flocks mutual assistance and mutual kindness societies?"
"They are, that's true—they are; and though I must own mine ain't brought up like yours, and they do have their little sprees and flashes, yet they are open-handed to one another, and take part with one another in their pleasures, and troubles, and battles, and so on. But go on, Aikin; I feel as if I were growing richer every sentence you utter."
Before Aikin could proceed, a hand-bell rung loudly and impatiently, the well-known signal for poor little Juliet. The children gathered around her to express their unwillingness to part with her, and William Aikin, in his eagerness, stumbled over Miner's foot, which was in rather an obtrusive position. "Oh, Mr. Miner, I beg your pardon," said the little fellow.
"There, now," said Miner, "that puts me in mind of what I am often grumbling at; your children are an exception; but how, in the name of nature, are our children to learn manners in our rough and tumble way of living? Can you figure that out?"
"Why, Miner, manners, for the most part, are only the signs of qualities. If a child has a kind and gentle disposition, he will have the outward sign; if he have the principle that teaches him to maintain his own rights, and not encroach on those of others, he will have dignity and deference, which I take to be qualities of the best manners. As to forms of expression, such as my boy used when he stumbled over your foot, they are easily taught: this I call women's work. They are naturally more mannerly than we.
