His mother had no idea how fast he was learning; and when about a fortnight after he had begun, she was able to take him in hand, she found, to her astonishment, that he could read a great many words, but that, when she wished him to spell one, he had not the least notion what she meant.
"Isn't that a _b_ ?" she said, wishing to help him to find out a certain word for himself.
"I don't know," answered Willie.

"It's not the busy bee," he added, laughing;--"I should know him.

It must be the lazy one, I suppose." "Don't you know your letters ?" asked his mother.
"No, mamma.

Which are they?
Are the rest yours and papa's ?" "Oh, you silly dear!" she said.
"Of course I am!" he returned;--"very silly! How could any of them be mine before I know the names of them! When I know them all, then they'll all be mine, I suppose--and everybody else's who knows them .-- So that's Mr B--is it ?" "Yes.

And that's C," said his mother.
"I'm glad to see you, Mr C," said Willie, merrily, nodding to the letter.