Jehosophat squirmed in his seat. He didn't want to "do anyone proud."
That was not his ambition. And he squirmed still more when she asked
him,--

"Have you learned it all, Jehosophat?"

He mumbled something that sounded like,--

"Donev'nknownameyet."

So next day when he came back from school he had to stay in the
parlour to study it.

After a while--not so long a while, either--he called to Mother,--

"Mother, I think I could learn it a lot better out doors than in this
dark room."

"All right, dear," she said, "if you're sure you won't let anything
distract you."

"No, Mother, I promise." And he went out by the big elm and stood
under the Oriole's nest. "The boy stood on the burning deck Whence all
but he had fled."

That is the way it began and he started:

"The boy stood on the burning deck"--then he had to stop, for Mr.
Stuck-up, the Turkey, was taking his afternoon parade right near him.