Extremely and wholly are adverbs. An adverb may also modify an adjective. Point out all of the adverbs in the following sentences and tell what they modify. 1. The American soldiers were exceedingly brave. 2. They fought very bravely. 3. The path was dangerously steep. 7. The man was utterly fearless. 8. I am absolutely certain. An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb tells how, when, where, or to what degree. 241 BUILDING A VOCABULARY THE BURNING MINE Early one morning in February, 1859, some miners discovered a fire in the mine where they worked. They promptly reported the fact to the operators of the mine. Efforts were immediately made to put out the fire, but they were wholly unsuccessful. That fire is still burning. For several years it apparently made little progress. But since 1900 it has been burning very fiercely. It is steadily eating up millions of tons of coal. Men are kept constantly at work fighting the fire. As a result, it does not spread rapidly, but it is an almost hopeless task to try to put it out. Many large cities could be comfortably heated by the coal that is being burned into clinkers in that mine. Make a list of the adverbs in this exercise. There are thirteen of them. See if you can find them all. If the adverb modifies a verb, write the verb before it. If it modifies an adjective or an adverb, write the adjective or adverb after it. Tell whether the adverb shows how, when, where, or to what degree. Write other sentences, using in them these adverbs. 242 A STORY HEROES OF FIRE Thirteen years have passed since, but it is all to me as if it had happened yesterday, the clanging of the fire bells, the hoarse shouts of the firemen, the wild rush and terror of the streets; then the great hush that fell upon the crowd; the sea of upturned faces with the fire glow upon them; and up there, against the background of smoke that poured from roof and attic, the boy clinging to the narrow ledge, so far up that it seemed humanly impossible that help could ever come. But even then it was coming. Up from the street, while the crew of the truck company was laboring with the heavy extension ladder that at its longest stretch was many feet too short, crept four men upon long, slender poles with cross-bars, iron-hooked at the end. Standing in one window, they reached up and thrust the hook through the next one above, then mounted a story higher. Again the crash of glass, and again the dizzy ascent! Straight up the wall they crept, looking like human flies on the ceiling, and clinging as close, never resting, reaching one recess only to set out for the next; nearer and nearer in the race for life, until but a single span separated the foremost man from the boy. And now the iron hook fell at his feet, and the fireman stood upon the step with the rescued lad in his arms, just as the pent-up flames burst from the attic window, reaching with impatient fury for its prey. The next moment they were safe upon the great ladder waiting to receive them below. Then such a shout went up! Men fell on each other's necks and cried and laughed at once. The boy and his rescuer were carried across the street, without anyone's knowing how. Policemen forgot their dignity and shouted with the rest. Fire, peril, terror, and loss were alike forgotten in the one touch of nature that makes the whole world kin. From The Century, February, 1898. Tell the story of the boy's rescue. -Jacob Riis. How many of you have ever seen a fire? How did it start? How was it put out? What fire protection has your home? How is your school protected from fire? How often do you have fire drills? What is the signal for a fire drill? How long does it take to empty the building? Describe the fire department of your town or city. How can you help to prevent fire? When you read the story about the burning mine, you no doubt wondered how the fire started. Nobody knows. It is believed that some one carelessly threw a lighted match into a heap of rubbish. As a result, millions of tons of coal have been wasted. 243 LEARNING TO COPY SAFETY RULES Most disasters are the result of carelessness or ignorance. Here are some safety rules to be observed where electricity is used. Copy them. 1. Do not touch wires, rails, or anything else which may be charged with electricity. 2. Never leave an electric device for a moment without making sure that the current is turned off. 3. Never use electric light bulbs for warming beds or drying clothes. Write safety rules for any one of the following: Jip was only a puppy, but he loved a fight. One day he heard loud barking in the street. Out he ran to see what was the matter. After a while he came back looking utterly dejected. Then I made him sit up and tell me all about it. Write out the story Jip told his master. Did Jip love a fight as much as ever after this experi ence? What lesson do you think he had learned? Tell the story that the other dog might have told his master. Do you think he learned his lesson, too? 245 TALKING ABOUT A POEM A SPRING SONG I When the meadow grass grows green At the touch of Spring, Dancing in a ring. For it is their yearly meeting, Colors gay Glance and gleam, And their tiny faces beam, II When their twinkling feet grow weary Then they talk of long months dreary But must sleep And never peep, Till called back to life and laughter By the Spring,-a long time after. |