fect in music。 This required a long time。
Then in this same paragraph a reference was made； in it he was requested to 〃see Keys。〃 It was necessary； then； to turn to 〃Keys。〃 This was about the time the family were moving； which we have mentioned； when the difficult subject of keys came up； that suggested to him his own simple invention； and the hope of getting a patent for it。 This led him astray； as inventions before have done with master…minds； so that he was drawn aside from his regular study。
The family； however； were perfectly satisfied with the career Agamemnon had chosen。 It would help them all； in any path of life； if he should master the Encyclop？dia in a thorough way。
Mr。 Peterkin agreed it would in the end be not as expensive as a college course； even if Agamemnon should buy all the different Encyclop？dias that appeared。
There would be no 〃spreads〃 involved； no expense of receiving friends at entertainments in college； he could live at home； so that it would not be necessary to fit up another room； as at college。 At all the times of his leaving he had sold out favorably to other occupants。
Solomon John's destiny was more uncertain。 He was looking forward to being a doctor some time； but he had not decided whether to be allopathic or homeopathic； or whether he could not better invent his own pills。 And he could not understand how to obtain his doctor's degree。
For a few weeks he acted as clerk in a druggist's store。 But he could serve only in the toothbrush and soap department； because it was found he was not familiar enough with the Latin language to compound the drugs。 He agreed to spend his evenings in studying the Latin grammar； but his course was interrupted by his being dismissed for treating the little boys too frequently to soda。
The little boys were going through the schools regularly。 The family had been much exercised with regard to their education。 Elizabeth Eliza felt that everything should be expected from them； they ought to take advantage from the family mistakes。 Every new method that came up was tried upon the little boys。
They had been taught spelling by all the different systems； and were just able to read； when Mr。 Peterkin learned that it was now considered best that children should not be taught to read till they were ten years old。
Mrs。 Peterkin was in despair。 Perhaps； if their books were taken from them even then； they might forget what they had learned。 But no； the evil was done； the brain had received certain impressions that could not be blurred over。
This was long ago； however。 The little boys had since entered the public schools。 They went also to a gymnasium； and a whittling school； and joined a class in music； and another in dancing； they went to some afternoon lectures for children； when there was no other school； and belonged to a walking…club。 Still Mr。 Peterkin was dissatisfied by the slowness of their progress。 He visited the schools himself； and found that they did not lead their classes。 It seemed to him a great deal of time was spent in things that were not instructive； such as putting on and taking off their india…rubber boots。
Elizabeth Eliza proposed that they should be taken from school and taught by Agamemnon from the Encyclop？dia。 The rest of the family might help in the education at all hours of the day。 Solomon John could take up the Latin grammar； and she could give lessons in French。
The little boys were enchanted with the plan； only they did not want to have the study…hours all the time。
Mr。 Peterkin； however； had a magnificent idea； that they should make their life one grand Object Lesson。 They should begin at breakfast； and study everything put upon the table；…the material of which it was made； and where it came from。
In the study of the letter A； Agamemnon had embraced the study of music； and from one meal they might gain instruction enough for a day。
〃We shall have the assistance；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃of Agamemnon； with his Encyclop？dia。〃
Agamemnon modestly suggested that he had not yet got out of A； and in their first breakfast everything would therefore have to begin with A。
〃That would not be impossible；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin。 〃There is Amanda； who will wait on table； to start with…〃
〃We could have 'am…and…eggs；〃 suggested Solomon John Mrs。 Peterkin was distressed。 It was hard enough to think of anything for breakfast； and impossible； if it all had to begin with one letter。
Elizabeth Eliza thought it would not be necessary。 All they were to do was to ask questions； as in examination papers； and find their answers as they could。
They could still apply to the Encyclop？dia； even if it were not in Agamemnon's alphabetical course。
Mr。 Peterkin suggested a great variety。 One day they would study the botany of the breakfast…table； another day； its natural history。 The study of butter would include that of the cow。 Even that of the butter…dish would bring in geology。
The little boys were charmed at the idea of learning pottery from the cream…jug； and they were promised a potter's wheel directly。
〃You see； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin to his wife； 〃before many weeks； we shall be drinking our milk from jugs made by our children。〃
Elizabeth Eliza hoped for a thorough study。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃we might begin with botany。 That would be near to Agamemnon alphabetically。 We ought to find out the botany of butter。 On what does the cow feed？〃
The little boys were eager to go out and see。
〃If she eats clover；〃 said Mr。 Peterkin； 〃we shall expect the botany of clover。〃
The little boys insisted that they were to begin the next day； that very evening they should go out and study the cow。
Mrs。 Peterkin sighed； and decided she would order a simple breakfast。 The little boys took their note…books and pencils； and clambered upon the fence； where they seated themselves in a row。
For there were three little boys。 So it was now supposed。 They were always coming in or going out； and it had been difficult to count them； and nobody was very sure how many there were。
There they sat； however； on the fence； looking at the cow。 She looked at them with large eyes。
〃She won't eat；〃 they cried； 〃while we are looking at her！〃
So they turned about； and pretended to look into the street； and seated themselves that way； turning their heads back； from time to time； to see the cow。
〃Now she is nibbling a clover。〃
〃No； that is a bit of sorrel。〃
〃It's a whole handful of grass。〃
〃What kind of grass？〃 they exclaimed。
It was very hard； sitting with their backs to the cow； and pretending to the cow that they were looking into the street； and yet to be looking at the cow all the time； and finding out what she was eating； and the upper rail of the fence was narrow and a little sharp。 It was very high； too； for some additional rails had been put on to prevent the cow from jumping into the garden or street。
Suddenly； looking out into the hazy twilight； Elizabeth Eliza saw six legs and six india…rubber boots in the air； and the little boys disappeared！
〃They are tossed by the cow！ The little boys are tossed by the cow！〃
Mrs。 Peterkin rushed for the window； but fainted on the way。 Solomon John and Elizabeth Eliza were hurrying to the door； but stopped； not knowing what to do next。 Mrs。 Peterkin recovered herself with a supreme effort； and sent them out to the rescue。
But what could they do？ The fence had been made so high； to keep the cow out； that nobody could get in。 The boy that did the milking had gone off with the key of the outer gate； and perhaps with the key of the shed door。 Even if that were not locked； before Agamemnon could get round by the wood…shed and cow…shed； the little boys might be gored through and through！
Elizabeth Eliza ran to the neighbors； Solomon John to the druggist's for plasters； while Agamemnon made his way through the dining…room to the wood…shed and outer…shed door。 Mr。 Peterkin mounted the outside of the fence； while Mrs。
Peterkin begged him not to put himself in danger。 He climbed high enough to view the scene。 He held to the corner post and reported what he saw。
They were not gored。 The cow was at the other end of the lot。 One of the little boys were lying in a bunch of dark leaves。 He was moving。
The cow glared； but did not stir。 Another little boy was pulling his india…rubber boots out of the mud。 The cow still looked at him。
Another was feeling the top of his head。 The cow began to crop the grass； still looking at him。
Agamemnon had reached and opened the shed…door。 The little boys were next seen running toward it。
A crowd of neighbors； with pitchforks； had returned meanwhile with Elizabeth Eliza。 Solomon John had brought four druggists。 But； by the time they had reached the house； the three little boys were safe in the arms of their mother！
〃This is too dangerous a form of education；〃 she cried； 〃I had rather they went to school。〃
〃No！〃 they bravely cried。 They were still willing to try the other way。
THE EDUCATIONAL BREAKFAST。 MRS。 PETERKIN'S nerves were so shaken by the excitement of the fall of the three little boys into the enclosure whe