Part 24 (1/2)
”Yes, indeed, I have,” said the little one, and taking the letters, she formed them in this way:
ba be bi bo bu da de di do du fa fe fi fo fu ha he hi ho hu
As she formed them she gave their exact sounds.
The next place Margery came to was Gaffer Cook's house. Here a number of poor children all came around her at once. These children had been to her school longer than the first little tots, and could read words and lines.
This is what Margery gave them to read:
”He that will thrive must rise by five.”
”Truth can be blamed, but cannot be shamed.”
”A friend in your need is a friend indeed.”
”A wise head makes a close mouth.”
”A lie stands upon one leg, but truth upon two.”
”A good boy will make a good man.”
”Honor your parents and the world will honor you.”
”Love your friends and your friends will love you.”
Did you ever read lines like these in your school reader?
LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES--IV
At last Margery grew up and was given a real school to teach and a real schoolroom to teach in. She still used her little wooden letters, and made the children fetch each one to spell the words.
One day, as Margery was going home from school, she saw some bad boys who had caught a young crow. She went over to them and gave them a penny for the poor little bird, and took him home.
Margery called the crow Ralph, and under her care he grew into a very fine bird indeed. She even taught him to speak and to pick out a few of the letters.
Some time after this a poor lamb had lost his mother, and the farmer was about to kill him. Margery bought him and took him home with her to play with the children. This lamb she called Will, and a pretty fellow he was. Do look at him. See him run and play with the children.
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The lamb was trained to carry home the books and the slates of the children who behaved well at school. See what a fine, strong fellow he is, and how he trudges along.
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Margery also had a present of a little dog. His name was Jumper. Look at him sitting up and begging in the picture.
Did you ever see a dog with such bright eyes? He almost seems able to talk.