True Manliness 

"Please, mother, do sit down and let me try my hand,"said Fred Liscom, a bright active boy, twelve years old. Mrs. Liscom, looking pale and worn, was moving languidly about, trying to clear away the breakfast she had scarcely tasted. 

She smiled and said, "You, Fred, you wash dishes?" 

"Yes, indeed, mother," answered Fred. "I should be a poor scholar if I couldn't, when I've seen you do it so many times. Just try me." 

A look of relief came over his mother's face as she seated herself in her low rocking chair. Fred washed the dishes and put them in the closet. He swept the kitchen, brought up the potatoes from the cellar for the dinner and washed them, and then set out for school. 

Fred's father was away from home and as there was some cold meat in the pantry , Mrs. Liscom found it an easy task to prepare dinner. Fred hurried home from school, set the table, and again washed the dishes. 

He kept on in this way for two or three days, until his mother was able to resume her usual work. He felt amply rewarded when the doctor, who happened in one day, said, "Well, madam, it's my opinion that you would have been very sick if you had not kept quiet." 

The doctor did not know how the "quiet" had been secured, nor how the boy's heart bounded at his words. Fred had given up a great deal of what boys hold dear, for the purpose of helping his mother, coasting and skating being just at this time in perfection. 

Besides this, his temper and his patience had been severely tried. He had been in the habit of going early to school and staying to play after it was dismissed. 

The boys missed him and their curiosity was excited when he would give no other reason for not coming to school earlier, or staying after school, than that he was "Wanted at home." 

"I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, "I'll find him out, boys-see if I don't!" 

So, one morning on his way to school, he called on Fred. As he went around to the side door, he walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was ly needful. Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in his hand. 

Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings poor Fred received at recess ."Well, you're a brave one to stay at home washing dishes!""Girl boy!" "Pretty Bessie!""Lost your apron, haven't you, Polly!" 

Fred was not wanting either in spirit or in courage, and he was strongly tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors . But his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him. 

While he was struggling for self-mastery, his teacher appeared at the door of the schoolhouse. Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!" He knew the teacher had heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates. 

The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted in any manner. They knew that the teacher meant what he said; and so the brave little boy had no further trouble. QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What is one of the chores that Fred helped his mother with?
2. What chores did Fred do in order to help his mother?
3. 
Q2:
1. What chores did Fred do as soon as he got back from school?
2. Which chores were done by Fred once he had returned from school?
3. 
Q3:
1. What is the total number of days that Fred helped his mother with the chores?
2. Fred continued helping with chores for how many days?
3. 
Q4:
1. How did Fred's mother feel now that he was helping her with the chores?
2. How did Fred helping his mother with the chores make her feel?
3. 
Q5:
1. Did Fred feel happy that his mother felt rested?
2. Was Fred happy now that his mother was rested?
3. 
Q6:
1. What is the name of the person that found out what Fred was doing for his mother?
2. Which person discovered that Fred was helping his mother out with the chores?
3. 
Q7:
1. 
2. 
3. 
Q8:
1. What did the boys at school tell Fred when they discovered what he was doing at home?
2. Fred received what comments from the boys at school after they found out that he was helping his mother out by doing the chores?
3. 
Q9:
1. 
2. 
3. 
Q10:
1. 
2. 
3. 
Q11:
1. What did Tom Barton tell the boys to explain to them why Fred was missing?
2. Tom Barton used what explanation to tell the boys why Fred was absent?
3. 
