The Little Red Hen

Another story from the 1920’s grade 2 Primer, written in cursive, so for that alone a true relic from the past.  I know that we had access when we were kids to these readers saved from my mothers childhood and although I don’t know who was responsible for all the underlining, I will plead guilty to the colouring.  That red hen was not red enough for me.

My grandmother was an avid reader, but I never saw her read a book without a pencil or a pen in her hand, underlining what seemed to me to be completely random words and phrases.  She would have loved hi-lighters.  Mom gave me one of grandmas “doctored” books as a keepsake.  It’s full of squiggly pencil underlining from beginning to end.  Maybe she passed this habit on to one of her kids when they were learning to read.

Anyway, here’s the story, underlining, bad colouring and all.  Sorry some of it is hard to see, but the pages have been around for almost a hundred years.  We should all look as good when we’re this ancient.

Rain Stories

Rain was a popular subject for primary school children learning to read in the early 1900’s.  I am basing this assumption on these stories from the Ontario Readers Primer, authorized by THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION (that part was important enough in the book to print in all caps bold) published in 1920.

How lucky am I to possess books that are almost a hundred years old? Even if the stories are blatantly sexist.  Wimpy little girl afraid of the rain vs. bold adventurous little boy having fun.

In this case the smart males all seek shelter and the silly female goose doesn’t. Girls just can’t win.

Isn’t that delightful? The pages are well-read, faded and stained, the cover is worn and falling apart and the binding disintegrating and barely holding everything together. It’s one of the things my mother felt was worth saving, and it is one of my treasures.

Alphabetical Argument

Daily Prompt:    Create a short story, piece of memoir, or epic poem that is 26 sentences long, in which the first sentence begins with “A” and each sentence thereafter begins with the next letter of the alphabet.

Alice, are you aware of the time?

Back off Buster, you are such a bloody butthead.

Could you please refrain from calling me names?

Dumb ass dork.

Enough, just get your own stupid ass in gear, we are going to be so freaking late.

F off.

Good God, you would aggravate a saint.

HA – well good thing there’s none of those around here to be aggravated.

Is that really what you’re wearing?

Just trying it on to see.

Know what would work better?

Let’s hear it, Einstein.

Making up your mind now so we at least have a faint chance in hell of getting there before the whole thing is over.

No shit, you nerd brained numb nuts.

Oh, for the love of all that’s holy, that one looks perfectly fine, let’s get out of here.

Piss off and get out of my way.

Quit being so damned querulous.

Really – such a big word – do I have time to look that up?

Shut up and put on your shoes.

This outfit makes my ass look huge.

Uh, no, not going there.

Very good choice.

What the hell, seriously, you’re going to wear that… that….?

X-rated floozy dress?

Yes, holy crap, Alice, it took you this long to end up looking like a 1920’s flapper?

Zip it Mr. Punctuality – I’m all set and you’re wasting time – let’s get this show on the road!