CHAPTER TEST 4. And in my sister's garden, Are dancing in the sun. 181 BLISS CARMAN 5. Through the silver mist Of the blossom-spray Trill the orioles: list To their joyous lay! "What in all the world, in all the world," they say, Is half so sweet, so sweet, is half so sweet as IX. CHAPTER TEST 1. Rewrite the conversation between the boy and his mother, page 173, as a narrative, correcting the boy's errors. 2. Choose one of the quotations in Section VIII. Read it clearly and distinctly, pronouncing every word correctly. Make your voice beautiful to match the words and thought. 3. Copy the last three words below. Before each write three beautiful words to describe it, CHAPTER FIFTEEN TRUE STORIES; BOOKS; COMPOSITIONS; LETTERS; POSSESSIVES; DICTIONARY STUDY Note to the teacher: Have you the Manual habit? I. TRUE STORIES The General's Story "Yes," said the general," I have often been afraid.” A shout of laughter greeted the general's words. The young men who heard them thought the general was joking. They could not believe that he, the great soldier who had fought a hundred battles, could ever know fear. 66 You need not laugh," replied the general. What I tell you is true, and, if you listen, I will tell you of the worst fright I ever had." Listen! of course they would listen to the general's story! In eager attention the young men drew their chairs closer. "'Way back in the seventies I was out in the Black Hills," began the general. "The Indians were keeping us busy. For two days I had been out scouting. Late in the afternoon of the second day I came upon some signs that proved I was near an Indian war party. They seemed to be traveling slowly, so I determined to hang back until dark, then move forward and have a closer look at the enemy. I wanted to find out the size of the party, and, if possible, the object of the march. Alighting from my horse, I picketed him where he could graze for a while, and after eating a mouthful of supper, I threw myself down on the ground and was soon fast asleep. Suddenly I awoke with the feeling that some movement near by had wakened me. The night was so black I could not see my hand before me. Presently I heard a slight noise as of something moving over the grass. the grass. I grasped my revolver. Nearer and nearer came the noise; and now something touched the top of my head! Then, before I could leap to my feet or make any resistance, a rope was passed roughly over my face! I seized the rope to free myself. As soon as I touched it, the rope slackened in my hand, and over the grass came trotting towards me not an Indian warrior - but my own horse! In grazing, he had drawn his picket rope over my face." A shout of laughter greeted the general's story. "That's right," replied the general. "Laugh as much as you like. I, too, laugh at my scare, now. But I can tell you it was no laughing matter that dark night back in the seventies. "And another thing, young men, never be afraid to own that you have been frightened; for every man, even the bravest, has had his moments of fear." "True! true!" cried the young men. Then one after another told of being frightened in the dark by some harmless thing. When the general first heard the soft sound of the rope being dragged over the grass, what do you suppose he thought it was? What did he think when he felt the rope on his face? Why did his horse trot up to the general when he pulled the rope? Just as soon as the general touched the thing that frightened him, he learned that there was nothing to fear. Have you ever been frightened at night by a post or a tree that looked like something else, by clothes hanging on a nail, by a fur rug, by some strange sound, or by any other harmless thing? You know that it is foolish to be afraid of such things, but as the general in the story says, "Every man, even the bravest, has had his moments of fear." The best way, the bravest way, to drive away such fears, is to go up to the thing that frightens you and touch it; then you will learn, as the general did, that there is really no cause for fear. When the general had finished his story, the young men who had listened told stories of being USING THE DICTIONARY 185 frightened by some harmless thing. You may do the same. Think of some time that you have been frightened. Come to school prepared to tell about it at the next lesson. Plan just how you will tell it, just what words you will use. Try to make your story as interesting as the general made his. If you cannot remember ever having been frightened, you may come prepared to tell of some time when you were brave and not frightened. II. USING THE DICTIONARY Copy the following words from The General's Story. Opposite each write a word that means the same. If you cannot think of a word or if you are not sure that your word is right, look in the dictionary. Read again the sentences in the story containing the words above, using your words in place of those used by the writer of the story. Does every sentence sound right, does it make good sense with your word? If not, your word is not right. Look in the dictionary and get a |