LESSON 7
THE TRUANT

WORD LIST

falsely attend conducttruant therefore

guilty haste struggledregular ignorant

1. James Brown was ten years old when his parents sent him to school. It was not far from his home, and therefore they sent him by himself.

2. But, instead of going to school, he was in the habit of playing truant. He would go into the fields, or spend his time with idle boys.

3. But this was not all. When he went home, he would falsely tell his mother that he had been to school, and had said his lessons very well.

4. One fine morning, his mother told James to make haste home from school, for she wished, after he had come back, to take him to his aunt's.

5. But, instead of minding her, he went off to the water, where there were some boats. There he met plenty of idle boys.

6. Some of these boys found that James had money, which his aunt had given him; and he was led by them to hire a boat, and to go with them upon the water.

7. Little did James think of the danger into which he was running. Soon the wind began to blow, and none of them knew how to manage the boat.

8. For some time, they struggled against the wind and the tide. At last, they became so tired that they could row no longer.

9. A large wave upset the boat, and they were all thrown into the water. Think of James Brown, the truant, at this time!

10. He was far from home, known by no one. His parents were ignorant of his danger. He was struggling in the water, on the point of being drowned.

11. Some men, however, saw the boys, and went out to them in a boat. They reached them just in time to save them from a watery grave.

12. They were taken into a house, where their clothes were dried. After a while, they were sent home to their parents.

13. James was very sorry for his conduct, and he was never known to be guilty of the same thing again.

14. He became regular at school, learned to attend to his books, and, above all, to obey his parents perfectly.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Vocabulary Practice—Answer the following questions.

1. A truant is a student who stays away from school. Why do you think James Brown stayed away from school?

2. James Brown's mother told him to make haste coming home. This means to come quickly. Did he listen to her? Why or why not?

3. Ignorant means to not know something. What were James Brown's parents ignorant of in the story?

4. Struggle means to make a great effort against something. What did James and the other boys struggle against in the story?

5. To attend means to go regularly. Why do you think James Brown decided to attend school?

6. Conduct is how someone behaves. How did James Brown feel about his conduct?

B. True or False—Write T (true) or F (false). Explain your answer.

_____1. James Brown always told his mother the truth.

_____2. James Brown was in a dangerous situation.

_____3. James Brown improved his conduct at the end of the story.

_____4. James Brown's parents always knew where he was.

_____5. James Brown was saved by other children.

_____6. James Brown spent the money his aunt gave him.

C. Opposites—Find the words in the story that are opposite to the words in this exercise.

_______________: truly

_______________: safety

_______________: active

_______________: dry

_______________: uncle

_______________: innocent

_______________: stormy

_______________: close