ADA'S LESSON

New Zealand Tablet, 19 November 1908, Page 37

ADA'S LESSON

' We have drawing and music and writing and spelling and 'rithmetic and ever so many other things in our school,' said Ada, who was checking them off on her fingers as she spoke. ' What do you and Fred study at your school, Ella? '

' We've never been to school,' said Fred and Ella together. ' Mama teaches us at home.'

' Never been to -school and you're eight years old 1 ' said Ada in surprise. ' Isn't that awful? '

' Our schoolhouse burned down just before school commenced," said Ella. ' We'll go next term.'

' I suppose you don't know very much, then, 1 said Ada. 'Of course your mama hasn't much time to hear your lessons. We have a drawing teacher and a regular teacher and a music teacher, besides a superinlendant. It keeps us just awful busy.' Fred and Ella looked very sober after that. They loved their mama and thought she knew everything without looking in any book, but she was very busy, and some days they had very short lessons. They had no drawing nor music, and they did not even know what Nature study was that Ada talked about. They were sorry their mama had said the lessons should go right on during their cousin's visit, for now she would find out how little they knew. ' Mr. Masters wants six and one-half dozen of eggs at sixteen cents a dozen,' said Mr. Forbes, coming in just then ' Which of you children can tell me how much that would be? ' ' Where is a pencil ? ' asked Ada, looking around for a piece of paper. ' I know I can tell quicker than anybody. ' • One dollar and four cents ! ' cried Fred, and a minute later Ella said it too. ' How do you know ? ' asked Ada, in surprise, dropping her paper. 'You have had that problem before.' ' No, we haven't,' said Fred, ' but every time we gather the eggs mama asks us how much they will bring in market. She makes problems cut of everything, and won't let us take a pencil to work them.' • 1 never get my highest grades in 'rithmetic,' said Ada, ' but in Nature study I often get one hundred." Fred and Ella asked what Nature study meant. ' Why, it's about trees and flowers,' said Ada. 'It shows "how to tell trees and plants.' • Oh, is that it? ' cried both children. ' Can you tell me what every tree is by iooking at it? ' • Our book shows every tree,' said Ada positively. *\ know them all.' i . ' What is Iha,t one out there? ' asked Mr. Forbes. ' I— l guess I'd have to have my book to tell,' said Ada. 4 Anyway, it's got the leaves all off and our book shows the leaves. I think it must be an oak tree.'

' That's the tree we get our hickory-nuts -off of,' said Ella. That day Mrs. Forbes cut her hand, and Fred and Ella got dinner. They had baked potatoes, fried eggs, baked apple*, and fried sausage all on the table when their papa came in, cold and hungry. Ada wanted to help, but. she did not know how, *o she could only look on and wonder how her cousins had. time to learn so many things.

When her mama came for her, Ada had learned many things. ' Mama,' she said, ' Fred and Ella have never gone to school, and they know lots more than I do. And the worst of all is that I told them how much I knew. I've told them how sorry and ashamed I am, and they forgave me, but I wish I hadn't talked that way.'

' My dear, you have learned one lesson to last you all your life,' said her mama. ' The people who really know a great deal are the ones who never boast about it.'