The Old Man and the Grandson ESL Reading Comprehension

The Old Man and His Grandson by Brothers Grimmfrom Grimms Fairy Tales This reading comprehension includes difficult vocabulary (in bold) defined at the end. There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and his sons wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather at last had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat. They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. What are you doing there? asked the father. I am making a little trough, answered the child, for father and mother to eat out of when I am big. The man and his wife looked at each other for a while, and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything. Vocabulary eyes had become dim - vision had become weakdull of hearing - hearing had become weaktrembling - shaking slightlybroth - simple soupearthenware - pottery, made of clayto scold - to tell off for doing something badhalf-pence - half of one pence (UK penny)thus - in this mannertrough - an eating area, usually for pigs or cattlehenceforth - from this time onlikewise - in the same way More Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales Reading Comprehensions The Old Man and the GrandsonDoctor KnowallClever GretelOld SultanThe Queen Bee