V. A SPRING MEMORY GEM 1. Read the following stanza : When April steps aside for May, Like diamonds all the raindrops glisten; To some new bird each day we listen. This is the poet's beautiful way of telling us that the warm sun shining through the raindrops of the April showers, makes them glisten like diamonds; that the showers and sunshine bring the violets and the birds back again. 2. Using the Dictionary Find the following words in the dictionary. Copy each, divide it into syllables, and place the accent where it belongs. 3. Words in which t is silent In the spring memory gem there are two words containing a silent t. These words are "glisten" and "listen." Do not pronounce the t in these words; pronounce them as though they were spelled glis'n and lis'n. Here are some other words in which the t is never to be sounded. Pronounce them correctly. VI. COPYING A MEMORY GEM With what kind of letter does the first word in every line of the poem about April and May begin? The first word of every line of poetry always begins with a capital letter. Copy the poem, beginning each line with a capital. VII. A MEMORY GEM FOR JUNE As Flag Day comes in June, no better memory gem for American boys and girls can be found than one about the flag. Below is one that every true American can repeat from his heart. The Flag When we look at the flag, we promise anew that we will stand by the common country; we will try to be true and faithful citizens. We promise to do our work so well as to make the whole country richer and happier. We scorn, when we see the flag, to be idle and mean, or false and dishonest. We devote ourselves to America, to make it the happiest land that the sun ever shone on. -CHARLES F. DOLE 66 America is our common country"; that is, this country belongs to every one of us who truly loves it and works for it. America belongs as much to the boy or girl who is a true American as to the President of the United States. Read the quotation through again and tell all that, every time we look at the flag, we, as true Americans, promise to do. What do we promise not to be? How can you help to make America the happiest land that the sun ever shone on? VIII. WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GOOD 1. In the quotation about the flag in the last lesson, there are two words that we as good Americans must know, because they describe us. These words are "faithful" and "true." Below are other words that mean about the same. Learn to use them. Above all, learn to be the kind of American that these words describe. WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GOOD AMERICANS 149 Make sentences using at least five of the above words. 2. The flag quotation contains four words that describe those who are not true Americans. These words are "idle,' "mean," "false," and "dishonest." Below is a list of words that mean the same, and opposite them are words that mean the opposite. Copy them as they are printed. 3. Copy the following, using words from the above lists in place of dashes: IX. TRUE AND FAITHFUL CITIZENS How can you prove that you are a true and faithful citizen (1) in work, (2) in conduct, (3) in speech? Think over the above question, talk about it with your classmates, then write a short composition about it. X. CORRECT SPEECH In the flag quotation, we find the word "shone." This is the word used when speaking of the past. In speaking of the present time we say, The sun shines. In speaking of the past time, we say, The sun shone. And we say also of the past, The sun has shone. Below are some other words, all used in sentences |