to her
class. She was three or four years older than Prudy, and ought to have
known better than to be angry with such a little child. She should
have forgotten all about it: that would have been the best way. But
instead of that, she kept thinking,--

"O, how that knitting-needle did hurt! Prudy ought to be ashamed! I'll
pay her for it, now you see!"

You may be sure Prudy did not worry her little brains about it at all.

Her mother was brushing her hair next morning for school, and Mr.
Parlin said,--

"Don't you think she's too little to go to school, mother? I don't
care about her learning to read yet awhile."

Mrs. Parlin smiled in a droll way. "I should be very sorry myself to
have Prudy learn to read," replied she; "but she won't keep still long
enough: you needn't be a bit afraid."

"Look here, Prudy," exclaimed Mr. Parlin, "can you spell any words?"

"Poh! yes, sir, I guess I can," replied Prudy, her eyes looking very
bright, "I can spell 'most all there is to spell."

"O, ho," laughed Mr. Parlin. "Let's hear you spell your own name.
Can't do it, can you?"

"Poh! yes, I can! That ain't nothin'. Pre-ed, Prood, Pre-i-eddy,
Prudy. There!"

"Bravo!" cried papa. "You're getting ahead, I declare! Now can you
spell Susy's name?"

"Spell Susy? Why, I can do it just as easy!" replied Prudy, her eyes
shining very bright indeed. "C-ez, Sooz, C-i-ezzy, Susy. There! Can't
I spell?"

"Why, I should think you could," said papa, laughing. "I can't begin
to spell the way you do. Now can you spell _Cat_?"

"Cat? _Cat?_" repeated Prudy, looking puzzled. "Well, I guess I've
forgot how to spell cat. But I can spell _Kitty_. You just hear!
Kee-et, kit, kee-i-etty, kitty! I can spell the big words the best."

"What think now?" said Mrs. Parlin. "The truth is, Prudy knew eight
letters when she began to go to school, and now she knows but four."

"Glad of it," returned Mr. Parlin. "Are you ready for school, little
one?" And he held out his arms, saying,--

"And now, my own dear little girl,
There is no way but this--
Put your arms about my neck,
And give me one sweet kiss."

So Prudy hugged and kissed her father "just as hard." Then she and
Susy trudged along to school, and they met Nancy Glover, who was
carrying something in her apron.

"Mayn't I see what you've got?" said little Prudy.

"Not till I get ready," said Nancy. "Who stuck that knitting-needle
into my ear?"

"You know she didn'