kj * » A ^ fufnfc^fhm A ^SwgkA ^wfvA hg .'■ug> Afi\ .. - *■ ■**■ ifr- tTi ) > , J ' > ' . » w ,= - - ) s o O 4 3 ASSOCIATION PRESS New York: 347 Madison Avenub 1918 52062 Copyright, 1916, by The International Committee op Young Men's Christian Associations • • • - • , • • • * .' • ••■■/« • • i • • • • • • p 54- e. PREFACE Coming Americans, who have studied English in the Preparatory Course, and the Beginner's Readers Nos. i and 2, have had training in grammar that enables them to know the parts of speech, the modifica- tion of words, and the place of words in simple sen- tences. This (No. 3) short course continues the in- struction, reviewing much of the work already given, helping the students to analyze simple sentences, and illustrating simple rules in syntax. If the teacher patiently carries out the suggestions made in each lesson, the pupils will get that knowledge of the structure of words and sentences which will help them in talking and writing. Teachers will do well to give continual attention to spelling and pronunciation. These can only be mas- tered by foreign-speaking persons when trained by native born instructors who spell correctly and enun- ciate clearly. No lesson should pass without careful attention being given to these. CONTENTS The Story of Hans PAGE I. The Broom Boy i II. Selling the Brooms 4 III. Hans Making a Cart 7 IV. Hans' Home 10 V. Hans' Trials 13 VI. Hans in Favor 16 VII. Hans Meets a Friend 19 VIII. Hans and His Mother in Council. 22 IX. Hans' Courtship 25 X. Hans Married 28 XI. Hans' Children 31 XII. Hans in Wealth 34 The Trials of Gerard XIII. Pitying the Needy 38 XIV. Gerard at the Feast 41 XV. Gerard in the Tower 46 XVI. The Pursuit 51 XVII. In Quest of Food 55 XVIII. The Bear Loves its Cub 60 XIX. The Shipwreck 65 XX. In Rome 71 XXI. There is Good in Every Man 75 XXII. News from Home 81 iv The Story of Hans i. the broom boy Hans lived with his mother, who had need of him to fetch water, wood, and the like. The father was dead, and the mother and son lived on the love of God and good people. One day the farmer they lodged with said to Hans: "My lad, it seems to me that you might try to earn something now, you are big enough and sharp enough." "I wish I could," said Hans, "but I don't know how." "I know something you could do," said the farmer. "Set to work to make brooms; there are plenty of twigs on my willows. I only get them stolen as it is ; so they shall not cost you much. You shall make me two brooms a year for them." Yes, that would be very fine and good," said Hans, "but where shall I learn to make brooms?" "Well, there is no such trick in the matter," said the farmer. "I'll take upon me the teaching of you ; many a year" now I've made all the brooms we use on the farm myself, and I'll back myself to make as good as are made. You'll want few tools, and may use mine at first." All this was 2 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS done, and God's blessing came on the doing of it. Hans took a fancy to the work, and the farmer was well pleased with Hans. "Don't look so close; put in all that is needful, do the thing well, so as to show the people they may put confidence in you. Once get their trust, and your business is done," said the farmer; and Hans obeyed him. MEMORIZE "All nature is but art unknown to thee ; All chance, direction, which thou can'st not see ; All discord, harmony — not understood ; All partial evil, universal good." QUESTIONS on the lesson Where was Hans living? Who had died? Is your father living? What kind of a mother had Hans? How do you know she was a good woman? What did Hans do? Where did he get the water? Where the wood? What was the water good for? (drink, cook, wash, etc.) What was the wood good for? Where did they lodge? How much of a house did they have? Was the farmer kind to them? Where did Hans' mother work? Did the farmer keep her and her son? Have you worked on a farm? Tell briefly what work you did. What did the farmer say to Hans? How old do you think Hans was? Do boys of twelve years generally work in Europe? Do boys of twelve work in this country? What could Hans do ? Was Hans a strong and sharp boy ? What THE BROOM BOY 3 work did the farmer propose he should do? Out of what were brooms made ? Where did the twigs grow ? Where were the willow trees? Who stole the twigs, think you ? Was Hans willing to try the work ? What was his difficulty ? Who promised to teach him ? Was the farmer a good broom maker ? What was Hans to pay for the twigs? Have you ever made a broom? How much do you pay for a broom today? Do you think that Hans got forty cents each for his brooms? Who made the brooms for the farmer's family ? Where was Hans to get his tools from? Did the farmer give Hans the tools? How did Hans like the work? Whose blessing fell on it? Do workmen want God's blessing on their work? How did Hans do his work? Did Hans skimp in the number of twigs he first put into the brooms? What advice did the farmer give him? Why was he told to be liberal? Can you do business with people in whom you have no confidence? Did Hans obey ? From the story, point out the quali- ties of Hans. (Obedience, ambition, thrift, pride, self- reliance.) Point out the qualities of the farmer. (Kindness, patience, wisdom, sympathy, appreciation.) Let the pupils tell what parts of the story reveal these qualities. GRAMMAR EXERCISE A Verb is a word that says or asserts something: as, "The man runs" ; "The fire burns" ; "The child plays" In the first sentence ask what parts of speech are who, need, like. What are they in the following sen- tences: "Who knocks?" "I need thee every hour." "I like the walk." "This rose is like that." Let the 4 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS pupils state what are relative and interrogative pro- nouns. What parts of speech are : "Big enough and sharp enough"? To what noun do they refer? Explain "don't," "I'll," "you'll." Ask what part of speech is "something." Let the pupils give the principal parts of the verbs : steal, cost, learn, put, may ; as, "I steal, I stole, I have stolen." Ask what parts of speech are "yes," "well." Call attention to the noun, "teaching" and the verb, "teach." Let the pupils form similar nouns from the verbs : run, jump, throw, strike, fall, do. Let six pupils write six sentences on the blackboard: as, "The running was good." What is the difference between "well" and "good" ? Use the words in sentences. Ask for the comparison of each. Explain the phrase, "I'll back myself." Observe that the word "close" is an adverb qualify- ing "look." The word generally used would be "closely." Ask what part of speech is so before "close." For home work, let the pupils write out sentences using the words : need, like, water, love, lodge, might, work, cost, use, farm, want, fancy ; using them as nouns and verbs ; as, "I need my rest" ; "My need is great." II. SELLING THE BROOMS At first, Hans found that business did not grow very fast. Yet he sold all he made. As SELLING THE BROOMS 5 he became quicker in the making, the number of buyers grew. Soon, everybody said that no one had such pretty brooms as Hans, and the more he sold the harder he worked. His mother soon became happier and more cheerful. "Now the battle is won," said she. "As soon as one can gain one's bread honorably, one has the right to enjoy oneself ; and what can one want more?" Always, from this time, she had as much as she liked to eat; nay, even every day there was something for the next; and she could have as much bread as she liked. Indeed, Hans very often brought her even a little white bread from town, and she felt herself most happy. How she thanked God for having kept so many good things for her old days. Hans was not happy. Indeed, he began to grumble. "Things cannot go on much longer this way. He could not put up with it." When the farmer at last set himself to find out what that meant, Hans said: "I have too many brooms to carry. I want a cart to carry them to market, and have no money to buy one." 'You are a gaby," said the farmer. "Look you, I won't have you become one of those people who think a thing's done as soon as they've dreamed it. That's the way one spends one's money to make the fish go into other people's nets. You want to buy a cart, do you? Why don't you 6 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS make one yourself?" Hans stared at the farmer with open mouth and great eyes. MEMORIZE "Manners are more important than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, laws depend. The law touches us but here and there, and now and then. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine. They give their whole form and color to our lives." QUESTIONS on the lesson Call special attention to Hans' filial love, the reason for his success, the condition of the family before and after prosperity, the gratitude of the mother, the rest- lessness of Hans, and the self-reliance suggested by the farmer. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Verbs are divided into Transitive and Intransitive, according to their meaning. Transitive Verbs pass the action to the object: as, "I shut the door." Intransitive Verbs limit the action to the doer: as, "I sleep"; "John runs fast." Let the pupils classify the verbs in the first part of the lesson into transitive and intransitive. Observe the words : "business," "buyers," "cheerful," "farmer." These are formed from : busy, buy, cheer, and farm. Let the pupils form similar words from the following and write them out : ready, lofty, godly ; run, sell, cut; hope, faith, joy; work, labor, sow. HANS MAKING A CART 7 Ask for the principal parts of the following verbs: grow, sell, become, win, can, eat, begin, do, go. Spell all the words. Explain "the battle is won." Let the pupils classify the following pronouns: he, all, everybody, his, she, oneself, what, every, some- thing, herself, himself, many. Ask for the definition of a pronoun. Review the five groups of pronouns : Personal, Demonstrative, Interrogative, Relative, and Indefinite. Collect the home work. For home work, let the pupils form sentences using the pronouns given above. III. HANS MAKING A CART "I make a cart !" said Hans. "However shall I? I never made one." "Gaby," answered the farmer, "one must make everything once for the first time. Take courage, and it's half done. If people took courage, there are many now carrying the beggar's bag who would have money up to their ears, and good metal, too." Hans began to get the idea little by little, and as winter came on he set to work. He got wood at little cost and chipped it. The farmer had an old cart which served Hans as a model. What his friend did not have, he got from one of the neighbors. The farmer came now and 8 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS then to help him. In the spring, the cart was ready, and it had only cost Hans a few dollars. On Easter week, Hans took his brooms to market in the new cart. It is hard to form a notion of the joy and pride that this new cart gave him. It seemed to him that everybody stopped, as they passed, to look at his cart. He also told his friends that his cart was better in many ways than any cart yet seen in the world. He said that it went of itself, and, going up hill, all he need do was to touch it with his hand. A cook said she would not have thought him so clever, and if ever she wanted a cart, she would have him do it. After this, whenever the cook bought a broom, Hans gave her two little ones into the bargain, to sweep out the corners with, for she liked to have everything clean, even the corners. His cart was to Hans his farm. He worked more busily than ever, and had real joy in it. It was the joy of getting things done. The farmers all around ' MEMORIZE "All truly great and noble minds are al- ways humble. They are always modest in their lives. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest philosophers, on being praised for his works, said, T have indeed picked up a IN QUEST OF FOOD 55 few pebbles upon the shore, but the great ocean of knowledge is still before me.' " QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to Gerard's courage — to Martin's fears — to lawlessness when the law is opposed. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Let the students find the adverbs in the first part of the lesson. Let the pupils spell and explain : circuit, straight, however, horse, fleeing, party, entrance, shrieked, dodge, savage, staff, officer, streaming, stained, collar, hound, handkerchief, twisting, village, pressed, sud- denly, safety, leaped, mocking. See if the students can substitute words for these in the lesson. Notice: "It is him" is wrong, for the verb to be takes the same case after it as before it. Let the pupils illustrate the rule by other personal pronouns. "Neither John nor William is going." "Margaret or Gerard or Martin is going away." These are examples of the rule given in the former lesson. Test the pupils in these rules by giving them sen- tences which they can correct. Collect the home work. For home work, let the men write a composition describing the largest woods they have ever known. XVII. IN QUEST OF FOOD As soon as Margaret, Gerard, and Martin felt that they were no longer followed, they 56 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS rested and took council as to what thev would do. They agreed that it was not safe to return, and that their safety lay in getting out as soon as possible from the country of the Burgo- master. Martin said that the quickest way was by again entering the woods, and before night they would be in the land of the Duke of Burgandy. This they did, and before the sun was set they were safely housed in a lonely hut, where they spent the night as best they could. Early the following morning, Martin went out with his trusty bow in quest of meat for the morning meal. He knew that the Duke of Burgandy, who was very fond of hunting, severely punished anyone who hunted on his lands. The old soldier, however, was willing to risk something for his young friends, and to the woods he went. Though old, he was a strong man, broad-chested, and his arms were hard as iron. He had not gone far before he spied a hare. He drew his bow, but before the arrow was sent, he heard a noise behind him. Turning around, he was just in time to see a noble buck cross the open, but too late to shoot at it. In the next moment, he saw a young spotted animal gliding swiftly along after the deer. He knew that it was the tame leopard belong- ing to the Duke of Burgandy, who was also IN QUEST OF FOOD 57 out hunting. Martin said: "The hunters are not far from here, and I must not be seen." He plunged into the woods, following the buck and the leopard. He had not gone far when he heard an unusual sound and, turning in that direction, saw the leopard on the buck's back, tearing with tooth and claw, and the buck run- ning in a circle, with the blood pouring down its hide. Martin made up his mind to get that buck. He took aim and buried an arrow in the deer, which in spite of the leopard on its back, bounded high in the air and fell dead. The leopard went on tearing, as if nothing had happened. Martin hoped that the beast would gorge itself with blood, and then let him take the meat. He waited some minutes, then walked firmly up and laid his hand on the buck's leg. The leopard gave a frightful growl, and left of! sucking blood. He saw Martin's game, and was sulky and on guard. Martin stood erect and fixed his eye on the leopard. The leopard returned the savage glance, and never took its eye off Martin. As the old soldier kept on looking at the beast, the leopard flew at his head with a frightful snarl. Its eyes were balls of fire, and its jaws and claws wide open. Martin caught it by the throat, and barely saved his face from its teeth. One of its claws seized his shoulder and rent it; 58 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS the other aimed at his cheek, which would have been more deadly. Martin could hardly keep its teeth off his face while gripping its throat fiercely. The pain of the rent shoulder was fearful, but the blood of the old soldier was up ; he gnashed his teeth with rage, just as savage as the brute. The two pairs of eyes flamed at one another. The animal knew it was being throttled, and made a fierce struggle to free itself. It tore its claws out of his shoulder, flesh and all ; but Martin held it with hand and arm of iron. Presently, the long tail that was high in the air went down. "Aha," cried Martin joyfully. Next its body lost its strength, and it was powerless in Martin's hand. He gripped it still, until all motion ceased, then dashed it to the earth. The leopard lay mute at his feet, its tongue hanging out of its mouth. Martin for the first time felt a terror. "I am a dead man," said he. "I have slain the Duke's leopard." He hastily seized a few handfuls of leaves, pressed them on the wounded shoulder, then seized the buck and crept away, leaving a trail of blood — his own and the buck's. He reached the hut, where Margaret and Gerard were. As soon as they knew what had happened, they again moved on as fast as they could to escape the Duke of Burgandy., On IN QUEST OF FOOD 59 the way, they met a company of Gypsies, who were a law unto themselves, and Gerard would not move until he and Margaret were married by the king of the Gypsies. After the marriage, he turned to the old soldier and said: "Martin, you must take my wife back to her father's house, and watch over her. I'll go to Rome. I am an outlaw. As soon as I get work as a writer, I'll send for Margaret and we will make our home in the imperial city." It was the only way out of their trouble and, after many tears, Margaret, with a deep heart-ache, again was on horseback returning to her father's house. MEMORIZE "Have courage, friend, Be of good cheer, 'tis not for long, He conquers who awaits the end, And dares to suffer and be strong." QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to Martin's courage — the taming of wild animals — the marriage of Gerard. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Review the comparison of the following adverbs: well, better, best ; ill, worse, worst ; much, more, most ; far, farther, farthest; forth, further, furthest; late, later, latest. 60 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS Review the formation of adverbs from adjectives by adding ly: as, a sweet song; he sings sweet/3'. Review the comparison of adverbs and their use in sentences : as, he sings sweeter than his sister ; he runs fastest of all. Let the pupils point out the adverbs in the first part of the lesson and state what kind of adverbs they are. Let the pupils spell and explain: longer, followed, council, agreed, return, safety, possible, country, quickest, entering, housed, lonely, morning, trusty, meat, meal, serenely, punished, hunted, something. Let the pupils take the second paragraph of the story and classify the verbs into transitive and intran- sitive. Let the pupils explain : "anyone who" ; "broad- chested" ; "too late"; "outlaw"; "heart-ache"; "horse- back." Collect the home work. For home work, let the pupils write a composition describing the home from which they came. XVIII. THE BEAR LOVES ITS CUB Gerard, with a heavy heart, was now on his way to Lyons. He met a man, Denys, who was going to the same city, and they traveled together. They were passing through a wood, when they saw a young bear cub. Denys struck it with an arrow, and Gerard, with his axe, ended its life. As they marched on, happy THE BEAR LOVES ITS CUB 61 in having meat for supper, Gerard heard a sound behind him. He turned around and saw a big bear coming down the road about 150 yards away. "Denys!" he cried. "Oh, my God!" The moment the bear saw them, big as it was, it seemed to double itself. It raised its head, opened wide its swine-shaped jaws, and its eyes were full of blood and flame. On it rushed, scattering the leaves about it like a whirlwind. "Shoot," cried Denys ; but Gerard stood shaking from head to foot. "Shoot, man ! Ten thousand devils ! Shoot ! Too late ! Tree ! Tree !" and he dropped the cub, pushed Gerard across the road, and flew to the first tree and climbed it. As they fled, they uttered inhuman howls, like savages crazed to death. With all their speed, one or other would have been torn to pieces at the foot of the tree had not the bear stopped a moment and sniffed at the cub. It knew it was dead, and gave a yell such as neither of the hunted ones had ever heard, and flew after Denys. It reared and struck at him as he climbed; he was just out of reach. It then seized the tree with its huge teeth and, with one hit, tore a great piece out of it. It reared again, dug its claws into the bark, and began to mount slowly. Denys thought : "My hour is come; let me meet death like a man." He drew his long knife, set his teeth, and was 62 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS ready to jab the huge brute as soon as it should mount within reach. Gerard saw his friend's peril, and he passed at once from fear to blind rage. He slipped down the tree, caught up the cross-bow, and sent a bolt into the bear's body. It snarled with pain and rage, and turned its head. Denys cried : "Keep aloof ! or you are a dead man." "I care not," shouted Gerard, and sent another bolt into the bear's body. Denys shouted and poured out a volley of oaths, say- ing: "Get away, idiot!" The bear slipped down the tree ; Gerard ran back to his tree and climbed it swiftly, but the bear struck with its fore paw and took a piece out of Gerard's hose. He heard a voice say: "Get out on the bough." He did so, and looking around, saw the bear mounting the tree on the other side. It had passed the bough on which he was, but its eye quickly caught him and steadily but quietly it came to the fork, crawl- ing nearer to Gerard. He looked wildly down, and saw that he was forty feet from the ground. Death was below him, and death moving slowly but surely toward him. His hair bristled, the sweat poured from him. He sat helpless, dazed, and tongue-tied. In a mist, he heard a twang. He glanced down, and saw Denys, white and silent as death. The bear snarled at the twang, but THE BEAR LOVES ITS CUB 63 crawled on. Again the cross-bow twanged; the bear snarled and came nearer. The third time the cross-bow twanged, and the next moment the bear was close upon Gerard. It opened its jaws like a grave, and hot blood spouted from them upon Gerard as from a pump. The bough rocked; the wounded monster was reeling; it struck its claws deep into the wood; it toppled; its claws held firm, but its body rolled off, and the sudden shock to the branch shook Gerard forward on his stomach, with his face upon one of the bear's paws. At this, by a last effort, the bear raised its head up until Gerard felt its hot breath. The huge teeth snapped together close below him, with baffled rage. The hanging body rent the claws out of the bough, then pounded the earth with a loud thump. There was a shout of triumph below, and the very next instant a cry of fear, for Gerard had fainted and, without an effort to save himself, rolled headlong from the bough. Denys caught at his friend, and somewhat checked his fall; but his best friend was the dying bear, on whose hairy body his head and shoulders struck. Denys pulled him off, — it was needless. The bear panted still, its limbs quivered, but soon it breathed its last. Gerard came to by degrees, and feeling the bear around him, 64 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS rolled away yelling. "Courage," cried Denys. "Is it dead, quite dead?" asked Gerard. "Yes, quite dead." MEMORIZE "Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man. If a man write little, he needs a great memory ; if he confer little, he needs a present wit; if he read little, he needs much cunning." QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to Gerard's friendship — to the loyalty of friends — to the care of animals for their offspring. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Prepositions join words together to show their rela- tion: as, "Gerard put his bow on the floor." Here two nouns are joined. "Going to the same city"; here a verb and a noun are joined. "Its eyes full of blood" ; here an adjective and a noun are joined. "A sound behind him" ; here a noun and a pronoun are joined. Prepositions are used to show relations of place, time, and cause. Of Place, they refer to rest, motion, or both: as, We stayed in the inn. We went into our room. We moved freely among the guests. Of Time: as, From sunrise to sundown. From seven until ten. Of Cause: as, He slew him with a dagger. He fainted with weariness. THE SHIPWRECK 65 Let the pupils find the prepositions in the first part of the lesson. Let the students spell and explain: travelled, cub, arrow, meat, meet, uttered, yard, double, raised, rise, scatter, leaves, whirlwind, shaking, bristled, thousand, reeling, toppled, devils, climbed, peril, bolt, poured, oaths, idiot, steadily, crawling. Ask the students to substitute words in place of these in the lesson. Notice : That sometimes intransitive verbs take an objective case when the object is akin in form and meaning to the verb itself ; as : He dreamed a dream. They sang their song. When the element of time or space comes in, answering the question, how long or how much, we have nouns following intransitive verbs : "They zvent for a three days' journey." "We zvalked six miles." Let the pupils give the principal parts of : strike, rise, stand, fly, tear, dig, begin, meet, set, catch, get, sit, shake, feel. Collect the home work. For home work, let the pupils write a composition about their journey to America. XIX. THE SHIPWRECK Gerard reached Lyons safely, where he hoped to take ship to Rome. He went aboard a vessel which was not the most sea-worthy. It made the journey safely, until within twenty miles of the port of Rome. Then a sudden 66 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS storm arose, blew the ship out of its course, and between Naples and Rome was driven ashore. The beach was lined with people, who watched the ship making a brave fight against wind and wave. The sailors ran wildly about the deck, handling the rope as best they knew, now curs- ing and again praying. The passengers were huddled together around the mast, some sitting, some kneeling, some lying on the floor, grasp- ing hold of what they could, as the vessel rolled and pitched in the mighty waves. Gerard stood a little aside, holding tight to a shroud and wincing at the sea. His cheeks were white, his lips closed tight, and though in terror, he knew what was going on around him. Suddenly a more mighty gust came and tore off the sail with a loud crack, and sent it into the sea. Before the man at the helm could put the head of the ship before the wind, a wave caught it, swept over the deck, and drenched every one of the passengers. They were wet to the bone, and had a foretaste of what awaited them. Most lay flat and prayed to the sea to be merciful, promising gifts to their favorite saints if ever they came safely to land. The ship was now a mere plaything in the arms of the big waves. A Roman woman, of the humbler class, sat with her child at her half- bared breast, silent amid the crying and pray- THE SHIPWRECK 67 ing throng; her cheek was ashy pale, her eyes calm, and her lips moved at times in silent prayer. She did not weep, neither did she try to make a bargain with the gods for her safety. Whenever the ship seemed to have gone under the waves, and a mighty prayer arose from the men in terror, she kissed the child and kept him at the breast. She was a true Roman and knew how to die in silence. A big priest stood on the poop of the vessel with feet apart, paying little heed to the peril around him. He said in a loud voice verses from his prayer-book, and in an unwavering voice invited the passengers to confess to him. Some came to him on their knees. He heard them, laid his hands on them, and gave them his blessing as if they were in a church, and not on a sinking ship. Gerard got nearer and nearer to the priest, who stood there without fear, facing death. The sailors cut down the useless mast, which fell into the sea. The hull could not now keep ahead of the sea, which hit it again and again. The heavy blows added to the fears of all. The captain, pale as death, left the helm. He said: "Fling all cargo over- board." The captain was earnestly questioned by all as to what would be the fate of the ship. All he could say was: "No hope. She is doomed; prepare to die like good Christians." 68 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS To the question, "How long have we to pre- pare?" he replied : "She may last half an hour." While the people prayed, some came around Gerard, and seeing him erect, said: "Here is the cause of all. He has not prayed ; he has not called on a single saint. He is a heathen, he is a pagan." "Alas, good friends," said Gerard, with his teeth chattering, "say not so. I do honor the saints, but they will not have time to plead our case. I'll pray to God direct. Our Father, which art in heaven, save these poor souls and me. Oh! sweet Jesus, pitiful Jesus, thou didst save Peter sinking in the sea. Oh! save poor Gerard — for dear Margaret's sake." At this moment the sailors made ready to leave the ship. Some, unable to move, sat still ; others ran to and fro, wringing their hands. The priest stood calmly as the ship was sinking, and so did the Roman woman, who sat pale and patient, drawing the child closer to her bosom. Gerard saw the sailors take the only boat on the ship, and he cried: "See, see, they leave the poor woman and her child to die." This awoke his manhood. He went to the poor woman and said: "Wife, I'll save thee yet, please God." He ran to find a cask or a plank, but finding none, his eye fell on the wooden image of the Virgin. He caught it and carried it to the mother and child and said: "Come, THE SHIPWRECK 69 wife, I'll lash thee and the child to this." The mother turned her large dark eyes on him and said simply: "Thyself?" Gerard said softly: "I am a man and have no child to take care of." He lashed her to the image, and then said: "Come while there is time." She turned her eyes wet with tears, and looked on him, and said : "Poor youth ! God forgive me ! My child !" He put her on the water and with an oar pushed her away from the ship. The priest had watched him, and as soon as the deed was done, he put his hand on Gerard's shoulder and said: "Well done. Come with me." Both men went to the broken mast; by hard work they got out the remainder of it. They flung it into the sea and followed it. The mast rose and plunged with each wave, but both men clung to it and got to land. As Gerard stood by the sea, watching his late com- panions washed ashore, a hand was laid lightly on his shoulder. It was the Roman mother. She took his hand gently, raised it slowly to her lips, and kissed it. Then with a face bathed in a sweet smile, and eyes that were moist, she held her child up and made him kiss Gerard. He kissed the child again and again, but could say nothing. The mother did not speak, only as her eyes, her cheeks, and gestures thanked the young man who saved their lives. 70 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS MEMORIZE "So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on. O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost a while." QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to the character of the priest — to Gerard's thoughtfulness — to the mother and child. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Conjunctions join words and sentences : as, The priest and Gerard threw themselves into the sea. There are two kinds of Conjunctions. i. Those which join independent sentences: as, "The ship sank and the passengers were washed ashore." They are called Coordinate Conjunctions. 2. Those which join a principal sentence with one dependent on it: as, "Gerard was angry because the sailors left the woman to perish." These are called Subordinate Conjunctions. Let the pupils find the conjunctions in the second paragraph of the lesson. Let the pupils spell and explain : aboard, seaworthy, journey, sudden, driven, ashore, cursing, praying, pas- sengers, huddled, kneeling, pitched, shroud, suddenly, drenched, foretaste, favorite, saint, bargain, silence, confess, captain, overboard, earnestly, chattering. Let the pupils find the prepositions in the first para- graph of the lesson. IN ROME 71 Collect the home work. For home work, let the pupils write a composition describing their voyage over the sea. XX. IN ROME Gerard reached the "Eternal City," and took a room in a house on the west bank of the Tiber. He then went in search of work, and carried with him a sample of his writing. He went from shop to shop to show his copy, and was coldly received. They found every fault with his work and saw in it no merit. He learned how to copy Greek, as well as Latin ; but could find no work. The landlady, with whom he stayed, took a liking to him and asked him one day to dine with her. He told her all his troubles, and that he could not find anyone to employ him. "Those sly traders," she said; "you write too well for them. Your work would be the end of all those whom they now serve. I'll insure you the success you deserve, in spite of the booksellers." The following' day the good landlady spoke to her friend, Teresa, who gave her the names of five men who wanted copying done. Gerard took down their names, took samples of his work to their home, but nothing came of it. 72 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS He was now facing hunger, and his clothes were fast showing the signs of wear. While he was mending a rent in his hose one morning, the landlady came into the room and said: "I want you to come and talk to Teresa." He went and was surprised to find that Teresa was the Roman matron he had saved on board the ship. "Ah, madam, it is you," said he. "And how is the fair-haired boy?" "He is well," said Teresa. "Why," said the landlady, "what are you talking about, and why tremble you so, Teresa?" "He saved my child's life," she said, trying hard to quiet the beating of her heart. "What, my lodger?" And turning to Gerard she said : "And you never told me a word about it? You ought to be ashamed of yourself." Teresa soon learned all that was done and she smiled at Gerard's simplicity. "What," said she, "did you think your work would reach the masters without giving a fee to the ser- vants? You might as well have flung it into the Tiber." She soon thought out a plan, then both she and Gerard went in search of a man who would be glad to employ him. They wan- dered from street to street, until at last they came to a glove shop. The glove seller told them to go to Father Colonna, who would doubtless employ him if he was a master in his craft, for, said he, "he is a wild beast against IN ROME 73 all bungles." "Have no fears," said Teresa. "I will answer for his ability; he saved my child." The following morning Gerard went to the house where the friar lived. He was now wiser and gave a fee to the servant who at once took him to the room of the seignior. He looked at Gerard and said: "Young man, show me how you write," and throwing him a piece of paper, he pointed to the inkhorn. "So please you, reverend father, my hand trembles too much at this moment; but last night I wrote a page of Greek, and the Latin is alongside of it, to show you my work." "Show it me," said the friar. Gerard gave him the work in fear and trembling, and then stood, sick at heart, to see what he would say. He did not have long to wait, and to his surprise the friar came and threw his arms around his neck. Friar Colonna was charmed with his new artist, and he began to sing aloud his praises among men who wanted writing done. Soon these men wanted the priest to give up Gerard to them. When the friar told the young copyist that princes wanted his services, he replied, "I am so happy with you, father." "Fiddle- sticks!" said the friar, "happy with me. You must not be happy, you must be a man of the world. These princes can pay you three times 74 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS as much as I can, and they shall too." So the friar clapped a high price on Gerard's pen, and they employed him without a murmur. Gerard soon became a pet with noblemen and women. He never lost his head, however. He knew there was a steel hand under the velvet glove. He had the honor of sitting at the table of the most influential Cardinal in Rome, and before many months were passed, he was employed to copy a book for the Pope himself. Gerard was very happy, and took great care of the money he made. He kept his humble lodging, for he thought that the more he saved the sooner he would again see Mar- garet. "In a year or two," thought he, "I'll return by sea to Holland with a good store of money and set up with my beloved Margaret in Antwerp, and end there our days in peace, and love, and health, and happy labor." His heart never strayed an instant from his beloved. MEMORIZE "To rule was not enough for Napoleon. He wanted to amaze, to dazzle, to overpower men's souls, by striking, bold, grand, and un- expected results. He wanted to reign through wonder and awe, by the greatness and terror of his name, by deeds which would rivet on him every eye, and make him the theme of every tongue." THERE IS GOOD IN EVERY MAN 75 QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to Gerard's struggles — to the help of the woman — to the dangers of success. GRAMMAR EXERCISE See if the pupils can tell what parts of speech are in the first sentence. Test them in spelling: eternal, sample, revived, fault, landlady, trouble, trader, insure, deserve, hunger, rent, surprise, tremble, ashamed, simplicity, wandered, bunglers, ability, surprise, service, clapped, murmur. Ask the pupils to parse: "Write too well." "They shall pay too." "To buy some paper." Call attention to: "Both she and Gerard went," as a sample of the use of a coordinate conjunction. Ask the meaning of "a man of the world." "A steel hand under the velvet glove." Write on the blackboard the following, letting the students correct them and give their reason : "She plays good." "I told she the truth." "His foots were sore." "Which is the strongest, John or James?" "The boys which ran away done it." Collect the home work. For home work, let the pupils write a composition about some great man whom they have known. XXL THERE IS GOOD IN EVERY MAN When Gerard walked from house to house at the side of Teresa, he noticed a man follow- 76 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS ing them; so he told her: "Madam, we are dogged. I notice a man that follows us, some- times afar, sometimes close." "I have seen him," said Teresa. "It is my husband," and her cheek colored faintly. She stopped, beckoned with her finger, and the figure drew near. When he came, she looked him full in the face and said : "My husband, know this young man, of whom I have often spoken to you. Know him and love him, for he it was who saved thy wife and child." At this, the man who had bowed and grinned before, changed at once and warmly threw his arms around Gerard. The young man went home and, while talking to Andre, his friend, said that he met Teresa's husband. "I know him," said Andre; "he is unworthy of Teresa, but she clings to him." Gerard said: "I felt uneasy as he followed us, and fear did not pass wholly away when he embraced me." "Well may you," replied his friend, " for he is a chief of the most terrible vendetta in Rome." A shudder went through Gerard. Andre saw him turn pale and added : "I know that man, and although he is an assassin, there is some good in him. When he is on the trail of a victim, he knows no pity, but I have known him to exercise as much tenderness as the Roman matron you saved did to her child." "I suppose," said Gerard, "he THERE IS GOOD IN EVERY MAN 77 feels some love toward me for saving his child, but I thought more of his stiletto than his love when he threw his arms around my neck." "That may be; but that man loves his wife and child, and you need fear no harm from him as long as you are in Rome. I believe he would protect you against the vendetta." 'You seem to have strong faith in him," said Gerard; "tell me your reason." "I will tell you a story," said Andre. "I am a doctor, but have not had much luck. One thing, however, I have learned in my work, that it is worth while to find good whenever you can. I have had to drag through the slums and sewers of this wicked city for some years, and down in the lowest depths I have found good- ness and have felt thankful for it, without ask- ing questions about quality and quantity. I find that men are made up of a mixture of good and evil, and it is so down in the lowest, as well as in the highest. That is the case with this man of whom we are talking. "When the two rival parties in Rome get on the 'war path,' the cruel things done in this city are more than all the priests and the Pope can cure. A few years ago it was open war- fare between them, and a part of the city was destroyed. I went to serve the wounded, and being faint from work, I could not leave the 78 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS field, where a dreadful battle had been fought. So I fell down on a knoll exhausted and slept. The place was full of miasma and the cold was deadly. Men who get chilled through with the cold, and into whose body the fever enters, die. I was lying on the bare ground, and could not do anything for myself. I was too poor to have an overcoat, and there I slept the sleep of a soul tired to death. After a few hours, I awoke, and found myself covered with warm clothes, and beside me sat that husband of Teresa, shivering. A cold fog was upon us, but there that man sat, watching over me, while death was staring him in the face. When I asked him why he had done it, all he said was, 'You've been kind to my friend.' I knew that he was an assassin; that he gambled and was a cut- throat. I knew that if any man was ripe for the gallows, he was; and yet I could not feel that all in his heart was of the devil. I fully believe that he saved my life that night. I cannot forget him, and don't think God will, when he comes before Him in the last day." While Andre was telling this story, Teresa's husband was in a room richly furnished, the floor covered with the costly skins of animals, and in front of him sat a lady with clenched fists, face pale and red by turns, and her foot restless. She had on a little black mask, and THERE IS GOOD IN EVERY MAN 79 the contrast between the black mask and her purple cheek was strange and fearful. The lady said: "They have told you for what you are wanted?" "Yes, signora." "Did those who spoke to you agree as to what you are to receive?" "Yes, signora, 'tis the full price — the price of the greater vendetta, if the lady does not choose the lesser." "I don't under- stand you," said the lady. "Ah, this is the signora's first. The lesser vendetta is the death of the body only. We watch the man come out of church and deal with him. In the greater, we catch him hot from some unre- pented sin, and so slay his soul as well as his body." "Man, hold your tongue; I have no quarrel with his soul." "So be it, signora." "Are you sure of your hand?" asked the lady. The bravo showed her a steel gauntlet and said: "This is our mallet." He then undid his doublet and gave her a glimpse of a coat of mail beneath, and finally laid his glittering stiletto on tlie table with a flourish. The lady shuddered, and for a moment a sudden gleam of pity came over her soul as she asked: "Do I not well to remove a traitor who slanders me?" "The signora will settle that with her confessor. I am but a tool in noble hands." The lady said: "Go, do your work." "It is the custom to pay half the price beforehand, 80 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS signora." "Ah, I forgot. Here is more than half," and she pushed a bag across the table to him. "When the blow is struck, come for the rest." "You will soon see me again, signora," and retiring Teresa's husband went to work to carry out the lesser vendetta on Gerard. MEMORIZE "Be just, and fear not. Let all the ends thou aimest at be thy country's, Thy God's, and Truth's ; then, if thou fallest, Thou fallest a blessed martyr." QUESTIONS on the lesson GRAMMAR EXERCISE Let the pupils spell : throw, embrace, terrible, assassin, tenderness, protect, against, gamble, covered, shivering, forget, furnished, covered, animal, clenched, contrast, understand, unrepented, quarrel, glimpse, beneath, glittering, flourish, shuddered, confessor. Let them give the principal parts of the verbs : tell, throw, draw, sit, speak, choose, catch, slay, hold, lay, go, forget, strike, sleep. Explain : "On the war path." "Sure of your hand." "The lowest and the highest." Let the pupils find the conjunctions in the first paragraph of the lesson. Test the pupils in correcting the following and ask them the reason for the correction: "I and John goes to school." "Neither I nor John go to school." "They walk slow." "The wifes are leaving." "Yesterday NEWS FROM HOME 81 his happiness is complete." "You was in school." "I says to James and James says to I." "You don't give me nothing." Test the pupils in parsing: "Gerard walked at her side." "I will tell you a story." "All is not of the devil." Collect the home work. For home work let the pupils write a composition about the worst man whom thev have known. XXII. NEWS FROM HOME When Gerard returned home one afternoon he was very happy. The landlady saw his joy and asked, 'What is it ?" "Am I not happy, madam?" said he. "I am going back to my sweetheart with money in one pocket, and land in the other." 'Well, what a pity," said she, "for I thought of making you a little happier with a letter from Holland." "A letter for me? Where? Where?" She gave him the letter. He tore it open and read: "Gerard, my beloved son, this letter brings thee heavy news. Know that Margaret died on Sunday last. The last word on her lips was 'Gerard. Tell him I pray for him at my last hour, and bid him pray for me.' The letter dropped to the floor, and a grating laugh came from the young man, 82 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS who said: "Oh, my heart! I'm choking. I'll run to the top of the highest church tower in Rome and fling myself off it, cursing heaven. Ah! Ah! Ah! there is no God." He seized his hat and ran furiously about the streets for hours. Towards sunset he came back white as a ghost. He crept into the house bent and feeble as an old man. He refused all food. He would not speak, but sat with staring eyes, saying now and again: "There is no God." The good landlady came and sat with him, try- ing - to soothe him. Gerard heeded her no more than the chair on which she sat. She had a crucifix, and holding it before him, she prayed : "Maria, mother of God, help him." Suddenly, he jumped up, struck the crucifix rudely aside with a curse, and made a dash at the door. The woman shrieked. Before he reached the door, something stopped him and he turned around like a top. He whirled around twice, with arms extended, then he fell like a log on the floor, and blood came from his nostrils and ears. On the second day, he was raving with brain fever. On the fifth day, the doctor gave him up. At sunset that same day he fell into a deep sleep and slept sixty hours. When he awoke, a kind priest was at his side. He told him that the Church gives peace to troubled NEWS FROM HOME 83 hearts, but Gerard was not to be consoled. As soon as the priest was gone, he cried for his Margaret, and shouted : "Idiot ! Idiot ! to leave her for a moment." When the good woman returned, she saw Gerard putting on his clothes. She tried to stop him, but he said: "Why should I lie here? Can I find her?" "What would you then?" "Death," was his reply. Out Gerard went. As he was going, he said: "I have served God as well as I could, and this is my reward. Now I'll serve the devil." He now gave himself up to wine, women, gambling — whatever helped him to forget himself and drown his memory of her. The large sums he had set aside for Margaret gave him ample means to rush head- long into folly. He left the kind old lady who had been so good to him and took lodging in another part of the city. His companions were idle rakes who knew no labor and whose joy was to drink foul waters, such as Gerard now wallowed in. He thus in a short while became one of the wildest, loosest, and wickedest youths of a wicked city. One day, when his money was well nigh gone, he and other wild youths were in a boat going up the Tiber. It was a gay company of men and women bent on enjoyment. As they glided along, a galley passed them, and on it a noble lady, whose love 84 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS Gerard had spurned, and to avoid whose vengeance he had resolved to leave Rome, when that fateful letter came from Holland. She saw and knew Gerard. The young man blushed and was ashamed to be seen by her in such company. That night she summoned once more Teresa's husband, that he might finish the work he failed to do four months previously. Four days after this, Gerard left a note to his friend Andre, which read : "Life is too great a burden." He filled his pockets with all the silver he possessed, his purpose being to throw himself into the Tiber. He went to a shop, and looking around to see that no one was near, he saw a single figure leaning against the corner of the alley. He strolled carelessly away, but returned to the same spot ; but again he saw the same figure coming out of a side street. Gerard said : "Can he be watching me ? Can he know what I am here for ?" He walked briskly along a street or two, then returned. The man disappeared, but when he came back again and looked around, the man was only a few yards from him. He saw a steel gauntlet in his hand, and he knew that he was an assassin. He never thought he was seeking his life, and so, walking up to the man, he said : "My good friend, lend me your arm. One stroke! Here is all I have," and he thrust all his money NEWS FROM HOME 85 into the bravo's hand. "Pray thee, one good deed, and rid me of this hateful life," and while speaking he bared his bosom. The man stared in his face. "Why do you not strike ? Because I am poor. Well, turn your head then and hold your tongue." At this, Gerard ran and flung himself into the river. When the bravo heard the splash in the water, he ran and plunged in after the would-be suicide. When Gerard next came to himself, he was in the great chamber in a convent, and at hi? side the priest whom he had met on board ship. "How came I here?" asked Gerard. "By the hand of heaven," said his watcher. He then fell into a sleep, and when he awoke again, he found another watcher at his side. The man asked how he felt. "Very weak," said Gerard. He looked at the man and asked : "Where have I met you before?" "I am Teresa's husband, and the one who saved you from the waters of the Tiber." "And it was you I asked to strike me?" "Yes, and if it were anyone else but you, I would have done it, but how could I look my Teresa in the face if I had killed you, or let you die by the very death from which you saved her ? I put you on my back, and said, 'Teresa will nurse him to life.' But the priest who was on the ship saw me carrying you. He said he knew you, and so brought you in here. I let 86 ENGLISH FOR COMING AMERICANS you go on the promise that I should be allowed to visit you once a day." Gerard closed his eyes — not to sleep, but to think. Saved from death by an assassin sent to kill him. Was not this the hand of heaven? He tried to pray. The organ of the church at that moment sent out solemn harmony, and the voices of the choir came through the air. Among them was the voice of a boy, — sweet, full, pure, angelic. He remembered the days of his boyhood. The tears ran copiously down his cheeks. He prayed, and peace, sweet peace, came into his soul. He sighed: "The Church is peace of mind. Till I left her bosom, I knew no sorrow, no sin." The good prior came. Gerard poured his soul before him and vowed his life to the service of the Church. MEMORIZE "The way of peace is to always try to do the will of another rather than onr own. To choose rather to want less than to have more. To choose the lowest place and to be humble to all. To desire and pray that the will of God may be fulfilled in us." QUESTIONS on the lesson Call attention to Gerard's distress — to the character NEWS FROM HOME 87 of the worthless husband — to the refuge offered by the Church. GRAMMAR EXERCISE Let the pupils spell : afternoon, pocket, grating, furi- ously, towards, crucifix, whirled, extended, consoled, gambling, memory, companions, wallowed, wicked, enjoyment, spurned, summoned, figure, corner, strolled, hateful, tongue, suicide, chamber, moment, solemn. Let the pupils find the prepositions and conjunctions in the first section of the lesson. Let them parse the following: "Gerard closed his eyes." "He tried hard to pray." "Peace, sweet peace, came into his soul." "He vowed his life to the service of the Church." Let the students correct the following and give the reason for the corrections : "I thinks we may go." "The baby's teeths are four." "I can learn you." "Mary and Gretchen knows the song." "The tinyest bird just passed us." "Come, let they go." Ask for the principal parts of the following verbs : think, try, send, run, meet, fall, awake, stop, help, drink, become, leave, go, spend, wet, read, lead, light, spell, tell, pay, mean, buy. Collect the home work. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive • Parking Lot 17 • Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. NON-RENE if AUG 1 8 1003 QUI 2 WKS FROM DOTE Irw oans interilbrarv -° ' Be * \ l6 30UnWers»ty Box 951575 las Angers, CA SfcBV\Gbb 90 GCi5-1 r * ABLE RHCIIViD II 3 1158 00645 6338 Univi So L