FIDO AND HIS MASTER "Come, come, my pretty Fido, Lie softly and snugly, A sleeping, sleeping, sleeping with Tray." "Come, come, my pretty Fido, Stand up for some sport!" "No, no, my little master, I'd much rather not. I hate such a riot, Do let me be quiet, A dreaming, dreaming, dreaming so sweet." "Come, come, my little Fido, Come here for some meat!" "Yes, yes, my little master, I come, then, this minute, I think it, think it, think it a treat." The children brought many little stories, incidents, and pictures from home, and from time to time new questions were put on the board. How does a dog sleep? Is a dog a clean animal? Does he wash himself as a cat does? What sounds does he make? Can he climb a tree? Does he get angry ? Why is his tongue not like a cat's? Did you ever see any baby dogs? What do we call them? How does the mother care for them? Does a dog sweat ? Did you ever see a dog after he had been running? What did he do? It is said that a dog will turn round and round and scratch with his paw before going to sleep. Is this true? All of these questions called for keen observations on the part of the children, and Miss Clare seemed pleased with her experience, for in her little notebook was found this entry: ANIMAL STUDY FOR OCTOBER OBJECT To increase the child's interest in animals. Dogs chosen because of their intelligence, because they are common, and are easily recognized. Use pictures and blackboard drawings. Have at least three dogs visit the school that we may study resemblances and differences. Use stories to bring out the dog's characteristics and passions, such as grief, love, sympathy, gratitude, pride, etc., and to inculcate good habits, such as responsibility, courage, obedience, and promptness. Results too intangible to put down in black and white, but perceived and felt. THE COW "I am thinking of an animal that has a backbone like a cat, but no fur. It has four legs like a dog, but it cannot bark, and it is a great deal bigger than either of them, or both of them together," said Miss Clare, with a merry twinkle in her eye that the little folks knew meant a "funny lesson," as Tom said. They were all attention. "I suppose if I should ask you what you would like best to eat, somebody would say 'ice cream,' and another 'chocolate cake,' or 'taffy-on-a-stick,' but if I should ask my animal friend she would make such a dreadful noise that half of you would put your fingers in your ears and never wait to have me tell you that she was only saying 'gr-ass, grass.' "I should never dare ask her to come and visit us, for she is so clumsy that I don't believe we could ever get her up the stairs, and if we could, she never could sit in one of our chairs as pussy and doggy did. |