Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 10: The GuideSylvester, Charles Herbert
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Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 10: The Guide
Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Children's literature; Literature -- Collections
A. Like a saucy little dog with bright eyes, a long sharp nose, and a
bushy tail.
Q. When he said, "That's for me," what did you learn about him?
A. That he was hungry; that he was greedy; that he meant to get the
cheese.
Q. When he began to flatter the Crow, what did you think of him?
A. That he was sharp; that he was trying to fool the Crow.
Q. What did you think of him when he said that her voice was finer than
the voices of the other birds, just as her coat was?
A. He was really flattering. Before, he was telling some truth, for her
feathers were glossy and her eyes were bright.
Q. Did he really think she could sing?
A. No. He knew she could only caw. He was lying, then.
Q. What did he say after she had dropped the cheese?
A. "That was all I wanted."
Q. And then?
A. "Do not trust flatterers."
Q. Did the Fox mean it?
A. Yes. But he was plaguing her, sneering at her. He wasn't really
sincere.
Q. Now tell me what you've learned about the Fox.
A. He was a lively animal that looked like a dog, with a long nose and
bushy tail. He was smart, wise, knew how to flatter and get what he
wanted. But he was a liar and a mean fellow all around.
Q. Now, let us study the Crow. What did she look like?
A. She was a big black bird with glossy feathers and a bright eye. She
had a big black bill and black wings.
Q. Did she have a good voice for singing?
A. No. She could only say "caw, caw, caw," in a hoarse, croaking voice.
Q. Where was she?
A. On the limb of a tree.
Q. Could the Fox reach her?
A. No. She was safe.
Q. What did she think of herself?
A. She thought she was pretty and smart and could sing.
Q. What would you say of her manners?
A. She was proud and conceited and foolish, silly.
Q. Now, tell me what you have learned of the Crow.
A. She was a big black bird with glossy feathers and a bright eye. She
thought she could sing, but she was silly and proud and conceited. She
was too easily fooled by the lies and flattery of the fox.
C. _The Scene._
Question. Where were the Fox and the Crow?
Answer. Outdoors, somewhere.
Q. Were they near a house?
A. I think so, because the Crow had cheese in her mouth.
Q. Was it a prairie country?
A. Perhaps, but there was one tree near.
Q. Was it day, or night?
A. Daytime, I think. Crows do not hunt at night, but foxes do.
Q. Tell me all you know or can guess about the place where the bird and
fox were.
A. I think they were on the edge of the woods, not very far away from a
farmhouse. One tree stood out by itself, and the Crow flew from the
farmhouse to the lone tree.
D. and E. _The Lesson and the Author's Purpose._
Question. This is an old, old story, and it has been told in many
languages. We cannot be sure who first wrote it. But what do you suppose
the writer meant the story to do?
Answer. He meant it to teach a good lesson, I think.
Q. What is the lesson?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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