Line 1: Line 1:
 
'''<h4>Hello Students, read the below article then on your own webpage on www.goodtoknow.com, write a short constructed response using "R-A-C-E-A-C-E" as instructed in class.</h4>'''
 
'''<h4>Hello Students, read the below article then on your own webpage on www.goodtoknow.com, write a short constructed response using "R-A-C-E-A-C-E" as instructed in class.</h4>'''
 
      
 
      
−
       '''What in the story tells us that Mrs. Bhaer is a thoughtful person?'''
+
       '''What did Mrs. Bhaer mean when she said,“Teddy is right: there's something in the child.” '''
 
       '''Use at least two details from the passage to support your response.'''
 
       '''Use at least two details from the passage to support your response.'''
  
−
<br><br>'''<h4>LITTLE MEN PART 2</h4>'''
+
<br><br>'''<h4>LITTLE MEN PART 3</h4>'''
  
 
LIFE AT PLUMFIELD WITH JO'S BOYS  
 
LIFE AT PLUMFIELD WITH JO'S BOYS  
  
 +
<br>In the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, he had said:
  
−
<br>The three wrestlers obeyed at once; and the stout man, with a chubby child on each shoulder, came up to welcome the new boy. Rob and Teddy merely grinned at him, but Mr. Bhaer shook hands, and pointing to a low chair near the fire, said, in a cordial voice:
+
<br>“DEAR JO: Here is a case after your own heart. This poor lad is an orphan now, sick and friendless. He has been a street-musician; and I found him in a cellar, mourning for his dead father, and his lost violin. I think there is something in him, and have a fancy that between us we may give this little man a lift. You cure his overtasked body, Fritz help his neglected mind, and when he is ready I'll see if he is a genius or only a boy with a talent which may earn his bread for him. Give him a trial, for the sake of your own boy,
  
−
<br>“There is a place all ready for thee, my son; sit down and dry thy wet feet at once.”
+
<br>“TEDDY.”
  
−
<br>“Wet? So they are! My dear, off with your shoes this minute, and I'll have some dry things ready for you in a jiffy,” cried Mrs. Bhaer, bustling about so energetically that Nat found himself in the cosy little chair, with dry socks and warm slippers on his feet, before he would have had time to say Jack Robinson, if he had wanted to try. He said “Thank you, ma'am,” instead; and said it so gratefully that Mrs. Bhaer's eyes grew soft again, and she said something merry, because she felt so tender, which was a way she had.
+
<br>“Of course we will!” cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she read the letter; and when she saw Nat she felt at once that, whether he was a genius or not, here was a lonely, sick boy who needed just what she loved to give, a home and motherly care. Both she and Mr. Bhaer observed him quietly; and in spite of ragged clothes, awkward manners, and a dirty face, they saw much about Nat that pleased them. He was a thin, pale boy, of twelve, with blue eyes, and a good forehead under the rough, neglected hair; an anxious, scared face, at times, as if he expected hard words, or blows; and a sensitive mouth that trembled when a kind glance fell on him; while a gentle speech called up a look of gratitude, very sweet to see. “Bless the poor dear, he shall fiddle all day long if he likes,” said Mrs. Bhaer to herself, as she saw the eager, happy expression on his face when Tommy talked of the band.
  
−
<br>“There are Tommy Bangs' slippers; but he never will remember to put them on in the house; so he shall not have them. They are too big; but that's all the better; you can't run away from us so fast as if they fitted.”
+
<br>So, after supper, when the lads flocked into the schoolroom for more “high jinks,” Mrs. Jo appeared with a violin in her hand, and after a word with her husband, went to Nat, who sat in a corner watching the scene with intense interest.
  
−
<br>“I don't want to run away, ma'am.” And Nat spread his grimy little hands before the comfortable blaze, with a long sigh of satisfaction.
+
<br>“Now, my lad, give us a little tune. We want a violin in our band, and I think you will do it nicely.”
  
−
<br>“That's good! Now I am going to toast you well, and try to get rid of that ugly cough. How long have you had it, dear?” asked Mrs. Bhaer, as she rummaged in her big basket for a strip of flannel.
+
<br>She expected that he would hesitate; but he seized the old fiddle at once, and handled it with such loving care, it was plain to see that music was his passion.
  
−
<br>“All winter. I got cold, and it wouldn't get better, somehow.”
+
<br>“I'll do the best I can, ma'am,” was all he said; and then drew the bow across the strings, as if eager to hear the dear notes again.
  
−
<br>“No wonder, living in that damp cellar with hardly a rag to his poor dear back!” said Mrs. Bhaer, in a low tone to her husband, who was looking at the boy with a skillful pair of eyes that marked the thin temples and feverish lips, as well as the hoarse voice and frequent fits of coughing that shook the bent shoulders under the patched jacket.
+
<br>There was a great clatter in the room, but as if deaf to any sounds but those he made, Nat played softly to himself, forgetting everything in his delight. It was only a simple jazz type melody, such as street-musicians play, but it caught the ears of the boys at once, and silenced them, till they stood listening with surprise and pleasure. Gradually they got nearer and nearer, and Mr. Bhaer came up to watch the boy; for, as if he was in his element now, Nat played away and never minded anyone, while his eyes shone, his cheeks reddened, and his thin fingers flew, as he hugged the old fiddle and made it speak to all their hearts the language that he loved.
  
−
<br>“Robin, my man, trot up to Nursey, and tell her to give you the cough-bottle and the liniment,” said Mr. Bhaer, after his eyes had exchanged telegrams with his wife's.
+
<br>A hearty round of applause rewarded him better than a shower of pennies when he stopped and glanced about him as if to say:
  
−
<br>Nat looked a little anxious at the preparations, but forgot his fears in a hearty laugh, when Mrs. Bhaer whispered to him, with a droll look:
+
<br>“I've done my best; please like it.”
  
−
<br>“Hear my rogue Teddy try to cough. The syrup I'm going to give you has honey in it; and he wants some.”
+
<br>“I say, you do that first-rate,” cried Tommy, who considered Nat his protege.
  
−
<br>Little Ted was red in the face with his exertions by the time the bottle came, and was allowed to suck the spoon after Nat had manfully taken a dose and had the bit of flannel put about his throat.
+
“You shall be the first fiddle in my band,” added Franz, with an approving smile.
  
−
<br>These first steps toward a cure were hardly completed when a great bell rang, and a loud tramping through the hall announced supper. Bashful Nat quaked at the thought of meeting many strange boys, but Mrs. Bhaer held out her hand to him, and Rob said, patronizingly, “Don't be 'fraid; I'll take care of you.”
+
<br>Mrs. Bhaer whispered to her husband:
  
−
<br>Twelve boys, six on a side, stood behind their chairs, prancing with impatience to begin, while the tall flute-playing youth was trying to curb their ardor. But no one sat down till Mrs. Bhaer was in her place behind the teapot, with Teddy on her left, and Nat on her right.
+
<br>“Teddy is right: there's something in the child.” And Mr. Bhaer nodded his head emphatically, as he clapped Nat on the shoulder, saying, heartily:
  
−
<br>“This is our new boy, Nat Blake. After supper you can say how do you do? Gently, boys, gently.”
+
<br>“You play well, my son. Come now and play something which we can sing.”
  
−
<br>As she spoke every one stared at Nat, and then whisked into their seats, trying to be orderly and failing utterly. The Bhaers did their best to have the lads behave well at meal times, and generally succeeded pretty well, for their rules were few and sensible, and the boys, knowing that they tried to make things easy and happy, did their best to obey. But there are times when hungry boys cannot be repressed without real cruelty, and Saturday evening, after a half-holiday, was one of those times.
+
<br>It was the proudest, happiest minute of the poor boy's life when he was led to the place of honor by the piano, and the lads gathered around, never heeding his poor clothes, but eying him respectfully and waiting eagerly to hear him play again.
  
−
<br>“Dear little souls, do let them have one day in which they can howl and racket and frolic to their hearts' content. A holiday isn't a holiday without plenty of freedom and fun; and they shall have full swing once a week,” Mrs. Bhaer used to say, when prim people wondered why banister-sliding, pillow-fights, and all manner of jovial games were allowed under the once decorous roof of Plumfield.
+
<br>They chose a song he knew; and after one or two false starts they got going, and violin, flute, and piano-led a chorus of boyish voices that made the old roof ring again. It was too much for Nat, more feeble than he knew; and as the final shout died away, his face began to work, he dropped the fiddle, and turning to the wall sobbed like a little child.
  
−
<br>It did seem at times as if the aforesaid roof was in danger of flying off, but it never did, for a word from Father Bhaer could at any time produce a lull, and the lads had learned that liberty must not be abused. So, in spite of many dark predictions, the school flourished, and manners and morals were insinuated, without the pupils exactly knowing how it was done.
+
<br>“My dear, what is it?” asked Mrs. Bhaer, who had been singing with all her might, and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with his boots.
  
−
<br>Nat found himself very well off behind the tall pitchers, with Tommy Bangs just around the corner, and Mrs. Bhaer close by to fill up plate and mug as fast as he could empty them.
+
<br>“You are all so kind and it's so beautiful I can't help it,” sobbed Nat, coughing till he was breathless.
  
−
<br>“Who is that boy next the girl down at the other end?” whispered Nat to his young neighbor under cover of a general laugh.
+
<br>“Come with me, dear; you must go to bed and rest; you are worn out, and this is too noisy a place for you,” whispered Mrs. Bhaer; and took him away to her own parlor, where she let him cry himself quiet.
  
−
<br>“That's Demi Brooke. Mr. Bhaer is his uncle.”
+
<br>Then she won him to tell her all his troubles, and listened to the little story with tears in her own eyes, though it was not a new one to her.
  
−
<br>“What a strange name!”
+
<br>“My child, you have got a father and a mother now, and this is home. Don't think of those sad times anymore, but get well and happy; and be sure you shall never suffer again, if we can help it. This place is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn how to help themselves and be useful men, I hope. You shall have as much music as you want, only you must get strong first. Now come up to Nursey and have a bath, and then go to bed, and to-morrow we will lay some nice little plans together.”
−
 
 
−
<br>“His real name is John, but they call him Demi-John, because his father is John too. That's a joke, don't you see?” said Tommy, kindly explaining. Nat did not see, but politely smiled, and asked, with interest:
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Isn't he a very nice boy?”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“I bet you he is; knows lots and reads like any thing.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Who is the fat one next him?”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Oh, that's Stuffy Cole. His name is George, but we call him Stuffy 'cause he eats so much. The little fellow next Father Bhaer is his boy Rob, and then there's big Franz his nephew; he teaches some, and kind of sees to us.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“He plays the flute, doesn't he?” asked Nat as Tommy rendered himself speechless by putting a whole baked apple into his mouth at one blow.
 
−
 
 
−
<br>Tommy nodded, and said, sooner than one would have imagined possible under the circumstances, “Oh, don't he, though? And we dance sometimes, and do gymnastics to music. I like a drum myself, and mean to learn as soon as ever I can.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“I like a fiddle best; I can play one too,” said Nat, getting confidential on this attractive subject.
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Can you?” and Tommy stared over the rim of his mug with round eyes, full of interest. “Mr. Bhaer's got an old fiddle, and he'll let you play on it if you want to.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Could I? Oh, I would like it ever so much. You see, I used to go round fiddling with my father, and another man, till he died.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Wasn't that fun?” cried Tommy, much impressed.
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“No, it was horrid; so cold in winter, and hot in summer. And I got tired; and they were cross sometimes; and I didn't get enough to eat.” Nat paused to take a generous bite of gingerbread, as if to assure himself that the hard times were over; and then he added regretfully: “But I did love my little fiddle, and I miss it. Nicolo took it away when father died, and wouldn't have me any longer, 'cause I was sick.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“You'll belong to the band if you play good. See if you don't.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Do you have a band here?” Nat's eyes sparkled.
 
−
 
 
−
<br>“Guess we do; a jolly band, all boys; and they have concerts and things. You just see what happens to-morrow night.”
 
−
 
 
−
<br>After this pleasantly exciting remark, Tommy returned to his supper, and Nat sank into a blissful reverie over his full plate.
 
−
 
 
−
<br>Mrs. Bhaer had heard all they said, while apparently absorbed in filling mugs, and overseeing little Ted, who was so sleepy that he put his spoon in his eye, nodded like a rosy poppy, and finally fell fast asleep, with his cheek pillowed on a soft bun. Mrs. Bhaer had put Nat next to Tommy, because that roly-poly boy had a frank and social way with him, very attractive to shy persons. Nat felt this, and had made several small confidences during supper, which gave Mrs. Bhaer the key to the new boy's character, better than if she had talked to him herself.
 

Revision as of 22:56, 26 May 2020

Hello Students, read the below article then on your own webpage on www.goodtoknow.com, write a short constructed response using "R-A-C-E-A-C-E" as instructed in class.

 
      What did Mrs. Bhaer mean when she said,“Teddy is right: there's something in the child.” 
      Use at least two details from the passage to support your response.


LITTLE MEN PART 3

LIFE AT PLUMFIELD WITH JO'S BOYS


In the letter which Mr. Laurence had sent with Nat, he had said:


“DEAR JO: Here is a case after your own heart. This poor lad is an orphan now, sick and friendless. He has been a street-musician; and I found him in a cellar, mourning for his dead father, and his lost violin. I think there is something in him, and have a fancy that between us we may give this little man a lift. You cure his overtasked body, Fritz help his neglected mind, and when he is ready I'll see if he is a genius or only a boy with a talent which may earn his bread for him. Give him a trial, for the sake of your own boy,


“TEDDY.”


“Of course we will!” cried Mrs. Bhaer, as she read the letter; and when she saw Nat she felt at once that, whether he was a genius or not, here was a lonely, sick boy who needed just what she loved to give, a home and motherly care. Both she and Mr. Bhaer observed him quietly; and in spite of ragged clothes, awkward manners, and a dirty face, they saw much about Nat that pleased them. He was a thin, pale boy, of twelve, with blue eyes, and a good forehead under the rough, neglected hair; an anxious, scared face, at times, as if he expected hard words, or blows; and a sensitive mouth that trembled when a kind glance fell on him; while a gentle speech called up a look of gratitude, very sweet to see. “Bless the poor dear, he shall fiddle all day long if he likes,” said Mrs. Bhaer to herself, as she saw the eager, happy expression on his face when Tommy talked of the band.


So, after supper, when the lads flocked into the schoolroom for more “high jinks,” Mrs. Jo appeared with a violin in her hand, and after a word with her husband, went to Nat, who sat in a corner watching the scene with intense interest.


“Now, my lad, give us a little tune. We want a violin in our band, and I think you will do it nicely.”


She expected that he would hesitate; but he seized the old fiddle at once, and handled it with such loving care, it was plain to see that music was his passion.


“I'll do the best I can, ma'am,” was all he said; and then drew the bow across the strings, as if eager to hear the dear notes again.


There was a great clatter in the room, but as if deaf to any sounds but those he made, Nat played softly to himself, forgetting everything in his delight. It was only a simple jazz type melody, such as street-musicians play, but it caught the ears of the boys at once, and silenced them, till they stood listening with surprise and pleasure. Gradually they got nearer and nearer, and Mr. Bhaer came up to watch the boy; for, as if he was in his element now, Nat played away and never minded anyone, while his eyes shone, his cheeks reddened, and his thin fingers flew, as he hugged the old fiddle and made it speak to all their hearts the language that he loved.


A hearty round of applause rewarded him better than a shower of pennies when he stopped and glanced about him as if to say:


“I've done my best; please like it.”


“I say, you do that first-rate,” cried Tommy, who considered Nat his protege.

“You shall be the first fiddle in my band,” added Franz, with an approving smile.


Mrs. Bhaer whispered to her husband:


“Teddy is right: there's something in the child.” And Mr. Bhaer nodded his head emphatically, as he clapped Nat on the shoulder, saying, heartily:


“You play well, my son. Come now and play something which we can sing.”


It was the proudest, happiest minute of the poor boy's life when he was led to the place of honor by the piano, and the lads gathered around, never heeding his poor clothes, but eying him respectfully and waiting eagerly to hear him play again.


They chose a song he knew; and after one or two false starts they got going, and violin, flute, and piano-led a chorus of boyish voices that made the old roof ring again. It was too much for Nat, more feeble than he knew; and as the final shout died away, his face began to work, he dropped the fiddle, and turning to the wall sobbed like a little child.


“My dear, what is it?” asked Mrs. Bhaer, who had been singing with all her might, and trying to keep little Rob from beating time with his boots.


“You are all so kind and it's so beautiful I can't help it,” sobbed Nat, coughing till he was breathless.


“Come with me, dear; you must go to bed and rest; you are worn out, and this is too noisy a place for you,” whispered Mrs. Bhaer; and took him away to her own parlor, where she let him cry himself quiet.


Then she won him to tell her all his troubles, and listened to the little story with tears in her own eyes, though it was not a new one to her.


“My child, you have got a father and a mother now, and this is home. Don't think of those sad times anymore, but get well and happy; and be sure you shall never suffer again, if we can help it. This place is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn how to help themselves and be useful men, I hope. You shall have as much music as you want, only you must get strong first. Now come up to Nursey and have a bath, and then go to bed, and to-morrow we will lay some nice little plans together.”