Question: True Manliness

"Please, mother, do sit down and let me try my hand,"said Fred Liscom, a bright active boy, twelve years old. Mrs. Liscom, looking pale and worn, was moving languidly about, trying to clear away the breakfast she had scarcely tasted.

She smiled and said, "You, Fred, you wash dishes?"

"Yes, indeed, mother," answered Fred. "I should be a poor scholar if I couldn't, when I've seen you do it so many times. Just try me."

A look of relief came over his mother's face as she seated herself in her low rocking chair. Fred washed the dishes and put them in the closet. He swept the kitchen, brought up the potatoes from the cellar for the dinner and washed them, and then set out for school.

Fred's father was away from home and as there was some cold meat in the pantry , Mrs. Liscom found it an easy task to prepare dinner. Fred hurried home from school, set the table, and again washed the dishes.

He kept on in this way for two or three days, until his mother was able to resume her usual work. He felt amply rewarded when the doctor, who happened in one day, said, "Well, madam, it's my opinion that you would have been very sick if you had not kept quiet."

The doctor did not know how the "quiet" had been secured, nor how the boy's heart bounded at his words. Fred had given up a great deal of what boys hold dear, for the purpose of helping his mother, coasting and skating being just at this time in perfection.

Besides this, his temper and his patience had been severely tried. He had been in the habit of going early to school and staying to play after it was dismissed.

The boys missed him and their curiosity was excited when he would give no other reason for not coming to school earlier, or staying after school, than that he was "Wanted at home."

"I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, "I'll find him out, boys-see if I don't!"

So, one morning on his way to school, he called on Fred. As he went around to the side door, he walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was ly needful. Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in his hand.

Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings poor Fred received at recess ."Well, you're a brave one to stay at home washing dishes!""Girl boy!" "Pretty Bessie!""Lost your apron, haven't you, Polly!"

Fred was not wanting either in spirit or in courage, and he was strongly tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors . But his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him.

While he was struggling for self-mastery, his teacher appeared at the door of the schoolhouse. Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!" He knew the teacher had heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates.

The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted in any manner. They knew that the teacher meant what he said; and so the brave little boy had no further trouble. 1. What chores did Fred co for his mother?
2. Anything else?
3. How many days did he do the chores?
4. What effect did it have on his mom?
5. Did this make Fred happy?
6. Who found out what Fred was doing at home?
7. ?
8. What did the other boys say when Tom Barton told them what Fred was doing?
9. What else?
10. 'anything else?
11. What reason did Tom give fohis absence? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. washed dishes
2. set the table
3. two or three days
4. she felt rested
5. yes
6. Tom Barton
7. unknown
8. Girl Boy
9. Pretty Bessie
10. Lost your apron, haven't you, Polly
11. unknown

Question: We're unleashing the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending November 15, 2014. We don't get any new songs this week...but things do get shaken up a bit. It all starts in fifth place, where Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj dip a notch with "Bang Bang." Jessie says she wanted to assemble this lineup for a long time - she says she only met the other two after the song went to number one on iTunes. Jessie also says she wanted to use Nicki five years ago on her debut single, "Do It Like A Dude." Taking over fourth place is Maroon 5 with "Animals." This band has been around for 20 years...but not always under this name. The Los Angeles group formed in 1994 as Kara's Flowers, and released one album under that name in 1997. Four years later the members re-grouped as Maroon 5, and the rest is chart history. Holding in third place is Tove Lo with "Habits (Stay High)." Where did that name come from? This Swedish artist's real name is Ebba Tove Elsa Nillson. "Lo" is Swedish for lynx - a species of wildcat that Tove says she fell in love with as a little girl. After eight weeks, Meghan Trainor falls off the Hot 100 pedestal: "All About That Bass" falls to second place. Last week, she and Miranda Lambert sang this song at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, and Meghan kicks off a headlining North American tour next February in Vancouver, Canada. Taylor Swift re-takes the Hot 100 title, with "Shake It Off" - giving her three total weeks at the top - but that's only the beginning of her phenomenal week. Taylor's 1989 album just opened at number one by selling 1.2 million domestic copies. That's the largest sales week since The Eminem Show sold 1.3 million copies, way back in 2002. That's a wrap for this week, but as you know, the chart is always changing. Come back in seven days for an all-new lineup. 1. How many songs are being discussed?
2. Is this the Billboard Country singles chart?
3. Is the week in question before Christmas?
4. Did "Bang Bang" go up or down this week?
5. How many musicians contributed to that single?
6. Is Beyonce one of them?
7. Who put together the group?
8. What song made her want to join forces with Nicki Minaj?
9. When did Maroon 5 form?
10. Have they always gone by that title?
11. How many records did they put out under an alternate name?
12. Did their song move up or down this week?
13. What does the word "Lo" mean?
14. Who is Ebba Tove Elsa Nillson?
15. Who was number one the week prior to this chart?
16. Was she number one more than eight weeks?
17. Has she performed anywhere in the last week?
18. Where at?
19. Is Taylor Swift's "Reputation" number one this week?
20. Which song is? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. five
2. no
3. no
4. down
5. Three
6. no
7. Jessie J
8. "Do It Like A Dude"
9. 1994
10. no
11. One
12. up
13. lynx
14. Tove Lo
15. Meghan Trainor
16. no
17. yes
18. the Country Music Association Awards
19. no
20. "Shake It Off"