"Nan," said Lila, "do you want to learn to read like white folks?"
"Course I do," laughed Nan. "Hi yi, ho yo, but how's I ever goin' to?"
"Miss Kitty learn us," said Lila. "Heard her tell Miss Lizzy so. Me and you are going to her room after sun-down, and she'll learn us a lesson. I've learned right smart now. Know the a b c, and can spell a heap. It's 'mazin' good."
Nan opened her big eyes as Lila went one, than gave a quick toss of her head and said: "Feels mighty peart and proud like, Lile, over your larnin'. Reckon some other folks can learn too, if they wants to."
Nan is not a very quiet pupil. She has queer remarks to make about each letter as I point it out. I told her the first letter was A. She made a funny courtesy, and said:
"Mighty glad to make your 'quaintance, Massa A. Been wantin' to know you long time ago."
"That is B, Nan," I continued.
"B," she screamed, "Oh! I feared of him. Will he sting? Done got my eyes all stunged up with them bees once. Couldn't see nothin' for a week. Fac—Miss."
"I don't like X," she burst forth, "he's like Miss Lizzy when I's done broke sumthin', so cross."
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