This is spirited and special pleading; but perhaps he forgot that the weavers would have had better clothes and felt more inclined to attend divine service had they worked on the Monday and Tuesday, instead of lounging or dissipating on these days, and, in many cases, drinking on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. It is well for all to look at both sides of these important questions; and this will no doubt be done by Mr Hillocks in the promised work to which we have already referred, and which, from the nature of the subject, must be interesting.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE TEACHER IN HIS FIRST SCHOOL.

66 HIS FIRST

SESSION."

RESUMING the narrative at the point we left, at the close of Chapter IV., we find the "Young Weaver" converted into a youthful "Dominie." And we are glad to add here that—to the joy of the parents of his charge, and the lasting benefit of those who were brought under his influence-"the second and brighter dawn" had burst into the clear day ere this event. He could say, "I thank God for the light and peace. That which I believed, because my parents or Sunday School teachers told me, I now believe because I have searched and examined for myself."

Let us see how he lived, and how he studied and succeeded in this his first public charge

His first session, as teacher, was from the opening day till the usual "vacations" in 1845. He says, "The small bills announcing the opening of my school, simply held out that I was to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Latin and mathematics were not mentioned, because I knew but little of either—at least, I could not profess to teach them. Detesting such quackery as too often springs from the vanity of young men when becoming teachers, I preferred to follow the advice

'Let all the foreign tongues alone,

Till you can read and spell your own." "

He began with ten very young boys and girls-each paying the fee of twopence per week-one shilling and eightpence on which to live and pay expenses! Ultimately, however, his school began to increase slightly in this curious way. When any urchin in the neighbouring schools became, by habit and repute, a truant, he was sent to the "Laddie's School." The word "Laddie," the Scotch for boy, being used here because the teacher was short in stature, as well as young in years. His miniature seminary by-and-by became a minor cave of Adullam. At first, the "Laddie" is much perplexed by his little ragged regiment. In a short time, however, he gets into their way, and learns to manage and instruct them; and the "Cave" becomes the celebrity of the district. He displayed, even then, those uncommon powers for which he is so well-known, of winning the children to love and learning, even the youngest as well as the roughest. Still, for a considerable time, his assembly was very poor, and comparatively thin; and this put him to his wits' end to know how to live till the better time should come.

By this time, his father and family had also left Lochee and returned to Dundee, not far from his school-house. To the struggling teacher, this suggested the idea, and gave the opportunity of weaving late at night and early in the morning without anyone knowing of it save his own family. "For," says he, strange to say, had the public known I was put to such shifts, I might have closed my school door." "But," he adds, “I had soon to give up weaving by stealth.

Having but one suit of clothes, there was no possibility, even with all my brushing, of getting rid of the weaver's livery when going to school."

Playfully alluding to these and other difficulties-more especially during the first year or so of his life as a teacher-he says, "This effort having failed, another must be made. Only think of living within the means on less than five shillings a week! And yet it must be done. House-rent was out of the question. I found the school-house rent quite enough, there

(6
HIS FIRST SESSION."

69

fore the humble seminary had to answer the purpose of cooking, dining, and drawing room. As for a servant, that was impossible, so I served myself. But where could I find the effectual disinfectant so as not to alarm the craving stomachs of my not over-fed charge, on their assembling with me 'after dinner'-how could the flavour of the roast beef and plum pudding be extinguished? I got over this difficulty by adopting the logician's maxim-remove the cause and the effect will cease. The fact is, I was, on uncontrovertible grounds, a vegetarian, and without the figs or grapes. Nor had I much difficulty in putting my cooking utensils out of sight-a small kettle, a little jug, and tin spoon, served my purpose.

"Here was the order of the day-day by day for a considerable time. I began my studies in the school-room early in the morning, and continued till nine. Then I had a 'plain breakfast,' after which I went out to have a little fresh air and a race with my pupils in the playground till ten o'clock, when the public labours of the day commenced. Between one and two, after the scholars went to dinner, I had my luncheon-a few peas or a little favourite gingerbread, with a little water. At five, after my scholars had gone for the day, I had ‘a tea dinner '—that is, a cup of coffee and a biscuit. After reading till seven, I went to get private lessons in Latin, returned at nine, studied till eleven, then went to bed.

"The only variation from this course was when my enthusiasm made me forget myself, and remain longer at night than usual; and on Sunday when I went twice or thrice to church, and paid more special attention to religious subjectscollecting Bible facts and other Scriptural information for my pupils and my own enlightenment. From the first, I considered it was my duty to teach Christian precept as well as to impart general knowledge."

We give the following sentences as his experience :-
"Long before the School Board controversies," he says,

"I

felt convinced that every teacher should be an enlightened Christian as well as an intelligent servant, but I never ventured to teach any special creed by way of explaining the Catechism; yet, to me, it was delightful to carry my charge through Scriptural biography, especially the life of Christ; and often did I read to them His sermon on the Mount and the twenty-third Psalm, and their pleasure seemed to increase with mine, all of us became so loving and so happy."

THE UNEXPECTED EXAMINATION.

From the commencement of the second session, comparative success was evident. He lived and laboured much as before, but by his great perseverance he overcame many difficulties, and gradually, though slowly, rose from beneath what at one time threatened to be a crushing pressure. In time, his comfort increased with his pupils; and ultimately the young teacher was recognised by his "brethren in the profession," and he was invited to become a member of the Forfar, Perth, and Fifeshire Teachers' Association. This honour he accepted, and continued to advance both in scholastic learning and social position.

From this time clergymen of note frequently visited his school, and every examination added new laurels to his brow. All united in commending his system of teaching and the proficiency of his pupils. We, too, were among those who enjoyed our visits to Smithfield Academy while under the care of Mr Hillocks. Referring to him elsewhere, we have said, and we here repeat-He that winneth children must himself be a child, partaking of many of the finer qualities which make childhood a thing so wonderful, so unique, and almost so divine. It is easy to terrify children, not difficult to cram them with knowledge; but to win them at once to yourself and to the love of learning is a rare and peculiar, although a simple seeming task. It was always truly delightful to see the "Young