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What two little girls read

1929; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 7; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/01619562909534917

1532-7930

Mabel F. Altstetter,

Themes in Literature Analysis

Their first delight in books was that of physical possession. Ruth selected Wentworth's Plane and Solid Geometry. Elizabeth chose Genung's Practical Rhetoric. Perhaps John Watson can explain this choice; I cannot. They were permitted to handle our books from the very first. We argued that if they were to learn to handle books with care it could be done only by handling books. Naturally the volumes we prized most were placed upon the upper shelves. We hoped that wisdom would increase with stature. The girls justified our faith in them. Only two books were torn and these not seriously. Several books were written in. That was to be expected. The two books mentioned above were selected from others much more attractive from the adult point of view. Once these were selected, the girls forsook all others. The books were carried to bed and to the table. They must be in full view when their small owners were submerged in the tub. They were used as tea tables from which favorite stuffed animals shared bits of graham cracker. They were made into a bridge over which the Three Billy Goats Gruff tripped light away from the wicked old Troll. Or again they were propped against the back of a chair while little fingers drummed upon the make-believe piano. From them the girls sang, tunelessly it must be confessed, but with a right good will, Jesus Loves Me, Over There, or My Darling Clementine-all without turning a page. Then books came to mean stories. Peter Rabbit ran, on mischief bent, through Mr. McGregor's garden, only to be punished by his wise mother. Little Black Sambo lost his highly prized wardrobe, to recover it again by strategy and then dine on pancakes and tiger butter in the bosom of his family. The Little Small Red Hen clucked her way through the perils of an environment made up entirely of Wicked Foxes. I can still hear the sighs of relief each time I read: