[Sidenote: Listening to Other Recitations]
Mildred Trott spent all her time listening to the recitations of other
classes, which caused her to fail in her own. Her teacher, Miss Ware,
had often talked to her about this, and Mildred had often resolved to do
better; but when the fascinating recitations began in front of her, she
listened to them in spite of good resolutions.
Finally, one day, Miss Ware saw her watching the class at the front of
the room, while her own small geography lay closed on her desk.
She smiled, stood up, and said in a clear voice:
“Mildred Trott, Mildred Trott,
Hears that which concerns her not!”
The other children laughed a little, Mildred opened her book hastily,
and the incident passed. But at recess Miss Ware heard Mildred’s
playmates repeat the bit of doggerel, and Mildred did not seem to like
it. The next day Mildred held her book open, but she still slyly
listened to the recitation instead of studying. Miss Ware again stood
up, and repeated clearly—
“Open book availeth not;
You must _study_, Mildred Trott.”
This time the children laughed more, and two or three put down the
couplet before they forgot it, in the flyleaves of their books. Again
they teased Mildred at recess, and Mildred began to see that she must
overcome her curiosity or endure continual teasing. The next day and the
next she studied assiduously, and had good lessons. On the next day,
feeling very sure of herself, she fell from grace. When Miss Ware saw
her leaning forward eagerly to hear the advanced spelling lesson, she
stopped long enough to chant—
“Mildred’s class is not in session;
Mildred, work upon your lesson!”
This was the last bit of doggerel that was needed.