My Favourite Season

This dialogue is a conversation between Mr. Semple and Jerusha Abbot, who has just come to Lock Willow Farm to spend her summer there. So listen to their conversation.

– Oh, what a heavenly, heavenly, spot this farm is! I love it very much.

– Oh dear, haven’t you ever been on a farm before?

– Oh no, I have never even looked at one in my life.

– Oh, you’re sure to love it. Have a look around you. All the shrubs are in blossom and the trees are the loveliest young green – even those old pines look fresh and new. And the grass is dotted with dandelions.

– What a marvellous intoxicating place it is! I’m glad that I don’t have to study in summer because I want to be off over the hills to race with the wind. Isn’t summer the best season of the year?

– Certainly, but as well as this it’s the farmer’s busy season – I work in my fields from morning till night. The grass must be cut and the hay must be made while the dry weather lasts.

– But why are there so many pools? Has it been raining cats and dogs recently?

– Oh yes. The sky was overcast with heavy clouds. There was a storm with heavy rain, flashes of lightning and tremendous claps of thunder.

– Mercy, what beastly weather you were having recently. I can imagine it has been pouring heavily! Judging by the pools, you had to swim about.

– But the country is Heaven after a week of rain, isn’t it?

– It is. I wish I could send my trustee some of this lovely breezy, sunshiny weather we’re having now. Oh, and have a look at the sky. The soft white clouds are floating across the blue sky and the sun is shining brightly.

– Definitely. It seems to be getting more settled. Anyway, would you mind picking some blackberries and mushrooms for supper?

– Not in the least. With great pleasure.

– You know, we have a lot of work to do in summer. We’re busy growing crops. I have already fertilized the field and you can see the new crop shooting up.

– Oh, and when the corn has turned ripe and golden you’ll have to reap it and put it in your barn. You have pretty a lot of work to do during the summer, don’t you?

– Absolutely. But it is never boring. By the way you know we have a pond nearby. It’s a wonderful place for sunbathing, swimming or boating.

– Sounds good. Sounds like fun. I love this place already. On top of that, it’s the quietest place I ever know. My nerves had got to the point where they wouldn’t stand all the clamor of the college.

– Oh, it suddenly occurred to me you can always go tramping over the hills and have a nice restful time. Hope this summer will be unforgettable.

– I suppose so. I can’t help admiring this blue, cloudless sky, these fields and meadows, covered with fresh green grass and the woods filled with the songs of the birds.

Plans for the Coming Summer

This dialogue is a conversation between two sisters, Alice and Julia. The vacation's coming and the girls discuss their plans for the summer. So, the conversation begins.

• Oh, Alice, what do you think of going to the seaside for a week or a fortnight? To my mind, it would be wonderful.

• Well, I'd rather go to our brother-in-law's farm in Devonshire. We went there last year and enjoyed ourselves immensely.

• It was really pleasant to go round the fowl-houses and collect the eggs. I also had to feed the cocks and hens, ducks and drakes, turkeys and geese. It was great fun!

• Going to the farm is out of the question!

• You don't say so! Life in the country is so peaceful. And the scenery around there is perfectly beautiful. It's a heavenly spot! The house is square and old. It stands on top of a hill and looks way off over miles of green meadows to another line of hills.

• −Nevertheless, Alice, I still insist on going to the seaside, because we'll have to work hard if we stay on a farm.

• −Oh, take it easy, Julia. There's always work that mustn't be neglected, and we can work if we want to but, of course, we're not obliged to. We just do as we please. Besides, I'm sure you'd enjoy a week or two in the open air.

• −But, Alice, just think what wonderful time we will have, walking up and down the front, listening to the band on the pier, doing more or less anything we please.

• −But if you want to have a really quiet and healthy holiday, you should go and stay on a farm.

• −You can't say it's not healthy to go to the seaside. A swim now and then or better still every day will do you a lot of good. We ought to be very healthy and strong if we bathe every day. And there's no opportunity on a farm to go swimming or sun-bathing.

• −But I'm not fond of swimming. As a matter of fact, I'm not such a strong swimmer as you. You're always saying I splash about too much with my feet.

• −But just remember how happy we were paddling in the water, playing on the beach and making castles and forts and channels in the sands, when we were children.

• −Oh, I never knew a person as obstinate and stubborn as you!

• And doesn't it mean that you'll go with me to the seaside?

• It does. By the way, where are we going to?

• I think we'll choose the south coast. However, it really doesn't seem to matter very much.

• And what shall we do? Take rooms, or stay at a hotel, or what?

• I'd rather take a furnished house. And what do you say to inviting our friends to join us? They'll find a house nearby and make a large party. It'll be great fun.

• Oh, I'd love to. On the whole, rest at the seaside as well as on the farm must be a delightful change for us after living all the year in town.

• You're perfectly right. So, let's talk it over with our friends.

• OK.