The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-25
The
: Deadlock

school," said Mrs. Richmond. looking
yearningly at her diminutive d:ugh-
ter. who was seated in corner OF the
living room. disciplining. with great
earnestness and sternness. her large
family of dolls.
Il wouldn't send her. them said
Richmond. easily What difference
does 1t make whether she goes this
year or not?"
We'll. don't want her to be De-
hind the children of her own age.
said Mrs. Richmond. hesitatingly. but
she's such a tiny thing. feel as II It
would be deliberately giving my baby
over to the hands of the destroyer
You might teach her at home. :
ventured Richmond.
! His wife's face frightened. so !
might" she returned. land ] do be-
lieve | will" Then she looked dubious
for a moment. But don't know what
TO teach her"
Teach her her letters" said Rich
mond That was good enough for
you and me. and I've heard lots OF
people complain that their children
didn't know the alphabet"
Il believe III try" said Mrs. Rich
mond
Accordingly the next morning she
cOrnered her eve lamb in the nur-
sery
Now. Frances. darling" she said
with the carefully assumed veneer OF
buoyancy in which she had seen
kindergartners and other guardians OF
the infant intelligence enwrap them.
selves as with garment you and |
are going to have a dear little school
right here in the nursery"
II would rather" remarked the pros.
pective pupil refiectively. have a big
apple and piece of candy"
We'll, may be we'll have those. too"
agreed the embryotic instructress.
but not until after we've had our
lesson"
What's a lesson" inquired the
pupil
"It's-let's see. It's to teach you
your letters. so you can read lovely
stories out of books"
Frances pondered this for mo.
ment. but I'd rather have you read
them to me-" said said, after proper
reelection.
But you can't always have me to
do that. DEAR" said Mrs. Richmond
firmly She drew Frances into her lap
and opened the book with which she
had decided to begin the fray. "All
the little girls learn to read and
mother would be terribly ashamed II
her little girl didn't. Now, look at
this funny letter with the two legs and
the piece across the middle like a
queer little ladder What do you think
that letter ISL"
- never saw it before" said Fran
ces, 80 guess | don't care about its
name
Well that letter is named A." said
Mrs. Richmond. Now. here's one
with two funny little fat balloons
stuck on a stick The name OF that
one is H.
is it," Frances inquired with per.
iunctory pollness. Il guess don't
like to read very we'll" she explained
courteously. as she made n tentative
effort to get down from her mother
lap.
But you'll have to learn. dearie,
said Mrs. Richmond patiently. Now,
tell mother what this letter with the
two legs is"
Frances put fat foreiingcr on the
letter.
We'll cali that b." she said sweet
~. Now. can go, muvver?"
"No, lambkin." said her mother
firmly. That's A. See how funny II
looks with the two slanting legs and
the little piece between them. Now
Will It's ilditic.
Frances hcaycd a deep sigh Il
guess Wen call IL b." she said. with
gentle firmnrss
"nut its \. precious" insisted hel
mother.
is it," inquired Frances Il think
I'll call il u"
"N,u. Er,p,.." caii b,r po,b 10,
sternly, won know that letter is 4
and yoa mast say it
There was 70 reply Frances wa.
observing Il sparrow shaking itself o,
the window ledge
Frances her mother sand tel
mother what that letter 1t
oh, mother" Frances cried Joyous
~. "diI ,oG see that sparrow pickin:
his tooth with its leather
Mrs. Richmond set her small daugh
ter down on the floor Now. Fran
ces." She said. tell me the name o
that lctteg or IN put you to he'd"
Frances looked UP AT The ceilln.
and crossed her 'at hands on her Ii,
tic stomach Wen call 1t Il. sh'
said finally
ilaG an hour later Mrs lt;chmon'
went mo Frances little room
swcetly smiling face looked up al he
from he bed
"Raby.~ she pleaded. please do a
mother wants You 10 Mother hate
to punish her baby. Tell me the RICH