a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z.

And having got an old spelling book, she made her companions set up all the words they wanted to spell, and after that she taught them to compose sentences.  “You know what a sentence is, my dear.  ’I will be good’ is a sentence; and is made up, as you see, of several words.”

I once went her rounds with her, and was highly diverted, as you may see, if you please to look into the next chapter.

V

HOW LITTLE TWO-SHOES BECAME A TROTTING TUTORESS, AND HOW SHE TAUGHT HER YOUNG PUPILS

It was about seven o’clock in the morning when we set out on this important business, and the first house we came to was Farmer Wilson’s.  Here Margery stopped, and ran up to the door, tap, tap, tap.  “Who’s there?” “Only Little Goody Two-Shoes,” answered Margery, “come to teach Billy.”  “Oh!  Little Goody,” says Mrs. Wilson, with pleasure in her face, “I am glad to see you Billy wants you sadly for he has learned his lesson.”  Then out came the little boy.  “How do, Doody Two-Shoes,” says he, not able to speak plain.  Yet this little boy had learned all his letters; for she threw down this alphabet mixed together thus: 

b d f h k m o q s u w y x f a c e g i l n p r t v z j,

and he picked them up, called them by their right names, and put them all in order thus: 

a b c d e f g h i j k i m n o p q r s t u v w x y z.

The next place we came to was Farmer Simpson’s.

“Bow, wow, wow,” says the dog at the door.  “Sirrah,” says his mistress, “what do you bark at Little Two-Shoes? come in, Madge; here, Sally wants you sadly, she has learned all her lesson.”  “Yes, that’s what I have,” replied the little one, in the country manner:  and immediately taking the letters she set up these syllables: 

  ba be bi bo bu, ca ce ci co cu,

  da de di do du, fa fe fi fo fu,

and gave them their exact sounds as she composed them.

After this, Little Two-Shoes taught her to spell words of one syllable, and she soon set up pear, plumb, top, ball, pin, puss, dog, hog, fawn, buck, doe, lamb, sheep, ram, cow, bull, cock, hen, and many more.

The next place we came to was Gaffer Cook’s cottage.  Here a number of poor children were met to learn, who all came round Little Margery at once, who having pulled out her letters, asked the little boy next her what he had for dinner?  Who answered, “Bread” (the poor children in many places live very hard).  “Well then,” says she, “set up the first letter.”  He put up the B, to which the next added r, and the next e, the next a, the next d, and it stood thus, Bread.

And what had you, Polly Comb, for your dinner?  “Apple Pie,” answered the little girl; upon which the next in turn set up a great A, the two next a p each, and so on, till the two words Apple and Pie were united and stood thus, Apple Pie.