Passages

At the Sign of the “Spy-Glass”

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is about a boy named Jim Hawkins who discovers a pirate’s treasure map. Jim, along with Squire Trelawney and Dr. Livesey, have decided to buy a ship, hire a crew, and look for the treasure. In this passage, Jim has been sent to an inn…

The Climb

One sunny day, Marco went outside to play. He looked at the tall tree in his front yard. It was the tallest tree in the neighborhood. The tree was taller than Marco’s parents. It was even taller than his house! Marco tipped his head back to look at the top of the…

The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf

A Shepherd Boy tended his master’s Sheep near a dark forest not far from the village. Soon he found life in the pasture very dull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog or play on his shepherd’s pipe. One day as he sat watching…

A Week of Birthdays

Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child works hard for its living, But the child that’s born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe,…

The Duckling Parade

Swara liked her teacher, Ms. Gooden. She liked her so much that she helped her clean up after school. She wiped the desks off with a wet cloth. “Thank you very much, Swara,” said Ms. Gooden. “See you tomorrow.” Swara picked up her backpack and went outside. It was warm and sunny. She was about…

The Sleeping Beauty

Once upon a time there was a king and queen who for a very long time had no children, and when at length a little daughter was born to them they were so pleased that they gave a christening feast to which they invited a number of fairies. But, unfortunately,…

Paul’s Birthday Surprise

Paul woke up feeling very happy. Today was his birthday. Paul was now five years old. At breakfast, Dad poured Paul some cereal into a bowl. Then he added a little milk. “See you later, Paul,” Dad said. Dad grabbed his lunch and ran out the door. Paul ate a…

The Story of Prometheus: How Fire Was Given to Men

Prometheus is the son of a Titan, one of the early gods of Greek mythology. The Titans fought Zeus, called here by his Roman name, Jupiter. The king of the Titans was Cronus, called here by his Roman name, Saturn. ———————————- In those old, old times, there lived two brothers…

The Lilies and the Thistles

In a patch of garden, in a sunny corner of the backyard, stood a proud group of yellow lilies. They were tall flowers: elegant, graceful, and beautiful. They were surrounded by a ring of scruffy, prickly, purple thistles that had sprung up recently with all the April showers and May…

The Emancipation Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation. WHEREAS, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: “That…