eading lesson was resumed, and Dick also began to
instruct his pupil in the mysteries of writing. It was not easy work,
but Dick was not discouraged.

Jimmy had one merit, he really wanted to learn; for he was sharp and
shrewd, and he saw what an advantage it was to Dick to be able to read
and call out intelligently the items of news. In this way Dick could
sell as many papers as could Jimmy, and with half the effort, for Jimmy
made himself hoarse with his frequent cries of "Wuxtry!" Then, too,
Jimmy was aware of how much better off he was since he had formed a
partnership with Dick. He actually had money in the bank, a thing he
never dreamed of before, and he had a good room, which formerly was
such a rare occurrence for him that he could count on the fingers of
one hand the number of times it had happened since he had had to shift
for himself. So Jimmy determined to do his best to learn to read and
write.

In a week the newsboy knew the alphabet, and could spell a few simple
words. The writing came slower, but he was making progress.

Then another improvement took place. As he learned to spell the words
he also learned how to pronounce them correctly. He saw that "the"
spelled a different word from "de," as he was accustomed to pronounce
it, and he began to practise using "this" and "then" in place of "dis"
and "den."

"There!" exclaimed Jimmy triumphantly one night as he looked at a piece
of paper. "There's me name!" and he looked at it proudly, for it was
written after a severe effort on his part. "Did I speak right den--I
mean then?" he asked.

"Very nearly, except that you said 'me name' instead of 'my name',
Jimmy."

"Dat's so--I mean that's so. Well, what do youse think of me--I mean
my writin'?"

"It's very good; but if you want to speak correctly, don't say 'youse'
for you, and put a final 'g' on your words that need it."

"Crimps! but dat's--I mean that's a lot to remember," he answered with
a sigh.

"You're not sorry you're learning, though, are you?"

"Betcher life I ain't."

He gave a sudden start.

"I s'pose I shouldn't say that," he added.

"Well, I don't know that it's any particular harm," answered Dick.
"It's slang, and when you grow up to be a man I don't suppose you'll
like to use slang. The trouble is, as I've read, it's hard to break
off the habit. So I suppose it's best to start young."

"Dat's--I mean that's what it is. I'm goin'--there, I dropped another
'g'--I