“‘I do not think you have had time to learn. You are hurrying too much. You should study more,’ his mother replied.
“‘But, mother, please let me try,’ pleaded Alfred.
“The mother yielded and Alfred brought the big book to her and laid it on her knee. Then he opened it at the beginning and with very few mistakes read poem after poem. His mother was more than satisfied, and when Alfred left the room he was hugging the elegant book and carrying it to his part of the castle.
“This was only the beginning, for Alfred became the greatest scholar and the wisest king the Saxons ever had. He made just laws, he ruled kindly, he founded schools, and he tried in every way to make his subjects better, wiser and happier. Do you not think it all began in his love for the beautiful look?”
3. Recitation.
Ask questions and make the children see in the story:
a. (The Introduction.) The first general facts about Alfred.
b. (The Body of the Narrative.) The story of how Alfred learned to read.
c. (The Conclusion.) Alfred wins the prize and becomes a great ruler.
Then ask them to tell the story in their own words.