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Turning the Grindstone


When I was a little boy, I remember, one cold winter's morning, I was accosted by a smiling man with an axe on his shoulder.

«My pretty boy,» said he, «has your father a grind­stone?*

«Yes, sir,» said I.

«You are a fine little fellow,» said he; «will you let me grind my axe on it?»

Pleased with the compliment of «fine little fellow», «Oh, yes, sir,» I answered. «It is down in the shop.»

«And will you, my man,» said he, patting me on the head, «get me a little hot water?»

How could I refuse? I ran and soon brought a kettleful.

«How old are you? and what's your name?» continued he, without waiting for a reply; «I am sure you are one of the finest lads that ever I have seen; will you just turn a few minutes for me?»

Tickled with the flattery, like a little fool, I went to work, and bitterly did I rue the day. It was a new axe, and I toiled and tugged till I was almost tired to death. The school-bell rang, and 1 could not get away; my hands were blistered, and the axe was not half ground. At length, however, it was sharpened; and the man turned to me with:

«Now, you little rascal, you've played truant; scud to school, or you'll rue it!»



«Alas!» thought I, «it was hard enough to turn a grind­stone this cold day, but now to be called a rascal is too much.»



This experience I have never forgotten.



BENJAMIN FRANKLIN


Kelime ve açıklamalar:


Grindstone: Bileğitaşı

to accost: Yaklaşıp birine bir şey söylemek

to grind: Bilemek

Compliment: Ä°ltifat

to pat: Elle halifce vurmak

Lad: Delikanlı

Kettleful: Çaydanlık dolusu

Tickled with the flattery: Övülmekten hoşlanarak

Bitterly I rue the day: Yaptığıma yapacağıma pişman oldum

I toiled and tugged: Uğraştım çabaladım

Blistered: Yara olmuÅŸ

Ground: BilenmiÅŸ

Little rascal: Küçük yaramaz

to play truant: Okuldan kaçmak

to scud: KoÅŸa koÅŸa gitmek

to rue: PiÅŸman olmak

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GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington is called the father of his country. When he was a young man, there was no nation of the Uni­ted States. The people of his country were under the govern­ment of England. After a time they refused to obey the King of England and determined to make a new nation and have their own government. The King of England set ships and soldiers in order to force the Americans to obey him. The Americans gathered an army to fight for their independence, and chose George Washington as general. The war was a long one, and many times the Americans were discouraged and in great trouble. If it had not been for the courage and ability of Washington, it is doubtful if there ever would have been an American nation. Finally the King of England gave up the fight, the British army sailed away, and the American people were free and independent.

The army was disbanded. Washington said farewell to his soldiers and officers, and returned to his home, Mount Vernon, in Virginia. Within a few years the country needed him again. He was elected the first president of the new na­tion, the United States of America. Courage and ability were required to govern wisely in peace as well as in war. Both as general and president, Washington was unselfish, consider­ing not his own pleasure or gain, but keeping the good of the nation above everything else. It was said of him that he was «first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. »



Kelimeler ve Açıklamalar

to refuse: Reddetmek

to obey: Ä°taat etmek

in order to: igçin, maksadıyla

Independence: Bağımsızlık

to be discouraged: Cesareti kırmak

to give up: Vazgecmek

to disband: Dağıtmak, terhis etmek

to say farewell: Veda etmek

to lie elected: Seçilmek

to be required: Ä°cap etmek, gerekmek

Wisely: Akıllıca

Unselfish: Kendini düşünmeyen

Considering not his own pleasure or gain: kendi zevk ve menfaatini düşünmeyen

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States in the time of its greatest trial, during the terrible Civil War between North and South. No leader of a nation ever had heavier duties or graver cares. Lincoln accomplished the duties of his leadership with an ability and wisdom that have marked him as one of the greatest men of the world's hist­ory. In spite of the burden of the long years of war, he re­mained unselfish, generous sympathetic and tender-hearted as a child. When the war was over and he was planning «with malice toward none, with charity for all, to bind up the nation's wounds» his noble life was suddenly ended by an as­sassin's bullet. Perhaps no man was ever better loved or more deeply mourned.

Every child should know some of the facts of Lincoln's life: of his boyhood struggle with poverty, his earnest effort for an education, his success as a lawyer and statesman, his lofty patriotism, his many deeds of sympathy and kindness.

Here is Lincoln's own modest account of his life from eight to twenty-one:

«My father at the death of his father, was but six years of age, and he grew up literally without education. He rem­oved from Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, Indiana, in my eighth year. We reached our new home about the time the State came into the Union. It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up. There were some schools, so called, but no qualifi­cation was ever required of a teacher beyond «readin' writin and cipherin'» to the rule of three. If a straggler supposed to understand Latin happened to sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizard. There was absolutely nothing to excite ambition for education. Of course, when I came of age, I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write and cipher to the rule of three, but that was all. I have not been to school since. The little advance I now have upon this store of education I have picked up from time to time under the pressure of necessity.

I was raised to farm work, which I continued till I was twenty-two. At twenty-one I came to Illinois, Macon County. Then I got to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, now in Menard County, here I remained a year as a sort of clerk in a store. »



trial: imtihan

civil war: iç savaş

grave cares: ciddi meseleler

to accomplish: baÅŸarmak

in spite of: -e raÄŸmen

burden: yük

generous: cömert

sympathetic: sevimli

tender-hearted: yumuşak yürekli

malice: fenalık

charity: hayırseverlik

to hind up wounds: yaraları sarmak

bullet: mermi, kurÅŸun

to mourn: yas tutmak

facts: gerçekler

struggle: mücadele

poverty: fakirlik

earnest efforts: ciddi gayretler

lofty patriotism: yüksek vatanseverlik

deeds: iÅŸler ,hareketler

ciphering: hesap yapmak

straggler: herkesten farklı bir klmse

in sojourn: oturmak, kalmak, ikamet etmek

neighbourhood: civar

to look upon: addetmek, saymak

to excite ambition for education: öğrenim için merak uyandirmak

to come of age: reÅŸit olmak

stare: depo, maÄŸaza

under the pressure of necessity: mecburiyet altında

clerk: katip

-4-
ROBERT E. LEE

In any list of great Americans the name of Robert E. Lee must take a high place. The Civil War tested men's abi­lities and characters as has no other period in history. Lincoln was the greatest man whom that war revealed in the North, and Lee was unquestionably the greatest Southerner In many respects he and Lincoln were very different. Lee was a remarkably handsome, dignified man, finely educated, and from one of the most distinguished American families. Lin­coln was homely and awkward, with almost no schooling, and with none of the advantages that family and culture bring. But both men were alike in their modesty, unselfish­ness, and devotion to duty. Lee was a great general, Lincoln a great statesman; and both were great in character as well as ability. Every one who knew General Lee, loved and ad­mired him. Every one knew that it would be impossible for him to do anything mean, cowardly, dishonest or selfish. No, many years after the great war, men of the North app­reciate and honor Lee, as men of the South appreciate and honor Lincoln. Americans are proud that their country has produced such great and good men.

Here is a portion of a letter that General Lee wrote to his wife on Christmas day, 1862, after his great victory over General Burnside at Fredericksburg. What do you learn from it in regard to the character of General Lee?

«I will commence this holy day by writing to you. My heart is filled with gratitude to Almighty God for His unspe­akable mercies with which He has blessed us in this day,

for those He has granted us from the beginning of life, and particularly for those He has vouchsafed us during the past year. What should have become of us without His crowning help and protection? Oh, if our people would only recognize it and cease from vain selfboasting and adulation, how strong would be my belief in final success and happiness to our country! But what a cruel thing is war; to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devas­tate the fair face of this beautiful world! I pray that, on this day when only peace and good-will are preached to mankind, better thoughts may fill the hearts of our enemies and turn them to peace... My heart bleeds at the death of every one of our gallant men. »



to test: denemek

unquestionably: şüphesiz

in many respects: bir çok hususlarda

remarkably handsome: çok yakışıklı

dignified: ağırbaşlı, ciddi

finely educated: iyi öğrenim görmüş

distinguished: temaytiz etmiş, en yüksek

homely: sade, gösterişsiz

awkward : beceriksiz

modesty: tevazu

devotion to duty: Vazifeye baghhk

to admire: beÄŸenmek

mean: adi, alçakga bir hareket

cowardly: dürüst olmayan, namussuz

selfish: hodbin, kendini düşünen

to appreciate: takdir etmek, beğen­mek

to be proud: öğünmek, iftihar etmek

to produce: meydana çıkarmak, yetiştirmek

portion: kısım, parça

in regard to: hakkinda, hususunda

to commence: baÅŸlamak

holy: kutsal

unspeakable: anlatılamaz

mercies: lutuflar

to grant: bahÅŸetmek

particularly: özellikle, bilhassa

to vouchsafe: ihsan etmek

crowning help: iyilik, yardım

to cease from: durdurmak, vazgeçmek

selfboasting: kendi kendini öğme

adulation: yaltaklanmak

to mar: bozmak

to devastate: tahrip etmek, yıkmak

good-will: iyi niyet

to preach: bir fikri yaymak, vaaz etmek

mankind: insanlık

to bleed: kanamak

gallant : yiÄŸit

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A DAY AT THE MALL

It was Saturday. Saturday was shopping day in my family. My mother saw an ad about a sale at the mall. The bigiiest department store was having an anniversary sale, and everything was half price. My mother decided I needed new clothes. I was in big trouble. I liked my clothes. They fit me, and they looked great. But my mother loves shopping, and she loves sales. There was no stopping her.

For a minute I thought I was lucky. Dad had the car. How could we get there? But Mom said, "We can take the bus!"

The bus stopped at Sixth Avenue, just one block from the mall. At the mall, my mother asked for directions to the big department store. A man said the store was across from the pet store. We went past my favorite stores -Guitar World, Music Corner, and Sneaker Stop. I wanted a new CD. But my mother said not to look in the window. We had to go straight to the department store. We had to turn right and go past the luggage store. It was next to the jewelry store. Mom moved so fast! She ran down the aisle and ound the racks of the clothes. She was excited. Her fingers moved through shirt after shirt. "Here!" she said. "Try these on!"

Everything Mom picked was awful. There were flowered shirts and checked shirts. There were pairs of plaid pants and pairs of striped pants. One pair of jeans had no pockets. I wasn't surprised they were half price. Who would wear them? My mother was getting tired. "These clothes look comfortable," I said. "And they're my size. I'll try them on." I came out wearing my plain, solid-colored T-shirt and baggy pants. "May I get them?" I asked.

"Yes. I like those clothes," my mother said with a smile. "How much do they cost?"

"Imagine that!" I said. "My old clothes are free!"

"Wow! That's better than half price," said Mom.

"Don't tell the salesperson," I said to my mother. "But my old clothes are better than any of the new clothes here!"

"You're right," Mom said as we walked out the door. "Sometimes something old can be better than something new."

written by Judy Nayer

THE BIG FISH WHO WASN'T SO BIG

Once there was a pond next to a river. In the pond lived many small fish. They were not very happy, however, because a BIG fish also lived in the pond.
The BIG fish was not bad. It simply thought it was better and more important because it was BIGGER. When small fish swam too close, it announced, "Stop making those tiny waves. I can't sleep. A BIG fish like me needs more sleep than you little puny fish."

One day a small fish grew tired of hearing how unimportant it was. "Why don't you go swim with all the aother BIG fish in the river?" it suggested. "You will be among fish as important as you are." That was the best idea the BIG fish had ever heard.

Soon the rains of spring began. The river flowed over its banks and into the pond. It was easy for the BIG fish to swim into the river.

At once, the BIG fish noticed something. Everything was BIGGER than it was.

The rocks on the floor of the river were ENORMOUS. The water in the river flowed swiftly and with much strength. And the ofther fish? They were HUGE, HUGER, and HUGEST!

Something bit its tail. The BIG fish turned to see the ugly face of a a HUGE tiger fish, its mouth open, ready to eat the BIG fish with one gulp!

The BIG fish swam quickly behind a large rock and hid. It didn't feel BIG now. It felt small and very afraid. All it wanted was to swim back to the pond where it was quiet and peaceful. And that's what it did. After that day, the big fish played with the little fish and took them forrides on its back.

No matter how big we are, we need to learn how to live with everyone.

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THE NIGHT OF THE STARS

Long, long ago, in a town that was neither near nor far, there lived a man who did not like the night. During the day, in the sunlight, he worked weaving baskets, watching over his animals and watering his vegetables. Often he would sing. But as soon as the sun set behind the mountain, this man who did not like the night would become sad, for his world suddenly turned gray, dark and black.
"Night again! Horrible night!" he would cry out. He would then pick up his baskets, light his lamp and shut himself up in his house. Sometimes he would look out the window, but there was nothing to see in the dark sky. So he would put out his lamp and go to bed.

One day, at sunset, the man went to the mountain. Night was beginning to cover the blue sky. The man climbed to the highest peak and shouted:

"Please, night. Stop!"

And the night did stop for a moment.

"What is it?" she asked in a soft, deep voice.

"Night, I don't like you. When you come, the light goes away and the colors disappear. Only the darkness remains."

"You're right," answered the night. "It is so."

"Tell me, where do you take the light?" asked the man.

"It hides behind me, and I cannot do anything about it," replied the night. "I'm very sorry."

The night finished stretching and covered the world with darkness. The man came down from the mountain and went to bed. But he could not sleep. Nor during the next day could he work. All he could think about was his conversation with the night. And in the afternoon, when the light began to disappear again, he said to himself:

"I know what to do."

Once more he went to the mountain. The night was like an immense awning, covering all things. When at last he reached the highest point on the mountain, the man stood on his tiptoes, and with his finger poked a hole in the black sky.

A pinprick of light flickered through the hole. The man who did not like the night was delighted. He poked holes all over the sky. Here, there, everywhere, and all over the sky little points of light appeared.

Amazed now at what he could do, the man made a fist and qunched it through the darkness. A large hole opened up, and a huge, round light, almost like a grapefruit, shone through. All the escaping light cast a brilliant glow at the base of the mountain and lit up everything below... the fields, the street, the houses. Everything. That night no no one in the town slept. And ever since then the night is full of lights, and people everywhere can stay up late... looking at the moon and the stars.

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Animal Talk

People talk to each other every day. When you cell a friend to meet you at the playground after school, your friend understands and joins you here.

Animals, too, need ways to tell each other things, or communicate (Kuh-MEW-nih-kate).

There are different ways of communicating. People don't just use their voices. They also show how they feel with a smile, a frown, a friendly pat on the back, or a kiss. Like people, animals need to "talk" to one another. But animals don't have words. So how do they communicate? Special Ways of Communicating

Dogs bark or growl. Horses neigh. Male crickets rub their wings together to make the chirping sounds that attract females. Some fish grate their teeth together to make sounds.

Many animals use their tails to show how they feel. Some crabs and spiders wave their legs in special patterns to attract a mate.

Dogs, horses, and cats use their ears not only to hear but also to show how they are feeling. They flatten them back if they are angry or let them stand straight up if they are alert, eager, or happy.

Singing Birds. Have you ever heard the lovely song of a sparrow in the morning? When birds sing, they are not just making beautiful music. They are communicating.

While female birds can chirp, it is usually the males that truly "sing." Sometimes they sing to attract a mate- "This is my place. Here I am, ready to start a family."

Once a songbird and his mate get together, the male sings for a different reason. Now he is letting other birds of his kind know where his home is. His song says, "This is my place. Stay away."

Each kind of songbird has its own special song. When you hear certain notes, you know that you are listening to white-crowned sparrow. A meadowlark has a very different tune. Each bird can recognize when another bird of its own kind is singing.

When birds sing, they are not using real language the way humans do. While humans can speak hundreds of different languages, each kind of bird has only one "language" with a few "words."

We can tell each other all kinds of things with words. But birds have only a few messages they can get across. A person can say the same thing in different ways. "Please come to my birthday party on Saturday" means the same as "Saturday is my birthday. Can you come to my party?" But a bird has only one way of saying "This is my place."

By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent