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 six sets of the large letters: 

    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

She then made the little tots spell words with her wooden letters.  Take the word “plum-pudding” (and who can think of a better one!); the first little child picked up the letter p, the next l, the next u, the next m, and so on, until the whole word was spelled.

If a child took up a wrong letter, he was to pay a fine or play no more.

Each morning, with her basket full of wooden letters, Margery went around from house to house.  The little children learned to read very fast.

Can you see Margery with her basket of letters in this picture?

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

The first house she came to was Farmer Wilson’s.  See, here it is.

Margery stopped and ran up to the door.  Tap, tap, tap.

“Who is there?”

“Only little Goody Two Shoes,” said Margery, “come to teach Billy.”

“Is that you, little Goody?” said Mrs. Wilson.  “I am glad to see you.”

Then out came the little boy.

“How do, Doody Two Shoes,” said he, not being able to speak plainly.

Margery took little Billy by the hand and led him to a quiet spot under a tree.  Then she threw the letters on the ground all mixed up together like this: 

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

Billy picked them up, calling each one by its right name, and put them all in just their right places.  They now looked like this: 

    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

Do you think you could have done as well as little Billy?

The next place Margery came to was Farmer Simpson’s, and here it is.

[Illustration]

“Bowwow, wow,” said the dog at the door.

“Be still, sir,” said Mrs. Simpson.  “Why do you bark at little Two Shoes?  Come, Alice, here is Goody Two Shoes ready to teach you.”

Then out came the little one.

“Well, Alice,” said Two Shoes, “have you learned your lesson?”

“Yes, indeed, I have,” said the little one, and taking the letters, she formed them in this way: 

    ba be bi bo bu da de di do du
    fa fe fi fo fu ha he hi ho hu

As she formed them she gave their exact sounds.

The next place Margery came to was Gaffer Cook’s house.  Here a number of poor children all came around her at once.  These children had been to her school longer than the first little tots, and could read words and lines.

This is what Margery gave them to read: 

“He that will thrive must rise by five.”

“Truth can be blamed, but cannot be shamed.”

“A friend in your need is a friend indeed.”

“A wise head makes a close mouth.”

“A lie stands upon one leg, but truth upon two.”