Page:The Complete Works of Lyof N. Tolstoi - 08 (Crowell, 1899).djvu/110

98 The teacher began to teach Filipok his letters; but Filipok already knew them, and could even read a little.

"Very well; spell your name, then."

Filipok said, "Khve-i, khvi—le-i, li—peok, pok."

Everybody laughed.

"Bravo!" said the teacher; "who taught you to read?"

Filipok summoned courage, and said:—

"Kostiushka. I am mischievous. I learned them all at once. I am terribly smart!"

The teacher laughed, and asked:—

"And do you know your prayer?"

Filipok said yes, and began to repeat the Ave Maria; but he did not get every word quite correct.

The teacher interrupted him, and said:—

"You must not boast. I will teach you."

After this Filipok began to go to school regularly with the children.