The Children Write an English Dictation

One day, Polly, Jim's sister, came home from school a little later than usual.

"Why are you late?" Polly's mother asked.

"The teacher wanted to talk to me. Oh, Mother, I got two fives — one for my English dictation and one for an English rhyme," she said.

"I'm very glad to hear it, dear," her mother said. "What rhyme is it?"

"It is my own rhyme, Mother. Don't you know that I can write rhymes?" the girl asked.

"No, I didn't," Mrs. Dale said, smiling. "I think it is very difficult to write rhymes. Can you recite it now?"

"Of course I can, Mother. I know it by heart," Polly said.

"Wait a little, dear," Mrs. Dale said. "I'll call the boys. Jim, Sam, Hugh, come here! Polly will recite her own rhyme."

"Oh, can she make rhymes?" Jim asked.

"She says she can," Mother said. "We shall see now. Sit down, children, and don't make any noise!" Then Polly stood up. Her face was red, her hands were hot, and her voice trembled a little. She began to recite.

Pussy-Cat, Pussy-Cat, Can you catch me that big rat?

It is sitting by the ham, Just behind the apple-jam.

Pussy-Cat, Pussy-Cat, That fat rat is very bad.

If you catch it, I'll be glad.

I'll give you some milk for that.

"Good, very good!" Jim cried.

"Maybe it is not her rhyme at all," Hugh said. "Maybe it is from some children's book?"

"No, no, it is mine," Polly cried. "I give you my word, it's my own."

"Of course it is Polly's rhyme, children," Mrs. Dale said. "I like it very much, dear."

"I'm glad to hear that, Mother," Polly said. "And I got my second five for my English dictation. Oh, it was difficult, very difficult."

"I can write it!" Hugh cried.

"And I can write it!" Sam cried.

"Well, try and write it," Polly said and took her copy-book.

"Read aloud," Sam said.

"Of course I'll read aloud, but you'll make lots of mistakes," Polly said, smiling.

"No, we won't," Hugh said.

"No, we won't," Sam cried.

"Yes, you will," Polly said.

She began to read from her copy-book and the boys began to write.