"The exercises generally Commence with ringin' the bell," said Dick;
"but as I aint got none, we'll have to do without."
"And the teacher is generally provided with a rod," said Fosdick.
"Isn't there a poker handy, that I can use in case my scholar
doesn't behave well?"
"'Taint lawful to use fire-arms," said Dick.
"Now, Dick," said Fosdick, "before we begin, I must find out how
much you already know. Can you read any?"
"Not enough to hurt me," said Dick. "All I know about readin' you
could put in a nutshell, and there'd be room left for a small
family."
"I suppose you know your letters?"
"Yes," said Dick, "I know 'em all, but not intimately. I guess I can
call 'em all by name."
"Where did you learn them? Did you ever go to school?"
"Yes; I went two days."
"Why did you stop?"
"It didn't agree with my constitution."
"You don't look very delicate," said Fosdick.
"No," said Dick, "I aint troubled much that way; but I found lickins
didn't agree with me."
"Did you get punished?"
"Awful," said Dick.
"What for?"
"For indulgin' in a little harmless amoosement," said Dick. "You see
the boy that was sittin' next to me fell asleep, which I considered
improper in school-time; so I thought I'd help the teacher a little
by wakin' him up. So I took a pin and stuck into him; but I guess it
went a little too far, for he screeched awful. The teacher found out
what it was that made him holler, and whipped me with a ruler till I
was black and blue.
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