112 THE FALL OF THE YEAR 



CHAPTER IV 



TO THE TEACHER 



There are several practical uses to which you can put this chapter, 

 and the similar chapters, vn and xn : they can be made the pur- 

 pose for field excursions with the class. Such excursions might be 

 quite impossible for many a teacher in school hours ; and we know 

 how the exacting duties overcrowd the after-school hours ; but one 

 field excursion each season of the year, no matter how precious your 

 time, would do more for you and your class than many books about 

 nature read inside your four plastered walls. Better the books than 

 nothing ; but take the book and go with your pupils into the real out 

 of doors. 



Again, you can make these chapters a kind of nature test, asking 

 each pupil to try to see each of the things suggested here ; or, if 

 these do not chance to be the sights characteristic of the autumn in 

 your region, then such sights as are characteristic. So the chapter 

 can serve as a kind of field guide to the pupil, and a kind of test of 

 his knowledge of nature. 



Again, you can make each item mentioned here the subject for a 

 short composition direct from the pupil's experience the only kind 

 of subject for him to write upon. Or make each item (say, No. iv, 

 the Ballooning Spiders) the beginning for a short course of study or 

 collateral reading for the individual pupil particularly interested in 

 spiders ! 



CHAPTER V 



TO THE TEACHER 



The real point of this story (but first of all it is a story and should 

 not be spoiled with any moral) is the thought in the lines : 



" There were thousands of persons who could have gold eggs if 

 they cared. But eagles' eggs ! Money could not buy such a sight as 

 this." Which means, that the simple joys of the out of doors, and 

 the possession of youth and health, are better than any joys that 

 money can create, and more precious possessions than all the money 



