McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson LV · Part 6: Lessons XLIX-LX: Sieges, patriots and pilgrims

61. The Fortune-Teller (Henry Mackenzie)

Goal: Your student reads a story with a moral twist and discusses the beggar's confession.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 7 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, or the scan beside this guide
  • A notebook and pen
  • A dictionary

What's in the book

From The Man of Feeling: Harley meets a beggar with a dog, who offers to tell his fortune and then explains how he came to that trade.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    Before reading, find these words in the selection and look up any your student does not know: alms, security, prophesying.

  2. About the author

    The book says Henry Mackenzie (1745-1831) was born and educated in Edinburgh, was an attorney, and knew many of the famous literary men of that city. His fame rests chiefly on two novels, The Man of Feeling and The Man of the World.

  3. Read it aloud

    Your student reads the story aloud, giving the beggar a voice of his own. His confession:

    I was in some sort forced to the trade, for I once dealt in telling the truth.

    I told all my misfortunes truly, but they were seldom believed.

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat is Harley doing when the beggar comes up? What does he think about the stones and the pebble?

    SayWhy did the beggar give up telling the truth about his misfortunes?

    SayRead: "People don't care to give alms without some security for their money." Is that a fair complaint?

    SayHow does Harley treat the beggar? What does that show about him?

  5. Tell it back

    Your student retells the beggar's story in the first person, as if they were the beggar.

  6. Copywork and memory

    Copy:

    I was in some sort forced to the trade, for I once dealt in telling the truth.

  7. Write (optional)

    Write a paragraph: why are people sometimes more willing to believe a lie than the truth?

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