Lesson 1.  Frank and His Wish.

1. When Frank was a small boy, he went to school with his sister.
2. One very warm day, he said to his sister that it would be much more fun to play ball than to go to school.
3. "No, no," said she, "I have no time to play."
4. Then Frank saw a bee, and said, "I wish I were a bee, and had nothing to do."
5. "But the bee has much to do," said his sister. "It works hard all day to get honey."
6. Then he saw a bird in a tall tree, and said, "Well, I wish I were that little bird. It has nothing to do."
7. But his sister said, "See, Frank, the bird has a straw. It has to build its nest with straw and hair, and so has no time to play."
8. Then, when Frank saw that every bee and bird had to work, he ran to school and learned his lessons.


Lesson 2.  The Little Pigs -- Part 1.

1. We have eight little pigs. One is white. One is all black.
2. The eight little pigs live in a pen. The pen is in a yard near the barn. The pigs like to run in the yard.
3. One day they made a hole under the pen. The little white pig got out of the yard first.
4. Then the little black pig came out. Then all the other little pigs came out.
5. The little while pig began to look about him.
6. "Wee, wee! What a big word this is!" he said.
7. Then all the other pigs said "Wee, wee!"
8. The little white one was larger than any of the other pigs; so, of course, he knew all about it.
9. "Where shall we go?" said the little black pig.
10. "Let us go up the hill," said the white one.
11. The other pigs said "Wee, wee!" again.
12. That was the way they said yes.


Lesson 3.  The Little Pigs -- Part 2.

1. Then the little pigs went up the hill. It was a very small hill; but the pigs said, "What a large hill this is!"
2. They were only baby pigs, you know.
3. By and by they came to the top of the hill. They saw a large house in a yard.
4. "What a big pen!" said all the little pigs.
5. "Do you thing we shall find more pigs there?" said the black pig.
6. "Wee, wee!" said the other pigs.
7. You see, a pig thinks the whole world was made for pigs.
8. Some one had left the gate open. The little pigs went into the yard. No one was there, so they went on. They were still looking for pigs.
9. Before they got to the door the cook came out. The pigs gave her one look.
10. "That is no pig," said the little white pig. Then they all ran back to their pen.
11. But they knew more than when they left it.
12. They had seen the world, and found that there are other things than pigs in it.


Lesson 4.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Do you go to school?
2. Yes, I go to school with my sister.
3. Do you like to play ball?
4. Yes, I like it very much.
5. I have no time to play.
6. Does he work hard?
7. He works hard to get money.
8. Have you anything to do?
9. No, I have nothing to do, now.
10. Where shall we go?
11. Let us go up the hill.
12. Is the gate left open?
13. Yes, it is left open.
14. Will they soon come here?
15. Yes, they will come here by and by.
16. Do you know all about it?
17. Of course I know all about it. 
18. Where do you live?
19. I live in (at)………


Lesson 5.  The Two Wrens -- Part 1.

1. A wren lived in an old tree. She had made her nest in the same hole for two years. The third year, when she came to build her nest, she saw a young wren in the hole.
2. "What are you here for?" said the old wren.
3. "I am here to build my nest," said the young wren.
4. "You must not, that is my place," said the old wren.
5. "It is not! It is mine!" cried the young one. "I was here first this year. See what I have done! Look at the bits of moss I have brought here to make my nest!"
6. "I can not help that. It is my place," said the old wren. "I have had this tree two years, and now, when I come back again, I find you here."
7. "And I mean to stay here," said the young wren.
8. Then the old wren began to peck at the young one, and tried to tear the moss and bits of bark from the nest.


Lesson 6.  The Two Wrens -- Part 2.

1. Then the old wren and the young one had a hard fight.
2. Each one cried out, "It is my place."
3. "No, it is mine. I was here first."
4. "No, I was -- "
5. "Aha!" said a bluebird, who was in another tree near by. "What is all this noise about?"
6. So he went to see what it was.
7. "What is the matter?" said he.
8. "She has my place," said the old wren.
9. "No, it is not her place; it is my place," said the young one.
10. "Let me see the place," said the bluebird. "What a dark hole it is!"
11. Then the bluebird hopped into the nest.
12. "You can not have it," he said to the old wren, "because the young wren was here first this year.
13. "You can not have it," he said to the young wren, because the old one had it last year.
14. "I think I will stay here myself."
15. So the foolish wrens had to fly off and fine some other place.


Lesson 7.  The Idle Boy.

1. "When I was a boy at school," said an old man, "I was often very idle. Even while at my lessons, I used to play with other boys as idle as myself.
2. "Of course we tried to hide this from the teacher, but one day we were fairly caught.
3. "'Boys,'said he, 'you must not be idle. You must keep your eyes on your lessons. You do not know what you lose by being idle.
4. "'Now, while you are young, is the time to learn.
5. "'Let any one of you, who sees another boy looking off his book, come and tell me.'
6. "'Now,'said I to myself,'there is Fred Smith. I do not like him. I will watch him, and if I see him looking off book I will tell.'
7. "Not very long after I saw Fred looking off his book, so I went up and told the teacher.
8. "'Aha!'said he, 'how do you know he was idle?'
9. "'Please, sir,'said I, 'I saw him.'
10. "'O you did, did you? And where were your eyes when you saw him? Where they on your book?'
11. "I was fairly caught. I saw the other boys laugh, and I hung my head, while the teacher smiled.
12. "It was a good lesson for me. I did not watch for idle boys again."


Lesson 8.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. What are you here for?
2. I am here to make a nest for my little bird.
3. See what I have done for her.
4. I cannot help that. The bird is mine.
5. Do you mean to stay here?
6. Yes, I mean to stay here.
7. What is all this noise about?
8. It is all about a small bird.
9. What is the matter?
10. There is nothing the matter at all.
11. Let me see your book.
12. No, you can not have my book.
13. Why can't I have the book?
14. Because you will lose it.
15. You are an idle boy.
16. I am not so idle as he.
17. How do you know he is idle?
18. Because he looks off his book.
19. Do not look off your book.
20. Do not watch other boys.
21. I was fairly caught.


Lesson 9.  The Sick Doll.

1. "Come, Frank, let us play that my doll is sick, and you are the doctor. You put on father's long coat and his tall hat, and then ring the door bell, just as the doctor does."
2. "O yes, sister, I will be the doctor. When I ring the bell, Ann must open the door for me."
3. "Well, I will send Ann to the door when you ring."
4. Then Frank put on his father's tall hat and long coat. He went out of the room, and pretty soon he gave the bell a pull which made it ring very loud.
5. "Ann, there is some one at the door," said Mary. "Go and see who it is."
6. Ann went to open the door, and there stood Frank, trying very hard to look like a doctor.
7. "Come in, sir," said Ann, and Frank came into the room where Mary was.
8. "Good morning, doctor," said Mary.
9. "Good morning, Miss Mary. Did you send for me?"
10. "Yes, doctor, I send for you because my doll is very sick."
11. "Very sick? What can be the matter? Has she been eating too much?"
12. "No, doctor, she does not eat much. She is quite cold, and does not move about much."
13. "Well, let me see," said the doctor; and he took out his watch while he held the doll's hand.
14. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," said he. "O her pulse is not very fast."
15. "What shall I do for her, doctor?"
16. "Give her some warm tea, a hot bath, and put her to bed."
17. "Is that all, doctor?"
18. "Yes, that is all. I think she will be well in the morning. Good morning, Miss Mary."
19. "Good morning, doctor." 


Lesson 10.  Frank and His Store.

1. "Well, Frank, what shall we play this morning?"
2. "I will tell you, sister. I will keep store, and you come and buy thing of me."

3. "What can you find to sell, Frank?"
4. "I will ask mother to let me have some thread, cloth, ribbon, and other little things to sell."
5. "But, Frank, I have no money to buy with!"
6. "Well, you can use pins for money."
7. "But where can I get the pins?"
8. "Mother will give you some, or you can fine some on the floor. There are always pins on the floor, you know."
9. "O I will tell you, Frank, what is better for money than pins. I will cut out round bits of paper, and have some for one cent, some for five cents, and some for ten cents."
10. "Yes, that will do very well. Now you get the money ready, while I go and get the things to sell."
11. Then Frank went to his mother, who gave him many little things to put in his store. He put them on a table, and then was ready to sell.
12. Mary put on her hat and shawl, and came into the room.
13. "Good morning, Miss," said Frank. "Can I sell you anything this morning?"
14. "Yes," said Mary. "Have you any red ribbon?"
15. "Yes, here is some that is very good. Only five cents a yard."
16. "Well, I will take one yard. Now I want some cloth to make my doll a new dress."
17. "Here is some good cloth. It will make a very nice dress, and costs only ten cents a yard," said Frank.
18. "Give me a yard of that, a paper of pins, and some white thread," said Mary.
19. "Is there anything more you would like, Miss?" said Frank.
20. "I think of nothing more now."
21. "Shall I send the things home for you, Miss?"
22. "No, I thank you," said Mary. "I will take them with me. Good morning."
23. "Good morning, Miss. Come in again."


Lesson 11.  George Washington.

1. Little boys and girls, have you been told anything about George Washington?
2. He was a great and good man, who lived many years ago.
3. After a while you will learn more about him, but what I tell you now, I hope you will never forget.
4. When George was a little boy, his father gave him a hatchet.
5. George was much pleased with his new hatchet, and went about the yard, trying it on trees and other things, to see how well it would cut.
6. His father had some trees that he took great care of, because their fruit was very fine. One of these was a small cherry tree.
7. George did not think it was wrong to cut the trees, so when he came to this tree he cut it down.
8. When his father saw what had been done, he did not like it, and sent for George.
9. "George," said he, "some one has cut dome one of my fine trees. Do you know who did it?"
10. Poor George saw at once that he had done wrong, but he was too good to tell a lie about it. It did not take him long to make up his mind what to do.
11. Looking up at his father, he said, "Father, I did it. I can not tell a lie about it. I cut it with my little hatchet."
12. His father was very much pleased to know that his boy would not tell a lie.
13. He took him in his arms, and said, "My dear boy, I would rather lose all my fine trees than have you tell one lie."
14. I hope, my dear boys and girls, that you will try to be like George Washington -- never tell a lie.


Lesson 12.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Did you send for the doctor?
2. Yes, I sent for him.
3. Some one is at the door.
4. Go and see who it is.
5. Come in, sir.
6. Good morning, doctor.
7. I am very sick.
8. Well, let me see.
9. I am very cold.
10. Well, let me see.
11. Your pulse is not very fast.
12. What shall I do, doctor?
13. Take a hot bath and go to bed.
14. Is that all, doctor?
15. Yes, that is all.
16. You will be well in the morning.

1. Can I sell you anything this morning?
2. Yes, have you any red ribbon?
3. Yes, here is some that is very good.
4. How much does it cost a yard?
5. It costs only five cents a yard.
6. Give me a yard of that.
7. Is there anything more you would like, -- ？
8. I think of nothing more now.
9. Shall I send the things home for you, -- ？
10. No, thank you, I will take them with me.
11. Good morning, --  Come in again.
12. Take care of your book.
13. Make up your mind at once.


Lesson 13.  Never Tell a Lie.

1. 
Never tell a lie, my boy, 
Always speak the truth.
If your life you would enjoy,
Always speak the truth.

2. 
Now, as in the coming years,
Always speak the truth.
Save your heart from bitter tears,
Always speak the truth.

3. 
Be the matter what it may,
Always speak the truth.
If at work, or if at play,
Always speak the truth.

4. 
Never from this rule depart,
Always speak the truth.
Fix it deeply in your heart,
Always speak the truth.


Lesson 14.  Ida at the Beach.

1. Little Ida and her mamma once spent a week at the beach. Ida went out every day to play in the nice clean sand.
2. Sometimes she would find pretty shells. Sometimes she would dig holes in the sand, and sit in them with her sunshade over her head. She had fine fun.
3. One day she took a sharp stick, and made the letters of her name in the sand. These are the letters -- 
4. They looked so nice that she ran and called her mamma to come and see them.
5. "O, do come with me," She cried, "and see what I have made!"
6. Ida's mother was glad to please her little girl; so she went with her. But when they came to the place -- what do you think? There was nothing to be seen.
7. "O, dear!" cried Ida; "where can my name have gone? I have lost my name!"
8. "The waves have come up since you were here, and have washed the letters all away," said her mamma.
9. "O, that is too bad! I am so sorry!"
10. "Never mind, dear: you can write them again. The sand is like a big slate, and the sea has washed it clean for your new lesson."
11. Ida laughed, and wrote her name again better than she did at first.


Lesson 15.  At Play in the Park.

1. "Frank, will you go to the park with me?"
2. "Yes, Mary, as soon as I get my ball. The boys are going to play ball, and I told them I would play with them."
3. "I will take my hoop, and we will let Rover go with us. He likes to romp and play on the grass."
4. "We will go to the lake first, Mary, and see the water birds."
5. "Water birds? What are they, Frank?"
6. "Swans, geese, and ducks are water birds."
7. "Why do you call them water birds, Frank?"
8. "Because they live on, or near the water, and are web-footed."
9. "What do you mean by web-footed?"
10. "Why, you know, Mary. You have seen the geese and ducks out of the water. They have a skin between their toes."
11. "O I know what you mean now. Is that why they swim so well?"
12. "Yes, all web-footed birds swim well."
13. "Here we are at the lake, and there are the swans. See what long necks they have! How pretty they look as they sail about on the water!"
14. "They do look pretty, Mary. You see the ducks and geese do not have as long necks as the swans."
15. "See, Frank, one of the swans is on her nest. How near it is to the water!"
16. "Yes, swans make their nests of sticks and dry grass, and always near the water."
17. "Look, look! See those pretty little fish in the water!"
18. "O yes, I see them. Give them some bread and see them eat it."
19. Then Mary let some bits of bread fall into the water, and it was fun to see the fish try to get them.
20. There were so many, that some were pushed clear out of the water by other fish trying to get the bread.
21. When the geese and ducks saw Mary feed the fish, they came up to get some bread.
22. As soon as the geese came near, old Rover began to bark at them.
23. The geese did not like that, so they put out their long necks and ran at him.
24. "Hiss, hiss!" said the geese. "Quack, quack!" said the ducks, and Rover ran off.
25. It made Frank and Mary laugh to see the geese run after Rover. They tried to get him to come back, but he would not.
26. When Mary had used up all her bread, they went home and told their mother what they had seen at the park.


Lesson 16.  Fred's Three Horses.

1. How many horses had Fred? Let me see: one, two, three. But he did not have them all at once, and they were not all the same kind of horses.
2. His very first horse was his father's foot. O, what fine rides he had on this horse! See him ride! He will not fall off, for he holds on by the reins.
3. The reins? Why, yes: his father's hands are the reins.
4. Fred's next horse was a rocking-horse. To be sure, he had a tin horse; but he did not count that one, for could not ride it.
5. But the rocking-horse! Yes, yes, that was a good one and a gay one. And what fun Fred had with him! His name was Ned.
6. I think if Ned had only gone straight ahead, he would have carried Fred to the end of the world in about a week.
7. But all he could do was to rock backwards and forwards, forwards and backwards, from sunrise to sunest. It is a way that rocking-horses have. A very slow way, you will say.
8. Still, Fred was very much pleased with Ned. He never got tired of him until he had a live horse, and this was when he was about eight years old.
9. A real, live horse! Yes, that was the best of all, -- better than father's foot; better Ned, who was always going, but never going ahead.
10. Would you like to see a picture of Fred's live horse? Well, look at the end of this lesson, and you will see it.
11. "A horse!" you say: "Why, that is only a pony."
12. Yes, so it was; but a pony is a little horse and Fred, you know, was only a little boy. Fred's horse was only a pony, but how he could trot!
13. Fred used to ride to school on his pony every day. Here he goes with his books on his back, trot! trot! trot! down the lane under the apple-trees.


Lesson 17.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Where can my stick have gone?
2. There is nothing to be seen.
3. What have you lost?
4. I have lost my stick.
5. That is too bad. I am very sorry for you.
6. Never mind; you may get a better one.
7. Will you go to the park with me?
8. Yes, I will as soon as I get my ball.
9. Let me see, what did you say the girl had?
10. I said she had a sunshade?
11. What do you mean by sunshade?
12. You will see it at once if you look at it?
13. To be sure, I know what you mean now.
14. What do you think of the boy on the pony?
15. I think he has fine fun.
16. How old is he?
17. He is about eight years old.
18. Will he fall off?
19. No, he holds on by the reigns.
20. How long would it take to learn to ride?
21. You will learn in about a week.


Lesson 18.  Kitty Brown's Story.

1. "O mamma!" cried little Kitty Brown, "I want to tell you something.
2. "I heard such a funny story about Mary Black! I did not think she could be so naughty."
3. "But, Kitty, I do not like to hear anything naughty about little boys and girls.
4. "Before you tell me the story, there are three things I would like to ask you."
5. "What are they, mamma'?"
6. "In the first place, is the story true?"
7. "I think so. Miss White told me. And she is a great friend of Mary's."
8. "Well, it may be true, but is it kind?"
9. "I am afraid it is not. I should not like to have such a story told about me."
10. "Well, then, Kitty, if the story is not true, nor kind, do you think you ought to tell it?"
11. "No, I do not think I need to tell it."
12. "Ah, then Kitty, if the story is not true, nor kind, and you do not need to tell it, why tell it to me at all?"
13. "O because I heard it, and thought you would like to hear it, too."
14. "No, Kitty, I do not care to hear it. Unless what you say is kind and true, and you have need of saying it, you should not tell it.
15. "If you can not speak well of your friends, do not speak of them at all."


Lesson 19.  Two Little Stories.

1.

1. A boy was set to watch a flock of sheep, and was told to cry out if he saw a wolf coming.
2. This boy was fond of fun, so he would often cry out, "The wolf! the wolf!" Then the men would run from their work, but only to find that no wolf was there. The boy thought this was fine fun.
3. But one day a wolf did come; and then the boy began to shout, "Help, help! The wolf, the wolf!"
4. Do you think the men minded him? No. They thought it was only one of his old tricks.
5. He shouted and cried and begged; but no one would go to him, or give him any help. 
6. So the wolf caught two sheep and a lamb, and killed them.
7. Who can tell what this story teaches? Grace, you tell.

2.

1. One day some boys were playing by the side of a pond, and some of them threw stones into the water for fun.
2. Now in this pond lived many frogs, and one frog after another was hit by the stones which the boys threw. So at last a wise old frog put his head up out of the pond, and said, "Boys, please don't pelt us so!"
3. "We are only playing," said the boys.
4. "I know it," said the frog; "but the stones you throw hurt us all the same. What is play to you is death to us.
5. Who can tell what this story teaches? Ben, you tell.


Lesson 20.  The Monkey Bridge.

1. A party of long-tailed monkeys came to a small river, over which there was no bridge. 
2. At first, they did you not seem to know how to cross the river, and so began to chatter and talk with one another, as if they were asking what should be done.
3. After a little while they ran to a tree that stood by the bank of the river.
4. The largest and strongest monkey climbed the tree, and took hold of a strong branch with his tail.
5. While he was doing this, the rest kept up their chatter, and seemed to know just what was going to be done.
6. When the monkey that had climbed the tree was ready, another came down over him, holding on with his tail, and the first one holding him by the legs.
7. Then another monkey came down over both of the others, and so on, until a long string of monkeys hung nearly to the ground.
8. What do you suppose they did next? I will tell you.
9. The monkey nearest the ground began to make the long string swing backward and forward by putting his paws on the ground.
10. The string of monkeys went faster and faster, and farther and farther, each time.
11. By and by it swung so far that the last monkey could catch hold of a tree on the other side of the river.
12. Then this monkey climbed the tree, and went up until he was as high as the first monkey on the other side.
13. This, of course, made a bridge of monkeys from one side of the river to the other.
14. Then the first monkey let go his hold of the tree, and the long bridge swung over to the other side.
15. The monkeys now climbed up over each other until they all got into the tree.
16. Then they began to chatter again, and made a great noise.
17. They seemed to think they had done a great thing, and I think they had, don't you?


LESSON 21.  CONVERSATOINAL EXERCISE.

1. I want to tell you something.
2. What do you suppose it is?
3. In the first place, is the story true?
4. I am afraid it is not true.
5. I do not care to hear such a story.
6. I will tell you a true story.
7. A boy was set to watch a flock of sheep.
8. He was very fond of fun.
9. He often cried out for tun, "The wolf!"
10. At first the men ran from their work to help him.
11. At last they did not mind his cry.
12. One day a wolf did come.
13. The boy shouted and cried and begged ,and so on.
14. The men, all the same, did not go to him.
15. No one gave him any help at all.
16. What should be done for him?
17. The wolf caught the sheep one after another, and killed them.
18. The monkeys caught one another by their legs.
19. One of them took hold of a branch with his tail.
20. The first monkey let go his hold of tree.


LESSON 22.  Count Ten.

1. Fred's aunt gave him a new spade and small box of seeds. As soon as he got the spade, he went out to dig with it in his own little garden at the back of the house.
2. His sister Jane went with him to hold the box of seeds; and, as he dug, she stood near him and talked to him.
3. Fred did his work quickly and well.
4. But as Jane stood talking, she let the box of seeds fall.
The cover of box came off, and all the seeds fell out on the ground.
5. Poor Jane was a good, kind girl.
So she said, "Dear Fred, how sorry I am!"
But Fred did not speak to her.
6. "O Fred," cried she, "why don't you speak to me?"
7. "I was waiting till I could count ten"
8. "Count ten!" said Jane.
 "What do you mean? What makes you count ten?"
9. "Why, aunt once told me always to count ten before I spoke, when I was angry."
10. "O Fred, how good you are! But see, I have picked them all up again. --  Come, let us plant them. So they put the seeds in the bed; and every morning the children went to watch for the tiny green plants.
11. At last they saw them peep above the ground, and grow larger and larger, till they were covered with sweet, bright flowers.


LESSON 23.  George's Walk.

1. One fine morning little George went out to take a walk, and down by the side of the road he met a cow.
2. "Ah, good morning, mulley cow!" said George. But all the old cow would say to him was, "Moo, moo!"
3. By and by George came to a little pond where a mother duck and five ducklings were sailing about on the water.
4. "Good morning, Mrs. Duck," said George. "How do you do today?" But the duck only opened her great mouth, and said, "Quack, quack!" as loud as she could. Then with her five little ducks she sailed away.
5. Pretty soon George met a little brown dog. The little dog was taking a walk too.
6. "This is a fine day, good dog," said little George. But the dog only barked, "Bow-wow!" and then ran away.
7. Then who should come along but a great longnecked turkey! "O, my! how proud you are!" said George; "but I know what will become of you. Some day my mother will roast you in the oven, and we shall eat you for dinner."
8. But all the old turkey would say was, "Gobble, gobble!" and off he walked, and off he walked, and hid away in the bushes.
9. At last little George sat down on a stone to rest, and up in a tree he spied a black crow looking down at him.
10. "O, you bad crow!" said he; "you have been eating our corn. My father will shoot you if you come again."
11. But the old crow only cried, "Caw, caw!" and then flew away to tell the other crows what George had said.
12. So, you see, little George talked to the cow, and the duck, and the dog, and the turkey, and the crow.
13. But all they would say to little George was Moo, moo, and Quack, quack, and Caw, caw. So he ran home to tell his mother about his walk and his talk.


LESSON 24.  Aunt Mary's Parrot.

1. My Aunt Mary had a parrot, whose name was "Polly." All the parrots I ever knew were called "Polly."
2. Polly, was a very pretty bird. She had bright feathers of red, green, and blue.
3. She did not like to get into the water and wash, so my aunt had to wash her.
4. Sometimes this made Polly cross, and it was very funny to hear her scold Aunt Mary.
5. After she had been washed, she would begin to lay her feathers.
6. If a feather fall out, she would begin to lay her feathers.
7. She seemed to feel sad because she had lost a feather.
8. Polly leaned to say many words, such as "Good-day, sir," "Good morning, sir," and "Polly wants something to eat."
9. Uncle John had a way of saying, "There's no doubt about it;" and soon Polly learned that, too.
10. One time Aunt Mary was sick, and Polly missed her very much.
11. Polly got out of her cage and went into every room.
12. When she came to Aunt Mary's room, she climbed up on the bed.
13. Aunt Mary said, "Polly, I'm glad to see you. I'm very sick."
14. "There's no doubt about it!" said Polly.
15. Polly was very playful, but she did many naught things that Uncle John did not like.
16. She would walk about the room, and pick the tasks out of the carpet, and bite pieces out of the chairs and table.
17. At last Uncle John sent for a man to come and buy Polly.
18. "How much do you want for her?" said the man.
19. "Twelve dollars," said Uncle John.
20. "Polly, are you worth twelve dollars?" said the man.
21. "There's no doubt about it!" said Polly.
22. This answer so pleased the man that he gave Uncle John the Twelve dollars and took Polly home.
23. After a while he found out the naughty things Polly did, and was sorry that he had bought her.
24. One day he said to her, "Polly, what a dunce I was to give so much money for you!"
25. "There's no doubt about it!" cried Polly.
26. And this time Polly was right.


Lesson 25.  CONVERSATOINAL EXERCISE.

1. How do you do, to-day?
2. I am very glad to see you.
3. This is a fine day.
4. Will you take a walk with me?
5. What has become of him?
6. He is very sick.
7. I miss him very much.
8. You seem to feel very sad.
9. Come along with me.
10. Let us go to the garden at the back of the house.
11. Run home and bring my box of seeds.
12. How did the cover of the box come off?
13. All the seeds fell out on the ground.
14. Pick them up quickly.
15. I want something to eat for dinner.
16. How much do you want for the book?
17. It is not worth so much.
18. What a dunce you are to give so much money for a parrot!
19. There is no doubt about it.
20. You are quite right.


Lesson 26.  Merry Spring.

1. 
Merry Spring,
Will you bring
Back the little birds to sing?
I am sad;
Make me glad,
Gentle, merry, laughing Spring.

2. 
Winter's snow
Soon will go
From the hills and vales below;
Then your showers
Will make the flowers
Over all the hill sides grow.

3. 
Mother said, 
"They're not dead;
Only sleeping in their bed;
When spring rain 
Comes again,
Each will raise its tiny head."


Lesson 27.  Toys to Sell.

1. "Toys to sell! Nice toys to sell! I have all kinds in my tray. Very cheap! Toys to sell!"
2. "What can I sell you to-day? Here are dolls, wooden horses, tops, whips, bats, balls, cars, marbles, and lots of other things."
3. "Toys to sell! Fine toys to sell! What will you buy, ma'am, for your little boy? I am sure he deserves a toy, for he is such a good boy."
4. "Here is a good strong whip."
5. "What is the price of it?"
6. "Only twopence."
7. "But it has no lash."
8. "Oh! I see, the lash is off. Well, you may have this for a penny."
9. "Thank you, ma'am. Would your little boy like a top?"
10. "Let me see what kinds of tops you have."
11. "Here is a good one."
12. "No, that will not do, for it has no peg."
13. "Perhaps your little boy would like a horse. Most boys like horses.
14. "Show me the best horse you have."
15. "Here is one, ma'am."
16. "But that horse has no mane."
17. "That's all right, ma'am. That kind of horse has no mane."
18. "What is the price of it?"
19. "Only sixpence. But as it has lost one leg you shall have it for fourpense."
20. "I will take the horse then."
21. "Thank you, ma'am. Can I sell you any more?"
22. "No, thank you! Not to-day."
23. "Good morning, ma'am. Toys to sell! Fine toys to sell!"


Lesson 28.  A Kiss for a Blow.

1. George and Mary were brother and sister. They went to the same school. One day George got vexed with Mary: so he raised his hand, and slapped his sister.
2. Then his sister got angry, and raised her hand to strike him back.
3. The teacher saw her, and said, "Mary, you had better kiss your brother."
4. Mary let her hand fall, and looked up at her teacher as if she did not quite know what was said.
5. Mary had never been taught to give good for evil. She thought that if brother struck her he might strike back. 
6. The teacher looked very kindly at them both, and said again, "My dear Mary, you had better kiss your brother. See how angry and unhappy he is."
7. Mary looked at George's face. She saw that he was very cross and unhappy.
8. In a minute her anger was gone, and love for her brother came back. She threw her arms round his neck, and kissed him.
9. Then George burst into tears. His sister took her apron to wipe away the tears, and said, "Do not cry, George: you did not hurt me much."
10. But he only cried harder than ever. No one ever saw George strike his little sister again.


Lesson 29.  Can You Swim?

1. "How I wish I could fly, uncle! See my pigeons, how they mount away up in the sky!"
2. "Yes Harry, it would be fine fun to skin through the air like a bird. But we can not do that: we have not the right shape for it. Still, if we can not swim through the air, we may swim through the water. Do you know how to swim?"
3. "No, not yet, uncle."
4. "Well, Harry, you must learn. Every boy and girl should learn to swim. Your cousin Tom, I think, can swim?"
5. "O yes! Tom is a fine swimmer. He can do all sorts of things in the water. He can swim on his back. He can dive. He can swim without moving his hands.
6. "He can swim round and round, with his kness close up to his chin. He can swim like a dog. He can splash with his feet."
7. "Just think, then if you two were in a boat on deep water, and the boat should be upset! He would float like a cork, but you would be drowned."
8. "That is so, uncle. I never thought of it before. I will ask cousin to show me how to swim the next time we go in bathing."
9. "Do so, my boy. It is very easy to learn. I have heard of a man who learned to swim by watching a frog. He put it in a dish of water, then laid himself on the floor, and struck out with his arms and legs just as he saw the frog do."
10. It was said in old times, at Rome, that a man must be a fool who could not read and swim.


Lesson 30.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. What can I sell you to-day?
2. I have lots of things.
3. I am sure your little boy deserves a toy.
4. What is the price of it?
5. You may have this for a penny.
6. Show me the best horse you have.
7. This will do very well.
8. No, that will not do.
9. One day George got angry and raised his hand to strike his sister.
10. She did not try to strike him back.
11. He burst into tears.
12. You had better go home.
13. He cried harder than ever.
14. Do you know how to swim?
15. No, not yet, sir.
16. I wish I could swim like you.
17. It is very easy to learn.
18. Lay yourself on the floor.
19. Strike out with your arms and legs as if you were a frog.
20. O yes, that's all right.


Lesson 31.  The Crow and the Chicks.

1. Puffy. See what I have found! It is a long fat piece of wheat.
2. Muffy. Let me see it, please.
3. Stuffy. That is my piece of wheat. I lost it.
4. Puffy. Where did you get it from?
5. Stuffy. I found it in the wheat field. Give it back to me, please.
6. Muffy. How are we to know it is yours? All pieces of wheat are just alike. You ought to share it with us.
7. Puffy. So you ought. It is as much mine as yours, for I found it too. Won't you give us a share?
8. Stuffy. No, no! If share one bit of wheat, none of us will have enough. Go and look for some for yourselves.
9. Muffy. Oh! You greedy chick! But we won't let you have it. We will take it away from you. Will you help me, Puffy?
10. Puffy. Yes. I will help you, for I do not like greedy chicks.
11. So they began to fight. They were so busy fighting, that they did not see a big black crow sitting on a tree near by.
12. All at once the crow flew down, picked up the piece of wheat, and carried it away.
13. As it flew off, the chicks heard it say, "Caw, caw! I have got the wheat. Oh! You silly chicks!"
14. The chicks thought they were silly too, and made up their minds not to fight again.


Lesson 32.  The Lazy Rat -- Part 1.

1. A young rat once lived in a mill with many other rats. He was too lazy to do anything.
2. When the old rats asked him if he would like to come out with them at night, he would say, "I don't know."
3. And if they said, " Would you like to stay in?" he still used the same words -- "I don't know." He would not take the trouble to fine out what he wished.
4. An old gray rat said to him one day, "No one will care for you if you go on in this way. You have no more mind than a blade of grass.
5. "It is sometimes good to give up your own plans. But it is not good to have no plans at all."
6. The young rat sat up, and looked very wish, but said not word.
7. "Do you not think so? Why do you no speak?" said the old gray rat.
8. "I don't know," was all the young rat said. Then he walked off with slow steps, to think for an hour whether he would stay at home in the hole, or go about in the mill.
9. One day there was a great noise in the mill. It was an old mill, and the wind blew so hard that it shook badly.
10. By and by, some of the boards began to fall down on the floor, and all the rats were in a great fright. 
11. "This will not do," said the old rats, and they shook their heads as they spoke. "We must leave this place," said they.
12. So they sent out three or four of the old rats to look for a new home, and in the right they came back.
13. They said they had found an old barn, where there was plenty of food and room enough for all.
14. "Then it is best to go at once," said the old gray rat, who seemed to be the captain of all the rats.
15. "Form in line!" said he.
16. Then the rats came from their holes, and stood on the floor in a long line.


Lesson 33.  The Lazy Rat -- Part 2.

1. "Are you all here?" said the old gray rat, as he looked around.
2. "Do you all choose to go? Make up your minds at once."
3. "Yes, yes," said all in the line; "We all wish to go. It is quite plain that it is not safe to stay here."
4. Just then the captain caught sight of Grip -- that was the young rat's name. He was not in the line. He was near by on the stairs.
5. "You did not speak," said the old rat. "Of course you will come?"
6. "I don't know," said Grip.
7. "Don't know! Why, you do not think it safe to stay here, do you?" said the old rat. "It has always been the rule with rats to quit a falling house, has it not?"
8. "I don't know," said Grip. "The roof may not come down for some time yet."
9. "Well, stay then," said the old rat, "and it will serve you right if you get hurt."
10. "I don't know that I will stay, and I don't know that I will go," said Grip, with a wise look.
11. "O well, we can not wait for you to make up your mind," said the old rat. "Come with us and be safe, or stay where you are and get hurt. Now, rats! Right face! March!"
12. And the long line of rats marched out of the mill. They went down the steps, one by one, and the young rat looked on.
13. "I have half a mind to go," said he, "and yet -- I don't know. It is warm and snug here, and I shall have the mill all to myself."
14. The tail of the last rat was hardly out of sight as he spoke. Grip went near the steps and looked down.
15. "I will go back to my hole for a short time, to make up my mind," said he.
16. That night the wind blew harder than ever. The old mill shook as if it would surely fall. Grip began to be afraid. It was the first time he had felt any fear.
17. "I don't know," said he, "but that I would better go, too. But I will wait a little while."
18. Then the wind blew harder and harder. Grip started to leave the mill. Before he could get out, down it came with a great crash.
19. The next day some men came to look at the fallen mill. They thought it strange to see no rats. But at last, as one man moved a great pile of boards, he saw a young rat, quite dead.
20. He was half in, and half out of his hole. It seemed as if he had not quite made up his mind whether to stay in or go out.
21. Don't you think Grip ought to have made up his mind more quickly?


Lesson 34.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Where did you get it from?
2. Won't you give me a share?
3. Go and look for some for yourself.
4. I won't let you have it.
5. No one will care for you if you go on in that way.
6. It is best to go at once.
7. It is quite plain that it is not safe to stay here.
8. It will serve you right if you get hurt.
9. I will wait a little while.
10. The roof may not come down for some time yet.
11. I will go back to my room for a short time to make up mind.
12. He was too lazy to do anything.
13. They went away one by one.
14. The wind blew harder and harder.
15. It was the first time he felt any fear.
16. He was in a great fright.
17. All at once the roof came down with a great crash.
18. The next day no one caught sight of him.


Lesson 35.  They were all Useful.

1. "Bow! wow! wow!" said Jip, the big dog. "I wonder what use you are." When he said this he looked at the cat.
2. "Meow! meow! me! me!" said the cat. "I am of more use than you, though you are bigger. You only take care of that little hut you live in. You do nothing but bark and eat bones."
3. "And what do you do?" said Jip. "You only sleep all day and drink milk, while I watch the farm yard, and drive away dogs that come to steal. I also look after Mr.Fox, and keep him from stealing the ducks and geese. Last night a bad man came to rob the house, but when he saw me, he ran away."
4. "Very well, Jip," said pussy. "But I am useful too. Don't I catch the mice and rats? I think we are both of use, but what does that lazy fat hen do for her living?"
5. At this then hen help up her head. "Cluck! cluck!" said she, "see what nice eggs I lay. Look at my fine little chicks. They will soon be fit for market. I am of use, I am sure."
6. Then the old brown cow spoke. "Moo! Moo! Listen tome. We are all of use. Jip watches over the house, and keeps the fox away from the fowls. Pussy catches the mice, and kills the rats, and the hen lays eggs. So we are all useful."
7. Just then the milkmaid came out to feed them. She gave hay to the cow, bones to the dog, milk to the cat, and corn to the hens.
8. She fed them all, because they were all of use, though not in the same way.


Lesson 36.  The Sparrow.

1. I am only a plain little sparrow. My feathers are all the same color. I always wear the same brown coat.
2. I have no pretty clothes like Cockrobin, or Polly, the parrot. But I do not mind. I am quite content to be a plain little sparrow.
3. You must not think I am not happy. I will tell you some of the good things I have.
4. I have a sung warm nest. When the winter had gone, and the weather grew warmer, I looked out for a place where to build.
5. I had to find a spot, where the boys could not find me. After looking for a long time, I found such a safe place.
6. I will tell you where it is, for I am sure you would not hurt me.
7. It is in the old barn. There is a hole in the wall, up near the roof. I crept through that, and found a warm corner on the beams.
8. Then I flew out into the farm yard. I picked up feathers, bits of moss, little pieces of rags, and hay. I even jumped on the old sheep's back, and pulled out some wool.
9. He did not mind, for I did not hurt him. With all these things I made my nest, and it is the warmest and softest nest in the world.
10. If you could look in my nest, you would see four dear little sparrows. They say "Cheep! Cheep!" all day long. Their mouths are always wide open, and they are always asking for food.
11. I have such hard work to find worms enough for them, for the worms do not like being caught. Sometimes I think I shall never fine enough food for them, when they get bigger.
12. They eat such a lot, and their father is rather lazy. Still I am happy. So may you be, if you make the best of things. Good morning.


Lesson 37.  The Wolf and the Fox.

1. One day, as a wolf and a fox were walking through a wood, the wolf said, "Mr.Fox get me some food or I will make a meal of you."
2. "Very well," said the fox, "come with me." So they went to a farm yard.
3. In it some geese were feeding. The fox stole in, and ran off with a fine fat goose. The wolf ate it up at once, and then sent Mr.Fox for another.
4. But just as the fox was going into the yard, the geese set up such a noise. "Quack! Quack!" they cried.
5. Out ran the farmer. Mr.Fox ran off. But the farmer caught the wolf, and best him so that he could only just crawl away.
6. The next day they went out again. But the wolf could not go very fast. He was so sore from the beating he had.
7. Again he said to the fox, "Go and find some food for me, or I will eat you all up."
8. "Come along," said the fox; "I know a cellar, where a man keeps two boxes of becon."
9. "That will do very well. Let us go at once, but if the man finds us there, you must help me to get away."
10. "Of course I will," said the fox.
11. So they went along, till they reached the place. Then the fox and the wolf crawled in through a small window.
12. They began at once upon the bacon. What a meal the wolf did make, to be sure!
13. Just as he had eaten the last bit, the fox called out, "Here comes the man!"
14. In an instant Mr.Fox jumped out of the window, and ran off as fat as he could.
15. But the wolf had eaten so much, that he could not get through. He got half out, and then struck fast.
16. So the man brought his axe and slew the wolf, and the fox was very glad.


Lesson 38.  CONVERSATOINAL EXERCISE.

1. I wonder (of) what use your dog is.
2. He does nothing but eat and drink.
3. He sleeps all day long.
4. But he is of more use than you.
5. What does he do?
6. He keeps the fox from stealing the hens.
7. Last night a bad man stole in to rob the house.
8. The dog barked at him to drive him away.
9. Look at that fat hen with five chicks.
10. She takes care of her chicks.
11. She holds up her head and looks at you.
12. The chicks will soon be fit for market.
13. One of the chicks kept its mouth wide open for a long time.
14. The dog and hen are both useful though not in the same way.
15. I may be useful in some way.
16. I do not mind it all.
17. I am quite content to be a poor boy.
18. In an instant the fox began to run off as fast as he could.
19. The wolf could not get out and stuck fast.


Lesson 39.  One Thing at a Time.

1. 
Work while you work,
Play while you play,
That is the way
To be cheerful and gay.

2. 
Whatever you do,
Do with your might;
Things done by halves
Are never done right.

3. 
One thing at a time,
And that done well, 
Is a very good rule,
As many can tell.

4. 
Moments are useless 
When trifled away;
So work while you work,
And play while you work,


Lesson 40.  The Bear and the Goats.

1. Once upon a time, there lived an old goat, who had seven young ones of whom she was very fond.
2. One morning, when she was going out to look for food for them, she said, "Now, my children, I am going out, and must leave you to take care of yourselves.
3. "Be sure you do not open the door, for fear Mr.Bear should come in, and eat you all up."
4. "Very well, mother," said they, "we will take great care." So away ran the old goat.
5. Soon after she had gone, there came a rap! rap! at the door.
6. "Who is there?" cried they.
7. "It is your cousin the sleep come to see you, and bring you some nice fresh grass," said Mr.Bear.
8. "Oh! no!" said they, "your voice is too gruff for a sheep. It is you, Mr.Bear."
9. They did not open the door, and Mr. Bear went away.
10. After a little time, there came another rap! rap! at the door.
11. "Who is there?" said the kids.
12. Open the door, my dears; it is your mother come home."
13. But the kids saw a pair of big brown paws up on the window sill. "No! no!" they cried, "mother has not brown paw; it is you again, Mr.Bear."
14. So the bear ran off to the painter's shop. "Paint my paws white," said he to the painter.
15. He made them white, and then the bear ran back to the goats, and once more rapped at the door.
16. "Who is there?" said the kids.
17. "It is I, your mother, come home. See what I have for each of you."
18. "Put up your feet and let us see them," said they.
19. So he put up his paws. When they saw that his paws were white, they opened the door.
20. Mr. Bear rushed in. The poor kids ran to hide. One hid under a chair, the second get in a sack, the third ran under the bed, the fourth crept into a big tub, the fifth jumped into bed, and the two others crawled up the chimney.
21. Mr. Bear found all but the two that got up the chimney, and when the old goat came home, these two told her how Mr.Bear had eaten up all the other five.


Lesson 41.  The Goose and the Golden Eggs.

1. Once on a time there was a man who had a goose he thought a great deal of. And well he might do so, for this was the strangest goose that ever lived.
2. Every day she laid an egg. "There is nothing strange about that," you will say. Ah! But the eggs this goose laid were of sold gold. Think of that!
3. Day after day this strange bird laid a shining golden egg for her master. That was why he liked the goose so much. You may be sure he did not sell these eggs in the market. Not he; he hid them away carefully in a great iron box.
4. Every day he found a bright new golden egg in the goose's nest, and added it to the pile. He was so glad to get it that he could hardly wait for the night to pass and the morning to come. Each day seemed as long as a week to him.
5. When he saw the pile growing higher and higher in the iron box, he rubbed his hands with glee. "Ah!" said he to himself, "If it was only full, I should be the richest man in the world."
6. He could think of nothing but his golden pile. At last he grew so greedy that he wanted all his gold at once. He thought he would find plenty of eggs in the goose's body, and not have to wait and wait and wait any longer.
7. So one day he killed the wonderful bird. But when he came to look for more eggs -- why, there were none to be found!
8. Foolish man! He had killed the goose that laid the golden eggs.


Lesson 42.  The Tiger.

1. How gentle a cat looks when lying purring before the fire! But see how fierce it gets, when it tries to catch a bird or a mouse, or when you make it angry.
2. Now try to fancy what it would be like, if it grew till it was eight feet long, and three times as heavy and strong as a man. The tiger is just such an animal, only still more fierce!
3. When it is young it is like a great kitten. It purrs when it is pleased, and will play with a piece of string, just as a kitten will.
4. The tiger sleeps in the day-time, if it is not hungry, and goes out at night to seek for food. It watches close to a river or pool, where wild animals come to drink.
5. When it sees one coming, it creeps very quietly to it, then springs upon it, and at once tears it to pieces, though it may be as large and strong as a horse.
6. A tiger can kill a man as easily as a cat can a rat. When it has once tasted his blood, it will hide in a wood near a town, and kill every man or woman who happens to come near it.
7. When the men in the town know that a tiger is in the wood, or jungle, as they call it, a great many of them get guns, and go out to kill it.
8. They send dogs into the jungle, to find out where the tiger is hiding. They then try to make it come out by throwing stones, or by making a noise with drums.
9. Sometimes a monkey will show by his cries the spot where the tiger is lying. At last the men find it, and just as it is getting ready to spring upon one of them, they fire at it and kill it.
10. A gentleman once found a tiger when it was very little, and tried to tame it. It used to run about the house just as it liked, and seemed as gentle as a kitten.
11. But one day it licked the hand of its master, and its rough tongue made it bleed a little. As soon as the young tiger tasted his blood it growled, and would have sprung upon him, if it had not been shot by a servant.


Lesson 43.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Do not open the door, for fear some had man should come in.
2. Be sure we will take great care.
3. Please open the door.
4. Who is there at the door?
5. It is your cousin come to see you.
6. No; we have no cousin.
7. The man rapped at the door once more.
8. Who is there again?
9. It is your mother come home.
10. No; your voice is too gruff for our mother.
11. The bad man at last had to go away.

1. I will tell you a strange story.
2. Once upon a time there was a goose which laid an egg every day.
3. There is nothing strange about that.
4. But the eggs this goose laid were of solid gold.
5. Of course, the master thought a great deal of this strange goose.
6. Day after day he added an egg to his pile in a great iron box.
7. He rubbed his hands with glee.
8. He could hardly wait for the night to pass.
9. Each day seemed as long as a week for him.
10. He could not wait any longer.
11. He wanted to get at once all the eggs the goose could lay one by one.
12. So one day at last the foolish man killed the wonderful bird.

1. What is a tiger like?
2. A tiger is like a cat, only it is many times as strong and fierce.
3. The tiger goes out at night to seek for food.
4. A tiger can kill a man as easily as a can a rat.
5. It tears any man into pieces who happens to come near it.


Lesson 44.  Fishing.

1. James and his little sister have got ready to go a fishing. Just at the back of their house is a brook, with fish in it.
2. The brook begins three miles away, on the side of the hill. Here, a spring bubbles up from the ground, and away the water flows, bright and clear.
3. It passes the farm, where these children live, and runs merrily on till joins the broad river.
4. The little girl's name is Annie. She is nearly eight years old. When Annie went with James last week, he made her keep very still, and would not let speak a word, for fear she might scare the fish away.
5. Annie is very fond of talking, and when she has to be still for a long time, she gets sleepy and dull.
6. She does not intend to go to sleep this time, for she has her doll with her, and some pieces of cloth in her pocket; and she means to make a dress for her doll, while James catches fish.
7. To-day the sun is very warm, and the woods behind them are very still. After waiting a little while James gets a bite.
8. His float bobs up and down, up and down, but when he draws up the line, he finds both fish and bait are gone.
9. He thinks he will do better next time, and puts his bait on more safely; then he again throws out into the water.
10. In a few minutes the float again begins to dance, and then goes quite under the water. He gives the line a jerk, and draws it out with a fish hanging on the hook.
11. Then James takes the fish off the hook, and puts it into the basket, and says, "This is a fine fellow! We will ask mother to fry him for supper."
12. Annie feels very sorry for the poor little fish, which cannot live out of the water; but she thinks, "How can we have fish to eat, if we do not catch them?"
13. Then she listens so a big bee flying by and saying, "Buzz, buzz," until he settles on a flower.
14. She lays her head on the grass, and thinks she will watch that noisy bee, just to see how long it will take him, to get all the honey out of that flower.
15. But, before he gets through his work Annie falls fast asleep. James laughs, and when his basket is full of fish, he says "Buzz!" in Annie's ear, and she wakes up.
16. Then he puts on her hat for her, picks up her doll, and they go home to supper.
17. The fish are nicely cleaned and cooked by their mother. Then, as they sit down to eat them, James tells her what a nice time they have had, and how good and quiet Annie has been.


Lesson 45.  The Dolls' Picnic -- Part 1.

1. There was a picnic in Farmer Brown's garret. The farmer and his wife had gone to the city, and left little Tim and Fanny to take care of baby Ben. So the children thought they would have a picnic.
2. It was Doll Dinks's birthday. Doll Dinks was a black baby, one year old, and he squeaked. He had a birthday every two weeks.
3. Doll Midget had blue eyes and yellow curls. She was invited to the picnic. 
4. Tim got a big tin-pan, and filled it full of water. First the dolls were to be taken out to sail, and then they were to have a lunch.
5. The lunch was a spice-cake and two jam-tarts. Tabby, the fat kitten, was invited to the picnic, too.
6. The children put Tabby on a small table, so that she could look on.
7. The lunch was put in an old wood-box. As soon as the boat was ready, Doll Dinks and Doll Midget went on board. The boat was one of Farmer Brown's old slippers.
8. Then away the dolls sailed. Tim made the wind blow with the bellows, and Fanny puffed out her cheeks as hard as she could.
9. But I must tell you that baby Ben wanted to help with the fire-shovel. So the children told him he had better be the fairy godmother. The fairy godmother always hid in the wood-box, and popped out just at the right minute.
10. Ben said that was all right, and so they made a place for him in the wood-box. There he kept 
  so very still that the children thought he must have gone to sleep.


Lesson 46.  The Dolls' Picnic -- Part 2.

1. All at once there was a loud splash, and the boat was upset. It was all because that fat kitten, Tabby, had tumbled off the table into the pan.
2. The dolls could not swim, so Tim and Fanny kindly dragged them out of the water. Tabby scampered off down stairs all dripping wet.
3. Doll Dinks was hollow, and could float; but poor Doll Midget was drowned. Her nice clean clothes were wet through, and her lovely hair came all out of curl.
4. "Now," said Fanny, "we must take Doll Midget to the kitchen-fire, and dry her, or she will never be fit to come to the picnic."
5. "O no," said Tim, "she's deal But I can make her alive again." So he put the end of the bellows between her ribs, and blew just as hard as he could.
6. The first thing Fanny knew, a puff of sawdust flew out of Doll Midget's side into her eyes. She threw her apron over her head, and began to cry.
7. Tim kept shouting
8. Then Fanny dried her eyes. They crept up softly to the wood-box. There lay baby Ben fast asleep.
9. There were crumbs of spice-cake and jam-tart on his frock, and a bit of jam on the end of his nose. The lunch was all gone.
"O, you rogue!" cried Fanny.
10. Ben opened his blue eyes, and looked so cunning, that Tim and Fanny had to laugh. Then they all said, "Let's put off the rest of the picnic till next time."


Lesson 47.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Are you ready to go a fishing?
2. Put on your hat and come along.
3. How far is it to the river?
4. It is three miles away.
5. Last week I fast asleep while fishing.
6. This time I do not intend to go to sleep.
7. That bee has settled on the flower.
8. I intend to have a picnic on my next birthday.
9. Last week I was invited to a picnic.
10. As soon as the boat was ready, we went on board.
11. We wanted to fry the fish in the boat.
12. One of us puffed out his cheek at the fire as hard as he could.
13. We said, "You had better not puff so hard."
14. But he puffed all the harder.
15. At last a puff of dust flew into our eyes.
16. The boat was nearly upset.
17. The lunch was all gone.
18. We had to put off the rest of the picnic till the next time.


Lesson 48.  The Stolen Basket.

1. Two little workers once began to make a little basket. It was to be a basket for eggs.
2. They began their work very gladly. They went out to gather straws and twigs. These they brought home, and began to twist them into the form of a basket.
3. After many days of hard work the basket was made. The little workers lined it with a soft lining as smooth as silk.
4. When it was done, this tiny basket was very pretty, and the two busy workers, who had made it, were as proud and happy as they could be.
5. Then the eggs they were put into it, and lovely eggs they were. There were four of them, all deep blue, with spots of brown upon them.
6. It chanced one day that two boys passed the house, where these little workers lived, and, as they peeped in, they saw this pretty little basket.
7. Then they went into the house and stole the basket. They took the eggs out, and then broke the basket into pieces, and threw them away.
8. When the two little workers came home, and found that their basket and eggs were gone, they cried out as if their hearts would break. Oh! it was pitiful to hear them.
9. Now those boys were cruel, and they were robbers. And is it not wrong to rob? You say, "Oh yes; it is very wrong!"
10. Then was it wrong, even though the owners of the little basket were only birds, and the house in which they kept it was only a bush?
11. Perhaps you say those boys did not mean to be cruel, that they were only thoughtless.
12. Yes, that may be. But those same boys are thoughtful enough, when any harm is done to them. They are thoughtless only, when they do not suffer.
13. You see, to be thoughtless means to be selfish.
14. How unhappy would the lives of those boys have been, if their parents and grown-up people had acted in this selfish way to them. 
15. Now, children, when you are tempted to take a bird's nest, think of these two dear little workers, who were left sobbing, as though their hearts would break.
16. You cannot say, "Ah! I did not mean to be cruel, I was only thoughtless," for you know now how much pain you give, and how wrong it is.


Lesson 49.  Do Your Best.

1. 
Do your best, your very best, 
And do it every day -- 
Little boys and little girls,
That is the wisest way.

2. 
No matter what you try to do
At home or at your school,
Always do your very best -- 
There is no better rule.

3. 
So if you read your little book,
Or if you learn to spell,
Or if you play with hoop or ball, 
Be sure to do it well.

4. 
If boys and girls, you do your best,
Your best will better grow,
But if you slight your daily task,
You'll let the better go.

5. 
What if your lessons should be hard!
Do not give up to sorrow;
For if you bravely work to-day.
You'll surely win to-morrow.


Lesson 50.  The Bear in School -- Part 1.

1. In some new part of America the farmers found that bears would come at night, and do much harm in the corn fields.
2. "We must stop this," they said. So they all met and went out on a bear hunt. After a long chase, they killed two bears.
3. With one of the bears was a cub; and, when the old bear was shot, one of the hunters took the cub home to his son.
4. The cub was just like a fat young puppy, with black hair, and thick, clumsy paws. It was fed and brought up about the house, and soon became as tame as a dog.
5. Jack -- for that was the name they gave him -- was very playful. He would follow his young master all around. After a while, he used to go with him every day to school.
6. At first the other boys were afraid of Jack, but before long he became a great favorite. He would play about in the woods near the school till recess. Then the children would give him a good share from their lunch baskets. Some would give him an apple, others a cake, others a piece of maple sugar. He was a great pet.
7. In winter Jack was let in at recess to warm himself by the stove. He knew very well where the lunch baskets were hung on pegs on the wall; and, if he did not get his share of the good things, he would help himself.
8. Things went on in this way for a long time; but one day Jack could not be found.
9. Had he met some of his bear friends in the woods, and gone away with them? That was what the children thought; and for many a day they looked and longed for their playmate to come back.


Lesson 51.  The Bear in School -- Part 2.

1. Ten years passed away. The old teacher was dead. The boys and girls were now men and women. Jack was forgotten. But the old school- house was still there, though a new set of boys and girls filled its seats.
2. Well, one cold winter's day, when the school-house door was opened at recess, in walked a great bear!
3. Then what a scare there was! Some boys ran to the door, others jumped up on the desks. Two or three little girls hid themselves under the table. One big boy jumped out of the window.
4. But the bear did not harm any one. He walked quietly up to the fire, and warmed himself. He seemed to be very much at home, and looked around as pleased as could be.
5. After sitting by the fire a short time, he walked up to the wall where the lunch baskets were hanging. Raising himself on his hind feet, he put his paw into the baskets, and helped himself to an apple and a piece of maple sugar. He munched, and smiled a bear smile. Then he walked quietly out of the school.
6. While Mr.Bear was having this good time, the boy who had jumped out of the window ran through the street shouting, "A bear in the school! A bear in the school!"
7. Then six young men started with their guns to shoot the bear. His tracks were very plain in the snow, so they soon came up with him, and killed him.
8. Just then one of the young men gave a great cry. "Why, it's Jack! Look at these marks on his skin! Then they all looked, and knew it was the friend of their own school-days.
9. Yes, it was Jack, who had come back to make them a visit! He had known the old school-house again; but, poor fellow! He did not know that old playmates were gone.


Lesson 52.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Once a hunter brought up a cub about his house.
2. The bear became as tame as a dog.
3. He followed his young master to school every day.
4. Sometimes he would help himself to the boy's lunch if he did not get his share.
5. Things went on in this way for a long time.
6. But one day he went away to his bear friends in the woods.
7. After many a year he came back to make his old friends a visit.
8. He seemed very much at home in the old school- house again.
9. The old teacher was dead.
10. His old play-mates were now all grown up people, and not at school.
11. The boys who did not know him, were very much afraid of him.
12. Some of then hid themselves under the table.
13. Six thoughtless young men started to school the bear.
14. They soon came up with the bear, and killed him.
15. They found they had killed the friend of own school-days.
16. One of them sobbed as if his heart would break.


Lesson 53.  The Bat.

1. Though the bat has wings, and can fly well, yet it is not a bird. Its head and body are like those of a mouse, and covered with fur. It has very long and thin fingers on its fore-legs, or arms, as we had better call them.
2. Its wings are made of thin skin, which grows between these fingers, and is joined to its arms, legs, and tail, so that it can open and shut the wings like an umbrella.
3. Instead of nails at the ends of its thumbs and toes, it has hooks or claws, it wants to go to sleep, it hangs itself up by one of the hooks on its hind-legs.
4. It sleeps during the day in dark holes, or hanging head downwards from the roofs of barns or old houses, and only comes out at night.
5. It lives on moths and other insects, which it can easily see and catch in the dark.
6. At night, when the bats are flying about, if you throw little stone up into the air, one of them will most likely see it and catch it, but, of course, will soon let it go when it finds it is not good to eat.
7. The bat is a good friend to the farmer, for the moths, upon which it feeds, would lay eggs that would turn into grubs, and these would eat the roots of the plants, which he sets in his fields.
8. Some bats are so small, that you could cover one of them up with a thimble. Others are so large, that that they are called flying dogs, or flying foxes.
9. In some parts of the world, there are bats that do a great deal of harm, by eating the fruit which the people have grown for their own use. But perhaps these people do not lose much in the end, for they eat the bats!
10. The bats in our country cannot hurt us, but in some parts of the world there is a bat called the vampire, which lives by sucking the blood of horses, cattle, and even men.
11. It waits till sees a man asleep. It then flies very quietly up to him, and fans him with its large wings, so that he should not wake.
12. The vampire finds out some part of his body which is left bare, and makes a little round hole in the skin, so gently that it does not wake him; then sucks as much of his blood as it can, and flies away.


Lesson 54.  The Owl.

1. The owl is a very strange bird. It is not often seen by day, for it has large eyes, which cannot bear the strong light of the sun.
2. It can see well in the twilight, and comes out then to look for food. It lives on mice, rats, fish, and insects; but when it is very hungry, and eat other birds.
3. Its wings are made so that it can fly without making a noise; and it has ears with which it hears the least sound, made by a mouse moving in the grass.
4. When it sees a mouse on the ground, or a little fish on the top of the water, it stops for a little while in the air, and then drops down and catches it in its sharp claws. It then flies away with it, and swallows it whole -- bones and all!
5. But after the flesh of the mouse or fish is digested, the owl is able to throw up the bones again, thorough its mouth.
6. If you ever find an owl's nest in a hollow tree or in a barn, you will be sure to see a great many little heaps of these bones lying about. In fact, the nest itself is only a heap of little dry bones!
7. Owls do a great deal of good to the farmer by eating mice and rats, which would damage the crops.
8. It is said that one owl in a barn can catch more rats and mice than five or six cats could.
9. A man once found that his tame pigeons were stolen at night, and he thought that they were taken away by owls. He got a gun and watched.
10. At dusk, he saw an owl go into the pigeon-house, and soon come out with something in its claws. He fired, and the owl dropped down dead.
11. But he found that the owl had not stolen a pigeon; it had killed a rat, which was the real robber!
12. In some countries men make use of the owl, to help them catch other birds. They get some twigs, and cover them over with what is called bird-line, which sticks like glue.
13. They place them in a field, and tie an owl by the leg close to the twigs, so that it cannot fly away.
14. The other birds hate the owl, very likely because they know it sometimes tries to catch them. When they see it tied up, and unable to do them any harm, they come in great numbers round it, to peck at it and insult it, in every way they can think of.
15. But directly they hop on the twigs covered with bird-lime, or touch them with their wings, they are held fast, and a man then comes up, puts them into a cage, and carries them away.
16. How they must wish they had known better than to insult even an owl!


Lesson 55.  The Dog and the Tarts.

1. I once had a dog whose name was Tiger, and a finer dog never lived. He had thick black hair, with a large spot of white on the breast, and oh, such a tail!
2. He was as brave as a lion, and could hold his own with any dog alive; but I never knew him to begin a quarrel, though he made many a dog pay very dearly, for being so unwise as to attack him.
3. I often sent Tiger on errands, and he always seemed very proud of the trust I placed in him, and would trot along, looking neither to the right nor the left.
4. I had several times called at the baker's, when Tiger was with me, and had let him carry home the basket filled with cakes or tarts, which I had bought.
5. At last he knew what the basket was for, and, if I put a note in it, so that the baker could understand what I wanted, Tiger, would go and fetch the things alone.
6. One morning I sent him to the baker's for some tarts; and away he went with the basket in his mouth. The baker read my note, put the tarts in the basket, as he had often done before, and Tiger set off for home.
7. On the road home he met another dog, who thought he would turn back and go with Tiger, just for the sake of company.
8. They had gone but a little way, when the strange dog began to smell at the basket, and, finding there was something nice inside, he pushed his nose into it, and took one of the tarts.
9. Tiger sprang at the thief in a moment. But the noise of the fight soon brought all the dogs in the street to the spot, so Tiger began to think he had better make haste home with the rest of the tarts.
10. All the other dogs seemed to know there was something good to eat in the basket, and they at once began to help themselves to the tarts.
11. Tiger looked round in dismay. It was enough to drive the poor fellow wild, to see the tarts going one by one. What could he do with so many dogs?
12. He saw that he would never be able to get the tarts home, so he joined in the feast himself, and helped to fishing them!


Lesson 56.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERICISE.

1. What does a bat live on?
2. It lives on moths and other insects.
3. What does an owl live on?
4. It lives on mice, rats, fish, and insects.
5. The bat can see well in the dark.
6. The owl can see best in the twilight.
7. Are they both of any use to men?
8. Owls do a great of good to the farmer by eating mice and rats in the field.
9. Some bats do a great deal of harm to people by eating their fruits.
10. In fact, people do not lose much in the end, for they eat the bats.
11. We must make use of all things in every way we can think of.
12. Even a dog can be sent on errands.
13. Once I had a dog whose name was Tiger.
14. He could hold his own with any dog alive.
15. He made other dogs pay dearly if they attacked him on an errand.
16. One day he set off for home with some cake in his basket.
17. He was attacked by those bad dogs in great numbers.
18. He saw at once he could not do any thing with so many dogs.
19. He thought he had better make haste home, and was safe.


Lesson 57.  The Crow and the Fox.

1. I suppose you have all seen rooks and crows, and know that they are not pretty birds, and 　　that they are quite unable to whistle or sing. They can only make a harsh noise, which sounds something like "Caw! caw!"
2. Rooks feed on worms and grubs which they get out of the ground with their long bills. When they cannot find other food, they will eat the wheat just after it has been snow in the fields. Crows live on the flesh of animals.
3. One day a crow, who had been for some time looking about for her breakfast, found a nice piece of cheese. She was a greedy crow, and did not want any of her friends to know of her good fortune, for fear they might wish to share it with her.
4. So she flew to a tree in the woods, where she thought she would be able to eat the cheese, without any of the other crows seeing her. But a sly old fox was watching her, and he made up his mind to try to get the piece of cheese.
5. Of course he could not climb the tree, and he knew it was of no use trying to persuade the crow to come down. He puzzled himself for some time, to find out a way to make the crow drop the cheese.
6. At last he went and sat down at the foot of the tree, and began to talk to the crow. She was afraid that the fox was going to ask for a piece of the cheese. But the fox was too crafty to try to get it in that manner.
7. He began by saying, "How well you look this morning! What a fine creature you are! I never saw such glossy black feathers as yours. I am sure you are the most lovely bird I have ever seen!"
8. The stupid crow was much pleased with all these fine words, and believed they were quite true. The fox then said, "If your voice is as fine as the dress you wear, you must be the wonder of the world. Would you be so kind as to let me hear you sing?"
9. The crow was now thinking so much of herself, that, while listening to what the fox said, she quite forgot the piece of cheese she held in her bill.
10. In answer to the fox she at once stretched out her neck, and opened her bill with a loud "Caw!" Down fell the cheese to the ground, and in a moment the fox picked it up, and ran away with it.
11. The poor crow sat a long time on the tree, thinking how wicked foxes much be, and how silly she had been to listen to one of them.


Lesson 58.  About Travelling.

1. There are many ways of going from place to place. We can now walk on foot, ride on horseback, sail in a ship, or go in a coach, cart, or sledge.
2. At first men could only travel on foot, but when they had tamed the horse and the ass, they got on their backs and rode them. Then they found they could ride in a sledge, which is a cart without wheels.
3. But at last some one thought of the wheel. That was a great help, for it is much easier to draw a cart which has wheels.
4. Then coaches were made, which were larger and better carts. There were drawn sometimes by two or even four horses. When the roads were good and the weather fine, this was a very nice way of travelling.
5. After a very long time, the power of steam was made use of to move ships. Some clever men thought it might be made to move coaches also.
6. After many trials this was at last done. But it was found that new roads had to be made, on which iron rails were put. The wheels of the coaches could run more easily on these rails. These new roads were then called railroads.
7. The lines of railway were taken over rivers on bridges, and through hills. These ways through the hills are called tunnels. They are very dark except at some places, where a deep hole lets in a little light and fresh air.
8. We can go from place to place at a far less cost by rail than with horses, and also much faster. So there is a great saving of time and money.
9. Many things that we eat and drink and wear are now much cheaper to buy than they were years ago, for they can be brought from distant places cheaply and quickly.
10. The sledge is still used in many lands which have a very cold winter. It is drawn by horses, deer, or dogs over the ice at a great speed.


Lesson 59.  Two Sides to a Story.

1. "What's the matter?" said Growler to the table cat, as she sat moping on the step of the kitchen door.
 "There is a great deal the matter," said the cat, turning her head another way. "Our cook talks of hanging me. I wish very much that some one would hang her."
2. "Why, what is the matter?" again asked Growler
 "Hasn't she beaten me, and said that I was a thief, and that she would get rid of me, even if she had to drown me?"
3. "Dear, dear!" said Growler. "Pray, what has brought all this about?"
 "I am sure I don't know. It must be her nasty temper. If I had been her mistress, I would have got rid of her long ago."
4. "Well, you see," said Growler, "cooks are very useful in the house; you and I might be spared much more easily."
 "Not a drop of milk have I had this day, and every time I go into the kitchen to look for some, the cook throws something at me, and drives me out faster than I went in."
5. "But what can have set her so much against you?" said Growler.
 "Haven't I told you?" said the cat. "It is only her temper. Oh, what I have had to suffer from it! If she breaks anything, I am blamed for it. If something is stolen, she is sure to say I must have taken it. Really, I shall not be able to bear it much longer."
6. Growler was very sorry that his friend should be so badly treated. Still, he felt sure that the cook would not have been so angry without a cause. So he asked, "But what was it that put her into such a bad temper to-day?"
7. "Oh, she chose to be angry, because−because I−! Offended her," said the cat.
 "In what way?" asked Growler.
 "Why, you see," said the cat, "I was springing at a mouse, and knocked down a large dish, with something in it, and, not knowing what it was, I smelt it. I found it was very nice, and−and−"
8. "You finished it," said Growler.
 "Well, I believe I should have done so, if the cook hadn't come in and stopped me. As it was, I left the head."
9. "The head of what?" asked Growler. 
 "What a lot of question you ask," said the cat.
 "Yes, but I should very much like to know," said Growler, who began to feel there was good cause for the cook's anger.
 "Well, then, if you must know, it was the head of a fine fish that was meant for dinner."
10. "Then," said Growler, "now that I have heard both sides of the story, I must say that I wonder the cook didn't hand you."


Lesson 60.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. What has brought this about?
2. How can I got rid of him?
3. I shall not be able to bear him much longer.
4. Would you be so kind as to tell me how to get rid of him?
5. Well, what is the matter with you?
6. What a lot of questions you ask.
7. It is of no use trying to persuade me to do so.
8. You had better not puzzle yourself in that manner.

1. How many ways are there of going from place to place?
2. At first men could only walk on foot, ride on horse-back, sail in a ship, or go in a coach, cart sledge, or jinrikisha.
3. Some clever men thought the power of steam might be made use of for traveling.
4. After many trials this was at last done.
5. We can now travel at a great speed on rail-road.


Lesson 61.  The Bees and the Snail.

1. A snail one day crawled up the stand on which a farmer had place the little houses, or hives, in which he kept his bees.
2. Perhapas it was afraid of the hens feeding in the farmyard, and wanted to get out of their way. Or perhaps it had eaten so many green leaves that it was very tired, and was looking for a nice quiet place in which it could go to sleep.
3. The snail had two long and two short horns on its head, which it could draw in or put out when it liked. It had also two eyes, one at the end of each of the long horns.
4. It looked in at the little doors at the bottom of the hives, but found that they were too small to allow it to crawl through. At last it came to a hive with a door through which its shell could just pass.
5. It thought what a nice snug place the hive looked for a quiet nap. So it crawled through the little door, and got inside. The bees were at work in the hive making honey, and, as you may suppose, did not like such a strange visitor as a snail.
6. The snail crawled round and round the floor of the hive, up and down the sides, and of course stopped the bees in the middle of their work. Some of the biggest of the bees attempted to drive it out, but they could not make it move towards the door of the hive.
7. It drew in its horns, and them put its head beneath its shell, so that no part of its body could be seen. The bees tried to sing it to death, but with such a hard covering on its back, it could not feel the sharpest sting.
8. The bees wondered what they could do to keep the snail from disturbing them. At last a very clever thought came into their little heads.
9. They said to each other, "We shall never be able to get rid of this great, ugly snail! We had better make some wax, and stick its shell down to the floor, so that it can't move about." So they made the wax, and fixed the shell firmly to the floor of the hive.
10. The poor snail had to remain there without anything to eat, and I dare say you think it very soon died. But this was not the case, for snail can live a very long time without food.
11. This snail was not dead at the end of the year when the farmer came to remove the hive, and perhaps it is alive now.


Lesson 62.  About Metals.

1. Iron is very hard and strong, and there is a great deal of it in the world. I don't know what we should do without it, so many useful things are made of it.
2. Look around the room, and see how many things you can name that are made of iron.
3. The blacksmith works in iron. He has a forge; he blows the fire with a great pair of bellow, to make the iron hot.
4. Now he takes it out with the tongs, and puts it upon the anvil. Now he beats it with a hammer. How hard he works! The sparks fly about,−pretty bright sparks. What is the blacksmith making? He is making nails and horse-shoes.
5. There is a way to make iron very hard. Then it is called steel. Knives and scissors are made of steel.
6. Copper is not so plenty as iron, nor so useful; but it is tougher. You have all seen copper boilers and pans. What fine, strong wire is made of copper! Some coins, too, are copper. What a pretty color it has!
7. Zinc is made into sheets. Have you not seen sheets of it under the stove or in front of the fire-place?
8. Lead looks a little like zinc, but is softer and very heavy. It will melt in a hot fire. Water-pipe and bullets are made of lead.
9. Tin looks a little like zinc too, but it is brighter. It is very useful in the kitchen. Think of all the pans and cups and pails and dishes that are made of tin.


Lesson 63.  More about Metals.

1. Gold is rare and costly, and has a beautiful yellow color. Some coins are made of it. A ten-dollar gold piece is called an eagle. Did you ever see one? Of course you have often seen gold watches and gold rings.
2. When gold is beaten out into thin leaves, -- so thin that you can almost see through them, -- it is used by dentists, and on the covers and edges of books, and to gild picture-frames.
3. Silver is bright and shining, and is also made into money. A silver dollar is a very handsome coin. You know how pretty silver spoons and silver cups are. Sometimes large dishes are solid silver; and there are silver watches too. Silver is costly, but not near so rare and costly as gold.
4. Quicksilver is a strange thing. Did you ever hold any in your hand? How heavy it is! How it shines! and how it runs about! You can not pick it up if you try; for it does not stick together all in one piece, like iron or lead. It runs almost like water; but it does not make your hand wet.
5. Qucksilver is put on the back of glass to make mirrors. You have seen quicksilver in little glass tubes, hung up by the door, to tell about the weather.
6. All these things that we have read about -- iron and copper, zinc, lead, and tin, gold and silver and quicksilver -- 
7. All metals are dug out of the ground. Gold is the most rare and costly metal. Iron is the most useful metal.


Lesson 64.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. Have you ever seen a snail?
2. Yes; it has four horns, which it draws in or puts out when it likes.
3. Let us talk about more useful things then a snail.
4. Yes, we shall talk about metals
5. Iron is very hard and strong, and is the most useful metal.
6. Copper is not so plentiful as iron, nor so useful; but it is tougher.
7. Zinc is made into sheets.
8. Lead looks a little like zinc, but is softer and very heavy.
9. Tin is brighter than zinc.
10. Gold is the most rare and costly metal.
11. Silver is costly but not near so rare and costly as gold.
12. Quick-silver is a very strange metal, it runs almost like water.
13. All these metals are dug out of the ground.


Lesson 65.  Brave Little Kate.

1. I am going to tell you a true story of a brave little girl.
2. Near a large town in a new part of our country there is a place where a railroad track crosses a brook on a high bridge.
3. Not far from this bridge lives the little girl I am going to tell you about. Her name is Kate.
4. One stormy night not long ago, as little Kate stood looking out of the window, watching for her father to come home, she saw that a train was coming along the track.
5. She could not see the cars, -- the night was too dark for that, -- but she could see the bright light on the front of the engine.
6. While he little girl was looking, and just as the train had got to the brook near by, all at once the engine light seemed to fall and go out.
7. Kate looked again, but no light was to be seen. Then the little girl was afraid that something was wrong.
8. She got a lantern, and ran down towards the railroad track. When she got there she found that the bridge was gone, -- that the rain had washed it away.
9. Then Kate knew that far below in the foaming water lay the engine and the trains she had seen from the window.
10. Now, Kate had often watched the trains go by, so she knew just when to look for them.
11. As she stood there by the broken bridge, it came into her mind that another train would soon come rushing along.
12. The brave girl made up her mind to save this other train if she could. She started to run back to the nearest station, a mile away.
13. To reach this station she had to cross a long, high bridge over a broad river.
14. It is not easy to cross this bridge even in the daytime; and this was night, -- a dark, stormy night. Worse than all just as Kate got to the bridge the wind blew out the light in her lantern.
15. But little Kate did not give up. The brave girl crept along the beams on her hands and knees, till she reached the other side of the river. Then she jumped to her feet, and ran on again till she came to the station.
16. Her clothes were torn and wet, and she could hardly speak. All she could say was, "Stop the train! stop the train!" Then she fell fainting go the ground.
17. Kate was just in time. In a minute more the cars came along, and the men at the station ran out and stopped them.
18. Was not Kate a brave girl? Think of all the people in the cars, men and women and children! and all of them saved by one little girl!
 How glad they were, and how happy Kate was!
19. Children, how much good even a little girl can do if she is quick to think and brave to act!


Lesson 66.  Fables.

The Dog in the Manger.

1. A dog once went into a stable, and made a bed for himself on the hay, which he found in the manger.
2. Now this hay had been placed there by a farmer for his two horses, which were hard at work in the fields, while the lazy dog was sleeping.
3. In the evening the horses returned very tired and hungry. But when they tried to eat the hay, the surly dog barked and snapped at them.
4. At last the farmer came to see what was the matter, and with a whip drove away the dog, saying, "You can't eat the hay yourself, you might let those eat it who can."
5. One very hot day a thirsty fox spied some ripe garpes in a graden.
6. He said to himself, "How lucky I am! these ripe grapes will be much nicer, on such a hot day as this, than even the coolest water!"
7. Then he crept into the garden, and jumped up at the grapes, but just missed them.
8. He tried again and again, every time being father from the grapes than at first.
9. When he found that he could not reach them, he said, "I won't try any more -- very likely the grapes are sour!"

The Little Fish.

10. A great many little fish were once swimming races in the sea. Soon a number of very large fish swam up, and joined in the game.
11. The big fish swam very much faster than the little fish, and jumped a long way out of the water, and then came down with a great splash.
12. The little fish watched them, and wished for the time when they too would grow into big fish.
13. But very soon they were glad that they were no bigger, for all at once a fisherman threw a net into the sea, which caught all the great fish, while the little ones got through it and swam away.

The Viper and the File.

14. A viper once found its way into a blacksmith's shop, and began looking amongst the tools for something good to eat.
15. At last it came to a file, which had been left lying on the ground. The viper, never having seen a file before, seemed to think that it must be very nice to eat. So it curled itself round it, and began to bite it.
16. But the file only laughed, and said, "You must be very foolish to think you can hurt me. Don't you know that I am so hard that I am used to bite iron and steel?"


Lesson 67.  CONVERSATIONAL EXERCISE.

1. When the train came to the river, all at once the engine light seemed to fall and go out.
2. Kate thought something was wrong.
3. It came into her mind that another train would soon come rushing along.
4. She started to run to the nearest station, a mile away.
5. Worse than all, the wind blew out the light in her lantern.
6. But she did not give up.
7. As soon as she cried, "Stop the train! stop the train!" she fell fainting to the ground.
8. But she was just in time.
9. In a minute more the cars came along and were stopped at the station.
10. Even a little girl can do much good if she is quick to think and brave to act.


Lesson 68.  Suppose.

1. 
Suppose, my little lady. 
Your doll should break her head,
Could you make it whole by crying 
Till your eyes and nose were red?

2.
And wouldn't it be pleasanter
To treat it as a joke,
And say you're glad 'twas Dolly's 
And not your head, that broke?

3. 
Suppose your task, my little man,
Is very hard to get, 
Will it make it any easier
For you to sit and fret?

4. 
And isn't it, my boy or girl,
The wisest, bravest plan,
Whatever comes, or doesn't come,
To do the best you can?