... home and would be treated as family. They lived in a three bedroom house and often times had at least one additional family living with them. Nick worked at the butcher shop and did side jobs of shoeing horses. He worked hard, labor that one day would make his bones ache at their core. They had eight grandchildren ... were their absolute prides and joys. I am one of those eight. My Grandpa taught me to catch a whale of a fish, how to be tough on the outside and tender on the inside, how to win bets. Pay if you bet? He taught me that peanut-butter and jelly tastes better when you mix them,...

• Word Count: 1602
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... before midnight. Maude's goes on to explain that she has taken "two tablets." Harold tries to prevent Maude's death by having her rushed to the Emergency Room. Maude assures Harold that it is to late and she will die before midnight. Maude was correct, and she passes away shortly ... a dieing tree. Immediately Maude stops the car and tells Harold that the tree has become asthmatic from living in the city. Maude makes and than executes a plan to take the tree to the forest. The behavior that Maude demonstrated parallels that of a mother in the event of her child becoming ill. Saving the n...

• Word Count: 1461
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... own life/freedom, which she would have to give up if she were to become involved with the stranger which would begin by relaying the bird"s secret. In those times women were overshadowed by men and expected to be servants and tend to their man giving up any hope of a life of their own. In this self-realization she becomes aware of her ... was directly influenced by her return from the woods after watching the white heron fly out of its nest. Seeing it experience the freedom that she wanted for herself she realized what she had to do, watching from her perch on the old pine tree. Her reb...

• Word Count: 1287
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... its predictability. The story focuses on the irony of unrequited love, the student loves the girl, while the Nightingale loves the student. It shows a vivid contrast between true and superficial love. ""He is weeping for a red rose," said the Nightingale...the Nightingale understood the secret of the Student's sorrow, and she sat silent in the oak-tree, and thought about the mystery of Love; sacrifice." (Pg. 178) The Nightingale represents ... is all style without any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others"" (Pg. 280) The Nightingale was unable to reach a balance of givin...

• Word Count: 1603
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School