Reading Made Easy for Foreigners - Third Reader | Page 2

these exercises; such
expressions give no practice in the use of the language.
The teacher should prepare himself thoroughly for each lesson in order
to ask many pointed questions relative to the reading matter.
The entire time spent in reading the lesson and questioning the class
should not exceed thirty minutes. Too much detail will only confuse
and fatigue the pupils. Five or six words that present any difficulty
either in spelling or pronunciation may be selected from the reading
lesson for dictation. Such words should not be given singly, but rather
in short sentences.
These sentences may first be read by the class from the blackboard and
then copied. After new slips have been distributed, the same sentences
should then be written from dictation (the writing on the blackboard
being covered or erased in the meantime). The pupils are afterwards
required to compare their work with that on the board and make the
necessary corrections themselves.
READING MADE EASY FOR FOREIGNERS
THIRD READER
LESSON I
FLAG DAY
In this fair land of ours you can see the Stars and Stripes floating over
every public school. This beautiful flag stands for our country. Every
American is proud of his country's flag. It stands for all that is good and
dear to an American. It stands for Liberty. It proclaims liberty to all.
Every star stands for liberty. Every stripe stands for liberty. It stands for
liberty of thought and liberty of speech as well.
The first American flag was made in June, 1777, by Mrs. Ross, in the
city of Philadelphia. When General Washington saw the flag, he was
delighted with it. Every American is not only delighted with it, but he
loves the dear old flag. The fourteenth day of June of each year is set
apart as Flag Day.
"_I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands;
one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all_."

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ABOVE LESSON ACCORDING TO
THE RATIONAL METHOD.
_See Remarks to the Teacher, Page vii_.
What kind of a land is ours? What is meant by the stars and stripes?
Over what buildings do we see the flag floating? What kind of a flag is
it? For what does our flag stand? For what else does it stand? What
does our flag proclaim? Who is proud of the flag? What does our flag
tell to all the people? How many stars are there in the flag? For what
does each star stand? When was the first American flag made? By
whom was it made? In what city was it made? What did Washington
think of it when he saw it? How do we Americans look upon the flag?
When is Flag Day? etc., etc.
DICTATION EXERCISES
_See Remarks to the Teacher, Page vii_.
Our country has a beautiful flag. This flag proclaims or declares liberty
to the people. I am delighted with my country's flag. I pledge
allegiance or fidelity to my flag. Our nation is _indivisible_; it cannot
be parted.

SELECTION I
A CITY STREET
I love the woods, the fields, the streams, The wild flowers fresh and
sweet, And yet I love no less than these The crowded city street; For
haunts of men, where'er they be, Awake my deepest sympathy.
I see within the city street Life's most extreme estates; The gorgeous
domes of palaces; The dismal prison gates; The hearths by household
virtues blest, The dens that are the serpent's nest.
I see the rich man, proudly fed And richly clothed, pass by; I see the
shivering, houseless wretch With hunger in his eye; For life's severest
contrasts meet Forever in the city street.
Hence is it that a city street Can deepest thoughts impart, For all its
people, high and low, Are kindred to my heart; And with a yearning
love I share In all their joy, their pain, their care.
Mary Howitt.
_Questions_: Can you put this little poem in prose? Tell what you
admire in nature. Then tell what you observe in the city. Tell about the

rich and where they live. Also about the poor and how they are housed
and clothed. Let us write a composition together.

LESSON II
BREATHE PURE AIR
Some boys were playing hide-and-seek one day, when one of their
number thought it would be good sport to hide little Robert in a large
empty trunk. He did so and then turned the key in the lock. The little
fellow in the chest was very quiet indeed, and they almost forgot about
him. After some time they thought of him and some one went to the
trunk and asked: "Hello, Robert. Do you want to come out now?" No
answer came. They opened the trunk and found poor little Robert
nearly dead. The