St. Nicholas/Volume 32/Number 1/First Reader

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4068625St. Nicholas, Volume 32, Number 1 — In the First ReaderMary Mapes DodgeMalcolm Douglas


In the First Reader.


By Malcolm Douglas.



And are the lessons hard?” she asked,
While spreading jam on thickly.
Hard, mother? I should say they were!”
He answered very quickly.

We 've reading, writing, ’rithmetic,
And spelling—that ’s another.
The teacher said, ‘Add twelve and nine’—
I almost had to, mother!”

Almost!” his puzzled mother said,
Half wondering if he knew it.
Yes, almost—for she asked me to;
Only—I could n’t do it!”