PROJECT 19.

HOLDING A SCOUT
CAMPAIGN

181. Learning How to Do Things. Imagine that your class, like Robinson Crusoe or the Swiss Family Robinson, were stranded in an unknown land without the things of civilization about you and dependent upon your quick wit and capable hands for food, clothes, and shelter. What could you do?

How could you get food?

How could you get clothes?

How could you get shelter?

The following selection will give you some suggestions about these three questions:

1 "What queer-looking trees, father!" said Fritz. "Look what strange bumps there are on the trunks."

2 As we drew near, I recognized them as calabash trees, the fruit of which grows in this curious way on the stems. They are a species of gourd, from the hard rind of which spoons, bowls, and bottles can be made. "The savages," I remarked, "are said to form these things most cleverly, using them to contain liquids. They actually cook food in them."

3"But that is not possible," replied Fritz. "I am sure this rind would be burned through as soon as it was set on the fire." 4 "I did not say that it was set on the fire at all."

Wyss: Swiss Family Robinson

How could they cook in a gourd without setting it on the fire? How could they make bowls, spoons, and bottles from gourds? If you cannot find out, get "The Swiss Family Robinson" at the library and read the story. Read "Robinson Crusoe," too, if you have not already read it.

176

VARIETY IN SENTENCES

177

182. Writing a Letter. Write a challenge to a class in another school to take a "hike" on a certain day. Select the route. Your class will plan to begin walking at one end of the route; and the other class, at the other end. Thus you will pass each other on the way. By starting at exactly the same time and recording the exact time when each class reaches the end of its walk, you can see who made the better record for good walking. Each class should keep together, for this is to be a class" hike." Make and address an envelope for the challenge.

Variety through Kinds of Sentences. The following poem well sums up the longing of the boy scout and the girl scout to "rough it."

DO YOU FEAR THE WIND?

Do you fear the force of the wind,

The slash of the rain?

Go face them and fight them,

Be savage again.

Go hungry and cold like the wolf,

Go wade like the crane:

The palms of your hands will thicken,

The skin on your cheek will tan;

You'll grow ragged and weary and swarthy,

But you'll walk like a man!

HAMLIN GARLAND

Talk about different things that you can do outdoors. How does each sentence in the above poem begin? What is the purpose of each? of each? Memorize the poem.

Remember: For variety use questions and commands as well

as statements.

183. An Enunciation Drill. Give full va syllables of a word. Do not shorten the initia "because" (not "b'cuz " nor "buh'cause ").

A Talk to the Class. Divide the class into to tell how to do one of the following:

1. Make a shelter

4. Cook ou

2. Build a fire

3. Make utensils

5. Make a

6. Catch w

Outline beforehand the various stages in the you will omit none and will get them in the ri Do not begin a sentence with "And - a or

184. Writing a "Robinson Crusoe " Bookle six teams will now make a story about its topi talk). Each team will try to make this the b year, for the most interesting composition from be selected for the class booklet of "Robinson

The class will choose names for several boys lost in the woods. Use these as characters in tion.

Correct the composition :

(1) Enlarge the periods and scan each senten simple, complex, or compound? If it is complex o the clauses closely enough related to form a comp

(2) Scan spelling, punctuation, and grammar. (3) Do your sentences begin differently or are monotonous?

Rewrite your composition.

Atau it composition ass.

group have been read, write down the name of the w the most interesting one.

185. Correct Usage. Remember the following 1. In questions shall is always used in the first pers "Shall I be punished?"

In the second person shall is used when shall is expe the answer, and will when will is expected in the answ "Shall you be there?" ("I shall be there.") "W assist me?" ("I will assist you.")

2. The conjunctions either and or (neither and nor) are correlatives. They are used in pairs. Always use no neither (not "or"). Say "Neither Tom nor Ned ca (not "Neither Tom or Ned ").

3. When the word self or selves is joined to the pr my, your, him, her, it, our, and them, the following pr are formed:

al girls

mposi

Is it

nd, are

innings

yourselve

themselv

The chief use is to bring out the idea of self; as, myself" or She did it herself." You should not us pronouns where the ordinary pronouns serve the p Say, "Mildred and I paddled the canoe to the shore "Mildred and myself ").

4. The words every and each must be used for one or a singular word, with "his" or "her" (not with "t Say, "Every one of the girls took her books" (not "Ev of the girls took their books.")

An Exercise. In the sentences on page 180 select t rect form and explain the rule for each choice. Analyze

1. Each one of us took (his, her, their) lunch 2. (Will, shall) we walk to the swimming poo 3. Neither the cat (or, nor) the dog (were, was 4. The scout master and (myself, I) took a h 5. The deer hurt (it, itself) in the fence. 6. (Will, shall) you teach me wigwagging? 7. Either a wildcat (nor, or) a bear (was, were 8. Alice looked at (her, herself) in the river. 9. (Shall, will) we beat them in the "hike"? 10. (Either, neither) Harry or Will (were, was) 186. Seizing Opportunities. The following a powerful message, for the "old man " is oppo he is talking to Jamie.

"I'll tell you about other things—your waste For example, you saw a bird's nest robbed tosaid a word when you might have saved it. Wh little boy drop his marbles, you only laughed at might have helped to pick them up.

"You let your sister take that long walk to th afternoon, when you could have gone there easily

"There was another wasted opportunity whe inattentive to your history lesson in school. Y passion, too, because your shoe string was in a you wasted an opportunity of self-control. You and offer your mother a chair when she entered t wasted an opportunity to be polite.

"You bought chewing gum after resolving n again. Was not this a waste of both money ar tions? It's in your power to lighten my daily lo But, hark! Your mother is calling you; don't w I beg. Good night!"

Jamie ran toward the house. The old man ha