A descendant of the prominent Elliot family of New England, the daughter of a highly respected minister, and a former educator in her own right, Nancy Edison now commenced teaching Tom, her last and favorite son, the three Rs" and the Bible. His, father, Samuel, encouraged him to read some of the great literary classics, providing him with a ten cents reward for each book he mastered. ... As a reward for his heroism, the grateful father taught Tom how to use Morse code and the telegraph. ... His father had lost his job, and the local bank was threatening to foreclose on the family homes...

• Word Count: 3349
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Undergraduate