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He has shown the sense of property most clearly ever since I knew him. He supposes that his clothing and his little articles of property are as much his own as his fingers and toes are. It matters not whether they were acquired by gift, exchange, or purchase; the right becomes vested in him forever, unless he of his own free will should give it up. He respects also the property of others, and has never been known to violate it, except in one solitary instance, when the temptation came in the same form which was fatal to the mother of us all. The following is an account of the affair by his teacher:

"Mrs. Smith came and called me, saying she feared Oliver had been doing wrong, for she saw him in Mrs. Hach's closet, at her apple barrel; she did not know that he had taken any, but feared the temptation might be too strong. I went to his room and began a conversation, hoping to lead to the subject, without direct questioning. At last I saw a stem of an apple on the floor. I picked it up, and asked who gave him an apple; he replied, 'Man.' When? 'Yesterday.' I asked, Did you see apple in barrel? 'Who told you?' replied he, and then said, 'he did.' Did you take apple? 'Yes.' I asked if he was good boy? He first said, 'Yes,' and afterwards, 'No.' Where is apple? 'Gone in stomach,' said he, Who gave you apple? I asked. 'Hach,' was the reply. When? 'Before dinner.' Mr. H. was absent, so I could not ascertain the truth of this statement. During the whole time he was very much confused, and it is possible he may not be guilty of taking and keeping the apple, but knew I should not like to have him go into the closet at all. After talking about his being a good boy for some time, I told him he might go to make brushes. I stood at his door for some time, and was surprised to see him remain motionless by his bed. I went and told him a second time; he said 'Yes.' After a few moments I looked in again; he stood by the window, with his back towards me. I stood and watched him many minutes, and then went in to speak to him. His cheeks were wet with tears; he turned his head quickly, and tried to hide them. I asked, Why stand by window? 'I like warm sun,' was the reply, and instantly he added, 'I make brushes,-- that is, I will go to make brushes. When Mr. Hach returned he talked with him, and Oliver told him he took an apple and ate it. Mr. H. expressed his sorrow, and so did we all. Oliver felt very badly, and it was with difficulty that he restrained his tears.''

No allusion was ever after made to the subject, but the lesson never was lost upon poor Oliver; if the tears were restrained, they softened his heart; if he had paid to others the penalty of stripes or chidings, he might have considered himself quit with them, and with his conscience; as it was, he repented of himself, and within himself, and has never since been known to do a dishonest thing.

The readiness of Oliver to understand all the requirements of delicacy, not to say his native modesty and innate sense of propriety, is hardly less remarkable than Laura's. One cannot suppose that any lessons on delicacy of behavior should have been given to a child of three years old, or if given should have been understood; yet he is always modest and reserved, and has been so ever since his residence with us. It is possible that by observing the fact that little boys are indulged by ladies with kisses, but forfeit their privilege by growing to manhood, he may have applied it to his own case; but I cannot help thinking that he would not so readily have arrived at the conclusion without some natural sentiment to aid him; the idea was rather evolved by the development of his own mind, than implanted there by others. Be it as it may, the following conversation with his teacher is curious. She says "After dinner, I sat talking with him about growing to he a man. He said, 'I grow man, shave razor, Mr. Caswell, not kiss you,' -- that is, when I grow up, and become a man, and shave with a razor; I shall be Mr. Caswell, and must not kiss you. I asked him if he would kiss his mother and sisters? He said, 'Yes.' I then asked if he would kiss Susan? -one of his little playmates- He said, No! large;' that is, Susan will be large, and I must not kiss her."

Like Laura, he always shows emotion when he is told of any thing which seems to him wrong, especially if it he accompanied by any violence. When his teacher was telling him about the anaconda's killing large animals, he was exceedingly distressed.

He is very fond of any mechanical employment, and shows great readiness in comprehending any machinery. A curious lock, a complicated door-spring, or any thing of the kind, affords him great amusement, and he will examine it with untiring patience, until he finds out all about the construction. In the work-shop he shows much ingenuity, and works with great zeal. He is fond of many boyish amusements, as holding a kite, coasting on a sledge, &c. His progress in the acquisition of language has been slow, and his vocabulary is still very limited, as the specimens of his writing and conversation will show. Here is a letter, composed entirely by himself the last spring, and written in a very fair, legible hand.