82 THE STORY-HOOK OF SCI FACE 



"It is true, I was entirely ignorant what paper 

 comes from. To-day I know that cotton is a ilock 

 found in the bolls of a shrub called the cotton plant : 

 I know that with this Hock they make thread; then, 

 after the thread, cloth; I know that when the cloth 

 gets old with use, it is reduced to pulp by machines, 

 and that this pulp, stretched in very thin layers and 

 pressed, finally becomes a sheet of paper. I know 

 these things well, and yet I should find it very hard 

 to write them." 



"You are mistaken, for all you need do is to put 

 in writing exactly what you have just told me/' 



"You write then just as you talk?' 7 asked the boy, 

 incredulously. 



"Yes, provided that speech is corrected, if neces- 

 sary, on reflection, since writing gives time for it, 

 whereas talking does not." 



"In that case, I should soon have my five lines 

 on paper. I should write: ' Cotton is a flock that 

 is found in the bolls of a shrub called the cotton 

 plant. With this flock they make thread; and with 

 this thread, cloth. When the cloth is worn out, ma- 

 chines tear it into little pieces, and mill-stones grind 

 it with water to make it into a pulp. This pulp is 

 stretched in thin layers which are pressed and dried. 

 Then it is paper.' There! Is that right, Uncle V 9 



"As well as one could wish from one of your age, ' ' 

 his uncle assured him. 



"But that could not be put into a book." 



"And why not? I promise you that shall be in 

 a book some day. It has been said to me that our 

 talks might be useful to many other little boys as 



