I won't _usurp_ any power; but, if you put it upon me, I shall use it, you may depend upon it." Jonas had two good reasons why he wanted to have only one writing-book for all his scholars.

One was, that he thought it uncertain how long their school plan would last, and he did not want to trouble the farmer to look up some paper, and then make a parade of preparing so many writing-books; and then, perhaps, the whole plan might be abandoned, when they had written four or five pages in each.

And, therefore, as he found one old writing-book of Oliver's, half full, he determined to make the blank leaves of that answer for all.
But he had another reason still.

He thought that, if all his scholars should write, in succession, in the same book, their writing would come into such close juxtaposition and comparison, that each one would be stimulated to write with greater attention and care; as each one would wish his or her own page to look as neatly written as the rest.

He knew that Isabella, when it came to her turn to write, would naturally, without any thing being said, look at Amos's work on the page before, and that she would observe its excellences and its faults, and that her page would probably be written better, in consequence of her criticism upon his.
Thus, though Jonas had good reasons, he chose not to give them.