Убить пересмешника

           Thispracticeallegedlyovercameavarietyofevils:standinginfrontofhisfellowsencouragedgoodpostureandgaveachildpoise;deliveringashorttalkmadehimword-conscious;learninghiscurrenteventstrengthenedhismemory;beingsingledoutmadehimmorethaneveranxioustoreturntotheGroup.

           Theideawasprofound,butasusual,inMaycombitdidn’tworkverywell.Inthefirstplace,fewruralchildrenhadaccesstonewspapers,sotheburdenofCurrentEventswasbornebythetownchildren,convincingthebuschildrenmoredeeplythatthetownchildrengotalltheattentionanyway.Theruralchildrenwhocould,usuallybroughtclippingsfromwhattheycalledTheGritPaper,apublicationspuriousintheeyesofMissGates,ourteacher.WhyshefrownedwhenachildrecitedfromTheGritPaperIneverknew,butinsomewayitwasociatedwithlikingfiddling,eatingsyrupybiscuitsforlunch,beingaholy-roller,singingSweetlySingstheDonkeyandpronouncingitdunkey,allofwhichthestatepaidteacherstodiscourage.

           Evenso,notmanyofthechildrenknewwhataCurrentEventwas.LittleChuckLittle,ahundredyearsoldinhisknowledgeofcowsandtheirhabits,washalfwaythroughanUncleNatchellstorywhenMissGatesstoppedhim:"Charles,thatisnotacurrentevent.Thatisanadvertisement."

           CecilJacobsknewwhatonewas,though.Whenhisturncame,hewenttothefrontoftheroomandbegan,"OldHitler—"

           "AdolfHitler,Cecil,"saidMissGates."OneneverbeginswithOldanybody."

           "Yesma’am,"hesaid.