LESSON 4
CASTLE-BUILDING (I)

WORD LIST

anger castle foundation rattling tower

dismay sofa interested passion pile

mimic nodded exclaimed already spilled

1. “O pussy! ” cried Herbert, in a voice of anger and dismay, as the blockhouse he was building fell in sudden ruin. The playful cat had rubbed against his mimic castle, and tower and wall went rattling down upon the floor.

2. Herbert took up one of the blocks and threw it fiercely at pussy. Happily, it passed over her and did no harm. His hand was reaching for another block, when his little sister Hetty sprang toward the cat, and caught her up.

3. “No, no, no! ” said she, “you shan't hurt pussy! She didn't mean to do it! ”

4. Herbert's passion was over quickly, and, sitting down upon the floor, he covered his face with his hands, and began to cry.

5. “What a baby! ” said Joe, his elder brother, who was reading on the sofa. “Crying over spilled milk does no good. Build it up again.”

6. “No, I won't, ” said Herbert, and he went on crying.

7. “What's all the trouble here? ” exclaimed papa, as he opened the door and came in.

8. “Pussy just rubbed against Herbert's castle, and it fell down, ”answered Hetty. “But she didn't mean to do it; she didn't know it would fall, did she, papa? ”

9. “Why, no! And is that all the trouble? ”

10. “Herbert! ” his papa called, and held out his hands. “Come.”The little boy got up from the floor, and came slowly, his eyes full of tears, and stood by his father.

11. “There is a better way than this, my boy, ” said papa. “If you had taken that way, your heart would have been light already. I should have heard you singing over your blocks instead of crying. Shall I show you that way? ”

12. Herbert nodded his head, and papa sat down on the floor by the pile of blocks, with his little son by his side, and began to lay the foundation for a new castle.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Definitions—Write the vocabulary word in front of its meaning. Choose from these words.

dismay passion sofa mimic tower

nodded foundation pile exclaimed spilled

1. ____________________: strong feelings/emotions

2. ____________________: the lowest part of a building

3. ____________________: disappointment

4. ____________________: many things upon one another

5. ____________________: a long seat for two or more people

6. _____________________: incline one's head slightly to show agreement

7. ____________________: a tall, narrow building

8. ____________________: copy or imitate

9. ____________________: cry out suddenly

10. ___________________: cause liquid to fall out of a container

B. Discussion Questions—Talk about these questions.

1. Why was Herbert angry at pussy?

2. Why was Hetty angry at Herbert?

3. Joe told Herbert not to “cry over spilled milk”. What does this mean?

4. Herbert's papa told him there is a better way. What does this mean?

5. Have you ever cried over spilled milk? What does this mean?

6. What would you do if a cat accidentally broke something you were trying to make?

C. Identify the person—Who did or said these things? Choose from:Herbert,Hetty,Joe,Papa.

1. Who threw a block at pussy? __________

2. Who said not to hurt pussy? __________

3. Who called Herbert a baby? __________

4. Who opened the door? __________

5. Who helped Herbert start a new castle? __________