Introduction
Herbert Bury was Anglican bishop for Northern Europe from 1911 to 1926. His duties took him to Russia, where he met Tsar Nicholas II and was deeply impressed by the Royal Family. The following story about the Tsar’s sister-in-law Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who was later martyred by the Communists, shows why.
I WAS told lately of a touching incident which occurred at a great service in Russia (the translation of the remains of a great saint) at which the Grand Duchess Serge was present, and, when she arrived, had gone quietly up to a gallery pew, arranged for her and other great ladies. Soon afterwards an old peasant woman, to whom she had once shown a kindness, arrived, and at once began to inquire:—
“Has Elizabeth come yet?” — the Grand Duchess’s Christian name — “I want Elizabeth. She told me when next I came where she was to be sure and ask for her. Where’s Elizabeth?”
The Grand Duchess in her exalted gallery caught something of what was going on, and, hearing her own name, at once came down.
“Here I am, little mother!” And then with “Dear Elizabeth!” the old woman threw her arms about her neck and began her story.
Such a thing is only possible in Russia.
Précis
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedorovna was in church when an old lady insisted on seeing her. Leaving the VIP’s gallery, Elizabeth sought out the plaintive peasant, who proved to be someone Elizabeth had once helped. The duchess called her ‘little mother’, the old lady embraced her and called her ‘dear Elizabeth’ and, social distinctions easily forgotten, told her all her news. (60 / 60 words)
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedorovna was in church when an old lady insisted on seeing her. Leaving the VIP’s gallery, Elizabeth sought out the plaintive peasant, who proved to be someone Elizabeth had once helped. The duchess called her ‘little mother’, the old lady embraced her and called her ‘dear Elizabeth’ and, social distinctions easily forgotten, told her all her news.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, if, just, otherwise, ought, since, until.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Ask. Duchess. Thing.
2 Here. Only. Up.
3 Incident. Mother. Occur.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
grs (7+6)
agrees. gears. gores. grease. grouse. gurus. ogres.
augers. auguries. augurs. giros. goers. gorse.
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