no socks to knit and mend, no school-books to buy, and no nurse! Think of a living being with the love of offspring in her bosom, and a multitude of marvelous instincts in her nature, yet knowing nothing of God, thinking not of the future, without hope or an expectation, or a doubt or a fear, passing straight on to annihilation! At the threshhold of this destiny the little kittens were carelessly playing; and they are doubtless still playing, while I write. They have no lessons to learn, they do not have to go to Sunday school, they entertain no prejudices except against dogs which occasionally dodge into the yard; and I judge by the familiar way in which they play with their mother's ears and pounce upon her tail that they are not in any degree oppressed by a sense of the respect due to a parent. Cat and kittens will eat and frolic and sleep, through their brief life, and then they will curl up in some dark corner and die. Here and there, one of their race, I suppose, finds a brief immortality in a fiddlestring, but as cats are not among those who "die with all the music in them," it is doubtful whether they would care to live their lives over again in the hands of the ordinary run of fiddlers.

TIMOTHY TITCOMB.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

THE VERMONT SCHOOL JOURNAL.-Two more numbers will complete the Third Volume of the Journal. And now the question arises, Do the teachers and other friends of education in the State, desire to have it continued? If not, the editors, (though very unwilling to believe the fact,) will, of course, discontinue its publication. We are only the humble servants of all who love the cause of popular education in Vermont and would see it prosper. They have sanctioned our efforts thus far, and many have favored us with a hearty co-operation. And now individuals are saying to us, "The School Journal must be sus tained," and these are among the most prominent and ef ficient educators in the State.

One of these friends writes:-"You are right in supposing that I am in favor of sustaining the Journal. My feeling has been, since the meeting at Middlebury, and es

pecially in view of that meeting and of the prospects for another, that we must rely more on the Journal and less on other agencies for sustaining our work than we have done. The relative importance of the Journal seems to me to be greater now, among the various means for advancing the interests of education, than at any time since its establishment. We have had revival preaching till we need more the labors of the faithful educational pastor."

And such men not only express this favorable opinion and hearty good will, but offer to assume a share of the responsibility to procure subscribers and prepare articles for the Journal. Now, what we want to know, is, how many are ready to render such assistance? These are war times, and no publication that does not treat upon the exciting topics of the day, can be sustained except by special efforts. Yet we need more than ever, in full ex. ercise, all the agencies that tend to keep alive an educational interest in the State.

Is there one man in each county who feels so much in terest in the success of the School Journal that he will of fer his aid and co-operation? If so, we should have fourteen active and responsible agents, each interested to have the Journal one of the best of its kind and to give it extensive circulation in his own community. Suppose two men in each County are willing to share this responsibility. So much the better. We call for a response to this sugges. tion. Who will help us to commence and carry forward the Fourth Volume in the way proposed, and who will become subscribers? Or, who will become its editors and allow us to co-operate with them? We shall be happy to hear from our friends,-Teachers, Clergymen, Superintend ents, all.

P. S. One Teacher is ready to pledge $25, for copies of the Journal and an article for every other number. A good beginning. Who will do as much?

Ed's. Vt. School Journal:

In the last No. of the Journal, while speaking of the ses-.

sion of the American Institute of Instruction, at Brattleboro,' you make a remark which seems to reflect rather severely upon those invited to represent Vermont on that occasion. In one case, I am personally cognizant that these strictures are undeserved. The circumstances were as follows: A gentleman received an invitation to deliver an address to represent Vermont on that occasion, and accepted; but, on receiving notice soon after of the time appointed for the meeting, and finding that it interfered with other duties that absolutely required his presence elsewhere, he wrote immediately to the Secretary, declining the honor, and giving his reasons as above. This last notice was given early in June. It is to be hoped for the credit of the State, that delinquent No. 2 has an equally valid reason for his non-performance. Yours Truly,

Justitia.

We were prompted to make the remark referred to above, by the mortification we felt in view of the fact that Vermont utterly failed to perform her part at the American Institute af Instruction. If" Justitia" had witnessed the feeling manifested at the meeting, in view of the failure, he would have been as much mortified and as severe as ourselves.

Prof. E. C. Krauss, recently teacher of Instrumental Music and the German Language in Glenwood Ladies' Seminary and Editor of the Mathematical Department of this Journal, has received and accepted a call as Teacher in Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. Prof. Charles Peters, a graduate of a German University, fills his place at Glenwood.

AS IT SHOULD BE.-The Minister of Public Instruction in France, has published a circular addressed to the Schools and Colleges throughout the Empire, forbidding the use of tobacco and cigars by the students. The reason assigned, "The habitual use of tobacco is a source of physical and mental degeneration.”

THE GREAT COMET OF 1861.-This comet, continued visible to the naked eye till the 11th of August. Its elements, as calculated from the earlier observations, are nearly as follows:

A REGIMENT OF SCHOOL MASTERS has been raised and tendered to the government by Charles E. Hovey, Principal of the Normal University at Bloomington, Ill.

TEACHING A PROFESSION.-By a recent act of the Legislature of Illinois, an able Board of Examiners have been appointed to grant certificates to such condidates as are found to be fully qualified for the Teacher's office. The validity of these certificates is perpetual.

FFFECTS OF THE WAR UPON EDUCATION.-At the North our schools are in successful operation. We are not aware that our public schools are less successful than a year ago; our Academies, Seminaries and Colleges, are still quite full,-some of them have nearly as many pupils as ever. But at the South the case is far different. Already five of the most flourishing Colleges have suspended operations; many Academies and High Schools have been entirely broken up; most of the Northern Teachers upon whom the South have depended have returned to their homes; in a word, the educational institutions of the entire South seem to be involved in one common ruin. Even if peace shall be restored, more than one generation will be necessary to repair the waste caused by this wicked rebellion. A fearful responsibility will fall upon its reckless leaders. And its ruinous effects will doubtless fall most heavily upon those who are the most guilty.

PLEASE REMIT.-We very much need, we must have the nt due us for the Journal. The small sums due from ribers make a large amount to us.

STRACT OF LECTURES at Middlebury which we pub

lish, was furnished by E. CONANT, ESQ., acting Secretary of the meeting.

SCHOOL TEACHERS' LIBRARY.-Among the Books which every teacher ought to own, are Northend's "Teacher and Parent," and "Teachers' Assistant." Price $1,00 each. We will furnish either, with a copy of "Gleanings from School Life Experience," for $1.00; sent by mail for $1.30.

Our Schools. So far as we have heard, our Academies and Seminaries have opened well. St. Johnsbury Academy has 100 pupils; Glenwood Ladies' Seminary 110, of whom 71 are boarders. Mr. Worcester's Ladies' School, Barre Academy, Randolph Academy, and Brattleboro' Academy (for boys,) are also quite full. The exact number of pupils we have not learned. We shall be happy to hear from other schools and report their prosperity. O.

NOTICES OF BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, &C. STANDARD FOURTH READER.-We are very favorably impressed with this work from a brief examination. Part I, including seventy-six pages, is almost wholly filled with exercises of a thoroughly practical character. Few rules are given, and no questions mar the foot of the page. Part II, consisting of carefully selected reading exercises, extends to page 320; and Part III., an Explanatory Index, with Prefixes and Postfixes, to page 336. Boston; John L. Shorey.

ALLEN'S CLASSICAL HAND-BOOK.-This is intended to provide, in brief, for the student whatever is absolutely essential to him. It embraces Ancient Geography; Ancient Chronology; Mythology, Grecian, Roman and Egyptian; Antiquities, Grecian and Roman; Miscellaneous; Tables; Genealogies. The work is brief yet full, and is published in a handsome style by Swan, Brewer, and Tileston, Boston. 123 pp.

SHEET MUSIC.-Why Have My Loved Ones Gone? A Ballad. Words and Music by Stephen C. Foster. 5 pp. Very fine. Spirit Polka. Composed by Mrs. E. A. Parkhurst, 4 pp. The Comet Schottische. By Thomas Baker, 5 pp. Union Valse. Composed by Peter La Crassa. 5 pp. Published by Horace Waters, 481 Broadway, New York.