Introduction

Anyone who would like to use a copy of the original English page for their own conlang project may feel free to copy the HTML and images. They are all in the public domain.

This translation was done while creating the language "Tanu" from scratch. Before the first sentence in this reader was translated not one single word of Tanu existed. Whenever I need a new word or a new grammatical construction I will make it up on the spot. The goal is to complete the translation, and the creation of the language, in a single week.

The project begins on Sunday, April 4, 2010 and ends on Saturday, April 10, 2010, with whatever has been completed by that time.

For reference purposes the sentence numbers match the numbers of the sentences in the original English language version of this page. Any sentences on this page which are still in English are those sentences that have not yet been translated. Hopefully there won't be any of those left by the end of the project deadline.

As I work through the sentences whenever I need to make a syntactic or grammatical decision I will try to pick an option that is not like English syntax or grammar so that this language does not become a simple relexification of English. Here are some of the choices I've made so far:

• Adjectives follow their nouns.
• Adjectives inflected to agree with noun inflections.
• Possessives indicated by marking noun possessed rather than possessor noun.
• Resumptive pronouns required in clauses. E.g.: "The boy with a hat..." becomes "The boy that he has a hat..."
• Verb tenses are prefixes to the verb.
• Motion and location phrases are done verbally and/or adverbially if possible, avoiding prepositions. E.g.: "is in the house" becomes "occupies the house"; "is high in the tree" becomes "occupies 'highly' the tree"; "...goes into the house..." becomes "...enters the house...", etc.
• "If" is purely a conjunction and must appear between two clauses, the second of which is the conditional. E.g.: "I will stay IF it rains." but never "If it rains (then) I will stay."

Progress Log

• April 4, 2010 - completed through sentence #126
• April 5, 2010 - completed through sentence #163

Notes on Orthography and Phonology

Nothing about the orthoigraphy or phonology of Tanu was planned out in advance. The notes presented here are merely to descirbe, after the fact, what happened to occur as the language began to form. Nothing in this section is prescriptive, and any or all of it might, and probably will change as the language evolves.

• The digraph "zj" seems to indicate the sound of the "S" in "measure" or "pleasure".
• Word-initial "R" seems to lie somewhere between a rhotic "R" and a retroflex lateral flap.
• Some, but not all, word-final and consonant-final "N" seem to be getting nasalized. I write "ń" (alt-0241) for this sound.

Chapter One [1] Ku vi radu. (I see a boy.) [2] Ku vi razi. (razi: girl) [3] Ku vi radu na razi. (na: and) [4] Radu vila vi razi. (vila: can, is able to) [5] Ku vila vi razi na radu. [6] Ku vila vi razi. vila: can, is able to na: and ku: I, me radu: boy razi: girl vi: to see

[7] Davi andru! (davi: da+vi (imperative); See the man!) [8] Davi radu na andru! [9] Andru poi xapu. (The man has a hat. [xapu pr: SHA•pu]) [10] Ki radu poi xapu? (Question: the boy has a hat?) [11] Radu vila fali. (fali: to run) [12] Ki andru vila fali? [13] Andru vila vi dos, radu fali. (The man can see the boy run. Lit: Man can see this: boy runs.) andru: man davi: da+vi imperative of vi dos: marks a clause as the object of the verb fali: to run ki: question marker poi: to have (but not necessarily to own) xapu: hat

[14] Ku poi xapu. [15] Ku poi pudu. (pudu: doll) [16] Davi pudas ku! (See my doll! Lit: See doll-of me.) [17] Ki pudu vila vi? (Can the doll see?) [18] Ku vila vi pudas ku. [19] Ki pudu poi xapu? [20] Pudas ku poi xapu. [21] Razi poi pudu na xapu. pudu: doll

[22] Ki radu vila proli? (proli: to play [with toy or game]) [23] Radu vila fali na proli. [24] Radu vila proli kamu tompe. (kamu tompe: ball game) [25] Ki andru vila proli kamu tompe? [26] Andru mata vi dos, radu proli. (mata: may, is permitted to) [27] Ki andru mata ruji tompa? (ruji: to take; tompa: ball) [28] Radu mata ruji tompa. kamu: game mata: may, is permitted to proli: to play (with toy or game) ruji: to take kamu tompe: ball game tompa: ball

[29] Ki razi vila vi pabu? (pabu: baby) [30] Ki pabu vila vi razi dien? (dien: small, little) [31] Pabu poi pudu jian. (jian: big, large) [32] Razi dien poi tompa. [33] Ku vila vi pabu. [34] Ki pabu vila vi xapas jianas ku? (xapas jianas ku: my big hat) [35] Pabu mata poi tompes ku. (tompes ku: my ball) [36] Pabu, daruji tompa! (daruji: da+ruji. See #7 above) daruji: da+ruji imperative of ruji dien: small, little jian: big, large pabu: baby

[37] Andru poi ganu dien. (ganu: dog) [38] Radu poi ganu jian. [39] Davi dos, ganu dien fali! [40] Tu poi tompes ku. (tu: he) [41] Ki ganu jian mata poi astu? (astu: it) [42] Ki tu mata ruji astu? [43] Ganu dien mata poi tompa. [44] Tu mata fali na proli gon astu. (gon: with) astu: it ganu: dog gon: with tu: he

[45] Davi fiaru dien! (fiaru: bird) [46] Ki pabu mata poi astu? [47] Ki su mata ruji astu? (su: she) [48] Su umata ruji astu. (umata: u+mata: may not) [49] Fiaru vila avai. (avai: to fly) [50] Pabu uvila poi fiaru. (uvila: cannot, is not able to) [51] Su uvila avai. [52] Su mata proli gon pudas ku. [53] Su mata poi xapas jianas ku. avai: to fly fiaru: bird uvila: u+vila: cannot, is not able to umata: u+mata: may not su: she

[54] Ku vi andru na ganu na pavatu. (pavatu: cow) [55] Pavatu buani andru. (buani: to accompany, be with) [56] Ganu poi xapu jian. [57] Tu bis ganu pono dien. (bis: is; pono: good, pleasant, enjoyable) [58] Tu mata bodi xapu ta andru. (bodi: take, transport; ta: to, toward) [59] Ganu wa, andru bis pono. (ganu wa: concerning the dog...; The man is good to the dog.) [60] Pavatu vila fali. Su uvila proli. bis: is, am, are when assigning an adjective to the subject. bodi: take, transport buani: accompanies, is with pavatu: cow pono: good, pleasant, enjoyable ta: to, toward wa: particle marks the topic: ganu wa: concerning the dog...

[61] Pabu uvila poi fiaru. [62] Su uvila avai na churi astu. (churi: capture, catch) [63] Ki su vila churi razi pono dien? [64] Dakosi, pabu, dakosi! (dakosi: da+kosi - imperative of to come) [65] Dakosi na dachuri ku. (dachuri: da+churi. See #7 above) [66] Dachuri ku na pudas jianas ku. [67] Dachuri ku, vano yaru mata poi puda. (vano: then, consequently; yaru: you singular) [68] Yaru mata poi astu na proli gon astu. [68a] Andru de tu poi xapu fali. (Andru de tatu poi xapu... The man (who, which, that) he has a hat... The man with the hat...) churi: capture, catch kosi: to come (toward speaker) vano: then, consequently yaru: you singular

Review Roll over green button to see one possible translation. [69] Radu poi ganu jian.   The boy has a big dog. [70] Yaru mata vi dos ganu proli kamu tompe.   You may see the dog play ball. [71] Ki tu vila churi astu?   Can he catch it? [72] Ki ku mata fali na ruji astu?   May I run and take it? [73] Andru de tu poi xapu jian poi pavatu.   The man with the big hat has a cow. [74] Pabu dien wa, razi bis pono.   The girl is good to the little baby. [75] Pabu mata poi pudas jianas ku.   The baby may have my big doll. [76] Su uvila churi fiaru.   She can not catch the bird. [77] Su mata kosi buani ku na vi dos fiaru avai.   She may come with me and see the bird fly. andru: man astu: it avai: to fly bis: is, am, are when assigning an adjective to the subject. bodi: take, transport buani: to accompany, be with churi: to capture, catch daruji: da+ruji imperative of ruji davi: da+vi imperative of vi de: which, that, who dien: small, little dos: marks a clause as the object of the verb fali: to run fiaru: bird ganu: dog gon: with, using (not to be confused with buani) jian: big, large kamu: game ki: question marker kosi: to come (toward or with speaker) ku: I, me mata: may, is permitted to na: and pabu: baby pavatu: cow poi: to have (but not necessarily to own) pono: good, pleasant, enjoyable proli: to play (with toy or game) pudu: doll radu: boy razi: girl ruji: to take su: she ta: to, toward; often contracted to t' before a vowel. kamu tompe: ball game tompa: ball tu: he umata: u+mata: may not uvila: cannot, is not able to vano: then, consequently vi: to see vila: can, is able to wa: particle marks the topic: ganu wa: concerning the dog... xapu: hat yaru: you singular

Chapter Two [78] Dakosi buani ku, na davi radano. (radano: plural of radu) [79] One radu dien poi bruno.(one: one [pr: OH nay]; bruno: drum) [80] Tose radano poi xapono jiano. (tose: two; xapono jiano: big hats) [81] One radu poi tompa. [82] Davi dos radano pari! (pari: to go, leave, depart) [83] Davi dos radano pari gon bruno. [84] One, tose; one, tose; dabruni, dabruni! (bruni: to strike, to drum) bruni: to strike, to drum bruno: drum dabruni: imperative of bruni one: one [pr: OH nay] pari: to go, leave, depart radano: plural of radu tose: two xapono: plural of xapo

[85] Razano shakosi puro azju proli gon pabu. (shakosi: sha+kosi: have come (present perfect); puro: in order to, for the purpose of; azju: they; razano: plural of razi) [86] Tose razano poi pudu dien. [87] One razi poi baraku lazh. (baraku: dress, frock; lazh: red) [88] Pabu bis fiela amuni su vi razano. (fiela: happy, glad; amuni: because of, as a result of) [89] Razi de su taji baraku lazh benami May. (taji: to wear; nami: to name, to call; benami: be+nami: passive - to be called, to be named) [90] May bis fiela amuni su vi pabu pono. [91] Su anaruji pabu puro azju vi fiaru. (anaruji: ana+ruji: will take (future)) amuni: because of, as a result of anaruji: ana+ruji: will take (future) azju: they baraku: dress, frock benami: be+nami: passive - to be called, to be named fiela: happy, glad lazh: red nami: to name, to call puro: in order to, for the purpose of razano: plural of razi shakosi: sha+kosi: have come (present perfect) taji: to wear

[92] Dakosi buani ku, May dien. [93] Imu anapari t'angana. (imu: we; anapari: ana+pari: will go; angana: field, meadow; t'angana: ta angana) [94] Imu anapari puro imu vi pavatono. (pavatono: plural of pavatu) [95] Pavatono tonari angana. (tonari: to occupy, to be upon or within) [96] Pavatas ku bis lazh. (pavatas ku: my cow) [97] Tose pavatono ubis lazh. (ubis: u+bis: is not, are not + adjective) [98] One na tose samati kirse. (samati: is equal to, is the same as, is equivalent to; kirse: three) [99] Imu poi kirse pavatono. ana-: future tense prefix angana: field, meadow imu: we kirse: three pavatono: plural of pavatu samati: is equal to, is the same as, is equivalent to tonari: to occupy, to be upon or within ubis: u+bis: is not, are not + adjective

[100] Kirse fiarono tonari baru. (baru [barono, baras]: tree; fiarono: plural of fiaru) [101] One fiaru bis sobań na lazh. (sobań: beautiful, lovely, pretty, atractive) [102] Yaru uvila churi astu. [103] Astu tonari a tava baru. (a: Marks the following adjective for adverbial use; tava: high; "It occupies highly the tree." i.e. "It is high in the tree.") [104] Fiaru lozh vila vi ladono de poi bruno. [105] Astu vila vi razi dien de su taji baraku lozh. [106] Astu vila vi padu pono na pudu sobań. [107] Astu vila vi andru de tu tonari angana. [108] Ki, fiarono sobano, yaru anavai ta ku? Note: Nouns are henceforth given as: singular (plural, possessed) a: at, in the manner described. Marks the following adjective for adverbial use baru (barono, baras): tree sobań: beautiful, lovely, pretty, atractive tava: high

[109] Radu dien poi sikatu lazh. (sikatu [sikatono, sikatas]: wagon, cart) [110] Ki astu bis sobań? [111] Radu anademati dos May dien karati astu. (demati: to permit, to allow; karati: to ride in or upon an animal or vehicle) [112] Dakosi May, dakosi puro su vi sikatas ku. [113] Yaru mata enoi na karati astu. (enoi: enter, go into, board) [114] Ku anaruji yaru buani ku t'anganeo. (anganeo: plural of angana) [115] Yaru mata karati a pono astu. ("You may ride 'goodly' it." i.e. "You may have a good ride.") [116] Ki bruno tonari sikatu? [117] Ku dapoji astu. Imu yada anapari. (poji: get, fetch; Ku dapoji astu: Imperative with 1st person showing immediate intention: "I'll get it.", "Let me get it." Also used with 1st person plural: "Imu dapari." for "Let's go."; yada: now, at this time.) demati: to permit, to allow enoi: enter, go into, board karati: to ride in or upon an animal or vehicle poji: get, fetch sikatu [sikatono, sikatas]: wagon, cart yada: now, at this time

[118] Davi jambas ku sobanas lazhas. (jambo [jambano, jambas]: apple; Notice word order (location of "ku") in: "jambas ku sobanas lazhas" for "my pretty red apple") [119] Ku poi kirse jambano pono. [120] One bis lozh na tose bis bań. (bań: yellow [ń is slightly nasal]) [121] Ku anadani ya lozh ta yaru. (dani: to give, present, donate; ya: marks noun usage for adjective that follows: "ya lozh" for "The red one".) [122] Ki ku mata poi apika ya bań? (apika: also, too) [123] Aya, cha yaru bis razi pono. (aya: yes; cha: [conj] if) [124] Ku vi jambo jian lazh de astu tonari baru. [125] Ki yaru anademati dos ku poji astu? [126] Aya ku demati cha astu tonari a ujitava baru. (u-: ADJ prefix not + ji-: prefix: excessively, too much) apika: also, too aya: yes bań: yellow (ń is slightly nasal but not quite "ng") cha: [conj] if dani: to give, present, donate ji-: prefix to ADJ: excessively, too much u-: prefix to ADJ or ADV: not ya: marks noun usage for adjective that follows: "ya lozh" for "The red one"

[127] Frank na May dien tonari angana gon sikatu. [128] Azju shakosi puro azju ukami pumitono. (ukami: discover, find, reveal, uncover; pumitu [pumitono, pumitas] flower, blossom, bloom) [129] May poi pumitu lazh. [130] Frank poi kirse pumitono bań. [131] Tu anademati dos May poi azju. [132] Su anabodi azju ta sikatu. [133] Su bis fiela amuni su ragati pumitono sobano. (ragati: to receive, to get as a gift or boon) pumitu (pumitono, pumitas) flower, blossom, bloom ragati: to receive, to get as a gift or boon ukami: discover, find, reveal, uncover

[134] Dakosi t'idu, razano! Ku vi tomas fiaru. (idu: here, this place; tomu [tomono, tomas]: house, home; tomas fiaru: nest, bird nest, home-of bird) [135] Fiarono dieno tonari astu. [136] One, tose, kirse. [137] Fiarono dieno uvila avai. [138] Azju ubis sobań. [139] Azju bemuti hasa sobań. (bemuti: to become + ADJ, to be changed into...; hasa: soon, before long) [140] Fiaru jian utonari yada idu. (utonari: u + tonari) [141] Su tonari a tava baru jambo. [142] Su anakosi hasa t'azju. [143] Su anakosi na bojati azju. (bojati: to feed, to nourish) bemuti: to become + ADJ, to be changed into... bojati: to feed, to nourish hasa: soon, before long idu: here, this place tomas fiaru: nest, bird nest, home-of bird tomu [tomono, tomas]: house, home

[144] Radono ramani dos azju pari t'aranu. (ramani: to enjoy, to like; aranu [araneo, aranas] forest, woods) [145] Azju yada t'idu. (Lit: They now here. No verb is used.) [146] Asu na sikatu t'idu. (asu [asono, asas]: horse [147] Na radu de tu poi bruno t'idu. [148] Azju ramani dos proli yen aranu. (yen: in, within, inside of) [149] Azju ramani dos ukani pumitono sobano. [150] Azju ruji u fiarono dieno cha ukami azju. (u: normally a negative verb prefix, is placed after the verb for special emphasis. Note the lack of a subject for the verb "ukami". Following a conjunction a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the previous verb is dropped.) [151] Azju pari hasa ta tomu. (Note: not "anapari" since "hasa" implies future, so the future prefix can be dropped.) [152] Azju anakarati sikatu ta tomu. aranu (araneo, aranas) forest, woods asu (asono, asas): horse ramani: to enjoy, to like u: not, will not, do not. Normally a verb prefix, is placed after the verb for emphasis. yen: in, within, inside of

[153] Ki yaru anabemati, Frank, dos ku karati sikatu ta tomu gon yaru? [154] Aya, May, yaru mata karati sikatu gon ku cha ramani dos. [155] Daenoi, na dani talitu ta ku. (talitu: [N] whip) [156] Ku betali u asu pono. (betali: [V] to whip, to strike) [157] Hasa, azju dapari! [158] Baru jambo t'ida, kina azju uvila vi tomas fiaru dos yen astu. (kian: but, however) kian: but, however sama: near, by, adjacent to talitu: whip

Review Roll over green button to see one possible translation. [159] Kirse radono na tose razano t'ida sama baru jian jambo.    Here are three boys and two girls by the big apple tree. [160] One radu poi bruno bań na one poi talitu.    One boy has a yellow drum and one has a whip. [161] Radu de tu tonari sikatu benami Frank.    The boy in the red wagon is Frank. [162] Razano ramani dos azju vi Frank.    The girls are glad to see Frank. [163] Tu anabemati azju karati sikatu.    He will let them ride in the wagon. [164] Azju ramani dos azju pari buani t'angana na aranu.    They like to go with him to the fields and the woods. [165] Ki azju mata sikatu gon yaru, Frank?    May we ride with you, Frank? [166]    Yes, girls, get in! And you, too, boys! [167]    Sit by me and see the good horse go. [168]    Now we will go to the woods to find flowers and see the pretty birds. [169]    In one tree you can see a nest, but you can not see the little birds. [170]    You may see the big bird if she comes to feed the little ones. [171]    She has a pretty home high in the tree.

a: at, in the manner described. Marks the following adjective for adverbial use amuni: because of, as a result of ana-: future prefix andru (androno, andras): man angana (anganeo, anganas): field, meadow apika: also, too aranu (araneo, aranas) forest, woods astu: it asu (asono, asas): horse avai: to fly aya: yes azju: they bań: yellow (ń is slightly nasal) baraku (barakono, barakas): dress, frock baru (barono, baras): tree bemuti: to become + ADJ, to be changed into... benami: be+nami: passive - to be called, to be named bis: is, am, are when assigning an adjective to the subject. bodi: take, transport bojati: to feed, to nourish bruni: to strike, to drum bruno (bruno, brunas): drum buani: to accompany, be with cha: [conj] if churi: to capture, catch da-: imperative prefix dani: to give, present, donate de: which, that, who demati: to permit, to allow dien: small, litttle dos: marks a clause as the object of the verb enoi: enter, go into, board fali: to run fiaru (fiarono, fiaras): bird fiela: happy, glad ganu (gano, ganas): dog gon: with, using (not to be confused with buani) hasa: soon, before long idu: here, this place imu: we jambo [jambano, jambas]: apple ji-: prefix to ADJ: excessively, too much jian: big, large kamu (kamono, kamas): game kamu tompe (kamono tompo, kamas tompes) : ball game karati: to ride in or upon an animal or vehicle ki: question marker kian: but, however kirse: three kosi: to come (toward or with speaker) ku: I, me lazh: red mata: may, is permitted to na: and nami: to name, to call one: one [pr: OH nay] pabu (pabono, pabas): baby pari: to go, leave, depart pavatu (pavatono, pavatas): cow poi: to have (but not necessarily to own) poji: get, fetch pono: good, pleasant, enjoyable proli: to play (with toy or game) pudu (pudono, pudas): doll pumitu (pumitono, pumitas) flower, blossom, bloom puro: in order to, for the purpose of radu (radano, radas): boy ragati: to receive, to get as a gift or boon ramani: to enjoy, to like razi (razano, razes): girl ruji: to take sama: near, by, adjacent to samati: is equal to, is the same as, is equivalent to sha-: present perfect prefix (shavi: have seen) sikatu [sikatono, sikatas]: wagon, cart soban: beautiful, lovely, pretty, atractive su: she ta: to, toward taji: to wear talitu: whip tava: high tomas fiaru: nest, bird nest, home-of bird tompa (tompono, tompas): ball tomu [tomono, tomas]: house, home tonari: to occupy, to be upon or within tose: two tu: he u-: prefix to ADJ or ADV: not ubis: u+bis: is not, are not + adjective ukami: discover, find, reveal, uncover umata: u+mata: may not uvila: cannot, is not able to vano: then, consequently vi: to see vila: can, is able to wa: particle marks the topic: ganu wa: concerning the dog... xapu (xapono): hat ya: marks noun usage for adjective that follows: "ya lozh" for "The red one" yada: now, at this time yaru: you singular yen: in, within, inside of Chapter Three [172] Do you see this? It is my kite. [173] My father gave it to me. [174] Is it not a pretty one? [175] He gave me this drum, too. [176] You may go with me and see me fly my kite. [177] You may take the drum with you. [178] Are you not glad my father gave it to me?

[179] Frank and John are in the field. [180] They have come here to play. [181] How high can you jump, Frank? [182] Can you jump as high as this? [183] I can not jump high, John, but I can jump far. [184] See! I can jump as far as to the big apple tree. [185] Now, John, let me see you jump.

[186] Here is May with her kitten. [187] Her mother gave the kitten to her. [188] She is kind to the pretty kitten. [189] She likes to see it jump and play. [190] See it run with May's ball! [191] It does not run far with it. [192] If May can get the ball she will not take it. [193] She will give it to the kitten to play with.

[194] This is little Lucy. [195] Her home is far away. [196] She has come to see Frank and May. [197] All the little girls love Lucy. [198] They are kind and good to her, and she loves them. [199] Frank will let her ride with him in the big wagon. [200] He will give her the whip, and the horse will go fast. [201] The horse will go fast and far, but he will not run away.

[202] Look, Frank! See my pretty flowers. [203] Mother gave them to me. [204] She gave them to me this morning. [205] Do you not think they are pretty? [206] How many flowers have I? [207] Here are three my mother gave me. [208] My father gave me two red ones. [209] How many are three and two? [210] I will keep the red flower. [211] I will give all my yellow flowers to Lucy. [212] She will like them. [213] She will take them home with her.

[214] Good morning, little bird. [215] Good morning, kind Lucy. [216] How pretty your nest is, little bird! [217] May I look at the little ones in it? [218] Yes, you may look at them, but you must not take them away. [219] How many birds have you? [220] Let me see. One, two, three, four. [221] I do not think they are pretty. [222] They may not be pretty now, but I love them, little girl.

[223] Frank has gone to the field with his kite. [224] He likes to play with it. [225] It is the kite his father gave him. [226] He will run and the kite will fly. [227] He can run very fast, and the kite can fly very high. [228] John does not like to run with a kite. [229] He likes to play on his drum. [230] He will play on his drum, and Frank will run with his kite.

[231] Oh, mother, come here! [232] See this pretty flower. [233] I think it is a rose. [234] Is it not a yellow rose? [235] Yes, May. It is a yellow rose. [236] If you will come with me, [237] I will give you some red roses. [238] May I have them to keep, mother? [239] You may keep some of them, but you must give some to Lucy. [240] Oh, yes! I will give her four red roses, and one yellow rose. [241] I will give her some to take home to her mother, too. [242] Do you like yellow roses, mother? [243] Yes, May, I think they are very pretty.

[244] John was a good boy this morning. [245] His mother gave him a pretty book. [246] He was very glad. [247] Oh, mother, he said, "how kind you are to give me this book! I think it is very pretty." [248] You must take good care of it, said his mother. [249] Yes, mother, said John, "and I will let Lucy and May look at it too. [250] They like to look at pretty books." [251] "The girls will think you are a very kind little boy. [252] They will take good care of your book."

[253] All the boys and girls are going to school this morning. [254] You can see them as they go. [255] Little Lucy is not with them. [256] She has gone to her home, far away. [257] But I see May and some other girls. [258] John has his new book. [259] Some of the other boys have books, too. [260] I do not see Frank, but I think he will come soon.

[261] Look at this picture. [262] It is the picture of my pet kitten. [263] Do you not think she is a pretty pet? [264] One morning as I was going to school, I found this kitten. [265] She was by a tree in the woods. [266] After school I took her home. [267] Mother, I said, "see this pretty little kitten. [268] May I keep her as a pet?" [269] Mother said, "You may keep her if you will take good care of her." [270] I am kind to my kitten. [271] I feed her and she loves me.

Review [272] My mother gave me a new book. [273] I took it to school one morning, to let the girls see the pictures. [274] Soon after this I found my pet kitten and took her home with me. [275] I like to play with my pet kitten. [276] I will do as mother says. [277] I will take good care of the kitten. [278] I love little Lucy. [279] But now she has gone far away to her home. [280] I like to see John run with his kite. [281] He can run as fast as the other boys, but he can not jump far. [282] He does not like to look at books and pictures, but he can play on a drum.

[283] One morning I gave my father four red roses. [284] He said, "Oh, how kind you are to give me so many roses! I will keep this big one; but you must not give me all your flowers."

Chapter Four [285] The name of this little girl is Rose. [286] Do you think she looks like a rose? [287] Do you think Rose is a pretty name? [288] Rose goes to school. [289] She can read and write. [290] At home, she likes to read to her mother. [291] She likes to look at the pictures, too. [292] Tell me, Rose, how well you can read. [293] Can you read well in your book? [294] I think you can write very well. [295] Can you write your name?

[296] Can you tell me the name of this pretty little bird? [297] It is so little it can not fly very far. [298] Some of the boys found it in the woods, as they were going to school one day. [299] It was not in a nest. [300] Frank said; "I will take the little bird home with me. [301] It will be a good pet." [302] So Frank took it as he said. [303] He is kind to it and feeds it. but he will not keep it. [304] Some day it can fly well. [305] Then Frank will let it go. [306] It will fly away with the other birds.

[307] Come, girls let us play with our dolls. [308] We will play school. [309] Our dolls will be the children. [310] Our dolls are as good as some children are. [311] They have their books, and I think, they will learn very fast. [312] Soon we shall see how well they can read.

[313] This doll is not so good as the others. [314] She does not like to go to school very well. [315] She must sit by me and look at her book. [316] As soon as she can read well, she may go home and play. [317] She goes to school day after day, but she does not learn. [318] She can not write at all. [319] She can not tell her name. [320] This is my little doll. [321] Her name is Lucy. [322] Do you think she is pretty?

[323] How tall you are, Henry! [324] "Yes, father, I shall soon be a man. I am as tall as the table, now." [325] What can you see on the table? [326] I can see your big book, father. [327] What do you see by the book? [328] "Oh, I see some pictures. Two pictures are by the book, and two are not by the book." [329] How many are two and two, Henry? [330] Two and two are four. [331] "You do well. If you learn fast, you may soon go to school. Then you can learn how to read and write."

[332] Oh, mother, come and look at this funny picture. [333] What do you see in the picture Lucy? [334] I see two children in the picture. [335] I see a tall boy and little girl. [336] How fast they run! [337] They are going up hill, too. [338] The boy has a pail. [339] I think he is going to get a pail of water for his mother. [340] How very funny it must be to run up hill! [341] Will they find water on the hill? [342] Oh, yes, I see a well up there. [343] They must be good children to go so far after a pail of water. [344] There must be good water in the well. [345] Jack and Jill went up the hill, To get a pail of water; [346] Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

[347] Our mother says we may go and see little Lucy. [348] We are going some day in June, soon after our school is out. [349] We do not have school in June. [350] Lucy's home is far away. [351] We shall ride there in the big wagon with father and mother. [352] Father says it will take all day to go so far. [353] Mother says I must be sure to take Lucy some of our good apples. [354] I will take her a book, too. [355] I am sure Lucy will be glad to see us. [356] She will run out to the wagon and tell us so. [357] What do you think she will say? [358] She will say, "Oh, May, I am so glad you have come."

[359] Violets sweet, violets sweet! [360] Who will buy my violets sweet? [361] Violets sweet, violets sweet! [362] I will buy your violets sweet.

[363] See this funny little tree! [364] What kind of tree is it? [365] It is not a tree, it is a vine. [366] It is not so tall as some trees. [367] It looks like a wild rose vine. [368] Will it have roses on it? [369] Yes, I think some roses will grow on it; but I am not sure. [370] Wild roses come in June. [371] Some of them are very sweet. [372] My roses are not wild. [373] They do not grow on a vine. [374] They grow on a bush. [375] A bush looks like a little tree.

[376] Little Henry went to school this morning. [377] All the children were glad to see him as he came down the street. [378] He is a funny little boy, and I am sure you would like him. [379] He says he will grow very fast and soon be a man. [380] He likes to go to school.

Review [381] One day Henry took a pail with him and went up the hill. [382] Do you think he went to get a pail of water? I do not think so. [383] He went to find violets and wild flowers in the woods. [384] After a little he came down; but he would not let me look in his pail. [385] He would not tell me how many flowers were in it. [386] Who will buy my wild roses? he said. [387] "Who will buy my sweet violets? I came down the street to sell my flowers. But now I must say they do not sell very well."

Chapter Four [388] Do you know the name of this big yellow flower? [389] What kind of flower is it? [390] Oh, I know. [391] It is a sunflower. [392] Does it look like the sun? [393] It likes the sun. [394] Do you know what sunflowers are good for? [395] Yes, they are good to look at. [396] If you will go to the field on the hill, you may see many of them. [397] They are not sweet flowers, like your violets and some others.

[398] If you will give me one of your pretty roses, you may have all the sunflowers I can find. [399] I like roses and sweet violets. [400] I like to see big, yellow sunflowers, too; but I do not care to take them home with me. [401] Do you?

[402] Come here, Henry, and sit by me at the table. [403] Your mother has gone out to buy a new book for you. [404] She says you must learn to read. [405] I am sure you will try to learn. [406] Then you can read about the pretty birds, and the tall sunflowers, and good children at school. [407] Soon you may take your book to school.

[408] See this picture, Henry. [409] It is a picture of a little bird. [410] I think it is a yellow bird. [411] The bird has a pretty nest in the woods. [412] Would you not like to see the little ones in it? [413] By and by, they will come out and try to fly. [414] Very soon you may see them as they fly from bush to bush. [415] I have a book. [416] I learn to read in it. [417] I can write my name.

[418] We fly about from flower to flower. [419] We sing as we work. [420] Would you like to know what we sing? [421] We sing, "Buzz, buzz." [422] You will say, "What a funny way to sing!" [423] But we do not care what you say. [424] We are too busy to think about it. [425] You must not keep us from our work. [426] What is as busy as a bee? [427] All day it sings as it works, "Buzz, buzz, buzz!" [428] How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour? [429] It gathers honey all the day From every bud and flower.

[430] One morning when the sun was warm these children went out to take a walk. [431] Do you know who they are? [432] I see May and Rose and little Lucy. [433] There are two other girls with them, but I do not know their names. [434] They took a little wagon with them, and went up the hill. [435] They went to the field on the hill to find some violets. [436] They found some sunflowers in the field, but violets do not grow there. [437] They saw a wild rose, but a busy bee was on it. [438] Now, said Lucy, "let us go to the well and see if it has water in it." [439] Yes, said one of the other girls, "the sun is too hot here. [440] But if we go to the well, you must take care not to fall in." [441] Oh, I will not fall in, said Lucy. [442] I will look at the water far down in the well; but I will not fall. [443] The girls will go home when the sun goes down.

[444] I see you, little star. [445] Do you see me? [446] I am in the garden. [447] My name is Lucy. [448] I see you far up in the sky. [449] How very high you are! [450] If you will look down, you can see me. [451] You can see the flowers, too. [452] If you would come in the day time, you could see all the children. [453] You could see us going to school. [454] But it is time for me to go in now. [455] Take care, little star, and do not fall.

[456] What do you think we found in the woods this morning? [457] We found many pretty violets. [458] Frank found some of them under a green bush on the hill. [459] They grow in the shade. [460] Rose found three little yellow flowers. [461] They are not so pretty as the violets. [462] I think that all wild flowers are pretty, said Rose. [463] Well, then' said Frank, "you may have these violets that I found. [464] In June I will find you some roses." [465] Thank you, said Lucy. [466] "I will take them home and give them some water. Then I will plant them in my garden."

[467] These boys have been in the field all the morning. [468] What do you think they do in the field? [469] They do not go out there to play. [470] They go to the field to work. [471] They help their father plant corn. [472] They are now on their way home. [473] One of the boys rides on the horse. [474] The other two walk behind. [475] Do you think that these boys like to work? [476] They will like to play when their work is done. [477] Do you know what corn is? [478] Would you like to see how it grows in the field? [479] This is the way it looks. [480] It is very green and pretty. [481] It grows to be as tall as a tall man. [482] Do you know what corn is good for?

[483] Would you like to buy some apples to-day? [484] I have some very good ones here. [485] How much do you want for your apples, Frank? [486] I will sell you the green ones for three cents each. [487] But I must have more for these yellow ones. [488] They are sweet apples. [489] I think I must have four cents each for these. [490] Oh, Frank! You want too much for your apples. [491] We can not buy them to-day. [492] We can not give so much. [493] Well, then, children, I will tell you what I will do. [494] I will give you as many apples as you want. [495] Thank you, Frank. [496] You are very kind. [497] Will you give one of your sweet apples to each of us? [498] Yes, here are three apples for each of you; and I have four to take home to mother. [499] Can you tell how many apples Frank has? [500] Is he not a good, kind boy to give all his apples away?

[501] Come, Henry, let us take a walk this warm morning. [502] Where would you like to go? [503] Shall we go to the green woods? [504] Or shall we go down to the field and help the boys plant corn? [505] Tell me which way we shall go. [506] Oh, let us go out where the wild flowers grow. [507] Then we can see the birds in the trees, and the bees at their work. [508] Why do the bees fly from flower to flower? [509] Do they like to work when the sun is warm? [510] Tell me why the bees are so busy all the day. [511] I will tell you all about them when we have found one at work. [512] But come now, let us walk out to the green woods.

[513] These four children have gone out to see the sun set. [514] The sun is high in the sky now. [515] By and by it will set behind the hills. [516] The sun shines in the day time. [517] It helps to keep us warm. [518] It gives us light. [519] When it goes down we have night. [520] Then the stars come out and shine. [521] The moon shines at night, too. [522] But it is not so bright as the sun. [523] On some nights the moon does not shine at all. [524] Do you like to see the moon? [525] Yes, I like to see it. [526] I like to see its pretty light. [527] We can look at the moon; but we can not look at the sun. [528] It is too bright for us to look at.

[529] Let us sit here in the shade under our old apple tree. [530] You can look up and see the green leaves and the little green apples. [531] I should like to have one of the apples. [532] I wish you would get it for me, Frank. [533] Why do you want it? [534] It is not ripe. [535] All the apples on the tree are green, and you must not eat them. [536] Do you see how little they are? [537] But the bright sun will shine on them day after day. [538] They will grow and grow; and after a time they will be ripe, and yellow, and good to eat. [539] Then we will come and sit here in the shade, and you may have as many apples as you can eat.

[540] Come here, Lucy, and listen. [541] What do you hear in this flower? [542] Oh, mother! I hear a bee. [543] It goes buzz, buzz, buzz! [544] I wonder how it came to be shut up in the flower? [545] It went into the flower for some honey, and then the flower shut it in. [546] Shall we let it out, Lucy? [547] Oh yes, mother; then it can go to the other flowers and get honey.

[548] Little Robin Redbreast sat on a tree, [549] Up went Pussy Cat, down went he; [550] Down came Pussy Cat, away Robin ran; [551] Said little Robin Redbreast, "Catch me if you can!"

[552] One warm day in June, Frank's father said to him: "Frank, I think I will go down to the river and catch some fish." [553] Oh, father, said Frank, "I wish I could go too. [554] Will you let me go and help you?" [555] "Yes, Frank. [556] Run and; get your hook and line." [557] Thank you, father, I am so glad that I may go. [558] Here is Frank at the river, with his hook and line. [559] How bright the sun shines on the water! [560] I wonder where all the fish have gone. [561] Frank can not see them. [562] The fish are far down in the water. [563] Frank has let his hook down, and he wishes that a big fish would come and take it. [564] But the fish do not wish him to catch them to-day. [565] They will not come near the hook.

[566] What a bright day this is! [567] The sky is as blue as it can be. [568] Lucy and her mother are in the woods. [569] They have found a good place under a green tree. [570] They sit in the shade of the tree and listen to the birds that are singing above them. [571] Robin Redbreast is in the tree. [572] Lucy sees him as he jumps about among the leaves. [573] By and by he will fly away to his nest. [574] Lucy wonders where it is.

[575] John has a new boat. [576] His father gave it to him. [577] It is blue, with a bright red line near the water. [578] He keeps it in the river, not far from the road. [579] He has some good oars, too. [580] He keeps the oars at the house. [581] His home is near the river. [582] He likes to row up and down the river in his boat. [583] Sometimes little May goes out in the boat with him. [584] The water is not deep, and the children will not fall out of the boat. [585] They like to row here and there on the river. [586] John takes the oars, and May sits in her place and tells him where to go. [587] Sometimes each takes an oar. [588] Then the boat goes very fast. [589] John has a hook and line. [590] But when May is with him he does not try to catch any fish. [591] Shall I tell you why? [592] He knows that May does not like to see a fish on a hook.

[593] Here are all the boys coming up the road. [594] I wonder where they are going to-day. [595] Each boy has a hook and a line, and one has some light oars. [596] I think they are going to get into John's new boat and row out on the river. [597] Can you tell which of these boys is John? [598] They will get in the boat and row far out on the water. [599] When they get to a deep place they will try to catch some fish. [600] I wonder if any of the fish will come near the boat.

[601] Little Robin Redbreast has a nest in our garden. [602] If you listen any time in the day, you can hear him sing. [603] On warm days he likes to sit in the shade among the green leaves. [604] He can see the busy bees when they fly to the flowers to get honey. [605] He sees the green apples about him, but he does not like them. [606] He would not eat them if they were ripe and sweet. [607] At night he can look up from his place in the tree and see the bright stars in the sky. [608] Sometimes he can see the moon, too, as it shines above him. [609] Sometimes the Pussy Cat comes under his tree and looks up at him; but she can not get him. [610] She sits under the tree and wishes that she could catch him. [611] Do you know why she wants the bird? [612] Do you know what she would do if she could get him?

[613] One day Henry went out to the field behind the garden. [614] He went out to see his father plant corn. [615] He sat down by a tree and said, "Father, shall I help you work? I have been in the house all day." [616] Thank you, my little boy, said his father. [617] "I want some help very much. [618] What can you do?" [619] "I should like to plant some corn. How much will you give me?" [620] "I will give you four cents a day if you work well. But now the sun is about to set, and we must go home."

[621] What is that? said Rose as she went down the garden walk. [622] She saw Frank at work under the apple tree. [623] It is a little boat, Rose, said Frank. [624] What do you think of this boat? [625] "Oh, I think it is very pretty. Where did you get it, Frank?" [626] "I made it, Rose. I made it all." [627] "How glad I am that you made it! Will it float in the water?" [628] "I think so. All it wants now is the sail. I will soon put that on." [629] "How I should like to see it sail! Does mother know that you have made it?" [630] "Not yet; but I will take it to her as soon as I have put the sail on it. Then, if she will let us, we will take it down to the river. We will put it in the water and see it float. We will see how fast it can sail." [631] Soon Frank and Rose were on their way to the river. [632] Frank said that if the boat sailed well, he would give it to Rose. [633] She will let her doll sail in it.

[634] Listen, mother, do you hear that? [635] "Yes, Henry, it is the wind. We can hear it blow about the house; but we can not see it. If you should go out of the house, you could feel it blow in your face." [636] "See how it blows the leaves about! How fast Frank's little boat would sail with this wind!"

[637] Do you know when summer comes? [638] When summer comes the days are warm and bright. [639] Green leaves are on the trees. [640] Flowers bloom in the woods and in the gardens. [641] The wind blows soft; the sky is blue; the sun shines bright [642] In the summer the corn grows tall and green. [643] It is then that the children play in the woods. [644] I like the summer time very much.

[645] I wish my baby doll would wake. [646] Wake up, baby! Wake up! [647] Do not sleep so long. [648] It is morning, and all good little dolls should be up. [649] Oh, baby, what a care you are! [650] Will you not wake up? [651] I do not know of any doll that sleeps so long as you do. [652] Now jump up, and see what a bright morning it is. [653] See how the sun shines. [654] Wake up, baby! [655] Do you wish to know where I have been, baby doll? [656] I have been down in the meadow with Frank and Rose. [657] Shall I tell you what we saw? [658] Well, we saw birds and bees and green leaves and pretty flowers. [659] Then we went to the river and saw Frank's little boat sail on the water.

[660] Little Boy Blue, Come blow your horn. [661] The sheep's in the meadow, The cow's in the corn! [662] Where is the little boy That looks after the sheep? [663] Oh, here he is! Here he is, fast asleep! [664] Will you wake him? No, not I; [665] For if I do, I know he will cry.

[666] Fly away, little bird, fly away home! [667] If you are not a little bird, why did you come?

[668] What will come when summer is over and gone? [669] Oh, I can tell you. [670] After the summer is gone, fall will come. [671] When fall comes, the days begin to grow cold. [672] Then the leaves fall from the trees. [673] Some of the leaves turn red, some turn brown, and some turn yellow as gold. [674] In the fall we have ripe apples to eat. [675] The corn is ripe then, too. [676] All the children are glad when fall comes. [677] Do you know why? [678] Play time is over, and school begins. [679] "I wish, mother, you would tell me where the rain comes from. Does it come from the sky?" [680] Are the leaves and the flowers and the grass glad when the rain falls on them? [681] This is what Lucy asked her mother one day. Her mother said: [682] "The rain makes the grass look green and fresh. It helps the flowers grow. The corn which we plant in the field could not grow if there was no rain." [683] But, mother, said Lucy, "I do not like the rain very well. [684] It makes me stay in the house when I want to go and play. [685] See how fast it rains! [686] I shall have to stay at home all day."

[687] It is evening, and the sun is about to set. [688] The day will soon be gone. [689] Let us sit here on the soft grass and look at the bright clouds in the west. [690] Do you think there is any rain in those little clouds? [691] Oh, no! Those are not rain clouds. [692] See how pretty they are! [693] Some of the clouds are red, and some are as yellow as gold. [694] It is the light of the sun that makes them look so bright. [695] Soon they will all fade away in the blue sky. [696] Soon it will be night, and the moon and stars will shine for us.

[697] Here are four little girls who live near the sea. [698] They have gone down to the beach with their father. [699] They like to play in the sand. [700] Sometimes their mother goes with them, and they stay there all day. [701] They like to look at the ships as they sail far away on the blue sea. [702] Do you think you would like to sail far away on a ship? [703] Sometimes these little girls find pretty shells in the sand. [704] I think all children like to play on the beach when the sun is warm, and the wind does not blow.

[705] What does the man say? [706] He says, "Good sweet apples, only two cents each! Ripe, sweet apples, yellow as gold! [707] Who will buy my apples this warm summer morning?" [708] You can hear him as he goes down the road. [709] Who wants to buy a nice red apple? [710] The apples are in the wagon. [711] The man walks in the road, behind the wagon, and tells every one that he has apples to sell. [712] His little dog rides in the wagon and looks at the horse. [713] Is he not a funny driver? [714] The horse does not go very fast. [715] He knows that his driver can not use a whip. [716] Oh, who wants to buy some good apples this bright summer morning?

[717] Do you know these three boys? [718] The tall boy in the wagon is Frank Brown. [719] The little boy is Henry. [720] He is Frank's brother. [721] The boy on the horse is John Day. [722] See how well he can ride! [723] Frank is a good driver. [724] He sits in the wagon, and the horse goes just as he is told. [725] Frank has a whip in his hand, but he does not use it. [726] Henry's little dog runs behind. [727] Sometimes he has to run very fast to keep up with the wagon. [728] Do you know where the boys are going? [729] I think they are going to town. [730] I wonder what they will buy in town. [731] Henry says he will buy a book with pretty pictures in it. [732] He can not read very well, but he likes to look at books. [733] John wants to ride down to the river and look at the boats. [734] He would buy a new boat if he could. [735] But he has only one cent, and what can he buy with that? [736] Frank says they will not stay in town long. [737] They must go home very soon.

[738] It is time to start to school. [739] Rose is at the door with her book in her hand. [740] Come, Frank! she says. [741] "Let us go. We must not stay so long. School will soon begin." [742] Yes, sister, says Frank. [743] "We must run fast. Then we shall get to school in good time. But we must not stop on the road." [744] In this picture you can see the children going to school. [745] You can see the school house and the teacher. [746] The teacher is at the door to see the children as they come. [747] She says, "Good morning, boys and girls!" [748] She is glad to see the children; and all the children are glad to see her. [749] They are glad that school begins to-day.

[750] The name of this little boy is Robert. [751] He is a busy boy. [752] He lives in a big town, and he does not often see the fields and the green woods. [753] Yet he is just as happy as Frank and John and little Henry. [754] He lives in a tall house not far from the river. [755] In the summer time he can see the ships as they sail up the river. [756] His father has a boat, and sometimes Robert goes sailing in it. [757] One day Robert saw a man with bows and arrows to sell. [758] How much do you ask for your arrows? he said. [759] Only three cents each, said the man. [760] Would you like to buy one? [761] Robert did not buy an arrow. [762] He went home and made one that was just as good. [763] Do you think he can use it? [764] His teacher says that he must make a bow now. [765] What does the summer bring? [766] Green leaves, pretty flowers, busy bees, and birds of many kinds. [767] It is then that we play in the woods and by the sea.

[768] When winter comes, the days are short and the nights are long. [769] Then the cold north wind blows over the fields and woods. [770] It blows over the meadow and the river and the high hills. [771] It brings snow and ice. [772] It makes our hands and faces cold. [773] We do not like the north wind. [774] All children are happy when winter comes. [775] They like to see the snow. [776] They like to play on the ice. [777] They do not care if the north wind does make them shiver. [778] Those who are dressed warm do not feel the cold very much. [779] Sometimes the snow is so deep they can not go to school. [780] In the evening, they sit in the warm house and read and play. [781] It is very cold to day, but the snow is not deep. [782] All the boys and girls are at school. [783] The school room is warm and bright, and the children are happy. [784] You can see them at their places in the school room. [785] They look out of the window and see the snow falling. [786] How soft and white it is! [787] The teacher has been showing the children some pictures in her new book. [788] Now she is telling them a story that is found in it. [789] The children look and listen. [790] They do not think how cold it is out of doors.

[791] Can you tell what time it is? [792] Look at the clock, and then tell me. [793] The clock has a round face. [794] It has two hands. [795] We call the long hand the minute hand, for it tells the minutes. [796] We call the short hand the hour hand, for it tells the hours. [797] How many hours are there in a day? [798] How many minutes in an hour? [799] If you listen, you can hear what the clock says. Tick, tack, tick, tack. [800] Our clock at school tells us many things. [801] It tells us when to work and when to play.