OUR YOUNG FOLKS.


THE TRUE BLUE CARD.

BY SARAH MAY.

"Why are you laughing so here all alone, Auntie?" said Ralph Hill, as
he came into a room where Inez Hill sat reading a letter and laughing
till the tears ran down her cheeks. "Do tell me, please. It must be
so funny--and what are all these blue cards?"

"One thing at a time, Ralph," said Aunt Inez. "I'll read you the
letter I was laughing at and then tell you about the blue cards, for
they go together. The letter is from a dear friend who is teaching
the colored children in the South. It tells of her first attempts
with them. I'll not read it all. Listen:"

_My Dear Old Friend:_ I must tell you to-day about my promising
pupil, Nan. _I_ am learning patience whether she learns anything or
not. One day I overheard Nan and Lila (the pretty mulatto girl I told
you about) talking together about like this:

"Nan," said Lila, "do you want to learn to read like white folks?"

"Course I do," laughed Nan. "Hi yi, ho yo, but how's I ever goin'
to?"

"Miss Kitty learn us," said Lila. "Heard her tell Miss Lizzy so. Me
and you are going to her room after sun-down, and she'll learn us a