The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-04-17
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR
FALLEN PRIDE.

When | was seven years old, lady
relates, l went to a village school
where the scholars called me Les
son Tooth"
Why do you suppose they called me
such a queer name? You never could
guess, so | will tell you
Aunt Marie had always told Tom
and me that pride must have a fall,
and it was when l fell that got the
nickname.
We had just moved into a new dis
trict, where the children were more
backward in their studies than they
were in the village school l had been
attending, but l didn't know 1t until
| heard the scholars read and spell.
When our class was called to read
ing, we all took our places on the
floor, with the toes of our shoes on
certain crack, so that we might stand
in straight line, and in spelling we
| took Places
Being a newcomer, according to Gus
tom, I tok my place at the bottom OF
| the class.
There were ten girls and boys in the
| class and the reading commenced at
the head. | was much surprised at
the Door reading of the girls, and some
of the boys even had to stop and spell
out the words letter by letter.
| By the time it came my turn to
| I'D
could read right along, without cor
rection from the teacher. The girls
| looked at me with wonder and envy
and the boys logged each others
elbows.
In spelling, too, displayed my SUI
perior knowledge by spelling the word
"knave" with a 'k," while the whole
class had spelled the word without
the * Then l got above them all,
and took my place at the head
After this, spelled correctly every
word that came to me, thus earning
the right to carry home the medal, a
half-dollar with hole in it, through
which was drawn a blue ribbon.
!
my neck, and as soon as school was
out | ran home as fast as my feet
could carry me, to tell Aunt Maria
how proud | felt because l had beaten
the whole class the very first day.
"Oh, Aunt Maria.' 1 said half out
of breath, as l opened the front door.
"Auntie, l got the medal! I spelled
knave, and got clear up to the head.
You just ought to hear the class read,
They can't read half SO we'll as 1 can,
and some of the girls are twelve years
old, too"
"Well, DEAR auntie said, in her
quiet way, Il am very glad you have
done so we'll, but you must not feel
so much pride in getting the medal.
Perhaps some of the other girls might
do as we'll if they had your advan-
tages.'
We'll, l can beat that class every
day. and bring home this medal, too, y
said l, in my pride.
DO not be too sure, Rosie" said
Aunt Maria. your pride may have
sad fall. Perhaps you may find that
the class know some things which
you do not
mo, they do not, auntie," l an
swered. you see if don't get the
medal every night"
When ] reached the school room
the next morning the girls seemed tC
avoid me land | heard one of then
say:
Don't she feel grand?"
Il hope she'll miss in spelling to
night, don't yOu?"
l took great pains with my lessons
: and when we were called to read AMI
= spell, I felt that | could certainly ge
the medal again.
-, l took my place at the foot of thu
, class, as those always did who hat
;, worn the medal home the night be
fore, and there waited my turn tt
;. come to read.
!, The girl who stood above me fin
, ished the first reading lesson in thu
, book, and l was to commence the sec
: ond, the number being in Roman
numerals like this:
Lesson H."
However, instead of reading Lessor
Second, read it, in lofty way:
Lesson Tooth"
How those boys and girls did laugh
Sure enough, they knew something
that did not, just as auntie said they
might. .--. -....
The teacher did not correct me a
once, and, on looking up, found sht
was laughing, too. l was terribly NOR
tilted, especially as one of the boys
I whispered:
: f. Guess Vanity has got the tooth
!. ache"
When the teacher corrected me,
was so ashamed and angry that
burst out crying and could not reat
! at all, and, in my spelling, I was 81
confused couldn't tell whether there
: were two obs" or one in rabbit; sc
} the "toothache'' boy carried home the
medal that night, while I stood at the
l foot of the class
l [ went slowly homeward after
school, finding, when I reached there
4 that brother Tom had told auntie al
about my mistake and downfall, anC
: she met me with kiss which made
me cry again.
When [ became more calm. Aunt
Maria said she was sorry for me- bu1