Writing a Letter 128. ORAL LESSON 113 A number of the letters written in Lesson 126 are to be read aloud. Each pupil is to read his own letter. Read very distinctly, so that every one in the class can understand. Are there any mistakes in pronunciation or in the use of words? Which are the best letters? Why? For Lesson 129, bring an envelope and a stamp to the class. Be sure you know how to spell the name and address of the person to whom your letter is written. 129. WRITTEN LESSON On the envelope write the name and address correctly. Follow the models in Lessons 83 and 111. Now copy very carefully the letter that you wrote in Lesson 126. Make sure that all the mistakes are corrected. Write plainly and slowly. Sign your name. Read the let ter over. Is it a good one? Now fold the sheet neatly and put it in the addressed envelope. Mail the letter after school. 130. LANGUAGE LESSON TWO TROUBLESOME VERBS See, Saw, Seen Study carefully these sentences, and repeat them over and over until you are sure you can use correctly the words see, saw, seen. They are different forms of the verb see. See is the present tense; saw is the past tense; and seen is used in verb-groups with has, have, and had. I 1. I see the bird now. 2. He sees the nest. 3. I have seen him often. 4. I haven't seen him for several days. 5. I saw him first a week ago. 6. Has he seen us? 7. Yes, he saw us a moment ago. 8. Did you see him, too? 9. Now we have both seen him. Supply the proper form, see, sees, saw, seen, in the following sentences: 1. I 3. There, I an oriole yesterday. 2. Where did you — him? 4. I never him now. one before. 5. Oh, a scarlet them several times I have them many times. 6. Have you ever tense. Do, Does, Did, Done Do is plural; does is singular; both are in the present Did is both singular and plural and is in the past Done is used in verb-groups with has, have, or had: I have done it. He has done it. tense. 1. I do my lessons in the morning. 2. He does his at night. 3. She doesn't do hers at all. 4. Doesn't she like to study? 5. Her brothers do, but she doesn't. 6. I did my example. Have you done yours? 7. He has done all his examples. 8. I didn't go yesterday, did you? Read these sentences over and over until you are sure you can use the words correctly. Then make three sentences, using do, and three each for does, did, and done. After this, any errors in the use of the verbs see and do in the oral lessons should be corrected as soon as the speaker makes the mistake. Review the drill in the right way of saying things in Lesson 110. October's Bright Blue Weather 115 131. ORAL LESSON The poem on the next two pages is to be studied and memorized in preparation for the Oral Lesson. Read the poem carefully aloud. What is the first stanza about? the last stanza? What are the other stanzas about ? Have you seen bumblebees, golden-rod, gentians, grapes, chestnuts, woodbine, and apple trees? What do the words belated, thriftless, vagrant mean? Why are they applied to the bumblebee? Explain the first two lines of the third stanza. Why are chestnut burrs described as satin? Explain white-winged seeds, aftermaths, lovely wayside things, golden freighting. Helen Hunt Jackson was an American writer who spent most of her life in California. You should read her poem "September," and compare it with this one on October. Other poems on the months are "May," by Frank Dempster Sherman; "July," by Susan Hartley Sweet; "March," by William Wordsworth. Do you think that October is the best of the months? How do you like the drawing for the poem in this book? If you care to, you might make with your water colors an ornamental cover for a booklet in which you could copy the poem. This would make a nice Christmas gift for some one at home. OCTOBER'S BRIGHT BLUE WEATHER O suns and skies and clouds of June, Ye cannot rival for one hour When loud the bumblebee makes haste, And golden-rod is dying fast, And lanes with grapes are fragrant ; When gentians roll their fringes tight When on the ground red apples lie Are leaves of woodbine twining; When all the lovely wayside things When springs run low, and on the brooks, Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush When comrades seek sweet country haunts, And count like misers, hour by hour, O sun and skies and flowers of June, - HELEN HUNT JACKSON. |