20090923 -- Dusty Earns His Keep (2)

Dusty Earns His Keep

"Now where will I go?" Dusty asked himself.
And passing the hen house, he decided to duck inside.
"Oh, no! Not you again!" clucked Shelly the hen.
"Keep out! We're busy laying our eggs.
And we can't keep on top of our work with you around!" she scolded.
"Keep in mind that we chickens give the farmer our finest eggs.
And what do you give?
Can you give eggs?" Dusty kept quiet.
"Of course you can't! Now keep away from us!" the red hen warned.

Dusty could hardly keep back the tears.
"All the other farm animals earn their keep," he thought.
"Some give milk. Some give wool. Some give eggs. But I give nothing! What good am I?"
he asked himself. "Maybe I should run away."

But just then, Dusty saw the farmer coming from the fields.
Leaving his troubles behind, he raced down the path to greet him.
"Master! Master!" he barked wildly.
His body wiggled, and his tail wagged.
The farmer bent down and scooped the pup into his arms.
Dusty licked the farmer's face excitely.

"You always greet me with such happiness," the farmer smiled.
"Now keep this to youself and don't tell the others." he said.
"But of all the farm animals, you're the most special because you always give me so much joy!"

What do you give to others?
If you're giving them happiness, then you're giving them the most special thing of all.
So keep up the good work!



scold v. 責罵/斥責
eg: The teacher scolded the boys for fighting with each other.
eg: Mom scolded us because we didn't come home right away after school.
eg: Dad scolded us for not finishing our homework before bedtime.

scoop v. 拾起
eg: Mary scooped up her books and headed for school.
eg: She scooped up her baby and run from the fire scene(火場).
eg: He scooped up his belongs off the floor and put them in his bag.

scoop n. 勺子
eg: a scoop of ice-cream

keep to oneself 保守秘密
eg: I'll tell you a secret if you promise to keep it to yourself.

keep to oneself 不與別人來往
eg: Sean is very quiet. He always keep to himself.

//== Chat room ==//

hen 母雞
hen house 雞舍
= chicken coop

peck 啄
beak 鳥喙
pecking order (啄序)任何團體的長幼尊卑次序
=>在鳥類中輩分高可以啄輩分低的人
eg: He is at the bottom of the pecking order.


//== Grammer on the go ==//

All the other farm animals earn their keep.
=> The other farm animals work hard enough so they can get to live on the farm.

earn one's keep
=> work hard enough so you can receive what you deserve or need.

earn
=> work in order to receive something

keep
=> food and a place to stay

eg: James has graduated and is moving back home, but his parents expect him to earn his keep.
eg: Sarah was welcome to stay in the village, but she would have to earn her keep.