The Correct Thing to Say.—Town lad's composition on "A Half-holiday": "Yesterday we had a half-holiday and I enjoyed myself very much. After dinner I did the knives and forks and cleaned the windows and the boots. Then a boy came round with a football and wanted me to go to the park with him. But I could not go because my mother was going out and I had to mind the baby. When she came home we had tea, and then I went to my place and took out orders till nine o'clock. Then I went to bed and came to school this morning. I enjoyed myself very much."
Subject to a Proviso.—Composition by boy, age seven. Time.—Morning previous to half-holiday for the opening of Kew Bridge by the King. Subject.—What I shall do this afternoon. "Wen I have had my diner I shall call for Bob Scott and his mother mite let me play tops with him in there yard. Then we shall go on the Common to here the band, and if my tea is not ready I will wait to see the King go by and I will wave my cap at him and I expect he will wave his at me."
The Rain and the Unjust.—A smart boy's composition on rain: "Rain comes down from heaven on the just and the unjust, but mostly upon the just, because the unjust have borrowed the umbrellas of the just and have forgotten to return them."
A Surprising Prayer.—"How do we pray for the magistrates in the Litany?" asked the Vicar. "That it may please Thee to bless and keep the magistrates, giving them grace to execute all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons," answered the unconscious boy.
The "Egg-cups."—I had set the class, writes a teacher, an essay to write on "Good Manners." They had to think about it one evening and write it the next day in school. When correcting the exercise I came upon the following: "When you have the egg-cups it is good manners to put your hand before your mouth and say, 'Manners before ladies and gentlemen.'"