aid, was denounced in the most unqualified terms. One gentleman stated that his practice, on finding a key in the hands of the pupil, was invariably to burn it up. We believe that all who heard him, concurred in the propriety of such a course. Various short methods of calculation, of multiplication, and of obtaining the least common multiple, were explained by several of the speakers.

At half past three o'clock, a lecture was delivered by Rev. Increase S. Smith, of Dorchester, on the subject, "Qui docet, discit ""He who teaches, learns." Not having taken notes of this most excellent lecture, we copy a short abstract of it from the "Norfolk County Journal." The lecturer commenced with the motto, "The teacher learns." When he begins, he has no fixed methods, but looks at things somewhat as his pupils do. He has a feeling that he must appear to know everything; he is then full of enthusiasm, and is often a better teacher than when he becomes old and fixed in his methods, and grinds out the same old tunes. Teachers should be the literary and scientific enthusiasts of the land, should not drill less, but should study and investigate more. They need out-door exercise and should go out as naturalists, and collect specimens in Botany and Mineralogy, and bring them in to interest their pupils. They are in danger of rusting out, therefore they should study, study, study. The lecture was interesting and instructive, and received the hearty approbation of those present.

Mr. Kneeland, of Dorchester, spoke on the subject of the lecturer's appeal to teachers to devote themselves to the acquisition of other knowledge than such as is required merely in the sphere of their usual duties, and closed his remarks by moving that the thanks of the Association be presented to Rev. Mr. Smith, for his able, interesting, and instructive address, which motion unanimously passed. After the appointment of a committee to attend to the more effectual heating of the hall, at 1-2 past 4 o'clock, the Association adjourned, and met again at 7 P. M., to listen to a lecture from Rev. Mr. Dean, of Quincy.

The lecture of Mr. Dean was a very able, interesting, and methodical exposition of the duties arising out of the teacher's profession. He made many earnest appeals to teachers on subjects of interest to them, and was listened to with evident satisfaction on the part of his audience. On motion, it was voted that the thanks of the Association be presented to Rev. Mr. Dean for his excellent and interesting lecture.

After recess, the importance of affording a liberal patronage to the "Massachusetts Teacher," was introduced by Mr. Capen, and additional remarks were made by Messrs. Reed, Kneeland, and Colburn.

A long and interesting discussion followed, on various subjects: Mr. Barrows, of Dorchester, spoke upon the difficulty the teacher labored under, in not being independent in his profession. Mr. Colburn spoke on the idea thrown out in the lecture, that our public schools were fast supplanting colleges in public estimation. Further remarks on the relative position and influence of public schools, academies, and colleges, were made by Rev. Mr. Dean, Dr. Cutter, and Messrs. Colburn, Barrows, and Hagar. At 10 o'clock, the Association adjourned to meet at 9 A. M., of Tuesday.

Tuesday, Dec. 24th, 1850. The Association met according to adjournment, and was called to order by the president. The secretary read the records for Monday; after which, on motion, it was voted, that the morning session close at a quarter before one o'clock, and that the time of meeting in the afternoon be at two o'clock.

A resolution on the subject of school-books was offered, which, after some amendments, and an animated debate, sustained by Messrs. Kneeland of Dorchester, Morse of Quincy, Capen of Boston, Colburn and Capen of Dedham, Reed of Roxbury, Woodbury of Dorchester, and Slafter of Dedham, was unanimously adopted, as follows:

Resolved, That, in our opinion, it would secure a better selection of text-books in our public schools, if the teachers were permitted to meet with the committee, and discuss with them the merits of all books proposed.

The subject of Mr. Smith's lecture was then taken up and discussed by Messrs. Kneeland, Barrows, and Capen of Boston.

Voted to take a recess of five minutes. After which, at 11 o'clock, according to appointment, a lecture was delivered by D. B. Hagar, Esq., of the Jamaica Plain High School, Roxbury, upon the subject of the "Supervision of Schools." "The lecturer's views were radical, and were delivered with great beauty and energy, and it may be said, without any desparagement of others, that it was the crowning glory of the meeting." The lecturer made an able argument in favor of the plan of having a general superintendent of schools in our cities and large towns.

On motion of Mr. Reed, of Roxbury, it was unanimously voted, that the thanks of the Association be presented to Mr. Hagar, for his very able, interesting, and valuable lecture; and that a copy be requested for the press. Remarks on the subject were made by Messrs. Reed and Dodge, and Dr. Cutter.

"Mr. Kneeland, of Dorchester, then introduced to the Association Mrs. Haines, of Milwaukie, Wisconsin, an associate of Miss Catherine Beecher, who is engaged in the laudable work of employing teachers for the West. Mrs. Haines spoke in a

becoming and graphic style, of the sterling advantage of mental culture of female integrity and virtue- and of the dignity of the teacher's profession.

A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mrs. Haines for her excellent address. Voted to adjourn.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The Association was called to order at 2 o'clock. Voted to adjourn at 4.

A vote of thanks was passed to those who had been instrumental in adding to the convenience and comfort of the teachers attending the meeting of the Association.

On motion of Mr. Butler, the subject of Music was taken up and discussed until 3 o'clock, when a lecture was delivered by W. H. Wells, Esq., Principal of the Putnam School, Newburyport, on "the importance of inculcating self-reliance on the part of the pupil." The lecture was highly practical and instructive, and the views advanced were illustrated by interesting anecdotes, and enforced by sound argument. Mr. Wells was listened to with marked interest and pleasure.

On motion of Mr. Capen, it was voted, that the thanks of the audience be presented to Mr. Wells for his exceedingly practical and interesting lecture, and for the kindness he has manifested in being present from so great a distance to favor us.

At 4 o'clock, the Association adjourned to meet at such time and place as the directors may hereafter appoint.

Thus passed off one of the most agreeable and profitable of the meetings of this Association. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather on Monday, acknowledged to be the most disagreeable winter's day we have had for many years, we counted about fifty teachers in attendance, and it was gratifying to notice several members of School Committees present, a fact which speaks well for the interest which is taken in the Association of Norfolk County. C. J. CAPEN, Sec'y.

BOOKS.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Like friends, too, we should return to them again and again -for, like true friends, they will never fail us-never cease to instruct-never cloy.-Joineriana.

It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging, than that glare of paint

and airs and apparel, which may dazzle the eye, but reaches not the affections.Hume.

Books (says Lord Bacon) can never teach the use of books; the student must learn by commerce with mankind, to reduce his speculations to practice. No man should think so highly of himself, as to think he can receive but little light from books, nor so meanly as to believe he can discover nothing but what is to be learned from them.-Johnson.

Knowledge of books in recluse men, is like that sort of lantern which hides him who carries it, and serves only to pass through secret and gloomy paths of his own; but in the posses. sion of a man of business, it is as a torch in the hand of one who is willing and able to show those who are bewildered, the way which leads to prosperity and welfare.-Spectator.

Books, to judicious compilers, are useful to particular arts and professions absolutely necessary to men of real science they are tools; but more are tools to them.-Joineriana.

One of the amusements of idleness is reading without the fatigue of close attention, and the world, therefore, swarms with writers whose wish is not to be studied, but to be read.-Johnson.

[For the Massachusetts Teacher.]

MR. EDITOR-I find that some of my friends suppose the lines entitled "Be Kind," in the January number of the Teacher, owe their authorship to me. Allow me to say that, although I cheerfully adopt their sentiments, I have no claim to their origin. The lines fell in my way, and thinking they would be useful to our fraternity, I sent them for publication.

The following are among some scraps I have gathered, and I offer them for your next paper. G. F. F.

No one performs an act of kindness, but plants a flower in his own heart.

We must be helpers of others' joy, in order to promote our own.

Harsh words are like hail stones in summer, which, if melted, would fertilize the tender plants they batter down.

A good example, like the noiseless dew, does not agitate the tenderest plant, though it refreshes and makes it thrive.

SELECTED ITEMS.

TESTIMONY OF A RICH MAN.

The late Mr. McDonogh, the millionaire, in his will, says: "Let the poorer classes of the world be consoled, assured that the labor-loving, frugal, industrious and virtuous among them possess joys and happiness in this life which the rich know not and cannot appreciate. So well convinced am I, after a long life and intercourse with my fellow-men of all classes, of the truth that the happiness of this life is altogether on the side of the virtuous and industrious poor,' that, had I children, (which I have not,) and a fortune to leave behind me at death, I woud bequeath, after a virtuous education, to effect which nothing should be spared, a very small amount to each, merely sufficient to excite them to habits of industry and frugality, and

no more.'

The last item in the will of John McDonogh, is as follows:

"And (I was near forgetting that) I have still one small request to make, one little favor still to ask, and it shall be the last. It is, that it may be permitted annually, to the children of the free schools, situate the nearest to my place of interment, to plant and water a few flowers around my grave. This little act will have a double tendency; it will open their young and susceptible hearts to gratitude and love to their divine Creator, for having raised up, as the humble instrument of his bounty to them, a poor, frail worm of earth like me, and teach them at the same time, what they are, whence they came, and whither they must return."

THE MORE HASTE THE WORSE SPEED.

Dr. Orville Dewey's lecture before the Mercantile Library in Boston, was upon the Law of Progress, which he thought was slowness, calmness, and moderation. He said in these times every body and every thing seemed to be in a hurry, going at railway speed. A railway train should be the emblem on our shield, with the motto, "Hurrah!" This haste he did not like. He saw the evil effects of it in all directions. Young women were in too much haste to be brought out, and boys in too much haste to assume the position of men. In our schools the children were pushed through their studies too rapidly, and too much is attempted to be done. He had heard a teacher use the characteristic expression that his pupils should be "put through" such and such studies. This, he said, is a modern practice.