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Many years ago, I volunteered at the local high school to help with some kids who were reading well below grade level. One young man, I learned, raised a crop of tobacco every year along with general work on the family farm.
Hoping to engage his interest, I bought magazines about faming and horses. We were struggling through one article when he came to the word harrow and was stumped..
"Come on," I encouraged him, "you know that word--you've probably used one to get the ground smooth for setting out baccer plants." And I drew a quick sketch of a harrow.
His face lit up. "You mean a ha'r? How come they to spell it like that?"
I had no answer.
