LESSON XCIX

I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen,

She washed me the dishes, and swept the house clean;
She went to the mill to fetch me some flour,
She brought it me home in less than an hour;
She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale,
She sat by the fire, and told many a fine tale.

I WRITTEN Study the rime with great care. How many words in the appositive? Point out five me's which were common once but which are little used today. Write from memory, and verify. If you have made even one mistake, try again.

II WRITTEN Try to make an original jingle of four or six lines. If you succeed, study your work to see that it is in proper form. You may write in couplets, or may use any model that you like. If this is too hard, write three sentences telling about something you like to do.

III ORAL Read aloud in class the results of your original work. Name the two contracted statements in the rime of today. What word is needed to complete these? Can you point out other independent statements? Do you find nine in all?

There dwelt an old woman at Exeter; (ex'ter)
When visitors came, it sore vexed her;

So for fear they should eat,

She locked up all her meat,

This stingy old woman of Exeter.

LESSON C

Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house, and stole a piece of beef;
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not home;
Taffy came to my house, and stole a marrow-bone;
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed,

I took the marrow-bone, and beat him on the
head.

I WRITTEN How many contracted statements do you see in this rime? Do you see nine full statements as well as the three contracted ones? After selecting the three, decide what word will complete each of the two first statements, and what word will complete the third statement. Write from memory, and verify.

II WRITTEN Write a full story of Taffy's doings, and see whether you can make it as short as the rime.

III ORAL A bone containing marrow is often used for making soup, and perhaps this was what Taffy stole. Repeat the rime, and repeat any other rimes that you know, which have not been given in class.

Cloud, cloud, don't stay today,
But spread your wings, and fly away.

WRITTEN ENGLISH

LESSON CI

Ding, dong, bell,
Pussy's in the well!
Who put her in?
Little Tommy Green;
Who pulled her out?
Big John Stout;

What a naughty boy was that
To try and drown poor pussy-cat,
Who never did him any harm,

But killed the mice in his father's barn!

101

I WRITTEN Notice the contraction pussy's for pussy is. Does the form pussy's sometimes show possession? The two last lines form a descriptive group belonging with pussy-cat. This group contains two statements, one of which is contracted. What word must be supplied, that the statement may be given in full? Write from memory, and verify.

II WRITTEN Can you think of any excuse for little Tommy Green? If so, tell in a few sentences what it is.

III ORAL With the help of pictures, discuss newfashioned and old-fashioned wells. Is an old well, if uncovered, dangerous to safety, and why?

Mama's a lady, and that's very clear;
Hush-a-by, Baby! Daddy is near.

LESSON CII

The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the

crown;

The Lion beat the Unicorn all about the town; Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown,

Some gave them plum-cake, and sent them out of

town.

I WRITTEN You have here six statements, one of them contracted. What is needed to make the sixth statement complete? Do you see that the comma is used just the same as when the full form is given? The word unicorn means one horn. Write from memory, and verify.

II WRITTEN Write the rime of Lesson 98 in two stanzas of eight lines each, making the necessary changes as to caps and alinement. Lion and Unicorn are capitalized because they are the main actors in the story.

III ORAL Look thru your readers for examples of contracted statements. Read half-a-dozen of these in class.

Jack, be nimble! Jack, be quick!
Jack, jump over the candlestick!

LESSON CIII

I love little pussy, her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm;
So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away,
But pussy and I very gently will play.

I WRITTEN

Do you see seven statements here? Can you pick out one contracted statement and supply the words needed to make it complete? You have the words so, nor, and but used to join independent statements. Remember that nor is the same as and...not. If you do not say and not, you will have to change the words to nor will I drive her away. Write from memory, and verify.

II WRITTEN Write the same rime in eight lines, using four more caps, and alining the riming lines.

III ORAL Tell a story about your cat, or some other cat, showing its intelligence. Are cats as intelligent as dogs? In what places are cats of great use? Is a cat very desirable in a store, a barn, a granary, or an old house?

Whoop! ring the bells, and sound the drums!

Tomorrow school vacation comes!