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South Canterbury Times, Issue 4984, 17 April 1889, Page 4

The following amusing little esaaay on politeness, written by William Martin, a boy aged thirteen, appears in Mr Barker’s '• Studies in Elementary School Life ” in Longman's : —“ It is not polite to fight little boys; except they throw stones at you. Then you can run after them, and when you’ve caught them, just do a litt bit at them, that’s all. Remember that all little boys are simpletons, or they wouldn’t do it. It is not the thing to make fun of a little chap because he is poorer than you. Let him alone if you don’t want to play with him, for he is as good as you except the clothes. When you are in school and a boy throws a bit of bread or anything at you over the desks, it is not polite to put your tongue out at him or to twiddle your fingers in front of your nose. Just wait till after school, and then warn him what you’ll do next time ; or if you find you are bound to hit him, be pretty easy with him. Some boys are very rude over their meals. Don’t keep on eating after you are tightening, and you will be far happier. Never eat quickly or you might get bones in your throat. My father knows of a boy who got killed over his Sunday dinner. The greedy boy was picking a rabbit’s head in a hurry, and swallowed one jaw of it, and my father says he was choked to death there and then. Be very polite over your meals, then, esnecially when it’s rabbits. Boys should always be polite to the girls, however vexing they may be. When anybody is giving anything away, always let the girls have their turn first. They like it. Girls are not so strong as boys, their hair is long, and their faces are prettier ; so you should be gentle with them, If a girl scratches your cheek or spits in your face, don’t punch her, I and don’t tell her mother. That would be mean. Jupt hold her tight by her arms for a minute or two, till she feels you could give it her if you had a mind to. Then say to her kindly, ‘ Don’t you do it again for it is wrong,’ give her a shake or two and let her go. This is far bettor than being unkind to her, and ■ she will thank you for your politeness if she’s anything of a girl.”

When the Ecv. Mr C was minister of the U.P. Church at Sanquhar, he called one day, in the course of his pastoral visitation, on a decent old woman who was a member of his congregation. Engaged in friendly conversation with her, he said, “ I hear your potatoes are not very good this year, Jennet ?” “ 'Deed are they no’, sir,” said Jennet, “they’re very bad; but I’ve reason to be thankfu’ that ither folk’s are as bad as my ain.”