Still it was his fixed opinion that discussion was, as a general rule, unadvisable.

Therefore, when Captain Sankey, a few weeks after taking up his residence in the locality, made a proposal to him that his son should attend his school as a home boarder, Mr.Hathorn acceded to the proposition, stating frankly his objections, as a rule, to boys of that class.
"I shall not interfere," Captain Sankey said.

"Of course boys must be thrashed, and provided that the punishment is not excessive, and that it is justly administered, I have nothing to say against it.

Boys must be punished, and if you don't flog you have to confine them, and in my opinion that is far worse for a boy's temper, spirit, and health." So Ned Sankey went to Hathorn's, and was soon a great favorite there.
Just at first he was regarded as a disobliging fellow because he adhered strictly to a stipulation which Mr.Hathorn had made, that he should not bring things in from the town for his school fellows.

Only once a week, on the Saturday half holiday, were the boys allowed outside the bounds of the wall round the playground, and although on Wednesday an old woman was allowed to come into those precincts to sell fruit, cakes, and sweets, many articles were wanted in the course of the week, and the boys took it much amiss for a time that Ned refused to act as their messenger; but he was firm in his refusals.