LESSON I
THE CHERRY-BLOSSOM
1
We Japanese love flowers very much. Of all flowers, we love the cherry-blossom best. It is the national flower of our country. The Japanese cherry-blossom is famous all over the world. 
In spring, when cherry-blossoms are in full bloom, we go out to see them. We walk about under the trees and sit down on the green grass to have our lunch. 
We plant cherry-trees for their flowers in Japan, but in other countries they grow them for their fruit. 
2
Last Sunday we went to Ueno to see the cherry-blossoms. The weather was fine, so we had a very good time. 
The flowers were in full bloom and they were very beautiful. There were many people under the trees. We walked about a long time in the park. At noon we sat down on a bench and had our lunch. 
After lunch we visited the Zoo. We saw many animals and birds there. It was very interesting to see them, and we spent a long time stopping at one place and another.                                                                                                                                                         On our way home we bought a few picture postcards for Mother.

LESSON II
SHOPPING
1
The other day father and mother took me down town for shopping. We went to one of the big stores. Father bought a fountain-pen and some note-paper. Mother bought a pair of gloves and two or three cards of buttons. 
Then we went to the toy-department, and I was very pleased with an American doll there. It had a pair of blue eyes, and such a lovely face. I became very fond of it. I asked my mother to buy it for me. 
Then we bought some pairs of socks and a pretty picture book for my little brothers, 
and came back in a taxi a little before sunset. 
2
In these big stores, they sell a great many things. A lot of people come in every day. You can buy almost anything there. Such a store is called a department-store in America. 
I like to visit department-stores. I go up and down and see things. When mother goes shopping, she always takes me with her. 

LESSON III
THE SHEEP
1 
You see a great many sheep in this picture. The sheep is a very useful animal.  Perhaps it is one of the most useful animals. 
It has a thick, warm coat of wool. This thick coat of wool keeps the sheep warm in winter. 
But it is too warm for the sheep in summer. So people cut off the wool with large scissors. Then they wash and clean the wool.
When it is washed and cleaned, it is put in bags and sent to the mills. It is made into cloth there. 
What are your coat and skirt made of? Can you tell me? 
Yes, they are made of wool. Men's coats, waistcoats and trousers are also made of wool
There are not many sheep in Japan. We buy a great deal of wool from other countries. So we must take good care of our clothes. 
2
What are the most useful animals? 
They are sheep, cows and horses. And perhaps pigs are also one of the most usef ul. 
What keeps the sheep warm in winter? 
It is kept warm by its wool. 
Why do people cut off the wool in summer? 
Because the thick coat of wool is too warm for the sheep. 
Is that the only reason? 
No; they make clothes of the wool. 
With what do people cut off the wool? 
They cut it off with large scissors. 
Into what is it made at the mills? 
It is made into cloth. 
Into what is the cloth made? 
It is made into coats, trousers, skirts, stockings, and many other things. 
Are there many sheep in Japan? 
No, there are not many in our country. 
From what country do we buy wool? 
We buy most of the wool from Australia. 

LESSON IV
COTTON
1
What are our clothes made of?
They are made of wool, silk, or cotton.
Long ago the cotton plant grew only in India, but now this plant is grown in many other countries all over the world. In the southern part of the United State, there are many large cotton fields.
When the cotton is ripe, the plant is covered with white balls. They look like so many snowballs. But they are not snow, for they are growing under the hot sun.
People pick off all these white balls and put them in big baskets and carry them
away on their shoulders.
Then the cotton is cleared and packed, and some of it is sent across the Pacific Ocean to our country.
The cotton plant does not grow well without much heat and rain. That is the reason why we cannot grow it in Japan.
2
In what country did the cotton plant first grow?
 It grew first in India.
Does the cotton plant grow in Japan?
 No, it doesn't. 
Why doesn't it grow well in our country? 
 Because it needs much heat and rain. 
Is silk produced in Japan?  
Yes. It was first produced in China but now a great deal of it is produced in our country. 
If cotton does not come from America, what will happen? 
Then we shall make our clothes of staple fibre. 

LESSON V
THE ANT AND THE DOVE 
1
  Once upon a time a little ant fell into a brook. It could not swim. 
  A dove was in a tree above the brook and saw the poor ant in trouble. 
She threw a leaf down into the stream. And the ant got up on it. 
The ant did not forget this kindness. 
One day this ant saw a man with a gun. He wanted to shoot the dove. 
The ant ran up on the man and bit his hand. He let the gun drop and the dove flew away. 
So the hunter could not shoot the bird. Thus the dove was safe and the ant was ha ppy. The dove and the ant became great friends
2
Do you know the story of the ant and the dove? 
Yes, I do. 
Could the little ant swim, when it fell into the brook? 
No, it could not. 
Who saved the poor ant? 
A dove who was in a tree above the brook saw it, and threw a leaf down into the stream. 
Did the ant forget this kindness? 
No, he did not; for he saved the dove from a hunter who wanted to shoot her. 
Now tell me once more all about these two good friends. 

LESSON VI
AT THE QUAY
1
You see a big ship at the quay.
Where is this ship going? 
It is going to America. 
It is a big steamship. 
It is on its way across the Pacific Ocean. 
It goes from Yokohama to San Francisco. 
A lot of people have come down to see their friends off. 
There is a Japanese girl on board the ship. She is going to America to study music.
The ship does not go through the Panama Canal. It stops at San Francisco, so she must go by railway from San Francisco to New York. 
She has just finished her school in this country, and is full of hopes, for she believes she will be one of the most famous pianists in the world. 
2
Where is the steam-ship going? 
It is going to America. 
Where is America? 
It is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. From where does the ship start? 
It starts from Yokohama. 
Why have those people come there? They have come to see their friends off. Why is the Japanese girl going to America? She is going to America to study Western music. Does the ship go through the Panama Canal?
No; it stops at San Francisco. 
Is she going to study music at San Francisco? 
No, she goes to New York, and enters a music school there. 
Has she finished her school? 
Yes, she has just finished. 
Are you sure she will be a good pianist? 
Yes, I am quite sure. 

LESSON VII 
RADIO
1.
Radio began to be used in Europe and America about twenty years ago. 
It has now become quite popular in Japan. In this country we call it razio, and it has come from the American word, " radio ". In England it is called "wireless." 
We now have many broadcasting stations in such big cities as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya Sendai and Hirosima. The Tokyo Central Broadcasting Station was completed in 1924. It is usually called " J O A K." 
My elder sister is very fond of Western music, and often listens to a good musical program.
 
2
When did the radio begin to be used? 
It began to be used some twenty years ago. 
Has it become very popular in Japan? 
Yes, it has been quite popular.
From what country has the word razio come? 
It has come from America. 
3
What have you been doing all this time? 
I have been listening to the radio. 
Have you ever been to the Broadcasting Station? 
Yes, I have. 
Have you ever caught music from a far-away station? 
Yes, I have once listened to an opera from Milan. 

LESSON VIII
THE RAINBOW 
1
Mrs. Hale and her daughter Jane were going out for a walk, but when Jane opened the door she called out,
 " Oh mother, it's raining! "
 "Yes " said her mother "It is raining hard. Let us wait till the rain stops." 
 So Jane shut the door and they began to read newspapers in the dining-room. 
After a while Mrs. Hale rose and looked out of the window. 
" The rain has stopped, Jane," she said.
 " Look at that rainbow. Isn't it, pretty? " 
" Beautiful! " cried Jane. Then she went on, " By the way, mother, this morning our teacher asked me how many colors there are in a rainbow."
 " Of course you could answer it, Jane." 
"I said there were seven. Then she told me to say them one after another, and I couldn't " 
" Did she tell you? "
 " No; she asked the other girls, but none of the class could say them, She told us to learn them when we saw a rainbow next time."
 " Well " said Mrs. Hale. " You must learn them now. I am sure your teacher will ask you again to-morrow." 
" Let me see,' said Jane. " Violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. --Violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. I think I have learnt them by heart." 
Then they went out for their walk. 
2
Where were Mrs. Hale and her daughter Jane going? 
They were going out for a walk. 
Was it fine or raining? 
It was raining hard. 
What did they do? 
They waited till the rain stopped. They were reading newspapers for a while. 
What did they see when the rain stopped? 
They saw a beautiful rainbow. 
Did Jane know how many colors there were in a rainbow? 
Yes, but she could not tell the colors one after another. 
Now all of you have learnt them by heart. 

LESSON IX
THE STORY OF IRIS 
Look at the rainbow in the sky.
It is raining while the sun shines. It shines on the drops of rain. The sun and the rain make the rainbow.
Don't you think the rainbow looks like a bridge? You shall hear the story of the Beautiful Bridge.
Once a king had lovely daughter whose name was Iris.
She had a dress of all the most beautiful colors that could be found.
The king lived with Iris in the sky. But the queen did not live in the sky. She lived on the top of a high mountain. 
The king and the queen met on the high mountain. There they made beautiful things for Iris. 
The king and the queen made a wonderful bridge for their daughter Iris. It was made of the beautiful colors that Iris loved. The colors were red, orange, yellow, green, blue indigo, and violet.
Have you ever seen this beautiful bridge?
Iris went up and down over her bridge. The bridge was made in such a way that Iris could let it down to the mountains.
When this bridge was let down, each end was fixed to the earth by a heavy pot of gold. Though many greedy people looked for the gold, they were never able to find it. 
Iris loved the waters of the rivers and of the sea. In them she saw the bright colors of her lovely robe.
She kissed the flowers that grew upon the earth, and they took the colors of her robe and of the bridge.
One flower which grew by the water and in the shade of the woods became deep, deep blue, and Iris loved it best of all. 
So in time it came to be known to every one as the iris. 

LESSON X 
BOATS SAIL ON THE RIVERS 
Boats sail on the rivers,  
And ships sail on the seas; 
But clouds that sail across the sky 
Are prettier far than these. 
There are bridges on the rivers, 
As pretty as you please; 
But the bow that bridges heaven, 
And overtops the trees, 
And builds a road from earth to sky, 
Is prettier far than these. 

--Chrisitina Rossetti

LESSON XI 
SUMMER 
Summer has come. What a lovely time summer is! How long we have been looking forward to the long summer holidays! 
Last year I passed the summer with a friend in a small hotel among the mountains. We had a lot of climbing, gathering pretty flowers and insects, and fishing in mountain streams and lakes. 
This year my uncle says he will take my cousin and me to the seaside. What a jolly time we shall have there! My cousin says she will teach me how to swim. When the sea is very calm we may go for a sail, and when the waves are high we can play on the sands. 
There is one thing more I want to do during the vacation. If I have time I think I will visit a friend who lives in the country. Her father has a big farm and keeps many sheep. 
Their house is in a cool and quiet place near the woods. How pleasant a country walk will be in the early morning! In the fields and hedges many pretty wild flowers may be seen, and as we pass along we may enjoy their sweet smell. 
Now we have had a long rainy season, but the newspaper says that the weather for summer will be fine most of the time. How lucky we shall be then! At the end of the summer we shall meet again at school, and then let us talk of what we have done during the summer days. 

LESSON XII 
THE WORLD
Have you ever studied geography? Look at the map of the world. How many continents are there in all?
There are six. 
Yes, there are six continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. Asia is the largest continent, and Australia the smallest. These continents are surrounded by seas and oceans. 
Japan is an island empire in the eastern part of Asia. Korea and the southern half of Saghalien belong to Japan. No country in the East is so strong as she. 
To the west of Japan lies China, which is one of the largest and oldest countries in the world. 
England is an island country in Europe. It is one of the strongest countries and has many possessions all over the world. They say that the sun never sets on the British Empire. 
To the east of Japan and across the Pacific Ocean lies the United States of America, which is one of the largest and richest countries in the world. 
France, Germany and Russia are all large and strong countries. Besides these, there are many smaller ones. 
English is spoken both by the English and the Americans, French by the French, Italian by the Italians, and German by the Germans. Each nation has a language of its own. 

LESSON XIII
SAVING MONEY 
When you earn money it is not wise to spend it all; you should lay aside part of it, because you cannot know when you may need it. 
But it is not safe for you to keep the money you save in your pocket. You may lose it. If you leave it at home in a box or in a trunk, a thief may steal it. Your house may take fire and your money may be lost. 
Where is the best place to keep the money you save? It is a savings-bank. 
If you put your money in a savings-bank, they will keep it for you, and give it back to you when you ask for it. It grows by what you add to it from time to time. Moreover, a savings-bank will pay you interest for the use of your money. So sometimes it grows faster than you expect. 
Money which is saved is always ready for a rainy day. People who save money not only have money to spend for themselves, but do service for the public good. 

LESSON XIV
ALICE'S DAILY WORK
Alice goes to a girls' school in town. She lives a little way off from town. It takes nearly half an hour to walk from her house to her school. Every morning she gets up at half-past six, washes her face and hands in cold water, dresses herself, and has breakfast. She starts for school at a quarter-past seven. 
School begins at eight. In the morning, lessons last from nine till twelve. A few girls who live near the school go home for lunch, but most of them have lunch at school. In the afternoon they have one or two more lessons. When school is over, Alice goes home and has tea. 
In the evening, she does her homework, then she reads a book, plays the piano or listens to the radio. Sometimes she goes to the cinema with her father and mother. She usually goes to bed about nine. 
On Wednesday and Saturday they have a half-holiday, when girls play tennis, basket-ball or other games, according to the time of the year. On Sunday morning perhaps Alice goes to church with her parents, and in the afternoon they probably go for a walk together, or visit some friends and relatives. 

LESSON XV
A WALK IN THE WOODS 
It was late in the month of September. The leaves on the trees were beginning to turn yellow or brown. " The chestnuts must be ripe," said my cousin Toyoko to me one day. " Yes, they must be quite ripe; let us be off to the woods! "  
So we agreed to have a day in the woods. My aunt, who is Toyoko's mother, said we might go, and the next morning we started early. 
The woods were about two miles from my aunt's house. As we could not be home for lunch, we carried a rucksack well filled with sandwiches, cakes, fruit and a thermos of tea. 
By the time we arrived at the woods, the sun was growing very warm, and it was a perfect day. How pleased we were to find that the chestnut-trees were well loaded with ripe brown nuts!  
It did not take us much time to fill our bags. We were getting very hungry, however, so we looked for and found a pleasant spot, where we sat down to enjoy our lunch. It was near a pretty little brook. After lunch we stayed a long time at the place and then walked along the stream out of the woods. 

LESSON XVI
DRESS-MAKER
The dress-maker is a maker of dresses; generally, a woman who makes dresses for ladies.
When she makes a dress, she first spreads the cloth on the table, and measures it with a tape-measure. 
Then she pins the pattern on to the cloth, and marks it with a piece of tailor's chalk. 
She cuts the cloth to the pattern with a pair of scissors. 
Then she takes a needle and thread, puts a thimble on her finger, and begins to sew. She sews the pieces of cloth together, sometimes by hand but mostly by machine. 
When the pieces of cloth have been sewn together, she tries the dress on the lady for whom she is making it.  
The dress-maker sees that the dress fits the lady well. 
Now she makes up the dress ready for the lady to wear. 

LESSON XVII
CONVERSATION
I. IN THE STREET
Humiko. Good morning, Clare. I'm glad to see you again. 
Clare. How are you, Humiko? I hope you have all been well. 
H. We have been quite well, thank you. And you? 
C. Very well, thanks.
H. Are you busy?
C. Not very. Why?
H. If you have the time, won't you come to my house to tea this afternoon?
C. Thank you, I shall be very glad to; what time shall I come?
H. Oh, about half-past three. 
C. All right. And will you kindly tell me how to get to your house? 
H. Certainly. You take a city-bus to Kasumityo. My house is third from the corner. I'll meet you at the car-stop. 
C. That's very kind of you. I'll be there about a quarter past three.  
H. All right. I'll be expecting you. 

II. AT HUMIKO'S HOUSE
Humiko. Shall we go into the garden? 
Clare. Yes. I like to see your bamboos. 
H. I'll bring my camera along and take a picture of you if you don't mind. 
C. That's very kind of you, but I'm not a very good subject for a photograph. 
H. Oh, don't be shy. 
C. Where do you want me to stand? 
H. Try standing over there by the bamboos.
C. Will this do?
H. I'm afraid it won't. The sun shines into the lens and spoils the picture. 
C. Well, how's this? 
H. Good. Now stand still, please. 
C. Did you take it? 
H. Yes.  
C. Will you please send me a copy? 
H. Certainly. 
C. Now let me take one of you.  
H. Thank you very much. 

LESSON XVIII
LITTLE SUNSHINE 
Once there was a little girl named Elsa. She had a very old grandmother with white hair, and wrinkles all over her face. 
Elsa's father had a large house that stood on a hill. 
Each day the sun peeped in at the south windows. 
It made everything look bright and beautiful. 
The grandmother lived in a room facing the north.
The sun never came to her room. 
One day Elsa said to her father. " Why doesn't the sun peep into Grandma's room? I know she would like to have him." 
" The sun cannot look in at the north windows." said her father. 
" Then let us turn the house round, Papa. " 
"It is too large for that," said her father 
" Will Grandma never have any sunshine in her room? " asked Elsa.  
" Of course not, my child, unless you carry some to her." 
After that Elsa tried to think how she could carry the sunshine to her grandmother. When she played in the fields she saw the grass and the flowers nodding their heads. The birds sang sweetly as they flew from tree to tree.  
Everything seemed to say, " We love the sun, we love the bright, warm sunshine." "Grandma would love it, too," thought the child. " I must take some to her."
When she was in the garden one morning she felt the sun's warm rays in her golden hair. Then she sat down and she saw them in her lap. 
"I will take them in my dress," she thought, " and carry them to Grandma's room."  So she jumped up and ran into the house.  
"Look, Grandma, look! I have some sunshine for you," she cried. And she opened her dress, but there was not a ray to be seen. 
" It peeps out of your eyes, my child," said her grandmother, " and it shines in your sunny golden hair. I do not need the sun when I have you with me." 
Elsa did not understand how the sun could peep out of her eyes. But she was glad to make her dear grandmother happy. 
Every morning she played in the garden, and then ran into the grandmother 's room to carry the sunshine in her eyes and hair. 
The dear grandmother told her fairy stories until the little girl's eyes sparkled with joy. 

LESSON XIX 
A DAY'S MEALS 
In England we usually have four meals a day--breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. We eat breakfast early in the morning. We have tea or coffee, bacon and eggs, and some toast with marmalade or jam. Sometimes we eat porridge too. 
Lunch is taken at about one o'clock. As most of us are busy in the middle of the day, our lunch is rather a light meal. Boiled or fried potatoes and salad are often on the table. We also take a piece of cheese with one or two biscuits at the end of lunch. At afternoon tea, we eat a few slices of bread and butter with jam, or a cake, or a bun. We like strong and fresh made tea. We put one or two lumps of sugar and a little milk into it. 
Dinner is the biggest meal. We enjoy it a great deal because all the family can join in it. We take soup, fish, meat, vegetables, and dessert for dinner. 
When we are all at home on Sundays, we usually have dinner after church. Then in the evening we take a light meal, which is called supper. 

LESSON XX 
TABLE MANNERS 
If you wish to be polite, you should eat slowly and quietly. 
It is very rude to make a noise when you are eating or drinking. 
You should use your knife to cut your food. But you should never cut your bread with a knife. You should break it with your fingers. 
You should not put your elbows on the table. Nor should you play with your knife or fork. 
You should use your fork to carry your food to your mouth.  
You should not leave your spoon in your cup. You should stir your coffee with a spoon. Then you should put the spoon in the saucer. 
You should not talk with your mouth full. You should not reach across the table for the salt, bread, butter, or anything. 
You should not forget to say "please," when you ask someone to pass something to you. When you have finished eating, you should wait for the others to finish also. 
You should not pick your teeth at table. 
If you are obliged to go, you should say, " Excuse me, please,"' before getting up from the table. 

LESSON XXI 
LETTER-WRITING
1
Tomiko. I hope I'm not disturbing you. 
Anne. Not in the least. 
T. What are you doing, may I ask? 
A. I'm writing a letter to Miss Seki. 
T. Have you heard from her? 
A. Yes. I got a letter from her this morning. 
T. What does she say? 
A. She says she's having a wonderful time. 
T. Please send her my regards. 
A. I will. 
T. Have you written to Mrs. Yamada? 
A. No. Not yet. I haven't her address. 
T. Shall I give it to you? 
A. If you please. 
T. I haven't had a letter from her since August. 
A. Neither have I. 
T. Perhaps it's because we haven't answered her last letter. 
A. Perhaps so. 
By the by, would you kindly post this letter for me when you go out? 
T. Certainly. 
A. That's Very kind of you.

2
19 Kasumityo, Azabu, 
Nov. 27, 1940. 
My Dear Seki, 
Next Saturday, December 3rd, is my little sister's birthday. Mother says that we may have a little tea-party on that afternoon with our friends. Can you come round soon after you get home from school? We shall be very glad if you bring your little brother with you. We are asking some other friends of little Bessie's. I hope both of you can come. 
Yours affectionately, 
Anne Hall 

LESSON XXII
FROM ANNE'S DIARY
Nov. 30th. Wed. A fine day. After school played tennis with Edith and others. A letter came from Helen, saying she will come on Saturday with Dick.
Dec. 1st. Thurs. Cloudy. On my way to school met Miss Brown, our former teacher of English. Towards evening it seemed to begin to snow. Bessie wished it would snow. She often looked up at the window and prayed for snow very loudly.
Dec. 2nd. Fri. Rainy. No snow. Bessie's disappointment. In the afternoon made a doll's dress for Bessie while mother went out shopping.
Dec. 3rd. Sat. Bessie's birthday. Little rain in the morning, but it cleared up just before noon. Friends all came except Clara. Before tea we said all together to Bessie, "Many happy returns of the day!" After tea we played with dolls. Mary sang, and I played the piano. Mother told us an interesting story. We had a very good time today. 

LESSON XXIII
CHRISTMAS GAME 
Paul. Let us play Christmas.  
John. I will be Santa Claus. 
Julia. I will be the mother, and Paul, Ned, Elsie, Fred and Grace may be my children.  
Fred. I will put up this string so that we may hang up our stockings.
Julia. Here are the stockings. 
Fred. The big one is mine.  
Elsie. I will have this one.
Grace. I am the baby and will take the little one. 
Julia. What do you want in your stocking, Grace? 
Grace. I want a big doll with eyes that will open and shut. 
Elsie. I want a set of dishes. 
Fred. I want a bicycle. 
Paul. Oh! oh! oh! a bicycle in a stocking! 
Fred. Well, I want a bicycle for Christmas. 
Ned. So do I. We can have them beside our stockings. 
Julia. Come, my children, you must all go to sleep now. 
Elsie. I like to go to bed early the night before Christmas. 
Ned. Yes, it makes morning come sooner. 
Grace. Good night, everybody. 
All. Good night! Good night!
(Children lay their heads on their desks and close their eyes.) 
Santa Claus. Oh, yes! Here are some stockings to fill. I think I have just what these children will like. (He fills the stockings.) 
Now I must go as quickly as I can. I hear my reindeer on the roof. 
Paul. Wake up, everybody! Merry Christmas! 
All. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
Fred. Come, let us get our stockings.  
Ned. Here they are, all full!
Elsie. I wonder what Santa Claus has put in mine! 
(Children take their stockings to their desks.)  
Grace. Oh, look at my doll! 
Elsie. Look at this pretty book! 
Ned. I have a bicycle! 
Fred. So have I! 
Paul. Look at my cart! 
All. Three cheers for Santa Claus and a Merry Christmas to all! 

LESSON XXIV 
MY BED IS A BOAT 
My bed is like a little boat; 
Nurse helps me in when I embark; 
She girds me in my sailor's coat, 
And starts me in the dark. 
At night I go on board and say 
Good night to all my friends on shore; 
I shut my eyes and sail away, 
And see and hear no more.  
And sometimes things to bed I take, 
As prudent sailors have to do; 
Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake, 
Perhaps a toy or two
All night across the dark we steer: 
But when the day returns at last, 
Safe in my room, beside the pier, 
I find my vessel fast.
--Robert Louis Stevenson

LESSON XXV
THE CINEMA 
My father is fond of the cinema. He sometimes takes me to the theatre when there are good pictures.  
My father likes foreign films better. He says he can learn a great many things from them about the history or customs of different countries. 
News films have now become quite popular in this country. Besides the big cinema house in our town where foreign talkie pictures are on week after week, many small theatres have been built for showing news pictures.
A few days ago, we saw in the paper that there was a good talkie at the nearest cinema house. That evening we went to see it after dinner. 
It was an American film. The story was about a little kind-hearted girl helping her poor father out of troubles. The father was an unemployed musician and there were many other poor men who played music well enough, but unfortunately had no fame or work. The girl made friends with a certain great conductor, and with her warm heart at last succeeded in making him conduct an orchestra of those poor men including her father.  
I could not understand very well the English which the people in the picture spoke, but the story was so beautiful that I enjoyed it very much. The music was especially good. When the picture was over with a happy ending and the sweet singing of the pretty girl, I felt like seeing it once more. If they always show such good pictures as the one we saw that night, my father may allow me to see pictures oftener. 

LESSON XXVI
WINTER SPORTS
Most boys and girls love winter, for then the snow falls, and ponds and lakes become frozen over. 
It is great fun to make snowmen, and to have a snowball fight. It is a fine and healthy sport to slide and skate on the ice. 
And perhaps the pleasantest of all winter sports is skiing.  
In this country, the season of ice and snow lasts only a short time. So you must go to the mountains or somewhere in the northeast to enjoy these sports. 
Now in a large city you have several indoor rinks, and can hire skates by the hour. Thus in some places you can enjoy skating all the year round without leaving town. Skiing is very popular nowadays. Men and women and children gather at the famous skiing grounds or make tours up and down hills. 
If you are clever, you can travel even faster than you do by train. 
Young people often have ski races and ski-jumping matches. It is wonderful how far an expert jumper can fly on his ski. 
Every winter I make it a rule to go for skiing during my holidays. I often climb mountains with my brothers. The keen crisp air makes the skin glow, and the motion sends warmth all through the body. Above all, I enjoy the wonderful scenery that can only be seen in such places.  

LESSON XXVII 
ARITHMETIC
Joan. Let us play school. 
All. All right. 
Joan. May I be the teacher? 
All. Yes, you may. 
Joan. Let us begin. Class, sit down. Take out your pencils and paper. Answer these arithmetic questions, please: 
1. One yard is equal to three feet. 
How many feet are there in three yards? 
There are.... 
2. One quart is equal to two pints. 
How many pints are there in five quarts? 
There are.... 
3. How many quarts make nine pints? 
. . . . make nine pints. 
4. How many yards are there in eleven feet?  
There are . . . . 
5. Who can subtract thirteen from twenty? 
I can. 13 from 20=(equals) . . . . 
6. Who can multiply six by three? 
I can. 6 times 3=. . . . 
7. Who can add thirteen and four? 
I can. 13 and 4= . . . . 
8. Who can divide twenty-one by seven? 
I can. 21 divided by 7= . . . .  
9. Who can subtract 12 from 19? 
I can. 12 from 19= . . . . 
10. Who can multiply 6 by 4? 
I can. 6x(times) 4= . . . . . 
(Joan writes on the blackboard.) 
Read These: 1yd. = 3ft. 3yds. = 9ft. 
2Pts. = 1qt. 5qts. = 10pts. 1/2qt. = 1pt. 
20�|12=. . . 5�~4=. . . 6��3=. . . 
8�{4=. . . 

LESSON XXVIII
SWEET AND LOW
Sweet and low, sweet and low,
Wind of the western sea,   
Low, low, breathe and blow, 
Wind of the western sea! 
Over the rolling waters go, 
Come from the dying moon, and blow, 
Blow him again to me; 
While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.
Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, 
Father will come to thee soon; 
Rest, rest, on mother's breast, 
Father will come to thee soon; 
Father will come to his babe in the nest; 
Silver sails all out of the west 
Under the silver moon; 
Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep. 
--Alfred Tennyson

LESSON XXIX
THE DOLLS' FESTIVAL 
Look at this picture! You know that this is a picture of the dolls' festival. The " hinamaturi," as we call it, takes place on the third of March every year. 
I was born in January, 1925, and my parents bought these dolls for me for the festival of that year. 
Since then my parents have made it a rule to take out the dolls every year when the day comes round, and arrange them nicely upon a set of shelves as you see here. 
For about a week before the day, I can enjoy those beautiful dolls and their belongings all the time. 
On the third of March I ask some friends to come and all gather before the dolls to celebrate the day. 
Mother prepares " siro-zake " for the day. This white drink is not only for the dolls but also for ourselves. It is sweet enough but so strong that we children take only a little of it. 
Sometimes my parents buy new dolls for me and they add to the beauty of the whole set each time. Of course I do not care for playthings now so much as I used to do. But I think I shall never cease to love these dolls, because they make me think of my parents' love.  

LESSON XXX
THE STAR DIPPER
Once there was a little girl who was very, very kind. She and her mother lived in a little house. It was near a big wood. 
One night her mother was ill. It was a very warm night. 
"Oh, I am so thirsty," said the mother.
"How I would like to have some nice, cool water! "  
"I will get some water for you, Mother," said the little girl. 
So she took an old tin dipper and ran to the pump. But the pump would not give her any water. The well was dry. " What shall I do?" said the little girl. " My mother must have some nice, cool water. I will run to the spring in the wood. It is very dark, but I must not be afraid." 
So she ran down the road to the dark wood. She could not see where she was going. The sharp stones cut her feet, but she ran on and on. 
It was so dark that she lost her way among the trees. But she did not turn back. "I must get some water for my mother, " she said. 
At last she found the spring, and filled her dipper. Then she started for home.
On her way home she met a little dog. She knew that he must be thirsty, as all the brooks were dry.
"Come, little dog," said the kind girl. " I will give you some of this nice, cool water." 
She poured some water into her hand, and the little dog drank and drank. 
Then a queer thing happened. The old tin dipper turned to shining silver. It was as bright as the silver moon. Then the little girl could see her way. 
She went on faster and faster. Soon she met an old, old man. 
"Oh I am so thirsty! " said the old man. 
"I have walked a long way. All the brooks are dry. Can you tell me where I can get a drink of nice, cool water? " 
"I will give you some," said the little girl. 
So she gave the old man a drink from her dipper. Then another queer thing happened. The silver dipper turned to shining gold. It shone like the golden sun. 
At last the little girl reached her home. She gave her mother the golden dipper. "Oh, how cool this water is!" said her mother. She drank and drank until there was no more water in the dipper. 
" Thank you, my good little girl, " said her mother. " I feel so much better, now!" Then a wonderful thing happened. The golden dipper turned to sparkling diamonds. They went up, up, up into the sky and turned to seven bright stars--a star dipper in the sky. 
That was a long, long time ago, but the star dipper is still in the sky. It shows how brave a kind-hearted little girl can be. 

APPENDICES
I.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Once in the pretty little German town of Hamelin, the people were very miserable, for the town was full of rats. The rats were so big and bold and hungry that they fought the dogs, killed the cats, ate the people's dinners, and even bit the babies in their cradles. 
At last the people could bear it no longer They said to one another, " Let us go to the Mayor. He must help us to get rid of the rats. " So they marched to the Town Hall and said to the Mayor, " You must find a way to get rid of these rats. If you do not, you shall be our Mayor no longer."
The Mayor called together all the wise men of Hamelin. They sat thinking and thinking, but they could think of no good plan. 
Just then they heard a gentle tap! tap! at the door. 
" Come in," said the Mayor, and in came a very strange fellow. He was tall and thin, and he wore a long coat, half red and half yellow. They all stared at him. 
" Who are you? " asked the Mayor. 
" Men call me the Pied Piper, " said the strange fellow. " I can draw all creatures after me with the magic music of my pipe. If I draw away the rats from your town, will you give me a thousand pounds? " 
"If you do so," cried the Mayor, "I will give you fifty thousand." 
The Piper stepped into the street and began to play. The rats came out of their holes and followed him down the street-- big rats and small rats, white rats and black rats, thin rats and fat rats, old rats and young rats. He led them to the river, and there all the rats were drowned. 
Oh! how happy the people were on that day! They rang the church bells for joy. They sang, they shouted, they danced. They cheered the Mayor in the market-place, and he felt very proud. 
Then came the Pied Piper. 
" My fifty thousand pounds, if you please! " he said to the Mayor. 
The Mayor thought for a moment. He knew that the rats could not come back. 
" Fifty thousand pounds? " he said. " No! no! my friend. That was only a joke! I will give you fifty pounds." 
" You promised me fifty thousand pounds," said the Pied Piper. " Surely you will give it to me?" 
" No! " cried the Mayor angrily. 
" Very well, " said the Piper. "You will see that I can pipe a different tune." 
Once more he took his pipe and blew a tune. Oh, how sweet the sound was! All the children in the town stopped their play and followed the Piper. Down the street they went-- big girls and little girls, tall boys and short boys, all went merrily, dancing to the music of the Piper. 
The Pied Piper led them to a tall hill. A great door opened in the side of the hill. In went the Pied Piper, still playing his sweet music, and the little boys and girls went in after him. 
When they were all in, the door closed slowly. The children of Hamelin were all inside the hill. The parents wept sadly for their dear little ones and angrily blamed the Mayor. But the children had gone for ever. Perhaps they are still dancing to the soft, sweet music of the strange Piper. 

II. 
The Honest Woodman 
A woodman was at work near the water. He was cutting down a large oak-tree. 
You could hear the chip, chip, chip, of his axe.
When he lifted the axe high over his head to give a good blow, the axe fell into the deep water. He said "Oh! What shall I do? I have lost my good axe!" 
A kind fairy lived in the water. She came up out of the water and said " My poor man, why are you crying? " 
" Oh! " said the woodman in great distress, " I have lost my good axe." 
" Do not cry," said the fairy. " I will get it for you." 
The fairy went down into the deep water. Soon she came up with a gold axe. "Is this your axe? " said the fairy. 
" Oh, no! " said the woodman. " That is not mine." 
The fairy dived into the water a second time. Soon she came up with a silver axe. " Is this yours? " she said. 
"Oh, no, no!" replied the woodman. 
" That is not my old axe." 
Then the fairy said. " You shall have your own axe. " She dived to the bottom of the stream again. 
Soon she appeared before him with a steel axe in her hands. 
" Oh, thank you!" said the happy woodman " That is mine. Now I can work." 
" Yes," said the fairy, " this is your axe, but it is made of steel. Did you not like the gold and silver ones? " 
" This is my axe," said the woodman. " The gold one was not mine, nor was the silver one." 
The fairy was much pleased with the man's truthfulness and honesty. 
" You are an honest woodman," said the fairy, " so I will give you the gold and silver axes." 
The woodman carried home the gold and silver axes with his own steel one. This made him a very, very happy man. 
--AEsop's Fables 

III. 
POEMS 
The Wind 
Who has seen the wind? 
Neither I nor you; 
But when the leaves hang trembling, 
The wind is passing through. 
Who has seen the wind? 
Neither you nor I; 
But when the trees bow down their heads, 
The wind is passing by. 
--Christina Rossetti 

The Swing 
How do you like to go up in a swing 
Up in the air so blue? 
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide, 
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the country-side. 
Till I look down on the garden green, 
Down on the root so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again, 
Up in the air and down! 
--Robert Louis Stevenson 

What Does Little Birdie say? 
What does little birdie say, 
In her nest at peep of day? 
" Let me fly," says little birdie, 
" Mother, let me fly away." 
" Birdie, rest a little longer, 
Till the little wings are stronger." 
So she rests a little longer, 
Then she flies away. 
What does little baby say, 
In her bed at peep of day? 
Baby says, like little birdie,
" Let me rise and fly away " 
" Baby, sleep a little longer, 
Till the little limbs are stronger." 
If she sleeps a little longer, 
Baby too shall fly away. 
--Lord Tennyson. 

IV. 
PROVERBS 
1. Time is money. 
2. Seeing is believing. 
3. Honesty is the best policy. 
4. Hunger is the best sauce. 
5. Necessity is the mother of invention. 
6. A friend in need is a friend indeed. 
7. Health is better than wealth. 
8. Speech is silver, silence is golden. 
9. Rome was not built in a day. 
10. Time flies like an arrow. 
11. Time and tide wait for no man. 
12. After rain comes fair weather. 
13. The early bird catches the worm. 
14. A rolling stone gathers no moss. 
15. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. 
16. Sweep before your own door first. 
17. Heaven helps those who help themselves. 
18. All is not gold that glitters. 
19. Where there is a will, there is a way. 
20. Make hay while the sun shines.