53 THE PARADE ON WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY

Grandfather and Grandmother had a flag.

It was an old, old flag.

It was nearly as old as Father.

They gave the flag to Father.

He loved the old flag.

Patty and Ned loved it, too.

They hung it out of the window every Flag Day.

One day Father said, “There will be a parade on George Washington's Birthday.

It will be a fine parade.

I will take Patty and Ned to see it.”

“That will be great fun, ”said Ned.

The children jumped for joy.

“Hurrah! Hurrah! ”they cried.

The great day came at last.

But Father could not take Ned and Patty to the parade.

Their grandmother was sick.

Father and Mother had to go to see her.

Patty and Ned felt very sad.

But they did not cry. Oh, no!

Patty said, “We cannot see the parade.

But we can hang our flag out of the window.”

“Yes, ”said Ned, “Father and Mother would like us to do that.”

So they hung the flag out of the window.

Soon they heard a great noise.

“Oh, it is the parade! ”said Ned.

“It is coming down our street.

I am so glad our flag is out.”

The parade went right by the house.

Every one saw the old, old flag.

They said, “Hurrah for the old, old flag! ”

Patty and Ned felt very proud.

Soon Father and Mother came home.

Patty and Ned told them about the parade.

“Oh! We had a wonderful day! ”said Patty.

“Hurrah for the old, old flag! ”said Ned.

“Hurrah for George Washington! ”said Father.

(Carolyn S. Bailey)

Word list

parade: a kind of celebration in which people dressed in special clothes march down a street—usually for a special day

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Where did Father get the old flag?

2) Why couldn't father take ned and Patty to the parade?

3) Where was Grandmother when Mother and Father went to see her? How do you know?

4) Do you think Ned and Patty lived in the city or the country? Why?

5) Have you ever seen a parade? Describe it.

B) Rhyming—Find words in the story that rhyme with these words.

1) cold: o _ _

2) tree: s _ _

3) boy: j _ _

4) past: l _ _ _

5) made: p _ _ _ _ _

C) True or false? Read these sentences carefully, write true or false for each one.

1) _____ Grandmother and Grandfather gave the flag to Ned.

2) _____ Grandmother went to the parade.

3) _____ Ned and Patty did not see the parade.

4) _____ Grandmother was sick.

5) _____ Ned and Patty went to see Grandmother.