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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14880-doc.doc b/14880-doc.doc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8028ae5 --- /dev/null +++ b/14880-doc.doc diff --git a/14880-doc.zip b/14880-doc.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdda619 --- /dev/null +++ b/14880-doc.zip diff --git a/14880-pdf.pdf b/14880-pdf.pdf Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fa4f55 --- /dev/null +++ b/14880-pdf.pdf diff --git a/14880-pdf.zip b/14880-pdf.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad6befb --- /dev/null +++ b/14880-pdf.zip diff --git a/14880.txt b/14880.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6fdbe1 --- /dev/null +++ b/14880.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8611 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader +by William Holmes McGuffey + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader + +Author: William Holmes McGuffey + +Release Date: February 2, 2005 [EBook #14880] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MCGUFFEY'S FOURTH ECLECTIC READER *** + + + + +Produced by Don Kostuch + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: + +Welcome to the schoolroom of 1900. The moral tone is plain. +"She is kind to the old blind man." + +The exercises are still suitable, and perhaps more helpful than some +contemporary alternatives. Much is left to the teacher. Explanations given +in the text are enough to get started teaching a child to read and write. +Counting in Roman numerals is included as a bonus in the form of lesson +numbers. + +The form of contractions includes a space. The contemporary word "don't" +was rendered as "do n't". + +The author, not listed in the text, is William Holmes McGuffey. + +Passages using non-ASCI characters are approximately rendered in this text +version. See the PDF or DOC versions for the original images. + +The section numbers are decimal in the Table of Contents but are in +Roman Numerals in the body. + +Page headings are removed, but section titles are followed by the page on +which they appear. + +Don Kostuch +end transcriber's note] + + + +ECLECTIC EDUCATIONAL SERIES. + +MCGUFFEY'S (Registered) +FOURTH ECLECTIC READER. + +REVISED EDITION. + + +McGuffey Edition and Colophon are Trademarks of + +John Wiley & Sons, Inc. + +New York-Chichester-Weinheim-Brisbane-Toronto + + +In revising the FOURTH READER, the aim has been--as it has with the other +books of the Series--to preserve unimpaired all the essential +characteristics of MCGUFFEY'S READERS. New articles have been substituted +for old ones only where the advantage was manifest. + +The book has been considerably enlarged, and has been liberally +illustrated by the first artists of the country. + +It can not be presumed that every pupil has at hand all the works of +reference necessary for the proper preparation of each lesson; hence all +the aids that seem requisite to this purpose have been given. Brief +notices concerning the various authors represented have been inserted; the +more difficult words have been defined, and their pronunciation has been +indicated by diacritical marks; and short explanatory notes have been +given wherever required for a full understanding of the text. + +Especial acknowledgment is due to Messrs. Houghton, Osgood & Co. for their +permission to make liberal selections from their copyright editions of +many of the foremost American author whose works they publish. + +COPYRIGHT, 1879, by VAN ANTWERP, BRAGG & Co. +COPYRIGHT, 1896, by AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY. +COPYRIGHT, 1907 and 1920, by H. H. VAIL. + +M'G 4TH REV. +EP 309 + + + +INTRODUCTORY MATTER. +SUBJECT. PAGE + +PUNCTUATION MARKS 7 +ARTICULATION 9 +ACCENT AND INFLECTION 23 + +SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY. + + TITLE. AUTHOR. PAGE + 1. Perseverance Charlotte Elizabeth 25 + 2. Try, Try Again T. H. Palmer 28 + 3. Why the Sea Is Salt Mary Howitt 29 + 4. Why the Sea Is Salt Mary Howitt 32 + 5. Popping Corn 34 + 6. Smiles 35 + 7. Lazy Ned 38 + 8. The Monkey 39 + 9. Meddlesome Matty 42 +10. The Good Son 44 +11. To-morrow Mrs. M. B. Johnson. 45 +12. Where there is a Will there is a Way 47 +13. Piccola Celia Thaxter 48 +14. True Manliness Mrs. M. Q. Johnson 50 +15. True Manliness Mrs. M. O. Johnson 52 +16. The Brown Thrush Lucy Larcom 54 +17. A Ship in a Storm 55 +18. The Sailor's Consolation Charles Dibdin 58 +19. Two Ways of Telling a Story Henry K. Oliver 60 +20. Freaks of the Frost Hannah Flagg Gould 63 +21. Waste not, Want not 64 +22. Jeannette and Jo Mary Mapes Dodge 67 +23. The Lion 69 +24. Strawberries J. T. Trowbridge 71 +25. Harry's Riches 74 +26. In Time's Swing Lucy Larcom 77 +27. Harry and his Dog Mary Russell Mitford 79 +28. The Voice of the Grass Sarah Roberts 83 +29. The Eagle 84 +30. The Old Eagle Tree Dr. John Todd 86 +31. Alpine Song W. W. Story 88 +32. Circumstances alter Cases 89 +33. The Noblest Revenge 94 +34. Evening Hymn 97 +35. How Margery Wondered Lucy Larcom 99 +36. The Child's World 103 +37. Susie's Composition 104 +38. The Summer Shower T. B. Read 109 +39. Consequences of Idleness Abbott 110 +40. Advantages of Industry Abbott 113 +41. The Fountain Lowell 116 +42. Coffee 117 +43. The Winter King Hannah Flagg Gould 120 +44. The Nettle Dr. Walsh 121 +45. The Tempest James T. Fields 125 +46. The Creator John Keble 126 +47. The Horse Bingley 128 +48. Emulation 132 +49. The Sandpiper Celia Thaxter 134 +50. The Right Way F. R. Stockton 136 +51. The Golden Rule Emma C. Embury 139 +52. The Snow Man Marian Douglas 143 +53. Robinson Crusoe's House Daniel DeFoe 144 +54. Robinson Crusoe's Dress Daniel DeFoe 147 +55. Somebody's Darling 150 +56. Knowledge is Power 151 +57. Good Will J. T. Trowbridge 153 +58. A Chinese Story C. P. Cranch 156 +59. The Way to be Happy 159 +60. The Giraffe 162 +61. The Lost Child Abbott 165 +62. Which? Mrs. E. L. Beers 168 +63. The Pet Fawn Miss S. F. Cooper 172 +64. Annie's Dream 175 +65. My Ghost Mrs. S. M. B. Platt 178 +66. The Elephant 180 +67. Dare to do Right Thomas Hughes 183 +68. Dare to do Right Thomas Hughes 186 +69. Wreck of the Hesperus Longfellow 190 +70. Anecdotes of Birds Hall 191 +71. The Rainbow Pilgrimage Grace Greenwood 197 +72. The Old Oaken Bucket Samuel Woodworth 202 +73. The Sermon on the Mount 204 +74. The Young Witness S. H. Hammond 207 +75. King Solomon and the Ants Whittier 211 +76. Rivermouth Theater T. B. Aldrich 213 +77. Alfred the Great 216 +78. Living on a Farm 220 +79. Hugh Idle and Mr. Toil Hawthorne 221 +80. Hugh Idle and Mr. Toil Hawthorne 224 +81. Burning of Fallow Mrs. Susanna Moodie 227 +82. Dying Soldiers 230 +83. The Attack on Nymwegen Motley 233 +84. The Seasons + Spring H. G. Adams 237 + Summer Lowell 237 + Autumn Thomas Hood 238 + Winter C. T. Brooks 238 +85. Brandywine Ford Bayard Taylor 239 +86. Brandywine Ford Bayard Taylor 242 +87. The Best Capital Louisa M. Alcott 245 +88. The Inchcape Rock Southey 249 +89. My Mother's Grave 253 +90. A Mother's Gift W. Fergusson 255 + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. [See PDF or DOC versions.] + +SUBJECT PAGE +Perseverance 25 +Popping Corn 35 +The Monkey 40 +Piccola 49 +True Manliness 53 +A Ship in a Storm 56 +Two Ways of Telling a Story 60 +The Lion 69 +Harry and his Dog 81 +Circumstances alter Cases 92 +Evening Hymn 98 +How Margery Wondered 100 +Susie's Composition 107 +Coffee 117 +The Horse 128 +The Sandpiper 135 +Robinson Crusoe's Dress 147 +A Chinese Story 158 +Which? 169 +Which? 170 +Dare to do Right 185 +The Old Oaken Bucket 202 +Rivermouth Theater 215 +The Attack on Nymwegen 234 +The Inchcape Rock 251 + + + +PUNCTUATION MARKS. (7) + +1. The Hyphen (-) is used between syllables and between the parts of a +compound word; as, No-ble, col-o-ny, and text- book, easy-chair. + +2. The Comma (,), the Semicolon (;), and the Colon (:) denote grammatical +divisions. + +NOTE--These marks do not indicate the comparative length of the pauses to +be made where they occur. + +3. The Period (.) is placed at the end of a sentence. It is also used +after an abbreviation; as, God is love. Dr. Eben Goodwin. + +4. The Interrogation point (?) denotes a question; as, Has he come? Who +are you? + +5. The Exclamation point (!) denotes strong feeling; as, Oh Absaom! my +son! my son! + +6. Quotation marks (" ") denote the words of another; as, God said, "Let +there be light." + +7. The Apostrophe (') denotes that a letter or letters are left out; as, +O'er, for over; 't is, for it is. It also denotes the possessive case; as, +John's hat. + +8. The Curves ( ) include what, if omitted, would not obscure the sense. +The parenthesis, or words included by the curves, should be read in a low +key, and with greater rapidity than the rest of the sentence. + +9. Brackets [ ] include something intended to exemplify what goes before, +or to supply some deficiency, or rectify some mistake. + +10. A Dash (-) denotes a long or significant pause, or an abrupt change or +transition in a sentence. + +11. Marks of Ellipsis (***) indicate the omission of +letters of a word, or words of a sentence; as, P * * * * e +J**n, for Prince John; the ******* was hung, for the traitor was hung. + +Sometimes a long line, or a succession of dots is used instead of stars; +as, J--n A---s, for John Adams; the D..e W.....m, for the Duke William. + +12. A Brace (}) is used to connect several lines or words together. + +13. A Diaeresis is put over the latter of two vowels, to show that they +belong to two distinct syllables; thus, cooperate. + +14. A Section is used to divide a discourse or chapter into parts. + +15. An Index points out something that requires particular attention. + +16. A Paragraph denotes a new subject. It is used in the common version of +the Bible. + +17. Certain marks and sometimes figures and letters are used to refer to +some remark in the margin. + +18. A Caret (^) is used in writing, to show that some-thing is omitted; +as, Manner. I love her for her modesty and virtue. + + +ARTICULATION. (9) + +ELEMENTARY SOUNDS + +Articulation is the utterance of the elementary sounds of a language, and +of their combinations. + +An Elementary Sound is a simple, distinct sound made by the organs of +speech. + +The Elementary Sounds of the English language are divided into Vocals, +Subvocals, and Aspirates. + +Vocals are those sounds which consist of pure tone only. They are the most +prominent elements of speech. A diphthong is a union of two vocals, +commencing with one and ending with the other. + +Subvocals are those sounds in which the vocalized breath is more or less +obstructed. + +Aspirates consist of breath only, modified by the vocal organs. + + +VOCALS. + +DIRECTIONS FOR ARTICULATION. + +1. Let the mouth be open, and the teeth, tongue, and palate in their +proper position. + +2. Pronounce the word in the CHART forcibly, and with the falling +inflection, several times in succession; then drop the subvocal or +aspirate sounds which precede or follow the vocal, and repeat the vocals +alone. + + +TABLE. + +Long Vocals. + +Sound Word Sound Word +a hate e err +a hare i pine +a far o no +a pass u tube +a fall u burn +e eve oo cool + +Short Vocals. + +Sound Word Sound Word + +a mat o not +e met u us +i it oo book + + +REMARK.--In this table, the short sounds, except u, are nearly or quite +the same, in quality, as certain of the long sounds. The difference +consists chiefly in quantity. As a rule, the long vocals should be +prolonged with a full, clear utterance; but the short vocals should be +uttered sharply and almost explosively. + +Diphthongs. + +oi, oy, as in coin, boy. ou, ow, as in noun, now. + + +SUBVOCALS AND ASPIRATES. + +DIRECTIONS FOR ARTICULATION. + +Pronounce distinctly and forcibly, several times in succession, words in +which these sounds occur as elements; then drop the other sounds, and +repeat the subvocals and aspirates alone. Each subvocal in the first table +should be practiced in connection with its cognate sound. + +Let the class repeat the words and elements, at first in concert; then +separately. + +Select words ending with subvocal sounds for practice on subvocals; words +beginning or ending with aspirate sounds, for practice on aspirates. + + +COGNATE SOUNDS. + +Subvocals Aspirates +Sound Example Sound Example +b babe p rap +d rod t at +g fog k book +j judge ch chat +v live f file +th them th myth +z buzz s sink +zh azure sh shine +w win wh when + + +REMARK.--These eighteen sounds make nine pairs of cognate sounds. In +articulating the aspirates, the vocal organs are put in the position as +required for the articulation of the corresponding subvocals; but the +breath is expelled with some force, without the utterance of any vocal +sound. Let the pupil verify this by experiment, and then practice on these +cognates. + +The following sounds are not cognates. + +SUB VOCALS. +Sound Example + +l mill +m him +n tin +ng sing, think +r (rough) rule +r (smooth) car + +ASPIRATE. + +h, as in hat. + +SUBSTITUTES. + +Substitutes are characters used to represent sounds ordinarily represented +by other characters. The following table indicates nearly every form of +substitution used in the language: a few exceptional cases only are +omitted + + +TABLE OF SUBSTITUTES. + +Sub For as in Sub For as in +a e any o oo to +a o what o oo would +c z suffice o u son +c s cite ph v Stephen +c k cap ph f sylph +ch k ache q k liquor +ch sh machine qu kw quote +d j soldier s sh sure +e i England s zh rasure +e a there s z rose +e a feint u e bury +ee i been u i busy +f v of u oo rude +g j cage u oo pull +gh f laugh x ks wax +gh k lough x ksh noxious +i e police x z Xerxes +i e thirst x gz examine +i y filial y e myrrh +n ng rink y i my +o u work y i hymn +o i women z s quartz +o a form + + +VOCALS. + +Let the teacher utter each word, and then its vocal sound, and let the +pupil imitate closely and carefully, thus: + +Mate, a; Rate, a: Man, a: Far, a: etc. +a--Mate, rain, say, they, feint, gauge, break, vein, gaol +a--Man, pan, tan, shall, lamp, back, mat, stand +a--Far, hard, ah, aunt, heart, guard, psalm +a--Ball, talk, pause, saw, broad, storm, naught, bought +a--Was, what, wash, swap, nod, blot, knowledge +e--Me, tree, sea, key, field, ceiling, people, police +e--Met, bread, said (sed), says (sez), friend, heifer, leopard, guess, + any (en'y), bury (ber'ry). +e--Her, clerk, earn, were, first, myrrh. +i--Pine, sign, lie, type, sleight, buy, guide, aisle, choir. +i--Pin, fountain, been (bin), busy (biz'y), surfeit, sieve, hymn, build, + myth. +i--Sir, bird, girl, birch, mirth, birth. +o--No, door, loam, hoe, soul, snow, sew (so), yeomen, bureau (bu'ro), + hautboy (ho'boy). +o--Not, blot, chop, throb, bother, body, wan. +o--Nor, born, storm, cork, fork, small, stall. +o--Wolf, woman, bushel, would, should, pull +o--Move, who, tomb, group, soup, shoe, do, lose +o.--Love, son, flood, front, shove, touch, does, tongue. +oo--Wool, book, cook, rook, goodly. +oo.--Food, troop, tooth, goose, spoon, noon. +u.--Use, abuse, beauty, feud, view, adieu. +u.--Rub, sum, sun, such, much, tuck, luck, trouble. +u.--Fur, curl, hurt, burn, turn, spurn, work. +u.--Full, bull, push, bush +oi, oy.-Oil, point, voice, noise, boiler, boy, joy, alloy. +ou, ow.-Our, sour, cloud, owl, now, bow, couch. + + + +SUB VOCALS. + +Let the sound of each letter be given, and not its name. After +articulating the sounds, each word should be pronounced distinctly. + +b.--Be, by, boy, bib, sob, bite, bone, band, bubble. +d.--Deed, did, dab, bid, bud, dead, door, indeed. +g.--Go, gag, gig, bag, beg, fog, fig, girl, rag, log. +j.--Jay, joy, jig, gill, job, judge, ginger, soldier. +l.--Lad, led, dell, mill, line, lily, folly. +m--Me, my, mad, mug, him, aim, blame. +n.--No, now, nab, nod, man, sun, none, noun. +r. (rough)--Rear, red, rough, riot, ripe, rude, ragged. +r. (smooth)--Form, farm, worn, for, ear, manner. +v.--Van, vine, vale, vivid, stove, of, Stephen. +w.--We, woe, web, wed, wig, wag, wood, will, wonder. +y.--Ye, yam, yon, yes, yarn, yoke, yawn, filial. +z.--Zag, rose, rise, zone, lives, stars, suffice. +zh.--Azure, osier, usual, measure, rouge (roozh). +th.--Thee, thy, them, blithe, beneath, those. +ng.--Bang, fang, gang, bring, sing, fling. + + + +ASPIRATES. + +f.--Fib, fob, buff, beef, if, off, life, phrase, laugh. +h.--Ha, he, hub, had, how, hill, home, hire, horse. +k.--Kill, bake, cat, cow, come, chord, black. +p.--Pop, pig, lip, map, pipe, pope, apple, path, pile. +s.--Sad, fuss, miss, cent, cease, sick, sound, sincere. +t.--Hat, mat, toe, totter, tint, time, sleet, taught. +sh.--Dash, shad, rush, sure, ocean, notion, passion, chaise. +ch.--Chin, chop, chat, rich, much, church, bastion. +th.--Thin, hath, think, teeth, truth, breath, pith. + + + +SUBVOCALS COMBINED. + +Utter the sounds only, and pronounce very distinctly. + +br.--Bred, brag, brow, brim, brush, breed, brown. +bz, bst.--Fibs, fib'st, robs, rob'st, rubs, rub'st. +bd, bdst.--Fibbed, fib'd'st, sobbed, sob'd'st, robbed, rob'd'st. +bl.--Blab, blow, bluff, bliss, stable, babble, gobble. +blz, blst.--Fables, fabl'st, nibbles, nibbl'st. +bid, bldst.--Fabled, fabl'd'st, nibbled, nibbl'd'st. + +dr.--Drab, drip, drop, drag drum, dress, drink. +dz, dst.--Rids, rid'st, adds, add'st, sheds, shed'st. +dl.--Addle, paddle, fiddle, riddle, needle, idle, ladle. +dlz, dlst.--Addles, addl'st, fiddles, fiddl'st. +dld.--Addled, fiddled, huddled, idled, ladled. + +fr.--Fret, frog, from, fry, fresh, frame, free. +fs, fst.--Cuffs, cuff'st, stuffs, stuff'st, doffs, doff'st. +ft.--Lift, waft, drift, graft, soft, theft, craft, shaft. +fts, ftst.--Lifts, lift'st, wafts, waft'st, sifts, sift'st. +fi.--Baffle, raffle, shuffle, muffle, rifle, trifle, whiffle. +fls, flst.--Baffles, baffl'st, shuffles, shuffl'st, rifles, rifl'st. +fld, fldst.--Baffled, baffl'd'st, shuffled, shuffl'd'st. + +gr.--Grab, grim, grip, grate, grant, grass, green. +gz, gst.--Begs, beg'st, digs, dig'st, gags, gag'st. +gd, gdst.--Begged, begg'd'st, digged, digg'd'st. +gl.--Higgle, joggle, straggle, glib, glow, glaze. +glz, glst.--Higgles, higgl'st, juggles, juggl'st. +gld, gldst.--Higgled, higgl'd'st, joggled, joggl'd'st. + +jd.--Caged, hedged, bridged, lodged, judged, waged. +kr.--Cram, crag, crash, crop, cry, creel, crone, crown. +kw, (qu).--Quell, quick, quite, quote, quake, queen. +ks, kst, (x).--Kicks, kick'st, mix, mixed, box, boxed. +kt, kts.--Act, acts, fact, facts, tact, tacts, sect, sects. +kl.--Clad, clip, clown, clean, close, cackle, pickle. +klz, klst.--Cackles, cackl'st, buckles, buckl'st. +kld, kldst.--Cackled, cackl'd'st, buckled, buckl'd'st. + +lf.--Elf, Ralph, shelf, gulf, sylph, wolf. +ld.--Hold, mold, bold, cold, wild, mild, field, yield. +ldz, ldst.--Holds, hold'st, gilds, gild'st, yields, yield'st. +lz, lst.--Fills, fill'st, pulls, pull'st, drills, drill'st. +lt, lts.--Melt, melts, tilt, tilts, salt, salts, bolt, bolts. +mz, mst.--Names, nam'st, hems, hem'st, dims, dim'st. +md, mdst.--Named, nam'd'st, dimmed, dimm'd'st. + +nd.--And, lend, band, blonde, fund, bound, round, sound. +ndz, ndst.--Lends, lend'st, hands, hand'st. +ndl.--Handle, kindle, fondle, trundle, brindle. +ndlz, ndlst.--Handles, halldl'st, kindles, kindl'st. +ndld, ndldst.--Handled, handl'd'st, kindled, kindl'd'st. + +nks, nkst.--Banks, hank'st, sinks, sink'st. +nkd.--Banked, clank'd, winked, thank'd, flank'd. + +nz, nst.--Wins, win'st, tans, tan'st, runs run'st. +nt, nts.--Hint, hints, cent, cents, want, wants. +nch, nchd.--Pinch, pinch'd, blanch, blanch'd. +ngz, ngd.--Hangs, hang'd, rings, ring'd. +nj, njd.--Range, ranged, hinge, hinged. + +pr.--Prat, prim, print, prone, prune, pry, prank. +pl.--Plant, plod, plum, plus, apple, cripple. +ps, pst.--Nips, nip'st, taps, tap'st, mops, mop'st. +pt, pts.--Adopt, adopts, adept, adepts, crypt, crypts. + +rj, rjd.--Merge, merged, charge, charged, urge, urged. +rd.--Card, cord, curd, herd, ford, ward, bird. +rdz, rdst.--Cards, card'st, herds, herd'st, cords, cord'st. +rk.--Bark, jerk, dirk, cork, lurk, work. +rks, rkst.--Barks, bark'st, lurks, lurk'st. +rl.--Marl, curl, whirl, pearl, whorl, snarl. +rlz, rlst.--Curls, curl'st, whirls, whirl'st, twirls, twirl'st. +rld, rldst.-- Curled, curl'd'st, whirled, whirl'd'st, snarled, snarl'd'st. +rm.--Arm, term, form, warm, storm, worm, sperm. +rmz, rmst.--Arms, arm'st, fbrms, form'st. +rmd, rmdst.--Armed, arm'd'st, formed, form'd'st. +rn.--Barn, warn, scorn, worn, earn, turn. +rnz, rnst.--Turns, turn'st, scorns, scorn'st. +rnd, rndst.--Turned, turn'd'st, scorned, scorn'd'st. +rt.--Dart, heart, pert, sort, girt, dirt, hurt. +rts, rtst.--Darts, dart'st, girts, girt'st, hurts, hurt'st. +rch, rchd.--Arch, arched, perch, perched. + +sk.--Ask, scab, skip, risk, skum, bask, husk. +sks.--Asks, tasks. risks, whisks, husks. +skd, skst.--Asked, ask'st, risked, risk'st, husked, husk'st. +sp, sps.--Gasp, gasps, rasp, rasps, crisp, crisps. + +spd.--Gasped, lisped, crisped, wisped, cusped. +st, sts.--Mast, masts, nest, nests, fist, fists. +sw.--Swim, swell, swill, swan, sweet, swing, swam. +str.--Strap, strip, strop, stress, strut, strife, strew. + +tl.--Rattle, nettle, whittle, bottle, hurtle, scuttle. +tlz, tlst.--Rattles, rattl'st, nettles, nettl'st. +tld, tldst.--Rattled, rattl'd'st, settled, settl'd'st. +ts, tst.--Bat, bat'st, bets, bet'st, pits, pit'st, dots, dot'st. +tw.--Twin, twirl, twice, tweed, twist, twelve, twain. +tr.--Trap, trip, trot, tress, truss, trash, try, truce, trice. +vz, vst.--Gives, giv'st, loves, lov'st, saves, sav'st. + +zm, zmz.--Chasm, chasms, prism, prisms. +zl.--Dazzle, frizzle, nozzle, puzzle. +zlz, zld.--Dazzles, dazzled, frizzles, frizzled. +sht.--Dashed, meshed, dished, rushed, washed. +shr.--Shrank, shred, shrill, shrunk, shrine, shroud, shrew. +thd.--Bathed, sheathed, soothed, smoothed, wreathed. +thz, thzt.--Bathes, Bath'st, sheathes, sheath'st. + +ngz, ngst.--Hangs, hang'st, brings, bring'st. +ngd, ngdst.--Hanged, hang'd'st., stringed, string'd'st. +nks, nkst.--Thanks, thank'st, thinks, think'st. +nkd, nkdst.--Thanked, thank'd'st, kinked, kink'd'st. +dth, dths.--Width, widths, breadth, breadths. +kld, kldst.--Circled, circl'd'st, darkle, darkl'd'st. +kl, klz.--Circle, circles, cycle, cycles. +lj, ljd.--Bilge, bilged, bulge, bulged, indulge, indulged. +lb, lbz.--Alb, albs, bulb, bulbs. +lk, lks, lkst, lkdst.--Milk, milks, milk'st, milk'd'st. + +lm, lmz.--Elm, elms, whelm, whelms, film, films. +lp, lpd, lpst, lpdst.--Help, helped, help'st, help'd'st. +lv, lvz, lvd.--Valve, valves, valved, delve, delves, delved. +lch, lchd.--Belch, belched, filch, filched, gulch, gulched. +lth, lth --Health, healths, tilth, tilth + +mf, mfs.--Nymph, nymphs, triumph, triumphs. +gth, gths.--Length, lengths, strength, strengths. +rb, rbz, rbd, rbst, rbdst.--Curb, curbs, curbed, curb'st, curb'd'st. +rf, rfs, rfst, rfdst.--Dwarf, dwarfs, dwarf'st, dwarf'd'st. +rv, rvz, rvst, rvd, rvdst.--Curve, curves, curv'st, curved, curv'd'st. +rth, rths.--Birth, births, girth, girths, hearth, hearths. +rp, rps, rpd, rpst, rpdst.--Harp, harps, harped, harp'st, harp'd'st. +rs, rst.--Nurse, nursed, verse, versed, course, coursed. + +thr.--Thrash, thresh, thrift, throb, thrush, thrust, throng, three, +thrive, thrice, throat, throne, throve, thrill, thrum. + +thw.--Thwack, thwart. + + + +EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION. + +Errors to be Corrected. + +To TEACHERS.--In the following exercises, the more common errors in +articulation and pronunciation are denoted. The letters in italics are not +silent letters, but are thus marked to point them out as the +representatives of sounds which are apt to be defectively articulated, +omitted, or incorrectly sounded. + + +A + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct +Fa-t fa-tal Sep-er-ate sep-a-rate +reel re-al temp-per-unce tem-per-ance +ras-cul ras-cal up-pear ap-pear +crit-ic-ul crit-ic-al tem-per-it tem-per-ate +test'ment tes-ta-ment mod-er-it med-er-ate +firm'ment fir-ma-ment in-ti-mit int-ti-mate + + +E + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct +Ev'ry ev-er-y sev'ral sev-er-al +b'lief be-lief prov-i-dunce prov-i-dence +pr'vail pre-vail ev-i-dunce ev-i-dence +r'tain re-tain si-lunt si-lent +trav'ler trav-el-er mon-u-munt mon-u-ment +flut'ring flut-ter-ing con-ti-nunt con-ti-nent +tel'scope tel-e-scope con-fi-dunt con-fi-dent + + +I + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct +D'rect di-rect rad'cal rad-i-cal +d'spose dis-pose sal'vate sal-i-vate +van'ty van-i-ty can'bal can-ni-bal +ven-t'late ven-ti-late mount'n moun-tain +ju-b'lee ju-bi-lee fount'n foun-tain +rid-cule rid-i-cule vill'ny vil-lain-y + + +O + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct +Des'late des-o-late rhet-er-ic rhet-o-tic +hist'ry his-to-ry in-ser-lent in-so-lent +mem'ry mem-o-ry croc-ud-ile croc-o-dile +col'ny col-o-ny com-prum-ise com-pro-mise +ag'ny ag-o-ny anch-ur-ite an-cho-rite +balc'ny bal-co-ny cor-per-al cor-po-ral +ob-s'lete ob-so-lete ob-luq-quy ob-lo-quy +wil-ler wil-low or-ther-dox or-tho-dox +wid-der wid-ow cun-di-tion con-di-tion +pil-ler pil-low pus-i-tion po-si-tion +mead-er mead-ow tug-eth-er to-geth-er +fel-ler fel-low put-a-ter po-ta-to +win-der win-dow tub-ac-cur to-bac-co + + +U + +The most common mistake in the sound of u occurs in words of the following +kind: as, crea-ter or crea-choor, for crea-ture; nat-er or na- choor for +na-ture, etc. + + +Incorrect Correct + +Lec'-ter lec'-choor lec'-ture +fea'-ter fea'-choor fea'-ture +mois'-ter mois'-choor mois'-ture +ver'-der ver'-jer ver-dure +mix'-ter mix'-cher mix'-ture +rup'ter rup'-cher rup'-ture +sculp'-ter sculp'-cher sculp'-ture +ges'-ter ges'cher ges'-ture +struc'-ter struc'-cher struc'-ture +stric'-ter stric'-choor stric'-ture +ves'-ter ves'-cher ves'-ture +tex'-ter tex'-cher tex'-ture +fix'-ter fix'-cher fix'-ture +vul'-ter vul'-cher vul'-ture +for'-ten for'-choon for'-tune +stat'-er sta'-choor stat'-ure +stat'-ew stat'-choo stat'ue +stat'-ewt sta'-choot stat'-ute +ed'-di-cate ed'-ju-cate ed'-u-cate + + +H + +In order to accustom the learner to sound H properly, let him pronounce +certain words without and then with it: as aft, haft; ail, hail, etc. The H +should be clearly sounded. + +Aft Haft Edge Hedge +Ail Hail Eel Heel +Air Hair Ell Hell +All Hall Elm Helm +Ark Hark Eye High +Arm Harm Ill Hill +Art Hart It Hit +Ash Hash old Hold +At Hat Yew He + + +D Final. + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +An and frien friend +lan land soun sound +mine mind groun ground +boun bound fiel field + + +K Final. + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +Fris frisk dus dusk +des desk mos mosque +tas task tus tusk +ris risk hus husk + + +N for Ng. + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +Morn-in morn-ing shav-in shav-ing +run-nin run-ning hid-in hid-ing +talk-in talk-ing see-in see-ing +walk-in walk-ing lov-in lov-ing +drink-in drink-ing fight-in fight-ing +slid-in slid-ing laugh-in laugh-ing + + +R + +Sound the R clearly and forcibly. +When it precedes a vowel, give it a slight trill. + +Rule ruin rat rug reck rate +reed rill rub rig rim rite +ride rise red rag rick rote +run reek rib rob rip ruse +roar roam rack rid rip rouse +Arch farm lark far snare for +march harm bark bar spare war +larch charm mark hair sure corn +starch dark are stair lure born +arm spark star care pure horn + + +T Final + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +Eas east wep wept +moce most ob-jec ob-ject +los lost per-fec per-fect +nes nest dear-es dear-est +gues guest high-es high-est + + +TS Final + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +Hoce hosts sec's sects +tes tests bus busts +lifs lifts cense cents +tuffs tufts ob-jec's ob-jects +ac's acts re-spec's re-spects + + +W for Wh + +Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct + +Wale Whale Wet Whet +Weal Wheel Wine Whine +Wen When Wip Whip + + + +SENTENCES FOR PRACTICE + +Sentences like the following may be read with great advantage, for the +purpose of acquiring distinctness and precision in articulation. + +This act, more than all other acts, laid the ax at the root of the evil. +It is false to say he had no other faults. + +The hosts still stand in strangest plight. That last still night. That +lasts till night. On either side an ocean exists. On neither side a notion +exists. Among the rugged rocks the restless ranger ran. I said pop-u-lar, +not pop'lar. I said pre-vail, not pr'vail. I said be-hold, not b'hold. + +Think'st thou so meanly of my Phocion? Henceforth look to your hearths. +Canst thou minister to a mind diseased? A thousand shrieks for hopeless +mercy call. + + + +ACCENT. + +Accent, marked thus ('), is an increased force of voice upon some one +syllable of a word; as, +Col'o-ny, bot'a-ny; re-mem'ber, im-por'tant; rec-ol-lect', rep-re-sent'. +In the words col'o-ny and bot'a-ny, the first syllable is accented. In the +words re-mem'ber and im-por'tant, the second syllable is accented. In the +words rec-ol-lect' and rep-re-sent', the third syllable is accented. + + + +INFLECTION. + +Inflection is an upward or downward slide of the voice. The Rising +Inflection, sometimes marked thus ('), is an upward slide of the voice. + +Examples + +Has he come'? +Has he gone? +Are you sick'? +Will you go'? +Are they here'? + + +The Falling Inflection, marked thus (') is a downward slide of the voice. + +Examples + +They are here. +He has gone. +He has come +I will go. +I am well. + + +Let the pupil practice these examples until he is perfectly familiar with +the rising and falling inflections. + +Are you sick or well? Will you go, or stay? +Did he ride, or walk? Is it black, or white? +Is he rich, or poor? Are they old, or young? +Did you say cap, or cat? I said cat, not cap. +Did you say am, or ham? I said ham, not am. + + +Is the dog white', or black'? The dog is black', not white'. +Did you say and', or hand'? I said and', not hand'. +Is the tree large', or small'? The tree is small', not large'. +Are the apples sweet', or sour'? The apples are sour' not sweet'. +Is the tide high', or low'? The tide is high', not low'. +Did you say play', or pray'? I said pray', not play'. + + + + +MCGUFFEY'S FOURTH READER. + + + +I. PERSEVERANCE. (25) + +1. "Will you give my kite a lift?" said my little nephew to his sister, +after trying in vain to make it fly by dragging it along the ground. Lucy +very kindly took it up and threw it into the air, but, her brother +neglecting to run off at the same moment, the kite fell down again. + +2. "Ah! now, how awkward you are!" said the little fellow. "It was your +fault entirely," answered his sister. "Try again, children," said I. + +3. Lucy once more took up the kite. But now John was in too great a hurry; +he ran off so suddenly that he twitched the kite out of her hand, and it +fell flat as before. "Well, who is to blame now?" asked Lucy. "Try again," +said I. + +4. They did, and with more care; but a side wind coming suddenly, as Lucy +let go the kite, it was blown against some shrubs, and the tail became +entangled in a moment, leaving the poor kite hanging with its head +downward. + +5. "There, there!" exclaimed John, "that comes of your throwing it all to +one side." "As if I could make the wind blow straight," said Lucy. In the +meantime, I went to the kite's assistance; and having disengaged the long +tail, I rolled it up, saying, "Come, children, there are too many trees +here; let us find a more open space, and then try again." + +6. We presently found a nice grassplot, at one side of which I took my +stand; and all things being prepared, I tossed the kite up just as little +John ran off. It rose with all the dignity of a balloon, and promised a +lofty flight; but John, delighted to find it pulling so hard at the +string, stopped short to look upward and admire. The string slackened, the +kite wavered, and, the wind not being very favorable, down came the kite +to the grass. "O John, you should not have stopped," said I. "However, try +again." + +7. "I won't try any more," replied he, rather sullenly. "It is of no use, +you see. The kite won't fly, and I don't want to be plagued with it any +longer." "Oh, fie, my little man! would you give up the sport, after all +the pains we have taken both to make and to fly the kite? A few +disappointments ought not to discourage us. Come, I have wound up your +string, and now try again." + +8. And he did try, and succeeded, for the kite was carried upward on the +breeze as lightly as a feather; and when the string was all out, John +stood in great delight, holding fast the stick and gazing on the kite, +which now seemed like a little white speck in the blue sky. "Look, look, +aunt, how high it flies! and it pulls like a team of horses, so that I can +hardly hold it. I wish I had a mile of string: I am sure it would go to +the end of it." + +9. After enjoying the sight as long as he pleased, little John proceeded +to roll up the string slowly; and when the kite fell, he took it up with +great glee, saying that it was not at all hurt, and that it had behaved +very well. "Shall we come out to-morrow, aunt, after lessons, and try +again?" + +10. "I have no objection, my dear, if the weather is fine. And now, as we +walk home, tell me what you have learned from your morning's sport." "I +have learned to fly my kite properly." "You may thank aunt for it, +brother," said Lucy, "for you would have given it up long ago, if she had +not persuaded you to try again." + +11. "Yes, dear children, I wish to teach you the value of perseverance, +even when nothing more depends upon it than the flying of a kite. Whenever +you fail in your attempts to do any good thing, let your motto be,--try +again." + + +DEFINITIONS.--In defining words, that meaning is given which is +appropriate to them in the connection in which they are used. + + +4. En-tan'gled, twisted in, disordered. 5. As-sist'-ance, help, aid. +Dis-en-gaged, cleared, set free. 6. Grass'plot, a space covered with +grass. Dig'ni-ty, majestic manner. 7. Dis-ap-point/ments, failures or +defeats of expectation. Dis-cour'age, take away courage. 9. Glee, joy 11. +Per-se-ver'ance, continuance in anything once begun. Mot'to, a short +sentence or a word full of meaning. + +EXERCISES--What is the subject of this lesson? Why was John discouraged in +his attempts to fly his kite? What did his, aunt say to him? What may we +learn from this? What should be our motto if we expect to be successful? + + + +II. TRY, TRY AGAIN. (28) + +1. 'T is a lesson you should heed, + Try, try again; + If at first you don't succeed, + Try, try again; + Then your courage should appear, + For, if you will persevere, + You will conquer, never fear; + Try, try again. + +2. Once or twice though you should fail, + Try, try again; + If you would at last prevail, + Try, try again; + If we strive, 'tis no disgrace + Though we do not win the race; + What should you do in the case? + Try, try again. + +3. If you find your task is hard, + Try, try again; + Time will bring you your reward, + Try, try again. + All that other folks can do, + Why, with patience, should not you? + Only keep this rule in view: + Try, try again. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Cour'age, resolution. Con'quer, gain the vic-tory. 2. +Pre-vail, overcome. Dis-grace', shame. Win, gain, ob-tain. 3. Re-ward', +anything given in return for good or bad con-duct. Pa'-tience, constany in +labor. + + +EXERCISES.--What does the mark before "'T is" mean? +What is it called? What point is used after the word "case" in +the second stanza? Why? + + + +III. WHY THE SEA IS SALT. (29) +A FAIRY TALE. + +Mary Howitt was born in 1804, at Coleford, England. She wrote many +charming stories for children in prose and verse, and also translated many +from Swedish, Danish, and German authors. This story is arranged from one +in a collection named "Peter Drake's Dream, and Other Stories." She died +in 1888. + +1. There were, in very ancient times, two brothers, one of whom was rich, +and the other poor. Christmas was approaching, but the poor man had +nothing in the house for a Christmas dinner; so he went to his brother and +asked him for a trifling gift. + +2. The rich man was ill-natured, and when he heard his brother's request +he looked very surly. But as Christmas is a time when even the worst +people give gifts, he took a fine ham down from the chimney, where it was +hanging to smoke, threw it at his brother, and bade him begone and never +to let him see his face again. + +3. The poor man thanked his brother for the ham, put it under his arm, and +went his way. He had to pass through a great forest on his way home. When +he had reached the thickest part of it, he saw an old man, with a long, +white beard, hewing timber. "Good evening," said he to him. + +4. "Good evening," returned the old man, raising himself up from his work, +and looking at him. "That is a fine ham you are carrying." On this, the +poor man told him all about it. + +5. "It is lucky for you," said the old man, "that you have met with me. If +you will take that ham into the land of the dwarfs, the entrance to which +lies just under the roots of this tree, you can make a capital bargain +with it; for the dwarfs are very fond of ham, and rarely get any. But mind +what I say: you must not sell it for money, but demand for it the 'old +hand mill which stands behind the door.' When you come back, I'll show you +how to use it." + +6. The poor man thanked his new friend, who showed him the door under a +stone below the roots of the tree, and by this door he entered into the +land of the dwarfs. No sooner had he set his foot in it, than the dwarfs +swarmed about him, attracted by the smell of the ham. They offered him +queer, old-fashioned money and gold and silver ore for it; but he refused +all their tempting offers, and said that he would sell it only for the old +hand mill behind the door. + +7. At this, the dwarfs held up their little old hands, and looked quite +perplexed. "We can not make a bargain, it seems," said the poor man, "so +I'll bid you all a good day." + +8. The fragrance of the ham had by this time reached the remote parts of +dwarf land. The dwarfs came flocking around in little troops, leaving +their work of digging out precious ores, eager for the ham. + +9. "Let him have the old mill," said some of the newcomers; "it is quite +out of order, and he don't know how to use it. Let him have it, and we +will have the ham." + +10. So the bargain was made. The poor man took the old hand mill, which +was a little thing not half so large as the ham, and went back to the +woods. Here the old man showed him how to use it. All this had taken up a +great deal of time, and it was midnight before he reached home. + +11. "Where in the world have you been?" said his wife. "Here I have been +waiting and waiting, and we have no wood to make a fire, nor anything to +put into the porridge pot for our Christmas supper." + +12. The house was dark and cold; but the poor man bade his wife wait and +see what would happen. He placed the little hand mill on the table, and +began to turn the crank. First, out there came some grand, lighted wax +candles, and a fire on the hearth, and a porridge pot boiling over it, +because in his mind he said they should come first. Then he ground out a +tablecloth, and dishes, and spoons, and knives and forks. + +13. He was himself astonished at his good luck, as you may believe; and +his wife was almost beside herself with joy and astonishment. Well, they +had a capital supper; and after it was eaten, they ground out of the mill +every possible thing to make their house and themselves warm and +comfortable. So they had a merry Christmas eve and morning. + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Tri'-fling, of small value. 5. Hand 'mill, a mill turned +by hand. 6. At-tract'ed, drawn to, allured. 7. Perplexed', puzzled. 8. +Fra'grance, sweetness of smell. + + + +IV. WHY THE SEA IS SALT. (32) +(Concluded.) + +1. When the people went by the house to church, the next day, they could +hardly believe their eyes. There was glass in the windows instead of a +wooden shutter, and the poor man and his wife, dressed in nice new +clothes, were seen devoutly kneeling in the church. + +2. "There is something very strange in all this," said everyone. +"Something very strange indeed," said the rich man, when three days +afterwards he received an invitation from his once poor brother to a grand +feast. And what a feast it was! The table was covered with a cloth as +white as snow, and the dishes were all of silver or gold. The rich man +could not, in his great house, and with all his wealth, set out such a +table. + +3. "Where did you get all these things?" exclaimed he. His brother told +him all about the bargain he had made with the dwarfs, and putting the +mill on the table, ground out boots and shoes, coats and cloaks, +stockings, gowns, and blankets, and bade his wife give them to the poor +people that had gathered about the house to get a sight of the grand feast +the poor brother had made for the rich one. + +4. The rich man, was very envious of his brother's good fortune, and +wanted to borrow the mill, intending--for he was not an honest man--never +to return it again. His brother would not lend it, for the old man with +the white beard had told him never to sell or lend it to anyone. + +5. Some years went on, and, at last, the possessor of the mill built +himself a grand castle on a rock by the sea, facing the west. Its windows, +reflecting the golden sunset, could be seen far out from the shore. It +became a noted landmark for sailors. Strangers from foreign parts often +came to see this castle and the wonderful mill of which the most +extraordinary tales were told. + +6. At length, a great foreign merchant came, and when he had seen the +mill, inquired whether it would grind salt. Being told that it would, he +wanted to buy it; for he traded in salt, and thought that if he owned it +he could supply all his customers without taking long and dangerous +voyages. + +7. The man would not sell it, of course. He was so rich now that he did +not want to use it for himself; but every Christmas he ground out food and +clothes and coal for the poor, and nice presents for the little children. +So he rejected all the offers of the rich merchant. The merchant, however, +determined to have it; he bribed one of the man's servants to let him go +into the castle at night, and he stole the mill and sailed away with it in +triumph. + +8. He had scarcely got out to sea, before he determined to set the mill to +work. "Now, mill, grind salt," said he; "grind salt with all your +might!--salt, salt, and nothing but salt!" The mill began to grind and the +sailors to fill the sacks; but these were soon full, and in spite of all +that could be done, it began to fill the ship. + +9. The dishonest merchant was now very much frightened. What was to be +done? The mill would not stop grinding; and at last the ship was +overloaded, and down it went, making a great whirlpool where it sank. The +ship soon went to pieces; but the mill stands on the bottom of the sea, +and keeps grinding out "salt, salt, nothing but salt!" That is the +reason, say the peasants of Denmark and Norway, why the sea is salt. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. De-vout'ly, in a reverent manner. 5. Re--flect'ing, +throwing back light, heat, etc., as a mirror. Land'-mark, an object on +land serving as a guide to seamen. Ex-traor'--di-na-ry, wonderful. 9. +Whirl'-pool, a gulf in which the water moves round in a circle. Peas'ents, +those belonging to the lowest class of tillers of the soil in Europe. + + +EXERCISES.--What is a "fairy tale"? What fairy people are told about in +this story? How did the poor man find the way to the land of the dwarfs? +Do you think the old man would have told him if the poor man had not been +so polite? How did the poor man treat his rich brother in return for his +unkindness? How was the greed of the dishonest merchant punished? What is +meant by "strangers from foreign parts"? Where are Denmark and Norway? + + + +V. POPPING CORN. (34) + +1. One autumn night, when the wind was high, + And the rain fell in heavy plashes, + A little boy sat by the kitchen fire, + A-popping corn in the ashes; + And his sister, a curly-haired child of three, + Sat looking on, just close to his knee. + +2. Pop! pop! and the kernels, one by one, + Came out of the embers flying; + The boy held a long pine stick in his hand, + And kept it busily plying; + He stirred the corn and it snapped the more, + And faster jumped to the clean-swept floor. + +3. Part of the kernels flew one way, + And a part hopped out the other; + Some flew plump into the sister's lap, + Some under the stool of the brother; + The little girl gathered them into a heap, + And called them a flock of milk-white sheep. + + + +VI. SMILES. (35) + +1. Poor lame Jennie sat at her window, looking out upon the dismal, narrow +street, with a look of pain and weariness on her face. "Oh, dear," she +said with a sigh, "what a long day this is going to be," and she looked +wishfully up the street. + +2. Suddenly she leaned forward and pressed her pale face against the +glass, as a rosy-checked boy came racing down the street, swinging his +schoolbooks by the strap. Looking up to the window, he took off his hat +and bowed with a bright, pleasant smile. + +3. "What a nice boy he is," said Jennie to herself, as he ran out of +sight. "I am so glad he goes by here on his way to school. When he smiles, +it seems like having the sun shine. I wish everybody who goes by would +look up and smile." + +4. "Mamma," said George West, as he came from school, "I can't help +thinking about that poor little girl I told you of the other day. She +looks so tired. I took off my hat and bowed to her to-day. I wish I could +do something for her," + +5. "Suppose you should carry her a handful of pretty flowers some time +when you go to school," said Mrs. West. "I'll do that to-morrow morning," +said George, "if I can find my way into that rickety old house." + +6. The next morning, as Jennie sat leaning her head wearily against the +window, watching the raindrops chasing one another down the glass, she +spied George with a handful of beautiful flowers carefully picking his way +across the street. He stopped in front of her window, and, smiling very +pleasantly, said, "How shall I find the way to your room?" + +7. Jennie pointed to an alley near by, where he turned in, and with some +difficulty found his way to the dingy staircase. Opening the door to +Jennie's gentle "Come in," he said, "I have brought you a handful of +flowers to look at this rainy day." + +8. "Are they for me?" exclaimed Jennie, clapping her hands in delight. +"How kind you are," she continued, as George laid them in her lap. "I have +not had a flower since we live in the city." + +9. "Did you use to live in the country?" asked George. "Oh, yes," answered +Jennie, "we used to live in a beautiful cottage, and there were trees and +flowers and green grass, and the air was so sweet." + +10. "Well, what made you move here?" "Oh," said Jennie, softly, "papa +died, and mamma was sick so long that the money was all gone. Then mamma +had to sell the cottage, and she moved here to try to get work to do." + +11. "Do you have to sit here all day?" asked George, glancing around the +bare room and out into the dismal street. "Yes," said Jennie, "because I +am lame; but I would not care for that, if I could only help mamma." + +12. "I declare, it's too had!" said George, who dreaded nothing so much as +being obliged to stay in the house. "Oh, no, it isn't," said Jennie, +pleasantly; "mamma says maybe we should forget the Lord if we had +everything we wanted, and He never forgets us, you know." + +13. "Well, I must rush for school," said George, not knowing exactly what +to say next; and he was soon out of Jennie's sight, but had a happy little +corner in his heart, because he had tried to do a kind act. He did not +know how much good he had done in making a pleasant day out of a dreary +one for a little sick girl. + +14. "Mamma," said George, that evening, after he had told her what Jennie +said, "papa must give them some money, so they can go back to their home." + +15. "No," said his mother; "he can not do that, and they would not wish +him to do so; but perhaps he can help us contrive some way to assist them, +so that they can live more comfortably." + +16. "I am going to carry Jennie some of the grapes grandpa sent me, +to-morrow," said George, turning over the leaves of his geography. "I will +put some of my pears into your basket, and go with you," said his mother; +"but there is one thing we can always give, and sometimes it does more +good than nice things to eat, or even money." + +17. "What is that, mamma,--smiles?" asked George, looking up. "Yes," +answered his mother; "and it is a good plan to throw in a kind word or two +with them when you can." + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Dis'mal, gloomy, cheerless. Wish'ful-ly, with desire. 5. +Rick'et-y, imperfect, worn out. 7. Din'gy, dark. 11. Glan'cing, looking +about quickly. 13. Drear'y, comfortless, gloomy. 15. Con-trive', to plan. + + +EXERCISES.--What is the subject of this lesson? How did George West make +the day pleasant for Jennie? What did his mother suggest? What happened +next day? What did Jennie tell George about her life? Relate what happened +at George's home that evening. What does the lesson teach? + + + +VII. LAZY NED. (38) + +1. "'T is royal fun," cried lazy Ned, + "To coast, upon my fine, new sled, + And beat the other boys; + But then, I can not bear to climb + The tiresome hill, for every time + It more and more annoys." + +2. So, while his schoolmates glided by, + And gladly tugged uphill, to try + Another merry race, + Too indolent to share their plays, + Ned was compelled to stand and gaze, + While shivering in his place. + +3. Thus, he would never take the pains + To seek the prize that labor gains, + Until the time had passed; + For, all his life, he dreaded still + The silly bugbear of uphill, + And died a dunce at last. + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Roy'al, excellent, noble. Coast, to slide. An--noys', +troubles. 2. In'do-lent, lazy. 3. Prize, a reward. Bug-bear, something +frightful. Dunce, a silly fellow. + + +EXERCISES.--What did Ned like? What did he not like? + + + +VIII. THE MONKEY. (39) + +1. The monkey is a very cunning little animal, and is found in many parts +of the world. + +2. A lady once had a monkey, which had been brought to her as a present. +This monkey, like all others, was very fond of mischief and of doing +whatever he saw others do. + +3. His mistress found him one day sitting on her toilet table, holding in +one hand a little china mug with water in it, and in the other her +toothbrush, with which he was cleaning his teeth, looking all the time in +the glass. + +4. Her little daughter, Maria, had a large doll with a very handsome head +and face. She one day left this doll in the cradle, and went out of the +room. The monkey came in, took the doll in his arms, and jumping upon the +washstand, he began to wash its face. + +5. He first rubbed it all over with soap. Then seizing the towel, he +dipped it in the wash bowl, and rubbed it so hard that the doll's face was +entirely spoiled, the paint being all washed off. + +6. There have been many tales of monkeys who, armed with sticks, have +joined together and made war or resisted their enemies with great effect. +These are not true, as it is known that in their native state monkeys have +no idea of weapons. + +7. The sticks and other missiles said to be thrown at travelers as they +pass under the branches of trees, are usually the dead branches, etc., +accidentally broken off, as the monkeys, with the natural curiosity of +their tribe, pass along the tops of trees to watch the actions of the +people below. + +8. They can, however, be taught to use a stick, and to use it well. Some +time ago, two Italians together owned an organ and a monkey, by means of +which they earned their living. During one of their exhibitions, a dog +flew at the little monkey, which made its owners very angry. + +9. They and the owner of the dog quarreled about it, and at last it was +agreed that the dog and the monkey should fight it out; the monkey, +because he was smaller, was to be allowed a stick. + +10. The monkey was taught what he was to do in the following manner: One +of the Italians crawled on his hands and knees, barking like a dog, while +the other got on his back, grasped his hair, and beat him about the head +with a stick. + +11. The monkey looked on with great gravity, and, when the instruction was +over, received the stick with the air of a man who knew his work and meant +to do it. + +12. Everything being settled the dog flew at the monkey with open month. +The monkey immediately leaped on his back, and, grasping the dog's ear, +beat away at his head with such good will that his adversary speedily gave +in. The monkey, however, was not content with a mere victory, but +continued pounding at the dog's head until he left him senseless on the +ground. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Cun'ning, sly. 3. Toi'let ta'ble, dressing table. 6. +Re-sist'ed, opposed. 7. Mis'siles, weapons thrown. 8. Ex-hi-bi'tions, +public shows. 11. Grav'i-ty, seriousness. In-struc'-tion, lesson, 12. +Sense'less, without apparent life. + + +EXERCISES.--What kind of an animal is a monkey? Where did the lady find +the monkey one day? What was he doing? What did he do with Maria's doll? +Do monkeys in their native state know how to use sticks as weapons? Can +they be taught to use them? Relate the story of the two Italians. What is +the meaning of "etc." in the seventh paragraph? + + + +IX. MEDDLESOME MATTY. (42) + +1. Oh, how one ugly trick has spoiled + The sweetest and the best! + Matilda, though a pleasant child, + One grievous fault possessed, + Which, like a cloud before the skies, + Hid all her better qualities. + +2. Sometimes, she'd lift the teapot lid + To peep at what was in it; + Or tilt, the kettle, if you did + But turn your back a minute. + In vain you told her not to touch, + Her trick of meddling grew so much. + +3. Her grand mamma went out one day, + And, by mistake, she laid + Her spectacles and snuffbox gay, + Too near the little maid; + "Ah! well," thought she, "I'll try them on, + As soon as grand mamma is gone." + +4. Forthwith, she placed upon her nose + The glasses large and wide; + And looking round, as I suppose, + The snuffbox, too, she spied. + "Oh, what a pretty box is this! + I'll open it," said little miss. + +5. "I know that grandmamma would say, + 'Don't meddle with it, dear;' + But then she's far enough away, + And no one else is near; + Beside, what can there be amiss + In opening such a box as this?" + +6. So, thumb and finger went to work + To move the stubborn lid; + And, presently, a mighty jerk + The mighty mischief did; + For all at once, ah! woeful case! + The snuff came puffing in her face. + +7. Poor eyes, and nose, and mouth, and chin + A dismal sight presented; + And as the snuff got further in, + Sincerely she repented. + In vain she ran about for ease, + She could do nothing else but sneeze. + +8. She dashed the spectacles away, + To wipe her tingling eyes; + And, as in twenty bits they lay, + Her grandmamma she spies. + "Heyday! and what's the matter now?" + Cried grandmamma, with angry brow. + +9. Matilda, smarting with the pain, + And tingling still, and sore, + Made many a promise to refrain + From meddling evermore; + And 't is a fact, as I have heard, + She ever since has kept her word. + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Qual'i-ties, traits of character. 2. Med'-dling, +interfering without right. 4. Forth-with', at once. Spied, saw. 5. +A-miss', wrong, faulty. 6. Woe'ful, sad, sorrowful 8. Tin'gling, smarting. +9. Re-frain', to keep from. + + +EXERCISES.--What did Matilda do? How was she punished? What effect did it +have on her? + + + +X. THE GOOD SON. (44) + +1. There was once a jeweler, noted for many virtues. One day, the Jewish +elders came to him to buy some diamonds, to put upon that part of the +dress of their high priest, which the Bible calls an ephod. + +2. They told him what they wanted, and offered him a fair price for the +diamonds. He replied that he could not let them see the jewels at that +moment, and requested them to call again. + +3. As they wanted them without delay, and thought that the object of the +jeweler was only to increase the price of the diamonds, the elders offered +him twice, then three times, as much as they were worth. But he still +refused, and they went away in very bad humor. + +4. Some hours after, he went to them, and placed before them the diamonds, +for which they again offered him the last price they had named; but he +said, "I will only accept the first one you offered to me this morning." + +5. "Why, then, did you not close with us at once?" asked they in surprise. +"When you came," replied he, "my father had the key of the chest, in which +the diamonds were kept, and as he was asleep, I should have been obliged +to wake him to obtain them. + +6. "At his age, a short hour of sleep does him a great deal of good; and +for all the gold in the world, I would not be wanting in respect to my +father, or take from him a single comfort." + +7. The elders, affected by these feeling words, spread their hands upon +the jeweler's head, and said, "Thou shalt be blessed of Him who has said, +'Honor thy father and thy mother;' and thy children shall one day pay thee +the same respect and love thou hast shown to thy father." + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Jew'el-er, one who buys and sells precious stones. +Not'ed, well known. Eld'er, an officer of the Jewish church. Eph'od, part +of the dress of a Jewish priest, made of two pieces, one covering the +chest and the other the back, united by a girdle. 2. Di'a-monds, precious +stones. 3. Hu'mor, state of mind, temper. 5. Close, come to an agreement. + + +EXERCISES.--Relate the story of the jeweler and his +diamonds. What did the elders say to him, when they heard +his reason for not giving them the diamonds at first? + + + +XI. TO-MORROW. (45) + +Mrs. M. B. Johnson is the authoress of "To-morrow," one of a collection +of poems; entitled "Poems of Home Life." + +1. A bright, merry boy, with laughing face, + Whose every motion was full of grace, + Who knew no trouble and feared no care, + Was the light of our household--the youngest there. + +2. He was too young, this little elf, + With troublesome questions to vex himself; + But for many days a thought would rise, + And bring a shade to his dancing eyes. + +3. He went to one whom he thought more wise + Than any other beneath the skies; + "Mother,"--O word that makes the home!-- + "Tell me, when will to-morrow come?" + +4. "It is almost night," the mother said, + "And time for my boy to be in bed; + When you wake up and it's day again, + It will be to-morrow, my darling, then." + +5. The little boy slept through all the night, + But woke with the first red streak of light; + He pressed a kiss to his mother's brow, + And whispered, "Is it to-morrow now?" + +6. "No, little Eddie, this is to-day: + To-morrow is always one night away." + He pondered a while, but joys came fast, + And this vexing question quickly passed. + +7. But it came again with the shades of night; + "Will it be to-morrow when it is light?" + From years to come he seemed care to borrow, + He tried so hard to catch to-morrow. + +8. "You can not catch it, my little Ted; + Enjoy to-day," the mother said; + "Some wait for to-morrow through many a year + It is always coming, but never is here." + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. House'hold, family, those living in the same house. 2. +Elf, a small fairy-like person. Vex, worry, trouble. Pon'dered, thought +anxiously. A-while', for a short time. + + +EXERCISES.--What is meant by "dancing eyes" in the second stanza? What is +meant by "the shades of night," in the seventh stanza? Of what name are +"Eddie" and "Ted" nicknames? What troubled Eddie? Can you define tomorrow? +What did Eddie's mother advise him to do? + + + +XII. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY. (47) + +1. Henry Bond was about ten years old when his father died. His mother +found it difficult to provide for the support of a large family, thus left +entirely in her care. By good management, however, she contrived to do so, +and also to send Henry, the oldest, to school, and to supply him, for the +most part, with such books as he needed. + +2. At one time, however, Henry wanted a grammar, in order to join a class +in that study, and his mother could not furnish him with the money to buy +it. He was very much troubled about it, and went to bed with a heavy +heart, thinking what could be done. + +3. On waking in the morning, he found that a deep snow had fallen, and the +cold wind was blowing furiously. "Ah," said he, "it is an ill wind that +blows nobody good." + +4. He rose, ran to the house of a neighbor, and offered his service to +clear a path around his premises. The offer was accepted. Having completed +this work, and received his pay, he went to another place for the same +purpose, and then to another, until he had earned enough to buy a grammar. + +5. When school commenced, Henry was in his seat, the happiest boy there, +ready to begin the lesson in his new book. + +6. From that time, Henry, was always the first in all his classes. He knew +no such word as fail, but always succeeded in all he attempted. Having the +will, he always found the way. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Man'age-ment, manner of directing things. 2. Fur'nish, to +supply. 3. Fu'ri-ous-ly, violently. 4. Serv'ice, labor. Prem'i-ses, +grounds around a house. + + + +XIII. PICCOLA. (48) + +By Celia Laighton Thaxter, who was born at Portsmouth, N. H., June 29, +1836. Much of her childhood was passed at White Island, one of the Isles +of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire. "Among the Isles of Shoals," is +her most noted work in prose. She published a volume of poems, many of +which are favorites with children. She died in 1894. + +1. Poor, sweet Piccola! Did you hear + What happened to Piccola, children dear? + 'T is seldom Fortune such favor grants + As fell to this little maid of France. + +2. 'T was Christmas time, and her parents poor + Could hardly drive the wolf from the door, + Striving with poverty's patient pain + Only to live till summer again. + +3. No gift for Piccola! sad were they + When dawned the morning of Christmas day! + Their little darling no joy might stir; + St. Nicholas nothing would bring to her! + +4. But Piccola never doubted at all + That something beautiful must befall + Every child upon Christmas day, + And so she slept till the dawn was gray. + +5. And full of faith, when at last she woke, + She stole to her shoe as the morning broke; + Such sounds of gladness filled all the air, + 'T was plain St. Nicholas had been there. + +6. In rushed Piccola, sweet, half wild-- + Never was seen such a joyful child-- + "See what the good saint brought!" she cried, + And mother and father must peep inside. + +7. Now such a story I never heard! + There was a little shivering bird! + A sparrow, that in at the window flew, + Had crept into Piccola's tiny shoe! + +8. "How good poor Piccola must have been!" + She cried, as happy as any queen, + While the starving sparrow she fed and warmed, + And danced with rapture, she was so charmed. + +9. Children, this story I tell to you + Of Piccola sweet and her bird, is true. + In the far-off land of France, they say, + Still do they live to this very day. + + +DEFINITIONS.--3. Dawned, began to grow light. Stir, excite. 4. Be-fall, +happen. 7. Shiv'er-ing, trembling from cold. Ti'ny, very small. 8. +Rapture, great joy. Charmed, greatly. + + +EXERCISES.--What is meant by "driving the wolf from the door"? In the +third stanza, what does "St." before Nicholas mean? Who is St. Nicholas? +What did Piccola find in her shoe on Christmas morning? + + + +XIV. TRUE MANLINESS. (50) + +By MRS. M. O. JOHNSON.--(ADAPTED.) + +1. "Please, mother, do sit down and let me try my hand," said Fred Liscom, +a bright, active boy twelve years old. Mrs. Liscom, looking pale and worn, +was moving languidly about, trying to clear away the breakfast she had +scarcely tasted. + +2. She smiled, and said, "You, Fred, you wash dishes?" "Yes, indeed, +mother," replied Fred; "I should be a poor scholar if I couldn't, when +I've seen you do it so many times. Just try me." + +3. A look of relief came over his mother's face as she seated herself in +her low rocking-chair. Fred washed the dishes, and put them in the closet. +He then swept the kitchen, brought up the potatoes from the cellar for +the dinner and washed them, and then set out for school. + +4. Fred's father was away from home, and as there was some cold meat in +the pantry, Mrs. Liscom found it an easy task to prepare dinner. Fred +hurried home from school, set the table, and again washed the dishes. + +5. He kept on in this way for two or three days, till his mother was able +to resume her usual work, and he felt amply rewarded when the doctor, who +happened in one day, said, "Well, madam, it's my opinion that you would +have been very sick if you had not kept quiet." + +6. The doctor did not know how the "quiet" had been secured, nor how the +boy's heart bounded at his words. Fred had given up a great deal of what +boys hold dear, for the purpose of helping his mother, coasting and +skating being just at this time in perfection. + +7. Besides this, his temper and his patience had been severely tried. He +had been in the habit of going early to school, and staying to play after +it was dismissed. + +8. The boys missed him, and their curiosity was excited when he would give +no other reason for not coming to school earlier, or staying after school, +than that he was a "wanted at home." "I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, +"I'll find him out, boys--see if I don't!" + +9. So he called for Fred to go to school, and on his way to the side door +walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was absolutely +needful. Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in +his hand. + +10. Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings +poor Fred received at recess. "Well, you're a brave one to stay at home +washing dishes." "Girl boy!" "Pretty Bessie!" "Lost your apron, have n't +you, Polly!" + +11. Fred was not wanting either in spirit or courage, and he was strongly +tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors. But +his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him. + +12. While he was struggling for self mastery, his teacher appeared at the +door of the schoolhouse. Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it +did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!" He knew the teacher had +heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates. + +13. The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted +or teased in any manner. They knew that the teacher meant what he said; +and so the brave little boy had no farther trouble. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Lan'guid-ly, feebly. 5. Am'ply, fully. O-pin'ion, +judgment, belief. 9. Ab'so-lute-ly, wholly, entirely. 11. Re-sent', to +consider as an injury. Con'scious-ness, inward feeling, knowledge of what +passes in one's own mind. + + +EXERCISES.--Why did Fred offer to wash the dishes? +Was it a disgraceful thing to do? How was he rewarded? +How did his schoolmates show their lack of manliness? + + + +XV. TRUE MANLINESS. (52) +(Concluded.) + +1. "Fire! fire!" The cry crept out on the still night air, and the fire +bells began to ring. Fred was wakened by the alarm and the red light +streaming into his room. He dressed himself in a moment, almost, and +tapped at the door of his mother's bedroom. + +2. "It is Mr. Barton's house, mother. Do let me go," he said in eager, +excited tones. Mrs. Liscom thought a moment. He was young, but she could +trust him, and she knew how much his heart was in the request. + +3. "Yes, you may go," she answered; "but be careful, my boy. If you can +help, do so; but do nothing rashly." Fred promised to follow her advice, +and hurried to the fire. + +4. Mr. and Mrs. Barton were not at home. The house had been left in charge +of the servants. The fire spread with fearful speed, for there was a high +wind, and it was found impossible to save the house. The servants ran +about, screaming and lamenting, but doing nothing to any purpose. + +5. Fred found Tom outside, in safety. "Where is Katy?" he asked. Tom, +trembling with terror, seemed to have had no thought but of his own +escape. He said, "Katy is in the house!" "In what room?" asked Fred. "In +that one," pointing to a window in the upper story. + +6. It was no time for words, but for instant, vigorous action. The +staircase was already on fire; there was but one way to reach Katy, and +that full of danger. The second floor might fall at any moment, and Fred +knew it. But he trusted in an arm stronger than his own, and silently +sought help and guidance. + +7. A ladder was quickly brought, and placed against the house. Fred +mounted it, followed by the hired man, dashed in the sash of the window, +and pushed his way into the room where the poor child lay nearly +suffocated with smoke. + +8. He roused her with some difficulty, carried her to the window, and +placed her upon the sill. She was instantly grasped by strong arms, and +carried down the ladder, Fred following as fast as possible. They had +scarcely reached the ground before a crash of falling timbers told them +that they had barely escaped with their lives. + +9. Tom Barton never forgot the lesson of that night; and he came to +believe, and to act upon the belief, in after years, that true manliness +is in harmony with gentleness, kindness, and self-denial. + + +EXERCISES.--Relate the story of the fire. What is meant +by "to any purpose," in paragraph four? Did Fred show any +lack of manliness when tested? What does this lesson teach? + + + +XVI. THE BROWN THRUSH. (54) + +Lucy Larcom, the author of the following poem, was born in 1826, and +passed many years of her life as a factory girl at Lowell, Mass. She died +in 1893. + +1. There's a merry brown thrush sitting up in a tree; + "He's singing to me! he's singing to me!" + And what does he say, little girl, little boy? + "Oh, the world's running over with joy! + Don't You hear? Don't you see? + Hush! look! In my tree + I'm as happy as happy can be!" + +2. And the brown thrush keeps singing, "A nest do you see, + And five eggs hid by me in the juniper tree? + Don't meddle! don't touch! little girl, little boy, + Or the world will lose some of its joy! + Now I'm glad! now I'm free! + And I always shall be, + If you never bring sorrow to me." + +3. So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree, + To you and to me, to you and to me; + And he sings all the day, little girl, little boy, + "Oh, the world's running over with joy! + But long it won't be, + Don't you know? Don't you see? + Unless we're as good as can be." + +EXERCISES.--What is a thrush? Why was the thrush so +happy? Do you think he would have been happy if the little +boy or girl had robbed the nest? + + + +XVII. A SHIP IN A STORM. (55) + +1. Did you ever go far out upon the great ocean? How beautiful it is to +be out at sea, when the sea is smooth and still! + +2. Let a storm approach, and the scene is changed. The heavy, black clouds +appear in the distance, and throw a deep, deathlike shade over the world +of waters. + +3. The captain and sailors soon see in the clouds the signs of evil. All +hands are then set to work to take in sail. + +4. The hoarse notes of the captain, speaking through his trumpet, are +echoed from lip to lip among the rigging. Happy will it be, if all is made +snug before the gale strikes the vessel. + +5. At last, the gale comes like a vast moving mountain of air. It strikes +the ship. The vessel heaves and groans under the dreadful weight, and +struggles to escape through the foaming waters. + +6. If she is far out at sea, she will be likely to ride out the storm in +safety. But if the wind is driving her upon the shore, the poor sailors +will hardly escape being dashed upon the rocks, and drowned. + +7. Once there was a ship in a storm. Some of her masts were already +broken, and her sails lost. While the wind was raging, and the billows +were dashing against her, the cry was heard, "A man has fallen overboard!" + +8. Quickly was the boat lowered, and she was soon seen bounding on her way +over the mountain waves. At one moment, the boat seemed lifted to the +skies, and the next, it sank down, and appeared to be lost beneath the +waves! + +9. At length, the man was found. He was well nigh drowned; but he was +taken on board, and now they made for the ship. But the ship rolled so +dreadfully, that it seemed certain death to go near her. And now, what +should they do? + +10. The captain told one of the men to go aloft and throw down a rope. +This was made fast to the boat, and when the sea was somewhat calm it was +hoisted, and all fell down into the ship with a dreadful crash. It was a +desperate way of getting on board; but fortunately no lives were lost. + +11. On the dangerous points along our seacoast are lighthouses, which can +be seen far out at sea, and serve as guides to ships. Sometimes the fog is +so dense that these lights can not be seen, but most lighthouses have +great fog bells or fog horns; some of the latter are made to sound by +steam, and can be heard for a long distance. These bells and horns are +kept sounding as long as the fog lasts. + +12. There are also many life-saving stations along the coast where trained +men are ready with lifeboats. "When a ship is driven ashore they at once +go to the rescue of those on board, and thus many valuable lives are +saved. + +13. Take it all in all, a sailor's life is a very hard one. Our young +friends owe a debt of gratitude to those whose home is upon the great +waters, and who bring them the luxuries of other countries. + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. Ech'oed, sounded again. Gale, a wind storm. 5. Heaves, +pitches up and down. 7. Bil'lows, waves. 10. Des'-per-ate, hopeless. 11. +Fog, watery vapor, mist. 13. Grat'i-tude, thankfulness. Lux'u-ries, nice +things. + + +EXERCISES.--What is this lesson about? When is it dangerous to be at sea? +What do sailors then do? In what situation are they most likely to be +saved? Relate the story of the man overboard. Tell about the lighthouses. +How are vessels warned of danger in a fog? What about the life-saving +stations? What is said of a sailor's life? + + + +XVIII. THE SAILOR'S CONSOLATION. (58) + +Charles Dibdin, the author, was born at Southampton, England, in 1745. He +wrote a number of fine sea songs. He died in 1814. + +1. One night came on a hurricane, + The sea was mountains rolling, + When Barney Buntline turned his quid, + And said to Billy Bowling: + "A strong norwester's blowing, Bill; + Hark! don't ye hear it roar now? + Lord help 'em, how I pities all + Unhappy folks on shore now! + +2. "Foolhardy chaps who live in town, + What danger they are all in, + And now are quaking in their beds, + For fear the roof shall fall in; + Poor creatures, how they envy us, + And wish, as I've a notion, + For our good luck, in such a storm, + To be upon the ocean. + +3. "But as for them who're out all day, + On business from their houses, + And late at night are coming home, + To cheer the babes and spouses; + While you and I, Bill, on the deck, + Are comfortably lying, + My eyes! what tiles and chimney pots + About their heads are flying! + +4. "And very often have we heard + How men are killed and undone + By overturns of carriages, + By thieves, and fires in London. + We know what risks all landsmen run, + From noblemen to tailors; + Then, Bill, let us thank Providence + That you and I are sailors." + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Hur'ri-cane, a violent windstorm. Quid, a small piece of +tobacco. 2. Fool'har'dy, reckless. Quak'ing, shak-ing with fear. No'tion, +idea. 3. Spous'es, wives. Tiles, thin pieces of baked clay used in roofing +houses. Chim'ney pots, earthenware tops of chimneys. 4. Un-done', injured, +ruined. + + +NOTES.--l. "Barney Buntline" and "Billy Bowling" are supposed to be two +sailors. "Norwester" is a sailor's name for a northwest storm. 4. +"Landsmen" is a term applied by sailors to all who live on shore. + + + +XIX. TWO WAYS OF TELLING A STORY. (60) +By HENRY K. OLIVER. + +1. In one of the most populous cities of New England, a few years ago, a +party of lads, all members of the same school, got up a grand sleigh ride. +The sleigh was a very large one, drawn by six gray horses. + +2. On the following day, as the teacher entered the schoolroom, he found +his pupils in high glee, as they chattered about the fun and frolic of +their excursion. In answer to some inquiries, one of the lads gave him an +account of their trip and its various incidents. + +3. As he drew near the end of his story, he exclaimed: "Oh, sir! there was +one thing I had almost forgotten. As we were coming home, we saw ahead of +us a queer looking affair in the road. It proved to be a rusty old sleigh, +fastened behind a covered wagon, proceeding at a very slow rate, and +taking up the whole road. + +4. "Finding that the owner was not disposed to turn out, we determined +upon a volley of snowballs and a good hurrah. They produced the right +effect, for the crazy machine turned out into the deep snow, and the +skinny old pony started on a full trot. + +5. "As we passed, some one gave the horse a good crack, which made him run +faster than he ever did before, I'll warrant. + +6. "With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who was buried up under an old +hat, bawled out, 'Why do you frighten my horse?' 'Why don't you turn out, +then?' says the driver. So we gave him three rousing cheers more. His +horse was frightened again, and ran up against a loaded wagon, and, I +believe, almost capsized the old creature--and so we left him." + +7. "Well, boys," replied the teacher, "take your seat", and I will tell +you a story, and all about a sleigh ride, too. Yesterday afternoon a very +venerable old clergyman was on his way from Boston to Salem, to pass the +rest of the winter at the house of his son. That he might be prepared for +journeying in the following spring he took with him his wagon, and for the +winter his sleigh, which he fastened behind the wagon. + +8. "His sight and hearing were somewhat blunted by age, and he was +proceeding very slowly; for his horse was old and feeble, like his owner. +He was suddenly disturbed by loud hurrahs from behind, and by a furious +pelting of balls of snow and ice upon the top of his wagon. + +9. "In his alarm he dropped his reins, and his horse began to run away. In +the midst of the old man's trouble, there rushed by him, with loud shouts, +a large party of boys, in a sleigh drawn by six horses. 'Turn out! turn +out, old fellow!' 'Give us the road!' 'What will you take for your pony?' +'What's the price of oats, old man?' were the various cries that met his +cars. + +10. "'Pray, do not frighten my horse!' exclaimed the infirm driver. 'Turn +out, then! turn out!' was the answer, which was followed by repeated +cracks and blows from the long whip of the 'grand sleigh,' with showers of +snowballs, and three tremendous hurrahs from the boys. + +11. "The terror of the old man and his horse was increased, and the latter +ran away with him, to the great danger of his life. He contrived, however, +to stop his horse just in season to prevent his being dashed against a +loaded wagon. A short distance brought him to the house of his son. That +son, boys, is your instructor, and that 'old fellow,' was your teacher's +father!" + +12. When the boys perceived how rude and unkind their conduct appeared +from another point of view, they were very much ashamed of their +thoughtlessness, and most of them had the manliness to apologize to their +teacher for what they had done. + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Pop'u-lous, full of inhabitants. 2. Ex-cur'-sion, a +pleasure trip. In'ci-dents, things that happen, events. 5. War'rant, to +declare with assurance. 6. Cap-sized', upset. 7. Ven'er-a-ble, deserving +of honor and respect. 8. Blunt'ed, dulled. + + +EXERCISES.--Repeat the boys' story of the sleigh ride. The teacher's +story. Were the boys ill-natured or only thoughtless? Is thoughtlessness +any excuse for rudeness or unkindness? + + + +XX. FREAKS OF THE FROST. (63) + +By Hannah Flagg Gould, who was born at Lancaster, Vermont, in 1789. She +published several volumes of poems (one for children) and one collection +of prose articles, entitled "Gathered Leaves." She died in 1865. + +1. The Frost looked forth one still, clear night, + And whispered, "Now I shall be out of sight; + So through the valley and over the height + In silence I'll take my way; + I will not go on, like that blustering train, + The wind and the snow, the hail and the rain, + Who make so much bustle and noise in vain, + But I'll be as busy as they." + +2. Then he flew to the mountain, and powdered its crest; + He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dressed + In diamond beads; and over the breast + Of the quivering lake, he spread + A coat of mail, that it need not fear + The downward point of many a spear, + That he hung on its margin, far and near, + Where a rock could rear its head. + +3. He went to the windows of those who slept, + And over each pane, like a fairy, crept; + Wherever he breathed, wherever he stepped, + By the light of the morn were seen + Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees; + There were bevies of birds, and swarms of bees; + There were cities with temples and towers, and these + All pictured in silver sheen. + +4. But he did one thing that was hardly fair; + He peeped in the cupboard, and, finding there + That all had forgotten for him to prepare, + "Now just to set them a-thinking, + I'll bite this basket of fruit," said he, + "This costly pitcher I'll burst in three; + And the glass of water they've left for me + Shall 'tchick!' to tell them I'm drinking." + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Blus'ter-ing, being noisy and loud. Bus'tle, stir. 2. +Crest, the top. Quiv'er-ing, trembling, shaking. Mar'gin, edge, border. 3. +Bev'ies, flocks. Pic'tured, painted. Sheen, brightness, splendor of +appearance. + + +EXERCISES.--What did the frost say? What did he do to the mountain? The +trees? The lake? What is a "coat of mail"? What did he do to the window? +The pitcher? + + + +XXI. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. (64) + +1. Mr. Jones. Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these +parcels for me? + +2. The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good +whipcord. Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, +and then to untie it. + +3. John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at +the other, to pull off the string. But the cord had been too well secured, +and he only drew the knots tighter. + +4. John. I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly, as +if they were never to be undone. Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone? +What is in your parcel? I wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get the +string off. I will cut it. + +5. Ben. Oh, no, do not cut it, John! Look, what a nice cord this is, and +yours is the same. It is a pity to cut it. + +6. John. Pooh! what signifies a bit of pack thread? + +7. Ben. It is whipcord. + +8. John. Well, whipcord then! what signifies a bit of whipcord? You can +get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents; and who +cares for three cents? Not I, for one. So, here it goes. + +9. So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places. + +10. Mr. Jones. Well, my boys, have you undone the parcels for me? + +11. John. Yes, sir; here is the parcel. + +12. Ben. And here is my parcel, father, and here is also the string. + +13. Mr. Jones. You may keep the string, Ben. + +14. Ben. Thank you, sir. What excellent whipcord it is! + +15. Mr. Jones. And you, John, may keep your string, too, if it will be of +any use to you. + +16. John. It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir. + +17. Mr. Jones. No, I am afraid not, if this is it. + +18. A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top. + +19. John. How is this, Ben? These tops have no strings. What shall we do +for strings? + +20. Ben. I have a string that will do very well for mine. And he pulled it +out of his pocket. + +21. John. Why, if that is not the whipcord! I wish I had saved mine. + +22. A few days afterward, there was a shooting match, with bows and +arrows, among the lads. The prize was a fine bow and arrows, to be given +to the best marksman. "Come, come," said Master Sharp, "I am within one +inch of the mark. I should like to see who will go nearer." + +23. John drew his bow, and shot. The arrow struck within a quarter of an +inch of Master Sharp's. "Shoot away," said Sharp; "but you must understand +the rules. We settled them before you came. You are to have three shots +with your own arrows. Nobody is to borrow or lend. So shoot away." + +24. John seized his second arrow; "If I have any luck," said he;--but just +as he pronounced the word "luck," the string broke, and the arrow fell +from his hands. + +25. Master Sharp. There! It is all over with you. + +26. Ben. Here is my bow for him, and welcome. + +27. Master Sharp. No, no, sir; that is not fair. Did you not hear the +rules? There is to be no lending. + +28. It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His first arrow missed the +mark; the second was exactly as near as John's first. Before venturing the +last arrow, Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow; and, as he +pulled it to try its strength, it snapped. + +29. Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy. But his dancing +suddenly ceased, when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent +piece of cord, and began to tie it to the bow. + +30. "The everlasting whipcord, I declare!" cried John. "Yes," said Ben, "I +put it in my pocket today, because I thought I might want it." + +31. Ben's last arrow won the prize; and when the bow and arrows were +handed to him, John said, "How valuable that whipcord has been to you, +Ben. I'll take care how I waste anything hereafter." + + +DEFINITIONS,--2. Ex-am'ine, to look at carefully. 6. Sig'ni--fies, to be +important. 22. Marks'man, one who shoots well. 28. Pru'dent-ly, with +proper caution. 29. Ceased, stopped. 30. Ev--er-last'ing, lasting always. + + +EXERCISES.--What is this lesson designed to teach? Which of the boys +preserved his whipcord? What good did it do him? What did the other boy do +with his? What was the consequence? What did he learn from it? + +XXII. JEANNETTE AND JO. (67) + +By Mary Mapes Dodge, who was born in New York City in 1838. She is the +editor of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, and has written many stories for +children. + +1. Two girls I know--Jeannette and Jo, + And one is always moping; + The other lassie, come what may, + Is ever bravely hoping. + +2. Beauty of face and girlish grace + Are theirs, for joy or sorrow; + Jeannette takes brightly every day, + And Jo dreads each to-morrow. + +3. One early morn they watched the dawn-- + I saw them stand together; + Their whole day's sport, 't was very plain, + Depended on the weather. + +4. "'T will storm!" cried Jo. Jeannette spoke low; + "Yes, but 't will soon be over." + And, as she spoke, the sudden shower + Came, beating down the clover. + +5. "I told you so!" cried angry Jo: + "It always is a-raining!" + Then hid her face in dire despair, + Lamenting and complaining. + +6. But sweet Jeannette, quite hopeful yet,-- + I tell it to her honor,-- + Looked up and waited till the sun + Came streaming in upon her. + +7. The broken clouds sailed off in crowds, + Across a sea of glory. + Jeannette and Jo ran, laughing, in-- + Which ends my simple story. + +8. Joy is divine. Come storm, come shine, + The hopeful are the gladdest; + And doubt and dread, children, believe + Of all things are the saddest. + +9. In morning's light, let youth be bright; + Take in the sunshine tender; + Then, at the close, shall life's decline + Be full of sunset splendor. + +10. And ye who fret, try, like Jeannette, + To shun all weak complaining; + And not, like Jo, cry out too soon-- + "It always is a-raining!" + + + +XXIII. THE LION. (69) + +1. The lion is often called the "king of beasts," His height varies from +three to four feet, and he is from six to nine feet long. His coat is of +it yellowish brown or tawny color, and about his neck is a great shaggy +mane which gives his head a majestic appearance. + +2. The strength of the lion is so great that he can easily crush the +skulls of such animals as the horse or ox with one blow of his paw. No one +who has not seen the teeth of a full grown lion taken out of their sockets +can have any idea of their real size; one of them forms a good handful, +and might easily be mistaken for a small elephant's tooth. + +3. The home of the lion is in the forests of Asia and Africa, where he is +a terror to man and beast. He generally lies concealed during the day, but +as darkness comes on he prowls about where other animals are accustomed to +go for food or drink, and springs upon them unawares, with a roar that +sounds like the rumble of thunder. + +4. The lion sometimes lives to a great age. One by the name of Pompey died +at London, in the year 1760, at the age of seventy years. If taken when +young the lion can be tamed, and will even show marks of kindness to his +keeper. + +5. In a menagerie at Brussels, there was a cell where a large lion, called +Danco, used to be kept. The cell happened to be in need of repair, and the +keeper, whose name was William, desired a carpenter to come and mend it. +The carpenter came, but was so afraid of the lion, that he would not go +near the cell alone. + +6. So William entered the cell, and led the lion to the upper part of it, +while the other part was refitting. He played with the lion for some time; +but, at last, being wearied, both he and the lion fell asleep. The +carpenter went on with his work, and when he had finished he called out +for William to come and see it. + +7. He called again and again, but no William answered. The poor carpenter +began to be frightened, lest the lion had made his dinner of the keeper, +or else crushed him with his great paws. He crept round to the upper part +of the cell, and there, looking through the railing, he saw the lion and +William sleeping side by side as contentedly as two little brothers. + +8. He was so astonished that he uttered a loud cry. The lion, awakened by +the noise, stared at the carpenter with an eye of fury, and then placing +his paw on the breast of his keeper, as if to say, "Touch him if you +dare," the heroic beast lay down to sleep again. The carpenter was +dreadfully alarmed, and, not knowing how he could rouse William, he ran +out and related what he had seen. + +9. Some people came, and, opening the door of the cell, Contrived to +awaken the keeper, who, rubbing his eyes, quietly looked around him, and +expressed himself very well satisfied with his nap. He took the lion's +paw, shook it kindly, and then retired uninjured from the cell. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Ma-jes'tic, royal, noble. 3. Prowls, wanders in search of +prey. Un-a-wares', unexpectedly. Rum'ble, a low heavy sound. 5. +Men-ag'er-ie, a collection of wild animals. 6. Re-fit'ting, repairing. 8. +He-ro'-ic, bold. + + +EXERCISES.--Describe the lion's appearance. What is said of his strength? +His teeth? Describe the lion's home and habits. To what age do lions live? +Can they be tamed? Relate the story about the lion Danco. + + + +XXIV. STRAWBERRIES. (71) + +By John Townsend Trowbridge, who was born at Ogden, N. Y., in 1827. He is +a well-known author, and has written much for children both in poetry and +prose. + +1. Little Pearl Honeydew, six years old, + From her bright ear parted the curls of gold; + And laid her head on the strawberry bed, + To hear what the red-cheeked berries said. + +2. Their cheeks were blushing, their breath was sweet, + She could almost hear their little hearts beat; + And the tiniest, lisping, whispering sound + That ever you heard, came up from the ground. + +3. "Little friends," she said, "I wish I knew + How it is you thrive on sun and dew!" + And this is the story the berries told + To little Pearl Honeydew, six years old. + +4. "You wish you knew? And so do we. + But we can't tell you, unless it be + That the same Kind Power that cares for you + Takes care of poor little berries, too. + +5. "Tucked up snugly, and nestled below + Our coverlid of wind-woven snow, + We peep and listen, all winter long, + For the first spring day and the bluebird's song. + +6. "When the swallows fly home to the old brown shed, + And the robins build on the bough overhead, + Then out from the mold, from the darkness and cold, + Blossom and runner and leaf unfold. + +7. "Good children, then, if they come near, + And hearken a good long while, may hear + A wonderful tramping of little feet,-- + So fast we grow in the summer heat. + +8. "Our clocks are the flowers; and they count the hours + Till we can mellow in suns and showers, + With warmth of the west wind and heat of the south, + A ripe red berry for a ripe red month. + +9. "Apple blooms whiten, and peach blooms fall, + And roses are gay by the garden wall, + Ere the daisy's dial gives the sign + That we may invite little Pearl to dine. + +10. "The days are longest, the month is June, + The year is nearing its golden noon, + The weather is fine, and our feast is spread + With a green cloth and berries red. + +11. "Just take us betwixt your finger and thumb, + And quick, oh, quick! for, see! there come + Tom on all fours, and Martin the man, + And Margaret, picking as fast as they can. + +12. "Oh, dear! if you only knew how it shocks + Nice berries like us to be sold by the box, + And eaten by strangers, and paid for with pelf, + You would surely take pity, and eat us yourself!" + +13. And this is the story the small lips told + To dear Pearl Honeydew, six years old, + When she laid her head on the strawberry bed + To hear what the red-cheeked berries said. + + +DEFINITIONS.--3. Thrive, to grow well, to flourish. 5. Nes'tled, gathered +closely together. 6. Mold, fine, soft earth. Run'ner, a slender branch +running along the ground. 8. Mel'low, to ripen. 9. Di'al, the face of a +timepiece. 10. Feast, a festive or joyous meal, a banquet. 12. Pelf, +money. + + +EXERCISES.--What did little Pearl ask of the strawberries? What did they +reply? Can you tell what name is given to this kind of story? + + + +XVV. HARRY'S RICHES. (74) + +1. One day, our little Harry spent the morning with his young playmate, +Johnny Crane, who lived in a fine house, and on Sundays rode to church in +the grandest carriage to be seen in all the country round. + +2. When Harry returned home, he said, "Mother, Johnny has money in both +pockets!" + +3. "Has he, dear?" + +4. "Yes, ma'am; and he says he could get ever so much more if he wanted +it." + +5. "Well, now, that's very pleasant for him," I returned, cheerfully, as a +reply was plainly expected. "Very pleasant; don't you think so?" + +6. "Yes, ma'am; only--" + +7. "Only what, Harry?" + +8. "Why, he has a big popgun, and a watch, and a hobbyhorse, and lots of +things." And Harry looked up at my face with a disconsolate stare. + +9. "Well, my boy, what of that?" + +10. "Nothing, mother," and the telltale tears sprang to his eyes, "only I +guess we are very poor, aren't we?" + +11. "No, indeed, Harry, we are very far from being poor. We are not so +rich as Mr. Crane's family, if that is what you mean." + +12. "O mother!" insisted the little fellow, "I do think we are very poor; +anyhow, I am!" + +13. "O Harry!" I exclaimed, reproachfully. + +14. "Yes, ma'am I am," he sobbed; "I have scarcely any thing--I mean +anything that's worth money--except things to eat and wear, and I'd have +to have them anyway." + +15. "Have to have them?" I echoed, at the same time laying my sewing upon +the table, so that I might reason with him on that point; "do you not +know, my son--" + +16. Just then Uncle Ben looked up from the paper he had been reading: +"Harry," said he, "I want to find out something about eyes; so, if you +will let me have yours, I will give you a dollar apiece for them." + +17. "For my eyes!" exclaimed Harry, very much astonished. + +18. "Yes," resumed Uncle Ben, quietly, "for your eyes. I will give you +chloroform, so it will not hurt you in the least, and you shall have a +beautiful glass pair for nothing, to wear in their place. Come, a dollar +apiece, cash down! What do you say? I will take them out as quick as a +wink." + +19. "Give you my eyes, uncle!" cried Harry, looking wild at the very +thought, "I think not." And the startled little fellow shook his head +defiantly. + +20. "Well, five, ten, twenty dollars, then." Harry shook his head at every +offer. + +21. "No, sir! I wouldn't let you have them for a thousand dollars! What +could I do without my eyes? I couldn't see mother, nor the baby, nor the +flowers, nor the horses, nor anything," added Harry, growing warmer and +warmer. + +22. "I will give you two thousand," urged Uncle Ben, taking a roll of bank +notes out of his pocket. Harry, standing at a respectful distance, shouted +that he never would do any such thing. + +23. "Very well," continued the uncle, with a serious air, at the same time +writing something in his notebook, "I can't afford to give you more than +two thousand dollars, so I shall have to do without your eyes; but," he +added, "I will tell you what I will do, I will give you twenty dollars if +you will let me put a few drops from this bottle in your ears. It will not +hurt, but it will make you deaf. I want to try some experiments with +deafness, you see. Come quickly, now! Here are the twenty dollars all +ready for you." + +24. "Make me deaf!" shouted Harry, without even looking at the gold pieces +temptingly displayed upon the table. "I guess you will not do that, +either. Why, I couldn't hear a single word if I were deaf, could I?" + +25. "Probably not," replied Uncle Ben. So, of course, Harry refused again. +He would never give up his hearing, he said, "no, not for three thousand +dollars." + +26. Uncle Ben made another note in his book, and then came out with large +bids for "a right arm," then "left arm," "hands," "feet," "nose," finally +ending with an offer of ten thousand dollars for "mother," and five +thousand for "the baby." + +27. To all of these offers Harry shook his head, his eyes flashing, and +exclamations of surprise and indignation bursting from his lips. At last, +Uncle Ben said he must give up his experiments, for Harry's prices were +entirely too high. + +28. "Ha! ha!" laughed the boy, exultingly, and he folded his dimpled arms +and looked as if to say, "I'd like to see the man who could pay them!" + +29. "Why, Harry, look here!" exclaimed Uncle Ben, peeping into his +notebook, "here is a big addition sum, I tell you!" He added the numbers, +and they amounted to thirty-two thousand dollars. + +30. "There, Harry," said Uncle Ben, "don't you think you are foolish not +to accept some of my offers?" "No, sir, I don't," answered Harry, +resolutely. "Then," said Uncle Ben, "you talk of being poor, and by your +own showing you have treasures for which you will not take thirty-two +thousand dollars. What do you say to that?" + +31. Harry didn't know exactly what to say. So he blushed for a second, and +just then tears came rolling down his cheeks, and he threw his chubby arms +around my neck. "Mother," he whispered, "isn't God good to make everybody +so rich?" + + +DEFINITIONS.--8. Dis-con'so-late, filled with grief. 13. +Re-proach'ful-ly, with censure or reproof. 18. Chlo're-form, an oily +liquid, the vapor of which causes insensibility. 19. Startled, shocked. +De-fi'ant-ly, daringly. 23. Af-ford', to be able to pay for. +Ex-per'i-ments, acts performed to discover some truth. 27. +Ex-cla-ma'tions, expressions of surprise, anger, etc. 28. Ex-ult'ing-ly, +in a triumphant manner. 30. Treas'ures, things which are very much valued. + + + +XXVI. IN TIME'S SWING. (77) + +By Lucy Larcom. + +1. Father Time, your footsteps go + Lightly as the falling snow. + In your swing I'm sitting, see! + Push me softly; one, two; three, + Twelve times only. Like a sheet, + Spread the snow beneath my feet. + Singing merrily, let me swing + Out of winter into spring. + +2. Swing me out, and swing me in! + Trees are bare, but birds begin + Twittering to the peeping leaves, + On the bough beneath the eaves. + Wait,--one lilac bud I saw. + Icy hillsides feel the thaw. + April chased off March to-day; + Now I catch a glimpse of May. + +3. Oh, the smell of sprouting grass! + In a blur the violets pass. + Whispering from the wildwood come + Mayflower's breath and insect's hum. + Roses carpeting the ground; + Thrushes, orioles, warbling sound:-- + Swing me low, and swing me high, + To the warm clouds of July. + +4. Slower now, for at my side + White pond lilies open wide. + Underneath the pine's tall spire + Cardinal blossoms burn like fire. + They are gone; the golden-rod + Flashes from the dark green sod. + Crickets in the grass I hear; + Asters light the fading year. + +5. Slower still! October weaves + Rainbows of the forest leaves. + Gentians fringed, like eyes of blue, + Glimmer out of sleety dew. + Meadow green I sadly miss: + Winds through withered sedges hiss. + Oh, 't is snowing, swing me fast, + While December shivers past! + +6. Frosty-bearded Father Time, + Stop your footfall on the rime! + Hard you push, your hand is rough; + You have swung me long enough. + "Nay, no stopping," say you? Well, + Some of your best stories tell, + While you swing me--gently, do!-- + From the Old Year to the New. + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Twit'ter-ing, making a succession of small, chirping +noises. Glimpse, a short, hurried view. 3. Blur, a dim, confused +appearance. 6. Rime, whitefrost, hoarfrost. + + + +XXVII. HARRY AND HIS DOG. (79) + +1. "Beg, Frisk, beg," said little Harry, as he sat on an inverted basket, +at his grandmother's door, eating, with great satisfaction, a porringer of +bread and milk. His little sister Annie, who had already dispatched her +breakfast, sat on the ground opposite to him, now twisting her flowers +into garlands, and now throwing them away. + +2. "Beg, Frisk, beg!" repeated Harry, holding a bit of bread just out of +the dog's reach; and the obedient Frisk squatted himself on his hind legs, +and held up his fore paws, waiting for master Harry to give him the +tempting morsel. + +3. The little boy and the little dog were great friends. Frisk loved him +dearly, much better than he did anyone else; perhaps, because he +recollected that Harry was his earliest and firmest friend during a time +of great trouble. + +4. Poor Frisk had come as a stray dog to Milton, the place where Harry +lived. If he could have told his own story, it would probably have been a +very pitiful one, of kicks and cuffs, of hunger and foul weather. + +5. Certain it is, he made his appearance at the very door where Harry was +now sitting, in miserable plight, wet, dirty, and half starved; and that +there he met Harry, who took a fancy to him, and Harry's grandmother, who +drove him off with a broom. + +6. Harry, at length, obtained permission for the little dog to remain as a +sort of outdoor pensioner, and fed him with stray bones and cold potatoes, +and such things as he could get for him. He also provided him with a +little basket to sleep in, the very same which, turned up, afterward +served Harry for a seat. + +7. After a while, having proved his good qualities by barking away a set +of pilferers, who were making an attack on the great pear tree, he was +admitted into the house, and became one of its most vigilant and valued +inmates. He could fetch or carry either by land or water; would pick up a +thimble or a ball of cotton, if little Annie should happen to drop them; +or take Harry's dinner to school for him with perfect honesty. + +8. "Beg, Frisk, beg!" said Harry, and gave him, after long waiting, the +expected morsel. Frisk was satisfied, but Harry was not. The little boy, +though a good-humored fellow in the main, had turns of naughtiness, which +were apt to last him all day, and this promised to prove one of his worst. +It was a holiday, and in the afternoon his cousins, Jane and William, were +to come and see him and Annie; and the pears were to be gathered, and the +children were to have a treat. + +9. Harry, in his impatience, thought the morning would never be over. He +played such pranks--buffeting Frisk, cutting the curls off of Annie's +doll, and finally breaking his grandmother's spectacles--that before his +visitors arrived, indeed, almost immediately after dinner, he contrived to +be sent to bed in disgrace. + +10. Poor Harry! there he lay, rolling and kicking, while Jane, and +William, and Annie were busy about the fine, mellow Windsor pears. William +was up in the tree, gathering and shaking; Annie and Jane catching them in +their aprons, and picking them up from the ground; now piling them in +baskets, and now eating the nicest and ripest; while Frisk was barking +gayly among them, as if he were catching Windsor pears, too! + +11. Poor Harry! He could hear all this glee and merriment through the open +window as he lay in bed. The storm of passion having subsided, there he +lay weeping and disconsolate, a grievous sob bursting forth every now and +then, as he heard the loud peals of childish laughter, and as he thought +how he should have laughed, and how happy he should have been, had he not +forfeited all this pleasure by his own bad conduct. + +12. He wondered if Annie would not be so good-natured as to bring him a +pear. All on a sudden, he heard a little foot on the stair, pitapat, and +he thought she was coming. Pitapat came the foot, nearer and nearer, and +at last a small head peeped, half afraid, through the half-open door. + +13. But it was not Annie's head; it was Frisk's--poor Frisk, whom Harry +had been teasing and tormenting all the morning, and who came into the +room wagging his tail, with a great pear in his mouth; and, jumping upon +the bed, He laid it in the little boy's hand. + +14. Is not Frisk a fine, grateful fellow? and does he not deserve a share +of Harry's breakfast, whether he begs for it or not? And little Harry will +remember from the events of this day that kindness, even though shown to a +dog, will always be rewarded; and that ill nature and bad temper are +connected with nothing but pain and disgrace. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. In-vert'ed, turned upside down. Por'rin-ger, a small +metallic dish. 3. Rec-ol-lect'ed, brought back to mind. 5. Plight, +condition. 6. Pen'sion-er, one who is supported by others. 7. Pil'fer-ers, +those who steal little things. Vig'i-lant, watchful. Intimates, those +living in the same house. 8. Holiday, a day of amusement. 9. Buf'fet-ing, +striking with the hand. 11. Sub-sid'ed, become quiet. For'feit-ed, lost. +14. Con-nect'ed, united, have a close relation. + + + +XXVIII. THE VOICE OF THE GRASS. (83) +By Sarah Roberts. + +1. Here I come, creeping, creeping, everywhere; + By the dusty roadside, + On the sunny hillside, + Close by the noisy brook, + In every shady nook, + I come creeping, creeping, everywhere. + +2. Here I come, creeping, creeping everywhere; + All round the open door, + Where sit the aged poor, + Here where the children play, + In the bright and merry May, + I come creeping, creeping, everywhere. + +3. Here I come, creeping, creeping, everywhere; + You can not see me coming, + Nor hear my low, sweet humming, + For in the starry night, + And the glad morning light, + I come, quietly creeping, everywhere. + +4. Here I come, creeping, creeping, everywhere; + More welcome than the flowers, + In summer's pleasant hours; + The gentle cow is glad, + And the merry birds not sad, + To see me creeping, creeping, everywhere. + +5. Here I come, creeping, creeping, everywhere; + When you're numbered with the dead, + In your still and narrow bed, + In the happy spring I'll come, + And deck your narrow home, + Creeping, silently creeping, everywhere. + +6. Here I come, creeping, creeping, everywhere; + My humble song of praise, + Most gratefully I raise, + To Him at whose command + I beautify the land, + Creeping, silently creeping, everywhere. + + + +XXIX. THE EAGLE. (84) + +1. The eagle seems to enjoy a kind of supremacy over the rest of the +inhabitants of the air. Such is the loftiness of his flight, that he often +soars in the sky beyond the reach of the naked eye, and such is his +strength that he has been known to carry away children in his talons. But +many of the noble qualities imputed to him are rather fanciful than true. + +2. He has been described as showing a lofty independence, which makes him +disdain to feed on anything that is not slain by his own strength. But +Alexander Wilson, the great naturalist, says that he has seen an eagle +feasting on the carcass of a horse. The eagle lives to a great age. One at +Vienna is stated to have died after a confinement of one hundred and four +years. + +3. There are several species of the eagle. The golden eagle, which is one +of the largest, is nearly four feet from the point of the beak to the end +of the tail. He is found in most parts of Europe, and is also met with in +America. High rocks and ruined and lonely towers are the places which he +chooses for his abode. His nest is composed of sticks and rushes. The tail +feathers are highly valued as ornaments by the American Indians. + +4. The most interesting species is the bald eagle, as this is an American +bird, and the adopted emblem of our country. He lives chiefly upon fish, +and is found in the neighborhood of the sea, and along the shores and +cliffs of our large lakes and rivers. + +5. According to the description given by Wilson, he depends, in procuring +his food, chiefly upon the labors of others. He watches the fish hawk as +he dives into the sea for his prey, and darting down upon him as he rises, +forces him to relinquish his victim, and then seizes it before it again +reaches the water. + +6. One of the most notable species is the harpy eagle. This is said to be +bold and strong, and to attack beasts, and even man himself. He is fierce, +quarrelsome, and sullen, living alone in the deepest forests. He is found +chiefly in South America. + + + +XXX. THE OLD EAGLE TREE. (86) + +1. In a distant field, stood a large tulip tree, apparently of a century's +growth, and one of the most gigantic. It looked like the father of the +surrounding forest. A single tree of huge dimensions, standing all alone, +is a sublime object. + +2. On the top of this tree, an old eagle, commonly called the "Fishing +Eagle," had built her nest every year, for many years, and, undisturbed, +had raised her young. A remarkable place to choose, as she procured her +food from the ocean, and this tree stood full ten miles from the seashore. +It had long been known as the "Old Eagle Tree." + +3. On a warm, sunny day, the workmen were hoeing corn in an adjoining +field. At a certain hour of the day, the old eagle was known to set off +for the seaside, to gather food for her young. As she this day returned +with a large fish in her claws, the workmen surrounded the tree, and, by +yelling and hooting, and throwing stones, so scared the poor bird that she +dropped her fish, and they carried it off in triumph. + +4. The men soon dispersed, but Joseph sat down under a hush near by, to +watch, and to bestow unavailing pity. The bird soon returned to her nest, +without food. The eaglets at once set up a cry for food, so shrill, so +clear, and so clamorous that the boy was greatly moved. + +5. The parent bird seemed to try to soothe them; but their appetites were +too keen, and it was all in vain. She then perched herself on a limb near +them, and looked down into the nest in a manner that seemed to say, "I +know not what to do next." + +6. Her indecision was but momentary; again she poised herself, uttered one +or two sharp notes, as if telling them to a "lie still," balanced her +body, spread her wings, and was away again for the sea. + +7. Joseph was determined to see the result. His eye followed her till she +grew small, smaller, a mere speck in the sky, and then disappeared. What +boy has not thus watched the flight of the bird of his country! + +8. She was gone nearly two hours, about double her usual time for a +voyage, when she again returned, on a slow, weary wing, flying uncommonly +low, in order to have a heavier atmosphere to sustain her, with another +fish in her talons. + +9. On nearing the field, she made a circuit round it, to see if her +enemies were again there. Finding the coast clear, she once more reached +the tree, drooping, faint, and weary, and evidently nearly exhausted. +Again the eaglets set up their cry, which was soon hushed by the +distribution of a dinner, such as, save the cooking, a king might admire. + +10. "Glorious bird!" cried the boy, "what a spirit!" Other birds can fly +more swiftly, others can sing more sweetly, others scream more loudly; but +what other bird, when persecuted and robbed, when weary, when discouraged, +when so far from the sea, would do this? + +11. "Glorious bird! I will learn a lesson from thee to-day. I will never +forget, hereafter, that when the spirit is determined it can do almost +anything. Others would have drooped, and hung the head, and mourned over +the cruelty of man, and sighed over the wants of the nestlings; but thou, +by at once recovering the loss, hast forgotten all." + +12. "I will learn of thee, noble bird! I will remember this. I will set my +mark high. I will try to do something, and to be something in the world; I +will never yield to discouragements." + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Cen'tu-ry, the space of a hundred years. Gi-gan'tic, very +large. Di-men'sions, size. Sub-lime', grand, noble. 4. Dis-persed', +scattered. Un-a-vail'ing, useless. Ea'glets, young eagles. Clam'or-ous, +loud, noisy. 6. In-de-ci'sion, want of fixed purpose. Mo'men-ta-ry, for a +single moment. 9. Cir'cuit, movement round in a circle. Ex-haust'ed, +wholly tired. 11. Nes'-tlings, young birds in the nest. + + +EXERCISES.--Relate the story of the "Old Eagle Tree." What lesson was +taught the boy who watched the eagle's actions? + + + +XXXI. ALPINE SONG. (88) +William W. Story, the author, was born in Salem, Mass., + +In 1819. His writings in poetry and prose are well known, and he also +gained distinction in his profession as a sculptor. He died in 1895. + +1. With alpenstock and knapsack light, + I wander o'er hill and valley; + I climb the snow peak's flashing height, + And sleep in the sheltered chalet,-- + Free in heart--happy and free-- + This is the summer life for me. + +2. The city's dust I leave behind + For the keen, sweet air of the mountain, + The grassy path by the wild rose lined, + The gush of the living fountain,-- + Free in heart--happy and free-- + This is the summer life for me. + +3. High above me snow clouds rise, + In the early morning gleaming; + And the patterned valley beneath me lies + Softly in sunshine dreaming,-- + Free in heart--happy and free-- + This is the summer life for me. + +4. The bells of wandering herds I list, + Chiming in upland meadows; + How sweet they sound, as I lie at rest + Under the dark pine shadows-- + Glad in heart--happy and free-- + This is the summer life for me. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Al'pen-stock, a long staff, pointed with iron, used in +traveling among the Alps. Knap'sack, a leather sack for carrying food or +clothing, borne on the back. Cha-let' (pro. sha-la'), a mountain hut. 2. +Gush, a rapid outflowing. 3. Pat'terned, marked off in figures or +patterns. 4. List, hearken to. + + + +XXXII. CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES. (89) + +1. Derby. Good morning, neighbor Scrapewell. I have half a dozen miles to +ride to-day, and shall be extremely obliged if you will lend me your gray +mare. + +2. Scrapewell. It would give me great pleasure to oblige you, friend +Derby; but I am under the necessity of going to the mill this very +morning, with a bag of corn. My wife wants the meal to-day, and you know +what a time there'll be if I disappoint her. + +3. D. Then she must want it still, for I can assure you the mill does not +go to-day. I heard the miller tell Will Davis that the water was too low. + +4. S. You don't say so! That is bad, indeed; for in that case I shall be +obliged to gallop off to town for the meal. My wife would comb my head for +me if I should neglect it. + +5. D. I can save you this journey, for I have plenty of meal at home, and +will lend your wife as much as she wants. + +6. S. Ah! neighbor Derby, I am sure your meal would never suit my wife. +You can't conceive how whimsical she is. + +7. D. If she were ten times more whimsical than she is, I +am certain she would like it; for you sold it to me yourself, +and you assured me it was the best you ever had. + +8. S. Yes, yes! that's true, indeed; I always have the best of +everything. You know, neighbor Derby, that no one is more +ready to oblige a friend than I am; but I must tell you the +mare this morning refused to eat hay; and, truly, I am afraid +she will not carry you. + +9. D. Oh, never fear! I will feed her well with oats on the road. + +10. S. Oats! neighbor; oats are very dear. + +11. D. Never mind that. When I have a good job in view, I never stand for +trifles. + +12. S. But it is very slippery; and I am really afraid she will fall and +break your neck. + +13. D. Give yourself no uneasiness about that. The mare is certainly +sure-footed; and, besides, you were just now talking of galloping her to +town. + +14. S. Well, then, to tell you the plain truth, though I wish to oblige +you with all my heart, my saddle is torn quite in pieces, and I have just +sent my bridle to be mended. + +15. D. Luckily, I have both a bridle and a saddle hanging up at home. + +16. S. Ah! that may be; but I am sure your saddle will never fit my mare. +She's very notional. + +17. D. Why, then I'll borrow neighbor Clodpole's. + +18. S. Clodpole's! his will no more fit than yours. + +19. D. At the worst, then, I will go to my good friend, Squire Jones. He +has half a score of them; and I am sure he will lend me one that will fit +her. + +20. S. You know, friend Derby, that no one is more willing to oblige his +neighbors than I am. I do assure you the beast should be at your service, +with all my heart; but she has not been curried, I believe, for three +weeks past. Her foretop and mane want combing and cutting very much. If +anyone should see her in her present plight, it would ruin the sale of +her. + +21. D. Oh, a horse is soon curried, and my son Sam shall attend to it at +once. + +22. S. Yes, very likely; but I this moment recollect the creature has no +shoes on. + +23. D. Well, is there not a blacksmith hard by? + +24. S. What, that tinker, Dobson? I would not trust such a bungler to +shoe a goat. No, no; none but uncle Tom Thumper shall shoe my mare. + +25. D. As good luck will have it, then, I shall pass right by his door. + +26. S. [Calling to his son.] Tim, Tim! here's neighbor Derby, who wants +the loan of the gray mare, to ride to town to-day. You know the skin was +rubbed off her back, last week, a hand's breadth or more. [Gives Tim a +wink.] However, I believe she is well enough by this time. You know, Tim, +how ready I am to oblige my neighbors; indeed, we ought to do all the good +we can in this world. We must certainly let neighbor Derby have her if she +will possibly answer his purpose. Yes, yes; I see plainly by Tim's +countenance, neighbor Derby, that he's disposed to oblige you. I would not +have refused you the mare for the worth of her. If I had, I should have +expected you to refuse me in turn. None of my neighbors can accuse me of +being backward in doing them a kindness whenever it is possible. Come, +Tim, what do you say? + +27. Tim. What do I say, father? Why, sir, I say that I am no less ready +than you are to do a neighborly kindness. But the mare is by no means +capable of performing the journey. About a hand's breadth, did you say? +Why, sir, the skin is torn from the poor creature's back the bigness of +your broad-brimmed hat! And, besides, I have promised her, so soon as she +is able to travel, to Ned Saunders, to carry a load of apples to market. + +28. S. Do you hear that, neighbor? I am very sorry matters are thus. I +would not have disobliged you for the price of two such mares. Believe me, +neighbor Derby, I am really sorry, for your sake, that matters turn out +thus. + +29. D. And I as much for yours, neighbor Scrapewell; for to tell you the +truth I received a letter this morning from Mr. Griffin, who tells me if I +will be in town to-day he will give me the refusal of all that lot of +timber, which he is about cutting down, on the side of the hill; and I had +intended you should have shared half of it, which would have been not less +than fitly dollars in your pocket. But, as your-- + +30. S. Fifty dollars, did you say? + +31. D. Ay, truly, did I; but as your mare is out of order, I'll go and see +if I can get old Roan, the blacksmith's horse. + +32. S. Old Roan! My mare is at your service, neighbor, Here, Tim, tell Ned +Saunders he can't have the mare: neighbor Derby wants her; and I won't +refuse so good a friend anything he asks for. + +33. D. But what are you to do for meal? + +34. S. My wife can do without it for a week if you want the mare so long. + +35. D. But, then, your saddle is all in pieces. + +36. S. I meant the old one. I have bought a new one since, and you shall +have the first use of it. + +37. D. And shall I call at Thumper's and get the mare shod? + +38. S. No, no; I had forgotten to tell you that I let neighbor Dobson shoe +her, last week, by way of trial; and, to do him justice, he shoes +extremely well. + +39. D. But, if the poor creature has lost so much skin from off her back-- + +40. S. Poh, poh! That is just one of Tim's large stories. I do assure you +it was not, at first, bigger than my thumb nail, and I am certain it has +not grown any since. + +41. D. At least, however, let her have something she will eat, since she +refuses hay. + +42. S. She did, indeed, refuse hay this morning; but the only reason was +that she was crammed full of oats. You have nothing to fear, neighbor; the +mare is in perfect trim; and she will skim you over the ground like a +bird. I wish you a good journey and a profitable job. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Ex-treme'ly, very much. 6. Whim'si-cal, full of whims. +20. Cur'ried, cleaned. Fore'top, hair on the forepart of the head. 24. +Bun'gler, a clumsy workman. 26. Dis-posed', inclined to, Back'ward, slow, +unwilling. 27. Ca'pa-ble, possessing ability. Per-form'ing, accomplishing. +29. Re-fus'al, choice of tak-ing. 42. Crammed, stuffed. + + + +XXXIII. THE NOBLEST REVENGE. (94) + +1. "I will have revenge on him, that I will, and make him heartily repent +it," said Philip to himself, with a countenance quite red with anger. His +mind was so engaged that he did not see Stephen, who happened at that +instant to meet him. + +2. "Who is that," said Stephen, "on whom you intend to be revenged?" +Philip, as if awakened from a dream, stopped short, and looking at his +friend, soon resumed a smile that was natural to his countenance. "Ah," +said he, "you remember my bamboo, a very pretty cane which was given me by +my father, do you not? Look! there it is in pieces. It was farmer +Robinson's son who reduced it to this worthless state." + +3. Stephen very coolly asked him what had induced young Robinson to break +it. "I was walking peaceably along," replied he, "and was playing with my +cane by twisting it round my body. By accident, one of the ends slipped +out of my hand, when I was opposite the gate, just by the wooden bridge, +where the ill natured fellow had put down a pitcher of water, which he was +taking home from the well." + +4. "It so happened that my cane, in springing back, upset the pitcher, but +did not break it. He came up close to me, and began to call me names, when +I assured him that what I had done had happened by accident, and that I +was sorry for it. Without regarding what I said, he instantly seized my +cane, and twisted it, as you see; but I will make him repent of it." + +5. "To be sure," said Stephen, "he is a very wicked boy, and is already +very properly punished for being such, since nobody likes him or will have +anything to do with him. He can scarcely find a companion to play with +him; and is often at a loss for amusement, as he deserves to be. This, +properly considered, I think will appear sufficient revenge for you." + +6. "All this is true," replied Philip, "but he has broken my cane. It was +a present from my father, and a very pretty cane it was. I offered to fill +his pitcher for him again, as I knocked it down by accident. I will be +revenged." + +7. "Now, Philip;" said Stephen, "I think you will act better in not +minding him, as your contempt will be the best punishment you can inflict +upon him. Be assured, he will always be able to do more mischief to you +than you choose to do to him. And, now I think of it, I will tell you what +happened to him not long since." + +8. "Very unluckily for him, he chanced to see a bee hovering about a +flower which he caught, and was going to pull off its wings out of sport, +when the animal stung him, and flew away in safety to the hive. The pain +put him into a furious passion, and, like you, he vowed revenge. He +accordingly procured a stick, and thrust it into the beehive." + +9. "In an instant the whole swarm flew out, and alighting upon him stung +him in a hundred different places. He uttered the most piercing cries, and +rolled upon the ground in the excess of his agony. His father immediately +ran to him, but could not put the bees to flight until they had stung him +so severely that he was confined several days to his bed." + +l0. "Thus, you see, he was not very successful in his pursuit of revenge. +I would advise you, therefore, to pass over his insult. He is a wicked +boy, and much stronger than you; so that your ability to obtain this +revenge may be doubtful." + +11. "I must own," replied Philip, "that your advice seems very good. So +come along with me, and I will tell my father the whole matter, and I +think he will not be angry with me." They went, and Philip told his father +what had happened. He thanked Stephen for the good advice he had given his +son, and promised Philip to give him another cane exactly like the first. + +12. A few days afterward, Philip saw this ill-natured boy fall as he was +carrying home a heavy log of wood, which he could not lift up again. +Philip ran to him, and helped him to replace it on his shoulder. Young +Robinson was quite ashamed at the thought of this unmerited kindness, and +heartily repented of his behavior. Philip went home quite satisfied. +"This," said he, "is the noblest vengeance I could take, in returning good +for evil. It is impossible I should repent of it." + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Re-venge', return for an injury. Re-pent', to feel sorry +for. Coun'te-nance, the face. 2. Re-sumed', took again. 3. In-duced', +caused. 4. As-sured, declared positively. Re-gard'ing, noticing. 5. +Con-sid'ered, thought of care'fully. 7. Con-tempt', disdain, scorn. +In-flict', to impose, to put on. 8. Hov'er-ing, hanging over or about. 9. +Ag'o-ny, very great pain. 10. A-bil'i-ty, power. + + +EXERCISES.--What is revenge? Is it right to take revenge on those who +injure us? How should we treat such persons? + + + +XXXIV. EVENING HYMN. (97) + +1. Come to the sunset tree, + The day is past and gone; + The woodman's ax lies free, + And the reaper's work is done; + The twilight star to heaven, + And the summer dew to flowers, + And rest to us is given, + By the soft evening hours. + +2. Sweet is the hour of rest, + Pleasant the woods' low sigh, + And the gleaming of the west, + And the turf whereon we lie, + When the burden and the heat + Of the laborer's task is o'er, + And kindly voices greet + The tired one at the door. + +3. Yes, tuneful is the sound + That dwells in whispering boughs: + Welcome the freshness round, + And the gale that fans our brows; + But rest more sweet and still + Than ever the nightfall gave, + Our yearning hearts shall fill, + In the world beyond the grave. + +4. There, shall no tempests blow, + Nor scorching noontide heat; + There, shall be no more snow, + No weary, wandering feet; + So we lift our trusting eyes + From the hills our fathers trod, + To the quiet of the skies, + To the Sabbath of our God. + + + +XXXV. HOW MARGERY WONDERED. (99) +By Lucy Larcom. + +1. One bright morning late in March, little Margery put on her hood and +her Highland plaid shawl, and went trudging across the beach. It was the +first time she had been trusted out alone, for Margery was a little girl; +nothing about her was large, except her round gray eyes, which had yet +scarcely opened upon half a dozen springs and summers. + +2. There was a pale mist on the far-off sea and sky, and up around the sun +were white clouds edged with the hues of pinks and violets. The sunshine +and the mild air made Margery's very heart feel warm, and she let the soft +wind blow aside her Highland shawl, as she looked across the waters at the +sun, and wondered! For, somehow, the sun had never looked before as it did +to-day;--it seemed like a great golden flower bursting out of its +pearl-lined calyx,--a flower without a stem. Or was there a strong stem +away behind it in the sky, that reached down below the sea, to a root, +nobody could guess where? + +3. Margery did not stop to puzzle herself about the answer to her +question, for now the tide, was coming in, and the waves, little at first, +but growing larger every moment, were crowding up along the sand and +pebbles, laughing, winking, and whispering, as they tumbled over each +other, like thousands of children hurrying home from somewhere, each with +its own precious little secret to tell. + +4. Where did the waves come from? Who was down there under the blue wall +of the horizon, with the hoarse, hollow voice, urging and pushing them +across the beach at her feet? And what secret was it they were lisping to +each other with their pleasant voices? Oh, what was there beneath the sea, +and beyond the sea, so deep, so broad, and so dim, too, away off where the +white ships, that looked smaller than sea birds, were gliding out and in? + +5. But while Margery stood still for a moment on a dry rock, and wondered, +there came a low, rippling warble to her ear from a cedar tree on the +cliff above her. It had been a long winter, and Margery had forgotten that +there were birds, and that birds could sing. So she wondered again what +the music was. + +6. And when she saw the bird perched on a yellow-brown bough, she wondered +yet more. It was only a bluebird, but then it was the first bluebird +Margery had ever seen. He fluttered among the prickly twigs, and looked as +if he had grown out of them, as the cedar berries had, which were dusty +blue, the color of his coat. But how did the music get in his throat? And +after it was in his throat, how could it untangle itself, and wind itself +off so evenly? And where had the bluebird flown from, across the snow +banks down to the shore of the blue sea? + +7. The waves sang a welcome to him, and he sang a welcome to the waves; +they seemed to know each other well; and the ripple and the warble sounded +so much alike, the bird and the wave must have both learned their music of +the same teacher. And Margery kept on wondering as she stepped between the +song of the bluebird and the echo of the sea, and climbed a sloping bank, +just turning faintly green in the spring sunshine. + +8. The grass was surely beginning to grow! There were fresh, juicy shoots +running up among the withered blades of last year, as if in hopes of +bringing them back to life; and closer down she saw the sharp points of +new spears peeping from their sheaths. And scattered here and there were +small, dark green leaves folded around buds shut up so tightly that only +those who had watched them many seasons could tell what flowers were to be +let out of their safe prisons by and by. So no one could blame Margery for +not knowing that they were only common things, nor for stooping over the +tiny buds, and wondering. + +9. What made the grass come up so green out of the black earth? And how +did the buds know when it was time to take off their little green hoods, +and see what there was in the world around them? And how came they to be +buds at all? Did they bloom in another world before they sprung up +here?--and did they know, themselves, what kind of flowers they should +blossom into? Had flowers souls, like little girls, that would live in +another world when their forms had faded away in this? + +10. Margery thought she would like to sit down on the bank, and wait +beside the buds until they opened; perhaps they would tell her their +secret if the very first thing they saw was her eyes watching them. One +bud was beginning to unfold; it was streaked with yellow in little stripes +that she could imagine became wider every minute. But she would not touch +it, for it seemed almost as much alive as herself. She only wondered, and +wondered! + +11. Margery heard her mother calling her, and she trudged home across the +shells and pebbles with a pleasant smile dimpling her cheeks; for she felt +very much at home in this large, wonderful world, and was happy to be +alive, although she neither could have told, nor cared to know, the reason +why. But when her mother unpinned the little girl's Highland shawl, and +took off her hood, she said, "O mother, do let me live on the doorstep! I +don't like houses to stay in. What makes everything so pretty and so glad? +Don't you like to wonder?" + +12. Margery's mother was a good woman. But then there was all the +housework to do, and, if she had thoughts, she did not often let them +wander outside of the kitchen door. And just now she was baking some +gingerbread, which was in danger of getting burned in the oven. So she +pinned the shawl around the child's neck again, and left her on the +doorstep, saying to herself, as she returned to her work, "Queer child! I +wonder what kind of a woman she will be!" + +13. But Margery sat on the doorstep, and wondered, as the sea sounded +louder, and the sunshine grew warmer around her. It was all so strange, +and grand, and beautiful! Her heart danced with joy to the music that went +echoing through the wide world from the roots of the sprouting grass to +the great golden blossom of the sun. + +14. And when the round, gray eyes closed that night, at the first peep of +the stars, the angels looked down and wondered over Margery. For the +wisdom of the wisest being God has made, ends in wonder; and there is +nothing on earth so wonderful as the budding soul of a little child. + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. Trudg'ing, walking sturdily. 2. Hues, colors. Ca'lyx, the +outer covering of a flower. 4. Ho-ri'zon, the line where the sky and earth +seem to meet. 5. War'ble, a trill of the voice. Spears, shoots of grass. +Sheaths, coverings. + + +EXERCISES.--Name the things about which Margery +wondered. What did she wonder about each? What is still +more wonderful than all that at which Margery wondered? + + + +XXXVI. THE CHILD'S WORLD. (103) + +1. "Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful world, + With the wonderful water round you curled, + And the wonderful grass upon your breast,-- + World, you are beautifully drest." + +2. "The wonderful air is over me, + And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree; + It walks on the water, and whirls the mills, + And talks to itself on the tops of the hills." + +3. "You friendly Earth! how far do you go + With the wheat fields that nod, and the rivers that flow; + With cities and gardens, and cliffs and isles, + And people upon you for thousands of miles?" + +4. "Ah, you are so great, and I am so small, + I tremble to think of you, World, at all: + And yet, when I said my prayers, to-day, + A whisper inside me seemed to say, + You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot: + You can love and think, and the Earth can not!'" + + + +XXXVII. SUSIE'S COMPOSITION. (104) + +1. Susie Smith came home from school one day, and had no sooner entered +the sitting room than she burst into tears. "What is the matter, my dear +child?" said her mother, drawing her daughter to her side and smiling. + +2. "O mother, matter enough," sobbed Susie. "All our class must bring in +compositions to-morrow morning, and I never, never can write one. We must +write twelve lines at least, and I have written only a few words after +trying nearly all the afternoon. See what work I have made of it!" + +3. Mrs. Smith took the rumpled, tear-stained paper which Susie held in her +hand, and glanced at what she had written. In a careful hand she had tried +to write upon three themes: "Time," "Temperance," and "Industry." + +4. "Time is short. We should all improve our time." "Temperance is a very +useful thing." "We should all be industrious if we wish to do anything in +the world." These sentences were all she had written. + +5. "Now," said Susie, "I can't think of another word to say upon any of +these subjects, and I know I shall have to go to school without a +composition, for I won't be so mean as to copy one from a book, or to ask +you or papa to write one for me." + +6. "That is right, my dear," said her mother. "You will be far happier +with a poor composition, if it is all your own, than with a fine one +written by somebody else. But cheer up. You have not begun right--you have +been trying to write upon subjects that you know nothing about. Run into +the garden and play. I will call you in half an hour." + +7. "But my composition," began Susie. "Don't think about your composition +while you are gone," said Mrs. Smith, "but have as pleasant a time as you +can." + +8. It seemed but a few minutes to Susie before she heard her mother's +voice calling her. She went into the house at once--her hands full of +sweet flowers, and her cheeks rosy with exercise. + +9. "Now, Susie," said her mother, "I want you to sit by the window with +this nice sheet of paper and a pencil, and write something about what you +can see." "But my composition, mother," said Susie; "when shall I begin +that?" "Never mind your composition, my dear; do this to please me, and we +will talk about that by and by." + +10. Susie thought her mother's request was a strange one; but she knew +that she always had a good reason for everything she did: so she took the +paper and pencil, and sat by the window. + +11. "Do not talk to me at all," said her mother. "Look out of the window, +and then write down your thoughts about everything you see." + +12. Susie could not help laughing, it seemed such a funny thing to be +doing. As she looked out, she first saw the western sky and some bright, +sunset clouds. "O mother!" she exclaimed, "what a splendid sunset!" "Don't +talk," said her mother, "but write." + +13. "I'll write about the sunset, then," said she, and the pencil began to +move rapidly across the paper. In a few moments she said, "Mother, shall I +read you what I have written?" "No, not now," answered her mother; "I am +going into the dining room. You may sit and write until I return." + +14. As Susie went on writing, she became very much interested in her +occupation, and for a time forgot all about the dreaded composition. She +wrote about the sunset clouds, the appearance of the distant hills, the +trees, the river, the garden with its gay flowers, and the birds flying +past the window. + +15. Just as she had reached the bottom of the page, her mother came in. +"Well, Susie," said she, with a smile, "how does that composition come +on?" "Composition!" exclaimed Susie; "you told me not to think about my +composition, and I have not thought of it once; I have had such a nice +time writing about what I could see from the window." + +16. Mrs. Smith took the paper and read aloud what Susie had written: "I am +sitting on a low seat at the bay window, one half of which is open, so +that I can smell the sweet flowers in the garden. The sky is all bright +with sunset; I can see purple, and pink, and golden. I do not believe that +anyone on earth has a paint box with such lovely colors in it." + +17. "I can see one cloud, far above the rest, that looks like a ship +sailing in the blue sea. I should like to sail on a cloud, if it would not +make me dizzy. Now, while I have been writing, the clouds have changed in +color and form, but they are just as beautiful as they were before." + +18. "The green hills are tipped with light, and look as if they were +wearing golden crowns. I can see a river a great way off, and it looks +quite still, although I know it is running as fast as it can to get to the +ocean." + +19. "The birds are flying past the window to go home and take care of +their little ones. I am glad the birds are not afraid to live in our +garden, and to build nests in our trees." + +20. "Our garden is full of flowers--pinks, lilies, and roses. Mother calls +this the month of roses. My birthday will come in a week, and we can have +all the flowers we wish for wreaths and bouquets." + +21. "There, Susie," said Mrs. Smith, "that is a very nice composition, +indeed." "A composition!" exclaimed Susie, "is that a composition?" "Yes, +my dear, and a very good one, too," replied her mother. "When it hasn't +even a subject?" + +22. "We can find one for it, and I do not doubt it will please your +teacher, as it does me. You see, my dear," continued her mother, "that it +is easy enough to write if you have anything interesting to write about." + +23. The next morning Susie copied her composition very neatly, and started +to school with a happy heart, saying, as she gave her mother a kiss, "Just +think how funny it is, dear mother, that I should have written so long a +composition without knowing it." + + +DEFINITIONS.--Com-po-si'tion, that which is thought out and arranged, a +written or literary work. 3. Rum'pled, wrinkled, creased. Themes, subjects +or topics on which a person writes. 10. Re-quest', that which is asked. +14. Oc-cu-pa'tion, that which employs the time. 20. Bou-quets' (pro. +boo-kas'), bunches of flowers. + + +EXERCISES.--What is a composition? Why was Susie so troubled? Why could +she not write about "Time," "Temperance," or "Industry"? What did her +mother have her do? What did Susie write? Was it a composition? Did she +know, at the time, that it was? What fault did she find with it? Can you +give her composition a proper subject? + + + +XXXVIII. THE SUMMER SHOWER. (109) + +The author, Thomas Buchanan Read, was born in Chester Co., Pa., March 12, +1822. His life was devoted to the fine arts, and he attained a high +reputation both as artist and poet. He died in New York, May 11, 1872. + +1. Before the stout harvesters falleth the grain, + As when the strong stormwind is reaping the plain, + And loiters the boy in the briery lane; + But yonder aslant comes the silvery rain, +Like a long line of spears brightly burnished and tall. + +2. Adown the white highway like cavalry fleet, + It dashes the dust with its numberless feet. + Like a murmurless school, in their leafy retreat, + The wild birds sit listening the drops round them beat; +And the boy crouches close to the blackberry wall. + +3. The swallows alone take the storm on the wing, + And, taunting the tree-sheltered laborers, sing. + Like pebbles the rain breaks the face of the spring, + While a bubble darts up from each widening ring; +And the boy in dismay hears the loud shower fall. + +4. But soon are the harvesters tossing their sheaves; + The robin darts out from his bower of leaves; + The wren peereth forth from the moss-covered eaves; + And the rain-spattered urchin now gladly perceives +That the beautiful bow bendeth over them all. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. A-slant', toward one side. 2. High'way, a public road. +Re-treat', a place of refuge or safety, Crouch'es, stoops low. 3. +Taunt'ing, deriding, mocking. 4. Ur'chin, a child. + + + +XXXIX. CONSEQUENCES OF IDLENESS. (110) + +1. Many young persons seem to think it of not much consequence if they do +not improve their time well in youth, vainly expecting that they can make +it up by diligence when they are older. They also think it is disgraceful +for men and women to be idle, but that there can be no harm for persons +who are young to spend their time in any manner they please. + +2. George Jones thought so. When he was twelve years old, he went to an +academy to prepare to enter college. His father was at great expense in +obtaining books for him, clothing him, and paying his tuition. But George +was idle. The preceptor of the academy would often tell him that if he did +not study diligently when young he would never succeed well. + +3. But George thought of nothing but present pleasure. He would often go +to school without having made any preparation for his morning lesson; and, +when called to recite with his class, he would stammer and make such +blunders that the rest of the class could not help laughing at him. He was +one of the poorest scholars in the school, because he was one of the most +idle. + +4. When recess came, and all the boys ran out of the academy upon the +playground, idle George would come moping along. Instead of studying +diligently while in school, he was indolent and half asleep. When the +proper time for play came, he had no relish for it. I recollect very well, +that, when "tossing up" for a game of ball, we used to choose everybody on +the playground before we chose George; and if there were enough without +him we used to leave him out. Thus he was unhappy in school and out of +school. + +5. There is nothing which makes a person enjoy play so well as to study +hard. When recess was over, and the rest of the boys returned, fresh and +vigorous, to their studies, George might be seen lagging and moping along +to his seat. Sometimes he would be asleep in school; sometimes he would +pass his time in catching flies, and penning them up in little holes, +which he cut in his seat; and sometimes, when the preceptor's back was +turned, he would throw a paper ball across the room. + +6. When the class was called up to recite, George would come drowsily +along, looking as mean and ashamed as though he were going to be whipped. +The rest of the class stepped up to the recitation with alacrity, and +appeared happy and contented. When it came George's turn to recite, he +would be so long in doing it, and make such blunders, that all most +heartily wished him out of the class. + +7. At last, George went with his class to enter college. Though he passed +a very poor examination, he was admitted with the rest; for those who +examined him thought it was possible that the reason why he did not answer +questions better was because he was frightened. Now came hard times for +poor George. In college there is not much mercy shown to bad scholars; and +George had neglected his studies so long that he could not now keep up +with his class, let him try ever so hard. + +8. He could, without much difficulty, get along in the academy, where +there were only two or three boys of his own class to laugh at him. But +now he had to go into a large recitation room, filled with students from +all parts of the country. In the presence of all these, he must rise and +recite to a professor. Poor fellow! He paid dearly for his idleness. + +9. You would have pitied him if you could have seen him trembling in his +scat, every moment expecting to be called upon to recite. And when he was +called upon, he would stand up and take what the class called a "dead +set;" that is, he could not recite at all. Sometimes he would make such +ludicrous blunders that the whole class would burst into a laugh. Such are +the applauses an idler gets. He was wretched, of course. He had been idle +so long that he hardly knew how to apply his mind to study. All the good +scholars avoided him; they were ashamed to be seen in his company. He +became discouraged, and gradually grew dissipated. + +10. The officers of the college were soon compelled to suspend him. He +returned in a few months, but did no better; and his father was then +advised to take him from college. He left college, despised by everyone. A +few months ago, I met him, a poor wanderer, without money and without +friends. Such are the wages of idleness. I hope every reader will, from +this history, take warning, and "stamp improvement on the wings of time." + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Con'se-quence, importance, influence. 2. A-cad'e-my, a +school of high order. Col'lege, a seminary of learning of the highest +order. Pre-cep'tor, a teacher. 3. Prep-a-ra'-tion, a making ready. 5. +Vig'or-ous, full of activity and strength. 6. A-lac'ri-ty, cheerfulness, +sprightliness. 8. Pro-fess'or, a teacher in a college. 9. Lu'di-crous, +adapted to raise laughter. Ap--plaus'es, praises. Dis'-si-pa-ted, given up +to bad habits. 10. Im-prove'ment, increase of knowledge. + + + +XL. ADVANTAGES OF INDUSTRY. (113) + +1. I gave you, in the last lesson, the history of George Jones, an idle +boy, and showed you the consequences of his idleness. I shall now give you +the history of Charles Bullard, a classmate of George. Charles was about +the same age as George, and did not possess superior talents. Indeed, I +doubt whether he was equal to him in natural powers of mind. + +2. But Charles was a hard student. When quite young, he was always careful +and diligent in school. Sometimes, when there was a very hard lesson, +instead of going out to play during recess, he would stay in to study. He +had resolved that his first object should be to get his lessons well, and +then he could play with a good conscience. He loved play as well as +anybody, and was one of the best players on the ground. I hardly ever saw +any boy catch a ball better than he could. When playing any game, everyone +was glad to get Charles on his side. + +3. I have said that Charles would sometimes stay in at recess. This, +however, was very seldom; it was only when the lessons were very hard +indeed. Generally, he was among the first on the playground, and he was +also among the first to go into school when called. Hard study gave him a +relish for play, and play again gave him a relish for hard study; so he +was happy both in school and out. The preceptor could not help liking him, +for he always had his lessons well committed, and never gave him any +trouble. + +4. When he went to enter college, the preceptor gave him a good +recommendation. He was able to answer all the questions which were put to +him when he was examined. He had studied so well when he was in the +academy, and was so thoroughly prepared for college, that he found it very +easy to keep up with his class, and had much time for reading interesting +books. + +5. But he would always get his lesson well before he did anything else, +and would review it just before recitation. When called upon to recite, he +rose tranquil and happy, and very seldom made mistakes. The officers of +the college had a high opinion of him, and he was respected by all the +students. + +6. There was, in the college, a society made up of all the best scholars. +Charles was chosen a member of that society. It was the custom to choose +some one of the society to deliver a public address every year. This honor +was conferred on Charles; and he had studied so diligently, and read so +much, that he delivered an address which was very interesting to all who +heard it. + +7. At last he graduated, as it is called; that is, he finished his +collegiate course, and received his degree. It was known by all that he +was a good scholar, and by all that he was respected. His father and +mother, brothers and sisters, came on the commencement day to hear him +speak. + +8. They all felt gratified, and loved Charles more than ever. Many +situations of usefulness and profit were opened to him; for Charles was +now an intelligent man, and universally respected. He is still a useful +and a happy man. He has a cheerful home, and is esteemed by all who know +him. + +9. Such are the rewards of industry. How strange it is that any person +should be willing to live in idleness when it will certainly make him +unhappy! The idle boy is almost invariably poor and miserable; the +industrious boy is happy and prosperous. + +10. But perhaps some child who reads this, asks, "Does God notice little +children in school?" He certainly does. And if you are not diligent in the +improvement of your time, it is one of the surest evidences that your +heart is not right with God. You are placed in this world to improve your +time. In youth you must be preparing for future usefulness. And if you do +not improve the advantages you enjoy, you sin against your Maker. + + With books, or work, or healthful play, + Let your first years be passed; + That you may give, for every day, + Some good account, at last. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. His'to-ry, a description or a narration of events. 2. +Con'science, our own knowledge of right and wrong. Game, play, sport. 3. +Com-mit'ted, fixed in mind. 4. Rec-om-men-da'tion, what is said in praise +of anyone. 5. Re view', to examine again. Tran'quil, quiet, calm. 6. +Con-ferred', given to or bestowed upon anyone. 7. Grad'u-a-ted, received a +degree from a college. Com-mence'ment, the day when students receive their +degree. 8. U-ni-ver'sal-ly, by all, without exception. 9. In-va'ri-a-bly, +always, uniformly. 10. Ev'i-den-ces, proofs. Ad-van'ta-ges, opportunities +for improvement. + + +EXERCISES.--What was the character of George Jones? Of Charles Bullard? +How did George appear in the class at school? How did he behave at recess? +How did Charles differ from him in these respects? Relate what happened +when George went to college. What became of him? Did Charles succeed at +college? Which of them do you think more worthy of imitation? What is said +of the idle? What is said of the industrious? Who watches all our actions +wherever we may be? For what are we placed in this world? Should you not +then be diligent in your studies? + + + +XLI. THE FOUNTAIN. (116) + +By James Russell Lowell, one of the most noted of American poets; also +well known as an essayist and lecturer. He was born at Cambridge, Mass., +in 1819, and died there in 1891. + + 1. +Into the sunshine, +Full of the light, +Leaping and flashing, +From morn till night! + + 2. +Into the moonlight, +Whiter than snow, +Waving so flower-like +When the winds blow! + + 3. +Into the starlight, +Rushing in spray, +Happy at midnight, +Happy by day! + + 4. +Ever in motion, +Blithesome and cheery, +Still climbing heavenward, +Never aweary; + + 5. +Glad of all weathers, +Still seeming best, +Upward or downward, +Motion, thy rest; + + 6. +Full of a nature +Nothing can tame, +Changed every moment, +Ever the same; + + 7. +Ceaseless aspiring, +Ceaseless content, +Darkness or sunshine +Thy element; + + 8. +Glorious fountain! +Let my heart be +Fresh, changeful, constant, +Upward like thee! + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. Blithe'some, gay. Cheer'y, in good spirits. A-wea'ry, +weary, tired. 7. As-pir'ing, ambitious. El'e-ment, the proper habitation +or sphere of anything, suitable state. 8. Con'-stant, fixed, not to be +changed. + + + +XLII. COFFEE. (117) + +1. The coffee tree is a native of eastern Africa, but it was in Arabia +that it first became known to the people of Europe, and until about the +year 1700 A. D. that country afforded the entire supply. + +2. Then the coffee seeds found their way to Java, by means of some +traders, and one of the first plants grown on that island was sent as a +present to the governor of the Dutch East India Company, who lived in +Holland. + +3. It was planted in the Botanical Gardens at Amsterdam, and in a few +years seeds taken from it were sent to South America, where the +cultivation of coffee has steadily increased, extending to the West +Indies, until now the offspring of this one plant produce more coffee than +is obtained from all the other plants in the world. + +4. The plant is an evergreen, and is from six to twelve feet high, the +stem being from ten to fifteen inches in diameter. The lower branches bend +down when the tree begins to grow old, and extend themselves into a round +form somewhat like an umbrella; and the wood is so pliable that the ends +of the largest branches may be bent down to within two or three feet of +the earth. + +5. The bark is whitish and somewhat rough. A tree is never without leaves, +which are at small distances from one another, and on almost opposite +sides of a bough. Blossoms and green and ripe fruit may be seen on the +same tree at the same time. When the blossom falls off, there grows in its +place a small green fruit, which becomes dark red as it ripens. + +6. This fruit is not unlike a cherry, and is very good to eat. Under the +pulp of this cherry is found the bean or berry we call coffee, wrapped in +a fine, thin skin. The berry is at first very soft, and has a bad taste; +but as the cherry ripens the berry grows harder, and the dried-up fruit +becomes a shell or pod of a deep brown color. + +7. The berry is now solid, and its color is a translucent green. Each +shell contains two seeds, rounded on one side and flat on the other. The +seeds lie with the flat sides together, and, in one highly prized variety, +the two seeds grow together, forming one: this is known as the pea berry. +When the fruit is so ripe that it can be shaken from the tree, the husks +are separated from the berries, and are used, in Arabia, by the natives, +while the berries are sold. + +8. The young plants are inserted in holes from twelve to eighteen inches +deep, and six or eight feet apart. If left to themselves, they would grow +to the height of eighteen or twenty feet; but they are usually dwarfed by +pruning, so that the fruit may be easily got at by the gatherer. + +9. Thus dwarfed, they extend their branches until they cover the whole +space about them. They begin to yield fruit the third year. By the sixth +or seventh year they are at full bearing, and continue to bear for twenty +years or more. + +l0. Before the berry can be used, it undergoes a process of roasting. The +amount of aromatic oil brought out in roasting has much to do with the +market value of coffee, and it has been found that the longer the raw +coffee is kept, the richer it becomes in this peculiar oil, and so the +more valuable. But after the coffee is roasted, and especially after it is +ground, it loses its aroma rapidly. + +11. Arabia produces the celebrated Mocha, or "Mokha," coffee, which is the +finest in the world; but little or none of the best product is ever taken +out of that country. The Java coffee from the East Indies is next prized, +but the best quality of this kind is also quite difficult to obtain, and +many, therefore, prefer the finest grades of Rio coffee from South America +to such Mocha and Java as can be had in our country. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Af-ford'ed, yielded, produced. 3. Off'spring, +descendants, however remote, from, the stock. 4. Pli'a-ble, easily bent. +7. Trans-lu'cent, permitting the passage of light. 8. Prun'-ing, trimming. +10. Ar-o-mat'ic, containing aroma, fragrant. + + +EXERCISES.--What country first supplied coffee? How did the plant come to +be grown in other countries? Describe the plant. What is said of the +fruit? How are the plants cultivated? What is said about the roasting of +coffee? What are the three principal kinds of coffee used, and how are +they valued? + + + +XLIII. THE WINTER KING. (120) + +1. Oh! what will become of thee, poor little bird? + The muttering storm in the distance is heard; + The rough winds are waking, the clouds growing black, + They'll soon scatter snowflakes all over thy back! + From what sunny clime hast thou wandered away? + And what art thou doing this cold winter day? + +2. "I'm picking the gum from the old peach tree; + The storm doesn't trouble me. Pee, dee, dee!" + +3. But what makes thee seem so unconscious of care? + The brown earth is frozen, the branches are bare: + And how canst thou be so light-hearted and free, + As if danger and suffering thou never should'st see, + When no place is near for thy evening nest, + No leaf for thy screen, for thy bosom no rest? + +4. "Because the same Hand is a shelter for me, + That took off the summer leaves. Pee, dee, dee!" + +5. But man feels a burden of care and of grief, + While plucking the cluster and binding the sheaf: + In the summer we faint, in the winter we're chilled, + With ever a void that is yet to be filled. + We take from the ocean, the earth, and the air, + Yet all their rich gifts do not silence our care. + +6. "A very small portion sufficient will be, + If sweetened with gratitude. Pee, dee, dee!" + +7. But soon there'll be ice weighing down the light bough, + On which thou art flitting so playfully now; + And though there's a vesture well fitted and warm, + Protecting the rest of thy delicate form, + What, then, wilt thou do with thy little bare feet, + To save them from pain, mid the frost and the sleet? + +8. "I can draw them right up in my feathers, you see, + To warm them, and fly away. Pee, dee, dee!" + +9. I thank thee, bright monitor; what thou hast taught + Will oft be the theme of the happiest thought; + We look at the clouds; while the birds have an eye + To Him who reigns over them, changeless and high. + And now little hero, just tell me thy name, + That I may be sure whence my oracle came. + +10. "Because, in all weather, I'm merry and free, + They call me the Winter King. Pee, dee, dee!" + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Mut'ter-ing, murmuring, rumbling. 3. Un-con'scious, not +knowing, not perceiving. 5. Clus'ter, a bunch. 7. Flit'ing, moving about +in a lively manner. Ves'ture, clothing, covering. 9. Mon'i-tor, one who +warns of faults. Or'a-cle, a wise sentence or decision. + + + +XLIV. THE NETTLE. (121) + +1. Anna. O papa! I have stung my hand with that nettle. + +2. Father. Well, my dear, I am sorry for it; but pull up that large dock +leaf you see near it; now bruise the juice out of it on the part which is +stung. Well, is the pain lessened? + +3. A. Oh, very much indeed, I hardly feel it now. But I wish there was not +a nettle in the world. I am sure I do not know what use there can be in +them. + +4. F. If you knew anything of botany, Nanny, you would not say so. + +5. A. What is botany, papa? + +6. F. Botany, my dear, is the knowledge of plants. + +7. A. Some plants are very beautiful. If the lily were growing in our +fields, I should not complain. But this ugly nettle! I do not know what +beauty or use there can be in that. + +8. F. And yet, Nanny, there is more beauty, use, and instruction in a +nettle, than even in a lily. + +9. A. O papa, how can you make that out? + +10. F. Put on your gloves, pluck up that nettle, and let us examine it. +First, look at the flower. + +11. A. The flower, papa? I see no flower, unless those little ragged knobs +are flowers, which have neither color nor smell, and are not much larger +than the heads of pins. + +12. F. Here, take this magnifying glass and examine them. + +13. A. Oh, I see now; every little knob is folded up in leaves, like a +rosebud. Perhaps there is a flower inside. + +14. F. Try; take this pin and touch the knob. Well, what do you see? + +15. A. Oh, how curious! + +16. F. What is curious? + +17. A. The moment I touched it, it flew open. A little cloud rose out like +enchantment, and four beautiful little stems sprung up as if they were +alive; and, now that I look again with the glass, I see an elegant little +flower as nice and perfect as a lily itself. + +18. F. Well, now examine the leaves. + +19. A. Oh, I see they are all covered over with little bristles; and when +I examine them with the glass, I see a little bag, filled with a juice +like water, at the bottom of each. Ha! these are the things which stung +me. + +20. F. Now touch the little bag with the point of the pin. + +21. A. When I press the bag, the juice runs up and comes out at the small +point at the top; so I suppose the little thorn must be hollow inside, +though it is finer than the point of my cambric needle. + +22. F. Have all the leaves those stings? + +23. A. No, papa; some of the young ones are quite green and soft, like +velvet, and I may handle them without any danger. + +24. F. Now look at the stem, and break it. + +25. A. I can easily crack it, but I can not break it asunder, for the bark +is so strong that it holds it together. + +26. F. Well, now you see there are more curious things in +the nettle than you expected. + +27. A. Yes, indeed, I see that. But you have often told me that God makes +nothing without its use; and I am sure I can not see any use in all these +things. + +28. F. That we will now consider. You saw the little flower burst open, +and a cloud rose, you say, like enchantment. Now all this is necessary for +the nature of the plant. There are many thousand plants in the world, and +it has pleased God, in his wisdom, to make them all different. Now look at +this other nettle, which grew on the opposite side of the road; you see +that it is not exactly like the one you have just examined. + +29. A. No, papa; this has little flat seeds instead of flowers. + +30. F. Very right, my dear. Now, in order to make those seeds grow, it is +necessary that the little flower of this plant and the seed of that should +be together, as they are in most others. But plants can not walk, like +animals. The wisdom of God, therefore, has provided a remedy for this. +When the little flower bursts open it throws out a fine powder, which you +saw rise like a cloud; this is conveyed by the air to the other plant, and +when it falls upon the seed of that plant it gives it power to grow, and +makes it a perfect seed, which, in its turn, when it falls to the ground, +will produce a new plant. Were it not for this fine powder, that seed +would never be perfect or complete. + +31. A. That is very curious, indeed; and I see the use of the little cloud +and the flower; but the leaf that stung me, of what use can that be? +There, dear papa, I am afraid I puzzle you to tell me that. + +32. P. Even these stings are made useful to man. The poor people in some +countries use them instead of blisters, when they are sick. Those leaves +which do not sting are used by some for food, and from the stalk others +get a stringy bark, which answers the purpose of flax. Thus you see that +even the despised nettle is not made in vain; and this lesson may serve to +teach you that we only need to understand the works of God to see that "in +goodness and wisdom he has made them all." + + +DEFINITIONS.--12. Mag'ni-fy-ing glass, an instrument used to make objects +appear larger. 17. En-chant'ment, magic art, witch-craft. 5. A-sun'der, +apart, into parts. 30. Rem'e-dy, that which removes an evil. Con-veyed', +carried. 32. String'y, full of strings. + + + +XLV. THE TEMPEST. (125) + +By James T. Fields (born 1817, died 1881), who was born at Portsmouth, N. +H. He was a poet, and the author, also, of some well known prose works. Of +these, his "Yesterdays with Authors" is the most noted. + +1. We were crowded in the cabin; + Not a soul would dare to sleep: + It was midnight on the waters, + And a storm was on the deep. + +2. 'T is a fearful thing in winter + To be shattered by the blast, + And to hear the rattling trumpet + Thunder, "Cut away the mast!" + +3. So we shuddered there in silence, + For the stoutest held his breath, + While the hungry sea was roaring, + And the breakers threatened death. + +4. And as thus we sat in darkness, + Each one busy in his prayers, + "We are lost!" the captain shouted, + As he staggered down the stairs. + +5. But his little daughter whispered, + As she took his icy hand, + "Is n't God upon the ocean, + Just the same as on the land?" + +6. Then we kissed the little maiden, + And we spoke in better cheer; + And we anchored safe in harbor + When the morn was shining clear. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Deep, the ocean. 2. Blast, tempest. 3. Break'ers, waves +of the sea broken by rocks. 6. Cheer, state of mind. + + + +XLVI. THE CREATOR. (126) + +The poetry at the close of this selection is by John Keble, a celebrated +English clergyman, born in 1792. He held for some years the professorship +of Poetry at Oxford University. He died in 1866. + +1. Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown. +See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves +glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odor. She is the delight +of every eye. + +2. But there is one fairer than the rose. He that made the rose is more +beautiful than the rose. He is altogether lovely. He is the delight of +every heart. + +3. I will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raiseth +himself up from his lair, when he shaketh his mane, when the voice of his +roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the +desert hide themselves; for he is terrible. + +4. But He who made the lion is stronger than the lion. He can do all +things. He gave us life, and in a moment can take it away, and no one can +save us from his hand. + +5. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he shineth +in the clear sky, when he sitteth on his throne in the heavens, and +looketh abroad over the earth, he is the most glorious and excellent +object the eye can behold. + +6. But He who made the sun is more glorious than the sun. The eye cannot +look on his dazzling brightness. He seeth all dark places, by night as +well as by day. The light of his countenance is over all the world. + +7. This great Being is God. He made all things, but He is more excellent +than all that He has made. He is the Creator, they are the creatures. They +may be beautiful, but He is Beauty. They may be strong, but He is +Strength. They may be perfect, but He is Perfection. + +8. There is a book, who runs may read, +Which heavenly truth imparts, +And all the lore its scholars need-- +Pure eyes and loving hearts. + +9. The works of God, above, below, + Within us, and around, + Are pages in that book, to show + How God himself is found. + +10. The glorious sky, embracing all, + Is like the Father's love; + Wherewith encompassed, great and small + In peace and order move. + +11. Thou who hast given me eyes to see + And love this sight so fair, + Give me a heart to find out Thee + And read Thee everywhere. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Blown, blossomed, bloomed. O'dor, smell, scent. 3. Lair, +bed of a wild beast. Des'ert, a wilderness, a place where no one lives. 5. +Ex'cel-lent, surpassing others in worth, su-perior. 6. Daz'zling, +overpowering with light. 7. Per-fec'tion, the state of being perfect, so +that nothing is wanting. 8. Im-parts', makes known. Lore, learning. 10. +En-com'passed, surrounded. + + +EXERCISES.--What is described as beautiful? As strong? As glorious? Who is +more beautiful than the rose, stronger than the lion, and more glorious +than the sun? What is the book which we may all read? What should it teach +us? + + + +XLVII. THE HORSE. (128) + +1. Uncle Thomas. Well, boys, I am glad to see you again. Since I last saw +you I have made quite a tour, and at some future time will describe to you +what I have seen. I promised at this meeting, however, to tell you +something about animals, and I propose to begin with the horse. But I know +that you like stories better than lecturing, so I will proceed at once to +tell you some which I have gathered for you. + +2. Frank. We never feel tired of listening to you, Uncle Thomas. We know +you always have something curious to tell us. + +3. Uncle Thomas. Well then, Frank, to begin at once with the horse. + +4. In several parts of the world there are to be found large herds of wild +horses. In South America the immense plains are inhabited by them, and it +is said that ten thousand are sometimes found in a single herd. These +herds are always preceded by a leader, who directs their motions; and such +is the regularity with which they perform their movements, that it seems +as if they could hardly be surpassed by the best trained cavalry. + +5. It is extremely dangerous for travelers to meet a herd of this +description. When they are unaccustomed to the sight of such a mass of +creatures, they can not help feeling greatly alarmed at their rapid and +apparently irresistible approach. The trampling of the animals sounds like +distant thunder; and such is the rapidity and impetuosity of their +advance, that it seems to threaten instant destruction. + +6. Sometimes, however, they suddenly stop short, utter a loud and piercing +neigh, and, with a rapid wheel, take an opposite course, and altogether +disappear. On such occasions it requires great care in the traveler to +prevent his horses from breaking loose and escaping with the wild herd. + +7. In those countries where wild horses are so plentiful, the inhabitants +do not take the trouble to raise others, but whenever they want one they +mount upon an animal accustomed to the sport, and gallop over the plain +toward a herd, which is readily found at no great distance. + +8. The rider gradually approaches some stragglers from the main body, and, +having selected the one he wishes, he dexterously throws the lasso (which +is a long rope with a running noose, and is firmly fixed to his saddle) +either over the wild horse's head or in such a manner as to entangle his +hind legs; and by the sudden checking of his own horse, he throws the +captured animal over on its side. + +9. In an instant he jumps off his horse, wraps his cloak round the head of +the captive, forces a bit into his mouth, and straps a saddle on his back. +He then removes the cloak, and the animal starts to his feet. With equal +quickness the hunter leaps into his saddle; and, in spite of the kicking +of the captive, keeps his seat, till, being wearied out with his efforts, +the horse submits to the guidance of his new master, and is reduced to +complete obedience. + +10. Frank. But, Uncle Thomas, are all horses originally wild? I have heard +that Arabia is famous for raising horses. + +11. Uncle Thomas. Arabia has, for a long time, been noted for the beauty +and speed of its horses. It is not strange, however, that the Arabian +horse should be the most excellent, when we consider the care and kindness +with which it is treated. One of the best stories which I have ever heard +of the love of an Arabian for his steed, is that related of an Arab, from +whom an English officer wished to purchase his horse. + +12. The animal was a bright bay mare, of fine form and great beauty; and +the owner, proud of her appearance and qualities, paraded her before the +Englishman's tent until she attracted his attention. On being asked if he +would sell her, "What will you give me?" was the reply. "That depends upon +her age. I suppose she is past five?" "Guess again," said he. "Four?" +"Look at her mouth," said the Arab, with a smile. On examination she was +found to be about three. This, from her size and symmetry, greatly +increased her value. + +13. The gentleman said, "I will give you eighty tomans," (nearly two +hundred and fifty dollars). "A little more, if you please," said the +fellow, somewhat entertained. "Ninety--a hundred." He shook his head and +smiled. The officer at last came to three hundred tomans, (nearly one +thousand dollars). "Well," said the Arab, "you need not tempt me further. +You are a rich nobleman, and, I am told, have loads of silver and gold. +Now," added he, "you want my mare, but you shall not have her for all you +have got." He put spurs to his horse, and was soon out of the reach of +temptation. + +14. The horse can swim, when necessary, as well as most other animals, +although he is not very fond of the water. Some years ago a vessel was +driven upon the rocks, on the coast of the Cape of Good Hope, and most of +the crew fell an immediate sacrifice to the waves. Those who were left +were seen from the shore, clinging to the different pieces of the wreck. +The sea ran so high that no boat could venture off to their assistance. + +15. Meanwhile, a planter had come from his farm to be a spectator of the +shipwreck. His heart was melted at the sight of the unhappy seamen, and, +knowing the bold spirit of his horse and his excellence as a swimmer, he +determined to make a desperate effort for their deliverance. Having blown +a little Brandy into his horse's nostrils, he pushed into the midst of the +breakers. At first both horse and rider disappeared, but it was not long +before they floated to the surface, and swam up to the wreck; when, taking +two men with him, each of whom held on by one of his boots, the planter +brought them safe to shore. + +16. This was repeated no less than seven times, and he saved fourteen +lives; but on his return the eighth time, being much fatigued, and meeting +a tremendous wave, he lost his balance and sank in a moment. His horse +swam safely to land, but its gallant rider sank, to rise no more. + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. Im-mense', very large. In-hab'it-ed, occupied as a home. +Cav'al-ry, a body of military troops on horses. 5. Im--pet-u-os'i-ty, +fury, violence. 8. Dex'ter-ous-ly, skillfully. 9. Re--duced', brought +into. 10. O-rig'i-nal-ly, at first. 12. Pa-rad'ed, showed off. +8. Sym'me-try, a proper proportion of the several parts. 13. To-man', a +Persian coin valued at about three dollars. 15. Des'per-ate, without care +of safety. De-liv'er-ance, release from danger. 16. Gal'lant, brave, +heroic. + + +EXERCISES.--Where are wild horses found? How are they taken? For what +purpose are they taken? In what country are the finest horses raised? Why +are the horses so excellent there? Are not animals always made better by +kind treatment? Why would not the Arab sell his horse? Relate the anecdote +of the planter and the shipwrecked seamen. + + + +XLVIII. EMULATION. (132) + +1. Frank's father was speaking to a friend, one day, on the subject of +competition at school. He said that he could answer for it that envy is +not always connected with it. + +2. He had been excelled by many, but did not recollect ever having felt +envious of his successful rivals; "nor did my winning many a prize from my +friend Birch," said he, "ever lessen his friendship for me." + +3. In support of the truth of this, a friend who was present related an +anecdote which had fallen under his own notice in a school in his +neighborhood. + +4. At this school the sons of several wealthy farmers, and others, who +were poorer, received instruction. Frank listened with great attention +while the gentleman gave the following account of the two rivals: + +5. It happened that the son of a rich farmer and the son of a poor widow +came in competition for the head of their class. They were so nearly equal +that the teacher could scarcely decide between them; some days one, and +some days the other, gained the head of the class. It was determined by +seeing who should be at the head of the class for the greater number of +days in the week. + +6. The widow's son, by the last day's trial, gained the victory, and kept +his place the following week, till the school was dismissed for the +holidays. + +7. When they met again the widow's son did not appear, and the farmer's +son, being next to him, might now have been at the head of his class. +Instead of seizing the vacant place, however, he went to the widow's house +to inquire what could be the cause of her son's absence. + +8. Poverty was the cause; the poor woman found that she was not able, with +her utmost efforts, to continue to pay for the tuition and books of her +son, and so he, poor fellow! had been compelled to give up his schooling, +and to return to labor for her support. + +9. The farmer's son, out of the allowance of pocket money which his father +gave him, bought all the necessary books and paid for the tuition of his +rival. He also permitted him to be brought back again to the head of his +class, where he continued for some time, at the expense of his generous +rival. + + +DEFINITIONS.--Em-u-la'tion, rivalry, contest. 1. Com-pe-ti'tion, rivalry. +2. Ex-celled', surpassed, exceeded in good qualities. Ri'vals, those who +pursue the same thing. 3. An'ec-dote, a short story. 8. Tu-i'tion, payment +for teaching. + + +EXERCISES.--What is the subject of this lesson? What do you mean by +emulation? What is envy? What story is told about the two rivals? Is it +right to envy any person? + + + +XLIX. THE SANDPIPER. (134) +By CELIA THAXTER. + +1. Across the lonely beach we flit, + One little sandpiper and I, + And fast I gather, bit by bit, + The scattered driftwood, bleached and dry. + The wild waves reach their hands for it, + The wild wind raves, the tide runs high, + As up and down the beach we flit, + One little sandpiper and I. + +2. Above our heads the sullen clouds + Scud, black and swift, across the sky; + Like silent ghosts in misty shrouds + Stand out the white lighthouses high. + Almost as far as eye can reach + I see the close-reefed vessels fly, + As fast we flit across the beach, + One little sandpiper and I. + +3. I watch him as he skims along, + Uttering his sweet and mournful cry; + He starts not at my fitful song, + Nor flash of fluttering drapery. + He has no thought of any wrong, + He scans me with a fearless eye; + Stanch friends are we, well-tried and strong, + The little sandpiper and I. + +4. Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night, + When the loosed storm breaks furiously? + My driftwood fire will burn so bright! + To what warm shelter canst thou fly? + I do not fear for thee, though wroth + The tempest rushes through the sky; + For are we not God's children both, + Thou, little sandpiper, and I? + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Sand'pi-per, a bird of the snipe family, found along the +seacoast. Drift'wood. wood tossed on shore by the waves. Bleached, +whitened. Tide, the regular rise and fall of the ocean which occurs twice +in a little over twenty-four hours. 2. Scud, fly hastily. Shrouds, Winding +sheets, dresses of the dead. Close'reefed, with sails contracted as much +as possible. 3. Fit'ful, irregularly variable. Draper-y, garments. Scans, +looks at care-fully. Stanch, firm. 4. Wroth, angry. + + + +L. THE RIGHT WAY. (136) + +Adapted from a story by Frank H. Stockton. He was born at Philadelphia, +April 5, 1834, and when quite a young boy used to write stories for his +own pleasure. He was once a designer and engraver on wood, and afterwards +an editor; but he now devotes himself entirely to writing, not only for +young but also for grown people. + +1. "O Andy!" said little Jenny Murdock, "I'm so glad you came along this +way. I can't get over." + +2. "Can't get over?" said Andrew. "Why what's the matter?" + +3. "The bridge is gone," said Jenny. "When I came across after breakfast +it was there, and now it's over on the other side, and how can I get back +home?" + +4. "Why, so it is," said Andrew. "It was all right when I came over a +little while ago, but old Donald pulls it on the other side every morning +after he has driven his cows across, and I don't think he has any right to +do it. I suppose he thinks the bridge was made for him and his cows." + +5. "Now I must go down to the big bridge, Andy, and I want you to go with +me. I'm afraid to go through all those dark woods by myself," said Jenny. + +6. "But I can't go, Jenny," said Andrew, "it's nearly school time now." + +7. Andrew was a Scotch boy, and a fine fellow. He was next to the head of +his school, and he was as good at play as he was at his book. + +8. Jenny Murdock, his most particular friend, was a little girl who lived +very near Andrew's home. She had no brothers or sisters, but Andrew had +always been as good as a brother to her; and, therefore, when she stood by +the water's edge that morning, just ready to burst into tears, she thought +all her troubles over when she saw Andrew coming along the road. + +9. He had always helped her out of her troubles before, and she saw no +reason why he should not do it now. She had crossed the creek in search of +wild flowers, and when she wished to return had found the bridge removed, +as Andrew supposed, by old Donald McKensie, who pastured his cows on this +side of the creek. + +10. This stream was not very wide, nor very deep at its +edges, but the center it was four or five feet deep; and in the +spring the water ran very swiftly, so that wading across it, +either by cattle or men, was quite a difficult undertaking. As +for Jenny, she could not get across at all without a bridge, +and there was none nearer than the wagon bridge, a mile and +a half below. + +11. "You will go with me, Andy, won't you?" said the little girl. + +12. "And be late to school?" said he. "I have not been late yet, you know, +Jenny." + +13. "Perhaps Dominie Black will think you have been sick or had to mind +the cows," said Jenny. + +14. "He won't think so unless I tell him," said Andrew, "and you know I +won't do that." + +15. "If we were to run all the way, would you be too late?" said Jenny. + +16. "If we were to run all the way to the bridge, and I were to run all +the way back, I should not get to school till after copy time. I expect +every minute to hear the school bell ring," said Andrew. + +17. "But what can I do, then?" said poor little Jenny. "I can't wait here +till school's out, and I don't want to go up to the schoolhouse, for all +the boys to laugh at me." + +18. "No," said Andrew, reflecting very seriously, "I must take you home +some way or other. It won't do to leave you here, and, no matter where you +might stay, your mother would be very much troubled about you." + +19. "Yes," said Jenny, "she would think I was drowned." + +20. Time pressed, and Jenny's countenance became more and more overcast, +but Andrew could think of no way in which he could take the little girl +home without being late and losing his standing in the school. + +21. It was impossible to get her across the stream at any place nearer +than the "big bridge;" he would not take her that way, and make up a false +story to account for his lateness at school, and he could not leave her +alone or take her with him. + +22. What was to be done? While several absurd and impracticable plans were +passing through his brain, the school bell began to ring, and he must +start immediately to reach the schoolhouse in time. + +23. And now his anxiety and perplexity became more intense than ever; and +Jenny, looking up into his troubled countenance, began to cry. + +24. Andrew, who had never before failed to be at the school door before +the first tap of the bell, began to despair. Was there nothing to be done? + +25. Yes! a happy thought passed through his mind. How strange that he +should not have thought of it before! He would ask Dominie Black to let +him take Jenny home. What could be more sensible and straightforward than +such a plan? + +26. Of course, the good old schoolmaster gave Andrew the desired +permission, and everything ended happily. But the best thing about the +whole affair was the lesson that the young Scotch boy learned that day. + +27. The lesson was this: when we are puzzling our brains with plans to +help ourselves out of trouble, let us always stop a moment in our +planning, and try to think if there is not some simple way out of the +difficulty, which shall be in every respect perfectly right. If we do +this, we shall probably find a way more easy and satisfactory than any +which we can devise. + + +DEFINITIONS.--8. Par-tic'u-lar, not ordinary, worthy of partic-ular +attention, chief. 13. Dom'i-nie, the Scotch name for school-master. 18. +Re-flect'ing, thinking earnestly. 20 Over-cast', cov-ered with gloom. 21. +Ac-count', to state the reasons. 22. Im--prac'ti-ca-ble, not possible. 23. +Anx-i'e-ty, care, trouble of mind. 27. De-vise', plan, contrive. + + +EXERCISES.--Why could not Jenny cross the stream? Whom did she ask to help +her? What can you tell about Andrew? Who was Jenny Murdock? What did Jenny +wish Andrew to do? Why could he not go with her? Would it have been right +for Andrew to have told an untruth even to help Jenny out of trouble? What +did he finally do? What does this lesson teach us to do in case of +trouble? + + + +LI. THE GOLDEN RULE. (139) + +1. To act with integrity and good faith was such a habit with Susan that +she had never before thought of examining the Golden Rule: "All things +whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." But +the longer she reflected upon it, the stronger was her conviction that she +did not always obey the precept; at length, she appealed to her mother for +its meaning. + +2. "It implies," said her mother, "in the first place, a total destruction +of all selfishness: for a man who loves himself better than his neighbors, +can never do to others as he would have others do to him. We are bound not +only to do, but to feel, toward others as we would have others feel toward +us. Remember, it is much easier to reprove the sin of others than to +overcome temptation when it assails ourselves. + +3. "A man may be perfectly honest and yet very selfish; but the command +implies something more than mere honesty; it requires charity as well as +integrity. The meaning of the command is fully explained in the parable of +the Good Samaritan. The Levite, who passed by the wounded man without +offering him assistance, may have been a man of great honesty; but he did +not do unto the poor stranger as he would have wished others to do unto +him." + +4. Susan pondered carefully and seriously on what her mother had said. +When she thought over her past conduct, a blush of shame crept to her +cheeks, and a look of sorrow into her eyes, as many little acts of +selfishness and unkindness came back to her memory. She resolved that for +the future, both in great things and small, she would remember and follow +the Golden Rule. + +5. It was not long after this that an opportunity occurred of trying +Susan's principles. One Saturday evening when she went, as usual, to +farmer Thompson's inn, to receive the price of her mother's washing for +the boarders, which amounted to five dollars, she found the farmer in the +stable yard. + +6. He was apparently in a terrible rage with some horse dealers with whom +he had been bargaining. He held in his hand an open pocketbook, full of +bills; and scarcely noticing the child as she made her request, except to +swear at her, as usual, for troubling him when he was busy, he handed her +a bank note. + +7. Glad to escape so easily, Susan hurried out of the gate, and then, +pausing to pin the money safely in the folds of her shawl, she discovered +that he had given her two bills instead of one. She looked around; nobody +was near to share her discovery; and her first impulse was joy at the +unexpected prize. + +8. "It is mine, all mine," said she to herself; "I will buy +mother a new cloak with it, and she can give her old one to +sister Mary, and then Mary can go to the Sunday school with +me next winter. I wonder if it will not buy a pair of shoes for +brother Tom, too." + +9. At that moment she remembered that he must have given it to her by +mistake; and therefore she had no right to it. But again the voice of the +tempter whispered, "He gave it, and how do you know that he did not intend +to make you a present of it? Keep it; he will never know it, even if it +should be a mistake; for he had too many such bills in that great +pocketbook to miss one." + +10. While this conflict was going on in her mind between good and evil, +she was hurrying homeward as fast as possible. Yet, before she came in +sight of her home, she had repeatedly balanced the comforts which the +money would buy against the sin of wronging her neighbor. + +11. As she crossed the little bridge over the narrow creek before her +mother's door, her eye fell upon a rustic seat which they had occupied +during the conversation I have before narrated. Instantly the words of +Scripture, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so +to them," sounded in her ears like a trumpet. + +12. Turning suddenly round, as if flying from some unseen peril, the child +hastened along the road with breathless speed until she found herself once +more at farmer Thompson's gate. "What do you want now?" asked the gruff +old fellow, as he saw her again at his side. + +13. "Sir, you paid me two bills, instead of one," said she, trembling in +every limb. "Two bills? did I? let me see; well, so I did; but did you +just find it out? Why did you not bring it back sooner?" Susan blushed and +hung her head. + +14. "You wanted to keep it, I suppose," said he. "Well, I am glad your +mother was more honest than you, or I should have been five dollars poorer +and none the wiser." "My mother knows nothing about it, sir," said Susan; +"I brought it back before I went home." + +15. The old man looked at the child, and, as he saw the tears rolling down +her checks, he seemed touched by her distress. Putting his band in his +pocket, he drew out a shilling and offered it to her. + +16. "No, sir, I thank you," sobbed she; "I do not want to be paid for +doing right; I only wish you would not think me dishonest, for, indeed, it +was a sore temptation. Oh! sir, if you had ever seen those you love best +wanting the common comforts of life, you would know how hard it is for us +always to do unto others as we would have others do unto us," + +17. The heart of the selfish man was touched. "There be things which are +little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise," murmured he, as he +bade the little girl good night, and entered his house a sadder, and, it +is to be hoped, a better man. Susan returned to her humble home with a +lightened heart, and through the course of a long and useful life she +never forgot her first temptation. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. In-teg'ri-ty, honesty, uprightness. Con-vic'tion, strong +belief. Ap-pealed', referred to. 2. Temp-ta'tion, that which has a +tendency to induce one to do wrong. As-sails', attacks. 10. Con'flict, +struggle. Bal'anced, weighed, compared. 12. Gruff, rough. 17. Mur'mured, +spoke in a low voice. Light'ened, made cheerful or lighter. + + +EXERCISES.--What is the Golden Rule? What does it imply? Can a man be +perfectly honest and still not follow the Golden Rule? What parable is a +perfect illustration of its meaning? How was Susan tempted? What did she +first think of doing? What changed her intention? Relate what happened +when she returned the money. What effect did her action have? + + + +LII. THE SNOW MAN. (143) +By Marian Douglas. + +1. Look! how the clouds are flying south! + The winds pipe loud and shrill! + And high above the white drifts stands + The snow man on the hill. + +2. Blow, wild wind from the icy north! + Here's one who will not fear + To feel thy coldest touch, or shrink + Thy loudest blast to hear. + +3. Proud triumph of the schoolboy's skill! + Far rather would I be + A winter giant, ruling o'er + A frosty realm, like thee, + +4. And stand amid the drifted snow, + Like thee, a thing apart, + Than be a man who walks with men, + But has a frozen heart! + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Pipe, whistle. 2. Shrink, to draw back on account of +fear. 3. Triumph, success causing exultation. Realm, the territory over +which authority is used, dominion. + + +EXERCISES.--With what is the snow man compared in this poem? What is meant +by a man with "a frozen heart"? Do you think such a man would follow the +Golden Rule? + + + +LIII. ROBINSON CRUSOE'S HOUSE. (144) + +Daniel DeFoe, the author of "Robinson Crusoe" (from which these selections +are adapted), was born in London, England, in 1661, and died in 1731. He +wrote a number of books; but his "Robinson Crusoe" is the only one that +attained great notoriety. + +1. I have already described my habitation, which was a tent under the side +of a rock, surrounded with a strong pale of posts and cables, but I might +now rather call it a wall, for I raised a kind of wall up against it of +turf, about two feet thick on the outside; and, after some time (I think +it was a year and a half) I raised rafters from it, leaning to the rock, +and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees and such things as I could +get to keep out the rain, which I found at some times of the year very +violent. + +2. I have already observed how I brought all my goods into this pale, and +into the cave which I had made behind me; but I must observe, too, that at +first this was a confused heap of goods, which, as they lay in no order, +took up all my place, so that I had no room to turn myself. So I set to +work to enlarge my cave and work farther into the earth; for it was a +loose, sandy rock, which yielded easily to the labor I bestowed upon it. + +3. And so when I found that I was pretty safe as to beasts of prey, I +worked sideways into the rock; and then, turning to the right again, +worked quite out, and made me a door to come out on the outside of my pale +or fortification. This gave me not only egress and regress, as it was a +back way to my tent and to my storehouse, but gave me room to stow my +goods. + +4. And now I began to apply myself to make such necessary things as I +found I most wanted, particularly a chair and a table; for without these I +was not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the world. I could not +write or eat, or do several things with so much pleasure without a table. + +5. So I went to work. I had never handled a tool in my life; and yet in +time by labor, application, and contrivance, I found that I wanted nothing +but I could have made it, especially if I had had tools; however, I made +abundance of things, even without tools, and some with no more tools than +an adz and a hatchet, which perhaps were never made that way before, and +that with infinite labor. + +6. For example, if I wanted a board, I had no other way but to cut down a +tree, set it before me, and hew it flat on either side with my ax till I +had brought it to be as thin as a plank, and then dub it smooth with my +adz. + +7. It is true, by this method I could make but one board out of a whole +tree; but this I had no remedy for but patience, any more than I had for +the prodigious deal of time and labor which it took me to make a plank or +board; but my time or labor was little worth, and so it was as well +employed one way as another. + +8. However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed above; and this I +did out of the short pieces of boards which I brought on my raft from the +ship; but when I had wrought out some boards, as above, I made large +shelves, of the breadth of a foot and a half, one over another, all along +one side of my cave, to lay all my tools, nails, and ironwork on, and, in +a word, to separate everything at large in their places, that I might come +easily at them. + +9. I knocked pieces into the wall of the rock to hang my guns and all +things that would hang up. So that, had my cave been seen, it would have +looked like a general magazine of all necessary things; and I had +everything so ready at my hand that it was a great pleasure to me to see +all my goods in such order, and especially to find my stock of all +necessaries so great. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Hab-i-ta'tion, a dwelling place. Pale, a fence. Ca'bles, +large ropes. Turf, sod. 3. For-ti-fi-ca'tion, a place built for defense +against attack. E'gress, going out. Re'gress, coming back, return. Stow, +to arrange compactly. 4. Ap-ply', to employ diligently. 6. Dub, to cut +down or bring to an even surface. 7. Pro-di'gious, very great. Deal, part, +amount. 9. Mag-a-zine', a storehouse, + + +EXERCISES.--How did Robinson Crusoe make a house? Of what did he make a +chair and table? How did he obtain boards? What does this lesson teach us +in regard to perseverance? + + + +LIV. ROBINSON CRUSOE'S DRESS. (147) + +1. But had any man in England met such a man as I was, it must either have +frightened him or raised a great deal of laughter; and, as I frequently +stood still to look at myself, I could not but smile at the notion of my +traveling through Yorkshire in such a dress. + +2. I had a great, high, shapeless cap, made of a goat's skin, with a flap +hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me as to shoot the rain +off from running into my neck; nothing being so hurtful in these climates +as the rain upon the flesh under the clothes. + +3. I had a short jacket of goatskin, the skirts coming down to about the +middle of the thighs, and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same; the +breeches were made of the skin of an old goat, and the hair hung down such +a length on either side that it reached to the middle of my legs like +pantaloons. + +4. Stockings and shoes I had none; but I made a pair of something, I +scarce know what to call them, like buskins, to flap over my legs, and +lace on either side like spatterdashes; but they were of a most barbarous +shape, as indeed were all the rest of my clothes. + +5. I had on a broad belt of goatskin dried, which I drew together with two +thongs of the same, instead of buckles; and, in a kind of frog on each +side of this, instead of a sword and dagger, hung a little saw and +hatchet; one on one side, and one on the other. I had another belt not so +broad, and fastened in the same manner, which hung over my shoulder; and +at the end of it, under my left arm, hung two pouches, both made of +goatskin, too; in one of which hung my powder, in the other my shot. + +6. At my back I carried my basket, on my shoulder my gun, and over my head +a great, clumsy, ugly, goatskin umbrella, but which, after all, was the +most necessary thing I had about me, next to my gun. + +7. As for my face, the color of it was really not so dark as one might +expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living within nine or ten +degrees of the equator. My beard I had once suffered to grow till it was +about a quarter of a yard long; but, as I had both scissors and razors +sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, except what grew on my upper lip, +which I had trimmed into a large pair of Mahometan whiskers, such as I had +seen worn by some Turks. + +8. Of these mustaches or whiskers, I will not say that they were long +enough to hang my hat upon them, but they were of a length and shape +monstrous enough, and such as in England would have passed for frightful. +But all this is by the bye; for, as to my figure, I had so few to observe +me that it was of no manner of consequence; so I say no more on that part. + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. Bus'kins, coverings for the feet coming some distance up +the leg, and fit for a defense against thorns, etc. Spat'-ter-dash-es, +coverings for the legs to keep them clean from water and mud. Bar'ba-rous, +uncouth, clumsy. 5. Thongs, strips of leather. Frog, a loop similar to +that sometimes used in fastening a cloak or coat. Pouch'es bags. 8. +Mon'strous, very large, enormous. + + +NOTES.--The novel, "Robinson Crusoe," was first published in 1719. It was +founded on the adventures of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotch buccaneer, who +was cast on the island of Juan Fernandez, west of South America, in 1704, +and remained there for more than four years, before he was rescued. + +1. Yorkshire. This was the district of England where, according to the +story, Robinson Crusoe was born and passed his early life. + +3. Open-kneed breeches. At this period knee breeches were worn almost +altogether in England. Those referred to here appear to have been loose +about the knee, and not close, as usual. + +5. Instead of sword and dagger. It was then the fashion in England for +gentlemen to wear such weapons. + +8. Such as in England would have passed for frightful. It was not the +custom in England, in DeFoe's time, to wear a full beard. + + + +LV. SOMEBODY'S DARLING. (150) + +1. Into a ward of the whitewashed halls, + Where the dead and dying lay, + Wounded by bayonets, shells, and balls, + Somebody's darling was borne one day; + +2. Somebody's darling, so young and brave, + Wearing yet on his pale, sweet face, + Soon to be hid by the dust of the grave, + The lingering light of his boyhood's grace. + +3. Matted and damp are the curls of gold, + Kissing the snow of that fair young brow; + Pale are the lips of delicate mold + Somebody's darling is dying now. + +4. Back from his beautiful, blue-veined brow, + Brush all the wandering waves of gold; + Cross his hands on his bosom now; + Somebody's darling is still and cold. + +5. Kiss him once for somebody's sake, + Murmur a prayer soft and low; + One bright curl from its fair mates take; + They were somebody's pride, you know; + +6. Somebody's hand has rested there; + Was it a mother's, soft and white? + And have the lips of a sister fair + Been baptized in the waves of light? + +7. God knows best! he was somebody's love: + Somebody's heart enshrined him there; + Somebody wafted his name above, + Night and morn, on the wings of prayer. + +8. Somebody wept when he marched away, + Looking so handsome, brave, and grand; + Somebody's kiss on his forehead lay; + Somebody clung to his parting hand. + +9. Somebody's watching and waiting for him, + Yearning to hold him again to her heart; + And there he lies, with his blue eyes dim, + And the smiling, childlike lips apart. + +10. Tenderly bury the fair young dead, + Pausing too drop on his grave a tear; + Carve on the wooden slab at his head, + "Somebody's darling slumbers here." + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Bay'o-net, a short, pointed iron weapon, fitted to the +muzzle of a gun. Dar'ling, one dearly loved. 2. Lin'ger-ing, protracted. +3. Mat'ted, twisted together. Del'i-cate, soft and fair. Mold, shape. 4. +Wan'der-ing, straying. 7. En-shrined', cherished. Waft'ed, caused to +float. 9. Yearn'ing, being eager, longing. 10. Ten'der-ly, gently, kindly. + + + +LVI. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. (151) + +1. "What an excellent thing is knowledge," said a sharp-looking, hustling +little man, to one who was much older than himself. "Knowledge is an +excellent thing," repeated he. "My boys know more at six and seven years +old than I did at twelve. They can read all sorts of books, and talk on +all sorts of subjects. The world is a great deal wiser than it used to he. +Everybody knows something of everything now. Do you not think, sir, that +knowledge is all excellent thing?" + +2. "Why, sir," replied the old man, looking grave, "that depends entirely +upon the use to which it is applied. It may be a blessing or a curse. +Knowledge is only an increase of power, and power may be a bad, as well as +a good thing." "That is what I can not understand," said the bustling +little man. "How can power he a bad thing?" + +3. "I will tell you," meekly replied the old man; and thus he went on: +"When the power of a horse is under restraint, the animal is useful in +bearing burdens, drawing loads, and carrying his master; but when that +power is unrestrained, the horse breaks his bridle, dashes to pieces the +carriage that he draws, or throws his rider." "I see!" said the little +man. + +4. "When the water of a large pond is properly conducted by trenches, it +renders the fields around fertile; but when it bursts through its banks, +it sweeps everything before it and destroys the produce of the fields." "I +see!" said the little man, "I see!" + +5. "When the ship is steered aright, the sail that she hoists enables her +sooner to get into port; but if steered wrong, the more sail she carries +the further will she go out of her course." "I see!" said the little man, +"I see clearly!" + +6. "Well, then," continued the old man, "if you see these things so +clearly, I hope you can see, too, that knowledge, to be a good thing, must +be rightly applied. God's grace in the heart will render the knowledge of +the head a blessing; but without this, it may prove to us no better than a +curse." "I see! I see!" said the little man, "I see!" + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Bus'tling, very active, stirring. Sub'ject, the thing +treated of. 3. Meek'ly, mildly, quietly, gently. Re-straint', anything +which hinders. Bur'dens, loads. 4. Con-duct'ed, led, guided. Trench'es, +ditches. Fer'tile, producing much fruit, rich. Prod'uce, that which is +yielded or produced. 5. Steered', guided, directed. Hoists, raises. 6. +Ap-plied', directed, made use of. + + +EXERCISES--What is the subject of this lesson? Is knowledge always a +power? Is it always blessing? Relate the several examples of power wrongly +used. If we use the powers that God has given us for bad purposes, what +will our knowledge prove to be? + + + +LVII. GOOD WILL. (153) +By J. T. Trowbridge.--(Adapted) + +1. I suppose you all, my boys, are looking for some sort of success in +life; it is right that you should; but what are your notions of success? +To get rich as soon as possible, without regard to the means by which your +wealth is acquired? + +2. There is no true success in that: when you have gained millions, you +may yet be poorer than when you had nothing; and it is that same reckless +ambition which has brought many a bright and capable boy, not to great +estate at last, but to miserable failure and disgrace; not to a palace, +but to a prison. + +3. Wealth rightly got and rightly used, rational enjoyment, power, +fame,--these are all worthy objects of ambition; but they are not the +highest objects, and you may acquire them all without achieving true +success. But if, whatever you seek, you put good will into all your +actions, you are sure of the best success at last; for whatever else you +gain or miss, you are building up a noble and beautiful character, which +is not only the best of possessions in this world, but also is about all +you can expect to take with you into the next. + +4. I say, good will in all your actions. You are not simply to be kind and +helpful to others; but, whatever you do, give honest, earnest purpose to +it. Thomas is put by his parents to learn a business. But Thomas does not +like to apply himself very closely. "What's the use?" he says. "I'm not +paid much, and I'm not going to work much. I'll get along just as easily +as I can, and have as good times as I can." + +5. So he shirks his tasks; and instead of thinking about his employer's +interests, or his own self improvement, gives his mind to trifles,--often +to evil things, which in their ruinous effects upon his life are not +trifles. As soon as he is free from his daily duties, he is off with his +companions, having what they call a good time; his heart is with them even +while his hands are employed in the shop or store. + +6. He does nothing thoroughly well,--not at all for want of talent, but +solely for lack of good will. He is not preparing himself to be one of +those efficient clerks or workmen who are always in demand, and who +receive the highest wages. + +7. There is a class of people who are the pest of every community, workmen +who do not know their trade, men of business ignorant of the first +principles of business. They can never be relied upon to do well anything +they undertake. They are always making blunders which other people have to +suffer for, and which react upon themselves. They are always getting out +of employment, and failing in business. + +8. To make up for what they lack in knowledge and thoroughness, they often +resort to trick and fraud, and become not merely contemptible but +criminal. Thomas is preparing himself to be one of this class. You can +not, boys, expect to raise a good crop from evil seed. + +9. By Thomas's side works another boy, whom we will call James,--a lad of +only ordinary capacity, very likely. If Thomas and all the other boys did +their best, there would be but small chance for James ever to become +eminent. But he has something better than talent: he brings good will to +his work. Whatever he learns, he learns so well that it becomes a part of +himself. + +10. His employers find that they can depend upon Jim. Customers soon learn +to like and trust him. By diligence, self-culture, good habits, cheerful +and kindly conduct, he is laying the foundation of a generous manhood and +a genuine success. + +11. In short, boys, by slighting your tasks you hurt yourself more than +you wrong your employer. By honest service you benefit yourself more than +you help him. If you were aiming at mere worldly advancement only, I +should still say that good will was the very best investment you could +make in business. + +12. By cheating a customer, you gain only a temporary and unreal +advantage. By serving him with right good will,--doing by him as you +would be done by,--you not only secure his confidence but also his good +will in return. But this is a sordid consideration compared with the +inward satisfaction, the glow and expansion of soul which attend a good +action done for itself alone. If I were to sum up all I have to say to you +in one last word of love and counsel, that one word should be--Good will. + + +DEFINITIONS.--3. Char'ac-ter, the sum of qualities which distin-guish one +person from another. 4. Purpose, intention, aim. 7. Prin'ci-ples, fixed +rules. 9. Ca-pac'i-ty, ability, the power of re-ceiving ideas. 12. +Sor'did, base, meanly avaricious. + + +EXERCISES.--What is meant by the phrase "to apply himself," in the fourth +paragraph? What is meant by "a generous manhood," tenth paragraph? By +"expansion of soul," twelfth paragraph? Tell what is meant by "good will," +as taught by this lesson. How did Tom and James differ in character? + + + +LVIII. A CHINESE STORY. (156) + +By Christopher Pearse Cranch, who was born at Alexandria, Va. (then D. +C.), in 1813. He has written some well-known children's stories, besides +numerous poems; but his greatest literary work is "The AEneid of Vergil, +translated into English blank verse." He died in Cambridge Mass., 1892. + +1. Two young, near-sighted fellows, Chang and Ching, + Over their chopsticks idly chattering, + Fell to disputing which could see the best; + At last, they agreed to put it to the test. + Said Chang, "A marble tablet, so I hear, + Is placed upon the Bo-hee temple near, + With an inscription on it. Let us go + And read it (since you boast your optics so), + Standing together at a certain place + In front, where we the letters just may trace; + Then he who quickest reads the inscription there, + The palm for keenest eyes henceforth shall bear." + "Agreed," said Ching, "but let us try it soon: + Suppose we say to-morrow afternoon." + +2. "Nay, not so soon," said Chang; "I'm bound to go + To-morrow a day's ride from Hoang-Ho, + And sha'n't be ready till the following day: + At ten A. M., on Thursday, let us say." + +3. So 'twas arranged; but Ching was wide-awake: + Time by the forelock he resolved to take; + And to the temple went at once, and read, + Upon the tablet, "To the illustrious dead, + The chief of mandarins, the great Goh-Bang." + Scarce had he gone when stealthily came Chang, + Who read the same; but peering closer, he + Spied in a corner what Ching failed to see-- + The words, "This tablet is erected here + By those to whom the great Goh-Bang was dear." + +4. So on the appointed day--both innocent + As babes, of course--these honest fellows went, + And took their distant station; and Ching said, + "I can read plainly, 'To the illustrious dead, + The chief of mandarins, the great Goh-Bang.'" + "And is that all that you can spell?" said Chang; + "I see what you have read, but furthermore, + In smaller letters, toward the temple door, + Quite plain, 'This tablet is erected here + By those to whom the great Goh-Bang was dear.'" + +5. "My sharp-eyed friend, there are no such words!" said Ching. + "They're there," said Chang, "if I see anything, + As clear as daylight." "Patent eyes, indeed, + You have!" cried Ching; "do you think I can not read?" + "Not at this distance as I can," Chang said, + "If what you say you saw is all you read." + +6. In fine, they quarreled, and their wrath increased, + Till Chang said, "Let us leave it to the priest; + Lo! here he comes to meet us," "It is well," + Said honest Ching; "no falsehood he will tell." + +7. The good man heard their artless story through, + And said, "I think, dear sirs, there must be few + Blest with such wondrous eyes as those you wear: + There's no such tablet or inscription there! + There was one, it is true; 't was moved away + And placed within the temple yesterday." + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Near-sight'ed, seeing at a short distance only. +Chop'sticks, small sticks of wood, ivory, etc., used in pairs by Chinese +to carry food to the mouth. Tab'let, a small, flat piece of anything on +which to write or engrave. In-scrip'tion, something written or engraved +on a solid substance. Op'tics, eyes. Palm, the reward of victory, prize. +2. A. M., an abbreviation for the Latin ante meridian, meaning before +noon. 3. Man-da-rin', a Chinese public officer. 5. Pat'ent, secured from +general use, peculiar to one person. + + + +LXX. THE WAY TO BE HAPPY. (159) + +1. Every child must observe how much more happy and beloved some children +are than others. There are some children you always love to be with. They +are happy themselves, and they make you happy. + +2. There are others whom you always avoid. They seem to have no friends. +No person can be happy without friends. The heart is formed for love, and +can not be happy without it. + + 3. "'Tis not in titles nor in rank, + 'Tis not in wealth like London bank, + To make us truly blest. + If happiness have not her seat + And center in the breast, + We may be wise, or rich, or great, + But never can be blest." + +4. But you can not receive affection unless you will also give it. You can +not find others to love you unless you will also love them. Love is only +to be obtained by giving love in return. Hence the importance of +cultivating a good disposition. You can not be happy without it. + +5. I have sometimes heard a girl say, "I know that I am very unpopular at +school." Now, this plainly shows that she is not amiable. + +6. If your companions do not love you, it is your own fault. They can not +help loving you if you will be kind and friendly. If you are not loved, it +is a good proof that you do not deserve to be loved. It is true that a +sense of duty may, at times, render it necessary for you to do that which +will displease your companions. + +7. But if it is seen that you have a noble spirit, that you are above +selfishness, that you are willing to make sacrifices to promote the +happiness of others, you will never be in want of friends. + +8. You must not regard it as your misfortune that others do not love you, +but your fault. It is not beauty, it is not wealth, that will give you +friends. Your heart must glow with kindness, if you would attract to +yourself the esteem and affection of those around you. + +9. You are little aware how much the happiness of your whole life depends +upon the cultivation of a good disposition. If you will adopt the +resolution that you will confer favors whenever you can, you will +certainly be surrounded by ardent friends. Begin upon this principle in +childhood, and act upon it through life, and you will make yourself happy, +and promote the happiness of all within your influence. + +10. You go to school on a cold winter morning. A bright fire is blazing in +the stove, surrounded with boys struggling to get near it to warm +themselves. After you are slightly warmed, a schoolmate comes in suffering +with cold. "Here, James," you pleasantly call out to him, "I am almost +warm; you may have my place." + +11. As you slip aside to allow him to take your place at the fire, will he +not feel that you are kind? The worst boy in the world can not help +admiring such generosity; and, even though he be so ungrateful as not to +return the favor, you may depend upon it that he will be your friend as +far as he is capable of friendship. If you will always act upon this +principle, you will never want for friends. + +12. Suppose, some day, you are out with your companions playing ball. +After you have been playing for some time, another boy comes along. He can +not be chosen upon either side, for there is no one to match him. "Henry," +you say, "you may take my place a little while, and I will rest." + +13. You throw yourself down upon the grass, while Henry, fresh and +vigorous, takes your bat and engages in the game. He knows that you give +up to oblige him, and how can he help liking you for it? The fact is, that +neither man nor child can cultivate such a spirit of generosity and +kindness without attracting affection and esteem. + +14. Look and see which of your companions have the most friends, and you +will find that they are those who have this noble spirit; who are willing +to deny themselves, that they may make others happy. There is but one way +to make friends; and that is, by being friendly to others. + +15. Perhaps some child who reads this feels conscious of being disliked, +and yet desires to have the affection of his companions. You ask me what +you shall do. I will tell you. I will give you an infallible rule: Do all +in your power to make others happy. Be willing to make sacrifices, that +you may promote the happiness of others. + +16. This is the way to make friends, and the only way. When you are +playing with your brothers and sisters at home, be always ready to give +them more than their share of privileges. Manifest an obliging +disposition, and they can not but regard you with affection. In all your +intercourse with others, at home or abroad, let these feelings influence +you, and you will receive a rich reward. + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. Cul'ti-vat-ing, cherishing, encouraging. 5. +Un-pop'u-lar, not pleasing others. 6. Com-pan'ions, those who keep company +with anyone. 7. Sac'ri-fic-es, things given up to oblige others. +Pro-mote', advance, forward. 10. Suf'fer-ing, undergoing pain. 11. +Gen-er-os'i-ty, kindness, nobleness of soul. 15. In-fal'li-ble, certain, +that can not fail. 16. Man'i-fest, to show plainly. In'ter-course, +communication, mutual dealings. + + +EXERCISES.--What is this lesson about? Can we be happy without friends? +How can we win the love of those about us? Whose fault is it if we are not +loved? What rule will surely gain us love and friendship if we always +follow it? + + + +LX. THE GIRAFFE, OR CAMELOPARD. (162) + +1. The giraffe is a native of Africa. It is of singular shape and size, +and bears some resemblance both to the camel and the deer. The mouth is +small; the eyes are full and brilliant; the tongue is rough, very long, +and ending in a point. The neck is long and slender, and, from the +shoulder to the top of the head, it measures between seven and eight feet; +from the ground to the top of the shoulder, it is commonly ten or eleven +feet; so that the height of a full-grown giraffe is seventeen or eighteen +feet. + +2. The hair is of a deep brown color in the male, and of a light or +yellowish brown in the female. The skin is beautifully diversified with +white spots. They have short, blunt horns, and hoofs like those of the ox. +In their wild state, they feed on the leaves of a gum-bearing tree +peculiar to warm climates. + +3. The giraffe, like the horse and other hoofed animals, defends itself by +kicking; and its hinder limbs are so light, and its blows so rapid, that +the eye can not follow them. They are sufficient for its defense against +the lion. It never employs its horns in resisting the attack of an enemy. +Its disposition is gentle, and it flees to its native forest upon the +least alarm. + +4. Le Vaillant (the celebrated French traveler and naturalist) was the +first who gave us any exact account of the form and habits of the giraffe. +While he was traveling in South Africa, he happened one day to discover a +hut covered with the skin of one of those animals; and learned to his +surprise that he was now in a part of the country where the creature was +found. He could not rest contented until he had seen the animal alive, and +had secured a specimen. + +5. Having on several days obtained sight of some of them, he, with his +attendants, on horseback and accompanied with dogs, gave chase; but they +baffled all pursuit. After a chase of a whole day, which effected nothing +but the fatigue of the party, he began to despair of success. + +6. "The next day," says he, "by sunrise, I was in pursuit of game, in the +hope of obtaining some provisions for my men. After several hours' +fatigue, we saw, at the turn of a hill, seven giraffes, which my pack of +dogs instantly pursued. Six of them went off together; but the seventh, +cut off by my dogs, took another way. + +7. "I followed the single one at full speed, but, in spite of the efforts +of my horse, she got so much ahead of me, that, in turning a little hill, +I lost sight of her altogether, and I gave up the pursuit. My dogs, +however, were not so easily exhausted. They were soon so close upon her +that she was obliged to stop and defend herself. From the noise they made, +I conjectured that they had got the animal into a corner, and I again +pushed forward. + +8. "I had scarcely got round the hill, when I perceived her surrounded by +the dogs, and endeavoring to drive them away by heavy kicks. In a moment I +was on my feet, and a shot from my carbine brought her to the earth. I was +delighted with my victory, which enabled me to add to the riches of +natural history. I was now able, also, to destroy the romance which +attached to this animal, and to establish the truth of its existence." + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Bril'liant, sparkling, shining. 2. Di-ver'si-fied, made +various. Pe-cul'iar, especially belonging to. 4. Le Vaillant (pro. leh va +yon'). Nat'u-ral-ist, one who is acquainted with objects of nature. +Spec'i-men, a sample. 5. Baf 'fled, defeated, escaped from. Fa-tigue', +weariness. 7. Con-jec'tured, guessed. 8. Car'bine, a short gun. Ro-mance', +a story without truth. + + +EXERCISES.--Of what country is the giraffe a native? To what height does +it attain when full grown? On what does it live? How does it defend +itself? Relate the story of Le Vaillant's giraffe hunt. + + + +LXI. THE LOST CHILD. (165) + +1. A few years since, a child was lost in the woods. He was out with his +brothers and sisters gathering berries, and was accidentally separated +from them, and lost. The children, after looking in vain for some time in +search of the little wanderer, returned, just in the dusk of the evening, +to inform their parents that their brother was lost and could not be +found. + +2. The woods, at that time, were full of bears. The darkness of a cloudy +night was rapidly coming on, and the alarmed father, gathering a few of +his neighbors, hastened in search of the lost child. The mother remained +at home, almost distracted with suspense. + +3. As the clouds gathered, and the darkness increased, the father and the +neighbors, with highly excited fears, traversed the woods in all +directions, and raised loud shouts to attract the attention of the child. +But their search was in vain. They could find no trace of the wanderer; +and, as they stood under the boughs of the lofty trees, and listened, that +if possible they might hear his feeble voice, no sound was borne to their +ears but the melancholy moaning of the wind as it swept through the thick +branches of the forest. + +4. The gathering clouds threatened an approaching storm, and the deep +darkness of the night had already enveloped them. It is difficult to +conceive what were the feelings of that father. And who could imagine how +deep the distress which filled the bosom of that mother, as she heard the +wind, and beheld the darkness in which her child was wandering! + +5. The search was continued in vain till nine o'clock in the evening. +Then, one of the party was sent back to the village, to collect the +inhabitants for a more extensive search. The bell rung the alarm, and the +cry of fire resounded through the streets. It was ascertained, however, +that it was not fire which caused the alarm, but that the bell tolled the +more solemn tidings of a lost child. + +6. Every heart sympathized in the sorrows of the distracted parents. Soon, +multitudes of the people were seen ascending the hill, upon the declivity +of which the village stood, to aid in the search. Ere long, the rain began +to fall, but no tidings came back to the village of the lost child. Hardly +an eye was that night closed in sleep, and there was not a mother who did +not feel for the parents. + +7. The night passed away, and the morning dawned, and yet no tidings came. +At last, those engaged in the search met together and held a consultation. +They made arrangements for a more minute search, and agreed that, in case +the child was found, a gun should be fired, to give a signal to the rest +of the party. + +8. As the sun arose, the clouds were scattered, and the whole landscape +glittered in the rays of the bright morning. But that village was deserted +and still. The stores were closed, and business was hushed. Mothers were +walking the streets, with sympathizing countenances and anxious hearts. +There was but one thought in every mind: "What has become of the lost +child?" + +9. All the affections and interest of the neighborhood were flowing in one +deep and broad channel toward the little wanderer. About nine in the +morning, the signal gun was fired, which announced that the child was +found; and, for a moment, how dreadful was the suspense! Was it found a +mangled corpse? or was it alive and well? + +10. Soon, a joyful shout proclaimed the safety of the child. The shout was +borne from tongue to tongue, till the whole forest rang again with the +joyful sound. A messenger rapidly bore the tidings to the distracted +mother. A procession was immediately formed by those engaged in the +search. The child was placed upon a platform, hastily formed from the +boughs of trees, and borne in triumph at the head of the procession. When +they arrived at the brow of the hill, they rested for a moment, and +proclaimed their success with three loud and animated cheers. + +11. The procession then moved on till they arrived in front of the +dwelling where the parents of the child resided. The mother, who stood at +the door, with streaming eyes and throbbing heart, could no longer +restrain herself or her feelings. + +12. She rushed into the street, clasped her child to her bosom, and wept +aloud. Every eye was filled with tears, and, for a moment, all were +silent. But suddenly some one gave a signal for a shout. One loud, and +long, and happy note of joy rose from the assembled multitude, and they +went to their business and their homes. + +13. There was more joy over the one child that was found than over the +ninety and nine that went not astray. Likewise, there is joy in the +presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. But still, +this is a feeble representation of the love of our Father in heaven for +us, and of the joy with which the angels welcome the returning wanderer. + +14. The mother can not feel for her child that is lost as God feels for +the unhappy wanderer in the paths of sin. If a mother can feel so much, +what must be the feelings of our Father in heaven for those who have +strayed from his love? If man can feel so deep a sympathy, what must be +the emotions which glow in the bosom of angels? + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Sep'a-rat-ed, parted. 2. Dis-tract'ed, made crazy. +Sus-pense', doubt, uncertainty. 3. Trav'ersed, passed over and examined. +5. As-cer-tained', made certain. 6. Sym'pa-thized, felt for. +De-cliv'i-ty, descent of land. 7. Con-sul-ta'tion, a meeting of persons to +advise together. 8. Land'scape, a portion of territory which the eye can +see in a single view. 10. Pro-claimed', made known publicly. 11. +Pro-ces'sion, a train of persons walking or riding. l3. +Rep-re-sen-ta'tion, the act of describing or showing. + + + +LXII. WHICH? (168) +By MRS. E. L. BEERS. + +1. Which shall it be? Which shall it be? + I looked at John--John looked at me; + Dear, patient John, who loves me yet + As well as though my locks were jet. + And when I found that I must speak, + My voice seemed strangely low and weak: + "Tell me again what Robert said!" + And then I, listening, bent my head. + "This is his letter:" + +2. "'I will give + A house and land while you shall live, + If, in return, from out your seven, + One child to me for aye is given.'" + I looked at John's old garments worn, + I thought of all that John had borne + Of poverty, and work, and care, + Which I, though willing, could not share; + I thought of seven mouths to feed, + Of seven little children's need, + And then of this. + +3. "Come, John," said I, + "We'll choose among them as they lie + Asleep;" so, walking hand in hand, + Dear John and I surveyed our band. + First to the cradle light we stepped, + Where Lilian the baby slept, + A glory 'gainst the pillow white. + Softly the father stooped to lay + His rough hand down in loving way, + When dream or whisper made her stir, + And huskily he said: "Not her!" + +4. We stooped beside the trundle-bed, + And one long ray of lamplight shed + Athwart the boyish faces there, + In sleep so pitiful and fair; + I saw on Jamie's rough, red cheek, + A tear undried. Ere John could speak, + "He's but a baby, too," said I, + And kissed him as we hurried by. + +5. Pale, patient Robbie's angel face + Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace: + "No, for a thousand crowns, not him," + He whispered, while our eyes were dim. + +6. Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son, + Turbulent, reckless, idle one-- + Could he be spared? "Nay, He who gave, + Bade us befriend him to the grave; + Only a mother's heart can be + Patient enough for such as he; + And so," said John, "I would not dare + To send him from her bedside prayer." + +7. Then stole we softly up above + And knelt by Mary, child of love. + "Perhaps for her 't would better be," + I said to John. Quite silently + He lifted up a curl that lay + Across her cheek in willful way, + And shook his head. "Nay, love, not thee," + The while my heart beat audibly. + +8. Only one more, our eldest lad, + Trusty and truthful, good and glad + So like his father. "No, John, no-- + I can not, will not let him go." + +9. And so we wrote in courteous way, + We could not drive one child away. + And afterward, toil lighter seemed, + Thinking of that of which we dreamed; + Happy, in truth, that not one face + We missed from its accustomed place; + Thankful to work for all the seven, + Trusting the rest to One in heaven! + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Aye, always, 3. Sur-veyed', took a view of. 5. Crown, an +English silver coin worth about $1.20. 6. Way-ward, willful. Tur'bu-lent, +disposed to disorder. 9. Cour'te-ous, polite. Ac-cus'tomed, usual. + + + +LXIII. THE PET FAWN. (172) + +1. A pretty little fawn had been brought in from the woods, when very +young, and nursed and petted by a lady in the village until it had become +as tame as possible. It was graceful, as those little creatures always +are, and so gentle and playful that it became a great favorite, following +the different members of the family about, being caressed by the +neighbors, and welcome everywhere. + +2. One morning, after playing about as usual until weary, it lay down in +the sunshine, at the feet of one of its friends, upon the steps of a +store. There came along a countryman, who for several years had been a +hunter by pursuit, and who still kept several hounds, one of which was now +with him. + +3. The dog, as it approached the spot where the fawn lay, suddenly +stopped. The little animal saw him, and started to its feet. It had lived +more than half its life among the dogs of the village, and had apparently +lost all fear of them; but it seemed now to know that an enemy was near. +In an instant, its whole nature seemed changed; all its past habits were +forgotten; every wild impulse was awake; its head erect, its nostrils +dilated, its eyes flashing. + +4. In another instant, before the spectators had thought of the danger, +and before its friends could secure it, the fawn was bounding away through +the street, and the hound in full chase. The bystanders were eager to save +it; several persons immediately followed its track; the friends who had +long fed and fondled it, calling the name it had hitherto known, in vain. + +5. The hunter endeavored to whistle back his dog, but with no success. In +half a minute the fawn had turned the first corner, dashed onward toward +the lake, and thrown itself into the water. But if for a moment the +startled creature believed itself safe in the cool bosom of the lake, it +was soon undeceived; for the hound followed in hot and eager chase, while +a dozen village dogs joined blindly in the pursuit. + +6. A large crowd collected on the bank--men, women, and children--anxious +for the fate of the little animal so well known to them all. Some threw +themselves into boats, hoping to intercept the hound before he reached his +prey. The plashing of the oars, the eager voices of men and boys, and the +barking of the dogs, must have filled the heart of the poor fawn with +terror and anguish,--as though every creature on the spot where it had +once been caressed and fondled, had suddenly turned into a deadly foe. + +7. It was soon seen that the little animal was directing its course across +a bay toward the nearest borders of the forest. Immediately the owner of +the hound crossed the bridge, and ran at full speed, hoping to stop his +dog as he landed. On swam the fawn, as it never swam before; its delicate +head scarcely seen above the water, but leaving a disturbed track, which +betrayed its course alike to its friends and foes. + +8. As it approached the land, the interest became intense. The hunter was +already on the same side of the lake, calling loudly and angrily to his +dog; but the hound seemed to have quite forgotten his master's voice in +the pitiless pursuit. The fawn reached the shore. With a leap it had +crossed the narrow strip of beach, and in another instant it would reach +the cover of the woods. + +9. The hound followed true to the scent, pointing to the same spot on the +shore; his master, anxious to meet him, had run at full speed, and was now +coming up at the same critical moment. Will the dog listen to his voice? +or can the hunter reach him in time to seize and control him? A shout from +the bank told that the fawn had passed out of sight into the forest. At +the same instant, the hound, as he touched the land, felt the hunter's +strong arm clutching his neck. The worst was believed to be over; the fawn +was leaping up the mountain side, and its enemy was restrained. The other +dogs, seeing their leader cowed, were easily managed. + +10. A number of persons, men and boys, dispersed themselves through the +woods in search of the little creature, but without success; they all +returned to the village, reporting that the fawn had not been seen. Some +thought that after its fright had passed it would return of its own +accord. It wore a pretty collar with its owner's name engraved upon it, so +that it could be easily known from any other fawn that might be straying +about the woods. + +11. Before many hours had passed, a hunter presented himself to the lady +whose pet the little creature had been, and showed a collar with her name +upon it. He said that he was out hunting in the morning, and saw a fawn in +the distance. The little pet, instead of bounding away, as he expected, +moved toward him; he took aim, fired, and shot it through the heart. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Fawn, a young deer. Ca-ressed', fondled, petted. 3. +Di-lat'ed, extended, spread out. 4. Spec-ta'tors, those who look on. 6. +In-ter-cept', to stop, to seize. 7. Be-trayed', showed. 8. In-tense', +extreme. 9. Scent, track followed by the sense of smell. Cowed, made +afraid. + + + +LXIV. ANNIE'S DREAM. (175) + +1. It was a clear, cold, winter evening, and all the Sinclairs but Annie +had gone out for a neighborly visit. She had resolved to stay at home and +study a long, difficult lesson in Natural Philosophy. + +2. Left to herself, the evening passed quickly, but the lesson was learned +a full half hour before the time set for the family to come home. + +3. Closing her book, she leaned back in the soft armchair in which she was +sitting, soon fell asleep, and began to dream. She dreamed that it was a +very cold morning, and that she was standing by the dining-room stove, +looking into the glass basin which was every day filled with water for +evaporation. + +4. "Oh, dear," she sighed, "it is nearly school time. I don't want to go +out in the cold this morning. Then there is that long lesson. I wonder if +I can say it. Let me see--it takes two hundred and twelve degrees of heat, +I believe, for water to evaporate--" + +5. "Nonsense!" "Ridiculous!" shouted a chorus of strange little voices +near by; "Look here! is this water boiling? What an idea; two hundred and +twelve degrees before we can fly, ha, ha!" + +6. "Who are you?" asked Annie, in amazement. "Where must I look?" "In the +basin, of course." 7. Annie looked, and saw a multitude of tiny forms +moving swiftly around, their numbers increasing as the heat of the fire +increased. "Why you dear little things!" said she, "what are you doing +down there?" + +8. "We are water sprites," answered one, in the clearest voice that can be +imagined, "and when this delightful warmth comes all about us, we become +so light that we fly off, as you see." + +9. In another moment he had joined a crowd of his companions that were +spreading their wings and flying off in curling, white clouds over Annie's +head. But they were so light and thin that they soon disappeared in the +air. + +10. She could not see where they went, so she again turned to the basin. +"Does n't it hurt you," she asked one, "to be heated--?" "Not always to +two hundred and twelve," said the sprite, mischievously. + +11. "No, no," replied Annie, half-vexed; "I remember, that is boiling +point--but I mean, to be heated as you all are, and then to fly off in the +cold?" + +12. "Oh, no," laughed the little sprite; "we like it. We are made to +change by God's wise laws, and so it can't hurt us. We are all the time at +work, in our way, taking different shapes. It is good for us. If you will +go to the window, you will find some of my brothers and sisters on the +glass." + +13. Annie went to the window, and at first could see nothing but some +beautiful frostwork on it. Soon, however, the panes seemed to swarm with +little folks. Their wings were as white as snow, and sparkled with ice +jewels. + +14. "Oh," cried Annie, "this is the prettiest sight I ever saw. What is +your name, darling?" she asked one that wore a crown of snow roses. The +little voice that replied was so sharp and fine that Annie thought it +seemed like a needle point of sound, and she began to laugh. + +15. "Fine Frost is our family name," it said. "I have a first name of my +own, but I shall not tell you what it is, for you are so impolite as to +laugh at me." + +16. "I beg your pardon, dear," said Annie; "I could not help it. I will +not laugh at you any more if you will tell me how you came here. I have +been talking with one of your brothers over there in the basin." + +17. The little sprite then folded her wings in a dignified manner, and +said, "I will tell you all I know about it, since you promise to be +polite. It is a very short story, however. + +18. "Last evening we all escaped from the glass basin, as you have seen +our companions do this morning. Oh, how light and free we felt! But we +were so very delicate and thin that no one saw us as we flew about in the +air of the room. + +19. "After a while I flew with these others to this window, and, as we +alighted on the glass, the cold changed us from water sprites into sprites +of the Fine Frost family." "It is very wonderful," said Annie. "Is it nice +to be a sprite?" + +20. "Oh, yes, we are very gay. All last night we had a fine time sparkling +in the moonlight. I wore a long wreath full of ice pearls and diamonds. +Here is a piece of it. Before long we shall be water sprites again. I see +the sun is coming this way." + +21. "Shall you dread to be melted?" inquired Annie. "No, indeed," answered +the sprite. "I like to change my form now and then." + +22. A thought flashed across Annie's brain. What if she should breathe on +the frost and not wait for the sun to melt it. In a moment more she had +done so. Down fell a great number of the tiny mountains and castles, +carrying with them a multitude of frost sprites, and all that could be +seen was a drop of water on the window sill. + +23. "Oh, dear! have I hurt them?" she exclaimed. "No, no," replied a +chorus of many small voices from the drop of water, "we are only water +sprites again. Nothing hurts us; we merely change." "But you are always +pretty little things," said Annie. "I wish--" + +24. Here a ring at the doorbell woke Annie. She started up to find the +family had returned from their visit, which all declared was a delightful +one. But Annie said she did not believe they had enjoyed their visit +better than she had her half hour's dream. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. Nat'u-ral Phi-los'o-phy, the study which teaches about +the laws of matter in nature. 3. E-vap-o-ra'tion, the act of turning into +vapor. 4. De-gree', a division of space marked on an instrument such as a +thermometer. 8. Wa'ter sprite, a spirit or fairy living in the water. 10. +Mis'chie-vous-ly, in a teasing manner. 13. Swarm, to be crowded. 18, +Es-caped', got away, fled. + + + +LXV. MY GHOST. (178) + +By Mrs. S. M. B. Piatt, who was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1836. Among +her published works may be mentioned "The Nests at Washington, and Other +Poems," and "A Woman's Poems." + +1. Yes, Katie, I think you are very sweet, + Now that the tangles are out of your hair, + And you sing as well as the birds you meet, + That are playing, like you, in the blossoms there. + But now you are coming to kiss me, you say: + Well, what is it for? Shall I tie your shoe? + Or loop up your sleeve in a prettier way? + "Do I know about ghosts?" Indeed I do. + +2. "Have I seen one?" Yes; last evening, you know, + We were taking a walk that you had to miss, + (I think you were naughty, and cried to go, + But, surely, you'll stay at home after this!) + And, away in the twilight, lonesomely, + ("What is the twilight?" It's--getting late!) + I was thinking of things that were sad to me!-- + There, hush! you know nothing about them, Kate. + +3. Well, we had to go through the rocky lane, + Close to that bridge where the water roars, + By a still, red house, where the dark and rain + Go in when they will at the open doors. + And the moon, that had just waked up, looked through + The broken old windows, and seemed afraid, + And the wild bats flew, and the thistles grew + Where once in the roses the children played. + +4. Just across the road by the cherry trees + Some fallen white stones had been lying so long, + Half hid in the grass, and under these + There were people dead. I could hear the song + Of a very sleepy dove as I passed + The graveyard near, and the cricket that cried; + And I look'd (ah! the Ghost is coming at last!) + And something was walking at my side. + +5. It seemed to be wrapped in a great dark shawl + (For the night was a little cold, you know,); + It would not speak. It was black and tall; + And it walked so proudly and very slow. + Then it mocked me everything I could do: + Now it caught at the lightning flies like me; + Now it stopped where the elder blossoms grew; + Now it tore the thorns from a gray bent tree. + +6. Still it followed me under the yellow moon, + Looking back to the graveyard now and then, + Where the winds were playing the night a tune-- + But, Kate, a Ghost doesn't care for men, + And your papa could n't have done it harm. + Ah! dark-eyed darling, what is it you see? + There, you needn't hide in your dimpled arm-- + It was only my shadow that walk'd with me! + + + +LXVI. THE ELEPHANT. (180) + +1. The elephant is the largest of quadrupeds; his height is from eight to +fourteen feet, and his length, from ten to fifteen feet. His form is that +of a hog; his eyes are small and lively; his ears are long, broad and +pendulous. He has two large tusks, which form the ivory of commerce, and a +trunk, or proboscis, at the end of the nose, which he uses to take his +food with, and for attack or defense. His color is a dark ash-brown. + +2. Elephants often assemble in large troops; and, as they march in search +of food, the forests seem to tremble under them. They eat the branches of +trees, together with roots, herbs, leaves, grain, and fruit, but will not +touch fish nor flesh. In a state of nature, they are peaceable, mild, and +brave; exerting their power only for their own protection or in defense of +their own species. + +3. Elephants are found both in Asia and Africa, but they are of different +species, the Asiatic elephant having five toes, and the African, three. +These animals are caught by stratagem, and, when tamed, they are the most +gentle, obedient, and patient, as well as the most docile and sagacious of +all quadrupeds. They are used to carry burdens, and for traveling. Their +attachment to their masters is remarkable; and they seem to live but to +serve and obey them. They always kneel to receive their riders; or the +loads they have to carry. + +4. The anecdotes illustrating the character of the elephant are numerous. +An elephant which was kept for exhibition at London, was often required, +as is usual in such exhibitions, to pick up with his trunk a piece of +money thrown upon the floor for this purpose. On one occasion a sixpence +was thrown, which happened to roll a little out of his reach, not far from +the wall. Being desired to pick it up, he stretched out his proboscis +several times to reach it; failing in this, he stood motionless a few +seconds, evidently considering how to act. + +5. He then stretched his proboscis in a straight line as far as he could, +a little distance above the coin, and blew with great force against the +wall. The angle produced by the opposition of the wall, made the current +of air act under the coin, as he evidently supposed it would, and it was +curious to observe the sixpence traveling toward the animal till it came +within his reach, when he picked it up. + +6. A soldier in India, who had frequently carried an elephant some arrack, +being one day intoxicated, and seeing himself pursued by the guard whose +orders were to conduct him to prison, took refuge under the elephant. The +guard soon finding his retreat, attempted in vain to take him from his +asylum; for the elephant vigorously defended him with his trunk. + +7. As soon as the soldier became sober, and saw himself placed under such +an unwieldy animal, he was so terrified that he scarcely durst move either +hand or foot; but the elephant soon caused his fears to subside by +caressing him with his trunk, and thus tacitly saying, "Depart in peace." + +8. A pleasing anecdote is related of an elephant which was the property of +the nabob of Lucknow. There was in that city an epidemic disorder, making +dreadful havoc among the inhabitants. The road to the palace gate was +covered with the sick and dying, lying on the ground at the moment the +nabob was about to pass. + +9. Regardless of the suffering he must cause, the nabob held on his way, +not caring whether his beast trod upon the poor helpless creatures or not. +But the animal, more kind-hearted than his master, carefully cleared the +path of the poor, helpless wretches as he went along. Some he lifted with +his trunk, entirely out of the road. Some he set upon their feet, and +among the others he stepped so carefully that not an individual was +injured. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Quad'ru-ped, an animal having four feet. Pen'du-lous, +hanging down. Com'merce, trade, Pro-bos'cis, snout, trunk. 3. Strat'a-gem, +artifice. Doc'ile, teachable. 6. Ar'rack, a spirituous liquor made from +the juice of the cocoanut. A-sy'lum, a refuge. 7. Un-wield'y, heavy, +unmanageable. Tac'-it-ly, silently. 8. Ep-i-dm'ic, affecting many people. +Na'bob, a prince in India. + + + +LXVII. DARE TO DO RIGHT. (183) + +Adapted from "School Days at Rugby," by Thomas Hughes, an English writer +well known through this book, and its sequel, "Tom Brown at Oxford." The +author was born in 1823, and died in 1896. + +1. The little schoolboys went quietly to their own beds, and began +undressing and talking to one another in whispers: while the elder, +amongst whom was Tom, sat chatting about on one another's beds, with their +jackets and waistcoats off. + +2. Poor little Arthur was overwhelmed with the novelty of his position. +The idea of sleeping in the room with strange boys had clearly never +crossed his mind before, and was as painful as it was strange to him. He +could hardly bear to take his jacket off; however, presently, with an +effort, off it came, and then he paused and looked at Tom, who was sitting +at the bottom of his bed, talking and laughing. + +3. "Please, Brown," he whispered, "may I wash my face and hands?" "Of +course, if you like," said Tom, staring: "that's your wash-hand stand +under the window, second from your bed. You'll have to go down for more +water in the morning if you use it all." + +4. And on he went with his talk, while Arthur stole timidly from between +the beds out to his wash-hand stand, and began his ablutions, thereby +drawing for a moment on himself the attention of the room. + +5. On went the talk and laughter. Arthur finished his washing and +undressing, and put on his nightgown. He then looked round more nervously +than ever. Two or three of the little boys were already in bed, sitting up +with their chins on their knees. The light burned clear, the noise went +on. + +6. It was a trying moment for the poor, little, lonely boy; however, this +time he did not ask Tom what he might or might not do, but dropped all his +knees by his bedside, as he had done every day from his childhood, to open +his heart to Him who heareth the cry and beareth the sorrows of the tender +child, and the strong man in agony. + +7. Tom was sitting at the bottom of his bed unlacing his boots, so that +his back was towards Arthur, and he did not see what had happened, and +looked up in wonder at the sudden silence. Then two or three boys laughed +and sneered, and a big, brutal fellow, who was standing in the middle of +the room, picked up a slipper and shied it at the kneeling boy, calling +him a sniveling young shaver. + +8. Then Tom saw the whole, and the next moment the boot he had just pulled +off flew straight at the head of the bully, who had just time to throw up +his arm and catch it on his elbow. "Confound you, Brown; what's that for?" +roared he, stamping with pain. "Never mind what I mean," said Tom, +stepping on to the floor, every drop of blood in his body tingling: "if +any fellow wants the other boot, he knows how to get it." + +9. What would have been the result is doubtful, for at this moment the +sixth-form boy came in, and not another word could be said. Tom and the +rest rushed into bed and finished their unrobing there, and the old +janitor had put out the candle in another minute, and toddled on to the +next room, shutting the door with his usual, "Good night, gen'l'm'n." + +10. There were many boys in the room by whom that little scene was taken +to heart before they slept. But sleep seemed to have deserted the pillow +of poor Tom. For some time his excitement and the flood of memories which +chased one another though his brain, kept him from thinking or resolving. +His head throbbed, his heart leapt, and he could hardly keep himself from +springing out of bed and rushing about the room. + +11. Then the thought of his own mother came across him, and the promise he +had made at her knee, years ago, never to forget to kneel by his bedside +and give himself up to his Father before he laid his head on the pillow, +from which it might never rise; and he lay down gently, and cried as if +his heart would break. He was only fourteen years old. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Waist'coat, a vest. 2. O-ver-whelmed', over-come, cast +down. 3. Nov'el-ty, newness. 4. Ab-lu'tion, the act of washing. 7. +Sneered, showed contempt. 8. Bul'ly, a noisy, blustering fellow, more +insolent than courageous. Tin'gling, having a thrilling feeling. + + +NOTES.--"Rugby," the scene of this story, is a celebrated grammar school +which was established at the town of Rugby, England, in 1567. + +9. Sixth-form boy. The school was graded into six classes or "forms," and +the boys of the highest, or sixth, form were expected to keep the smaller +boys under them in order. EXERCISES.--What were Arthur's feelings the +first night at Rugby? Relate what happened when he said his prayers. What +do you think of the boy who threw the slipper? Was Tom right in defending +Arthur from insult? + + + +LXVIII. DARE TO DO RIGHT. (Concluded.) (186) + +1. It was no light act of courage in those days for a little fellow to say +his prayers publicly, even at Rugby. A few years later, when Arnold's +manly piety had begun to leaven the school, the tables turned: before he +died, in the Schoolhouse at least, and I believe in the other houses, the +rule was the other way. + +2. But poor Tom had come to school in other times. The first few nights +after he came he did not kneel down because of the noise, but sat up in +bed till the candle was out, and then stole out and said his prayers, in +fear lest some one should find him out. So did many another poor little +fellow. + +3. Then he began to think that he might just as well say his prayers in +bed, and then that it did not matter whether he was kneeling, or sitting, +or lying down. And so it had come to pass with Tom, as with all who will +not confess their Lord before men; and for the last year he had probably +not said his prayers in earnest a dozen times. + +4. Poor Tom! the first and bitterest feeling, which was like to break his +heart, was the sense of his own cowardice. The vice of all others which he +loathed was brought in and burned in on his own soul. He had lied to his +mother, to his conscience, to his God. How could he bear it? And then the +poor, little, weak boy, whom he had pitied and almost scorned for his +weakness, had done that which he, braggart as he was, dared not do. + +5. The first dawn of comfort came to him in vowing to himself that he +would stand by that boy through thick and thin, and cheer him, and help +him, and bear his burdens, for the good deed done that night. Then he +resolved to write home next day and tell his mother all, and what a coward +her son had been. And then peace came to him as he resolved, lastly, to +bear his testimony next morning. + +6. The morning would be harder than the night to begin with, but he felt +that he could not afford to let one chance slip. Several times he +faltered, for the Devil showed him, first, all his old friends calling him +"Saint," and "Squaretoes" and a dozen hard names, and whispered to him +that his motives would be misunderstood, and he would be left alone with +the new boy; whereas, it was his duty to keep all means of influence, that +he might do good to the largest number. + +7. And then came the more subtle temptation, "shall I not be showing +myself braver than others by doing this? Have I any right to begin it now? +Ought I not rather to pray in my own study, letting other boys know that I +do so, and trying to lead them to it, while in public, at least, I should +go on as I have done?" However, his good angel was too strong that night, +and he turned on his side and slept, tired of trying to reason, but +resolved to follow the impulse which had been so strong, and in which he +had found peace. + +8. Next morning he was up and washed and dressed, all but his jacket and +waistcoat, just as the ten minutes' bell began to ring, and then in the +face of the whole room he knelt down to pray. Not five words could he +say,--the bell mocked him; he was listening for every whisper in the +room,--what were they all thinking of him? + +9. He was ashamed to go on kneeling, ashamed to rise from his knees. At +last, as it were from his inmost heart, a still, small voice seemed to +breathe forth the words of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" +He repeated them over and over, clinging to them as for his life, and rose +from his knees comforted and humbled, and ready to face the whole world. + +10. It was not needed: two other boys besides Arthur had already followed +his example, and he went down to the great school with a glimmering of +another lesson in his heart,--the lesson that he who has conquered his own +coward spirit has conquered the whole outward world; and that other one +which the old prophet learned in the cave at Mount Horeb, when he hid his +face, and the still, small voice asked, "What doest thou here, +Elijah?"--that however we may fancy ourselves alone on the side of good, +the King and Lord of men is nowhere without his witnesses; for in every +society, however seemingly corrupt and godless, there are those who have +not bowed the knee to Baal. + +[Transcriber's Footnote: Baal--Various fertility and nature gods of the +ancient Semitic peoples considered to be false gods by the Hebrews.] + +11. He found, too, how greatly he had exaggerated the effect to be +produced by his act. For a few nights there was a sneer or a laugh when he +knelt down, but this passed off soon, and one by one all the other boys +but three or four followed the lead. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Leav'en, to make a general change, to imbue. 4. Loathed, +hated, detested. Brag'gart, a boaster. 5. Vow'ing, making a solemn promise +to God. Tes'ti-mo-ny, open declaration. 6. Fal'tered, hesitated. Mo'tive, +that which causes action, cause, reason. 7. Sub'tle (pro. sut'l), artful, +cunning. Stud'y, a private room devoted to study. 10. Glim'mer-ing, a +faint view. + + +NOTES.--1. Arnold's. Dr. Thomas Arnold was head master at Rugby nearly +fifteen years. His influence on the character of the boys was very marked, +and soon made the school celebrated throughout England. The Schoolhouse +was the name of one of the numerous buildings belonging to Rugby. + + +EXERCISES.--Relate Tom's early experience at Rugby. Was it courageous in +him to stop saying his prayers? How did he feel over it? What did he +resolve to do? Did he carry out his resolve? What two lessons was he +taught? + + + +LXIX. THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS. (190) + +By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of the greatest of American poets. He +was born in Portland, Me., in 1807. For some years he held the +professorship of Modern Languages in Bowdoin College, and later a similar +professorship in Harvard College. He died March 21th, 1882. + +1. It was the schooner Hesperus, + That sailed the wintry sea; + And the skipper had taken his little daughter, + To bear him company. + +2. Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax, + Her checks like the dawn of day, + And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds, + That ope in the month of May. + +3. The skipper, he stood beside the helm, + His pipe was in his mouth, + And he watched how the veering flaw did blow + The smoke now west, now south. + +4. Then up and spake an old sailor, + Had sailed to the Spanish Main, + "I pray thee, put into yonder port, + For I fear the hurricane. + +5. "Last night, the moon had a golden ring, + And to-night no moon we see!" + The skipper, he blew a whiff from his pipe, + And a scornful laugh laughed he. + +6. Colder and louder blew the wind, + A gale from the northeast; + The snow fell hissing in the brine, + And the billows frothed like yeast. + +7. Down came the storm, and smote amain + The vessel in its strength; + She shuddered and paused, like a frighted steed, + Then leaped her cable's length. + +8. "Come hither! come hither! my little daughter, + And do not tremble so; + For I can weather the roughest gale + That ever wind did blow." + +9. He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat, + Against the stinging blast: + He cut a rope from a broken spar, + And bound her to the mast. + +10. "O father! I hear the church bells ring, + Oh say, what may it be?" + "'Tis a fog bell on a rock-bound coast!" + And he steered for the open sea. + +11. "O father! I hear the sound of guns, + Oh say, what may it be?" + "Some ship in distress, that can not live + In such an angry sea!" + +12. "O father! I see a gleaming light, + Oh say, what may it be?" + But the father answered never a word, + A frozen corpse was he. + +13. Lashed to the helm, all stiff and stark, + With his face turned to the skies, + The lantern gleamed through the gleaming snow + On his fixed and glassy eyes. + +14. Then the maiden clasped her hands, and prayed + That saved she might be; + And she thought of Christ, who stilled the wave + On the lake of Galilee. + +15. And fast through the midnight dark and drear, + Through the whistling sleet and snow, + Like a sheeted ghost, the vessel swept + Tow'rds the reef of Norman's Woe. + +16. And ever the fitful gusts between + A sound came from the land: + It was the sound of the trampling surf + On the rocks and the hard sea sand. + +17. The breakers were right beneath her bows, + She drifted a dreary wreck, + And a whooping billow swept the crew + Like icicles from her deck. + +18. She struck where the white and fleecy waves + Looked soft as carded wool, + But the cruel rocks, they gored her side + Like the horns of an angry bull. + +19. Her rattling shrouds, all sheathed in ice, + With the masts, went by the board; + Like a vessel of glass, she stove and sank, + Ho! ho! the breakers roared! + +20. At day break, on the bleak seabeach, + A fisherman stood aghast, + To see the form of a maiden fair + Lashed close to a drifting mast. + +21. The salt sea was frozen on her breast, + The salt tears in her eyes; + And he saw her hair, like the brown seaweed, + On the billows fall and rise. + +22. Such was the wreck of the Hesperus + In the midnight and the snow: + Heav'n save us all from a death like this + On the reef of Norman's Woe! + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Skip'per, the master of a small merchant ves-sel. 3. +Veer'ing, changing. Flaw, a sudden gust of wind. 4. Port, harbor. 6. +Brine, the sea. 7. A-main', with sudden force. 8. Weath'er, to endure, to +resist. 9. Spar, a long beam. 13. Helm, the instrument by which a ship is +steered. 18. Card'ed, cleaned by combing. 19. Shrouds, sets of ropes +reaching from the mastheads to the sides of a vessel to support the masts. +Stove, broke in. + + +NOTES.--This piece is written in the style of the old English ballads. The +syllables marked (') have a peculiar accent not usually allowed. + +4. The Spanish Main was the name formerly applied to the northern coast of +South America from the Mosquito Territory to the Leeward Islands. + +15. The reef of Norman's Woe. A dangerous ledge of rocks on the +Massachusetts coast, near Gloucester harbor. + +19. Went by the board. A sailor's expression, meaning "fell over the side +of the vessel." + + + +LXX. ANECDOTES OF BIRDS. (193) + +1. I had once a favorite black hen, "a great beauty," as she was called by +everyone, and so I thought her; her feathers were so jetty, and her +topping so white and full! She knew my voice as well as any dog, and used +to run cackling and bustling to my hand to receive the fragments that I +never failed to collect from the breakfast table for "Yarico," as she was +called. + +2. Yarico, by the time she was a year old, hatched a respectable family of +chickens; little, cowering, timid things at first, but, in due time, they +became fine chubby ones; and old Norah said, "If I could only keep Yarico +out of the copse, it would do; but the copse is full of weasels and of +foxes. + +3. "I have driven her back twenty times; but she watches till some one +goes out of the gate, and then she's off again. It is always the case with +young hens, Miss; they think they know better than their keepers; and +nothing cures them but losing a brood or two of chickens." I have often +thought since that young people, as well as young hens, buy their +experience equally dear. + +4. One morning; after breakfast, I went to seek my favorite in the poultry +yard; plenty of hens were there, but no Yarico. The gate was open, and, as +I concluded she had sought the forbidden copse, I proceeded there, +accompanied by the yard mastiff; a noble fellow, steady and sagacious as a +judge. + +5. At the end of a lane, flanked on one side by a quickset hedge, on the +other by a wild common, what was called the copse commenced; but before I +arrived near the spot I heard a loud and tremendous cackling, and met two +young, long-legged pullets, running with both wings and feet toward home. +Jock pricked up his sharp ears, and would have set off at full gallop to +the copse; but I restrained him, hastening onward, however, at the top of +my speed, thinking I had as good a right to see what was the matter as +Jock. + +6. Poor Yarico! An impertinent fox cub had attempted to carry off one of +her children; but she had managed to get them behind her in the hedge, and +venturing boldly forth had placed herself in front, and positively kept +the impudent animal at bay. His desire for plunder had prevented his +noticing our approach, and Jock soon made him feel the superiority of an +English mastiff over a cub fox. + +7. The most interesting portion of my tale is to come. Yarico not only +never afterward ventured to the copse, but formed a strong friendship for +the dog which had preserved her family. Whenever he appeared in the yard, +she would run to meet him, prating and clucking all the time, and impeding +his progress by walking between his legs, to his no small annoyance. If +any other dog entered the yard, she would fly at him most furiously, +thinking, perhaps, that he would injure her chickens; but she evidently +considered Jock her especial protector, and treated him accordingly. + +8. It was very droll to see the peculiar look with which he regarded his +feathered friend; not knowing exactly what to make of her civilities, and +doubting how they should be received. When her family were educated, and +able to do without her care, she was a frequent visitor at Jock's kennel, +and would, if permitted, roost there at night, instead of returning with +the rest of the poultry to the henhouse. Yarico certainly was a most +grateful and interesting bird. * * + +9. One could almost believe a parrot had intellect, when he keeps up a +conversation so spiritedly; and it is certainly singular to observe how +accurately a well-trained bird will apply his knowledge. A friend of mine +knew one that had been taught many sentences; thus, "Sally, Poll wants her +breakfast!" "Sally, Poll wants her tea!" but she never mistook the one for +the other; breakfast was invariably demanded in the morning, and tea in +the afternoon; and she always hailed her master, but no one else, by "How +do you do, Mr. A?" + +10. She was a most amusing bird, and could whistle dogs, which she had +great pleasure in doing. She would drop bread out of her cage as she hung +at the street door, and whistle a number about her, and then, just as they +were going to possess themselves of her bounty, utter a shrill scream of +"Get out, dogs!" with such vehemence and authority as dispersed the +assembled company without a morsel, to her infinite delight. * * * + +11. How wonderful is that instinct by which the bird of passage performs +its annual migration! But how still more wonderful is it when the bird, +after its voyage of thousands of miles has been performed, and new lands +visited, returns to the precise window or eaves where, the summer before, +it first enjoyed existence! And yet, such is unquestionably the fact. + +12. Four brothers had watched with indignation the felonious attempts of a +sparrow to possess himself of the nest of a house martin, in which lay its +young brood of four unfledged birds. + +13. The little fellows considered themselves as champions for the bird +which had come over land and sea, and chosen its shelter under their +mother's roof. They therefore marshaled themselves with blowguns, to +execute summary vengeance; but their well-meant endeavors brought +destruction upon the mud-built domicile they wished to defend. Their +artillery loosened the foundations, and down it came, precipitating its +four little inmates to the ground. The mother of the children, Good +Samaritan-like, replaced the little outcasts in their nest, and set it in +the open window of an unoccupied chamber. + +14. The parent birds, after the first terror was over, did not appear +disconcerted by the change of situation, but hourly fed their young as +usual, and testified, by their unwearied twitter of pleasure, the +satisfaction and confidence they felt. There the young birds were duly +fledged, and from that window they began their flight, and entered upon +life. + +15. The next spring, with the reappearance of the martins, came four, +which familiarly flew into the chamber, visited all the walls, and +expressed their recognition by the most clamorous twitterings of joy. They +were, without question, the very birds that had been bred there the +preceding year. + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Copse, a grove of small trees or bushes. 4. Sa-ga'cious, +quick in discernment. 6. Im-per'ti-nent, rude, intru-sive. 8. Ken'nel, a +place for dogs. 10. Ve'he-mence, force. 11. Mi-gra'tion, change of place, +removal. 12. Fe-lo'ni-ous, criminal. 13. Dom'i-cile, the home or residence +of anyone. Ar-til'er-y, weapons of warfare. 14. Dis-con-cert'ed, +interrupted, confused. 15. Rec-og-ni'tion, recollection of a former +acquaintance. + + + +LXXI. THE RAINBOW PILGRIMAGE. (197) + +By Sara J. Lippincott, born at Onondaga, N. Y., in 1823, of New England +parentage. Under the name of "Grace Greenwood" she has written many +charming stories for children. Some of her best sketches are in "Records +of Five Years." + +1. One summer afternoon, when I was about eight years of age, I was +standing at an eastern window, looking at a beautiful rainbow that, +bending from the sky, seemed to be losing itself in a thick, swampy wood +about a quarter of a mile distant. + +2. It happened that no one was in the room with me then but my brother +Rufus, who was just recovering from a severe illness, and was sitting, +propped up with pillows, in an easy-chair, looking out, with me, at the +rainbow. + +3. "See, brother," I said, "it drops right down among the cedars, where we +go in the spring to find wintergreens!" + +4. "Do you know, Gracie," said my brother, with a very serious face, "that +if you should go to the end of the rain how, you would find there purses +filled with money, and great pots of gold and silver?" + +5. "Is it truly so?" I asked. + +6. "Truly so," answered my brother, with a smile. Now, I was a +simple-hearted child who believed everything that was told me, although I +was again and again imposed upon; so, without another word, I darted out +of the door, and set forth toward the wood. My brother called after me as +loudly as he was able, but I did not heed him. + +7. I cared nothing for the wet grass, which was sadly drabbling my clean +frock,--on and on I ran: I was so sure that I knew just where that rainbow +ended. I remember how glad and proud I was in my thoughts, and what fine +presents I promised to all my friends out of my great riches. + +8. So thinking, and laying delightful plans, almost before I knew it I had +reached the cedar grove, and the end of the rainbow was not there! But I +saw it shining down among the trees a little farther off; so on and on I +struggled, through the thick bushes and over logs, till I came within the +sound of a stream which ran through the swamp. Then I thought, "What if +the rainbow should come down right in the middle of that deep, muddy +brook!" + +9. Ah! but I was frightened for my heavy pots of gold and silver, and my +purses of money. How should I ever find them there? and what a time I +should have getting them out! I reached the bank of the stream, and "the +end was not yet." But I could see it a little way off on the other side. I +crossed the creek on a fallen tree, and still ran on, though my limbs +seemed to give way, and my side ached with fatigue. + +10. The woods grew thicker and darker, the ground more wet and swampy, and +I found, as many grown people had found before me, that there was rather +hard traveling in a journey after, riches. Suddenly I met in my way a +large porcupine, who made himself still larger when he saw me, as a cross +cat raises its back and makes tails at a dog. Fearing that he would shoot +his sharp quills at me, I ran from him as fast as my tired feet would +carry me. + +11. In my fright and hurry I forgot to keep my eye on the rainbow, as I +had done before; and when, at last, I remembered and looked for it, it was +nowhere in sight! It had quite faded away. When I saw that it was indeed +gone, I burst into tears; for I had lost all my treasures, and had nothing +to show for my pilgrimage but muddy feet and a wet and torn frock. So I +set out for home. + +12. But I soon found that my troubles had only begun; I could not find my +way: I was lost! I could not tell which was east or west, north or south, +but wandered about here and there, crying and calling, though I knew that +no one could hear me. + +13. All at once I heard voices shouting and hallooing; but, instead of +being rejoiced at this, I was frightened, fearing that the Indians were +upon me! I crawled under some bushes, by the side of a large log, and lay +perfectly still. I was wet, cold, scared, altogether very miserable +indeed; yet, when the voices came near, I did not start up and show +myself. + +14. At last I heard my own name called; but I remembered that Indians were +very cunning, and thought they might have found it out some way, so I did +not answer. Then came a voice near me, that sounded like that of my eldest +brother, who lived away from home, and whom I had not seen for many +months; but I dared not believe that the voice was his. + +15. Soon some one sprang up on the log by which I lay, and stood there +calling. I could not see his face; I could only see the tips of his toes, +but by them I saw that he wore a nice pair of boots, and not moccasins. +Yet I remembered that some Indians dressed like white folks; so I still +kept quiet, till I heard shouted over me a pet name, which this brother +had given me. It was the funniest name in the world. + +16. I knew that no Indian knew of the name, as it was a little family +secret; so I sprang up, and caught my brother about the ankles. I hardly +think that an Indian could have given a louder yell than he gave then; and +he jumped so that he fell off the log down by my side. But nobody was +hurt; and, after kissing me till he had kissed away all my tears, he +hoisted me on to his shoulder, called my other brothers, who were hunting +in different directions, and we all set out for home. + +17. I had been gone nearly three hours, and had wandered a number of +miles. My brother Joseph's coming and asking for me, had first set them to +inquiring and searching me out. When I went into the room where my brother +Rufus sat, he said, "Why, my poor little sister! I did not mean to send +you off on such a wild-goose chase to the end of the rainbow. I thought +you would know I was only quizzing you." + +18. Then my eldest brother took me on his knee, and told me what the +rainbow really is: that it is only painted air, and does not rest on the +earth, so nobody could ever find the end; and that God has set it in the +cloud to remind him and us of his promise never again to drown the world +with a flood. "Oh, I think God's Promise would be a beautiful name for the +rainbow!" I said. + +19. "Yes," replied my mother, "but it tells us something more than that he +will not send great floods upon the earth,--it tells us of his beautiful +love always bending over us from the skies. And I trust that when my +little girl sets forth on a pilgrimage to find God's love, she will be led +by the rainbow of his promise through all the dark places of this world to +'treasures laid up in heaven,' better, far better, than silver or gold." + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Re-cov'er-ing, growing well. 3. Win'ter--green, a +creeping evergreen plant with bright red berries. 6. Im--posed', (used +with on or upon), deceived, misled. 7. Drab'-bling, making dirty by +drawing in mud and water. 10. Por'cu--pine, a small quadruped whose body +is covered with sharp quills. 11. Pil'grim-age, journey. 15. Moc'ca-sins, +shoes of deerskin without soles, such as are usually worn by Indians. 17. +Quiz'zing, making sport of. + + + +LXXII. THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. (202) + +By Samuel Woodworth, who was born in Massachusetts in 1785. He was both +author and editor. This is his best known poem. He died in 1842. + +1. How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood, + When fond recollection presents them to view! + The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood, + And every loved spot which my infancy knew; + The wide-spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it: + The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell: + The cot of my father, the dairy house nigh it, + And e'en the rude bucket which hung in the well: + The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket, + The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well. + +2. That moss-covered vessel I hail as a treasure; + For often, at noon, when returned from the field, + I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure, + The purest and sweetest that nature can yield. + How ardent I seized it, with hands that were glowing, + And quick to the white-pebble bottom it fell; + Then soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing, + And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well: + The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket, + The moss-covered bucket arose from the well. + +3. How sweet from the green mossy brim to receive it, + As poised on the curb, it inclined to my lips! + Not a full blushing goblet could tempt me to leave it, + Though filled with the nectar which Jupiter sips; + And now, far removed from thy loved situation, + The tear of regret will intrusively swell, + As fancy reverts to my father's plantation, + And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well: + The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket, + The moss-covered bucket, which hangs in the well. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Cat'a-ract, a great fall of water. 2. O-ver--flow'ing, +running over. Ex'qui-site, exceeding, extreme. 3. Poised', balanced. +Goblet, a kind of cup or drinking vessel. Nec'tar, the drink of the gods. +In-tru'sive-ly, without right or welcome. Re-verts', returns. + + +EXERCISES.--Who was the author of "The Old Oaken Bucket"? What is said of +this piece? What does the poem describe? and what feeling does it express? + + + +LXXIII. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. (204) + +1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was +set, his disciples came unto him; and he opened his mouth and taught them, +saying, + +2. Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. +Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the +meek; for they shall inherit the earth. + +3. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for +they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain +mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. + +4. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of +God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for +theirs is the kingdom of heaven. + +5. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall +say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be +exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven. * * * + +6. Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt +not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I +say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: +nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is +the city of the great King. + +7. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one +hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: +for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. + +8. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth +for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever +shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if +any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy +cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him +twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of +thee turn not thou away. + +9. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and +hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies; bless them that +curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which +despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of +your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil +and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. + +10. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even +the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye +more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye, therefore, perfect, +even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. * * * + +11. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye +shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to +you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, +but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? + +12. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of +thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first +cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to +cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. * * * + +13. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it +shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that +seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what +man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? +Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? + +14. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your +children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good +things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that +men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the +prophets. * * * + +15. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken +him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain +descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that +house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. + +16. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, +shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: +and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat +upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. + +17. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people +were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having +authority, and not as the scribes. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Dis-ci'ple, one who receives instruction from another. 2. +Bless'ed, happy. In-her'it, to come into possession of. 5. Re-vile', to +speak against without cause. Per'se-cute, to punish on account of +religion. 6. For-swear', to swear falsely. 9. De-spite'ful-ly, +maliciously, cruelly. 10. Pub'li-cans, tax collectors (they were often +oppressive and were hated by the Jews). 11. Mete, to measure. Mote, a +small particle. 12. Hyp'o-crite, a false pretender. 17. Scribes, men among +the Jews who read and explained the law to the people. + + +EXERCISES.--Who delivered this sermon? Who are blessed? and why? Is it +right to swear? How should we treat our enemies? Should we judge others +harshly? What does Jesus say of him who finds faults in his neighbor, but +does not see his own? What is said about prayer? About our conduct to +others? + + + +LXXIV. THE YOUNG WITNESS. (207) +By S. H. HAMMOND. + +1. A little girl nine years of age was brought into court, and offered as +a witness against a prisoner who was on trial for a crime committed in her +father's house. + +2. "Now, Emily," said the counsel for the prisoner, "I wish to know if you +understand the nature of an oath?" + +3. "I don't know what you mean," was the simple answer. + +4. "Your Honor," said the counsel, addressing the judge, "it is evident +that this witness should be rejected. She does not understand the nature +of an oath." + +5. "Let us see," said the judge. "Come here, my daughter." + +6. Assured by the kind tone and manner of the judge, the child stepped +toward him, and looked confidingly in his face, with a calm, clear eye, +and in a manner so artless and frank that it went straight to the heart. + +7. "Did you ever take an oath?" inquired the judge. + +8. The little girl stepped back with a look of horror; and the red blood +rose and spread in a blush all over her face and neck, as she answered, +"No, sir." She thought he intended to ask if she had ever used profane +language. + +9. "I do not mean that," said the judge, who saw her mistake; "I mean were +you ever a witness?" + +10. "No, sir; I never was in court before," was the answer. + +11. He handed her the Bible open. "Do you know that book, my daughter?" + +12. She looked at it and answered, "Yes, sir; it is the Bible." + +13. "Do you ever read in it?" he asked. + +14. "Yes, sir; every evening." + +15. "Can you tell me what the Bible is?" inquired the judge. + +16. "It is the word of the great God," she answered. + +17. "Well," said the judge, "place your hand upon this Bible, and listen +to what I say;" and he repeated slowly and solemnly the following oath: +"Do you swear that in the evidence which you shall give in this case, you +will tell the truth, and nothing but the truth; and that you will ask God +to help you?" + +18. "I do," she replied. + +19. "Now," said the judge, "you have been sworn as a witness; will you +tell me what will befall you if you do not tell the truth?" + +20. "I shall be shut up in the state prison," answered the child. + +21. "Anything else?" asked the judge. + +22. "I shall never go to heaven," she replied. + +23. "How do you know this?" asked the judge again. + +24. The child took the Bible, turned rapidly to the chapter containing the +commandments, and, pointing to the one which reads, "Thou shalt not bear +false witness against thy neighbor," said, "I learned that before I could +read." + +25. "Has anyone talked with you about being a witness in court here +against this man?" inquired the judge. + +26. "Yes, sir," she replied, "my mother heard they wanted me to be a +witness; and last night she called me to her room, and asked me to tell +her the Ten Commandments; and then we kneeled down together, and she +prayed that I might understand how wicked it was to bear false witness +against my neighbor, and that God would help me, a little child, to tell +the truth as it was before him. + +27. "And when I came up here with father, she kissed me, and told me to +remember the Ninth Commandment, and that God would hear every word that I +said." + +28. "Do you believe this?" asked the judge, while a tear glistened in his +eye, and his lip quivered with emotion. + +29. "Yes, sir," said the child, with a voice and manner which showed that +her conviction of the truth was perfect. + +30. "God bless you, my child," said the judge, "you have a good mother. +The witness is competent," he continued. "Were I on trial for my life, and +innocent of the charge against me, I would pray God for such a witness as +this. Let her be examined." + +31. She told her story with the simplicity of a child, as she was; but her +voice and manner carried conviction of her truthfulness to every heart. + +32. The lawyers asked her many perplexing questions, but she did not vary +in the least from her first statement. + +33. The truth, as spoken by a little child, was sublime. Falsehood and +perjury had preceded her testimony; but before her testimony, falsehood +was scattered like chaff. + +34. The little child, for whom a mother had prayed for strength to be +given her to speak the truth as it was before God, broke the cunning +device of matured villainy to pieces, like a potter's vessel. The strength +that her mother prayed for was given her; and the sublime and terrible +simplicity,--terrible to the prisoner and his associates,--was like a +revelation from God himself. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Wit'ness, one who gives testimony. Com--mit'ted, done, +performed. 2. Coun'sel, a lawyer. 4. Re-ject'ed, refused. 6. As-sured', +made bold. Con-fid'ing-ly, with trust. 8. Pro-fane', irreverent, taking +the name of God in vain. 33. Per'ju-ry, the act of willfully making a +false oath. Chaff, the light dry husk of grains or grasses. 34. Ma-tured', +perfected, fully developed. Pot'ter, one whose occupation is to make +earthen vessels. Rev--e-la'tion, the act of disclosing or showing what was +before unknown. + + +EXERCISES.--What is this story about? Why did the counsel wish to have +Emily refused as a witness? Was she a fit person to be a witness? How was +this shown? Which commandment forbids us to bear false witness? What was +the result of Emily's testimony? + + + +LXXV. KING SOLOMON AND THE ANTS. (211) + +By John Greenleaf Whittier, born near Haverhill, Mass., In 1807, and died +at Hampton Falls, N. H., In 1892. Until he was eighteen years old he +worked on the farm, and during that time learned the trade at a shoemaker. +He afterwards became an editor and one of the first poets of America. + +1. Out from Jerusalem + The king rode with his great + War chiefs and lords of state, + And Sheba's queen with them. + +2. Proud in the Syrian sun, + In gold and purple sheen, + The dusky Ethiop queen + Smiled on King Solomon. + +3. Wisest of men, he knew + The languages of all + The creatures great or small + That trod the earth or flew. + +4. Across an ant-hill led + The king's path, and he heard + Its small folk, and their word + He thus interpreted: + +5. "Here comes the king men greet + As wise and good and just, + To crush us in the dust + Under his heedless feet." + +6. The great king bowed his head, + And saw the wide surprise + Of the Queen of Sheba's eyes + As he told her what they said. + +7. "O king!" she whispered sweet, + "Too happy fate have they + Who perish in thy way + Beneath thy gracious feet! + +8. "Thou of the God-lent crown, + Shall these vile creatures dare + Murmur against thee where + The knees of kings kneel down?" + +9. "Nay," Solomon replied, + "The wise and strong should seek + The welfare of the weak;" + And turned his horse aside. + +10. His train, with quick alarm, + Curved with their leader round + The ant-hill's peopled mound, + And left it free from harm. + +11. The jeweled head bent low; + "O king!" she said, "henceforth + The secret of thy worth + And wisdom well I know. + +12. "Happy must be the State + Whose ruler heedeth more + The murmurs of the poor + Than flatteries of the great." + + +DEFINITIONS.--4. In-ter'pret-ed, explained the meaning of. 5. Greet, +Address, salute. 9. Wel'fare, happiness. 10. Train, a body of followers. +12. Flat'ter-ies, praises for the purpose of gratifying vanity or gaining +favor. + + + +LXXVI. RIVERMOUTH THEATER. (213) + +From "The Story of a Bad Boy," by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. The author was +born at Portsmouth, N. H., in 1836. When quite young his family moved to +Louisiana, but he was sent back to New England to be educated, and later +he located at New York. He is a well-known writer of both prose and +poetry. + +1. "Now, boys, what shall we do?" I asked, addressing a thoughtful +conclave of seven, assembled in our barn one dismal, rainy afternoon. +"Let's have a theater," suggested Binny Wallace. + +2. The very thing! But where? The loft of the stable was ready to burst +with hay provided for Gypsy, but the long room over the carriage house was +unoccupied. The place of all places! My managerial eye saw at a glance its +capabilities for a theater. + +3. I had been to the play a great many times in New Orleans, and was wise +in matters pertaining to the drama. So here, in due time, was set up some +extraordinary scenery of my own painting. The curtain, I recollect, though +it worked smoothly enough on other occasions, invariably hitched during +the performances. + +4. The theater, however, was a success, as far as it went. I retired from +the business with no fewer than fifteen hundred pins, after deducting the +headless, the pointless, and the crooked pins with which our doorkeeper +frequently got "stuck." From first to last we took in a great deal of this +counterfeit money. The price of admission to the "Rivermouth Theater" was +twenty pins. I played all the principal characters myself--not that I was +a finer actor than the other boys, but because I owned the establishment. + +5. At the tenth representation, my dramatic career was brought to a close +by an unfortunate circumstance. We were playing the drama of "William +Tell, the Hero of Switzerland." Of course I was William Tell, in spite of +Fred Langdon, who wanted to act that character himself. I wouldn't let +him, so he withdrew from the company, taking the only bow and arrow we had. + +6. I made a crossbow out of a piece of whalebone, and did very well +without him. We had reached that exciting scene where Gesler, the Austrian +tyrant, commands Tell to shoot the apple from his son's head. Pepper +Whitcomb, who played all the juvenile and women parts, was my son. + +7. To guard against mischance, a piece of pasteboard was fastened by a +handkerchief over the upper portion of Whitcomb's face, while the arrow to +be used was sewed up in a strip of flannel. I was a capital marksman, and +the big apple, only two yards distant, turned its russet cheek fairly +towards me. + +8. I can see poor little Pepper now, as he stood without flinching, +waiting for me to perform my great feat. I raised the crossbow amid the +breathless silence of the crowded audience--consisting of seven boys and +three girls, exclusive of Kitty Collins, who insisted on paying her way in +with a clothespin. I raised the crossbow, I repeat. Twang! went the +whipcord; but, alas! instead of hitting the apple, the arrow flew right +into Pepper Whitcomb's mouth, which happened to be open at the time, and +destroyed my aim. + +9. I shall never be able to banish that awful moment from my memory. +Pepper's roar, expressive of astonishment, indignation, and pain, is still +ringing in my ears. I looked upon him as a corpse, and, glancing not far +into the dreary future, pictured myself led forth to execution in the +presence of the very same spectators then assembled. + +10. Luckily, poor Pepper was not seriously hurt; but Grandfather Nutter, +appearing in the midst of the confusion (attracted by the howls of young +Tell), issued an injunction against all theatricals thereafter, and the +place was closed; not, however, without a farewell speech from me, in +which I said that this would have been the proudest moment of my life if I +hadn't hit Pepper Whitcomb in the mouth. Whereupon the audience (assisted, +I am glad to state, by Pepper) cried, "Hear! hear!" + +11. I then attributed the accident to Pepper himself, whose mouth, being +open at the instant I fired, acted upon the arrow much after the fashion +of a whirlpool, and drew in the fatal shaft. I was about to explain how a +comparatively small maelstrom could suck in the largest ship, when the +curtain fell of its own accord, amid the shouts of the audience. + +12. This was my last appearance on any stage. It was some time, though, +before I heard the end of the William Tell business. Malicious little boys +who hadn't been allowed to buy tickets to my theater used to cry out after +me in the street,-"'Who killed Cock Robin?'" + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Con'clave, a private meeting. 2. Man-a-ge'ri-al, of or +pertaining to a manager. 4. De-duct'ing, taking away, subtracting. 5. +Ca-reer', course of action. 8. Au'di-ence, an assembly of hearers. 9. +Ex-e-cu'tion, a putting to death by law. 10. In-junc'tion, a command. 11. +At-trib'ut-ed, assigned, charged. Mael'strom (pro, mal'strum), a +whirlpool. + + +NOTE.--The Revised Fifth Reader of this Series contains +the portion of "William Tell" probably alluded to. See +McGuffey's Fifth Reader, pp. 207-216. + + + +LXXVII. ALFRED THE GREAT. (217) + +1. More than a thousand years ago, (in the year 849), a prince was born in +England, who afterwards became one of the most celebrated and best loved +kings in the world. His name was Alfred--afterwards called Alfred the +Great--and he was the favorite son both of the king and queen. + +2. In those days the common people were very ignorant; few of them could +even read and write. There were no schools, and the monasteries, where +almost the only teaching had been done, were nearly all destroyed in the +wars which were continually going on. Only the higher classes had any +chance to study, and even they paid much more attention to fighting than +to studying. + +3. But Alfred was different from most persons of his time. Even when a +little boy, he delighted in listening to poems and to the ballads which +harpers used to sing, and he learned many of them by heart. When he was +twelve years old, his mother, the queen, offered to give a volume of poems +to that one of her four sons who would first learn to read it. Alfred was +the youngest of them all, yet he easily won the prize of which his +brothers thought so little. + +4. But, as has been said, these were stirring times, and Alfred was soon +called on to show his great abilities as a soldier. The Danes, a warlike +people, were continually swooping down in their vessels upon the coast of +England. Often they spread over the entire country, plundering and burning +the towns, and killing the people. + +5. In the midst of these invasions Alfred became king, when he was only +twenty-two years old. He proved as good a warrior as he was a student. He +thought that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. He was +generally successful against the Danes, but at one time they seemed to +have the country entirely in their power, and Alfred was compelled to hide +for his life. + +6. For some time he dressed as a peasant, and lived in the cottage of a +cowherd, who was so careful of his king's safety that he did not even tell +his wife who he was. So she treated the king as a common peasant, and one +day gave him a sharp scolding because he allowed some cakes to burn on the +griddle, after she had left him to watch them. She told him he was clever +enough at eating cakes though he managed so badly at baking them. + +7. When the search for him grew less active, Alfred gradually collected +some of his followers, with whom he encamped on a small spot of firm +ground in the center of a bog. It was surrounded by almost impassable +forests, and Alfred fortified the place so that it could not well be +taken. Then he made frequent sudden and successful attacks on the enemy +until his troops and the people became encouraged. + +8. One victory in particular, when they captured a banner which the Danes +thought enchanted, led Alfred to take bolder steps. He wished to find out +the exact condition of the enemy, and, for this purpose, disguised himself +as a harper and entered their camp. He was so successful in his disguise +that he remained there some days, even being admitted to the tent of the +Danish leader Guthrum. + +9. He found their entire army living in careless security, and so he +determined to make a sudden and bold attack on them, to try and rid his +country once more of these cruel invaders. He summoned his people about +him from far and wide. Many of them had long thought their beloved king +dead, but now all eagerly obeyed his call. + +10. He at once led them against that part of the camp which he had seen to +be most unguarded. The attack was entirely unexpected; and, although the +Danes were greater in numbers, they were defeated with great slaughter. +Some of them, with their leader, fled to a fortified place, but were soon +obliged to surrender. + +11. Alfred granted them their lives, and settled them in a part of his +kingdom where nearly all his own people had been destroyed. He hoped by +this to change obstinate enemies into useful friends who would protect +England from further attacks of their own countrymen. However, some years +later, when the Danes made another invasion, these people joined them in +fighting against Alfred, but he soon succeeded in driving them all out of +the country. + +12. Much as Alfred did for his people in war, he did more in time of +peace. Above all else he gave careful attention to their education. He +rebuilt the monasteries and aided the young University of Oxford. He also +founded many schools, to which every owner of a certain portion of land +was compelled to send his children. + +13. But he did as much good by the example that he set as by these acts. +His time was divided into three parts. One was given to business, one to +refreshment by sleep and food, and the third to study and devotion. Clocks +and watches, and probably even sundials, were then unknown, so these +divisions were marked by burning candles of equal lengths. + +14. Alfred did not study for his own pleasure merely, but translated and +wrote many works for the good of his people, using the simple language +which they could easily understand and enjoy. His person was handsome and +dignified, full of grace and activity. But the more noble beauty was +within, in the enlightened mind and virtuous heart of the king. After his +name, which has its place on an ancient record of English kings, is +written the noble title of "Truth Teller." + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Mon'as-ter-y, a religious house where monks live. 5. +In-va'sion, the warlike entrance of an army. 8. Dis-guised', hidden by an +unusual dress and appearance. 12. U-ni--ver'si-ty, a school of the highest +grade, in which are taught all branches of learning. 14. Trans-lat'ed, +changed from one language to another. En-light'ened, well informed. + + + +LXXVII. LIVING ON A FARM. (220) + +1. How brightly through the mist of years, + My quiet country home appears! + My father busy all the day + In plowing corn or raking hay; + My mother moving with delight + Among the milk pans, silver-bright; + We children, just from school set free, + Filling the garden with our glee. + The blood of life was flowing warm + When I was living on a farm. + +2. I hear the sweet churchgoing bell, + As o'er the fields its music fell, + I see the country neighbors round + Gathering beneath the pleasant sound; + They stop awhile beside the door, + To talk their homely matters o'er + The springing corn, the ripening grain, + And "how we need a little rain;" + "A little sun would do no harm, + We want good weather for the farm." + +3. When autumn came, what joy to see + The gathering of the husking bee, + To hear the voices keeping tune, + Of girls and boys beneath the moon, + To mark the golden corn ears bright, + More golden in the yellow light! + Since I have learned the ways of men, + I often turn to these again, + And feel life wore its highest charm. + When I was living on the farm. + + + +LXXIX. HUGH IDLE AND MR. TOIL. (221) + +Adapted from the story of "Little Daffydowndilly," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. +The author was born at Salem, Mass., in 1804, and ranks among the first of +American novelists. He died in 1864. + +1. Hugh Idle loved to do only what was agreeable, and took no delight in +labor of any kind. But while Hugh was yet a little boy, he was sent away +from home, and put under the care of a very strict schoolmaster, who went +by the name of Mr. Toil. + +2. Those who knew him best, affirmed that Mr. Toil was a very worthy +character, and that he had done more good, both to children and grown +people, than anybody else in the world. He had, however, a severe and ugly +countenance; his voice was harsh; and all his ways and customs were +disagreeable to our young friend, Hugh Idle. + +3. The whole day long this terrible old schoolmaster sulked about among +his scholars, with a big cane in his hand; and unless a lad chose to +attend constantly and quietly to his book, he had no chance of enjoying a +single quiet moment. "This will never do for me," thought Hugh; "I'll run +off, and try to find my way home." + +4. So the very next morning off he started, with only some bread and +cheese for his breakfast, and very little pocket money to pay his +expenses. He had gone but a short distance, when he overtook a man of +grave and sedate appearance trudging at a moderate pace along the road. + +5. "Good morning, my fine lad!" said the stranger; and his voice seemed +hard and severe, yet had a sort of kindness in it; "whence do you come so +early, and whither are you going?" + +6. Now Hugh was a boy of very frank disposition, and had never been known +to tell a lie in all his life. Nor did he tell one now, but confessed that +he had run away from school on account of his great dislike to Mr. Toil. +"Oh, very well, my little friend!" answered the stranger; "then we will go +together; for I likewise have had a good deal to do with Mr. Toil, and +should be glad to find some place where he was never heard of." So they +walked on very sociably side by side. + +7. By and by their road led them past a field, where some haymakers were +at work. Hugh could not help thinking how much pleasanter it must be to +make hay in the sunshine, under the blue sky, than to learn lessons all +day long, shut up in a dismal schoolroom, continually watched by Mr. Toil. + +8. But in the midst of these thoughts, while he was stopping to peep over +the stone wall, he started back and caught hold of his companion's hand. +"Quick, quick!" cried he; "let us run away, or he will catch us!" + +9. "Who will catch us?" asked the stranger. + +10. "Mr. Toil, the old schoolmaster," answered Hugh; "don't you see him +among the haymakers?" and Hugh pointed to an elderly man, who seemed to be +the owner of the field. + +11. He was busily at work in his shirt sleeves. The drops of sweat stood +upon his brow; and he kept constantly crying out to his work people to +make hay while the sun shone. Strange to say, the features of the old +farmer were precisely the same as those of Mr. Toil, who at that very +moment must have been just entering the schoolroom. + +12. "Don't be afraid," said the stranger; "this is not Mr. Toil, the +schoolmaster, but a brother of his, who was bred a farmer. He won't +trouble you, unless you become a laborer on his farm." + +13. Hugh believed what his companion said, but was glad when they were out +of sight of the old farmer who bore such a singular resemblance to Mr. +Toil. The two travelers came to a spot where some carpenters were building +a house. Hugh begged his companion to stop awhile, for it was a pretty +sight to see how neatly the carpenters did their work with their saws, +planes, and hammers; and he was beginning to think he too should like to +use the saw, and the plane, and the hammer, and be a carpenter himself. +But suddenly he caught sight of something that made him seize his friend's +hand, in a great fright. + +14. "Make haste! quick, quick!" cried he; "there's old Mr. Toil again." +The stranger cast his eyes where Hugh pointed his finger, and saw an +elderly man, who seemed to be overseeing the carpenters, as he went to and +fro about the unfinished house, marking out the work to be done, and +urging the men to be diligent; and wherever he turned his hard and +wrinkled visage, they sawed and hammered as if for dear life. + +15. "Oh, no! this is not Mr. Toil, the schoolmaster," said the stranger; +"it is another brother of his who follows the trade of carpenter." + +16. "I am very glad to hear it," quoth Hugh; "but if you please, sir, I +should like to get out of his way as soon as possible." + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. A-gree'a-ble, pleasing. 2. Af-firmed', declared. 4. +Ex-pens'es, costs. Se-date', calm. Mod'er-ate, neither fast nor slow, +Dis-po-si'tion, natural state of mind. Con-fessed', ac-knowledged. +So'cia-bly, in a friendly way. 11. Fea'tures, the distinctive marks of the +face. 13. Re-sem'blance, likeness. 14. Dil'i-gent, industrious. Vis'age, +the face. 16. Quoth, said. + + + +LXXX. HUGH IDLE AND MR. TOIL. (Concluded.) (224) + +1. Now Hugh and the stranger had not gone much further, when they met a +company of soldiers, gayly dressed, with feathers in their caps, and +glittering muskets on their shoulders. In front marched the drummers and +fifers, making such merry music that Hugh would gladly have followed them +to the end of the world. If he were only a soldier, he said to himself, +old Mr. Toil would never venture to look him in the face. + +2. "Quickstep! forward! march!" shouted a gruff voice. + +3. Little Hugh started in great dismay; for this voice sounded precisely +like that which he had heard every day in Mr. Toil's schoolroom. And +turning his eyes to the captain of the company, what should he see but the +very image of old Mr. Toil himself, in an officer's dress, to be sure, but +looking as ugly and disagreeable as ever. + +4. "This is certainly old Mr. Toil," said Hugh, in a trembling voice. "Let +us away, for fear he should make us enlist in his company." + +5. "You are mistaken again, my little friend," replied the stranger very +composedly. "This is only a brother of Mr. Toil's, who has served in the +army all his life. You and I need not be afraid of him." + +6. "Well, well," said Hugh, "if you please, sir, I don't want to see the +soldiers any more." So the child and the stranger resumed their journey; +and, after awhile, they came to a house by the roadside, where a number of +young men and rosy-cheeked girls, with smiles on their faces, were dancing +to the sound of a fiddle. + +7. "Oh, let us stop here," cried Hugh; "Mr. Toil will never dare to show +his face where there is a fiddler, and where people are dancing and making +merry." + +8. But the words had scarcely died away on the little boy's tongue, when, +happening to cast his eyes on the fiddler, whom should he behold again but +the likeness of Mr. Toil, armed with a fiddle bow this time, and +flourishing it with as much ease and dexterity as if he had been a fiddler +all his life. + +9. "Oh, dear me!" whispered he, turning pale; "it seems as if there were +nobody but Mr. Toil in the world." + +10. "This is not your old schoolmaster," observed the stranger, "but +another brother of his, who has learned to be a fiddler. He is ashamed of +his family, and generally calls himself Master Pleasure; but his real name +is Toil, and those who know him best think him still more disagreeable +than his brothers." + +11. "Pray, let us go on," said Hugh. + +12. Well, thus the two went wandering along the highway and in shady lanes +and through pleasant villages, and wherever they went, behold! there was +the image of old Mr. Toil. If they entered a house, he sat in the parlor; +if they peeped into the kitchen, he was there! He made himself at home in +every cottage, and stole, under one disguise or another, into the most +splendid mansions. Everywhere they stumbled on some of the old +schoolmaster's innumerable brothers. + +13. At length, little Hugh found himself completely worn out with running +away from Mr. Toil. "Take me back! take me back!" cried the poor fellow, +bursting into tears. "If there is nothing but Toil all the world over, I +may just as well go back to the schoolhouse." + +14. "Yonder it is; there is the schoolhouse!" said the stranger; for +though he and little Hugh had taken a great many steps, they had traveled +in a circle instead of a straight line. "Come, we will go back to the +school together." + +15. There was something in his companion's voice that little Hugh now +remembered; and it is strange that he had not remembered it sooner. +Looking up into his face, behold! there again was the likeness of old Mr. +Toil, so that the poor child had been in company with Toil all day, even +while he had been doing his best to run away from him. + +16. Little Hugh Idle, however, had learned a good lesson, and from that +time forward was diligent at his task, because he now knew that diligence +is not a whit more toilsome than sport or idleness. And when he became +better acquainted with Mr. Toil, he began to think his ways were not so +disagreeable, and that the old schoolmaster's smile of approbation made +his face sometimes appear almost as pleasant as even that of Hugh's +mother. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Ven'ture, to dare, to risk. 3. Dis-may', fright, terror. +Pre-cise'ly, exactly. 4. En-list', to put one's name on a roll, to join. +5. Com-pos'ed-ly, calmly, quietly. 6. Re--sumed', recommenced. 10. +Ob-served', remarked. 12. In-nu'mer--a-ble, not to be counted. 16. +Ap-pro-ba'tion, the act of regarding with pleasure. + + +EXERCISES.--To whose school was Hugh Idle sent? Why did he run away? +Relate the adventures of Hugh and the stranger. What lesson is taught by +this story? + + + +LXXXI. BURNING THE FALLOW. (227) + +Adapted from "Roughing it in the Bush," a story by Mrs. Susanna Moodie +(sister of Agnes Strickland), who was born in Suffolk, England, in 1803. +She died in 1885. + +1. The day was sultry, and towards noon a strong wind sprang up that +roared in the pine tops like the dashing of distant billows, but without +in the least degree abating the heat. The children were lying listlessly +upon the floor, and the girl and I were finishing sunbonnets, when Mary +suddenly exclaimed, "Bless us, mistress, what a smoke!" + +2. I ran immediately to the door, but was not able to distinguish ten +yards before me. The swamp immediately below us was on fire, and the heavy +wind was driving a dense black cloud of smoke directly towards us. + +3. "What can this mean?" I cried. "Who can have set fire to the fallow?" +As I ceased speaking, John Thomas stood pale and trembling before me. +"John, what is the meaning of this fire?" + +4. "Oh, ma'am, I hope you will forgive me; it was I set fire to it, and I +would give all I have in the world if I had not done it." + +5. "What is the danger?" + +6. "Oh, I'm afraid that we shall all be burnt up," said John, beginning to +whimper. "What shall we do?" + +7. "Why, we must get out of it as fast as we can, and leave the house to +its fate." + +8. "We can't get out," said the man, in a low, hollow tone, which seemed +the concentration of fear; "I would have got out of it if I could; but +just step to the back door, ma'am, and see." + +9. Behind, before, on every side, we were surrounded by a wall of fire, +burning furiously within a hundred yards of us, and cutting off all +possibility of retreat; for, could we have found an opening through the +burning heaps, we could not have seen our way through the dense canopy of +smoke; and, buried as we were in the heart of the forest, no one could +discover our situation till we were beyond the reach of help. + +10. I closed the door, and went back to the parlor. Fear was knocking +loudly at my heart, for our utter helplessness destroyed all hope of our +being able to effect our escape. The girl sat upon the floor by the +children, who, unconscious of the peril that hung over them, had both +fallen asleep. She was silently weeping; while the boy who had caused the +mischief was crying aloud. + +11. A strange calm succeeded my first alarm. I sat down upon the step of +the door, and watched the awful scene in silence. The fire was raging in +the cedar swamp immediately below the ridge on which the house stood, and +it presented a spectacle truly appalling. + +12. From out of the dense folds of a canopy of black smoke--the blackest I +ever saw--leaped up red forks of lurid flame as high as the tree tops, +igniting the branches of a group of tall pines that had been left for saw +logs. A deep gloom blotted out the heavens from our sight. The air was +filled with fiery particles, which floated even to the doorstep--while the +crackling and roaring of the flames might have been heard at a great +distance. + +13. To reach the shore of the lake, we must pass through the burning +swamp, and not a bird could pass over it with unscorched wings. The fierce +wind drove the flames at the sides and back of the house up the clearing; +and our passage to the road or to the forest, on the right and left, was +entirely obstructed by a sea of flames. Our only ark of safety was the +house, so long as it remained untouched by the fire. + +14. I turned to young Thomas, and asked him how long he thought that would +he. "When the fire clears this little ridge in front, ma'am. The Lord have +mercy on us then, or we must all go." + +15. I threw myself down on the floor beside my children, and pressed them +to my heart, while inwardly I thanked God that they were asleep, +unconscious of danger, and unable by their cries to distract our attention +from adopting any plan which might offer to effect their escape. + +16. The heat soon became suffocating. We were parched with thirst, and +there was not a drop of water in the house, and none to be procured nearer +than the lake. I turned once more to the door, hoping that a passage might +have been burnt through to the water. I saw nothing but a dense cloud of +fire and smoke--could hear nothing but the crackling and roaring of +flames, which was gaining so fast upon us that I felt their scorching +breath in my face. + +17. "Ah," thought I--and it was a most bitter thought--"what will my +beloved husband say when he returns and finds that his poor wife and his +dear girls have perished in this miserable manner? But God can save us +yet." + +18. The thought had scarcely found a voice in my heart before the wind +rose to a hurricane, scattering the flames on all sides into a tempest of +burning billows. I buried my head in my apron, for I thought that all was +lost, when a most terrific crash of thunder burst over our heads, and, +like the breaking of a waterspout, down came the rushing torrent of rain +which had been pent up for so many weeks. + +19. In a few minutes the chip yard was all afloat, and the fire +effectually checked. The storm which, unnoticed by us, had been gathering +all day, and which was the only one of any note we had that summer, +continued to rage all night, and before morning had quite subdued the +cruel enemy whose approach we had viewed with such dread. + + +DEFINITIONS.-l. A-bat'ing, lessening. List'less-ly, not paying attention, +heedlessly. 3. Fal'low, a new clearing usually covered with brush heaps. +8. Con-cen-tra'tion, bringing into a small space, the essence. 9. +Can'o-py, a covering or curtain. 10. Ef-fect', to bring to pass. 11. +Suc-ceed'ed, followed. Ap-pall'ing, terrifying. 12. Lu'rid, dull red. +Ig-nit'ing, setting on fire. 15. Dis-tract', con-fuse, perplex. 16. +Parched, made very dry. 18. Wa'ter-spout, a column of water caught up by a +whirlwind. + + + +LXXXII. THE DYING SOLDIERS. (230) + +1. A waste of land, a sodden plain, + A lurid sunset sky, + With clouds that fled and faded fast + In ghostly phantasy; + A field upturned by trampling feet, + A field uppiled with slain, + With horse and rider blent in death + Upon the battle plain. + +2. The dying and the dead lie low; + For them, no more shall rise + The evening moon, nor midnight stars, + Nor day light's soft surprise: + They will not wake to tenderest call, + Nor see again each home, + Where waiting hearts shall throb and break, + When this day's tidings come. + +3. Two soldiers, lying as they fell + Upon the reddened clay-- + In daytime, foes; at night, in peace + Breathing their lives away! + Brave hearts had stirred each manly breast; + Fate only, made them foes; + And lying, dying, side by side, + A softened feeling rose. + +4. "Our time is short," one faint voice said; + "To-day we've done our best + On different sides: what matters now? + To-morrow we shall rest! + Life lies behind. I might not care + For only my own sake; + But far away are other hearts, + That this day's work will break. + +5. "Among New Hampshire's snowy hills, + There pray for me to-night + A woman, and a little girl + With hair like golden light;" + And at the thought, broke forth, at last, + The cry of anguish wild, + That would not longer be repressed + "O God, my wife, my child!" + +6. "And," said the other dying man, + "Across the Georgia plain, + There watch and wait for me loved ones + I ne'er shall see again: + A little girl, with dark, bright eyes, + Each day waits at the door; + Her father's step, her father's kiss, + Will never greet her more. + +7. "To-day we sought each other's lives: + Death levels all that now; + For soon before God's mercy seat + Together we shall bow. + Forgive each other while we may; + Life's but a weary game, + And, right or wrong, the morning sun + Will find us, dead, the same." + +8. The dying lips the pardon breathe; + The dying hands entwine; + The last ray fades, and over all + The stars from heaven shine; + And the little girl with golden hair, + And one with dark eyes bright, + On Hampshire's hills, and Georgia's plain, + Were fatherless that night! + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Sod'den, soaked. Phan'ta-sy, specter-like ap-pearance. +Blent, mingled together. 2. Ti'dings, news. 5. An'guish, deep distress. +Re-pressed', kept back. 8. Par'don, forgiveness. En-twine', clasp +together. + + +EXERCISE.--What do the first two stanzas describe? What does the third? +What did one soldier say to the other? Where was his home? What friends +had he there? Where was the home of the other soldier? Who waited for him? +Did they forgive each other? + + + +LXXXIII. THE ATTACK ON NYMWEGEN. (233) + +From "The History of the United Netherlands," by John Lothrop Motley, who +was born in 1814, at Dorchester, Mass. He graduated at Harvard in 1831, +and afterwards lived many years In Europe, writing the histories which +made him famous. He died in 1877. + +1. On the evening of the 10th of August, 1589, there was a wedding feast +in one of the splendid mansions of the stately city. The festivities were +prolonged until deep in the midsummer's night, and harp and viol were +still inspiring the feet of the dancers, when on a sudden, in the midst of +the holiday groups, appeared the grim visage of Martin Schenk, the man who +never smiled. + +2. Clad in no wedding garment, but in armor of proof, with morion on head, +and sword in hand, the great freebooter strode heavily through the +ballroom, followed by a party of those terrible musketeers who never gave +or asked for quarter, while the affrighted revelers fluttered away before +them. + +3. Taking advantage of a dark night, he had just dropped down the river +from his castle, with five and twenty barges, had landed with his most +trusted soldiers in the foremost vessels, had battered down the gate of +St. Anthony, and surprised and slain the guard. + +4. Without waiting for the rest of his boats, he had then stolen with his +comrades through the silent streets, and torn away the latticework, and +other slight defenses on the rear of the house which they had now entered, +and through which they intended to possess themselves of the market place. + +5. Martin had long since selected this mansion as a proper position for +his enterprise, but he had not been bidden to the wedding, and was +somewhat disconcerted when he found himself on the festive scene which he +had so grimly interrupted. + +6. Some of the merrymakers escaped from the house, and proceeded to alarm +the town; while Schenk hastily fortified his position, and took possession +of the square. But the burghers and garrison were soon on foot, and he was +driven back into the house. + +7. Three times he recovered the square by main strength of his own arm, +seconded by the handful of men whom he had brought with him, and three +times he was beaten back by overwhelming numbers into the wedding mansion. + +8. The arrival of the greater part of his followers, with whose assistance +he could easily have mastered the city in the first moments of surprise, +was mysteriously delayed. He could not account for their prolonged +absence, and was meanwhile supported only by those who had arrived with +him in the foremost barges. + +9. The truth--of which he was ignorant--was, that the remainder of the +flotilla, borne along by the strong and deep current of the Waal, then in +a state of freshet, had shot past the landing place, and had ever since +been vainly struggling against wind and tide to force their way back to +the necessary point. + +10. Meantime Schenk and his followers fought desperately in the market +place, and desperately in the house which he had seized. But a whole +garrison, and a town full of citizens in arms proved too much for him, and +he was now hotly besieged in the mansion, and at last driven forth into +the streets. + +11. By this time day was dawning, the whole population, soldiers and +burghers, men, women, and children, were thronging about the little band +of marauders, and assailing them with every weapon and every missile to be +found. Schenk fought with his usual ferocity, but at last the musketeers, +in spite of his indignant commands, began rapidly to retreat toward the +quay. + +12. In vain Martin stormed and cursed, in vain with his own hand he struck +more than one of his soldiers dead. He was swept along with the +panic-stricken band, and when, shouting and gnashing his teeth with +frenzy, he reached the quay at last, he saw at a glance why his great +enterprise had failed. + +13. The few empty barges of his own party were moored at the steps; the +rest were half a mile off, contending hopelessly against the swollen and +rapid Waal. Schenk, desperately wounded, was left almost alone upon the +wharf, for his routed followers had plunged helter-skelter into the boats, +several of which, overladen in the panic, sank at once, leaving the +soldiers to drown or struggle with the waves. + +14. The game was lost. Nothing was left the freebooter but retreat. +Reluctantly turning his back on his enemies, now in full cry close behind +him, Schenk sprang into the last remaining boat just pushing from the +quay. Already overladen, it foundered with his additional weight, and +Martin Schenk, encumbered with his heavy armor, sank at once to the bottom +of the Waal. + +15. Some of the fugitives succeeded in swimming down the stream, and were +picked up by their comrades in the barges below the town, and so made +their escape. Many were drowned with their captain. A few days afterward, +the inhabitants of Nymwegen fished up the body of the famous partisan. He +was easily recognized by his armor, and by his truculent face, still +wearing the scowl with which he had last rebuked his followers. + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Mo'ri-on, a kind of helmet. Free'boot-er, one who +plunders. Mus-ket-eer', a soldier armed with a musket. Quar'ter, mercy. 6. +Burgh'ers, inhabitants of a town. Gar'ri-son, troops stationed in a fort +or town. 9. Flo-til'la, a fleet of small vessels. 11. Ma-raud'ers, +plunderers. Quay (pro. ke), a wharf 14. Foun'dered, sank. En-cum'bered, +weighed down. 15. Par'ti-san, a commander of a body of roving troops. +Tru'cu-lent, fierce. + + + +LXXXIV. THE SEASONS. (237) + +1. SPRING. + +H. G. Adams, an English writer, has compiled two volumes of poetical +quotations, and is the author of several volumes of original poems. The +following is from the "Story of the Seasons." + +A bursting into greenness; + A waking as from sleep; +A twitter and a warble + That make the pulses leap: +A watching, as in childhood, + For the flowers that, one by one, +Open their golden petals + To woo the fitful sun. +A gust, a flash, a gurgle, + A wish to shout and sing, +As, filled with hope and gladness, + We hail the vernal Spring. + + +II. SUMMER. + +Now is the high tide of the year, + And whatever of life hath ebbed away +Comes flooding back with a ripply cheer, + Into every bare inlet and creek and bay. +We may shut our eyes, but we can not help knowing + That skies are clear and grass is growing; +The breeze comes whispering in our ear, + That dandelions are blossoming near, +That maize has sprouted, that streams are flowing, + That the river is bluer than the sky, +That the robin is plastering his house hard by; + And if the breeze kept the good news back +For other couriers we should not lack; + We could guess it all by yon heifer's lowing,-- +And hark! how clear bold chanticleer, +Warmed with the new wine of the year, + Tells all in his lusty crowing. + --Lowell. + + +III. AUTUMN. + +Thomas Hood, author of the following selection, was born in 1798, at +London, where he was editor of the "London Magazine," and died in 1845. He +is best known as a humorist, but some of his poems are full of tender +feeling. + +The autumn is old; +The sear leaves are flying; +He hath gathered up gold +And now he is dying: +Old age, begin sighing! + +The year's in the wane; +There is nothing adorning; +The night has no eve, +And the day has no morning; +Cold winter gives warning. + + +IV. WINTER. + +Charles T. Brooks translated the following selection from the original by +the German poet, Ludwig Holty. Mr. Brooks was born at Salem, Mass., in +1813. After graduation at Harvard he entered the ministry. He translated +much from the German, both of poetry and prose. He died in 1883. + + Now no plumed throng + Charms the wood with song; +Icebound trees are glittering; +Merry snowbirds, twittering, + Fondly strive to cheer + Scenes so cold and drear. + + Winter, still I see + Many charms in thee, +Love thy chilly greeting, +Snowstorms fiercely beating, + And the dear delights + Of the long, long nights. + + + +LXXXV. BRANDYWINE FORD. (239) + +Bayard Taylor was born at Kennett Square, Penn., in 1825. He received a +limited school education, but at an early age displayed great energy and +talent. He was a great traveler, and a fluent, graceful writer, both of +prose and verse. Mr. Taylor held high official positions under the +government. The following selection is adapted from "The Story of +Kennett," He died in 1878. + +1. The black, dreary night, seemed interminable. He could only guess, here +and there, at a landmark, and was forced to rely more upon Roger's +instinct of the road than upon the guidance of his senses. Toward +midnight, as he judged, by the solitary crow of a cock, the rain almost +entirely ceased. + +2. The wind began to blow sharp and keen, and the hard vault of the sky to +lift a little. He fancied that the hills on his right had fallen away, and +that the horizon was suddenly depressed towards the north. Roger's feet +began to splash in constantly deepening water, and presently a roar, +distinct from that of the wind, filled the air. + +3. It was the Brandywine. The stream had overflowed its broad meadow +bottoms, and was running high and fierce beyond its main channel. The +turbid waters made a dim, dusky gleam around him; soon the fences +disappeared, and the flood reached to his horse's body. + +4. But he knew that the ford could be distinguished by the break in the +fringe of timber; moreover, that the creek bank was a little higher than +the meadows behind it, and so far, at least, he might venture. The ford +was not more than twenty yards across, and he could trust Roger to swim +that distance. + +5. The faithful animal pressed bravely on, but Gilbert soon noticed that +he seemed at fault. The swift water had forced him out of the road, and he +stopped from time to time, as if anxious and uneasy. The timber could now +be discerned, only a short distance in advance, and in a few minutes they +would gain the bank. + +6. What was that? A strange, rustling, hissing sound, as of cattle +trampling through dry reeds,--a sound which quivered and shook, even in +the breath of the hurrying wind! Roger snorted, stood still, and trembled +in every limb; and a sensation of awe and terror struck a chill through +Gilbert's heart. The sound drew swiftly nearer, and became a wild, +seething roar, filling the whole breadth of the valley. + +7. "The dam! the dam!" cried Gilbert, "the dam has given way!" He turned +Roger's head, gave him the rein, struck, spurred, cheered, and shouted. +The brave beast struggled through the impeding flood, but the advance wave +of the coming inundation already touched his side. He staggered; a line of +churning foam bore down upon them, the terrible roar was all around and +over them, and horse and rider were whirled away. + +8. What happened during the first few seconds, Gilbert could never +distinctly recall. Now they were whelmed in the water, now riding its +careering tide, torn through the tops of brushwood, jostled by floating +logs and timbers of the dam, but always, as it seemed, remorselessly held +in the heart of the tumult and the ruin. + +[Transcriber's Footnote: careering--Path or course, as the moon through +the sky.] + +9. He saw at last that they had fallen behind the furious onset of the +flood, but Roger was still swimming with it, desperately throwing up his +head from time to time, and snorting the water from his nostrils. All his +efforts to gain a foothold failed; his strength was nearly spent, and +unless some help should come in a few minutes it would come in vain. And +in the darkness, and the rapidity with which they were borne along, how +should help come? + +10. All at once Roger's course stopped. He became an obstacle to the +flood, which pressed him against some other obstacle below, and rushed +over horse and rider. Thrusting out his hand, Gilbert felt the rough bark +of a tree. Leaning towards it, and clasping the log in his arms, he drew +himself from the saddle, while Roger, freed from his burden, struggled +into the current and instantly disappeared. 11. As nearly as Gilbert could +ascertain, several timbers, thrown over each other, had lodged, probably +upon a rocky islet in the stream, the uppermost one projecting slantingly +out of the flood. It required all his strength to resist the current which +sucked, and whirled, and tugged at his body, and to climb high enough to +escape its force, without overbalancing his support. At last, though still +half immerged, he found himself comparatively safe for a time, yet as far +as ever from a final rescue. + +12. Yet a new danger now assailed him, from the increasing cold. There was +already a sting of frost, a breath of ice, in the wind. In another hour +the sky was nearly swept bare of clouds, and he could note the lapse of +the night by the sinking of the moon. But he was by this time hardly in a +condition to note anything more. + + +DEFINITIONS.--1. In-ter'mi-na-ble, endless. 2. De-pressed', low-ered. 3. +Tur'bid, muddy. 5. Dis-cerncd' (pro. diz-zerned'), made out, +distinguished. 6. Seeth'ing, boiling, bubbling. 7. Im-ped'ing, hindering, +obstucting. In-un-da'tion, a flood. 9. On'set, a rushing upon, attack. 11. +Im-merged', plunged under a liquid. 12. Lapse, a gradual passing away. + + + +LXXXVI. BRANDYWINE FORD. (Concluded.) (242) + +1. The moon was low in the west, and there was a pale glimmer of the +coming dawn in the sky, when Gilbert Potter suddenly raised his head. +Above the noise of the water and the whistle of the wind, he heard a +familiar sound,--the shrill, sharp neigh of a horse. Lifting himself with +great exertion, to a sitting posture, he saw two men, on horseback, in the +flooded meadow, a little below him. They stopped, seemed to consult, and +presently drew nearer. + +2. Gilbert tried to shout, but the muscles of his throat were stiff, and +his lungs refused to act. The horse neighed again. This time there was no +mistake; it was Roger that he heard! Voice came to him, and he cried +aloud,--a hoarse, strange, unnatural cry. + +The horsemen heard it, and rapidly pushed up the bank, until they reached +a point directly opposite to him. The prospect of escape brought a thrill +of life to his frame; he looked around and saw that the flood had indeed +fallen. + +3. "We have no rope," he heard one of the men say. "How shall we reach +him?" + +"There is no time to get one now," the other answered. "My horse is +stronger than yours. I'll go into the creek just below, where it's broader +and not so deep, and work my way up to him," + +"But one horse can't carry both." + +"His will follow, be sure, when it sees me." + +4. As the last speaker moved away, Gilbert saw a led horse plunging +through the water beside the other. It was a difficult and dangerous +undertaking. The horseman and the loose horse entered the main stream +below, where its divided channel met and broadened, but it was still above +the saddle girths, and very swift. + +5. Sometimes the animals plunged, losing their foothold; nevertheless, +they gallantly breasted the current, and inch by inch worked their way to +a point about six feet below Gilbert. It seemed impossible to approach +nearer. + +"Can you swim?" asked the man. + +Gilbert shook his head. "Throw me the end of Roger's bridle!" he then +cried. + +6. The man unbuckled the bridle and threw it, keeping the end of the rein +in his hand. Gilbert tried to grasp it, but his hands were too numb. He +managed, however, to get one arm and his head through the opening, and +relaxed his hold on the log. + +7. A plunge, and the man had him by the collar. He felt himself lifted by +a strong arm and laid across Roger's saddle. With his failing strength and +stiff limbs, it was no slight task to get into place; and the return, +though less laborious to the horses, was equally dangerous, because +Gilbert was scarcely able to support himself without help. + +"You're safe now," said the man, when they reached the bank, "but it's a +downright mercy of God that you're alive!" + +8. The other horseman joined them, and they rode slowly across the flooded +meadow. They had both thrown their cloaks around Gilbert, and carefully +steadied him in the saddle, one on each side. He was too much exhausted to +ask how they had found him, or whither they were taking him,--too numb +for curiosity, almost for gratitude. + +9. "Here's your savior!" said one of the men, patting Roger's shoulder. +"It was through him that we found you. Do you wish to know how? +Well--about three o'clock it was, maybe a little earlier, maybe a little +later, my wife woke me up. 'Do you hear that?' she said. + +10. "I listened and heard a horse in the lane before the door, +neighing,--I can't tell you exactly how it was,--as though he would call +up the house. It was rather queer, I thought, so I got up and looked out +of the window, and it seemed to me he had a saddle on. He stamped, and +pawed, and then he gave another neigh, and stamped again. + +11. "Said I to my wife, 'There is something wrong here,' and I dressed and +went out. When he saw me, he acted in the strangest way you ever saw; +thought I, if ever an animal wanted to speak, that animal does. When I +tried to catch him, he shot off, ran down the lane a bit, and then came +back acting as strangely as ever. + +12. "I went into the house and woke up my brother, here, and we saddled +our horses and started. Away went yours ahead, stopping every minute to +look around and see if we followed. When we came to the water I rather +hesitated, but it was of no use; the horse would have us go on and on, +till we found you. I never heard of such a thing before, in all my life." +Gilbert did not speak, but two large tears slowly gathered in his eyes, +and rolled down his cheeks. The men saw his emotion, and respected it. + +13. In the light of the cold, keen dawn, they reached a snug farmhouse, a +mile from the Brandywine. The men lifted Gilbert from the saddle, and +would have carried him immediately into the house, but he first leaned +upon Roger's neck, took the faithful creature's head in his arms, and +kissed it. + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Pros'pect, ground or reason for hoping, antic-ipation. 5. +Breast'ed (pro. brest'ed), opposed courageously. 6. Numb, without the +power of feeling or motion. Re-laxed', loosened. 12. E-mo'tion, excited +feeling, agitation. + + + +LXXXVII. THE BEST CAPITAL (245) + +Louisa May Alcott was born at Germantown, Pa., in 1833, and, among other +works, wrote many beautiful stories for children. During the Civil War she +was a hospital nurse at Washington. The following selection is adapted +from "Little Men." She died in 1888. + +1. One would have said that modest John Brooke, in his busy, quiet, humble +life, had had little time to make friends; but now they seemed to start up +everywhere,--old and young, rich and poor, high and low; for all +unconsciously his influence had made itself widely felt, his virtues were +remembered, and his hidden charities rose up to bless him. + +2. The group about his coffin was a far more eloquent eulogy than any that +man could utter. There were the rich men whom he had served faithfully for +years; the poor old women whom he cherished with his little store, in +memory of his mother; the wife to whom he had given such happiness that +death could not mar it utterly; the brothers and sisters in whose hearts +he had made a place forever; the little son and daughter who already felt +the loss of his strong arm and tender voice; the young children, sobbing +for their kindest playmate, and the tall lads, watching with softened +faces a scene which they never could forget. + +3. That evening, as the Plumfield boys sat on the steps, as usual, in the +mild September moonlight, they naturally fell to talking of the event of +the day. + +Emil began by breaking out in his impetuous way, "Uncle Fritz is the +wisest, and Uncle Laurie the jolliest, but Uncle John was the best; and +I'd rather be like him than any man I ever saw." + +4. "So would I. Did you hear what those gentlemen said to Grandpa to-day? +I would like to have that said of me when I was dead;" and Franz felt with +regret that he had not appreciated Uncle John enough. + +"What did they say?" asked Jack, who had been much impressed by the scenes +of the day. + +5. "Why, one of the partners of Mr. Laurence, where Uncle John has been +ever so long, was saying that he was conscientious almost to a fault as a +business man, and above reproach in all things. Another gentleman said no +money could repay the fidelity and honesty with which Uncle John had +served him, and then Grandpa told them the best of all. + +6. "Uncle John once had a place in the office of a man who cheated, and +when this man wanted uncle to help him do it, uncle wouldn't, though he +was offered a big salary. The man was angry, and said, 'You will never get +on in business with such strict principles;' and uncle answered back, 'I +never will try to get on without them,' and left the place for a much +harder and poorer one." + +7. "Good !" cried several of the boys warmly, for they were in the mood to +understand and value the little story as never before. + +"He wasn't rich, was he?" asked Jack. + +"No." + +"He never did anything to make a stir in the world, did he?" + +"No." + +"He was only good?" + +"That's all;" and Franz found himself wishing that Uncle John had done +something to boast of, for it was evident that Jack was disappointed by +his replies. + +8. "Only good. That is all and everything," said Uncle Fritz, who had +overheard the last few words, and guessed what was going on in the minds +of the lads. + +"Let me tell you a little about John Brooke, and you will see why men +honor him, and why he was satisfied to be good rather than rich or famous. +He simply did his duty in all things, and did it so cheerfully, so +faithfully, that it kept him patient, brave, and happy, through poverty +and loneliness and years of hard work. + +9. "He was a good son, and gave up his own plans to stay and live with his +mother while she needed him. He was a good friend, and taught your Uncle +Laurie much beside his Greek and Latin, did it unconsciously, perhaps, by +showing him an example of an upright man. + +10. "He was a faithful servant, and made himself so valuable to those who +employed him that they will find it hard to fill his place. He was a good +husband and father, so tender, wise, and thoughtful, that Laurie and I +learned much of him, and only knew how well he loved his family when we +discovered all he had done for them, unsuspected and unassisted." + +11. Uncle Fritz stopped a minute, and the boys sat like statues in the +moonlight until he went on again, in a subdued and earnest voice: "As he +lay dying, I said to him, 'Have no care for your wife and the little ones; +I will see that they never want.' Then he smiled and pressed my hand, and +answered, in his cheerful way, 'No need of that; I have cared for them.' + +12. "And so he had, for when we looked among his papers, all was in +order,--not a debt remained; and safely put away was enough to keep his +wife comfortable and independent. Then we knew why he had lived so +plainly, denied himself so many pleasures, except that of charity, and +worked so hard that I fear he shortened his good life. + +13. "He never asked help for himself, though often for others, but bore +his own burden and worked out his own task bravely and quietly. No one can +say a word of complaint against him, so just and generous and kind was he; +and now, when he is gone, all find so much to love and praise and honor, +that I am proud to have been his friend, and would rather leave my +children the legacy he leaves his than the largest fortune ever made. + +14. "Yes! simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the +business of this life upon. It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the +only riches we can take out of this world with us. Remember that, my boys; +and, if you want to earn respect and confidence and love, follow in the +footsteps of John Brooke." + + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Eu'lo-gy, a speech or writing in praise of the character +of a person. Cher'ished, supported, nurtured with care. 4. Ap-pre'ci-at-ed +(pro. ap-pre'shi-at-ed), valued justly. 5. Con--sci-en'tious (pro. +kon-shi-en'shus), governed by a strict regard to the rules of right and +wrong. 7. Mood, state of mind, disposition. 11. Sub-dued', reduced to +tenderness, softened. 12. In-de-pend'ent, not relying on others. 13. +Leg'a-cy, a gift by will, a bequest. 14. Cap'i-tal stock employed in any +business. + + + +LXXXVIII. THE INCHCAPE ROCK. + +Robert Southey was a celebrated English poet, born 1774, who once held the +honorable position of poet laureate. He wrote a great deal both in prose +and verse. He died in 1843. + +1. No stir in the air, no stir in the sea, + The ship was as still as she could be, + Her sails from heaven received no motion, + Her keel was steady in the ocean. + +2. Without either sign or sound of their shock + The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock; + So little they rose, so little they fell, + They did not move the Inchcape Bell. + +3. The good old Abbot of Aberbrothok + Had placed that bell on the lnchcape Rock; + On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung, + And over the waves its warning rung. + +4. When the Rock was hid by the surges' swell, + The mariners heard the warning bell; + And then they knew the perilous Rock, + And blest the Abbot of Aberbrothok. + +5. The sun in heaven was shining gay, + All things were joyful on that day; + The sea birds screamed as they wheeled round, + And there was joyance in their sound. + +6. The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen + A darker speck on the ocean green; + Sir Ralph the Rover walked his deck, + And he fixed his eye on the darker speck. + +7. He felt the cheering power of spring, + It made him whistle, it made him sing; + His heart was mirthful to excess, + But the Rover's mirth was wickedness. + +8. His eye was on the Inchcape float; + Quoth he, "My men put out the boat, + And row me to the Inchcape Rock, + And I'll plague the Abbot of Aberbrothok." + +9. The boat is lowered, the boatmen row, + And to the Inchcape Rock they go; + Sir Ralph bent over from the boat, + And he cut the bell from the Inchcape float. + +10. Down sunk the bell, with a gurgling sound, + The bubbles rose and burst around; + Quoth Sir Ralph, "The next who comes to the Rock, + Won't bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok." + +11. Sir Ralph the Rover sailed away, + He scoured the seas for many a day; + And now grown rich with plundered store, + He steers his course for Scotland's shore. + +12. So thick a haze o'erspreads the sky + They can not see the sun on high; + The wind hath blown a gale all day, + At evening it hath died away. + +13. On the deck the Rover takes his stand, + So dark it is they see no land. + Quoth Sir Ralph, "It will be lighter soon, + For there is the dawn of the rising moon." + +14. "Canst hear," said one, "the breakers roar? + For methinks we should be near the shore." + "Now where we are I can not tell, + But I wish I could hear the Inchcape Bell." + +15. They hear no sound, the swell is strong; + Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along, + Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock: + Cried they, "It is the Inchcape Rock!" + +16. Sir Ralph the rover tore his hair, + He curst himself in his despair; + The waves rush in on every side, + The ship is sinking beneath the tide. + +17. But even in his dying fear + One dreadful sound could the Rover hear, + A sound as if with the Inchcape Bell + The fiends below were ringing his knell. + + +DEFINITIONS.--l. Keel, the principal timber in a ship, extending from bow +to stern, at the bottom. 3. Buoy (pro. bwoi) a float-ing mark to point out +the position of rocks, etc., beneath the water. 4. Surge, a large wave. 6. +Joy'ance, gayety. 11. Scoured, roved over, ranged about. Store, +that which is massed together. 14. Me-thinks', it seems to me. 17. Fiends +(pro. fends). evil spirits. Knell (pro. nel), the stroke of a bell rung +at a funeral or at the death of a person. + + +NOTES.--The above poem was written at Bristol, England, in 1802, and +recounts an old tradition. 2. The Inchcape Rock is at the entrance of the +Frith of Tay, Scotland, about fifteen miles from shore. + + + +LXXXIX. MY MOTHER'S GRAVE. (253) + +1. It was thirteen years since my mother's death, when, after a long +absence from my native village, I stood beside the sacred mound beneath +which I had seen her buried. Since that mournful period, a great change +had come over me. My childish years had passed away, and with them my +youthful character. The world was altered, too; and as I stood at my +mother's grave, I could hardly realize that I was the same thoughtless, +happy creature, whose checks she so often kissed in an excess of +tenderness. + +2. But the varied events of thirteen years had not effaced the remembrance +of that mother's smile. It seemed as if I had seen her but yesterday--as +if the blessed sound of her well-remembered voice was in my ear. The gay +dreams of my infancy and childhood were brought back so distinctly to my +mind that, had it not been for one bitter recollection, the tears I shed +would have been gentle and refreshing. + +3. The circumstance may seem a trifling one, but the thought of it now +pains my heart; and I relate it, that those children who have parents to +love them may learn to value them as they ought. My mother had been ill a +long time, and I had become so accustomed to her pale face and weak voice, +that I was not frightened at them, as children usually are. At first, it +is true, I sobbed violently; but when, day after day, I returned from +school, and found her the same, I began to believe she would always be +spared to me; but they told me she would die. + +4. One day when I had lost my place in the class, I came home discouraged +and fretful. I went to my mother's chamber. She was paler than usual, but +she met me with the same affectionate smile that always welcomed my +return. Alas! when I look back through the lapse of thirteen years, I +think my heart must have been stone not to have been melted by it. She +requested me to go downstairs and bring her a glass of water. I pettishly +asked her why she did not call a domestic to do it. With a look of mild +reproach, which I shall never forget if I live to be a hundred years old, +she said, "Will not my daughter bring a glass of water for her poor, sick +mother?" + +5. I went and brought her the water, but I did not do it kindly. Instead +of smiling, and kissing her as I had been wont to do, I set the glass down +very quickly, and left the room. After playing a short time, I went to bed +without bidding my mother good night; but when alone in my room, in +darkness and silence, I remembered how pale she looked, and how her voice +trembled when she said, "Will not my daughter bring a glass of water for +her poor, sick mother?" I could not sleep. I stole into her chamber to ask +forgiveness. She had sunk into an easy slumber, and they told me I must +not waken her. + +6. I did not tell anyone what troubled me, but stole back to my bed, +resolved to rise early in the morning and tell her how sorry I was for my +conduct. The sun was shining brightly when I awoke, and, hurrying on my +clothes, I hastened to my mother's chamber. She was dead! She never spoke +more--never smiled upon me again; and when I touched the hand that used to +rest upon my head in blessing, it was so cold that it made me start. + +7. I bowed down by her side, and sobbed in the bitterness of my heart. I +then wished that I might die, and be buried with her; and, old as I now +am, I would give worlds, were they mine to give, could my mother but have +lived to tell me she forgave my childish ingratitude. But I can not call +her back; and when I stand by her grave, and whenever I think of her +manifold kindness, the memory of that reproachful look she gave me will +bite like a serpent and sting like an adder. + + + +XC. A MOTHER'S GIFT-THE BIBLE. (255) + +1. Remember, love, who gave thee this, + When other days shall come, + When she who had thine earliest kiss, + Sleeps in her narrow home. + Remember! 'twas a mother gave + The gift to one she'd die to save! + +2. That mother sought a pledge of love, + The holiest for her son, + And from the gifts of God above, + She chose a goodly one; + She chose for her beloved boy, + The source of light, and life, and joy. + +3. She bade him keep the gift, that, when + The parting hour should come, + They might have hope to meet again + In an eternal home. + She said his faith in this would be + Sweet incense to her memory. + +4. And should the scoffer, in his pride, + Laugh that fond faith to scorn, + And bid him cast the pledge aside, + That he from youth had borne, + She bade him pause, and ask his breast + If SHE or HE had loved him best. + +5. A parent's blessing on her son + Goes with this holy thing; + The love that would retain the one, + Must to the other cling. + Remember! 'tis no idle toy: + A mother's gift! remember, boy. + +DEFINITIONS.--2. Pledge, proof, evidence. 3. In'cense, some-thing offered +in honor of anyone. Faith, belief 4. Scoff'er, one who laughs at what is +good. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader +by William Holmes McGuffey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MCGUFFEY'S FOURTH ECLECTIC READER *** + +***** This file should be named 14880.txt or 14880.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/8/14880/ + +Produced by Don Kostuch + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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