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homes, to call it our flag. Should we not try to make the flag proud of us because we are fair in all our dealings, brave and honest and true?

1. Think about it, and then tell what kind of boy or girl the flag would boast about if it could speak.

If everybody in this country were lazy or selfish or wicked, should we have a happy, free country, and a gay, free flag?

2. What kind of boy or girl is needed to keep our country happy and free?

3. Read the poem, standing "head-erect and shoulders-square."

4. Copy this memory gem, then do three things: Read or repeat it from memory every day; try to make the wish expressed in the poem your own wish; and try to make the wish come true.

IV. ONE-MINUTE PATRIOTIC TALKS

How I Can Prove that I Am an American

Come to the class prepared to tell in one minute what you can do to prove that you are an American. Do not forget to tell what kind of language you will use. Perhaps you will mention your American Speech Pledge. Can you say that you are keeping it? or that you are trying hard to keep it?

Practice your talk at home, so that you will not take more than one minute for it in class.

Perhaps

your father or mother will listen to you and time you.

V. A MEMORY GEM FOR AMERICANS

The Flag

There is the national flag! He must be cold indeed who can look upon its folds rippling in the breeze without pride of country. White is for purity,

red for valor, blue for justice, and all togetherbunting, stripes, stars, and colors blazing in the sky make the flag of our country to be cherished by all our hearts, to be upheld by all our hands.

· CHARLES SUMNER

1. The Meaning of the Memory Gem

Do you believe that the man who spoke these words really loved the flag?

expects us to do when he says, our hearts."

That is what he "cherished by all

Do you believe he would fight for the flag if it were in danger? Is that what he means by "upheld by all by all our hands"? How, besides fighting for them, can we show love for our flag and country?

Can you picture the speaker pointing at the Stars and Stripes, waving proudly in the wind,

A MEMORY GEM FOR AMERICANS

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and speaking these beautiful words from his heart? How do you think the people felt who heard him?

When you speak these words, look at your flag and speak the words straight from your heart. Only by so doing can you touch the hearts of your hearers.

2. Finding Words in the Dictionary

Copy the following words. Find the meaning of each in the dictionary and write it opposite the word.

3. Carrying out the Three Lessons of the Flag In learning to speak the language of America as real Americans should, let us keep in mind and try to carry out the three lessons that the flag teaches -the lessons of valor, of purity, and of justice.

Valor: It takes real valor or courage to admit mistakes and correct them, but a true American will do this.

Purity: Keep the American speech pure and clean; free from profanity and vulgar slang. Speak clearly, distinctly, and in a pleasant voice. Pronounce words correctly.

Justice: The dictionary says, "Justice is right established by law." There are laws or rules for

correct speech that we must know and follow. You have already learned some of these, as when to use was and “ were," saw " and "seen." In this book you will learn others. Will you be fair and just to your country's speech and obey these rules as you learn them?

VI. LEARNING MEMORY GEMS

Of the three memory gems that you have studied in this chapter, choose the one that you like best. Read it through carefully and then try to say it to yourself. If you cannot say it, read it again, and again, and again if necessary, until you can say it. Do not try to learn it by studying a line at a time. That breaks the sense and spoils the beauty of it.

When you have learned the one you like best, take the one you like next best. If possible learn all, for you know that he who learns only one or two will be sorry that he did not learn more, and he who learns none perfectly will be still more sorry.

VII. RECITING MEMORY GEMS

When called on to recite the memory gems that you have learned, do it like a real American. Think what this will mean. How will you stand? How will you speak?

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIII. WRITING MEMORY GEMS

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Read the memory gem you like best. See how it is written which words begin with capitals, what marks of punctuation are used and where. Then close your book and write it. Do not forget to write the name of the author, or writer, after your gem.

When you have finished, open your book and see if you have made any mistakes; if you find any, correct them.

IX. ORIGINAL DESCRIPTIONS1

In Pippa's song (p. 69), she describes the spring morning as it looks to her; she tells of the hillside covered with shining dewdrops, of the lark flying and singing towards the blue sky, of the snail crawling on the thorn bush, of the newness and happiness of the day.

In the memory gem, The Flag (p. 72), we plainly see the flag rippling in the breeze, with its red and white and blue flashing in the light.

1. Describe, in the best words you know how to use, the picture that one of the following titles brings to your mind. Make your description clear and interesting. Try also to make it beautiful.

1 Note to the teacher: Be sure to consult your Manual before assigning this lesson. See page 77.