Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-08
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BY ROBERT J. BURpErTE.
LEARNING TO READ.

and Rollo said IL was W she tore the
page out by the roots. hit her little
brother such a whack over the head
with the big book that II set his birth
day back six weeks. slapped him twice
and was just going to bite him when
her mother came in
Mary told her mother that Rollo had
fallen downstairs and torn his book
and raised that dreadful lump on his
head. This time Mary's mother re-
strained her emotion, and Mary cried
But it was not because she feared her
mother was pining away Oh. no. II
was her mothers rugged strength and
virile health that grieved Mary, as
long as the session lasted, which was
during the entire performance.
That evening Rollo's father taught
Rollo his lesson and made Mary sit by
and observe his methods, because, he
said that would be normal instruction
for her. He said:
Mary, you must learn to control your
temper and curb your impotence il
you want to wear low-neck dresses and ,
teach school. You must be sweet and
patient, or you will never succeed as q
teacher. Now, Rollo what is this let
ter?"
II dunno" said Rollo resolutely.
1iIdb ID ~ ldtIlSE, SWecIIV.
Huh" replied Rollo. Il knowed
| that"
Then why did you not say SOP" re-
| piled his father, so sweetly that Jonas
the hired boy, sitting In the corner,
| licked his chops
| Rollos father went on with the les
son: What is this. Rollo?"
Il dunno" said Rollo hesitatingly.
"Sure?" asked his father. You do
not know what 1t is?"
Muck said Rollo
''It is A." said his father.
| "A what?" asked Rollo.
"A nothing" replied his father. 1T
is Just A. Now. what is it?"
Just A." said Rollo
DO not be flip. my son." said Mr.
Holiday but attend to your lesson.
What letter is this?"
II dunno" said Rollo.
| Don't fib to me-" said his father,
gently, you said minute ago that
| you knew. That is N"
! Eyes, sir" replied Rollo. meekly.
Rollo. although he was a little boy,
was no SLOUGH. If he did wear bibs: ne
knew where he lived without looking at
| the door-plate. When it came time TO
| be meek, there was no boy this side OF
| the planet Mars who could be meeker
on shorter notice. So he said. yes.
| sir" with that subdued and well pleased
| alacrity of a boy who has Just been
asked to guess the answer to the conun-
drum, viii you have another piece Of
| pie?'
Well" said his father, rather sud-
| denly what Is it?"
M" said Rollo. confidently
| M" yelled the father, in three-line
Gothic
IN" echoed Rollo. in lower-case' non
pareil.
Ban" said his father. what does
that spell?"
"Cat?" suggested Rollo. a trihe I'M
certainly.
"CatP" snapped his father. with a
sarcastic infection, "b-a-n, cat?
| Where were you raised? Ban! BAN
Ban! Say it! Say it. or I'll get at
| you with skate strap"
Balm, band" said Rollo, who was
beginning to wish that he had a rain
| check and could come back and see
| the remaining innings some other day.
BAN, Ban, Ban, Ban! Now say
! Ban!"
| Ban" said Rollo. with a little gasp.
That's right" his father said in an
| encouraging tone. You will learn 70
read one of these years, If you give your
mind to it. All he needs. you see.
| Mary, is a teacher who doesn't lose
| patience with him the first time he
makes mistake. Now, Rollo, how do
| you SPELL B-a-n-Ban?"
Rollo started out timidly on Ca
then changed to d-o--and finally
compromised on h-e-n.
Mr.. Holiday made a pass at him
with volume /. but Rollo saw it COM
| ing and got out of the way
, "B-a-n!" his father shouted Ban.
! Banl Ban! Ban! Banl Banl Oh. 60
away. 60 to bed, stupid. stupid child"
he said. as the little boy went weeping
| from the room. Hell never learn
anything so long as he lives. I declare,
he has tired me all out. and I used to
teach school, too. Mary. what are yout
giggling about? You go to bed. too.
and listen to me--if Rollo can't read
that whole book clear through without
making mistake tomorrow night.
| youll wish you had been born without
a back. that's all