初中英语作文:假如我又回到开始合集20篇
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942我的家乡初中英语作文120字
全文共 691 字
+ 加入清单My Home Town
请你根据下面的提纲,以“我的家乡”为题,写一篇100—120字的短文。
提纲:
(1) 家乡的地理位置;
(2) 解放前的情况;
(3) 解放后的变化;
(4) 对家乡的感情。
My Home Town
My home town is a beautiful place. It stands beside a wide river and is rich in fish and rice.
But in the old days it was a poor and backward little town. Many people had no work. They lived a hard life.
In 1949 my hometown was liberated. Since then great changes have taken place there. The streets have been widened. Factories, schools, hospitals, cinemas and theatres have sprung up one after another. The life of the people is greatly improved.
I love my hometown. All the more I love its people. They are working hard so as to make it still richer and more beautiful.
更多相似作文
篇1:关于清明节的英语作文初中
全文共 942 字
+ 加入清单Last Qingming Festival,i return home to worship my grandfather.Qingming
Festival is a folk Festival.In the past,the Qingming Festival was called "Arbor
Day". But Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush
that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set
out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a familys home
altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory
is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing
food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.
With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the
honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the
spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and
spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good
harvests and more children.
篇2:初中英语日记
全文共 310 字
+ 加入清单20XX.X.X 晴
I watched television late last night so I woke up late. My mother asked me to go to the market to buy some eggs for her. When I played with a little dog on the street, I dropped the eggs on the ground. They were all broken. My mother was very angry with me when I went home. I am very unhappy to-day.
篇3:初中生英语
全文共 748 字
+ 加入清单Dear
Editor,
Recently
graffiti has become more noticeable in my college. I feel quite annoyed at them,
especially when some of my classmates praise them as a kind of so-called art.
Confronted with this impolite phenomenon, I cant help asking myself: what is
wrong with todays teenagers?
In
my opinion, graffiti is a form of vandalism. They are a mess and are ugly to
look at. Meanwhile, walls are public places, and they should not be used to
express personal views and feelings.
I
really think vandalism should be stopped, and those who refuse to stop this bad
practice should be punished. We should clear away these ugly expressions and
drawings so that our college may return to its true self--a clean, quiet place
for study, teaching and research.
Yours,
Li
Ming
篇4:假期打工初中英语作文
全文共 913 字
+ 加入清单中学生应该在假期打工吗?你的看法呢?今天,小简老师选择的中考英语写作话题是:假期打工
【预测话题】假期打工
【预测题目】
暑假就要到了。很多学生打算在假期打工锻炼自己,可是有些家长不同意。他们认为打工既耽误学习,又不太安全。请你以“Should teenagers be allowed to have part-time jobs?"为题写一篇80词左右的短文,谈谈你的看法。
Should teenagers be allowed to have part-time jobs?
【参考范文】
Should teenagers be allowed to have part-time jobs?
Summer holiday is coming. Many students plan to have part-time jobs. But some parents disagree. They think it wastes the students’ time and it isn’t safe as well.
In my opinion, teenagers should be allowed to do some part-time jobs. Firstly, they can experience different lives and get more knowledge outside school. Meanwhile, after learning about the difficulty of making a living, they will cherish what they have now. What’s more, teenagers should have chances to make decisions by themselves.
Of course, safety is the most important. Teenagers should learn to protect themselves when doing part-time jobs.
[假期打工初中英语作文
篇5:初中英语作文的写作方法
全文共 1683 字
+ 加入清单不少同学在问了,英语作文怎么写?如何写好英语作文,下面是小编为大家收集的初中英语作文的写作方法,欢迎阅读。
初一英语写作题,题材一般是写人、写事、写物、写景、日记、书信、通知、便条等文体。一般来说,不同的写作题材,它的人物,时间,写作的重点也是不尽相同的。下面结合一些常见的题型介绍一下写作的注意事项以及写作技巧。
各地的评分标准略有差异,但是都包括以下几个方面:整体印象、语言表达、词数规定等几方面内容。我们在写作中要尽量避免扣分,争取有加分点。当然用英文写作不同于用母语那样得心应手,常常会受到生词、语法、惯用法的限制,只要同学们平时注意两种语言的异同性,抓住写作要点,也可妙笔生花。
1、为了保证文章层次分明、条理清楚,要把时间固定下来,如:记叙一件事要用过去时;写经常发生的事或对人物的描写,要用一般现在时。整个文章中的人称要一致,首尾呼应,不要随意改动,以免造成误解。
2、不要为了追求“一鸣惊人”而去找一些生冷的词汇,对这些一知半解的词你不会用,不知道如何搭配,结果可能适得其反,使文章显的生硬、不协调,甚至错误百出,所以要使用有把握的词,避免不必要的失分。比如说发生了一起意外事件,我们通常用“have an accident ”来表示,不要错误的使用“have an incident”。
3、注意不同语言的表达习惯,也是写好英语作文的重要环节,如“我的理想是做一名歌手”,很多同学写成“My ambition is to do/make a singer,” “to do”表示“做”或者“干”,“to make”表示“制作”,而“做一名歌手”则表示“成为一名歌手”应该用“be/become a singer”;又如“看书、看报”应用“read a book/newspaper”,而不是“see a book/newspaper”。因此,平时应该注意不同语言的表达习惯,切忌望文生义或一味生搬硬套。
4、有些同学因怕出错而只写短句或简单句,写出的文章过于幼稚、空洞乏味。要使文章有血有肉就要把平时学的知识用进去,如:定语从句、宾语从句、非谓语动词和比较等句型,关键时用上一、二个,就能使文章不同凡响,更有文采,特别是对关联词的使用,如“so that”、“not…but ”“not only...but also”等,会使你的文章逻辑结构紧密、层次鲜明、条理清楚,更能显示出你的英文功底,但要做到这些并非一日之功,要靠平时的不断训练和积累。
5、最简单的增分点就是认真的书写。工整漂亮的书写会给评卷老师留下美好的第一印象,在扣分时自然会“手下留情”,而且很多地区都在写作上有1分的书写分。只要平时多下点功夫,得到这一分并不难。
注意事项
最后将英语写作的基本步骤和技巧归纳为以下几个环节:
1、细心审题细读题目中每一项提示或观察所给的每一幅画,明确文章的中心思想,弄清题意,确定写作体裁,掌握所要表达的要点做到心中有数,避免随心所欲,文不对题。
2、理顺要点在所给提示或图上标出要点,然后按事件先后的顺序或各要点之间的内在联系排序,分出层次。如果是看图作文,则要按图构思,这样做既可避免要点遗漏,又可使表达内容条理清楚。
3、构成框架将理顺的要点或每幅图画的含义加以连贯,构成写作的整体框架,进一步定人称、定时态语态、定顺序、定段落、定开头结尾。基本框架构成后,写作就有了把握。
4、组织句子用自己最熟悉的短语或句型将理顺的要点逐句表达出来,多用简单句,用有把握的复合句。要扬长避短,避难就易。若遇到表达障碍,可换一种说法,将一句变成两、三句,只求达意。
5、串句成篇将写好的句子连贯地组织起来,注意上下句的逻辑关系,适当采用递进、让步、转折、因果等关联词语,使短文浑然一体,层次分明,过渡自然。6、检查修改文章草成后,默读1~2遍,检查修改,尤其要注意人称、大小写、拼写、习惯用语、格式有无错误,要点有无遗漏,文句有无语病,词数是否恰当,行文是否连贯。
英语写作水平的提高是一个渐进的过程,只要同学们在平时多加训练,多读文章,做一个有心人,就能在英语作文中取得理想的成绩
篇6:我的朋友初中英语Myfriend
全文共 508 字
+ 加入清单My friend and I are good friends.she is shy and I am outgoing.she likes studying English but I like studying math.she has long straight blak hair and I have short curly blak hair.she likes playing volleball but Ilike playingbasketball.we are still friends.
She is always studys home but I always study at shool because it is very investsting.I like watching action moves but she likes watching the TV show she has big eyes and she likes wearing jeans but I like wearing shirt.she usually helps me in my study
篇7:寒假英语作文初中
全文共 1192 字
+ 加入清单Nowadays it is common to encounter a scene when people want to see things
happen but can‘t make things happen for various reasons. The most important
reason is that they just refuse to create and innovate. With the accelerated
pace of our society,more and more people recognize the importance of creation
that is bound to make a difference in social productivity.
As far as I am concerned,we should all have the notion of being the
participants of supporting creation. First of all,creation is the most vital
factor to improve the inner competitiveness of our nation. For another,it is
certain that creation is so essential that enables many people to find their
positions in the company and careers in their lives.
Measures are also needed to encourage creation . First and foremost,the
government should establish certain rules to sweep up the obstacles of
invention. Some people have already complained much about complicated procedure
of patent applications or high fees to do experiments of inventions.
Additionally,high schools and universities can provide students with
scholarships or overseas learning opportunities,which will stimulate more
youngsters to join the group of invention and innovation.
篇8:初中英语作文多交朋友
全文共 866 字
+ 加入清单I like to make friends, I can share my happiness and sorrow with friends. Friends are very important part of our lives, without them, I will be very lonely. I learn it when I was very small. It was Friday, I went to school to join the English contest, before I went into the classroom, I found I did not bring the admission card, I felt so worried, without admission card, I could not walk into the classroom. My friend Li looked at me and asked me what happened, I told him the truth, then he asked me to stay here and he rushed to our classroom. Ten minutes later, he came back with my admission card. I was so thankful, friends are very important.
我喜欢交朋友,我可以和朋友们分享我的喜怒和哀乐。朋友是我们生活中很重要的一部分,没有朋友,我会感到很孤单。我在很小的时候就学到了这点。那是星期五,我去学校参加了英语竞赛,在我走进教室之前,我发现我没有带准考证,我感到很担忧,没有准考证,我就不能走进教室。我的朋友李看着我,问我发生了什么事情,我告诉他事实,然后他叫我留在原地,他跑去了我们的教室。十分钟以后,他回来了,带着我的准考证。我很感激,朋友是很重要的。
[初中英语作文多交朋友
篇9:幸福是什么初中作文英语精选
全文共 809 字
+ 加入清单What is happiness What is happiness? There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand peoples eyes. though everyone has different opinion about happiness .i will list some views about it.
In my class ,some students think putting heart on study is happiness,For they can earn much kownledge throngh it.Besides ,parentslove,which contains caring for their life、health would also make them feel happy.Howere some students think it is a hapiness when they get into trouble,someon ecan come out for help .Or correcting them when they made mistakes.
In my opinion,happiness is something which can be easy to get .when one need help,you can give he or her one hand on time ,you will feel happy.when we are walking on the street.i happen to listen my favorite songs.that wll make me happy.Do you agree with me ?
篇10::初中写秋雨的英语作文
全文共 1622 字
+ 加入清单Yesterday s weather is really gratifying.
Early morning, I just got up, I heard "rumbling ... ..." thunder, I look out the window, the sky is as low as the hand can touch to touch.
Soon, a rain dripping up, like silk, like cattle hair. This is a timely rain, because a few days ago just experienced a dust storm, this rain enough to clean all the dust. thats nice!
Autumn is like a shy girl is the same as the earth father and son pouring thoughts.
This is like a rain of rain under a rain, a burst of pouring rain pouring down, and soon, the playground has become a vast ocean. Rainwater on the campus merged into a stream, they like an appointment like the same direction to catch, gradually in the playground low sink into a lake, the middle of the big puddle has become the central island of the lake. More interesting! Rain or keep the next, the rain dripping on the water cheerful dance.
The rain finally stopped, the rain was fine, the sun and the public can not wait to face from the gloomy dark clouds behind the girl jumped out. Suddenly, the sky is a bright and clean, like washed the same, the air is fresh and fresh, the distance of the scene also see more clearly. Especially the flowers, become particularly bright, and they winked to the people waving; that lovely little grass, green Yingying, who hung with emerald, swaying in the breeze, posing a fresh breath; In front of the tree that cover the old pine trees, just after the bath has become particularly spiritual, stretching the arm to welcome the sun father ... ...
Autumn rain, I love you, you will always be wiped out in my mind impetuous and arrogant.
篇11:成长英语作文初中
全文共 835 字
+ 加入清单Such a movie called “Growing Pains” seems full of knowledge and experience.
So it does because all of us have growing pains and also growing gains in our
lives.
Growing up is not a very enjoyable time. It means I have to work hard in
studying and in family. There’s always so much homework given by teachers and so
many arguments between the parents and me. The time is fair, but it seems it
gives pains three quarters and only one quarter to gains.
But gains give me power and confidence. Successes and friendship make me
happy and enjoyable. We played with snow in the winter that seldom snows, we
flew kites in the night that usually belongs to homework, we ate several ice
creams that almost made us cold. We picked up leaven that no longer high up!
Although pains are always more than gains, I believe both of them make my
life more colorful.
篇12:海洋英语作文初中
全文共 1763 字
+ 加入清单Marine biological environment is a complex system including sea water, sea
water, soluble matter and suspended matter, seabed sediments and marine
organisms. The rich biological resources, mineral resources, chemical resources
and power resources in the sea are indispensable human resources treasure
houses, which are closely related to the survival and development of
mankind.
At present, the main objective of marine conservation is to protect marine
biological resources so that they can not be exhausted for sustainable use by
mankind. In particular, priority should be given to the conservation of marine
animals that are valuable and endangered. According to the UN investigation, due
to overfishing, mangrove accidental killing of non target to allow the killing
of marine organisms, the coastal engineering construction, deforestation,
pollution of the marine environment in general, at least 25 of the worlds most
valuable fisheries resources consumed, whales, sea turtles, manatees and many
other marine animal faces the danger of extinction. It is expected that with the
expansion of marine development, it is possible to cause more damage to marine
biological resources.
Marine protection task should first stop on the marine biological resources
excessive use, secondly to protect the marine biological habitat or habitat,
especially their migration, spawning, feeding, avoid Huahai coastline, beaches,
estuaries, coral reefs, to prevent heavy metals, pesticides, oil, organic
produce and eutrophication. Nutrients such as marine pollution. Maintain the
ability of regeneration of marine biological resources and the natural
purification ability of the sea water, maintain the marine ecological balance,
and ensure the sustainable development and utilization of the marine.
篇13:初中生英语
全文共 817 字
+ 加入清单Many people have favorite places they like to go to when they are feeling
sad or bored. I also have favorite places that I go to as often as I can.
Here are the three places that I like most. First of all, I like the zoo.
The animals are amazing because some are so cute and some are so ugly! I like to
pet them,feed them and watch them perform. Museums are cool places, too. They
have good exhibits and fascinating displays. I like the works of art there. Some
museums teach me a lot about history and science. From dinosaurs to robots, I
love them all. Finally, theme parks are my favourite place. I think the roller
coasters are the best. Its fun to scream and get scared.
These places always cheer me up. I try to go to each of my favorite places
once a year. I am going to find more favorite places to go to when I grow
up.
篇14:怀念的英语作文初中
全文共 1382 字
+ 加入清单He always rose early to enjoy at least two hours of solitude in the house
and garden before the rest of the family came down In winter he spent most of
the time reading and writing. In sum mer he liked to get out of doors to work in
the kitchen garden or to take the dog for a walk in the neighbouring woods and
fields Whatever the weather, there was plenty to occupy him.
Although he was a creature of habit, there seemed to be an infinite variety
in his pursuits. He wrote book reviews regularly for two of the national
weeklies. He worked conscientiously his special subject, Indian History, and was
thus one of the world authorities on it;
he collected modern abstract paintings and so had a circle of friends
amongst artists and sculptors; there was hardly anything he did not know about
traditional jazz and he often entertained both British and America n jazz
musicians He was a superb cook and knew a lot about French and German food.
His family adored him and in a sense he was spoiled by them. At first
glance you would have taken him for a retired army officer-his bearing was
erect, his hair was cut short, he was fussy about his clothes, which were always
neat, clean and conventional. He liked to keep fit, and this was reflected in
his clear, steady blue eyes and healthy suntanned complexion. He hardly ever
watched TV, but enjoyed a good film and an occasional evening at the
theatre.
篇15:2024初中英语教师个人工作计划
全文共 1760 字
+ 加入清单本学期,我将结合学校工作计划和学校教学工作计划的要求,规范常规教学,提高教学质量,努力形成自己的教学特色。
一、总体思路
以努力提高教学质量为目标,以抓好教学常规工作,提高英语合格率为重点,采用任务型教学法,注重“学困生”的教育补差工作,形成良好的教学风气。
二、学生情况分析
经过一学期的学习,从上期期末成绩来看,七年级两个班的英语成绩比较理想。平均分82分。大部分学生学习目的明确,态度端正,掌握了英语学习的一些基本方法,能够积极主动认真地学习,学习成绩较好。但还有少部分学生没有明确的学习目的,缺少学习的热情和主动性,自觉性较差,相应的学习习惯也差,加上两极分化十分严重。
三、教材分析
《Goforit》七年级下册共14个单元,包括2个复习单元。全书采用任务型语言教学模式,融汇话题、交际功能和语言结构,形成了一套循序渐进的生活化的学习程序。每个单元都列出明确的语言目标,主要的功能项目与语法结构,需要掌握的基本词汇,并分为A、B两部分。A部分是基本的语言内容,B部分是知识的扩展和综合的语言运用。每个单元还有selfcheck部分,供学生自我检测本单元所学的语言知识。它采用“语言的输入---学生的消化吸收---学生的语言输出”为主线编排的。
四、教学目标
掌握本册书上的重点词汇、词组以及句型。通过本学期的学习,培养学生对英语的学习兴趣,形成有效的学习策略,有效提高学习效率,发展双基能力;培养听、说、读、写的能力,使学生初步获得运用英语的能力,达到语言运用能力的迁移和拓展;通过了解世界,了解不同地区的人文风俗,学会理解和尊重异国文化,并使学生在人际交往中学会尊重和理解别人,能在小组活动中积极与他人合作,相互帮助,共同完成学习任务,尽情享受学习的乐趣。
五、教学措施
1、加强词汇教学,包括单词拼写、词义记忆,语言功能的训练。
词汇是文章、句子的基本单位,词汇量的大小,将直接关系到学生能否流利地运用英语进行交际;能否熟练地用英语读和写;能否顺利地用英语思考。从上学期的期末考试所反映的问题看,在今后的教学中,在加强拼读与拼写的同时,应帮助学生进行有意识记,应加强对词的用法及内在含义的理解,要培养学生用英语解释单词的能力,逐步启发引导学生用英语思考。单词教学一定要做到词不离句,这样,学生在学会了单词的同时,也学会了词的一些基本用法。
2、每天背诵课文中的对话,培养语感。
3、基本的语法教学一定要与语境相结合。
进行语法操练时,要坚持“四位一体”,即话题、语境、结构、功能相结合。抓住话题,联系语境,确定语法结构,明确语法功能(交际功能)。要重视语法知识对于培养语言运用功能的基础作用,又要注重改革教法。课堂上一定要有生动活泼的教学活动。
4、进一步培养阅读能力和写作能力。
阅读和写作能力的培养是英语教学的又一重点。阅读和写作能力的培养在于平时。教师在平时讲解阅读理解题时,应着力帮助学生分析语言材料,而不是核对答案;平常应该多写作文。
5、做好学困生转化和优秀生培养工作。
优秀生:___,___,__,___。
学困生:___,___,__,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___,___。
尤其对学困生进行专门辅导,布置一些作业,让他们在小进步、小转变中体会学习的快乐,树立学习的自信,尽快成长起来。
6、继续搞好师徒结对活动。
师徒结对活动也是一种好的学习方式。
7、作业布置要做到数量适中,批阅及时,对出现的问题要跟踪矫正,认真讲评,尽量面批面改。提高练习质量,要精选资料。
六、教研课题
《浅谈英语阅读能力的培养》
措施:用新的教学理念指导英语阅读教学,进一步改变教法和学法,培养学生对英语阅读的兴趣,提高学生的英语阅读能力,提高英语教学效果。
1、尝试通过各种形式的学习,例如复述课文、把课文改编成情景剧、阅读竞赛等活动,提高学生学习英语的兴趣,从而达到自主积累、综合运用英语的目的,并指导学生运用科学的方法记忆单词、阅读课文,取得事半功倍的效果。
2、通过信息技术与学科整合的手段,以课内为基础,增加课外阅读的量,指导学生借助信息手段和工具书理解文章基本内容的方法,提高学生的英语自学能力。
3、以复述课文、回答问题、判断正误、通过上下文线索猜词义为载体,培养学生的综合阅读技能,提高学生的英语阅读理解能力。
篇16:美丽人生初中英语作文
全文共 831 字
+ 加入清单Last night, I watched a movie, it is about two teenagers, they have cancer, but the boy is positive about life while the girl is negative about life. They meet each other, then the girl is affected by the boy, she starts to see the beautiful things in her life. I am so moved by the movie, though the ending of the movie is not so perfect, we see the change of the girl’s life. The topic of the movie is to tell people to be positive about life, no matter what happens, even the bad fortune they get, they still need to smile every day. People need to find the beauty of life, so they won’t life live without meaning.
昨晚,我看了一部电影,那是关于两个青少年,他们身患癌症,但是男孩对生活很乐观,然而女孩子却对生活很悲观。他们遇见了彼此,然后女孩受到了男孩子的影响,她开始看到了生活的美好食物。我被这部电影深深地感动,虽然电影的结局不是那么的完美,但是我们看到了女孩生活的改变。电影的主题是告诉人们要对生活乐观,无论发生什么事情,即使他们遇到不幸,仍然需要每天乐观面对生活。人们需要发现生活的美,这样他们就不会活得没有意义。
篇17:初中英语作文:theplanforthenewterm新学期的打算
全文共 470 字
+ 加入清单Another new term comes again,so i should have a study plan to promot myself.
firstly ,i descide to finish my homework more carefully than before.And pay more attention to the knowledge which i didn t know it clearly.
secondly,i will do a lot of read to widen the range of my knowledge.and try to combine thoery to practice.
Finally,i will learn to adjust, to be more positive and more helpful.
That s what i plant to do in a new term.
篇18:初中电脑英语
全文共 439 字
+ 加入清单The computer is a very useful machine. It is the most important invention
in many years. People use it widely today in many ways.
Most computers have memories. People can store information in them and take
it out at any time. Computers are getting smaller and smaller, and working
faster and faster.
Computer can do many kinds of work. Now in many large factories there are
very few people. Computers do most of the work. They really help a lot.
篇19:放松英语作文初中
全文共 546 字
+ 加入清单Now many students of Grade 9 are under too much pressure. They always feel
too tired to listen to the teachers carefully in class.
It’s important for students to relax. Only in this way can they study well
and be healthy. Here are some different ways to relax themselves. For example,
they can try to have enough sleep,or they can listen to their favourite music
after class. They can also read some books or do some sports. For me, I often
hang out with my friends.
While you are studying, don’t forget to relax. You will study better after
a good rest.
篇20:怀念的英语作文初中
全文共 2558 字
+ 加入清单When memory began for me, my grandfather was past sixty-a great tall man
with thick hair becoming gray. He had black eyes and a straight nose which ended
in a slightly flattened tip. Once he explained seriously to me that he got that
flattened tip as a small child when he fell down and stepped on his nose.
The little marks of laughter at the corners of his eyes were the prodnct of
a kindly and humorous nature. The years of work which had bent his shoulders had
never dulled his humour nor his love of a joke.
Everywhere he went, "Gramp" made friends easily. At the end of half an hour
you felt you had known him all your life. I soon learned that he hated to give
orders , but that when he had to, he tried to make his orders sound like
suggestions.
One July morning, as he was leaving to go to the cornfield, he said :
"Edwin, you can pick up the potatoes in the field today if you want to do that.
" Then he drove away with his horses.
The day passed, and I did not have any desire to pick up potatoes. Evening
came and the potatoes were still in the field. Gramp, dusty and tired, led the
horses to get their drink.
"How many bags of potatoes were there?" Gramp inquired. "I dont know.
"
"How many potatoes did you pick up?"
"I didnt pick any. " "Not any! Why not?"
"You said I could pick, them up if I wanted to. You didnt say I had to.
"
In the next few minutes I learned a lesson I would not forget: when Gramp
said I could if I wanted to, he meant that I should want to.
Gram hated cruelty and injustice. The injustices of history, even those of
a thousand years before, angered her as much as the injustices of her own
day.
She also had a deep love of beauty. When she was almost seventy-five, and
had gone to live with one of her daughters, she spent a delightful morning
washing dishes because, as she said, the beautiful patterns on the dishes gave
her pleasure. The bird, the flowers, the clouds-all that was beautiful around
her- pleased her. She was like the father of the French painter, Millet, who
used to gather grass and show it to his son , saying , "See how beautif ul this
is ! "
In a pioneer society it is the harder qualities of mind and character that
are of value. The softer virtues are considered unnecessary. Men and women
struggling daily to earn a living are unable, even for a moment, to forget the
business of preserving their lives. Only unusual people, like my grandparents,
manage to keep the softer qualities in a world of daily struggle.
Such were the two people with whom I spent the months from June to
September in the wonderful days of summer and youth.