“Perhaps not just at first, but you will soon get used to studying. I will be your teacher; and when I am too busy to hear your lessons, Mrs. Taylor will supply my place. Are you willing, Emma?”
“Certainly, Ephraim; it will remind me of the years that I was teaching school.”
“Next winter I will send you to the public school,” said Mr. Taylor. “By that time you will, I hope, have learned so much that you will be able to get into a class of boys somewhere near your own age.”
“I shouldn’t like to be in a class with four-year-old babies,” said Julius. “They’d take me for a big baby myself.”{101}
“Your pride is natural and proper. Your grade in school will depend on how well you work between now and winter.”
“I’ll study some to-night,” said Julius, eagerly.
“Very well. The sooner you begin the better. You may take the same story you have been trying to read, and read it over three times carefully by yourself. When you come to any words you don’t know, you can ask Mrs. Taylor or myself. To-morrow evening you may read it aloud to Carrie, and we can see how much benefit you have derived from your study.”
Julius at once set to work in earnest. He had considerable perseverance, and really desired to learn. He was heartily ashamed of his ignorance, and this feeling stimulated him to make greater exertions.
The next morning he was awakened by a loud knock at his door.
“What’s up?” he muttered, drowsily.