to work during the spring planting and the fall harvesting, and they went to school a little in the winter and summer. After supper the family gathered round the big 5 fireplace in the kitchen, — all but the father, who had gone to help a neighbor. "Let us string a few more apples," said EndurFather filled the baskets again this after ance. noon!" 66 10 Oh, no!" said Obed. "Let us make a jacko'-lantern. I found a big yellow pumpkin and Father gave it to me." Yes, yes," cried all the children. "Let us make a jack-o'-lantern!" and they watched with cager interest while Obed cut off the top of the pumpkin and scooped out the seeds. "Now make two Lig cycs," said Endurance, and Obed cut two round holes in the ind. cut a long narrow opening. Then he "The better to eat you with, my dear," said one of the boys, as Obed added a nose and two ears. "Mother, Mother, may we have a candle? Our lantern is finished," cried the children at last. Mrs. Moore found a bit of candle and lighted it. How the big eyes glared, and the mouth grinned! Truly, it was an ugly face. Just then a man came riding by. "The Indians, the Indians!" he cried. "They are coming up from the swamp. There is not time for you to go to the blockhouse." 5 "Take the children, Mother," said Obed, "and 10 hide them in the loft. Amos and I will stay here and watch for the Indians, and perhaps Father will come soon to help us." In a moment the children were hidden, the fire was covered, and the boys were peering out into 15 the darkness. "Look, look!" whispered Amos, "there is a shadow behind that tree. I think it is an Indian." Then, as he saw the shadow move, he spoke again. "Let us try to scare him, Obed. The jack-o'-lan- 20 tern, quick!" The jack-o'-lantern was lighted and set in the window. It moved its head from side to side. It M 5 glared and stared into the night. It disappeared and appeared again. The Indian saw its shining eyes, its grinning mouth, and he fled through the woods in terror. The fire spirit! The fire spirit!" he called to his comrades, and they hurried with him back to the swamp. All night long Obed kept the jack-o'-lantern in the window, but the Indians never dared to return 10 to the abode of the great fire spirit. a strong blockhouse (blok'hous): eager (e'ger): earnest fireplace a part of the chimney so constructed that a fire can be built in it neighbor (nā′ber)' Obed (O'bed): a Bible name taken HELPS TO STUDY Endurance: the Puritans often named their children after some good quality. Patience, Virtue, and Faith are names often used. Names from the Bible were also often used. This story takes us back to the old colony days in New England where the Puritans were making a settlement. 1. What have you read in your history about the Puritans? About the Indians? 2. What is the fire spirit? BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Benjamin Franklin, the youngest in a family of seventeen children, was born in Boston in 1706. His father was a poor candle-maker, so the boy was put to work at the age of ten years. He learned the printer's trade, working for one of his 5 elder brothers. At seventeen he decided to strike out for himself, going to Philadelphia, where he soon became a successful printer. When he was forty years old, he gave up his business in order to gain time for study and for service to his country. 10 After Franklin left school he continued to study, mastering Latin and French, and learning much about mathematics and science. At the time the Colonies were struggling with Great Britain for their independence, Franklin was 15 one of the first citizens of this country. He helped to draw up the Declaration of Independence and was one of the signers. He was sent to Europe, where he won friends for the American cause. Upon his return to this country, he was highly honored 20 and served the government in many capacities. |