Lesson 4 The Soldier and the Horse

1、A poor soldier was one day passing along a street in London. All at once he was seen to stop, and look for some time at a horse on the other side of the street.

2、“I know him! I know him!”cried he, as he ran across the street.“He is my own old horse. Dear old fellow!”

3、The horse seemed to know the voice. He laid back his ears, and pushed his nose against the hand that stroked him so kindly.

4、After a few moments, the poor soldier put his hand in his pocket; and as he did so he said, “Yes, he shall have it, though it were my last penny! I have enough to buy him a feed of corn.”

5、Away he went to bring it; and in a few minutes he came back with the corn, and stood kindly feeding the horse with his own hand.

6、After staying beside him for some time, he asked where his stable was, that he might go and see him some other day.

7、He then went his way saying to the driver as he left; “Be good to him, poor fellow!and use him well.”

8、It was a beautiful sight; and it was no wonder that some little boys who stood near,cried out, Hurrah! when they saw the poor soldier’s kindness to his old friend.

9、It was a lesson on kindness to animals which they were not likely soon to forget.

(250 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Check the details] Why did the poor soldier look at the horse?

A. Because he was attracted by it.

B. Because it was his old horse.

C. Because he fell in love with it at first sight.

2. [Check the details] What did the soldier buy for the horse?

A. Some corn.

B. He bought nothing because he had only one penny left.

C. Some water.

3. [Understand the main idea] We can learn from the passage that ________.

A. human beings should be kind to animals

B. the horse loved the poor soldier very much

C. the poor soldier wanted to bring back his old horse

Ⅱ. Read for words.

Choose one best Chinese meaning for the underlined words.

1、Away he went to bring it; and in a few minutes he came back with the corn, and stood kindly feeding the horse with his own hand. (Para. 5, line 2)

A. 爱抚 B. 喂养 C. 照看