us a little bit of how brave the children had been when they were
hungry, and how glad he was that they were now going to have the
American food, and then he thanked us all over again. So, then, one of
the American doctors said that when we came over here to France with
our men, our food, and our love, we weren't making gifts, we were just
trying to pay the debt that America had owed to France since Lafayette
and his men came across the sea to help us in our war. Then the
doctor told us how the Arabs believe that people who once eat even a
tiny piece of bread together will always be friends, so the little
children and their teachers, and the nice old Mayor, and all the
Americans from the Red Cross ate some of the American buns and--that
is the end of the story!
--"_National School Service._"
GENEVIEVE'S LETTER
Here is part of a letter written by a nine-year-old French girl to
girls of the William Penn High School, Philadelphia, who had
"adopted" her as their "war orphan". After you read it, tell what
kind of little girl you think she is.
Dear Sisters: I have just received your letter. I am much touched by
your kindness to me, and for your generous hearts. I am contented to
find among you so many devoted new sisters for the poor orphan of this
unfortunate war, which has killed all our fathers. Dear Sisters, I don't
want you to see a like war with you, for it is too frightful and too
sad. I shall not speak any more about it; that gives too much trouble.
You ask me of what I have the greatest need; indeed, that will be a
dress if that is possible for you; for mamma does not want us to abuse
your good hearts. The dress, I should like to see it dark blue, for up
to now I have always worn black and white. Mamma permits me now to
wear blue, and I think that will be becoming.
Mamma has made little economies of money. She is going to have my
photograph taken, and I am going to send them. I think that will give
you pleasure, and I will write to you often. I do not forget you in my
morning and evening prayers. Once again, thanks, all these sisters
whom I do not know. But if I have the good fortune to grow up, I will
see you all with pleasure.
TRAVEL
If you have a strong imagination and have read and have liked your
geography and, perhaps, some books of travel, you will enjoy this
poem. As you read see how many different places are hinted at.
Read the poem through; close your book, and make a list of all you
can remember.
I should like to rise and go
Where the golden apples grow;--
Where below another sky
Parrot islands anchored lie,
And, watched by cockatoos and goats,
Lonely Crusoes building boats;--
Where in sunshine reaching out
Eastern cities, miles about,
Are with mosque and minaret
Among sandy gardens set,
And the rich goods from near and far
Hang for sale in the bazaar;--
Where the Great Wall round China goes,
And on one side the desert blows,
And with bell and voice and drum,
Cities on the other hum;--
Where are forests, hot as fire,
Wide as England, tall as a spire,
Full of apes and cocoanuts
And the negro hunters' huts;--
Where the knotty crocodile
Lies and blinks in the Nile,
And the red flamingo flies
Hunting fish before his eyes;--
Where in jungles, near and far,
Man-devouring tigers are,
Lying close and giving ear
Lest the hunt be drawing near,
Or a comer-by be seen
Swinging in a palanquin;--
Where among the desert sands
Some deserted city stands,
All its children, sweep and prince,
Grown to manhood ages since,
Not a foot in street or house,
Not a stir of child or mouse,
And when kindly falls the night,
In all the town no spark of light.
There I'll come when I'm a man
With a camel caravan;
Light a fire in the gloom
Of some dusky dining room;
See the pictures on the walls,
Heroes, fights, and festivals;
And in a corner find the toys
Of the old Egyptian boys.
--_Robert Louis Stevenson._
HOW THE WISH CAME TRUE
Not every child who plans how some day he is going to travel has a
chance to carry out his plans. But Robert Louis Stevenson travelled
far enough to see nearly all the places he dreamed of. He did not
travel just for pleasure, however; his health was so poor that he
wandered all over the world to find a climate where he could live.
The place he found was an island in the Southern Pacific, one of a
group called Samoa, where he spent all the last years of his life.
Stevenson was a man who made friends wherever he went. In Samoa the
natives loved him dearly. Their name for him was Tusitala, "the
Teller of Tales," because he wrote such wonderful stories.
RULES FOR USING THE EYES
Read the following rules through once; then cover the page with a
sheet of paper, and answer the questions.
1. When reading, writing, or doing other close work, be sure to have
good, clear light, preferably over the left shoulder if writing, and
not directly in the eyes nor reflected sharply from the paper.
2. Do not hold your work less than 12 inches from your eyes.
3. Do not use the eyes too long continuously--rest them a few minutes
occasionally by closing them or by looking into the distance to relax
them. One should do this at least every hour, especially if reading
fine type or doing intense, delicate work.
4. Keep away from places where stone chips, sparks, or emery dust is
flying. If you have to work where such dangers exist, wear goggles.
5. If strong light bothers you, wear slightly brown non-magnifying
glasses outdoors, with a broad-brimmed hat.
6. Avoid the common towel and do not rub the eyes with dirty hands.
Contagious eye disease is spread in these two ways.
QUESTIONS
1. Give two rules about the right use of light for reading,
writing, etc.
2. How far from your eyes should you hold your book?
3. Give the rule for resting the eyes.
4. How can you avoid danger from sparks, emery dust and stone
chips?
5. What should you do if strong light bothers you?
6. Why should you not use a dirty towel or rub your eyes with
dirty hands?
ACTING FOR THE MOVIES
Would you like to go behind the screen and see a great film
produced--to see the hundreds of men and women and horses and
costumes and properties that are necessary to produce a thrilling
story? Would you like to take a part in the picture, and dress up
in one of the costumes, and ride before the clicking cameras?
See whether you can take one of these brief scenes and, by reading
carefully all that the paragraph tells you, picture it before the
class so vividly that the class will know which scene you are
reproducing. That is what the actor must do every time a film is
produced. You may take anything in the room that will help you in
making the picture true to the story. You must remember that your
success depends upon how well you can express your thought and
feeling through your face and hands and body.
1. He sat on the bank eagerly watching every little ripple on the
water and Jack sat beside him, not understanding the game at all nor
why his master should have become so lazy. Suddenly, Tom jumped up
and, pulling in the line with a jerk, danced wildly about, while Jack,
now as excited as his master, barked furiously at the tiny wiggles on
the end of the line.
2. Suddenly he drew in his horse and listened anxiously--was that the
far off rumble of guns? Could the battle have begun?
3. Lawrence counted the change in his hand carefully, wondering
whether the amount he held was just enough or just too little. Every
now and then he glanced up anxiously, just to make sure that the
price-tag in the window was still $4.50 and that the cost of the
football had not in some miraculous manner grown to $14.50.
4. The king's wise men and learned doctors brought down great books in
which were written all the laws of the kingdom. They traced through
long pages with trembling fingers and anxious, frowning eyes. At the
end of each page they would shake their heads and mutter among
themselves, and as they closed the last ponderous volume they
approached the king with many gestures of despair. "We cannot find an
answer written in all the Books of the Kingdom, your majesty."
5. I saw some one drawing slowly near along the road. He was plainly
blind, for he tapped before him with a stick, and wore a great green
shade over his eyes and nose; and he was hunched, as if with age or
weakness, and wore a large, old, tattered sea-cloak with a hood, that
made him appear positively deformed. I never saw a more dreadful
looking figure. He stopped a little from the inn, and raising his
voice in an odd sing-song, addressed the air in front of him.
6. Jerry knew that his life would hang in the balance for the next few
minutes, but he hoped that by hugging close to the shadows of the
wall, and by not making a sound, he could pass by the careless group
around the fire. He crouched down in despair when one of the men
turned and apparently looked accusingly at his particular shadow on
the wall. But the man made no sign and Jerry crept on.
7. One day on their daily rounds they found a disagreeable surprise
awaiting them at the lake. Their beaver traps were all sprung and were
all empty. There was a light snow on the ground and they stooped to
examine the signs left by the thief in his hurry. An unmistakable
trail led off down the river and they followed it eagerly until a
shift in the wind brought more snow and the tracks were covered.
CLEAR THINKING
The following problems are to be answered without the use of
figures. Read each problem carefully and decide whether your
answer should be _yes_ or _no_. Each question requires one or the
other of these words; no other answer will be counted correct. Put
the answer to the first question on the first line, and in the
margin of the paper, mark it number 1. Use a separate line for
each problem and be sure to number your answer to correspond. If
you are not sure of the answer, guess at it and pass on to the
next problem. When you have finished, sign your name and grade at
the bottom of the paper, and wait quietly for the others.
1. It took George thirty-one seconds to read these directions
carefully. John read them in twenty-seven seconds. Can George read
faster than John?
2. Mary was born in February, 1910. Her cousin, Marion, is four months
older. Was Marion born in 1910?
3. John went with his two brothers to the park. One brother spent
twenty-five cents, the other spent thirty cents. John spent more than
these two together. In all did they spend more than one dollar?
4. When flour sells at eight cents per pound, I can get a barrel for
twelve dollars. A barrel of flour weighs almost two hundred pounds.
Would I save more than a dollar by purchasing flour by the barrel?
5. My father bought a talking-machine for sixty-five dollars, and a
dozen records for twenty-five dollars more. Will a hundred dollar bill
pay for both?
6. The regulation boy-scout pace calls for a mile in twelve minutes.
Could a good scout cover four miles in an hour?
7. Coffee grows only in tropical countries. Do you think we import
much from Alaska?
THE LAND OF EQUAL CHANCE
This little play gives you a chance to pretend that you are a star
actor or actress; for the central character, Young America, is you.
In order to succeed in a land of equal chance, Young America will
need four things. Find what they are. Can you tell how each thing
will help him?
Time: January, 19--. Place: At the edge of the land. On either side of
the stage there are two small curtained windows. At the centre of the
stage, back, are two long steps leading to a dark, closed curtain.
Enter from one side Father Time, from the other Mother Space.
FATHER TIME.--Happy New Year, Mother Space! What do you carry so
carefully?
MOTHER SPACE.--Shall I let you see? (_Unrolls her large map._) See, a
land of rocks and rills, of woods and templed hills. Here are the
broad prairies, here the great mountains full of treasure, and down
here the sweet, warm southern fields.
F. T. (_Looks at the unrolled scroll._)--That seems to be a map of the
United States.
M. S.--Most people call it that. I call it the Land-of-Equal-Chance.
F. T.--An excellent name!
M. S.--By all the fields, mountains, cities and prairies, what sort of
child do you think should live here?
F. T.--Leave that to me. (_Calls._) Come, Young America. (_Calls again
and again. At last Young America dressed as a boy scout, pack on back,
enters cautiously._)
F. T.--Come, Young America, Mother Space gives you this chart to the
Land-of-Equal-Chance. Go, the land lies beyond. It is your domain.
YOUNG AMERICA (_bewildered_).--But what shall I do there? Must I go
alone?
F. T.--No, my child, you cannot go alone. Do you see these four
windows? Go, draw aside the curtains.
Y. A. (_Goes to the first window and draws aside the curtain. Above
the window is plainly printed "Action"._)--Here am I, Young America. I
must go on a journey. Will you go with me, Spirit of Action?
SPIRIT OF ACTION (_Appears suddenly at the window._)--Go? Yes. Wait a
moment. (_Bounds to the stage._) Where are you going?
Y. A. (_Points to the curtain at rear._)--There, Spirit of Action.
What will you do if you go with me?
SP. OF A. (_Laughs._)--I shall make your blood dance and your heart
beat high. I shall fill your hands with glorious work. Your muscles
shall be strong with the doing.
Y. A.--O, Spirit of Action, you make me want to start at once. I could
not do without you. But, wait. (_Goes to the second window, draws the
curtain back to see the word "Understanding"._) Come, friend
Understanding.
SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING.--Here am I, Young America.
Y. A.--I am going away, Understanding.
SP. OF U.--So! Why do you go?
Y. A.--I want to go. I do not know exactly why.
SP. OF U. (_Comes on the stage._)--Then you do need me, Young America.
I will make your eye clear, and your mind aware. If I go with you, you
must think. Will you?
Y. A.--Thinking is hard, but I promise if you show me how. Now, for my
next friend. (_Goes to the third window, draws back the curtain and
sees, "Self-Control"._) Ho, Self-Control, it is I, Young America!
Come, go with me!
SPIRIT OF SELF-CONTROL.--Not so fast! Steady, Young America. Go with
you?
Y. A.--Yes, on a journey.
SP. OF S-C.--If I go with you I must have a big promise.
Y. A.--What?
SP. OF S-C.--You must play the game of life with fair rules--the same
rules for all.
Y. A.--Yes.
SP. OF S-C.--And you must help make the rules.
Y. A.--Yes.
SP. OF S-C.--And the hardest of all, you must obey the rules yourself.
Y. A.--I'll try, Self-Control. (_Self-Control joins the others on the
stage. Y. A. draws aside the curtain from the fourth window, marked
"Sympathy"._)
Y. A.--Come, friend, Young America is going on a journey.
SPIRIT OF SYMPATHY (_Appears._)--A journey? Who goes with you?
Y. A.--Self-Control, Understanding, and Action.
SP. OF S.--You need more than they can give.
Y. A.--What more do I need?
SP. OF S.--Why, don't you see, you have no one to make you feel for
others in the game. You can't play or work alone. You must join hands
and pull together. (_Comes out from the window._) Take my hand.
Y. A. (_wonderingly_).--Your hand is soft and warm, Spirit of
Sympathy. I should like to have you go.
SP. OF A.--Hurry, come, we must be gone. Sit here, Young America, let
me put these sandals on your feet. There.
Y. A.--They fit so well, Spirit. And see, wings! Ah, sandals with wings!
SP. OF U.--Sometimes it will be dark. Keep this torch burning. (_She
lights the torch and hands it to the boy._)
Y. A.--How bright it makes the way.
SP. OF S-C.--There will be rugged heights to climb in that land, dark
abysses into which you might fall. Take this staff. My strength is in
it. If wild beasts attack you, defend yourself. Be steady, steady.
Y. A.--A staff! How strong it is!
SP. OF S. (_A long garland of flowers trails from her hands. She winds
them about Young America and the three other spirits. Then she takes
Young America's hand._)--Come, we go as one to the Land-of-Equal-Chance.
(_The group, bound by their flower chain, moves up the steps towards the
curtain._)
SP. OF A. (_Springs ahead but holds to the chain._)--Open, open! Young
America is here!
ALL.--Open, open for Young America!
(_Father Time and Mother Space, who have been standing aside, take
their places at the large curtain and after a pause slowly lift it,
revealing the figure of Liberty bathed in shining light. Young America
starts back._)
LIBERTY.--Come, Young America!
Y. A. (_Aside to companions._)--Dare I go?
ALL THE SPIRITS.--We will go with you.
LIBERTY.--Come, Young America!
(_Young America advances slowly towards the outstretched arms of
Liberty and kneels. The Spirits follow forming a group which says,
"Onward into the Land-of-Equal-Chance"._)
--"_National School Service._"
QUESTIONS
Each of Young America's companions gave him a present. What were
the presents? Was each a suitable gift to come from its giver? Of
what use will each gift be?
Do you think Young America would be likely to succeed with only
three of these companions? If so, which one do you think he can
spare?
[Illustration: "COME, YOUNG AMERICA!"]
THE BROKEN FLOWER-POT
Is this a real, live boy who tells this story? He did two things,
a bad one and a good one. You probably would not have done the bad
one. Try to think out for yourself, not to answer the question to
your teacher or class, whether or not you would have done the good
one.
I
My father was seated on the lawn before the house, his straw hat over
his eyes, and his book on his lap. Suddenly a beautiful delft
blue-and-white flower-pot, which had been set on the window-sill of an
upper story, fell to the ground with a crash, and the fragments flew
up round my father's feet. But my father continued to read.
"Dear, dear!" cried my mother, who was at work in the porch; "my poor
flower-pot, that I prized so much! I would rather the best tea-set
were broken! The poor geranium I reared myself, and the dear, dear
flower-pot which Mr. Caxton bought for me my last birthday! That
naughty child must have done this!"
I came out of the house as bold as brass, and said rapidly, "Yes,
mother, it was I who pushed out the flower-pot."
"Hush!" said my nurse, while gazing at my father, who had very slowly
taken off his hat, and was looking on with serious, wide-awake eyes.
"Hush! And if he did break it, ma'am, it was quite an accident. He was
standing so, and he never meant it. Did you? Speak!" this in a
whisper, "or father will be so very angry."
"Well," said mother, "I suppose it was an accident; take care in the
future, my child. You are sorry, I see, to have grieved me. There is a
kiss; don't fret."
"No, mother, you must not kiss me; I don't deserve it, I pushed out
the flower-pot on purpose."
"Ah! and why?" said my father, walking up.
"For fun!" said I, hanging my head; "just to see how you'd look,
father; and that's the truth of it."
My father threw his book fifty feet off, stooped down, and caught me
in his arms. "Boy," he said, "you have done wrong; you shall repair it
by remembering all your life that your father blessed God for giving
him a son who spoke truth in spite of fear."
II
Not long after, Mr. Squills gave me a beautiful large box of dominoes,
made of cut ivory. This domino box was my delight. I was never tired
of playing at dominoes with my old nurse, and I slept with the box
under my pillow.
"Ah!" said my father one day when he found me arranging the ivory pieces
in the parlor, "do you like that better than all your playthings?"
"Oh, yes, father!"
"You would be very sorry if mother were to throw that box out of the
window and break it, for fun." I looked pleadingly at my father, and
made no answer. "But perhaps you would be very glad," he went on, "if
suddenly one of those good fairies you read of could change the domino
box into a beautiful geranium in a lovely blue-and-white flower-pot.
Then you could have the pleasure of putting it on mother's window-sill."
"Indeed I would," said I, half crying.
"My dear boy, I believe you; but good _wishes_ do not mend bad
actions; good _actions_ mend bad actions." So saying he shut the door
and went out.
"My boy," said he the next day, "I am going to walk to town; will you
come? And, by the by, fetch your domino box; I should like to show it
to a person there."
"Father," said I by the way, "there are no fairies now how then can my
domino box be changed into a geranium in a blue-and-white flower-pot?"
"My dear," said my father, leaning his hand on my shoulder, "everybody
who is in earnest to be good, carries two fairies about with him--one
here," and he touched my forehead, "and one there," and he touched my
heart.
"I don't understand, father."
"I can wait until you do, my son."
My father stopped at a nursery-gardener's, and after looking over the
flowers, paused before a large geranium. "Ah, this is finer than that
which your mother was so fond of. What is the price of this, sir?"
"Only seven and six pence," said the gardener. My father buttoned up
his pocket.
"I can't afford it to-day," said he gently, and we walked out.
III
On entering the town we stopped again at a china warehouse. "Have you
a flower-pot like that I bought some months ago? Ah, here is one,
marked three and six pence. Yes, that is the price. Well, when
mother's birthday comes again, we must buy her another. That is some
months to wait. And we can wait, my boy. For truth, that blooms all
the year round, is better than a poor geranium; and a word that is
never broken is better than a piece of delft."
My head, which had been drooping before, rose again; but the rush of
joy at my heart almost stifled me. "I have called to pay your bill,"
said my father, entering a shop.
"And, by the by," he added, "my boy can show you a beautiful domino
box." I produced my treasure, and the shopman praised it highly. "It
is always well, my boy, to know what a thing is worth, in case one
wishes to part with it. If my son gets tired of his plaything, what
will you give him for it?"
[Illustration: MY FATHER STOPPED AT A NURSERY-GARDENER'S]
"Why, sir," said the shopman; "I think we could give eighteen
shillings for it."
"Eighteen shillings!" said my father; "you would give that? Well, my
boy, whenever you do grow tired of your box, you have my leave to sell
it."
My father paid his bill, and went out. I lingered behind a few
moments, and joined him at the end of the street.
"Father, father!" I cried, clapping my hands, "we can buy the
geranium; we can buy the flower-pot!" And I pulled a handful of silver
from my pocket.
"Did I not say right?" said my father. "You have found the two fairies!"
Ah, how proud, how overjoyed I was, when after placing vase and flower
on the window-sill, I plucked my mother by the gown, and made her
follow me to the spot.
"It is his doing and his money!" said my father; "good actions have
mended the bad."
--_From "The Caxtons", by Bulwer-Lytton._
1. What did the boy do when he "lingered behind a few moments"?
2. If you were to act out this story, you would have to imagine
yourself in several places. Make a list of them in the right order.
3. What do you think "seven-and-sixpence" means? How much money do
you think the boy had left when he had paid for the flower-pot?
4. What do you think the two fairies were?
5. This selection is divided into three parts, each headed with a
Roman numeral. Write a heading or topic for each part.
SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON
Here is the story of the greatest deed of the patron, or guardian,
saint of England. As you read the story, try to remember how the
young men of England, France, and America showed themselves worthy
followers of this brave, noble knight.
Long ago, when the knights lived in the land, there was one knight
whose name was Sir George. He was not only braver than all the rest,
but he was so noble, kind, and good that the people came to call him
Saint George.
No robbers ever dared to trouble the people who lived near his castle,
and all the wild animals were killed or driven away, so the little
children could play even in the woods without being afraid.
One day St. George rode throughout the country. Everywhere he saw the
men busy at their work in the fields, the women singing at work in
their homes, and the little children shouting at their play.
"These people are all safe and happy; they need me no more," said St.
George. "But somewhere perhaps there is trouble and fear. There may be
some place where little children cannot play in safety; some woman may
have been carried away from her home; perhaps there are even dragons
left to be slain. Tomorrow I shall ride away and never stop until I
find work which only a knight can do."
Early the next morning St. George put on his helmet and all his shining
armor, and fastened his sword at his side. Then he mounted his great
black horse and rode out from his castle gate. Down the steep, rough
road he went, sitting straight and tall, and looking brave and strong as
a knight should look. On through the little village at the foot of the
hill and out across the country he rode. Everywhere he saw rich fields
filled with waving grain; everywhere there was peace and plenty.