His parents tried to make him fly by scolding him and threatening to starve him on his ledge.

There were about eight policemen who entered the house.

Mrs. Bodwell was talking about selling the house, as she wanted to go back to Peoria, due to the frequent mild attacks.

His mother picked up a piece of fish and flew across to him with it. But then she halted, just opposite to him. She was almost within reach of his beak. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull dived at the fish. This act of his mother prompted the young seagull to fly finally.

A family lives in the Street of Complaining. Nobody likes them, as they are always complaining. They find fault with everything. They are never satisfied with anything. They growl at everything whether they are in a good position or a low position, they find fault with it and complain about it. When the weather is too hot or cold, they complain about it. They scold alike if it is winter or summer. Everything goes wrong with the people living down on that sad complaining street. It is a fact that their growling never gets completed or stopped. And if everything pleased them, there is no doubt, that they would grumble that there is nothing to grumble about.

Title	Life
Poet	Henry Van Dyke
Theme	Optimism makes the journey of life cheerful

Life is very important so take it seriously.

Henry Van Dyke (1852 – 1933) was an American author, poet, educator and clergyman; His early works, ‘The story of the other Wise Man’ and ‘The First Christians Tree’, were first read aloud to his conjugation in New York as sermons.
The poet wants to live his life looking ahead with a burning desire to accomplish something in his life. He neither wants to hurry nor wants to move away from his goal. He does not want to mourn or cry over the setbacks in the past. Also he does not worry about the future. He instead prefers to live his life with a whole and happy heart which cheerfully travels from youth to old age. Hence, it or smooth. Whatever may be the path, he believes that his journey will be cheerful. He states that he will continue to seek what he wanted as a boy – new friendship, high adventure and a crown (prize). His heart will remain courageous and pursue his desires. He hopes that every turn in his life’s journey will be the best.

My heart will keep the courage of the quest And hope the road’s last turn will be the best.

From
  Ramesh. S.
  No.4, 1'1 Cross street,
  Peravallur,
  Chennai - 600 082.
2^nd March 2019
To
  The Officer
  PWD Department
  Kolathur,
  Chennai - 600 099.
Dear sir,
  Subject: Complaint about the maintenance of the park - reg.
This is to bring to your notice that the park in our locality at Peravallur is not maintained properly. We used to go to the park to get some fresh air and relax. Most of us walk there from 5.00 a.m. But now we are unable to do so, as the park is littered with cow dung and other wastes. So I humbly request you to take immediate action to maintain cleanliness in this park in our locality. It would be a great help to all the elders and home makers if you take immediate action.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully.
S.Ramesh

Lesson	His First Flight
Author	Liam O’ Flaherty
Theme	Realisation of one’s potential

The seagull’s mother was very much worried about her son’s inhibition about flying. When the seagull was afraid of flying the mother had a good plan. She took the whole family to the plateau, scolding him and threatening to let him starve if he did not fly with them. The mother was teaching her children the art of skimming and diving at his attention but she kept on looking at his movements on the ledge. She was trying to do all sorts of things to attract and tempt him to fly. She tore at a piece of fish in order to attract his attention. She kept the food in her beak and took it near the ledge. She suspended herself opposite him. When the young seagull saw this he dived at the fish and at the same time she swooped upwards. But when she was just opposite to him, abreast of the ledge, she halted, her legs hanging limp, her wings motionless the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He fell outwards and downwards and his wings spread to fly. Thus the mother’s attempt was successful.

Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.

Prose	The Night the Ghost Got In
Author	James Grover Thurber
Theme	Dramatic fuss about mysterious sounds

If you look confused it is because you are thinking

‘The Night the Ghost Got In’, is a short story written by James Thurber. It is a fictionalized account of a night in his childhood. The author was taking a bath. He heard some footsteps. It was around 1 in the morning. He thought that it must be his father and brother, Roy. They had gone to Indiana and were expected back at any time. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out into the hallway. He heard footsteps again. He woke his brother, Herman, to help him find out what was going on. They did not see anyone and did not hear anything anymore, so they went back to their rooms and closed the doors. Their mother was awakened by the slamming of the doors and wanted to know what was going on. She believed there were burglars in the house. Somehow with the help of the neighbour she informed the police. The police arrived with a few reporters and things just went wild. The grandfather ended up shooting one of the policemen in the arm, thinking that he was a deserter. They found no evidence and left.

The more I think the more I get confused.

Let me but live my life from year to year, 
With forward face and unreluctantly soul; 
Not hurrying to, nor turning from the goal; 
Not mourning for the things that disappear 
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils; but with a whole 
And happy heart, that pays its toll
To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down,
O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown, 
My heart will keep the courage of the quest, 
And hope the road's last turn will be the best
                                                         -Henry Van Dyke