DICTATION 97 Punctuation Quotations Read The Frog and the Ox on page 93. Notice the marks that are placed around the words of the little Frog and of the old Frog. In "Was the Ox as big as that?" the marks before Was and after that are called quotation marks. Notice other places in the fables where quotation marks are used. The exact words of a speaker are inclosed in quotation marks. Notice that a quotation is usually set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma. Thus: "Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog. Then he said, "I'm sure the Ox is not so big as this.” When a quotation closes with a question mark or an exclamation point, a comma is not used after it. Thus: 'Was the Ox as big as that?" asked he. The first word of a quotation begins with a capital letter. Thus: The old Mouse said, "My friends, that is a fine plan." Dictation Write the following from dictation: Daffy-down-dilly heard under ground the rushing of the streams. "It is time I should start," said she. She pushed her leaves through the hard, frozen earth. "This is cold weather," thought Daffy. What Is a Fable? In the fables given on pages 92-96 you will find animals spoken of as if they were human. For that reason Ox, Frog, Cat, etc. are capitalized. Most, but not all, fables represent animals as speaking and acting like human beings. Another mark of the fable is the lesson that it teaches. Each of the fables given on the preceding pages is told for the purpose of pointing out a lesson. In some of the fables the lesson is expressed in a sentence at the close; in others it is very plain without being expressed. A fable, then, is a story intended to teach a lesson. In fables animals, or even lifeless objects, frequently talk and act like human beings. Inventing a Fable It is good fun to try to make up fables in which you use different animals and people to bring out some lesson. For example, try to make up a fable that will teach the same lesson as The Fox and the Grapes teaches. Choose one of the fables given in this book or another fable that you have read and try to make up a fable somewhat like it. Telling the Fable Tell before the class the fable you used as a model; then tell the fable that you made up. Tell your story in complete sentences. Avoid running your sentences together with and or so. WRITING THE FABLE Paragraphing Conversation 99 It is customary in writing conversation to make a separate paragraph for each quotation, as in The Frog and the Ox, page 93. If the story is very short, as The Fox and the Grapes, page 95, the quotation may be included in the paragraph with the rest of the story. Writing the Fable Write the fable you made up. Be careful to punctuate the conversation correctly. II. LETTERS A Letter by Washington The following letter was written by George Washington, when he was nine years old, to Richard Henry Lee. Probably Washington's mother looked over his letter and corrected the mistakes. Dear Dickey, I thank you very much for the pretty picture book you gave me. Sam asked me to show him the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it. I read to him how the tame elephant took care of the master's little boy, and put him on his back and would not let any one touch his master's little son. I can read three or four pages sometimes without missing a word. Ma says I may go to see you, and stay all day with you next week if it be not rainy. She says I may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will go with me and lead Hero. I have a little piece of poetry about the picture book you gave me, but I mustn't tell you who wrote the poetry. "G. W.'s compliments to R. H. L. And likes his book full well, Henceforth will count him his friend, And hopes many happy days he may spend." Your good friend, George Washington Form of Letters FORM OF LETTERS Dictation ΙΟΙ The following letter shows the proper form to be used in friendly letters. Copy it carefully, noticing the indentions of the different parts. HEADING SALUTATION BODY OF COMPLIMEN- SIGNATURE 1401 Lee Street Charleston, W. Va. Jan. 10, 1922 Dear Jack's just come have home, and I miss you, and Jim very much. We certainly did have fun on that slippery slide, we made in your back yard. I am going to tell the boys here about it, and get them to help me make one. Shope you will come to see me soon and slide on it with us. Your chum, Frank Thomas |