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On the same day above referred to, she was speaking about something which recalled the past, and asked, "Why was I not always so good?" Not receiving an immediate answer, she added, "People cannot always do right, as one man did who lived many years ago. Doctor says nobody ever does right always, as Jesus Christ did." Her teacher told her that we must always try to do perfectly right, and then we should grow better and better. She then asked, "If we are perfect, shall we be like God?"

The following extract from her teacher's journal will show how minutely her little faults are noted and how they are treated.

"Sunday, Nov. 10th. Laura went to church with me in the morning. In the afternoon, I left Jane Damon with her, with permission to stay a short time. When I returned, Laura did not welcome me as usual, and made some objection to a walk which I proposed; but she was soon ready for it. I learned from Jane, that Laura had done something that she (Jane) had promised not to tell me. I asked Laura why she was not willing that I should know every thing that she did while I was away. She said, 'I was afraid you would reprove me.' I asked her if I ever spoke unkindly to her when she had done wrong. 'No,' replied she, very emphatically, 'you never blame me. Why did I pull the wire? ' I answered, that I thought curiosity and playfulness made her do it; that it was not wrong to be curious and playful; but that it was wrong to try to conceal from me when she thought she had done mischief. 'I did not know it was to conceal,' said she. I told her that it was best for me to know what she did and thought, that I might be able to advise her. 'I knew it was wrong to pull the wire.' Jane had told me also that Laura was unwilling that she should leave her, and made several very unpleasant noises. I alluded to this when talking with Laura, and she said, 'I was not impatient.' 'But,' said I, 'Jane said you made some bad noises.' 'I did n--,' she began to say, hesitatingly; when I said, 'Did you not make noises? ' and she replied, 'I believe I did not refrain from making bad noises.'

"I was now obliged to leave her for a short time. When I came back, she was not inclined to say much, and seemed trying to force a smile. By this time, the headache which had followed me all day became quite severe, and I left her again for a while to her reflections. It is the first time that she has attempted to deceive me. She was afraid, perhaps, that she had done some injury to something. She could have no fear that I should speak severely to her, for I never blame her in the least. Generally, when she is doing or saying any little thing that I disapprove, I simply stop it at the time, and afterwards speak of the thing abstractly. She will apply my remarks to herself and to the circumstance, but without any unpleasant excitement of feeling, and she remembers them a long time.

"Many times she has said, 'I cannot be perfectly good, as Jesus Christ was.' I have told her that every one should try to be perfectly good, and never be willing to do wrong even in a little thing, -- explained to her that perhaps it was a desire to appear perfectly good which prompted her to conceal that which she was afraid was wrong.

"When I spoke to her again, she said, 'I was praying to God, and told him that I had been so wrong, and I asked him to forgive me and send me better thoughts. I told him my motives were bad to conceal from you, and to tell you that I did not make impatient noises.' She then put her hand on my hot head and asked what made it worse. I answered, 'Sad thoughts.' She said, 'I am sorry you were detained from being happy by a sad circumstance. I have told God that I will not do so wrong again.' "

Here is another extract illustrative of the same thing.

"Oct. 24th. At eight o'clock to-day Laura came to me and said, 'Doctor wants you to teach me about motives; what are motives?'

"After giving the meaning of the word, I referred her to a story that I read to her last evening. It was of a benevolent, kind-hearted little boy, who expended his money in purchasing little comforts for those who needed them, making it his happiness to do good to the poor and unfortunate. She was very much interested in talking of the character of the boy, and of his sister and mother. 'It was a good motive for George to give nice things to poor people.' 'Doctor had a good motive to give us this nice large room to he so warm and comfortable; he is very benevolent. But Jesus Christ was the most benevolent; we cannot be benevolent as he was.' 'I cannot be benevolent and do kind things to crazy people, and blind and deaf people, and cure them.' 'God is very benevolent, he does so many things to make people happy.' I then tried to show her how she might be truly benevolent in little things, every day. 'I give away many things,' said she. I convinced her that it was not always a proof of benevolence, to give things away. During the whole lesson she was very serious and thoughtful, pressing my fingers closely, so that no letter should escape her.