Introduction
Sir William Napier (1785-1860) was a soldier and military historian, whose monumental ‘History of the Peninsular War’ helped establish the enduring reputation of Wellington, and commands respect to this day. He was also a man of honour whose word was his bond, as the following story, told by his daughter, shows.
“HE was one day taking a long country walk near Freshford, when he met a little girl, about five years old, sobbing over a broken bowl;* she had dropped and broken it in bringing it back from the field to which she had taken her father’s dinner in it, and she said she would be beaten on her return home for having broken it; when, with a sudden gleam of hope, she innocently looked up into his face, and said, ‘But yee can mend it, can’t ee?’
“My father explained that he could not mend the bowl, but the trouble he could, by the gift of a sixpence to buy another. However, on opening his purse it was empty of silver.
The source of this tale is given as one of Sir William’s daughters. The author of ‘Life of Sir William Napier’ chose to remain anonymous, but as the editor, Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare, was married to Sir William’s daughter Norah it is not hard to imagine the rest. William was brother to Sir Charles Napier (1)
Précis
Sir William Napier was out walking when he met a little girl in floods of tears. On her way home from delivering lunch to her father in the fields, she had broken his bowl and now expected a scolding. Her trusting gaze prompted Sir William to offer sixpence for a new bowl, only to find he had no small change. (60 / 60 words)
Sir William Napier was out walking when he met a little girl in floods of tears. On her way home from delivering lunch to her father in the fields, she had broken his bowl and now expected a scolding. Her trusting gaze prompted Sir William to offer sixpence for a new bowl, only to find he had no small change.
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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: besides, despite, or, otherwise, since, whereas, whether, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Why was the little girl crying?
Suggestion
She had broken a piece of crockery. (7 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. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
A little girl broke a bowl. She cried. Sir William took pity on her.