Mr. Bright made a point with "Dodd" by his quick discovery of the boy's
genius with the chalk. In a few days he scored another, when he found
how well he could read. Indeed, it was here the teacher and pupil
first felt their souls flow together freely, for an instant.

It was the old "Sam Weller's Valentine" selection that the class was
laboring with. The boys and girls tugged at the dialogue, but in the
main got little from it.

It came "Dodd's" turn to read. He had taken in the whole scene and was
full of the spirit of the piece. His place of beginning was at the
words with which "Sam" begins his letter, and, commencing there, he
read, assuming a high-pitched voice:

"Lovely creeter!"

The school broke out into a laugh, as did also Mr. Bright. "Dodd"
raised his eyes for an instant to catch the cause of their mirth, only
to meet the approving smile of the teacher, and the slightest nod of
admiration from him. He flushed with a glow of wholesome pride, and
the next instant shouted, in the deep, husky guttural of "Old Tony":

"Stop! A glass o' the inwariable, my dear!" and so he continued with
the dialogue.

It was a revelation to the school, this reading of "Dodd's." After the
first floating breath of laughter had passed over the room, every pupil
was full of attention, and was listening to the reading of this
proverbially bad boy.