THE CALL OF SPRING 239 Here is a poem that tells about a little plant that is asleep in a seed. THE LITTLE PLANT In the heart of a seed, A dear little plant Lay fast asleep. "Wake!" said the sunshine, Of the raindrops bright. The little plant heard, And it rose to see What the wonderful Outside world might be. Kate L. Brown. Do you like the poem? Perhaps all the pupils in the class will like to learn it. Watch Your Tongue and Your Pen Read each sentence until it is easy for you. The plant lies fast asleep. It lay fast asleep in the winter. It will creep to the light. It crept to the light last year. The little plant heard. A plant will always hear. Fill each blank with a word from the list below. Make sentences using correctly each of the words in the list. Can you make a sentence that contains two of the words used correctly? LESSON 41 Learning to Use Run, Ran "It is so cold that I ran nearly all the way home," said George. "I always run when it is cold. I have run all the way home once or twice." Read the little story aloud until you feel that you know how to use run and ran. Give several short easy sentences to show that you know how to use the words. A Catch Game NOTE TO TEACHER. The game should be announced at the preceding recitation. Before the recitation, at some time out of school each pupil may run a short distance. At the recitation the teacher will give each pupil a chance to ask RUN, RAN - A GAME 241 another pupil two questions. The other pupil will answer. This is the way the game goes: First pupil: George, did you run home? George: or, No, I ran to the gate. Have you ever run there before? No, I have never run there before. If a pupil forgets and uses the wrong word, he is caught. Keep watch and try to catch some one. Fill These Blanks Correctly Fill each blank with run or ran. Last evening I often to the store. I like to there evenings. I last evening, but I have there? Do you like to brother has there in five minutes there in four. Have you ever when it is cold? to the store with me sometimes. My LESSON 42 A KIND ACT As I was coming through the park one day, I saw a large dog standing near a pump, looking longingly at it. A little girl with some books under her arm stopped near the dog and pumped him a drink of cool water. When the dog had enough, he licked her hand, and, looking up into her face, he seemed to try his best to thank her. After patting his head for a moment, she went on her way. Selected. Do you think the dog was really trying to thank the little girl? Have you ever thought that an animal was trying to thank you for a kind act that you did for it, or have you ever had an animal try to help you? If you have, tell about the incident. Your teacher will read to you a true story of a dog that seemed to know what he was doing. (The story is in the manual.) If you have ever known of an instance of an animal that seemed to know what it was doing, tell the class about it. More Work for the Postman Write a letter to your club friend and tell how the little girl was saved by a dog. Begin your letter: My dear Friend, Perhaps your teacher will ask some of the pupils in the class to copy their letters on the blackboard. The other members of the class may suggest ways in which they can be improved. LESSON 43 What Did She Mean? "O mama, Mary ni are going for a long walk Saturday," cried Lucy. SPEAKING DISTINCTLY 243 What did Lucy mean when she said Mary ni? How should she have said it? "We had a visitor in school to-day," said Lucy. He came into our room jes before noon." What did Lucy mean? What does jes mean? How should she have said it? "Mother, may I go with Mary to pick berries Saturday?” asked Lucy. "We want to gwup on Black mou-n. It is only a short walk." What does gwup mean? What is Black mou-n? "O Lucy, I took your tennis balls this morning. Frank came over to play with me," said Lucy's brother one evening. "That sall right. Youm take um any time you wanter," replied Lucy. What did Lucy mean when she said That sall right? What does Youm take um mean? What does wanter mean? What other words do you know that are not always pronounced correctly? Chasing Bad English Write on a piece of paper one word that you have heard some one pronounce incorrectly. Ferhaps your teacher will ask you to write on the blackboard the sentence in which the word was used. |