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 more. She did not suppose that Black-bird, who was so tall and queenly, would consent to be taught by her; but she thought that the younger children might find it real amusement to learn to read.

Fox Heart and Light-foot very readily learned the letters which she fashioned in the pin-cushions. They were constantly spelling the name, Mary; and even little Sweet Fern, the baby of two years, tried to lisp it after them.

"How many letters are there, Tulip?" Fox Heart asked; "and can you make them all?"

"Nattie said that there were twenty-six, and that she could make them all, after a fashion."

"I will get you a great piece of birch," the boy said, "if you will put them down, and tell all their names to Light-foot and me."

Nattie said that she would; and in the course of a few weeks the two boys learned the alphabet. Black-bird, also, though she would not suffer Nattie to teach her, learned it, through the aid of