BETH'S FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 25 July 1891, Page 211

BETH'S FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.

In she ran a little after noon, eager to tell mamma all about

it. ‘ I should think I wouldn’t ever have to learn another single thing,’ she cried, all out of breath, ‘ for I learned so much to-day ! I like my teacher pretty well; she isn’t very cross, but she isn’t nearly so nice as you are, mamma. ‘ I sat next to Flossy, which is a comfort, ’cause we live next door to each other, and are pretty good bosom friends, and I saw a lot of little girls and boys I didn’t know at all ; and whenever I looked at them, I felt a funny feeling in my throat, and I wanted to come home, and see if you were lonesome without me. ‘ So I reached across and squeezed Flossy’s hand, and I told her I was glad that she lived near me, even if she did make me cross sometimes. Then the teacher came by, and said, “ Don’t whisper, dear,” and that’s all I didn’t like her for. . . * By and by we were all hot and tired, and was thinking how nice it would be if you could cuddle and rock me in your lap awhile. And the teacher said, “ Now, let everyone of you put your heads down on your desks, and shut your eyes tight, till I tell you to open them.” So we did, and pretty soon sheclapped her hands and said, “ Wake up, little folks,” and she had drawn a picture on the blackboard, of a dog with a stove-pipe hat on, sitting on a chair, with a curly tail'.

‘ I'm dreadful hungry, though, and I won’t go any more, if you don’t mind, ’cause it’s so prickly to sit still.’