This simple method laid a foundation for truthfulness
and self-respect; and from this the teacher gradually advanced to
other questions, as their moral sense became able to bear them,
till, when they could answer five satisfactorily, such as, "Have you
all your knitting needles?" "Were you at prayers?" "Were you
late?"--things that could be ascertained at once,--they thought
themselves wonderfully good, little dreaming how much the teacher did
not dare to ask, lest she should lead them into temptation. After the
first revival, she could ask about things that took place out of her
sight; and now this exercise is conducted in the same way as in our
best schools at home. There is very little communication now between
them in the school room. In 1852, there were only five failures on
this point for four months, and those by new scholars. Dr. Perkins
wrote, that year, "The exact system in this school, and the order,
studiousness, good conduct, and rapid improvement of the pupils, in
both this and the other Seminary, are probably unsurpassed in any
schools in America."
In reply to a request for the picture of a day in the Seminary, Miss
Fiske writes, in 1862,--
"You ask for a day of my life in Persia.
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