"How queer!" said Tidy, deeply interested. "And is there something
in this book about all the pictures?"

"Yes," answered Susie, "if you could only read now, you would
know about every one. See here, on the next page is an elephant;
see his great tusks and his monstrous

[illustration omitted] long trunk," and the child read to her
attentive listener of another of the wonders of creation.

"How I wish I could read,--why can't I?" asked Tidy;
and the little colored face was turned up full of animation.
"I don't b'lieve but I could learn as well as you."

"Why of course you could," answered Amelia, who had risen
quite refreshed by her short nap. "I don't see why not.
You can't go to school you know, because mother wants you to work;
but I could teach you just as well as not."

"Oh, could you? will you?--do begin!" cried the eager child.
"Oh, Miss Mely, if you only would, I'd do any thing for you."

"Look here," said Amelia, seizing the book from her sister's hands,
and by virtue of superior age, constituting herself the teacher;
"do you see those lines?" and she pointed to the columns of letters
on the first page.

"Yes," said the ready pupil, all attention.