Contents
=> “The Pumpkin Story” - a C-test
=> Word Origins: “White Elephant”
=> Link: “I Follow the White Dog” - a story about Russia
=> In the Next Issue

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“The Pumpkin Story” - a C-test
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What’s a C-test? Well, starting from the second line of the text, you supply the correct letters to complete the words. The last one or two letters of every third
word are missing.

THE PUMPKIN STORY
by I.M. Poosheesty

For Halloween, people hollow out a pumpkin and carve a fa_ _ on it. Th_ _ put a l_ _ candle inside a_ _ now the pumpk_ _ is a Jack o’lante_ _.

This tradition com_ _ from Ireland. Apparent_ _, there was th_ _ fellow named Ja_ _, who was s_ stingy, so che_ _, that when h_ died he wasn’t allow_ _ into heaven. B_ _ luck, Jack!

Jack’s gho_ _ wandered the countrysi_ _. To keep Ja_ _ away, the loc_ _ people carved sca_ _ faces onto turni_ _ and carried th_ _ when they travel_ _ at night.

When the Iri_ _ came to Ameri_ _, they used pumpki_ _ instead, because, let’s fa_ _ it, pumpki_ _ are bigger a_ _ cooler and scari_ _ than turnips.

T_ _ moral of t_ _ story: don’t b_ so cheap. Y_ _ can be frug_ _, just don’t
b_ a cheapskate. Al_ _, smoking is b_ _ for your heal_ _.

<> Now here is the complete text: <>

THE PUMPKIN STORY
by I.M. Poosheesty

For Halloween, people hollow out a pumpkin and carve a face on it. They put a lit candle inside and now the pumpkin is a Jack o’lantern.

This tradition comes from Ireland. Apparently, there was this fellow named Jack, who was so stingy, so cheap, that when he died he wasn’t allowed into heaven. Bad luck, Jack!

Jack’s ghost wandered the countryside. To keep Jack away, the local people carved scary faces onto turnips, and carried them when they traveled at night.

When the Irish came to America, they used pumpkins instead, because, let’s face it, pumpkins are bigger and cooler and scarier than turnips.

The moral of the story: don’t be so cheap. You can be frugal, just don’t be a cheapskate. Also, smoking is bad for your health.

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Word Origins: “White Elephant”
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A “white elephant” is something that is expensive, and a financial burden to maintain. The expression comes from Thailand, where all white elephants were owned by the king and therefore could not be put to work. They were expensive to feed and take care of–thus a burden.

Nowadays in the US, a white elephant is something that is tacky(tasteless) or pointless and not wanted by its owner. It’s some object generally regarded as stupid and ugly.

An American tradition is a White Elephant Party, where each person brings a white elephant–a bad and useless gift. The parties are very funny, and the bad gifts cost nothing. (Usually we found them at home or in the garage)

Why not try a White Elephant Party in your class? Students can describe their new gifts, and what they plan to do with them.

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Link: “I Follow the White Dog” - a story about Russia
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Just published! “I Follow the White Dog” (http://www.talesmag.com/tales/road/white_dog.shtml) is the story of Kevin’s days in Samara, when he followed a white dog who was looking for love.

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In the next issue (@October 20, 2003)
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more Halloween stuff…?

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Copyright 2003 Kevin McCaughey & I.M. Poosheesty
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