185. ORAL LESSON ROBERT OF LINCOLN Merrily swinging on brier and weed, Robert of Lincoln iş telling his name: Spink, spank, spink; Snug and safe is that nest of ours, Robert of Lincoln is gayly dressed, Wearing a bright black wedding-coat; White are his shoulders and white his crest. Spink, spank, spink; Look, what a nice new coat is mine, Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife, Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life, Broods in the grass while her husband sings: "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Brood, kind creature; you need not fear Thieves and robbers while I am here. Robert of Lincoln Modest and shy as a nun is she; One weak chirp is her only note. Braggart and prince of braggarts is he, Pouring boasts from his little throat: "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Never was I afraid of man; Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can! Six white eggs on a bed of hay, There as the mother sits all day, Robert is singing with all his might: "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Nice good wife, that never goes out, Soon as the little ones chip the shell, Spink, spank, spink; This new life is likely to be Hard for a gay young fellow like me. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Sober with work, and silent with care; Off is his holiday garment laid, Half forgotten that merry air: 167 "Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Nobody knows but my mate and I Summer wanes; the children are grown; Spink, spank, spink; When you can pipe that merry old strain, Chee, chee, chee." WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. . This poem is to be read aloud several times, with especial attention to distinct enunciation and expression. The following words are to be defined: mead, flecked, wane, humdrum, crone. What is each stanza about? Give in your own words a short history of the bobolink's life. Make oral paragraphs on the following topics: A Description of Robert of Lincoln, A Description of his Wife, The Bobolinks' Nest. The poem may be studied in connection with some of the following poems about birds: "The Bluebird," Emily Huntington Miller. "The Green Linnet," William Wordsworth. Sentence Building William Cullen Bryant, one of the most distinguished American poets, was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, 1794, and died in New York City, 1878. He wrote "Thanatopsis," one of his best poems, when he was eighteen, and he continued to write poetry throughout his life. For many years he was editor of the New York Evening Post. You should know his poems, "Song of Marion's Men," "The Planting of the Apple Tree," and "The Gladness of Nature." 186. WRITTEN LESSON SENTENCE BUILDING 169 The following words are to be used as subjects of sentences. Include in each sentence, besides its simple subject, an adjective and an adverb. Papers are to be exchanged and corrected. If a sentence is correct, mark it C; if incorrect, mark it X. 187. LANGUAGE LESSON NUMBER: Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs We have seen that nouns may be singular or plural. A noun that names one thing is in the singular number. A noun that names more than one thing is in the plural number. Here are the rules that we have learned for changing singular nouns to plural. 1. Most nouns add -s. 2. Nine nouns do not add -s. 3. Nouns ending in -s, -x, -2, -sh, and soft -ch add -es. 4. About forty nouns ending in -o add -es. 5. All nouns ending in -y after a consonant change y to ies. 6. Fifteen nouns ending in -f or -fe change for fe to ves. Give several examples under each rule. What are the plurals of the nouns in Lesson 180? Which of these pronouns is singular? which plural? which may be either singular or plural ? Which of these verb-forms would you use with a singular pronoun as subject? Which would you use with a plural pronoun as subject? Make sentences, using singular or plural pronouns with these verbs. |