DICTATION

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Dictation

Notice the punctuation in the following story, especially in the quotations. Try to give a reason for each punctuation mark. When the story is dictated, try to write it perfectly.

A field of buckwheat grew near some flowers. One day a storm came. The flowers bowed down their heads, but the buckwheat stood up straight and proud.

"Bend your head as we do," called the flowers.
"I am not afraid," said the buckwheat.

Then the old willow tree said, "Do not look at the lightning when the cloud bursts. Even men cannot do that."

The buckwheat replied, "Then I am braver than men, for I will look."

After the storm the flowers were fresh and sweet from their bath. The buckwheat was burnt black and beaten

to the ground.

!

IV. MAKING AND GIVING A PLAY

The Story

Read the following story and try to think how it, would be divided if it were acted on a stage:

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MERRY OLD WOMAN

One day, as a merry old woman was singing and spinning, she saw a visitor standing in her doorway.

"Why, it's Master Robin!" she cried, as she sprang up to greet him. "Come in, and I'll bring you a chair to sit on."

"It's a place to hide that I need, my good woman, and not a chair to sit upon," said Robin Hood. "The bishop is in the forest, and night and day he has been following me. Right outside your house he is, and he will take me to the king and gain the great reward the king has offered for me. Is there no place where you can hide me?" "My house has only this one room, Master Robin," said the old woman, "and where is there place here for you to hide? But I must help you. I remember that you and your men brought me firewood and warm clothes one cold winter night, when I was almost frozen. now that you are in trouble I must think of some way to help you. Quick! Give me your mantle and your cap, and you put on my skirt and gown. Put the hood over your head, and sit there at the wheel and spin. Put your foot on the treadle to turn the wheel,

So

and twist the thread with your fingers. When the men come, just sit there mumbling to yourself, and they will never suspect that you are not an old woman."

Soon the bishop and his men came up to the house and pushed open the door.

"Where's Robin Hood?" the bishop called. But Robin, sitting at the spinning wheel, said not a word. "He's hiding somewhere," said one of the men. "Come on, let's search the house."

Still Robin turned the wheel, muttering to himself like a crazy person, and saying never a word to any one. The bishop's men looked under the bed and behind the stove, and at last into the cupboard.

"Here he is," called one of the men, as he pulled out the old woman dressed in Robin's clothes. She kept the cap pulled down over her face so that they would not discover her disguise. The bishop hurried her out of the house and upon a horse to take her to the king and receive his reward.

Robin still sat at the wheel, for he did not know when they would discover their mistake and return for him. But after some time had passed he sprang up and ran out into the forest.

Now Robin's men were wondering what had become of their leader, for he had been gone all day. Little John, Much, the miller's son, Will Scarlet, and Friar Tuck, sitting together at twilight, fell to talking of ghosts and witches.

"There are folks who say the forest is haunted," said Little John. "Maybe it is so, for one night as I was walking near the black pond I heard a sound that was not made by any bird or beast."

"Of course there are witches and ghosts," said Will Scarlet. "But people say that when witches are running they cannot hurt you, for they can't say any magic words while they are running."

"What's that?" asked Much, the miller's son. All looked, and saw in the faint light the figure of a woman scurrying through the forest.

"It's a witch, that's what it is!" cried Friar Tuck.

"Wait till it comes nearer," said Will Scarlet. Just then the figure ran under the low branch of a tree and lost the kerchief that was tied over its head.

"Why, it's Master Robin himself!" cried the miller's

son.

"So it is," said Friar Tuck. "Tell us, Master, how you came to be dressed in woman's clothes."

Then Robin Hood told his men about the bishop's hunting for him all day, and about the merry old woman who helped him escape.

"But listen!" cried Will Scarlet. "I hear horses. Perhaps it is the bishop and his men."

"You are right, lad," said Robin Hood, whose eyes were the keenest of all the foresters'. "Let's be ready for them."

So Robin and his men slipped behind the great trees and rained arrows on the bishop's party. Soon the bishop was taken prisoner, and before he was set free he had to count out many broad gold pieces for Robin's band. Every time he paid down a gold piece he gave a groan. "Ah!" cried Little John, "that is just like the sound I heard when I passed by the black pond. I know now that it was the sound of a stingy soul groaning over the money he ought to have given away.'