Welcome to Homeschool Story Time: Week 27.
Nelly wants to learn to dance.
Grandpa decides to teach her.
As it turns out, Nelly learns much more than dancing from Grandpa.
Read on to see what else Nelly learns.
Nellie’s First Lesson in Dancing
by Ida Fay
Grandpa Mason has not quite forgotten his dancing days. So one day, when little Nelly said, “I wish I knew how to dance like Emma Drake!” grandpa replied, “I’ll teach you, Nelly, if you will bring me my accordion.”
So Nelly brought the accordion; and grandpa seated himself in his old wooden armchair. First he taught her the steps, and then said, “Now, Nelly, you must try to move round just as you saw Emma do; and be sure and keep time to the music.”
Nelly made a curtsy, and began to dance; and, as grandpa looked on, his heart seemed to dance with her; for he felt young once more, and went back, in thought, to the times when he was about as old as she.
That was a long while ago—more than seventy years. He sighed as he thought of his little brothers and sisters, all now gone to the better world. But Nelly’s merry look soon drove away his sad mood.
“Well done, Nelly!” said he. “You will make a dancer; for you follow the music well, and step out lightly and easily. Now let me see you rise a little on your left foot, and whirl round once.”
Nelly did it, and grandpa said, “Bravely done, little girl! Here ends your first lesson in dancing. Tomorrow we will have another. Now get your new ‘Nursery,’ and let me hear one of the stories; for we must take care of the head, as well as the heels.”
Nelly laughed; but, when she began to read, the tune she had just heard came back to her, and she could hardly keep from dancing up and down.
“One thing at a time, darling,” said grandpa. “If we would do one thing well, we must not let our thoughts wander to something else. Tell me when you think you can give your thoughts to reading. I can wait.”
Nelly took a few more dancing steps, whirled around twice, made a curtsy, then came, and read so well, that grandpa said, “You deserve a good mark for reading, my dear. Now, whether you read, or whether you dance, mind this:—
Rule your thoughts, and give them all to it.”
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Many blessings,
