he letter is from a dear friend who is teaching
the colored children in the South. It tells of her first attempts
with them. I'll not read it all. Listen:"

_My Dear Old Friend:_ I must tell you to-day about my promising
pupil, Nan. _I_ am learning patience whether she learns anything or
not. One day I overheard Nan and Lila (the pretty mulatto girl I told
you about) talking together about like this:

"Nan," said Lila, "do you want to learn to read like white folks?"

"Course I do," laughed Nan. "Hi yi, ho yo, but how's I ever goin'
to?"

"Miss Kitty learn us," said Lila. "Heard her tell Miss Lizzy so. Me
and you are going to her room after sun-down, and she'll learn us a
lesson. I've learned right smart now. Know the a b c, and can spell a
heap. It's 'mazin' good."

Nan opened her big eyes as Lila went one, than gave a quick toss of
her head and said: "Feels mighty peart and proud like, Lile, over
your larnin'. Reckon some other folks can learn too, if they wants
to."

Nan is not a very quiet pupil. She has queer remarks to make about
each letter as I point it out. I told her the first letter was A. She
made a funny courtesy, and said:

"Mighty glad to make your 'quaintance, Massa A. Been wantin' to know
you long time ago."

"That is B, Nan," I continued.

"B," she screamed, "Oh! I feared of him. Will he sting? Done got my
eyes all stunged up with them bees once. Couldn't see nothin' for a
week. Fac--Miss."

"I don't like X," she burst forth, "he's like Miss Lizzy when I's
done broke sumthin', so cross."

* * * * *

In spite of her chattering and her capers, Nan learned all her
letters that night. Teacher and scholar were astonished and
delighted at her success. The next evening, however, showed that Nan
could forget as quickly as she learned.

"Nan! What is that letter?" I asked, pointing to A.

"Dunno, Miss."

"What is that round letter?"

"Done forgot, Miss Kitty."

"Well, what is that letter that looks like Miss Lizzy when she's
cross?"

"I disremember."

And thus it was all through the alphabet. Nan had forgotten the
whole. She could not be persuaded to try again.

"Laws, Miss Kitty," she cried. "I'se done learnt 'em onct. Does
white peoples learn 'em twicet?"

"Yes, Nan," said I. "If they forget the first time."

"Sho," said she with a queer twist of her black face. "I'd be 'shamed
to learn it twict. Ef 'twont stay in dis head first time, 'tan't no
g