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.
Footnote:
The footnote anchor for the following footnote is missing in the text.
[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."