TO THE TEACHER
The point of the story is the enthusiasm of the naturalists for their work—work that to the uncaring and unknowing seemed not even worth while. But all who do great things do them with all their might. No one can stop to count the cost whose soul is bent on great things.
The point of the story is the enthusiasm of the naturalists for their work—work that to the uncaring and unknowing seemed not even worth while. But all who do great things do them with all their might. No one can stop to count the cost whose soul is bent on great things.
FOR THE PUPIL
Page 94
Burlington: in Vermont.Concord and Middleboro: in Massachusetts.Zadoc Thompson: a Vermont naturalist.D. Henry Thoreau: better known as Henry D. Thoreau; author of “Walden,” etc.J. W. P. Jenks: for many years head of Pierce Academy, Middleboro, and later Professor of Agricultural Zoölogy in Brown University.
Burlington: in Vermont.
Concord and Middleboro: in Massachusetts.
Zadoc Thompson: a Vermont naturalist.
D. Henry Thoreau: better known as Henry D. Thoreau; author of “Walden,” etc.
J. W. P. Jenks: for many years head of Pierce Academy, Middleboro, and later Professor of Agricultural Zoölogy in Brown University.
Page 96
Contributions: used in place of the whole name: Go yourself into the public library and read this and look at the four large volumes.
Contributions: used in place of the whole name: Go yourself into the public library and read this and look at the four large volumes.
Page 101
spatter-docks: yellow pond-lily (Nuphar advena).
spatter-docks: yellow pond-lily (Nuphar advena).
Page 102
dinosaurian: one of the fossil reptile monsters of the Mesozoic, or “middle,” period of the earth’s history, before the age of man.
dinosaurian: one of the fossil reptile monsters of the Mesozoic, or “middle,” period of the earth’s history, before the age of man.
TO THE TEACHER
In this story I have tried to settle the difficult question of debit and credit between me and the out-of-doors. Shall we exterminate the red squirrels, the hawks, owls, etc., is a question that is not so easily answered as one might think. The fact is we do not want to exterminateanyof our native forms of life—we need them all, and owe them more, each of them, for the good they do us, than they owe us for the little harm they may do us. Read this over with the children with its moral and economic lesson in view. Send to the National Association of Audubon Societies, New York City, for their free leaflets upon this matter. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pa., has a bulletin upon this same subject which will be sent free upon application.
In this story I have tried to settle the difficult question of debit and credit between me and the out-of-doors. Shall we exterminate the red squirrels, the hawks, owls, etc., is a question that is not so easily answered as one might think. The fact is we do not want to exterminateanyof our native forms of life—we need them all, and owe them more, each of them, for the good they do us, than they owe us for the little harm they may do us. Read this over with the children with its moral and economic lesson in view. Send to the National Association of Audubon Societies, New York City, for their free leaflets upon this matter. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pa., has a bulletin upon this same subject which will be sent free upon application.
FOR THE PUPIL
Page 115
June-bug: the very common brown beetle whose big white grubs you dig up under the sod and in composts.
June-bug: the very common brown beetle whose big white grubs you dig up under the sod and in composts.
Page 118
rose-breasted grosbeak: one of the most beautiful of our birds, and a lovely singer.
rose-breasted grosbeak: one of the most beautiful of our birds, and a lovely singer.
Page 120
Chickaree: the common name of the red squirrel. The red squirrel does not need to be destroyed.tree swallows: They build in holes in orchard trees, etc.; to be distinguished on the wing from the barn swallows by their white bellies and plain, only slightly forked tails.chippies: the little chipping sparrow, or hair-bird.red-eyed vireos: the most common of the vireos; see picture of its nest on page 40 of “Winter.”
Chickaree: the common name of the red squirrel. The red squirrel does not need to be destroyed.
tree swallows: They build in holes in orchard trees, etc.; to be distinguished on the wing from the barn swallows by their white bellies and plain, only slightly forked tails.
chippies: the little chipping sparrow, or hair-bird.
red-eyed vireos: the most common of the vireos; see picture of its nest on page 40 of “Winter.”
Page 121
cowbird: the miserable brown-headed blackbird that lays its egg or eggs in smaller birds’ nests and leaves its young to be fed by the unsuspecting foster-mother. As the young cowbird is larger than the rightful young, it gets all the food and causes them to starve.
cowbird: the miserable brown-headed blackbird that lays its egg or eggs in smaller birds’ nests and leaves its young to be fed by the unsuspecting foster-mother. As the young cowbird is larger than the rightful young, it gets all the food and causes them to starve.
Page 122
Thorn Mountain: one of the smaller of the White Mountains; it overlooks the village of Jackson, N. H.
Thorn Mountain: one of the smaller of the White Mountains; it overlooks the village of Jackson, N. H.
TO THE TEACHER
If you have read through “The Fall of the Year” and “Winter” and to this chapter in “The Spring of the Year,” you will know that the upshot of these thrice thirteen readings has been to take you and your children into the woods; you will know that the last paragraph of this last chapter is the aim and purpose and key of all three books. You mustgointo the woods, you must lead your children to go, deep and far and frequently. The Three R’s first—but after them, before dancing, or cooking, or sewing, or manual training, or anything, send your children out into the open, where they belong. The school can give them nothing better than the Three R’s, and can only fail in trying to give them more, except it give them the freedom of the fields. Help Nature, the old nurse, to take your children on her knee.
If you have read through “The Fall of the Year” and “Winter” and to this chapter in “The Spring of the Year,” you will know that the upshot of these thrice thirteen readings has been to take you and your children into the woods; you will know that the last paragraph of this last chapter is the aim and purpose and key of all three books. You mustgointo the woods, you must lead your children to go, deep and far and frequently. The Three R’s first—but after them, before dancing, or cooking, or sewing, or manual training, or anything, send your children out into the open, where they belong. The school can give them nothing better than the Three R’s, and can only fail in trying to give them more, except it give them the freedom of the fields. Help Nature, the old nurse, to take your children on her knee.
FOR THE PUPIL
Page 128
Here is the prescription: Think you can swallow it? Go out and try.
Here is the prescription: Think you can swallow it? Go out and try.
Page 129
Golden Chariot: In what Bible story does the Golden Chariot descend? and whom does it carry away?pale-face: an Indian name for the white man.
Golden Chariot: In what Bible story does the Golden Chariot descend? and whom does it carry away?
pale-face: an Indian name for the white man.
Page 130
box turtles: They are sometimes found as far north as the woods of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; but are very abundant farther south.
box turtles: They are sometimes found as far north as the woods of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; but are very abundant farther south.
Page 133
Chewink: towhee, or ground-robin; to be distinguished by his loud call of “chewink” and his vigorous scratching among the leaves.
Chewink: towhee, or ground-robin; to be distinguished by his loud call of “chewink” and his vigorous scratching among the leaves.