Explain these lines:

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!

What are some of the things that make the blacksmith rejoice? What are some of the things that make him sorrowful?

3. What lesson did the smith teach the poet? What lines in the poem tell us this?

Longfellow means that, just as the smith works hard to shape useful tools from the iron on his anvil, so we must labor hard and faithfully at our tasks if we would think great thoughts and do useful deeds. Can you name any men or women who have labored faithfully and, through acts and thoughts, have benefited mankind?

4. Read the poem as you think that it should be read. If you understand and like the poem, those who listen to you will know that from the way you read. 5. Commit the poem to memory.

55. THE MONTHS

January snowy, February flowy, March blowy;
April showery, May flowery, June bowery;
July moppy, August croppy, September poppy;
October breezy, November wheezy, December freezy.

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN

In this little rhyme, Sheridan tries to describe each month in one word.

GOOD ENDING SENTENCES

77

The names of the months begin with capital letters. Be careful about the spelling and pronunciation of February. It is pronounced as it is spelled.

You have probably noticed that the names of the holidays, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, also begin with capital letters.

EXERCISE

1. Write the names of the months.

2. Write five sentences, each containing the name of a holiday and the month in which it comes.

56. GOOD ENDING SENTENCES

When you are telling a story to the class, every sentence should add something about your subject. A story is not interesting if it is too long. Stop when your story is finished.

You should be especially careful about your last sentence because you want to give your classmates something interesting to remember.

For instance, in telling the story of "My Funny Mistake," don't close with "This was a very funny mistake." If you have told the story well, every one will know that it was a funny mistake. A much more interesting sentence would be, "Every one in the family laughed at me," or "I don't think I shall ever make that mistake again."

If you are telling the class about "My Favorite Place to Play," you ought not to end your description

by saying, "I like this place very much." This is not good ending sentence because if you have described the place well, every one knows you like it. A better ending would be, "That is why I always choose to play in the attic," or "I hope no one ever cuts those trees."

EXERCISE

Can you think of a better closing sentence for these stories?

A RUNAWAY

At

When I was five years old, I ran away from home. first I had a good time looking at everything in the street. Soon I discovered that I could not find my way home. I began to cry. A policeman came along and carried me home. He was very kind.

AN UNEXPECTED GUEST

We had an unexpected guest at our picnic this summer. Mother was unpacking the lunch basket. We were all very hungry. Suddenly a big dog came running up and grabbed part of the lunch. We all chased him away.

57. A SENTENCE GAME

To prepare for this game, two or three players may be chosen to write several sentences about six or seven words in length. Each word is then written separately on a slip of paper and the slips are passed to the class. Be sure that each person has a word.

Any one who thinks he has a good word with which to begin a sentence, for instance, The, may come to

ABBREVIATIONS FOR DAYS AND MONTHS 79

the front of the room and speak his word clearly. Any one who has a good word for the second place may stand beside him, saying his word, for example, dog. Keep on until a sentence has been completed. Then the group repeats the whole sentence. See how many sentences you can arrange in this

way.

Write each sentence on the board. on the board.

Remember to begin it with a capital letter. How will you end it?

58. ABBREVIATIONS FOR DAYS AND MONTHS The names of the days of the week begin with capital letters.

Sometimes the names of the days are abbreviated. Learn these abbreviations so that you can write them from dictation :

The names of some months are so short that they

In writing dates, it is generally better not to abbreviate the name of any month. When you use the name of a month in a sentence, as "I was born in January," spell it in full. When you write the name of a day in a sentence, as "Come to see me Saturday," do not abbreviate it.

All the abbreviations in this lesson, as you notice, begin with capitals, and, of course, end with periods.

WRITTEN EXERCISE

1. Write the abbreviations for the days.

2. Write the names of the months of the year, abbreviating such as have abbreviations.

3. Write four sentences, using the name of a month in each sentence. One of the sentences should be a question.

59. A LETTER TO WRITE

Suppose that just before Christmas your teacher asks for suggestions as to how you would like to spend the last afternoon at school before the holidays. Write her a letter explaining your wishes. Make your ideas as definite and clear as possible. The letters will be passed around the class for you to read. Then you are to vote for the letter you like best. Perhaps your teacher will arrange a program based on the best plans in several letters, and will let your class present it.