STUDY 1

GOING TO A FIRE

The alarm bell has rung and the fire engine has dashed down the street with a noisy clatter. Some people rush to the windows and doors, others hurry along the street to see the fire.

Peter and Joe are among the first to hear the alarm and run pell-mell down the street. A dark cloud of smoke is seen rising into the sky and soon the flames burst from the top of a tall building. The fire engine is at work and has already thrown a big stream of water into the flames. The boys stand watching the firemen and the burning building. From where they stand they feel the scorching heat. The firemen have gone through the smoking halls and rooms and have brought out the women and children to a place of safety. It looks as if the great building must be destroyed. A second fire engine has come up and is now throwing a strong stream of water into the hottest part of the fire.

Little by little the flames are quenched and the smoke pours out in volumes. After an hour's hard fighting the 108

fire is put out and the building stands safe in spite of

much damage.

The firemen have done their work well. Plunging into the smoke and heat, without fear of danger, they have rescued the people and saved the building. The boys have seen what brave, strong men can do.

Exercises

1. Read this story to the class, pronouncing the words clearly. Tell what you can of the fire department in your town or city.

2. Tell the class about a fire you have seen.

3. Give reasons why it is well to have trained firemen in a city. How are fires sometimes started by careless people?

4. Let three of the children stand before the class.

Teacher: May, take the bell and ring it.

Teacher: What did May do?

Jane May rang the bell.

Teacher: Ruth, what has May done?

Ruth: May has rung the bell.

Teacher: Tom, give us these three sentences again. Tom: May rings the bell. May rang the bell. May has rung the bell.

5. Fill the blanks in these sentences with ring, rang, or have rung.

Use see, saw, and have seen in the following:

EMPEROR FREDERICK.

PRINCE LOUIS OF THURINGIA.

THE PRINCESS OF THURINGIA, sister of the Emperor. SECRETARY.

SCENE I

A room in the tower of the Prince's castle, which is built on a rocky hill.

THE PRINCESS.-You find, brother, the view from the tower pleasing?

THE EMPEROR.-So beautiful a landscape I have sel

dom seen. The hills and forests, and the clustered villages sheltered in the valleys make a glorious view. And how comfortable is the village that lies about the foot of the castle! As for the castle itself, it is altogether noble and strongly built. It is a real palace of a prince. I do not see that anything is lacking. But it is too bad that no outer wall surrounds it. How would you defend it against an enemy?

PRINCE LOUIS.-My Lord, I will not let two days pass before I put around this palace a wall so strong and costly that nothing like it can be found in all Thuringia. THE EMPEROR (laughing).—That could hardly come to pass.

PRINCE LOUIS.-I think it can be done.

Room in the palace.

SCENE II

PRINCE LOUIS (to his secretary).—I have work for you to-day. Send swift messengers with letters to all the barons and nobles of Thuringia. Bid them come at once, each with a chosen band of knights and squires in full armor and decked with all their trappings. Make no delay.

SECRETARY.-It shall be done, my Lord.