At last Margery grew up and was given a real school to teach and a real
schoolroom to teach in. She still used her little wooden letters, and
made the children fetch each one to spell the words.
One day, as Margery was going home from school, she saw some bad boys
who had caught a young crow. She went over to them and gave them a penny
for the poor little bird, and took him home.
Margery called the crow Ralph, and under her care he grew into a very
fine bird indeed. She even taught him to speak and to pick out a few of
the letters.
Some time after this a poor lamb had lost his mother, and the farmer was
about to kill him. Margery bought him and took him home with her to play
with the children. This lamb she called Will, and a pretty fellow he
was. Do look at him. See him run and play with the children.
[Illustration]
The lamb was trained to carry home the books and the slates of the
children who behaved well at school. See what a fine, strong fellow he
is, and how he trudges along.
[Illustration]
Margery also had a present of a little dog. His name was Jumper. Look at
him sitting up and begging in the picture.
Did you ever see a dog with such bright eyes? He almost seems able to
talk.
[Illustration]
Jumper, Jumper, Jumper! He was always playing and jumping about, and
Jumper was a good name for him. His place was just outside the door. See
how he sits, the saucy fellow!
[Illustration]