Lesson:

1. One winter night, Mrs. Lord and her two little girls sat by a bright fire in their pleasant home. The girls were sewing, and their mother was busy at her knitting.


2. At last, Katie finished her work, and, looking up, said, 'Mother, I think the fire is brighter than usual. How I love to hear it crackle!'


3. 'And I was about to say,' cried Mary, 'that this is a better light than we had last night.'


4. 'My dears,' said their mother, 'it must be that you feel happier than usual tonight. Perhaps that is the reason why you think the fire better, and the light brighter.'


5. 'But, mother,' said Mary, 'I do not see why we are happier now than we were then; for last night cousin Jane was here, and we played 'Puss in the corner' and 'Blind man' until we all were tired.'


6. 'I know! I know why!' said Katie. 'It is because we have all been doing something useful tonight. We feel happy because we have been busy.'


7. 'You are right, my dear,' said their mother. 'I am glad you have both learned that there may be something more pleasant than play, and, at the same time, more instructive.'

Teaching Guide:

Step 1: Study the New Words

  • Listen to the new words.
  • Recite each of the new words aloud.

Step 2: Examine the Lesson Image

Describe the image, its setting, and its characters.

Step 3: Read the Lesson Passage

  • Find each new word in the passage.
  • Practice reading the passage, both silently and aloud.
  • Upon mastering the passage, recite it aloud to your instructor.

Step 4: Complete Lesson Copywork, Narration, and Dictation

Complete the associated copywork, narration, and dictation for this lesson. Click the icon to access the page.   

Step 5: Discuss the Lesson

  • Was the fire in the story actually brighter? Why or why not?
  • Describe a situation in which working made you happy.