l, Nelly rang her aunt's small table bell, for them to take their
places in the class.

But not one of the dollies stirred; and so Nelly took Dinah's hand, and
led her out to the floor.

They played in this way for more than an hour, and then Nelly complained
of the headache; and so her aunt sent her to lie down and rest till
dinner.

In the mean time, Frankie had put on his India rubber boots, and holding
a large umbrella, started off for school, as happy as possible. He had
never been absent or tardy a single day; and his teacher had promised to
paint him a beautiful card, if he continued his good conduct to the end
of the term.

The dear boy was very much pleased at this, and was trying in every way
to be good. He trudged gayly on right through the puddles of water, the
rain pattering upon his umbrella, and dripping off upon the ground.

"I don't care," said Frankie to himself. "It's hard walking, I know; but
I shall have a good time when I get there. My teacher will say, 'I knew
you would be here, Frankie, because you belong to the Try Company.'"

When he reached the schoolroom, he found no one there but his teacher
and Hitty; and how do you think they came so safely in all the rain?
Frankie laughed most heartily when they told him. They rode with the
butcher in his covered cart.

They had kindled a nice fire in the open grate, and after the little
fellow had stamped off the mud in the porch, he came in and stood by it
to dry himself.

The clock struck nine; but not one more of the scholars came, because it
was only a half day, the teacher said; and so Frankie and Hitty stood
before her, instead of going on the gallery, and repeated the Lord's
Prayer.

Then she told them to bring their chairs close to the fire.

"What a funny little school!" said Frankie, laughing.

The teacher laughed too, and said, "I think we shall have a very
pleasant time." She rang the bell, and Frankie marched out alone to his
class. Then she rung it again, and Hitty read and spelt. She could read
quite well now, and was getting to be a very good scholar.

After this, Miss Grant said, "I must march with you, I suppose;" and so
she stepped upon the circle; and they marched around and around,
singing,--

"This is the way we wash our face,"

the teacher washing hers as hard as any of them.

At recess she took a piece of paper from her desk, and drew a pretty
picture of a dog carrying a basket in his mouth, and told F