"Let us have a race," answered the tortoise. "I will run with you five miles, and the fox over yonder shall be the judge."
The hare with a scornful smile agreed, and away they started together.
Soon the hare left the tortoise far behind, and feeling a little tired, lay down on a tuft of grass that grew by the way. "If that slow-coach passes, I shall see him and easily catch up with him again," she said to herself, and fell asleep.
In the meantime the tortoise plodded on, slowly but surely. After a time, he passed the hare, who, sure of reaching the goal first, still slept, and who awoke only to find the tortoise had reached it before her.
Somebody's Mother
(From Harper's Weekly—Author Unknown)
The woman was old, and ragged and gray,
And bent with the chill of the winter's day.
The street was wet with the recent snow,
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by,
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of "School let out,"
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Passed the woman so old and gray,
Hastened the children on their way,
Nor offered a helping hand to her,
So meek, so timid; afraid to stir,
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
"I'll help you across if you wish to go."
* * * * *
And "Somebody's Mother" bowed her head,
In her home that night, and the prayer she said,
Was, "God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody's son and pride and joy."
These examples will serve to show the attempt of the author to paint a picture with words, just as does an artist with paint. Have the child make his own picture and repeat the story as fully as possible. Older children should learn them so as to repeat them verbatim. In the next book on—How to Study and Remember—this subject will be taken up more fully.
To Preserve Early Memories
We sometimes doubt when people tell us of things which happen when they were five years old. Children that are eight or nine can often tell of things that took place when they were two or three. Almost without exception you will find that these memories are eye impressions—pictures. Have the child review those which you wish him to retain and he will preserve the memory of them.