her gift and to accept that as a more than
sufficient return.

Seeing that some of our older scholars were able to find really useful
and remunerative employment in teaching, and as only for those who
held certificates of having passed the local examinations were
augmentation grants available, we decided to make special efforts to
have our scholars pass by the local standards. We, therefore, thanks
to the endowment, engaged teachers trained in the country, and
instituted the curriculum of the Colony. These teachers told us that
our school was better than almost any outside St. John's. Four
scholars have passed this year; and now we have as head mistress a
delightful lady who holds the best percentage record for passing
children through the requirements of the local examinations of any in
the country.

So much more deeply, however, do idle words sink into some natures
than even deeds, that one family preferred to keep their children at
home to risk sending them to our undenominational school; and there is
no law to compel better wisdom with us here in the North.

On the other hand, we had already obtained a scale of our own for
grading success. For a number