McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson XXV · Part 4: Riches, eagles and good neighbors

29. Harry's Riches

Goal: Your child reads a story aloud and explains why Harry is rich after all.

⏱ About 30 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook or lined paper and a pencil

What's in the book

A story: Harry decides his family is very poor because his playmate Johnny Crane has money in both pockets. Uncle Ben then offers to buy Harry's eyes, ears, hands and more, and keeps a tally in his note-book. Definitions follow.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    The new words are at the end of the lesson, under Definitions. The small number in front of each word is the paragraph or verse where it is used. Read them together before the lesson. A few of them:

    Disconsolate, filled with grief.

    Afford, to be able to pay for.

    Exultingly, in a triumphant manner.

    Treasures, things which are very much valued.

    Ask your child to find two of these words in the lesson and read the sentence each one is in.

  2. Read it aloud

    Your child reads the story aloud. It is a long one; split it over two days if you like. It begins with Harry's complaint:

    "Mother, Johnny has money in both pockets!"

  3. Talk about it

    SayWhy did Harry think he was poor?

    SayWhat did Uncle Ben offer to buy first? What did Harry say?

    SayHow much had Harry refused, by the end, according to Uncle Ben's note-book?

    SayWhat did Harry find out about being rich?

    Let your child look back at the page to find answers.

  4. Tell it back

    Close the book.

    SayTell me all the things Uncle Ben tried to buy, and what Harry said each time.

  5. Copywork

    Your child copies this from the book, slowly and neatly, minding every capital letter and mark of punctuation:

    "Mother," he whispered, "isn't God good to make every body so rich?"

  6. Words to learn

    Learn: disconsolate, reproachfully, startled, defiantly, afford, experiments, exclamations, treasures. Spell each aloud, then write it with its meaning.

Afterwards

Your child makes a list titled "My riches" of ten things they would not sell for any money.

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