Page 494 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

JOHNNY.— Some parts that are near alike as two twins— only you
don't call ’em twins— T can’t remember that word, teacher— are called
a fraction; that is, if you can manage to have ’em, but we didn't get
any of the apple or the orange, either.
T eacher (leaning hack against the black-board utterly discouraged
and disgusted, says very reproachfully and sever, ely). — Such carelessness
is inexcusable. 1 am ashamed of you,
B essie (looking distressed').— Please, Miss Brent, I have paid atten­
tion and tried to listen to all the new words, and I can tell.
T eacher.— Well, Bessie, yow shall redeem the honor of your class.
Bessie (beaming at the honor thus put upon her).— One or 111 ore
twins exactly of the same size— if there weren’t any knots or poor
places in them— cut into equal parts and both ends alike, arc called a
fraction of the very first apple,
('Children shmdtaneously exclaim)— Oh, my ! Ge whittakcr ! Good­
ness gracious.
[.Teacher collapses andfaints away. Grand rush of children fo r the
water-pail. Jonas cries to get “ burnt feathers " In Ike melee, Just as
Johnny Simpkins is about to pour the contents of the pail over the teacher,

the teacher from the other room enters to sec what is the matter.]
Miss B lan k,— Children, take your seats. [Helps her now reviving
companion to the door.) Children, you may go home at once.

Jixii Miss Blank i]
[ Children quieted by the accident, pass Ottt.J
J onas (remarks to Marcus, as they pans out).— I couldn’t get the

hang of that 11 quilly (He has taken <c a quill" for equal.) What
does a quill have to do with a fraction ? Did f-hc mean a goose-quill?
I'll just ask Miss Brent to-morrow. I've got everything pretty straight
but that.
M arcus {looking a good deal puzzled).— I can't get them "tw ins"
straightened out. Didn’t she have four pieces of that rotten apple?
Well, it takes only two pieces to make a pair of “ twins;” so there
were four “ twins,” and that’s a good many to have, all at once.