sea'side twen'ty tim'id ly com pels'
rob'ber breast spots mode
os'prey hook'ed
[Illustration: Osprey catching fish.]
THE FISHHAWK.
1. The fishhawk, or osprey, is not so large as the eagle; but he has, like
the eagle, a hooked bill and sharp claws.
2. His color is a dark brown, with black and white spots, and his length
is from twenty to twenty-two inches. His breast is mostly white. His tail
and wings are long.
3. The fishhawk is often found sitting upon a tree over a pond, or lake,
or river. He is also found by the seaside.
4. He watches the fish as they swim in the water beneath him; then he
darts down suddenly and catches one of them.
5. When he catches a fish in his sharp, rough claws, he carries it off to
eat, and, as he flies away with it for his dinner, an eagle sometimes
meets him.
6. The eagle flies at him fiercely with his sharp bill and claws, and
compels the hawk to drop the fish.
7. Then the eagle catches the fish as it falls, before it reaches the
ground, and carries it off.
8. The poor fish hawk, with a loud cry, timidly flies away. He must go
again to the water and catch another fish for his dinner.
9. Thus you see, that the eagle is a robber. He robs fishhawks, whose only
mode of getting a living is by catching fish.
LESSON XLII.
leaf task twice sigh'ing hol'i days
gay twig meant stopped dif'fer ent
puff edge mat'ter au'tumn hun'dreds
lead grew rus'tled Oc to'ber trem'bling
[Illustration: Several large trees; fence in foreground.]
WHAT THE LEAF SAID.
1. Once or twice a little leaf was heard to cry and sigh, as leaves often
do, when a gentle wind is blowing. And the twig said, "What is the matter,
little leaf?"
2. "The wind," said the leaf, "just told me that one day it would pull me
off, and throw me on the ground to die."
3. The twig told it to the branch, and the branch told it to the tree.
When the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent word back to the
trembling leaf.
4. "Do not be afraid," it said; "hold on tight, and you shall not go off
till you are ready."
5. So the leaf stopped sighing, and went on singing and rustling. It grew
all the summer long till October. And when the bright days of autumn came,
the leaf saw all the leaves around growing very beautiful.
6. Some were yellow, some were brown, and many were striped with different
colors. Then the leaf asked the tree what this meant.
7. The tree said, "All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and
they have put on these colors because of their joy."
8. Then the little leaf began to want to go, and grew very beautiful in
thinking of it. When it was gay in colors, it saw that the branches of the
tree had no bright colors on them.
9. So the leaf said, "O branch! why are you lead- colored while we are all
beautiful and golden?"
10. "We must keep on our working clothes," said the tree, "for our work is
not yet done; but your clothes are for holidays, because your task is now
over."
11. Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go without
thinking, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over.
12. Then it fell gently down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds
of leaves, and has never waked to tell us what it dreamed about.
LESSON XLIII.
gold lambs fond'ly crick'et whirl'ing
fields leaves flee'cy fare'well cov'er let
glade vale dream con tent' flut'ter ing
[Illustration: Large tree.]
THE WIND AND THE LEAVES.
1.
"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day.
"Come o'er the meadows with me, and play;
Put on your dress of red and gold
Summer is gone, and the days grow cold."
2.
Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the soft little songs they knew.
3.
"Cricket, good-by, we've been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song,--
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah! you will miss us, right well we know.
4.
"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"
5.
Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went;
Winter had called them, and they were content.
Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlet over their heads.
George Cooper.
LESSON XLIV.
wore green joke Jessie pres'ents
jol'ly deal trim ex pect' leg'gings
MAMMA'S PRESENT.
1. Jessie played a good joke on her mamma. This is the way she did it.
2. Jessie had gone to the woods with Jamie and Joe to get green branches
to trim up the house for Christmas. She wore her little cap, her white
furs, and her red leggings.
[Illustration: Three girls carrying a small Christmas tree.]
3. She was a merry little girl, indeed; but she felt sad this morning
because her mother had said, "The children will all have Christmas
presents, but I don't expect any for myself. We are too poor this year."
4. When Jessie told her brothers this, they all talked about it a great
deal. "Such a good, kind mamma, and no Christmas present! It's too bad."
5. "I don't like it," said little Jessie, with a tear in her eye.
6. "Oh, she has you," said Joe.
7. "But I am not something new," said Jessie.
8. "Well, you will be new, Jessie," said Joe, "when you get back. She has
not seen you for an hour."
9. Jessie jumped and laughed. "Then put me in the basket, and carry me to
mamma, and say, 'I am her Christmas present.' "
10. So they set her in the basket, and put green branches all around her.
It was a jolly ride. They set her down on the doorstep, and went in and
said, "There's a Christmas present out there for you, mamma."
11. Mamma went and looked, and there, in a basket of green branches, sat
her own little laughing girl.
12. "Just the very thing I wanted most," said mamma.
13. "Then, dear mamma," said Jessie, bounding out of her leafy nest, "I
should think it would be Christmas for mammas all the time, for they see
their little girls every day."
LESSON XLV.
pur'ple plumes pail hap'pened coat
shal'low wad'ed Charles nap yes'ter day
[Illustration: Two girls playing in water; two boats are beached on the
sand behind them.]
MARY'S STORY.
1. Father, and Charles, and Lucy, and I went to the beach yesterday. We
took our dinner, and stayed all day.
2. Father and Charles went out a little way from the shore in a boat, and
fished, while Lucy and I gathered sea mosses.
3. We took off our shoes and stockings, and waded into the shallow water.
We had a pail to put our seaweeds in.
4. We found such beautiful ones. Some wore purple, some pink, and some
brown. When they were spread out in the water, the purple ones looked like
plumes, and the brown ones like little trees.
5. Such a funny thing happened to Lucy. She slipped on a stone, and down
she went into the water. How we both laughed! But the wind and sun soon
dried Lucy's dress.
6. Then father came and took us in the boat for a row. After that we had a
picnic dinner in the woods.
7. Then father spread his coat on the grass, and took a nap while we
children played on the beach.
LESSON XLVI.
bid sore smile Ralph for get'
hay stem shone Wick scream
tore point pluck thorns snatched
[Illustration: Mother and boy walking in hay field.]
RALPH WICK.
1. Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but
he was too apt to cry.
2. When he could not have what. he wanted, he would cry for it and say, "I
will have it."
3. If he was told that it would hurt him, and he could not have it, he
would begin to tease and cry.
4. One day, he went with his mother into the fields. The sun shone. The
grass was cut. The flowers were in bloom.
5. Ralph thought he was, for once, a good boy. A smile was on his face. He
wished to do as he was told.
6. He said, "Mother, I will be good now. I will do as you bid me. Please
let me toss this hay."
7. "That I will," said his mother. So they threw the hay, as Ralph wished,
and he was very happy.
8. "Now you must be tired," said his mother. "Sit down here, and I will
get a nice red rose for you."
9. "I would like to have one," said Ralph. So his mother brought the red
rose to him.
10. "Thank you, mother," he said. "But you have a white one, also. Please
give me that."
[Illustration: Mother and boy sitting in field.]
11. "No, my dear," said his mother. "See how many thorns it has on its
stem. You must not touch it. If you should try to pluck a rose like this,
you would be sure to hurt your hand."
12. When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to
scream, and snatched it. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns tore his
hand. It was so sore he could not use it for some time.
13. Ralph did not soon forget this. When he wanted what he should not
have, his mother would point to his sore hand. He at last learned to do as
he was told.
LESSON XLVII.
slope voic'es rush'ing beam'ing track cheeks
flood'ing laugh'ter health a glow' coast'ing trudg'ing
frost'y Is'a bel pleas'ure land'scape
[Illustration: Several children sledding down snowy hill.]
COASTING DOWN THE HILL.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
Frosty is the morning;
But the sun is bright,
Flooding all the landscape
With its golden light.
Hark the sounds of laughter
And the voices shrill!
See the happy children
Coasting down the hill.
There are Tom and Charley,
And their sister Nell;
There are John and Willie,
Kate and Isabel,--
Eyes with pleasure beaming,
Cheeks with health aglow;
Bless the merry children,
Trudging through the snow!
Now I hear them shouting,
"Ready! Clear the track!"
Down the slope they're rushing,
Now they're trotting back.
Full of fun and frolic,
Thus they come and go.
Coating down the hillside,
Trudging through the snow.
]
LESSON XLVIII.
heed sight sly'ly stream drift'ing
flock flight snaps hid'den cir'cling
THE FOX AND THE DUCKS.
1. On a summer day, a man sitting on the bank of a river, in the shade of
some bushes, watched a flock of ducks on the stream.
2. Soon a branch with leaves came drifting among them, and they all took
wing. After circling in the air for a little time, they settled down again
on their feeding ground.
[Illustration: Fox watching ducks from a distance.]
3. Soon another branch came drifting down among them, and again they took
flight from the river; but when they found the branch had drifted by and
done them no harm, they flew down to the water as before.
4. After four or five branches had drifted by in this way, the ducks gave
little heed to them. At length, they hardly tried to fly out of their way,
even when the branches nearly touched them.
5. The man who had been watching all this, now began to wonder who had set
these branches adrift. He looked up the stream, and spied a fox slyly
watching the ducks. "What will he do next?" thought the man.
6. When the fox saw that the ducks were no longer afraid of the branches,
he took a much larger branch than any he had yet used, and stretched
himself upon it so as to be almost hidden. Then he set it afloat as he had
the others.
7. Right among the flock drifted the sly old fox, and, making quick snaps
to right and left, he seized two fine young ducks, and floated off with
them.
8. The rest of the flock flew away in fright, and did not come back for a
long time.
9. The fox must have had a fine dinner to pay him for his cunning, patient
work.
LESSON XLIX.
saint silk'en sim'ple pov'er ty plain sin'ner
spin'ner splen'dor worth stead'y mur'der plan'ning
sil'ver ten'der prov'erb re mem'ber
[Illustration: Spider spinning web.]
PRETTY IS THAT PRETTY DOES.
1. The spider wears a plain brown dress,
And she is a steady spinner;
To see her, quiet as a mouse,
Going about her silver house,
You would never, never, never guess
The way she gets her dinner.
2. She looks as if no thought of ill
In all her life had stirred her;
But while she moves with careful tread, And
while she spins her silken thread,
She is planning, planning, planning still
The way to do some murder.
3. My child, who reads this simple lay,
With eyes down-dropt and tender, Remember
the old proverb says
That pretty is which pretty does,
And that worth does not go nor stay
For poverty nor splendor.
4. 'Tis not the house, and not the dress,
That makes the saint or sinner.
To see the spider sit and spin,
Shut with her walls of silver in,
You would never, never, never guess
The way she gets her dinner.
Alice Cary.
LESSON L.
civil Pe'ter Tow'ser ap pear'
a lone' Pin'dar per'sons trav'el ers
[Illustration: Man telling story to several children.]
THE STORY-TELLER
1. Peter Pindar was a great storyteller. One day, as he was going by the
school, the children gathered around him.
2. They said, "Please tell us a story we have never heard." Ned said,
"'Tell us something about boys and dogs."
3. "Well," said Peter, "I love to please good children, and, as you all
appear civil, I will tell you a new story; and it shall be about a boy
and some dogs, as Ned asks.
4. "But before we begin, let us sit down in a cool, shady place. And now,
John, you must be as still as a little mouse. Mary, you must not let
Towser bark or make a noise.
5. "A long way from this place, there is a land where it is very cold, and
much snow falls.
6. "The hills are very high there, and traveler's are often lost among
them. There are men there who keep large dogs. These are taught to hunt
for people lost in the snow.
7. "The dogs have so fine a scent, that they can find persons by that
alone.
8. "Sometimes it is so dark, that they can not see anything. Those who are
lost often lie hid in the snowdrifts. "
LESSON LI.
lain weak stiff shrill rode bleak
[Illustration: Dog searching on snowy mountain-side for lost traveler.]
THE STORY TELLER
(CONCLUDED)
1. "One cold, bleak night, the snow fell fast, and the wind blew loud and
shrill. It was quite dark. Not a star was to be seen in the sky.
2. "These good men sent out a dog, to hunt for those who might want help.
In an hour or two, the dog was heard coming back.
3. "On looking out, they saw him with a boy on his back. The poor child
was stiff with cold. He could but just hold on to the dog's back.
4. "He had lain for a long time in the snow, and was too weak to walk.
5. "He felt something pull him by the coat, and heard the bark of a dog.
He put out his hand, and felt the dog. The dog gave him another pull.
6. "This gave the poor boy some hope, and he took hold of the dog. He drew
himself out of the snow, but ho could not stand or walk.
7. "He got on the dog's back, and put his arms round the dog's neck, and
held on. He felt sure that the dog did not mean to do him any harm.
8. "Thus he rode all the way to the good men's house.
9. "They took care of him, till the snow was gone. Then they sent him to
his home."
LESSON LII.
oak dusk fight squeak ruf'fled
bag Fred whoo a wake' creep'ing
THE OWL.
1. "Where did you get that owl, Harry?"
2. "Fred and I found him in the old, hollow oak."
3. "How did you know he was there?"
4. "I'll tell you. Fred and I were playing 'hide and seek' round the old
barn, one night just at dusk.
5. "I was just creeping round the corner, when I heard a loud squeak, and
a big bird flew up with something in his claws.
6. "I called Fred, and we watched him as he flew to the woods. Fred
thought the bird was an owl, and that he had a nest in the old oak.
7. "The next day we went to look for him, and, sure enough, he was there."
8. "But how did you catch him? I should think he could fight like a good
fellow with that sharp bill."
9. "He can when he is wide awake; but owls can't see very well in the
daytime, and he was taking a nap.
10. "He opened his great eyes, and ruffled up his feathers, and said,
"Whoo! Whoo!' 'Never mind who,' Fred said, and slipped him into a bag."
LESSON LIII.
while bones scarce'ly mous'er
mice rolled sur prised' swal'lows
wink'ing com'ic al duck'lings cap'ture
[Illustration: Boy catching owl in tree.]
THE OWL.
(CONCLUDED.)
1. "What are you going to do with him, Harry?"
2. "Let him go. He doesn't like this cage half so well as his old oak
tree. A young owl can be tamed easily, but this one is too old to tame."
3. "But won't he catch all your ducklings and little chickens?"
4. "No, not while there are any rats or mice around. Father says an owl is
a good mouser, and can catch more mice than half a dozen cats."
5. "I'm glad I had a look at him before you let him go. What soft feathers
he has!"
6. "Yes, he can fly so softly that you can scarcely hear him, and for this
reason he can easily surprise and capture his prey."
7. "How comical he looks, winking his big eyes slowly, and turning his
head from side to side!"
[Illustration: Two boys talking.]
8. "Yes; he is watching your dog. Be still. Bounce!
9. "We have just found out a funny thing about his way of eating. He
breaks the bones of a mouse, and then swallows it whole. After an hour or
two, he throws up the bones and fur rolled up in a little ball."
LESSON LIV.
broad knee fig fresh city trout un der neath'
fought (fawt) sur prised' clap'ping gar'den
car'ry ing fight'ing
[Illustration: Old man with cane talking to young girl.]
GRANDFATHER'S STORY.
1. "Come and sit by my knee, Jane, and grandfather will tell you a strange
story.
2. "One bright Summer day, I was in a garden in a city, with a friend. "We
rested underneath a fig tree. The broad leaves were green and fresh.
3. "We looked up at the ripe, purple figs. And what do you think came down
through the branches of the fig tree over our heads?"
4. "Oh, a bird, grandfather, a bird!" said little Jane, clapping her
hands.
5. "No, not a bird. It was a fish; a trout, my little girl."
6. "Not a fish, grandfather! A trout come through the branches of a tree
in the city'! I am sure you must be in fun."
7. "No, Jane, I tell you the truth. My friend and I were very much
surprised to see a fish falling from a fig tree.
8. "But we ran from under the tree, and saw a fishhawk flying, and an
eagle after him.
9. "The hawk had caught the fish, and was carrying it home to his nest,
when the eagle saw it and wanted it.
10. "They fought for it. The fish was dropped, and they both lost it. So
much for fighting!"
LESSON LV.
flow wide steep lakes twin'kling
[Illustration: Lake in foreground; mountain in background.]
GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD.
1. I know God made the sun
To fill the day with light;
He made the twinkling stars
To shine all through the night.
2. He made the hills that rise
So very high and steep;
He made the lakes and seas,
That are so broad and deep.
3. He made the streams so wide,
That flow through wood and vale;
He made the rills so small,
That leap down hill and dale.
4. He made each bird that sings
So sweetly all the day;
He made each flower that springs
So bright, so fresh, so gay.
5. And He who made all these,
He made both you and me;
Oh, let us thank Him, then,
For great and good is He.
LESSON LVI.
hoe grave knock ex cept'
droll hymn prayed cot'tage
[Illustration: Old man holding two little girls.]
A GOOD OLD MAN.
1. There once lived an old man in a snug, little cottage. It had two
rooms and only two windows. A small garden lay just behind it.
2. Old as the poor man was, he used to work in the fields. Often he would
come home very tired and weak, with his hoe or spade on his shoulder.
3. And who do you think met him at the door! Mary and Jane, his two little
grandchildren.
4. They were too young to work, except to weed in the garden, or bring
water from the spring.
5. In winter, as they were too poor to buy much wood or coal, they had
little fire; so they used to sit close together to keep warm. Mary would
sit on one of the old man's knees, and Jane on the other.
6. Sometimes their grandfather would tell them a droll story. Sometimes he
would teach them a hymn.
7. He would often talk to them of their father, who had gone to sea, or of
their good, kind mother, who was in her grave. Every night he prayed God
to bless them, and to bring back their father in safety.
8. The old man grew weaker every year; but the little girls were glad to
work for him, who had been so good to them.
[Illustration: Girls and grandfather greeting father at door.]
9. One cold, windy night, they heard a knock at the door. The little girls
ran and opened it. Oh, joy to them! There stood their father.
10. He had been at sea a long time. He had saved some money, and had now
come home to stay.
11. After this the old man did not have to work. His son worked for him,
and his grandchildren took care of him. Many happy days they spent
together.
LESSON LVII.
hoe grave knock ex cept'
droll hymn prayed cot'tage
THE GREEDY GIRL.
1. Laura English is a greedy little girl. Indeed, she is quite a glutton.
Do you know what a glutton is? A glutton is one who eats too much, because
the food tastes well.
2. Laura's mother is always willing she should have as much to eat as is
good for her; but sometimes, when her mother is not watching, she eats so
much that it makes her sick.
3. I do not know why she is so silly. Her kitten never eats more than it
needs. It leaves the nice bones on the plate, and lies down to sleep when
it has eaten enough.
4. The bee is wiser than Laura. It flies all day among the flowers to
gather honey, and might eat the whole time if it pleased. But it eats just
enough, and carries all the rest to its hive.
[Illustration: Heavy girl eating two apples. Plate on floor with food
scraps. Cat lying on footstool.]
5. The squirrel eats a few nuts or acorns, and frisks about as gayly as if
he had dined at the king's table.
6. Did you ever see a squirrel with a nut in his paws? How bright and
lively he looks as he eats it!
7. If he lived in a house made of acorns, he would never need a doctor. He
would not eat an acorn too much.
8. I do not love little girls who eat too much. Do you, my little readers?
9. I do not think they have such rosy cheeks, or such bright eyes, or such
sweet, happy tempers as those who eat less.
LESSON LVIII.
lend Sa'rah com'fort a shamed' your wil'ling
thim'ble else'where us'ing bor'row of fend'ed de pend'ed
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.
Mary. I wish you would lend me your thimble,
Sarah. I can never find my own.
Sarah. Why is it, Mary, you can never find it?
Mary. How can I tell? But if you will not lend me
yours, I can borrow one elsewhere.
Sarah. I am willing to lend mine to you, Mary.
But I would very much like to know why you come
to me to borrow so often.
[Illustration: Two girls seated, talking.]
Mary. Because you never lose any of your things,
and always know where to find them.
Sarah. And why do I always know where to find my things?
Mary. I do not know why, I am sure. If I did
know, I might sometimes find my own.
Sarah. I will tell you the secret. I have a place for
everything, and I put everything in its place when I
have done using it.
Mary. O Sarah! who wants to run and put away a
thing as soon as she has used it, as if her life
depended upon it?
Sarah. Our life does not depend upon it, but our
comfort does, surely. How much more time will it
take to put a thing in its place, than to hunt for it or
to borrow whenever you want to use it ?
Mary. Well, Sarah, I will never borrow of you
again, you may depend upon it.
Sarah. You are not offended with me, I hope.
Mary. No, but I am ashamed. Before night, I will
have a place for everything, and then I will keep
everything in its place. You have taught me a lesson
that I shall remember.
LESSON LIX.
con'stant lead'ing ear lull didst meek
hark thee none mild thine nurse
ease thy re joice' fret'ful
[Illustration: Mother rocking daughter.]
MY MOTHER.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
Hark! My mother's voice I hear,
Sweet that voice is to my ear;
Ever soft, it seems to tell,
Dearest child, I love thee well.
Love me, mother? Yes, I know
None can love so well as thou.
Was it not upon thy breast
I was taught to sleep and rest?
Didst thou not, in hours of pain,
Lull this head to ease again?
With the music of thy voice,
Bid my little heart rejoice?
Ever gentle, meek and mild,
Thou didst nurse thy fretful child.
Teach these little feet the road
Leading on to heaven and God.
What return then can I make?
This fond heart, dear mother take;
Thine its, in word and thought,
Thine by constant kindness bought.
]
LESSON LX.
skip'ping mean George gift en gaged' Mason El'let
THE BROKEN WINDOW.
1. George Ellet had a bright silver dollar for a New-year gift.
2. He thought of all the fine things he might buy with it.
3. The ground was all covered with snow; but the sun shone out bright, and
everything looked beautiful.
4. So George put on his hat, and ran into the street. As he went skipping
along, he met some boys throwing snowballs. George soon engaged in the
sport.
5. He sent a ball at James Mason, but it missed him, and broke a window on
the other side of the street.
6. George feared some one would come out of the house and find him. So he
ran off as fast as he could.
[Illustration: Boy throwing snowball through window.]