Tale Teller Kids™

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
by Selma Lagerlöf

Publication date 2009-01-19
Usage Public DomainCreative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics librivox, audiobooks, Swedish literature, Nobel Prize winning author, fiction, children, fantasy, folklore, legends
Librivox recording of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf.
Read by Lars Rolander.

Selma Lagerlöf was born in Vaermland, Sweden, in 1858 and enjoyed a long and very successful career as a writer, receiving the Nobel-Price in Literature in 1909. She died in Vaermland in 1940. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Orig. Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige) is a famous work of fiction by Selma Lagerlöf, published in two parts in 1906 and 1907. The background for publication was a commission from the National Teachers Association in 1902 to write a geography reader for the public schools. "She devoted three years to Nature study and to familiarizing herself with animal and bird life. She has sought out hitherto unpublished folklore and legends of the different provinces. These she has ingeniously woven into her story." (From translator Velma Swanston Howard's introduction.) (Summary by Lars Rolander and Wikipedia)
Reviewer: stbalbach - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - May 14, 2010
Subject: "A remarkable thing.."

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906-7) by Swedish Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf is one of the most popular children's books from Sweden (along with Pippi Longstocking). It has been translated into over 40 languages, plus films and animations. As a testament to its popularity, the Swedish 20 krona banknote has a picture of Lagerlöf on the front, and Nils on the back; and the Swedish national children's book award was named the Nils Holgersson Award, established in 1950.

Lagerlöf wrote the book at the request of the Swedish National Teacher's Society, as a school book; but rather than a dry geography text, she wrote an entertaining literary story, modeled after Rudyard Kipling's animal tales. It's been required reading in Swedish schools ever since, many children and adults read it for pleasure. A short literary history of the novel can be read at the Atlas of Sweden.

Nils is a 14-year old boy who is lazy and disobedient. When his parents leave him home alone, an elf chastises him for his misbehaviour by turning him into a tiny vulnerable imp. The smaller Nils has one new power, he can understand the language of the animals. Befriended by a flock of wild geese, he flys northward over Sweden into Lapland and back again in a series of adventures. From the air they can see a large part of Sweden and thus Lagerlöf is able to include a lot of historical and geographical material into the story. Each chapter is a mini story, often a retelling of a fairy tale or myth with Nils and his animals as the protagonists. The stories weave with characters re-appearing in later episodes. Nils learns about compassion, justice and respect of nature and returns home a better person. It is ultimately an optimistic book and beloved by many. It's a long book and even though the English translation has already been slightly abridged it could be abridged further. But it leaves a strong impression and has an epic quality, it is easy to see why it is so popular.

section one of the wonderful adventures of nils

this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org

reading by lars rolander

the wonderful adventures of nils by selma lagalev translated from the swedish by velma swanson howard the boy the elf sunday march 20th once there was a boy he was let us say something like 14 years old long and loose jointed and tower-headed he wasn't good for much that boy his chief delight was to eat and sleep and after that he liked best to make mischief it...

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
by Selma Lagerlöf

Publication date 2009-01-19
Usage Public DomainCreative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics librivox, audiobooks, Swedish literature, Nobel Prize winning author, fiction, children, fantasy, folklore, legends
Librivox recording of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf.
Read by Lars Rolander.

Selma Lagerlöf was born in Vaermland, Sweden, in 1858 and enjoyed a long and very successful career as a writer, receiving the Nobel-Price in Literature in 1909. She died in Vaermland in 1940. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Orig. Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige) is a famous work of fiction by Selma Lagerlöf, published in two parts in 1906 and 1907. The background for publication was a commission from the National Teachers Association in 1902 to write a geography reader for the public schools. "She devoted three years to Nature study and to familiarizing herself with animal and bird life. She has sought out hitherto unpublished folklore and legends of the different provinces. These she has ingeniously woven into her story." (From translator Velma Swanston Howard's introduction.) (Summary by Lars Rolander and Wikipedia)
Reviewer: stbalbach - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - May 14, 2010
Subject: "A remarkable thing.."

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906-7) by Swedish Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf is one of the most popular children's books from Sweden (along with Pippi Longstocking). It has been translated into over 40 languages, plus films and animations. As a testament to its popularity, the Swedish 20 krona banknote has a picture of Lagerlöf on the front, and Nils on the back; and the Swedish national children's book award was named the Nils Holgersson Award, established in 1950.

Lagerlöf wrote the book at the request of the Swedish National Teacher's Society, as a school book; but rather than a dry geography text, she wrote an entertaining literary story, modeled after Rudyard Kipling's animal tales. It's been required reading in Swedish schools ever since, many children and adults read it for pleasure. A short literary history of the novel can be read at the Atlas of Sweden.

Nils is a 14-year old boy who is lazy and disobedient. When his parents leave him home alone, an elf chastises him for his misbehaviour by turning him into a tiny vulnerable imp. The smaller Nils has one new power, he can understand the language of the animals. Befriended by a flock of wild geese, he flys northward over Sweden into Lapland and back again in a series of adventures. From the air they can see a large part of Sweden and thus Lagerlöf is able to include a lot of historical and geographical material into the story. Each chapter is a mini story, often a retelling of a fairy tale or myth with Nils and his animals as the protagonists. The stories weave with characters re-appearing in later episodes. Nils learns about compassion, justice and respect of nature and returns home a better person. It is ultimately an optimistic book and beloved by many. It's a long book and even though the English translation has already been slightly abridged it could be abridged further. But it leaves a strong impression and has an epic quality, it is easy to see why it is so popular.

section one of the wonderful adventures of nils

this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org

reading by lars rolander

the wonderful adventures of nils by selma lagalev translated from the swedish by velma swanson howard the boy the elf sunday march 20th once there was a boy he was let us say something like 14 years old long and loose jointed and tower-headed he wasn't good for much that boy his chief delight was to eat and sleep and after that he liked best to make mischief it...

Grammar-Land by M.L. Nesbitt Little Article Rules of English Language Made Fun free Audiobook.

chapter 2 of grammar land by m l nesbit this librivox recording is in the public domain

little article

when judge grammer next took his seat in court a number of papers covered with words were handed up to him by sergeant parsing they are the lists of names my lord he said which you asked the people of schoolroom shire to write for you very good said the judge i will read some of the words aloud and if anyone thinks that they are not nouns let him come forward and say so and he began to read

the garden the house the sky a book a bird a fly when suddenly he was interrupted by a sound of bitter sobbing and crying what is the matter he asked who dares to interrupt the court it is this tiresome little article your lordship said sergeant parsing pushing forward a ragged little fellow who was rubbing both fists into his eyes and crying bitterly he says he is being cheated my lord that he has only two words of his own in all grammar land and that they are being used on these lists as if they belonged to mr noun bring him up before me said the judge what is your name sir my name is article or littlejoint replied the little fellow i have only two words in all grammar land a and the i lend them to mr noun whenever he asks for them fairly but your lordship it is very hard and here he began to cry again that they should be read as your lordship was reading them just now as if they belonged to mr noun when he is so rich and i am so very very poor is it true brother parsing asked the judge that little article is always ready to wait upon mr noun quite true my lord answered sergeant parsing indeed i have often been able to discover mr noun by catching sight of little article running before him for whenever you see an a or a the you may be sure that mr noun will have a word of his own in somewhere near

the chief use of little article is to point out that a noun is coming for you may be sure that if you can put an a or a the before a word that word is a noun such as a bird the sky

and do you use him as much before your pet proper nouns sir asked judge grammer of mr noun know your lordship replied mr noun that i do not indeed i cannot see that little article is of much use to me at any time but he has an old habit of coming with me wherever i go and when i have no one else i do not mind having him

well said judge grammer if you do have him take care that you use him well and pray brother parsing tell the schoolroom shire children to give him a separate mark for himself and not to put his words with mr nouns certainly my lord said sergeant parsing but i have one question to ask first this little article said that he had only two words in all grammar land a and the i wish to ask him what he says to an as you say an egg an apple surely anne belongs to him also

article was just beginning to answer when he suddenly stopped turned pale trembled and looked as if he would have tumbled to pieces in terror for he saw dr syntax rise dr syntax stood upright looking very tall and thin and black he spoke in very stern voice but all he said was an is only used before a vowel or an h mute then he sat down again ah said sergeant parsing drawing a long breath thank you now a little article say what you have to say i have only to say remarked article recovering his courage that a and an are really one and the same word a is only an with his coat off i like to use it best as a without its coat but before a vowel or an h mute i am obliged and here article gave a frightened look at dr syntax i am obliged to keep its coat on and call it an

and do you know what you mean by a vowel or an h mute asked judge grammar oh yes my lord there are five vowels a e i o u answered article and what is an h mute asked the judge an h that is not sounded as in an hour an honor answered...

Grammar-Land by M.L. Nesbitt Little Article Rules of English Language Made Fun free Audiobook.

chapter 2 of grammar land by m l nesbit this librivox recording is in the public domain

little article

when judge grammer next took his seat in court a number of papers covered with words were handed up to him by sergeant parsing they are the lists of names my lord he said which you asked the people of schoolroom shire to write for you very good said the judge i will read some of the words aloud and if anyone thinks that they are not nouns let him come forward and say so and he began to read

the garden the house the sky a book a bird a fly when suddenly he was interrupted by a sound of bitter sobbing and crying what is the matter he asked who dares to interrupt the court it is this tiresome little article your lordship said sergeant parsing pushing forward a ragged little fellow who was rubbing both fists into his eyes and crying bitterly he says he is being cheated my lord that he has only two words of his own in all grammar land and that they are being used on these lists as if they belonged to mr noun bring him up before me said the judge what is your name sir my name is article or littlejoint replied the little fellow i have only two words in all grammar land a and the i lend them to mr noun whenever he asks for them fairly but your lordship it is very hard and here he began to cry again that they should be read as your lordship was reading them just now as if they belonged to mr noun when he is so rich and i am so very very poor is it true brother parsing asked the judge that little article is always ready to wait upon mr noun quite true my lord answered sergeant parsing indeed i have often been able to discover mr noun by catching sight of little article running before him for whenever you see an a or a the you may be sure that mr noun will have a word of his own in somewhere near

the chief use of little article is to point out that a noun is coming for you may be sure that if you can put an a or a the before a word that word is a noun such as a bird the sky

and do you use him as much before your pet proper nouns sir asked judge grammer of mr noun know your lordship replied mr noun that i do not indeed i cannot see that little article is of much use to me at any time but he has an old habit of coming with me wherever i go and when i have no one else i do not mind having him

well said judge grammer if you do have him take care that you use him well and pray brother parsing tell the schoolroom shire children to give him a separate mark for himself and not to put his words with mr nouns certainly my lord said sergeant parsing but i have one question to ask first this little article said that he had only two words in all grammar land a and the i wish to ask him what he says to an as you say an egg an apple surely anne belongs to him also

article was just beginning to answer when he suddenly stopped turned pale trembled and looked as if he would have tumbled to pieces in terror for he saw dr syntax rise dr syntax stood upright looking very tall and thin and black he spoke in very stern voice but all he said was an is only used before a vowel or an h mute then he sat down again ah said sergeant parsing drawing a long breath thank you now a little article say what you have to say i have only to say remarked article recovering his courage that a and an are really one and the same word a is only an with his coat off i like to use it best as a without its coat but before a vowel or an h mute i am obliged and here article gave a frightened look at dr syntax i am obliged to keep its coat on and call it an

and do you know what you mean by a vowel or an h mute asked judge grammar oh yes my lord there are five vowels a e i o u answered article and what is an h mute asked the judge an h that is not sounded as in an hour an honor answered...

Grammar-Land
by M.L. Nesbitt

Publication date 2010-11-10
Usage CC0 1.0 UniversalCreative Commons Licensezero
Topics librivox, audiobooks, children, grammar, instruction, fiction
LibriVox recording of Grammar-Land, by M.L. Nesbitt. Read by Kara Shallenberg. In this charming 1877 book of grammar instruction for children, we are introduced to the nine parts of speech and learn about the rules that govern them in Grammar-Land. Judge Grammar is far mightier than any Fairy Queen, for he rules over real kings and queens down here in Matter-of-fact-land. Our kings and queens have all to obey Judge Grammar’s laws, or else they would talk what is called bad grammar; and then, even their own subjects would laugh at them, and would say: “Poor things! They are funny fellows, these nine Parts-of-Speech. You will find out by-and-by which you like best amongst them all. There is rich Mr. Noun, and his useful friend Pronoun; little ragged Article, and talkative Adjective; busy Dr. Verb, and Adverb; perky Preposition, convenient Conjunction, and that tiresome Interjection, the oddest of them all.
chapter 1 of grammar land by m l nesbit this librivox recording is in the public domain mr noun the first part of speech that was called was mr noun he is a stout big fellow very well dressed for he does not mind showing that he is very rich

as mr noun came forward sergeant parsing rose put his pen behind his ear arranged his papers on the table before him and looking at mr noun through his eyeglass asked what is your name

name answered mr noun yes your name repeated sergeant parsing

name again answered mr noun do not trifle sir said the judge sternly what is your name answer at once and truly i have answered truly replied mr noun my name is name for noun means name the name of everything belongs to me so i am called mr name or mr noun which means the same thing and all my words are called nouns

the name of everything belongs to you asked sergeant parsing in surprise yes answered mr noun the name of everything what do you mean to say that the name of everything i can see around me now is one of your words and is called a noun i do indeed said mr noun the name of everything you can see or touch or taste or smell or hear belongs to me

what said sergeant parsing is this desk yours then and the ink and the pen and the window the words that name them are all mine said mr noun of course i have nothing to do with the things no gentleman in grammar land has anything to do with things only with words and i assure you you cannot name anything that you can see or touch or taste or smell or hear without using one of my words desk pen ink window water wine fire smoke light lightning thunder a taste a smell a noise all these words belong to me and are called nouns i see said sergeant parsing you can hear thunder and smell smoke and taste wine and i suppose dinner and tea are yours also certainly the words breakfast dinner and tea are mine replied mr noun the things are what the people live upon in skull rumshire but they could not name what they eat without using my words the servant would have to make signs to let people know that dinner was ready she could not say so unless i allowed her to use my noun dinner

well said sergeant parsing if you have the name of everything we can see touch taste smell or hear all i can say is i hope you are satisfied and do not claim any more words besides indeed replied mr noun drawing himself proudly up i have not mentioned nearly all my words i told you at first that i have the name of everything and there are plenty of things that you know about although you cannot see or touch or taste or smell or hear them for instance love or anger or happiness you can feel them in your heart and know they are there although you cannot touch them with your fingers or taste them with your tongue or find them out by any of your five...

Grammar-Land
by M.L. Nesbitt

Publication date 2010-11-10
Usage CC0 1.0 UniversalCreative Commons Licensezero
Topics librivox, audiobooks, children, grammar, instruction, fiction
LibriVox recording of Grammar-Land, by M.L. Nesbitt. Read by Kara Shallenberg. In this charming 1877 book of grammar instruction for children, we are introduced to the nine parts of speech and learn about the rules that govern them in Grammar-Land. Judge Grammar is far mightier than any Fairy Queen, for he rules over real kings and queens down here in Matter-of-fact-land. Our kings and queens have all to obey Judge Grammar’s laws, or else they would talk what is called bad grammar; and then, even their own subjects would laugh at them, and would say: “Poor things! They are funny fellows, these nine Parts-of-Speech. You will find out by-and-by which you like best amongst them all. There is rich Mr. Noun, and his useful friend Pronoun; little ragged Article, and talkative Adjective; busy Dr. Verb, and Adverb; perky Preposition, convenient Conjunction, and that tiresome Interjection, the oddest of them all.
chapter 1 of grammar land by m l nesbit this librivox recording is in the public domain mr noun the first part of speech that was called was mr noun he is a stout big fellow very well dressed for he does not mind showing that he is very rich

as mr noun came forward sergeant parsing rose put his pen behind his ear arranged his papers on the table before him and looking at mr noun through his eyeglass asked what is your name

name answered mr noun yes your name repeated sergeant parsing

name again answered mr noun do not trifle sir said the judge sternly what is your name answer at once and truly i have answered truly replied mr noun my name is name for noun means name the name of everything belongs to me so i am called mr name or mr noun which means the same thing and all my words are called nouns

the name of everything belongs to you asked sergeant parsing in surprise yes answered mr noun the name of everything what do you mean to say that the name of everything i can see around me now is one of your words and is called a noun i do indeed said mr noun the name of everything you can see or touch or taste or smell or hear belongs to me

what said sergeant parsing is this desk yours then and the ink and the pen and the window the words that name them are all mine said mr noun of course i have nothing to do with the things no gentleman in grammar land has anything to do with things only with words and i assure you you cannot name anything that you can see or touch or taste or smell or hear without using one of my words desk pen ink window water wine fire smoke light lightning thunder a taste a smell a noise all these words belong to me and are called nouns i see said sergeant parsing you can hear thunder and smell smoke and taste wine and i suppose dinner and tea are yours also certainly the words breakfast dinner and tea are mine replied mr noun the things are what the people live upon in skull rumshire but they could not name what they eat without using my words the servant would have to make signs to let people know that dinner was ready she could not say so unless i allowed her to use my noun dinner

well said sergeant parsing if you have the name of everything we can see touch taste smell or hear all i can say is i hope you are satisfied and do not claim any more words besides indeed replied mr noun drawing himself proudly up i have not mentioned nearly all my words i told you at first that i have the name of everything and there are plenty of things that you know about although you cannot see or touch or taste or smell or hear them for instance love or anger or happiness you can feel them in your heart and know they are there although you cannot touch them with your fingers or taste them with your tongue or find them out by any of your five...

The Swan Slow Suzuki Cello Violin School All Instruments Play Along Lesson with Tale Teller Club.
The Tale Teller Club Orchestra is a digital android orchestra created by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA.
The orchestra is focused on children and good mental health and wellbeing.
The robots are called MoMo and the Space Flies, Vapor Punk, Cuddles and Bangcrashwallop.
The TTCO upload new tracks each day for students to listen to and practice with and form part of an ABRSM and Suzuki method program.

The Swan Slow Suzuki Cello Violin School All Instruments Play Along Lesson with Tale Teller Club.
The Tale Teller Club Orchestra is a digital android orchestra created by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA.
The orchestra is focused on children and good mental health and wellbeing.
The robots are called MoMo and the Space Flies, Vapor Punk, Cuddles and Bangcrashwallop.
The TTCO upload new tracks each day for students to listen to and practice with and form part of an ABRSM and Suzuki method program.

The Wishing Well
by Mildred A. Wirt Benson

Publication date 2016-04-03
Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0Creative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics librivox, audiobooks, Mystery, penny parker, mildred a. wirt, teen sleuth, girl reporter, female detective, cozy mystery, wirt mildred a, wirt-benson, nancy drew type sleuth, young adult mystery, childrens mystery, detective fiction for young adults, mystery series
LibriVox recording of The Wishing Well by Mildred A. Wirt Benson.
Read in English by Cheryl Adam
PENNY PARKER is a teen-aged sleuth and amateur reporter with an uncanny knack for uncovering and solving unusual, sometimes bizarre mysteries. The only daughter of widower Anthony Parker, publisher of the "Riverview Star," Penny has been raised to be self-sufficient, outspoken, innovative, and extraordinarily tenacious. Her cheerful, chatty manner belies a shrewd and keenly observant mind. Penny was the creation of Mildred A. Wirt, who was also the author of the original Nancy Drew series (under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene). Wirt became frustrated when she was pushed to "tone down" Nancy Drew and make her less independent and daring. With Penny Parker, Wirt had a freer hand and received full credit. Wirt once said, " 'I always thought Penny Parker was a better Nancy Drew than Nancy is." In THE WISHING WELL, the once-grand, now abandoned Marborough Estate and its legendary stone wishing well have become the center of odd happenings. The reclusive owner unexpectedly returns, only to lock herself secretively away in the mansion. Soon after, an ancient stone is unearthed on the estate, upon which is carved a 400-year-old message. Or is it a hoax? Who are the two strangers who repeatedly visit the wishing well in the dead of night? Penny boldly investigates, certain that danger threatens her new friend Rhoda, a gifted, but poverty-stricken artist. - Summary by Cheryl Adam.
the wishing well by mildred a wort benson this is a livervox recording all liverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit livrivox.org reading by cheryl adam skowhegan maine 2016 the wishing well chapter one an old house at her desk in the assembly room of riverview high school penny parker sat poised for instant flight her books had been stacked away and she awaited only the closing bell to liberate her from a day of study now don't forget she whispered to her chum louise sedell who occupied the desk directly behind her we start for the old marlboro place right away the dismissal bell tapped penny bolted down the aisle and was one of the first to reach the door however hearing her name called she was forced to pause penelope will you wait a moment please requested the teacher in charge of assembly yes miss nelson penny dutifully responded but she shot her chum a glance of black despair what have you done now louise demanded in an accusing whisper not a thing muttered penny well about 10 minutes ago i clipped fred green with a paper ball but i don't think she saw me get out of it as fast as you can louise urged unless we start for the marlboro place within half an hour we'll have to postpone the trip while the other girls filed slowly from the room penny slumped back into her seat she was a tall slim girl with mischievous blue eyes that hinted of an active mind golden hair was accented by a brown sweater caught at the throat with a conspicuous ornament a weird-looking animal made of leather penelope i don't suppose you know why i asked you to remain observed the teacher slowly coming down the aisle why no miss nelson penny was far too wise to make any damaging admissions i want to talk to you about rhoda wygand about rhoda penny echoed genuinely surprised the girl was a new student at riverview somewhat older than the members of her class and lived in a trailer camp at the outskirts of the city miss nelson seated herself at a desk opposite penny thus indicating that she...

The Wishing Well
by Mildred A. Wirt Benson

Publication date 2016-04-03
Usage Public Domain Mark 1.0Creative Commons Licensepublicdomain
Topics librivox, audiobooks, Mystery, penny parker, mildred a. wirt, teen sleuth, girl reporter, female detective, cozy mystery, wirt mildred a, wirt-benson, nancy drew type sleuth, young adult mystery, childrens mystery, detective fiction for young adults, mystery series
LibriVox recording of The Wishing Well by Mildred A. Wirt Benson.
Read in English by Cheryl Adam
PENNY PARKER is a teen-aged sleuth and amateur reporter with an uncanny knack for uncovering and solving unusual, sometimes bizarre mysteries. The only daughter of widower Anthony Parker, publisher of the "Riverview Star," Penny has been raised to be self-sufficient, outspoken, innovative, and extraordinarily tenacious. Her cheerful, chatty manner belies a shrewd and keenly observant mind. Penny was the creation of Mildred A. Wirt, who was also the author of the original Nancy Drew series (under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene). Wirt became frustrated when she was pushed to "tone down" Nancy Drew and make her less independent and daring. With Penny Parker, Wirt had a freer hand and received full credit. Wirt once said, " 'I always thought Penny Parker was a better Nancy Drew than Nancy is." In THE WISHING WELL, the once-grand, now abandoned Marborough Estate and its legendary stone wishing well have become the center of odd happenings. The reclusive owner unexpectedly returns, only to lock herself secretively away in the mansion. Soon after, an ancient stone is unearthed on the estate, upon which is carved a 400-year-old message. Or is it a hoax? Who are the two strangers who repeatedly visit the wishing well in the dead of night? Penny boldly investigates, certain that danger threatens her new friend Rhoda, a gifted, but poverty-stricken artist. - Summary by Cheryl Adam.
the wishing well by mildred a wort benson this is a livervox recording all liverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit livrivox.org reading by cheryl adam skowhegan maine 2016 the wishing well chapter one an old house at her desk in the assembly room of riverview high school penny parker sat poised for instant flight her books had been stacked away and she awaited only the closing bell to liberate her from a day of study now don't forget she whispered to her chum louise sedell who occupied the desk directly behind her we start for the old marlboro place right away the dismissal bell tapped penny bolted down the aisle and was one of the first to reach the door however hearing her name called she was forced to pause penelope will you wait a moment please requested the teacher in charge of assembly yes miss nelson penny dutifully responded but she shot her chum a glance of black despair what have you done now louise demanded in an accusing whisper not a thing muttered penny well about 10 minutes ago i clipped fred green with a paper ball but i don't think she saw me get out of it as fast as you can louise urged unless we start for the marlboro place within half an hour we'll have to postpone the trip while the other girls filed slowly from the room penny slumped back into her seat she was a tall slim girl with mischievous blue eyes that hinted of an active mind golden hair was accented by a brown sweater caught at the throat with a conspicuous ornament a weird-looking animal made of leather penelope i don't suppose you know why i asked you to remain observed the teacher slowly coming down the aisle why no miss nelson penny was far too wise to make any damaging admissions i want to talk to you about rhoda wygand about rhoda penny echoed genuinely surprised the girl was a new student at riverview somewhat older than the members of her class and lived in a trailer camp at the outskirts of the city miss nelson seated herself at a desk opposite penny thus indicating that she...