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 A Powerful King

Once there (rule)1 a powerful king over the island of Samos. He was rich and prosperous, and at last his prosperity (rise)2 to such a height that he (begin)3 to be afraid that the gods (can)4 (be)5 jealous of his happiness. So, some messengers (send)6 to consult an oracle in another country. They (tell)7 (bring)8 the answer as soon as they (get)9 it. When they (reach) the oracle they (receive)11 the answer: "(Tell)12 the King that if he (want)13 to escape the anger of the Gods, he (must)14 (throw)15 into the sea the thing which he (think)16 to be the dearest of all his possessions." The messengers returned and the King (tell)17 what the oracle (say).18 The King therefore (take)19 a boat and (go)20 out to sea, and (throw)21 away a ring which he (value)22 greatly because it (give)23 to him by his late wife. That night he (think)24 over what he (do)25 that day and wondered if the gods (keep)26 him safe from harm. When he (wake)27 up in the morning he (sit)28 down to breakfast. Imagine his surprise when he (open)29 a fish that (prepare)30 for him and (see) the ring he (throw)32 away the day before! A fisherman (catch)33 the fish that morning and (bring)34 it to the palace, not knowing what (be)35 inside it. The king then (understand)38 that the gods (refuse)37 his sacrifice. He soon (begin)38 to lose his power and (die)39 in great misery. This story is a warning to us not to flatter ourselves that our happiness (be)40 enduring, unless we (depend)41 more upon ourselves than upon what we (have).

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 The New Teacher

The school in Pine Clearing was new and fine. The people (be)¹ proud of it, as well as of the schoolmistress, a young widow, who was clever and had a good educa­tion.

One day when she (leave)² the school the chairman of the school board (come)³ up to her, "Mrs Martin, we (like)⁴ you (have)⁵ an assistant as the school (get)⁶ too large for one little woman. I (go)⁷ (meet)⁸ him now." At that moment a coach (stop)⁹ at the gate and they (see)¹⁰ a young man (jump)¹¹ out of it. He (look)¹² strong and active. His eyes (be)¹³ blue, his hair (be)¹⁴ short; but his face (have)¹⁵ no expression, it was like a mask. He (introduce)¹⁶ to everybody as Charles Twing, the new assistant. The Chairman (think)¹⁷ that he never (see)¹⁸ such an expressionless face before; he was sure that as soon as Mrs Mar­tin (look)¹⁹ at him she (send)²⁰ him away. Mrs Martin asked Mr Twing if he (be)²¹ at college, and if he ever (teach)²² at a school. It turned out that he never (do)²³ such things. The schoolmis­tress (not say)²⁴ anything to this. She said she (expect)²⁵ him (come)²⁶ to the school early the next day.

The next morning when Mrs Martin came to the school the new assistant (not come)²⁷ yet. But soon he appeared with a crowd of children. They (laugh)²⁸ and (look)²⁹ very happy. Mrs Martin (get)³⁰ angry, but Mr Twing promised that he (listen)³¹ and (learn)³² very quickly.

A month passed. All (go)³³ well in the school. Mrs Martin (begin)³⁴ (like)³⁵ her new assistant and they (become)³⁶ good friends. She never (ask)³⁷ him what he (do)³⁸ before he (be­come)³⁹ a teacher.

One day a piano (bring)⁴⁰ to the school as the children (be going)⁴¹ (give)⁴² a concert. Mrs Martin wanted Mr Twing (do)⁴³ something too and he (decide)⁴⁴ (recite)⁴⁵ a poem. While he (do)⁴⁶ it at the concert a voice from the audience shouted, "Bravo, Johnny Walker!" Mr Twing's face (become)⁴⁷ white and he (go)⁴⁸ "away quickly. After the concert Mrs Martin (find)⁴⁹ Mr Twing in a little room. He (tell)⁵⁰ her that he (be)⁵¹ a clown before he (come)⁵² to the school.