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WOODEN BOWL

An old man lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, the milk spilt on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. However, grandfather still broke his dishes so his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye when he was sitting alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilt food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilt, or the tablecloth soiled.

WOODEN BOWL

An old man lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, the milk spilt on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. However, grandfather still broke his dishes so his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye when he was sitting alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilt food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilt, or the tablecloth soiled.

WOODEN BOWL

An old man lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, the milk spilt on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. However, grandfather still broke his dishes so his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye when he was sitting alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilt food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilt, or the tablecloth soiled.

WOODEN BOWL

An old man lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, the milk spilt on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. However, grandfather still broke his dishes so his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye when he was sitting alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilt food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilt, or the tablecloth soiled.

WOODEN BOWL

An old man lived with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, the milk spilt on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. However, grandfather still broke his dishes so his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye when he was sitting alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilt food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilt, or the tablecloth soiled.

EXCALIBUR

A long time ago, so the story goes, a young boy called Arthur became the King of England after he pulled a sword out of a stone.

The sword was Excalibur. It had a lot of power. The Lady of the Lake gave it to King Uther but asked him to give her his firstborn child. Uther became powerful. When his first child was born, Merlin, the magician came to take the baby. Uther tried to stop him, but thieves attacked him. Before he died, he put Excalibur into a stone and asked Merlin to make his son a king. Merlin promised that only someone with a pure heart could pull it out and become the next King of England.

When Arthur pulled the sword out, people were surprised. Merlin explained that Arthur was Uther's son and the people were happy.

Arthur was a good king. He built a big castle, Camelot, and ruled over England with his knights. He called them the Knights of the Round Table. Together they made England a strong country.

(Source: Adapted from Access 7)

EXCALIBUR

A long time ago, so the story goes, a young boy called Arthur became the King of England after he pulled a sword out of a stone.

The sword was Excalibur. It had a lot of power. The Lady of the Lake gave it to King Uther but asked him to give her his firstborn child. Uther became powerful. When his first child was born, Merlin, the magician came to take the baby. Uther tried to stop him, but thieves attacked him. Before he died, he put Excalibur into a stone and asked Merlin to make his son a king. Merlin promised that only someone with a pure heart could pull it out and become the next King of England.

When Arthur pulled the sword out, people were surprised. Merlin explained that Arthur was Uther's son and the people were happy.

Arthur was a good king. He built a big castle, Camelot, and ruled over England with his knights. He called them the Knights of the Round Table. Together they made England a strong country.

(Source: Adapted from Access 7)

EXCALIBUR

A long time ago, so the story goes, a young boy called Arthur became the King of England after he pulled a sword out of a stone.

The sword was Excalibur. It had a lot of power. The Lady of the Lake gave it to King Uther but asked him to give her his firstborn child. Uther became powerful. When his first child was born, Merlin, the magician came to take the baby. Uther tried to stop him, but thieves attacked him. Before he died, he put Excalibur into a stone and asked Merlin to make his son a king. Merlin promised that only someone with a pure heart could pull it out and become the next King of England.

When Arthur pulled the sword out, people were surprised. Merlin explained that Arthur was Uther's son and the people were happy.

Arthur was a good king. He built a big castle, Camelot, and ruled over England with his knights. He called them the Knights of the Round Table. Together they made England a strong country.

(Source: Adapted from Access 7)

EXCALIBUR

A long time ago, so the story goes, a young boy called Arthur became the King of England after he pulled a sword out of a stone.

The sword was Excalibur. It had a lot of power. The Lady of the Lake gave it to King Uther but asked him to give her his firstborn child. Uther became powerful. When his first child was born, Merlin, the magician came to take the baby. Uther tried to stop him, but thieves attacked him. Before he died, he put Excalibur into a stone and asked Merlin to make his son a king. Merlin promised that only someone with a pure heart could pull it out and become the next King of England.

When Arthur pulled the sword out, people were surprised. Merlin explained that Arthur was Uther's son and the people were happy.

Arthur was a good king. He built a big castle, Camelot, and ruled over England with his knights. He called them the Knights of the Round Table. Together they made England a strong country.

(Source: Adapted from Access 7)

EXCALIBUR

A long time ago, so the story goes, a young boy called Arthur became the King of England after he pulled a sword out of a stone.

The sword was Excalibur. It had a lot of power. The Lady of the Lake gave it to King Uther but asked him to give her his firstborn child. Uther became powerful. When his first child was born, Merlin, the magician came to take the baby. Uther tried to stop him, but thieves attacked him. Before he died, he put Excalibur into a stone and asked Merlin to make his son a king. Merlin promised that only someone with a pure heart could pull it out and become the next King of England.

When Arthur pulled the sword out, people were surprised. Merlin explained that Arthur was Uther's son and the people were happy.

Arthur was a good king. He built a big castle, Camelot, and ruled over England with his knights. He called them the Knights of the Round Table. Together they made England a strong country.

(Source: Adapted from Access 7)

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY

Every year on February 14th, couples exchange flowers, candy and cards to celebrate St. Valentine's Day. How did this tradition begin? No one knows for sure, but there are several legends that have been passed from generation to generation. The most popular one is about a Catholic saint who lived in the third century.

St. Valentine was a priest in Rome. The Roman Emperor of that time, Claudius II, believed that unmarried men were better soldiers than those with wives. He made marriage illegal for young men. Valentine strongly opposed this decision, so he continued to perform weddings for young couples in secret. After a while, Emperor Claudius learned of Valentine's actions and sent him to prison. According to the story, the priest then fell in love with a girl who visited him there!

In the end, Valentine was put to death on February 14th. Before he died, he had written a letter to the girl he loved and signed it, “From your Valentine.”

(Source: Adapted from Easy content reader 3)