The Mother Tongue, Book I: Lessons in Speaking, Reading and Writing English · Secs. 221–225 · Part 1: Part First
66. Keeping a promise: Sir William Napier
Goal: Your child retells a short true anecdote clearly in their own well-chosen words.
You'll need
- The book, open to this lesson
- Paper and pencil (a notebook kept just for this book works well)
What's in the book
Section 221 is the anecdote of Sir William Napier, who gave up an invitation to keep a promise to a little girl with a broken pitcher. Section 222 asks for it in writing. Sections 223 and 224 ask for sentences about persons, places and things in spring, and questions about metals and minerals. Section 225 asks for a note explaining that you cannot keep an engagement.
The lesson, step by step
Read the anecdote
Read Section 221 together.
"I could not disappoint the child, because she trusted in me."
Ask: What did Sir William give up? Why? Would you have done the same?
Tell it
Your child tells the story aloud without the book, in order.
Write it (Section 222)
Your child writes the anecdote in 6 to 8 sentences. The book says: you may tell it in your own words, but be sure your words are well chosen, and use the punctuation marks correctly. Include his words to his friend, in quotation marks.
Check it gently
Read it aloud. Is the meaning clear: the promise, the invitation, the choice? Then check the quotation. Fix one or two things.
What a good result looks like
Example (written for this guide, not from the book):
One day Sir William Napier met a little girl crying over a broken pitcher. He had no money with him, so he promised to bring her sixpence the next day at the same hour. When he got home, he found an invitation he wanted very much to accept. But going would mean missing the little girl. So he wrote to his friend, "I could not disappoint the child, because she trusted in me."
A note of regret (Section 225)
If there is time: your child writes a short note to Selma Van Buren explaining why they cannot come on Thursday after all.