What is it we drink out of cups ?" "I don't get anything but milk, and that's in a mug," replied Dotty in an injured tone.
"But what does mother drink?
Now think." Dotty eyed the letter sharply.

"Why, mamma drinks coffee sometimes, and it has grounds; but they don't look like that thing, the grounds don't! Why, that thing looks like a spade, with the teeth out, wrong side up." "You mean a _rake_" laughed Prudy.

"Well, dear, this is T." When Dotty came to X, she declared it stood "for your thumb.

Susy said so, and it was in the music-book." Now came an hour of triumph for the little pupil.

Her mother was both surprised and delighted to hear that her youngest daughter knew all her letters.
"She can say them skipping about," said Prudy, "and can spell a few little words, too." "C, a, t, cat, d, o, g, Zip," laughed Dotty, showing her deepest dimples, and frisking about the room.
"My dear little ones," said Mrs.Parlin, kissing both the children, "I am really very much gratified.