“I am a 3rd grade teacher and I need a reading comprehension worksheet with graphics based on this text and the 3rd grade Standards of Excellence- On the Wharf 1 On the WharfI t was a dark night, with the moon hidden behind thick clouds. A cold wind shivered around the wharf. Rain hissed on roofs, and dark waves slapped against each other. Ships creaked and groaned as they rose and fell with the sea.It was a dark night, with the moon hidden behind thick clouds. A cold wind shivered around the wharf. Rain hissed on roofs, and dark waves slapped against each other. Ships creaked and groaned as they rose and fell with the sea.Yellow light spilled from the doorway of a shed at one end of the wharf. Inside, Jack Mountford huddled over a tiny coal stove to keep warm. A coffee pot steamed beside him. It was Jack’s first night as night watchman, guarding the wharf. Even though it was lonely and cold, he was glad to have work. Jobs were not easy to find during the Great Depression of the 1930s.Suddenly, a gust of wind shook Jack ’s shed, and the coal fire flickered. Outside, shadows danced on the wharf, and Jack stood up, instantly alert.From the corner of his eye, he had seen something silently moving along the wharf! Who was there?Jack’s strong fingers wrapped around a heavy stick that he’d kept for this moment, just the thing to frighten off thieves or smugglers. Jack was tough, and he wasn’t scared of a fight. That’s why he had taken this job.Jack pulled his coat around his shoulders and crept out into the rainy night. After his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he peered along the line of ships tied to the wharf.At first, he couldn’t see anything. Then his heart skipped a beat. There, right at the end of the wharf, looking out to sea, sat a lone figure!“Who’s there?” Jack called out sternly. His fingers tightened around the stick he had hidden beneath his coat.There was no answer.“Who’s there?” he called a second time.“No one is allowed on this wharf!” Still the shadow did not move. Perhaps it was an ambush!Rain dribbled down Jack’s neck, and he shivered. He knew what he had to do. He drew the stick from beneath his coat and started toward the end of the wharf. Every nerve in his body was alert for danger! A Wet Dog2 A Wet DogJack edged toward the shadow, glancing around to make sure he didn’t fall into a trap.Jack edged toward the shadow, glancing around to make sure he didn’t fall into a trap.Still the shadow did not move. The wind came howling in across the sea, and rain pelted down. Even though he was now only a few yards away, he struggled to make out the shadow. Something didn’t seem right, but he wasn’t sure what.And then, just as Jack was about to call out again, the shadow turned and stared at him. Jack stopped and stared right back. After a moment, the tough night watchman put down his heavy stick and smiled. In front of him sat a wet and scruffy dog.“Hello, boy,” said Jack, holding out his hand. “What are you doing down here?” The dog sniffed the night watchman’s hand, and his brown eyes looked up into Jack’s face.He noticed that the dog had no collar. “Must be a stray,” he thought. “Well, at least you’ll keep the rats and mice away from the wharf.”Jack was about to turn around and head back to his warm coal stove, when something in the dog’s sad eyes made him stop. He looked down and sighed. The dog’s fur was drenched. It was lonely in the night watchman’s shed, and no one would know, as long as the dog was gone by morning.“Okay, boy,” said Jack, clicking his fingers. “Come on. Let’s get dry.”Jack moved along the wet and windy wharf toward the yellow light of his shed, the dog padding silently behind. 12 Jack woke with a start. His neck ached, and he was cold and damp.“A fine night watchman you turned out to be!” roared a voice.Jack leapt to his feet and almost tripped over the dog that lay beneath his chair. “I . . . I . . .” Jack stammered, rubbing his eyes. Sun streamed in the doorway, and he recognized the voice of Mr. Snell, the boss. His heart sank. He was going to be fired after only one night.But Mr. Snell just winked.“And I see you’ve met Paddy,” he said, stoking the coal fire with Jack’s stick.“I’m very sorry, Mr. Snell,” Jack began. “I won’t fall asleep again. I promise.I really need this job.”“Don’t worry, kid,” snorted Mr. Snell. “Everyone falls asleep on their first night. I won’t fire you.” He nodded at the dog. “Besides, if Paddy likes you, then I know you’re a good man. But don’t let anyone else catch you asleep, or we’ll both lose our jobs.”Jack was grateful. Paddy stretched and let out a contented yawn.“It was nice to have some company,” said Jack. “But how do you know the dog? Isn’t he just a stray?”“Everyone on the wharf knows Paddy,” said Mr.Snell, scratching the dog’s ear. He pulled a thick cheese sandwich from his jacket pocket, poured a mug of coffee from the pot on the stove, and sat down. “Let me tell you his story.” Paddy’s Story3 Paddy's Story“Paddy started life as a much-loved pet,” said Mr. Snell. “Captain Pedersen, who sailed ships all around the world from this wharf, bought his daughter Molly a puppy for her fifth birthday.” “P addy started life as a much-loved pet,” said Mr. Snell. “Captain Pedersen, who sailed ships all around the world from this wharf, bought his daughter Molly a puppy for her fifth birthday.”Paddy raised his head when he heard the word Molly. He gazed at Mr. Snell, who flicked Paddy a piece of cheese.“But it wasn’t long before a double tragedy struck,” sighed Mr. Snell. “Two years ago, Captain Pedersen was sailing to South America. Back here, it was a freezing cold winter, and poor Molly caught pneumonia. The doctors did their best, but they couldn’t save the little girl.“Meanwhile, the captain was caught in a fierce storm going around Cape Horn, at the bottom of South America. He and his ship were lost, never to be found.”“That’s awful,” whispered Jack. He stroked Paddy’s back with his foot.“Without Molly to look after him, Paddy started to wander. One day, he found his way to the wharf. He sat here, day after day, waiting for Molly and her father to return. Every day, he waited patiently. Rain or shine, he would be here, all alone.”“But the wharf is a busy place. Soon enough, the dockhands and the ships’ crews all got to know him. He’s a friendly dog, as you found out last night,” grinned Mr. Snell. “And he’s good company when you’re having a bad day or you’re feeling a long way from home.”Mr. Snell gave Paddy another piece of his sandwich. “And we all make sure he has plenty to eat.”A siren sounded. It was time for the dockhands to start work. Paddy stretched and got to his feet. He shook himself and nudged Mr. Snell with his nose, as if to say thank you. Then Paddy licked Jack’s hand and trotted out to the bustling wharf. “Well, Jack, you’d better get home,” said Mr. Snell, finishing his coffee.“There’ll be no sleeping on the job tonight, will there?”“No, Mr. Snell,” said Jack. “You can count on me.”“Good,” said Mr. Snell.Jack strode out onto the wharf, ready to walk home. Just before he reached the heavy iron gates, he looked back over his shoulder.There, at the end of the wharf, sat a lone dog. Paddy gazed out at the sea, waiting patiently. Paddy Is TakenJ ack worked at the wharf every night for three months. When it rained, he and Paddy would sit in front of the coal stove, keeping each other company. On calm, warm nights, Jack would visit Paddy in his favorite spot at the end of the wharf.4 Paddy Is TakenJack worked at the wharf every night for three months. When it rained, he and Paddy would sit in front of the coal stove, keeping each other company. On calm, warm nights, Jack would visit Paddy in his favorite spot at the end of the wharf.Paddy always gave Jack a lick or a nuzzle, and Jack always made sure he had a crust of bread or some cheese to share with his furry friend.Mr. Snell would keep Jack entertained by telling him about Paddy’s daytime adventures. Sometimes, taxi drivers would take him for rides around town. Sometimes, he would spend all day on board a tugboat. Sometimes, one of the dockhands would take him into the cabin of a crane, and together they would move shipping crates all day long.But every day, no matter what else happened, Paddy found time to wait patiently at the end of the wharf for his long-lost family.Then something terrible happened.When Jack arrived for work, Mr. Snell’s face was as dark as the gray clouds moving overhead. “They’ve taken Paddy,” he said angrily. “Who has?” said Jack.“The dog pound!” snorted Mr. Snell. “The dog catcher came down at lunchtime, when the dockhands were taking a break, and snatched Paddy from the end of the wharf. Said he was a stray and wasn’t registered!”“But that’s not fair,” said Jack, with a frown. “What will happen to him?”A troubled look crossed Mr. Snell’s face. “If no one claims him in three days, they’ll get rid of him. But no one can afford the money for a registration. Not with times as tough as these.”Jack’s heart sank. He knew what Paddy’s fate was likely to be. Mr. Snell shook his head. “Wasn’t registered,” he scowled. “How heartless.”Later that night, Jack put on his coat and walked out to the end of the wharf. Without Paddy, he felt extra lonely.He sat down in Paddy’s spot and gazed out at the sea, but before long, he returned to his night watchman’s shed.Suddenly, he had an idea. He knew how to save Paddy, but he would need everybody’s help. He wondered just how much the people who worked on the wharf really cared about the stray dog.He had three days to find out. On Strike 5 On Strike Paddy’s last day was to be like no other. On the wharf, the siren sounded for the men to start work, but nobody moved. Instead, a huge crowd of men marched through the iron gates and into the town’s streets. There would be no work on the wharf today. The men were on strike.P addy’s last day was to be like no other. On the wharf, the siren sounded for the men to start work, but nobody moved. Instead, a huge crowd of men marched through the iron gates and into the town’s streets. There would be no work on the wharf today. The men were on strike. Outside the wharf gates, every taxi in town had parked on the street, so the drivers could join in, too.At the head of the crowd, Jack and Mr. Snell led the workers through the city streets, past the town hall, and toward the dog pound. When they got there, almost 300 angry people crowded around the small building. “We’re here to buy a dog registration,” announced Jack, when the nervous dog catcher appeared at the window.“What? All of you?” said the man. He wasn’t sure he had 300 dog registration forms.“Yes! All of us!” called Mr. Snell. “Isn’t that right, friends?”With a loud cheer, the workers lined up behind Jack, who slammed a coin on the desk. Then the next man slammed down another coin. And then the next. And the next. And within half an hour, there was a mountain of coins on the man’s desk. It was enough for Paddy’s registration. When everyone had placed their coins, Mr. Snell placed a leather collar on the desk, too.“Can we have our dog, please?” he said with a smile.When Paddy was led out to the waiting crowd, his tail wagging furiously, there was a huge cheer. Hanging from his new leather collar was a brand new registration tag.The men marched back to the wharf with Paddy bounding around his huge family. Crowds of people on the streets clapped as the dockhands walked past, and Paddy barked happily.The strike was over, and things soon returned to normal on the wharf. Tall cranes swung shipping crates onto the decks of ships and the sailors called to each other in their own languages.Mr. Snell and Jack warmed themselves in front of the coal stove and sipped coffee. And Paddy?The loyal dog padded silently to the end of the wharf and found his favorite spot in the sunshine. He sat down and waited, gazing out at the sea. Even though he would be cared for by the dockhands and the night watchmen and the taxi drivers for the rest of his life, he never stopped waiting for the little girl and the sea captain.Paddy never stopped hoping that they would all find each other again one day.”