Part 3

If an accident happens to the dress or property of teacher or classmate, we should offer our assistance quietly, if we can be of use, or else not appear to see it, and by no means call attention to it.

We ought to try to make a new scholar feel at home,--help him to become acquainted with the others, tell him the rules and customs of the school, and assist him at first in his lessons if he needs it. We ought not to stare at him when he enters or rises to recite, or smile if he makes a mistake. It is kind to draw him into games at recess until he forgets he is a stranger. We should be especially careful to do all this if the new scholar is poorly or peculiarly dressed, or is crippled, or unfortunate in any way.

When visitors are present, we must be sure to behave as well as at other times. If reading or singing is going on, we should pass them a book, handing it properly, and should treat them as politely as if they were at our houses. When the teacher is engaged with company, we should not disturb her with unnecessary questions, but busy ourselves until she is at liberty.

To raise hands when it can be avoided is an impolite interruption of school work, and is as rude as talking too much in company. To raise the hand when a teacher or scholar is speaking is the same thing as to interrupt them with a remark or question.

We must respect the rights of property. It is wrong to take a garment, book, or other article before or after school without asking permission. If anything is borrowed, it should be returned promptly with thanks.

If we are distributing materials to the class, we should hand articles quietly and politely to each in turn, and in collecting never snatch a book or paper.

When a number of scholars are waiting for a drink at recess, we sometimes see them crowd and push one another, each trying to serve himself first. It makes us think of cattle at a watering-trough. The cattle know no better, but boys and girls do. The polite way is for each to stand back and wait his turn. This is not only the pleasantest but the quickest way for all to be satisfied. If boys and girls are waiting together, every gentlemanly boy will wait for the girls to drink first, and the girls should accept his politeness in a polite manner.

The same remark applies to conduct in the dressing-room before school. Scholars should quietly wait for others to hang up clothing and use the looking-glass, instead of pushing forward to secure the first chance.

These early habits of courtesy or rudeness will cling to us through life. When we see people rushing for the best seats in cars or steamboats, and crowding others aside at counters and railroad restaurants, we may be reasonably sure they are those who, when boys and girls at school, pushed others away from the looking-glass and the drinking place.

In speaking of occurrences, we must not say, "I and James went." We ought to speak of ourselves last in all cases, except where mischief has been done, when we should relate our own share first.

LESSON III.

OUTLINE FOR BLACKBOARD.

MANNERS ON THE STREET.

Why especially important. Noisy and boisterous conduct. Calling to any one across the street. Obstructing the sidewalk. Meeting and passing persons, crossing over, and taking leave. Returning salutations. Carrying an umbrella. Eating in the street. Throwing things on the sidewalk. Marking walls and fences. Looking at windows of private houses and pointing at objects. Staring at or laughing at infirmities. Answering questions. Offering assistance. Incidents.

LESSON III.

MANNERS ON THE STREET.

MANNERS on the street are especially important, because many see us there who never see us elsewhere, and they will judge us and our home and school training by our good or bad behavior there.

Noisy and boisterous conduct on the street is always unbecoming. No well-bred boy or girl will ever try to attract attention there. To make one's self conspicuous in public is a sure sign of ignorance and ill-breeding.

If we wish to speak to a person on the other side of the street, though it be only a schoolmate, the proper way is not to call to him, but to cross over quietly and speak. If we wish to look behind us, we should not twist the head around, but turn the whole body.

It is extremely rude to walk three or four together, unless in an unfrequented street, or to stop on corners to talk.

In meeting persons, we must turn to the right, and never take more than our share of the sidewalk, and give an old person or a lady more than half. In passing people, we should be careful not to crowd or jostle them; it is better to step off the sidewalk to pass an older person than to do this. If we are walking with any one, and wish to take leave or cross the street, we should step behind and not in front of our companion. A boy should be as careful as a gentleman to give a lady the inside of the walk.

When we meet an acquaintance we must not say, "Halloa!" but give or return the proper salutation. Our tone and manner should be cordial to all and respectful to older people. For a boy or girl to bestow upon a teacher or any older person a patronizing nod instead of a courteous bow, or a curt "Good morning" or "Good evening" with the rising inflection on the last syllable, is an impertinence. Even little boys should learn to lift their hats to ladies, and also to gentlemen entitled by age or position to this mark of respect.

We must keep step with the person with whom we are walking, if we would not make an awkward appearance. It is proper for a younger person to accommodate his pace to that of an older, and a gentleman must keep step with a lady.

If we see any one fall in the street, we should never be so rude as to laugh, but should hasten to help if help is needed.

If we speak to a stranger by mistake, we should ask pardon; and if one speaks to us, we should gracefully accept his apology, as if the mistake were most natural, not adding to his embarrassment by our manner of cold surprise.

If we have occasion to ask directions of a stranger, we should say, "Will you please tell me if this is the road to Lynn?" rather than "Say! is this the road to Lynn?" We should never fail to give cordial thanks for information.

In holding an umbrella over any one, we must carry it high enough, give more of it than we take, and in meeting other umbrellas give them their share of room.

It is ill-mannered to eat anything in the street. No rubbish, such as paper, nutshells, or orange-peel, should be thrown on the sidewalk: there is a proper place for such things; and we ought to have too much regard for the neat appearance of our streets to litter them.