If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. apprentice, one put in care of a master to learn a trade; quagmire, marshy land; inclination, liking for. After reading the first selection, can you point out any qualities in Franklin which helped to make him the great man he afterward became? Tell the interesting story of his entrance into Philadelphia. What example can you point out of Franklin's fondness for drawing lessons from all the happenings of his life, and putting the lessons into short sayings or proverbs? Spelling. Apprentice, fatigued, awkward, quagmire, inclination, profession. Word Study."Benjamin Franklin as a Boy." Change this title, using one word instead of as a boy. What word would you use to express state of being a man, state of being a girl, state of being a woman. Fill the blanks in the following: Queen Elizabeth thought Walter Raleigh worthy of knight In We are Seven, Wordsworth has given us a beautiful picture of child. The little cottage girl had lived near the churchyard from her baby. What suffix have you learned here? What is its meaning? Composition. I. Should you write a full account of your own life, this would be called your autobiography. Franklin's autobiography is an excellent model, for he wrote very clearly and forcibly. Select some incident in your own life and write about it. Before you begin, make an outline. Decide how many paragraphs you will require. You may be able to give your sketch in one paragraph. Ask yourself the following questions: (1) Have I made a suitable title? (2) Do my paragraphs follow each other in proper order? (3) Have I made the sketch interesting? II. Do you remember the story of Ben Franklin's whistle? From this came the familiar saying, "Never pay too dear for your whistle." The story explains the meaning of the proverb. Have you ever in your own life, or in the life of some one you know very well, known any incident that shows the truth of any well-known proverb? Select one of Poor Richard's sayings- the one you understand best. Tell in plain language what it means, then give some incident that shows how true it is. Write one paragraph for your explanation and another for your illustration. You may read your illustration aloud. The other pupils should try to guess the proverb which it is intended to illustrate. 5 50 FLOWER IN THE CRANNIED WALL FLOWER in the crannied wall, I pluck you out of the crannies, I hold you here, root and all, in my hand, crannies, crevices, cracks. What poem by Tennyson have you previously read? He has plucked the little flower and is wondering about it. What question do you think he was about to ask when he suddenly stops? What answer does he give to his own unspoken question? Can you recall another poet who found in a commor flower a very wonderful lesson? 51 THE EAGLE HE clasps the crag with crooked hands; The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; What do you know about the home of the eagle? What is meant by close to the sun? Can you picture his figure outlined against the sky? If so, you will see how the blue sky makes a ring of azure about him. From the far height, as he looks down, how For what is he watching? Notice the force In verse 1 notice the three words Notice also the pleasing repetition does the sea appear? 52 THE BEGGAR MAID HER arms across her breast she laid; Before the King Cophetua. In robe and crown the king stept down, 5 10 5 As shines the moon in clouded skies, So sweet a face, such angel grace, In all that land had never been: Cophetua swore a royal oath: "This beggar maid shall be my queen mien, bearing, appearance. Tell the story. Can you picture the beggar maid? What beautiful figure in stanza 2, lines 1 and 2? Is there anything in the character of the king that reminds you of Lord Ronald in Lady Clare? Word Study. -I. Use a synonym for fair in verse 2. Notice the use of sweet. Can you see that this use was at one time figurative? It is now commonly used as in this poem. II. prey, plunder, to take by force; pray, to beseech. creak, a sharp sound; creek, a little river or brook. ware, article of clothing or merchandise; wear, to have on as clothing. pane, a plate of glass; pain, suffering. alter, to change; altar, a place for sacrifice. Fill the blanks from this list of homonyms (words having different meanings, though pronounced in the same way): Elsie bathed her feet in the the bough : The weight of Gerard made so that the bear discovered him. Gerard felt that he was to be the bear's, but was too frightened even to Nothing could the priest's determination to offer a sacrifice The Indians exchanged their for blankets or He was suffering great, hav upon the ornaments that they could ing been cut by the broken of glass. 53 THE EAGLE AND THE SWAN IMAGINE yourself, on a day early in November, floating slowly down the Mississippi River. The near approach of winter brings millions of waterfowl on whistling wings from the countries of the north to seek a milder climate in which to sojourn for a season. The eagle is seen perched on the highest branch of 5 |