The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03
BY HELENA DAVIS.

Harry sat disconsolatey in his room.
his eyes staring into space. He was a
little chap. only ten years old, and the
gloom in his countenance did not belong
there. for, usually Harry was most
happy boy, and his mother called him
her little ray of sunshine. But today he
was very lowspirited, indeed. and If one
would take the pains to study Harry 8
surroundings he might understand the
cause of the little fellows gloom. On
the floor beside him lay pile Of books
school text books-and from the manner
in which they were tumbled about one
would know they had been thrown there
by an impatient hand.
The truth of the matter was this Har-
ry had been dropping behind in his class
for the past week, and somehow he
couldn't confine himself to his study as
he knew he should. "Books-school books.
! menn-are so dull he would say to
himself And when. In the evening. his
mother would tell him to go into the IL
brary and prepare his morrow's lessons,
he felt that she was setting most un-
pleasant task for him. Until now Harry
had not found 1t necessary to study in
the evenings, for until now he had had
only few lessons to learn. But after the
holidays he had been promoted to another
grade and that meant some home study.
And that was why Harry sat so disconso-
lately in his room and felt that the
learning of lessons out Of common school
books was a most unhappy task.
III the books were only interesting"
he unused Then his eyes fell on his ge-
ography, and he gave 1t a vicious little
kick. for from that huge book he was
supposed to learn long lesson before he
dared to close his eyes In sleep that
night. wish school books were like
fairy stories-thrilling and entertaining"
he said aloud. Then he put his head
against the chairback and closed his
blue eyes TO shut out the sight of those
dreadful school books. It's very, very
hard to become WISE" he murmured.
Then he remained very quiet for sew
eral minutes, wishing that he night go
to bed and forget all about geography
lessons
"Oh, little lad. you are not the only
boy who hates to study his lessons said
a very merry voice beside Harry and
he looked round in surprise. for he had
not heard any one enter his room, and
he had been entirely alone-save for
those awful stupid books. To his sur
prise he saw a red-cheeked boy about his
own size, a boy wearing the happiest
smile Harry had ever seen on any hui
man face Eyes, there are other boys who
dislike learning lessons as much as you
do" went on the stranger. But that Is
because they exaggerate the stupidity and
dullness of school books In fact, school
books are full of interest If the boy who
studies them only looks for 1t. But If
you can't make up your mind to like
your books, maybe you would enjoy
visit to the realm of Dame Wisdom. who
will show you some most interesting
books from which you may learn your
lessons"
"Oh, l should like that declared
Harry. But who are you, and where
is the realm of Dame Wisdom? be
asked with much show of curiosity.
'If Oh. I'm Just a little page from
the realm of Dame Wisdom, and she
sends me to fetch Just such boys as you.
She is the friend of school children, and
when they form . hatred for their school