LESSON 21
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

1. Mr. Jones. Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these parcels for me?

2. The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good whipcord. Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, and then to untie it.

3. John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at the other, to pull off the string. But the cord had been too well secured, and he only drew the knots tighter.

4.John.I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly,as if they were never to be undone. Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone? What is in your parcel? I wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get the string off. I will cut it.

5.Ben.Oh,no,do not cut it,John!Look,what a nice cord this is,and yours is the same. It is a pity to cut it.

6.John.Pooh!what signifies a bit of pack thread?

7.Ben.It is whipcord.

8.John.Well,whipcord then!what signifies a bit of whipcord?You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents; and who cares for three cents? Not I, for one. So, here it goes.

9. So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places.

10.Mr.Jones.Well,my boys,have you undone the parcels for me?

11.John.Yes,sir;here is the parcel.

12.Ben.And here is my parcel,father,and here is also the string.

13.Mr.Jones.You may keep the string,Ben.

14.Ben.Thank you,sir.What excellent whipcord it is!

15.Mr.Jones.And you,John,may keep your string,too,if it will be of any use to you.

16.John.It will be of no use to me,thank you,sir.

17.Mr.Jones.No,I am afraid not,if this is it.

18. A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top1.

19.John.How is this,Ben?These tops have no strings.What shall we do for strings?

20.Ben.I have a string that will do very well for mine.And he pulled it out of his pocket.

21.John.Why,if that is not the whipcord!I wish I had saved mine.

22. A few days afterward, there was a shooting match, with bows2 and arrows, among the lads. The prize was a fine bow and arrows, to be given to the best marksman. “Come, come, ” said Master Sharp, “I am within one inch of the mark. I should like to see who will go nearer.”

23. John drew his bow, and shot. The arrow struck within a quarter of an inch of Master Sharp's. “Shoot away, ” said Sharp; “but you must understand the rules. We settled them before you came. You are to have three shots with your own arrows. Nobody is to borrow or lend. So shoot away.”

24. John seized his second arrow; “If I have any luck, ” said he; —but just as he pronounced the word “luck, ” the string broke, and the arrow fell from his hands.

25.Master Sharp.There!It is all over with you.

26.Ben.Here is my bow for him,and welcome.

27.Master Sharp.No,no,sir;that is not fair.Did you not hear the rules? There is to be no lending.

28. It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His first arrow missed the mark; the second was exactly as near as John's first. Before venturing the last arrow, Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow; and, as he pulled it to try its strength, it snapped.

29. Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy. But his dancing suddenly ceased, when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent piece of cord, and began to tie it to the bow.

30. “The everlasting whipcord, I declare! ” cried John. “Yes, ” said Ben, “I put it in my pocket today, because I thought I might want it.”

31. Ben's last arrow won the prize; and when the bow and arrows were handed to him, John said, “How valuable that whipcord has been to you, Ben. I'll take care how I waste anything hereafter.”

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

parcels:mailed package.

alike:the same.

whipcord:a braided string.

examine:look carefully at.

secured:attached.

drew:pulled.

pity:sad thing.

signifies:is important about.

lads:boys.

marksman:one who shoots well.

mark:target.

pronounced:spoke.

lending:giving something that will be returned.

trial:try;attempt.

venturing:trying.

prudently:carefully.

examined:looked at closely.

strength:maximum.

ceased:stopped.

everlasting:lasting forever.

declare:say.

valuable:important.

hereafter:after this time.

B. Study Notes

1. Top: a toy that spins quickly on its point to stay upright. The spinning movement is usually produced by winding a string around the top and then pulling it off quickly.

2. Bow: a weapon usually made of curved wood and a strong string used to shoot an arrow.

C. Comprehension Questions

1. Which of the boys kept his whipcord? How did he use it?

2. What did the other boy do with his whipcord? What was the consequence (result of his actions)?

3. What is the main lesson we can learn from this story?

D. Retelling the story: Write a number (1-6) on each line to put the events of the story in the correct order.

____ Ben's arrow hit closer to the mark than Master Sharp's.

____ The boys received tops.

____ Ben tried to lend his whipcord to John.

____ John cut his whipcord but Ben untied his.

____ John decided he would not waste anything in the future.

____ Mr. Jones asked his sons to open some parcels.

E. Word Web

The story tells us that we should not waste simple things, but instead find a new way of using them. What things in your life do you re-use in new ways? Draw a circle in the center of your page and write the words “Waste Not, Want Not” inside. Now write some of the things that you re-use outside the circle and draw a line to connect each idea to the “Waste Not, Want Not” circle. Write a few words beside each thing explaining how it can be used in a new way.