04 Reading Lesson

4 Reading Lesson It was warm and dry inside the schoolhouse. Several oil lamps lit the darkness. “ Class, meet Annie and Jack, " the young teacher said. What class? thought Jack. There were only three kids. On one bench sat a small boy and a girl. The boy looked about Annie's age. The girl looked a little younger, On another bench sat a tall boy. He was tough-looking.

“ Welcome to our first day of school, " said the young teacher. “ Today's your very first day?” said Annie. “ Yes, and our first day in this dugout. The family who lived here left for California a week ago, " said Miss Neely. Jack and Annie peered around the room.

The walls were made of dirt. The floor was made of wood. It was covered by a worn rug. Miss Neely's desk was made from a barrel. A small coal stove was near her desk. A crate held a water jug, chalk, and two small blackboards. “ It's a nice school, " Annie said politely.

“ Thank you. We're very grateful for it, ” said Miss Neely. “ And where do you live?” “ Well, we actually . . . , ” Jack started. Then he stopped-he wasn't sure what to say. “ Actually, we don't live around here, " Annie said. “ We're passing through. “ You must be from the wagon train I saw this morning, " Miss Neely said. Annie nodded. Jack smiled. Good work, Annie, he thought. “ We can only stay a little while, " he said “ How exciting for you, " said Miss Neely. “ Heading west on a wagon train. Where are you going?’ “ California, " Annie said. “ California! That's wonderful! Isn't it, class?" Miss Neely said to the others.

“ Yes, ma'am! " said the two younger children. The older boy barely nodded. “ Have you ever been to school before?” Miss Neely asked Annie. “ Yes, ma'am, " Annie said. “ We both know how to read and write. Jack's one of the best readers you'll ever meet. ” “ My! Isn't that wonderful, class?” said Miss Neely. “ Yes, ma'am! " said the younger children. The older boy gave Jack a scowl. “ Not exactly the best, " Jack said modestly. “ I love to read, " said Miss Neely. “ I'll read any book I can get my hands on. " “ Me too, " said Jack. “ Then perhaps you'd like to start off our first reading lesson of the school year, " said Miss Neely.

“ Sure, " said Jack. “ Sit with Jeb, then, " said Miss Neely, “ and Annie, you sit with Kate and her brother Will. ” Will and Kate quickly made room for Annie on their bench. But Jeb didn't move over for Jack, not even an inch. Jack barely had room to sit. He took a deep breath and sat on the end of the bench. Miss Neely handed Jack a book. “ This is our only reader, " she said. “ It's called the McGuffey Reader, Please read the first two lines of the poem on page fifty. ” “ Oh, um . . . sure, ma'am, " said Jack. He turned to page fifty, He pushed his glasses into place. Then he read aloud: “ Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are.