Course for Forty Weeks — One Period a Week
1st Week. Reading aloud: The Laidley Worm O’ Spindleston-Heughs, p. 148.
2d Week. Reading aloud: Little Billee, p. 159; Brian O’Linn, p. 160; Dicky of Ballyman, p. 162; The Cinder King, p. 167.
3d Week. Dramatization: The Stormy Winds Do Blow, p. 2; The Noble Riddle, p. 208; “Earl March looked on his dying child,” p. 203.
4th Week. Reading aloud: The Lady of Shalott, p. 124; The Singing Leaves, p. 131.
5th Week. Dramatization: Kemp Owyne, p. 122; The Erl-King, p. 86.
6th Week. Reading aloud: Robin Hood and Little John, p. 291; Robin Hood and Clorinda, p. 297.
7th Week. Dramatization: Ballad of the Oysterman, p. 164; Earl Haldan’s Daughter, p. 58; The Greeting of Kynast, p. 74; A Tragic Story, p. 158.
8th Week. Reading aloud (Halloween Week): The Spell, p. 254; Sir Roland, p. 265; The Cruel Sister, p. 196; The Skeleton in Armour, p. 270.
9th Week. Dramatization: Glenara, p. 212; The Dæmon Lover, p. 7.
10th Week. Reading aloud: King Alfred and the Shepherd, p. 176.
11th Week. Story-telling from the Ballads: Young Beichan and Susie Pye, p. 237.
12th Week. Reading aloud: The Fairy Thorn, p. 87; The Kelpie of Corrievreckan, p. 97.
13th Week. Memorizing and reciting: True Valour, p. 355; The Touchstone, p. 347; Barclay of Ury, p. 341; Pilgrimage, p. 351.
14th Week. Reading aloud: The Heart of the Bruce, p. 333.
15th Week. Memorizing and reciting (for Christmas): The Royal Court, p. 353; Peace, p. 356; The Three Kings, p. 357.
16th Week. Reading aloud: Lady Clare, p. 59; Sir Galahad, p. 348.
17th Week. Story-telling from the Ballads: The Earl of Mar’s Daughter, p. 115.
18th Week. Reading aloud: Ballad of Meikle-Mouthed Meg, p. 32.
19th Week. Dramatization: The Gay Goss-Hawk, p. 218; Thomas the Rhymer, p. 93.
20th Week. Reading aloud: Young Tamlane, p. 255.
21st Week. Memorizing and reciting: Lord Lovel, p. 204; The Beggar-Maid, p. 214; The Sands of Dee, p. 190; Lochinvar, p. 215.
22d Week. Reading aloud: Fair Anny of Roch-royal, p. 191; Bonny Baby Livingston, p. 224.
23d Week. Story-telling from the Ballads: Blancheflour and Jellyflorice, p. 209.
24th Week. Reading aloud: The Child of Elle, p. 244.
25th Week. Writing from memory: The Birth o’ Robin Hood, p. 290; The Wee Wee Man, p. 114.
26th Week. Reading aloud: More Modern Ballad of Chevy-Chase, p. 21.
27th Week. Story-telling from the Ballads: Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy, p. 70; The Frolicksome Duke, p. 169.
28th Week. Reading aloud: May of the Moril Glen, p. 138.
29th Week. Writing from memory: The Wife of Usher’s Well, p. 263.
30th Week. Reading aloud: Sir Patrick Spens, p. 3; Hynd Horn, p. 231.
31st Week. Writing from memory: Proud Lady Margaret, p. 62.
32d Week. Reading aloud: Song of the Outlaw Murray, p. 301.
33d Week. Original ballad-writing: Barbara Allen’s Cruelty, p. 201; Alice Brand, p. 81; The Famous Flower of Serving-Men, p. 65.
34th Week. Reading aloud: The Eve of St. John, p. 279.
35th Week. Memorizing and reciting: The Fairy Tempter, p. 80; The Luck of Edenhall, p. 135; La Belle Dame sans Merci, p. 91.
36th Week. Reading aloud: The Mermaid, p. 10.
37th Week. Original ballad-writing: King James the First and the Tinkler, p. 173; Valentine and Ursine, p. 314; Belted Will, p. 47.
38th Week. Reading aloud: Kilmeny, p. 101.
39th Week. Original ballad-writing: The teacher may assign a subject for this—a local legend or story of a patriotic or historical event.
40th Week. Entertainment for Parents and Friends of Pupils: The ballad-course may close with an afternoon or evening entertainment. This may be made delightful. All the pupils should take part in the exercises.
Many of the old ballads are set to charming ancient tunes, and may be sung by the whole school. Banjo or guitar accompaniment is specially appropriate to ballad airs. Musical scores for some of the ballads in this book—“The Cruel Sister” (“The Twa Sisters”), “Hynd Horn,” “Sir Patrick Spens,” “Young Beichan,” “Proud Lady Margaret,” “The Famous Flower of Serving-Men,” and “Lord Lovel”—may be found in Professor Child’s English and Scottish Popular Ballads, large edition, part 10. If the music of old ballads is not obtainable, then popular, well-known ballads, such as “Annie Laurie,” “Ben Bolt,” and “Loch Lomond,” may be sung in their stead.
The following outline for an entertainment may be varied to suit the abilities and interests of the boys and girls who are to take part: