"THE SONG OF THE LARK" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cather Willa Sibert)

tions," which she conned on Sundays. This morning, when
Thea and her two younger brothers sat down to breakfast,
Tillie was remonstrating with Gunner because he had not
learned a recitation assigned to him for George Washington
Day at school. The unmemorized text lay heavily on
Gunner's conscience as he attacked his buckwheat cakes
and sausage. He knew that Tillie was in the right, and
that "when the day came he would be ashamed of himself."

"I don't care," he muttered, stirring his coffee; "they
oughtn't to make boys speak. It's all right for girls. They
like to show off."

"No showing off about it. Boys ought to like to speak
up for their country. And what was the use of your father
buying you a new suit, if you're not going to take part in
anything?"

"That was for Sunday-School. I'd rather wear my old
one, anyhow. Why didn't they give the piece to Thea?"
Gunner grumbled.

Tillie was turning buckwheat cakes at the griddle.
"Thea can play and sing, she don't need to speak. But
you've got to know how to do something, Gunner, that

you have. What are you going to do when you git big and
want to git into society, if you can't do nothing? Every-
body'll say, `Can you sing? Can you play? Can you
speak? Then git right out of society.' An' that's what
they'll say to you, Mr. Gunner."

Gunner and Alex grinned at Anna, who was preparing
her mother's breakfast. They never made fun of Tillie, but
they understood well enough that there were subjects upon
which her ideas were rather foolish. When Tillie struck
the shallows, Thea was usually prompt in turning the
conversation.

"Will you and Axel let me have your sled at recess?"
she asked.

"All the time?" asked Gunner dubiously.

"I'll work your examples for you to-night, if you do."

"Oh, all right. There'll be a lot of 'em."