McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXXVII · Part 4: Lost Lucy, the Town Pump and the bobolink

43. The Tea Rose

Goal: Your child retells the conversation between Florence and Kate and explains Florence's belief that beauty is for everyone.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook and pencil

What's in the book

A story told mostly in dialogue, with no author named: Florence, leaving for New York, decides to give her prized tea rose to a poor sewing girl rather than to a rich friend. Definitions follow.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    Read some definitions:

    Asylum, a place of refuge and protection.

    Sentimental, showing an excess of sentiment or feeling.

    Taste, the faculty of discerning beauty or whatever forms excellence.

    Yearns, longs, is eager.

  2. Read aloud

    Read it as a dialogue, one of you as Florence and one as cousin Kate.

    I say, cousin, I have been thinking what you are to do with your pet rose when you go to New York

    I have an asylum in view for my favorite.

  3. Talk about it

    SayWho wanted the rose, and to whom did Florence decide to give it?

    SayKate asks, "What in the world can people in their circumstances want with flowers?" How does Florence answer?

    SayWhat examples does Florence give to show that poor people love beauty too?

    Say"The beautiful things that God makes are his gifts to all alike." Do you agree?

  4. Tell it back

    Your child retells the conversation, giving both sides of the argument.

  5. Copywork

    Copy:

    The beautiful things that God makes are his gifts to all alike.

  6. Write (optional)

    Write about something beautiful you could give or share with someone who doesn't have much.

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