Four Wishes

Konstantin Ushinsky (1824-1870) was an outstanding pedagogue whose teaching system was based on the idea that the child’s speech was the foundation of his or her spiritual development. He is considered to be the founder of scientific pedagogy in Russia. His works were extremely widely read. An estimated 10 million copies of his books, including 187 editions of The Native Word (a primer or reader for children), were published before the 1917 revolution. The story below, “Four Wishes,” is taken from one of his textbooks.

Митя накатался на саночках с ледяной горы и на коньках по замёрзшей реке; прибежал домой румяный, весёлый и говорит отцу: «Уж как весело зимою! Я бы хотел, чтобы всё зима была!»

«Запиши твоё желание в в мою карманную книжку», - сказал отец. Митя записал.