Page from William's handwriting exercise book dated Xmas 1844

This is a page of William's schoolbook, written when he was 11 years old, which in the possession of the late Marjorie Mitchell. It reads :-

SLOTH Sloth is like the slowly
flowing, putrid stream which stagnates
in the marsh, breeds venomous animals and
poisonous plants, and infects with pes
tilential vapours the whole country around it.

Burton-upon-Trent, Xmas 1844