The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1339

© JoJan, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Observation Samuel Smiles

Great inventions come from those who notice what they see.

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1340

© RHaworth, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Lessons of Nature Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles shows us two great achievements inspired by two tiny creatures.

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1341

© Chris Downer, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Terror in the Deep Clay Lane

Irish monk St Columba is credited with being among the first witnesses to the ‘Loch Ness monster’.

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1342

Imperial War Museums, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

‘Get Up!’ Joseph Skipsey

Joseph Skipsey’s short poem evokes the last goodbye a Northumberland miner made each morning.

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1343

From Wikimedia Commons. Public domain image.

The Pitman Poet Clay Lane

Joseph Skipsey taught himself to read and write by candlelight, hundreds of feet below ground in a Northumberland pit.

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1344

Photo by Jastrow, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Hera and the Boeotian Bride Clay Lane

Zeus employs a little psychology to effect a reunion with his offended wife.

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