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Pussy and Her Elephant . . .... . . 7. . . 88 ,'111 CONTENTS. Paob. 32. TiiR CouRAaEOtrs Boy 91 33. To My Mother • ^ 34. The Brook and the Wave V^ 95 35. The Sower and the Seed 96 36. The Wheat and the Tares 91 37. Don't Kill the Birds 98 38. The Anxious Leaf 100 39. The Brook 102 40. No Crown for Mb • • -^ • • 104 41. Luck .. Ad .. .."^iC^.. 109 42. How A Butterfly Came y, 110 43. lA. Night WITH a Wolf , ., .; .. .. . . "^'ff'*' .1 113 44. The Crow AND the Pitcher .. . ..- ... \- . v> ^^^ 45. The Mountain and the Squirrel J.'/t'Lt-'. . -^'^'i US 46. The Woodman's Ax 119 47. Grandpapa 123 48. The New Moon 124 49. Grandmamma ' 126 50. The Idle Boy • 129 51. The Humming-Bird .. .. .. »•>*/> v^" * ^^^ 52. The Canadian Song-Sparrow j../^^^' . t-^,. ^ 1 3 4 53. Lord Nelson's Boyhood t"A 'A- *' " ^^^ 54. Little by Little .. .. j.* - »-. ' 137 55. The Husband who was to Mind the House . . 139 56. Cherries are Ripe.. . .'. -. t- t: — .. "I'i"'":'. w M5 5V. Old Bronze 146 58. The Deer Mice 150 59. The Faithful Dog . . . . . . ■ • 152 60. Somebody's Mother T. T! r7~"~rr — r-> — v-. — — 158 61. Rob and the Shadow w 160 62. The Maple Leaf Forever f • 163 63. My Own Canadian Home *. .. 165 04. Birds op Paradise • 168 65. The Signs of the Seasons . . .«-r-r" ..""'.. T. 170* 66. The LirriiE Milkmaid 172 67. SWINGINQ 175 ^m Q SECOND READER. ^ INDUSTRY. / (l \ How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day From every opening flower ! /OHow skilfully she builds her cell, How neat she spreads the wax ; And labors hard to store it well With the sweet food she makes. /i \ln books, or work, or healthful play, Let my first years be past, That I may give for every day Some good account at last. 9 Isaac Watts, D.D. €) SECOND RKADER, THE MOTHERS • L^ A SONG FOR CHILDREN. Nim'-ble, very quick and active. I Ex-oeed'-inK-ly, very muc Dote on, bo very foud of. I Lamb'-kin, a young lamb. Sp«d, burried. Sp«d, burried. \J talking 6n ine srreen ftills 'one ^"^ Qil was wj fine summer day ; and tlie slieep were hapny, feeding all around me. I heard a mother- sheep say : ^" one ^^ SECOND BE AVER. © fl" There is nothing so sweet in all the world as my little lamb. He has nimble feet, bright eyes, and such pretty white wool. The robin has four children, and I have only one; but I love my one better than she lovos all her four." ^DAnd she lay down with her lamb on the hill-side; and the two went to sleep close together in the warm sun. (4jWhen I got home, I saw our old gray cat with her three kittens. And she too was saying something to herself. ^ It was this: "My three kittens are the prettiest little things in the whole world. Their fur is so soft, and their tails are so pretty, that I cannot love them enough. I cannot tell which is the prettiest." ^And she lay down with them by the fireside; and the mother and her three kittens all went to ^leep together. VnyoX ^UAyAA^ UMAJL KAmXM^ ^YYVb. OrUA- '{yd CL i>~t.'cL exm/o-o/i r\XynJr\y AMAAy^, ouy|aA^ o-oo- Lu>aM> 'TTl^O^ 'UO^lM^ tA>- iAVCA/|. ^'j ^ til lit} '' 1 - I, €) SECOND READER. / ■// BOSE AND SAM. Q Bose lived at Squire Horton's on the hill. He was a large, gray dog. Sam was a small torrier, and his home was in the ■ village. A One day Bose was near Sam's house, when he all at once grew sick. /^Little Sam came up, and I think he asked Bose how he felt, for soon Bose rose up and tried to walk hom3. QSam ran by his side, and now and then jumped and barked as if to help poor Bose m^ SECOND READER. to bear his pain. Bose lay down to rest two or three times, and Sam lay down with him. ^At last they reached Squire Horton's, and Sam barked till Jane came to the door and took care of Bose. Then Sam ran home. A The day after he came to see Bose and cheer him up. He came again the next day, and ran about the house and the barn, but could not find his friend. ^Poor Bose was dead. After a time Sam found his grave, and there he lay down and howled. But soon he went back to his home, and he did not go to Squire Morton's any more. ExEUCisES. — 1. Pronounce and spell: Jump'-ed Vil'-lage Grew Reached Ter'-ri-er Squire A'gain Friend. 2. Say sometliiug about home, barn, yrave, hill, village, friend. t!> .' © SECOND READER. t THE LITTLE 8NOW-iSHOVELLER. / ^ n/ Merrily wmsthng along the street, With his Uttle nose, his hands and feet Sharply bitten by old Jack Frost, His curly hair by the rude wind towt, «<«*««i/ A SECOND READER. Armed with his shovel, goes Keel Magee; In search of some work, of course, is he. ^Brave little chap I 't is little he cares For old Jack Frost; and the storm he dares With a merry face and a merry song, As through the snow he paddles along — This blue-eyed lad — o'er the slippery street, Hoping the chance of a job to meet. ^Give him ten cents and see him work: Ned is not a bit of a shirk; In goes his shovel with might and main, Making the snow fly off like rain, — Here, there, and everywhere, in a trice, Till your walk is made all clean and nice. ^The\j, cheeks as red as the reddest rcu^, Shouldering his shovel, off he goes; Merrily whistling on his way, His boyish heart so happy and gay, That neither for wind nor frost cares he, — This little snow-shoveller, Ked Magee. v IH f V fe SECOND READER. THE TWO SENSIBLE GOATS. K always lived in peace and tried to help each other. When one goat was ill, the other brought him green herbs from a field far off ; and the sick goat ate the herbs, and they cured him. ^he other goat had a pretty little kid, which she loved dearly. One day, when the goat had gc^i<^ out, a rude boy came to take the kid: lir. t'^^ goat which had been ill, and had got better, poked the boy with his SECOND READER. horns, drove him away, ;ind took care of the kid till its mother came home. /QOnce, when the two goats were travel- hng, they met on the middle of a very narrow bridge, but they did not push one another into the water. !N^oI They stood still a moment, to try whether they could go back safely. X^ When they found they could not, one of them went down on his knees on the bridge, and let the other walk over his back. The goat which had to walk over the other, took care to walk softly, and not to hurt so kind a friend. And so they both got safely over ; and all who knew them loved the two kind goats. ■Questions. — 1. When one of the two kind goats was 111, ■WTOt did the other do ? 2. What happened to the kid of one of the goats ? 3. What did the other goat do ? 4. Where did these two goats meet? 5. What did they do first? 6. When tliey found they could not go back, what did they do ? 7. What did the goat who had to walk over the other take care to do ? £x£Kcis£. — Pronounce and learn to spell : Al'ways Dear'-ly Trav 'el-ling lU'-nat-ured An-oth'er Mo'-meut Safe'ly Soft'-ly SECOND READER. MAY. /^.^ "Welcome, wel- come, lovely May! Breath so sweet, and smiles so ^'•ly; G Sun, and dew, and gentle showers. Welcome, weir come, month of flowers 1 Welcome, vio- lets, sweet and blue, Drinking - cups of morning dew! Welcome, laughs sofullofgllel Welcome, too, my busy bee ! (3^ Birdies sing on every spray, "Welcome, sunshine! welcome, May! " Many a pretty flower uncloses, And the crarden smells of roses. T. D. Miller. SECOND READER, 0" CS^ J HAROLD'S SQUIRREL. (j/Harold caught a young gray squirrel in the woods. He brought him home, and named him Bobby. He put him mto a ©> SECOND READER. cage. Bobby ran to the farther comer and seemed to be frightened. /g Harold tried to coax him to eat some sweet apple, but Bobby would not eat a mouthful. Harold put some peanuts into the cage, but Bobby would not eat one. /pHis mother told him to leave Bobby alone for a while, and he would feel better; so Harold did not go near the cage again that night. Q The next morning Bobby was hungry. Harold gave him a good breakfast. In a few days he was quite tame. He soon began to turn the wheel, and he made it go very fast. (^ He had a little room in the top of his cage to sleep in, and he had a piece of flannel for his bed. When he was fright- ened, or the boys teased him, he would run up into his chamber and hide. (6^ After a little while Harold let him out of the cage every day. He would follow Harold all about the house. He would sit and FiECON-D READER. (g) on his shoulder and eat nuts. When Bobby had eaten all the nuts he wanted, he would hide the rest under the door-mat, and pat them down with his feet. A Harold could hug him and pet him, and Bobby was never cross. Harold never for- got to feed him. He cleaned out his cage every morning, and gave him fresh water. Qf Harold had a number of other pets. He had a dog and a cat and a large flock of hens and chickens. But Bobby always liad his breakfast first. Bobby is still alive, and I think he must be the happiest squirrel that was ever shut up in a cage. Exercises. — 1. Pronounce and learn to spell: Fright'-«ned Sqiiir'-rel Break'-fast Mon'-ey Pea'-nuts Car'-ried Hap'-pi-est Shoul'-der. 2. Draw Harold and his squirrel. 3. Say somcthiug About the thingis you see iu the picture in this lesson. It '■ I p 1 m h SECOND READER HE CHILDREN'S HOUR. /i\ Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the ^ay's occupations, That is known as the Children's Hour. /2.\I hear in the chamber above me The patter of little feet, The sound of a door that is opened, And voices soft and sweet. .%. / SECOND READER. /^From my study I see in the lamplight, Descending the broad hall stair. Grave Alice and laughing Allegra, And Edith with golden hair. a silence: f- A whi^rper^nd then Yet I know by their merry eyes They are plotting and planning together To take me by surprise. /^ A sudden rush from the stairway, A sudden raid from the hall I Bj jthree doors left unguarded They enter my castle wall I ^ They climb up into my turret O'er the arms and back of my chair; If I try to escape, they surround me; They seem to be everywhere. Q)They almost devour me with kisses. Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine I P 4i ^; ./'" / l^frJf j> /g? t, SECOND READER. (^ Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, Because you have scaled the wall. Such an old mustache as I am ' Is not a match tor you all I /3. 1 have you fast in my fortress, And will not let you depart, But put you down into the dungeon In the round-tower of my heart. i6j And there will I keep you forever, Yes, forever and a day, Till the walls shall crumble to ruin. And moulder in dust away I - LoNGFJiUA)W. ^ a. ^ ■^ SECOND ii?:adeil THE DONKEY AND THE BOY. , to tal»Z^fXg) The tall pink fox-glove bowed his head ; Tlie violets courtesicd and went to bed; And good little Lucy tied up her hair, And said, on her kuees, her evening prayer. SECOND READER, (5/ And while on her pillow she Roftly lay, She knew nothing more till again it was day; And all things said to the beantifnl sun: • '^ Good-morning, good-morning ; our work IS begun. Ijnnxy Houghtox. Questions. — 1. Where was the little girl sitting ? 2, What did she say when the day was beginning to close ? 3. What did she see over her head ? 4. What did she say to them ? 5. What did the horses, oxen, and sheep do ? 6. What did they seem to say ? 7. Why did she not say " Good- night" to the sun? 8. What did the sun-flower and the violets do ? 9. When Lucy woke up again, what did every- thing say to the beautiful sun ? 10. What line rhymes with A fair Utile (jirl sat under a tree ! (Other lines may be given.) Dictation. — Learn to spell and write out : tlM/VlX to- -IMxl. Exercises. — 1. Learn to spell the following words: Sew'-ing Cu'-ri-ous De-light' Courte'-sied Smoothed Neighed Vi'-o-lets Pil'-low. 2. Point out the nouns in the first two verses. 3. Tell the names of six different beasts in the fields. 4. Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them : ■Smooth; crying ; good; delightful; nunny ; tall; pray. 5. Explain the following phrases : ( 1 ) The sun has God's time to keep. (2) The violets courtesied. (3) She knew nothing more till it was day again. I N SECOND READER. 6. Make sentences i^bout : A little girl; rooks; horses; oxen ; sheep ; Lucy ; the flowers. 7. Tell the difference between : Sewing and sowing ; dear and deer ; load and loived ; hall and haiol ; hair and hare. 8. The following words have several meanings : ing-place for them, and carried them up again. Once more the servant turned them out and took them back to the cellar. Once more Puss carried them up to the garret. They were again tui^d out; but Puss carried them up again. li » ,i SECOND HEADER. QEvcry time Puss took them up, the ser- vant took thom clown again. This went on three, four, five, six — and even to ten times. At last poor Puss was quite wearied out. She could carry them no longer. (5) Suddenly she left the house; and no one could tell where she had gone to. Had she run away and left her poor little kittens? N^o! She came back in a short time, and with her she brought a big black cat. Then she showed this black gentleman her kittens, and told him the whole story. @Kt once the strange cat flew at one of the kittens, got it tight in his mouth, and rushed upstairs with it. Then he carried up the other; and then the third — while the determined mamma led the way with a low " mew." (^ The servant, seeing that Kitty had made up her mind that it was for the good of her family that they should all sleep in her room, gave up the struggle, and allowed the cat and kittens to take np their abode with her. SECOND RKADER. © Kitty mewed hci* best thanks to the bla©^ cat; and the kind stranger, making a low bow and a gentle purr, went away and was never seen again. j. ^,. ^^,,,,3,^ DiCTATiopr. — Lear n to spell and write out : Exe r cises —1. Learn to spell the fo llowi ng words : "Cel'-lar De-ter'^nlngd Weaj^Med Al-lowod' Car'-ried (iar'-ret Strug'-gle Stran'-ger. 2. Point out all the nouns in p aragra ph 7. 3. Write down the name of six animals that people keep as pets. ~ "■ 4. Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them : Stranr/e ; topijin^t ; chlldisli ; sleeplwi ; roomj/^; black. 5. Expl^,iD^ie follow^ig pliq^s : (1) Itstruck her that the cellar was damp. (2) Kitty was not of the same mind with the servant. (3) The mamma led the way. (4) The servant gave up the struggle. 6. Make seiitga^es alwut : Kitty ; the three kitteun ; the servant ; a strange cat ; a damp cellar ; a Ihjld garret. 7. Tell the difggmice between : One and loon ; maid and made ; where and loere ; your and ewer ; time and thyme ; hole and lohole. 8. The following words have s everal me^jiings ; give two of them : Top ; hack ; left ; want ; dog ; lead. ^. Write down the names of six things wo wear. SKCOND liHADER THE WINDS. Soam'-per, run hs hard as they can, Red'-den, grow red. r» ^ Which is the wind that brings the cold? The north wind, Freddy; and all the snow; And the sheep will scamper into the fold, Whon the ^orth begins to blow. (^ Which is the wind that brings the heat? The south wind, Katy; and corn will grow, And cherries redden for you to eat, When the South bee: ins to blow. \tp r. SKCOND READER. & (3^ Which is the wind that brings the rain? The east wind, Tommy; and farmers know That cows come shivering up the lane, "When the East begins to blow. (yWhich is the wind that brings the flowers? The west wind, Bessy ; and soft and low The birdies sing in the summer hours, When the West begins to blow. J ALL HAVE WORK TO DO. ^T\A child went wandering through a wood Upon a summer day; \ She hoped to meet some pretty thing To join her in her play. ^KA honey bee w^nt humming by: "Stay, little bee," she cried. '•'Oh, do come back to play with me!" And thus the bee replied: /bN'I cannot stay; I must away, And gather in my store; For winter, dear, will soon be here, Wlien I can work no more." ^i-^he heard a pigeon cooing soft High in the boughs above: **Come down and play awhile with me. My gentle, pretty dove." SECOND READER. /^"I cannot come and play with thee, For I must guard my nest, And keep my sleeping children warm Beneath my downy breast." /eSShe saw a squirrel gathering nuts Upon a tall beech tree: *'I love to see you bound and leap; Come down and play with me." Q"I dare not play, I must away, And quickly homeward hie; Were I to stay, my little ones For want of food nmst die." • (irShe came unto a stream that leaped Between its rocky banks: "Stay, pretty stream, and play with me And you shall have my thanks." /^The stream replied, while in the pool A moment it stood still, "I cannot play, I must away And drive the village mill." ^ #1 SECOND READER. THE CAT AND TIIE FOX. ViS'-its, calls at a place. Made off, ran away. Ad-ven'-lures, tbings that had happened to them. Bnarl'-ing, showing their teeth. Bay'-ing, deep barking. Cop'-pice, a little wood of shrubs and underwood. ^|^One fine sum- mer morning, a^t and a fox who were old friends started off on a journey together. On the road they paid little visits to cottages and to farm-houses that they hact?o SECOND READER, (g pass, and picked up whatever they could find. They made off with hens and chick- ens, with ducks and ducklings, bits of cheese and scraps of bacon- — and, indeed, everything they could lay their paws on. ^On the way they amused themselves with stories of their adventures; and each told the other of the fiinny tricks he had played. At last they began to quarrel. "You think yourself very sharp," said the fox; "but I am a great deal more cunning than you — I know more than a hundred tricks." ^l"^y"ell, that is a great many," replied the cat; "I for my part know only one; but I would rather have that one trick than a thousand." The fox was angry, and would not agree with his companion. They kept on arguing and snarling, until they had almost got to fighting. Suddenly an odd noise broke upon their ears. "What is it?" "The barking and baying of fox-hounds." "Surely not." SECOND HEADER, "Let lis listen." "It is, it is! let us be oflV "Where are your hundred tricks now?" said the cat; "as for me, this is mine;" and he chmbed into a tree in a .moment. j ^(I) There he was safe; and he could see his friend the fox galloping along the road as fast as his legs could carry him. Away, over field and ditch, through hedge and coppice, turning here, twisting there; but it was all in vain, the hounds were always after him. At last they were upon him, and he was caught and worried to death. J. C. Caklislis. ExEitcisES. — 1. Learn to spell the following words : Yis'-its Sto'-ries Quar'-rel Field Cot'-tag-es Ad-ven'-tures Com-pan'-ion Cop'-pice Jour'-ney Played' Gal'-lop-ing Wor'-ried. 2. Point out the nouns in the first paragraph. 3. Write down the names of six more beasts of prey. 4! Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them: Funny ; (jreat ; (jallopiny ; turning ; Jishlmj ; hunting. 5. Tell the difference between: Fawa a,nd pause ; tolda.iid tolled ; tkeir and Lhtm. SECOXD HEADER, 631 ^-0 DISCONTENT. ©Down in a field, one day in June, The flowers all bloomed together, Save one, who tried to hide herself, And drooped that j^leasant weather. gK robin who had flown too liig-h. And felt a little lazy. Was resting near this buttercup Who wished she were a daisy. ^For daisies grow so trig and tall I She always had a passion For wearing frills around her neck, In just the daisies' fashion. • (4) And buttercups must always be The same old tiresome color; Willie daisies dress in gold and white, Although their gold is duller. r m it >1 '*'? \ ^(,A SECOND READER. (^"Dear Robin," said the sad young flower, ^'Perhaps you'd not mind trying To find a nice, white frill for me, Some day when you are flying?" (^^'You silly thing," the robin said, ''I think you must be crazy: • I'd rather be my honest self, Than any made-up daisy. %. "Oh, nothing at all; it is her temper. All th« servants complaiu of it. I wonder they haven't hanged her long ago." ^^^' Well, yo u see," said Growler, "cooks are ^w kwa^ d j things to hang; you and I might be managed much more easily." 8. " Not a drop of milk have I had this •*=*»f».^. f\ » , V SECOND READER. day," said the tabby cat, " and such a pain in my side!" i .^, , , -. / ^ iH^But what," said Growler, ''what is the cause?" (^"Haven't I told you?" saM the cat, pettishly. "It's her temper— oh, what I have had to suffer from it! Everything she .breaks sheiays to me — everything that is stolen she lay?, to me. R eally, it is unbearable ! " ^^ Growler was quite indignant; but being of a r eflectiv e turn7 after the first gust of wj^th had passed, he asked, '' But was there no particular cause this morn- ing?" ^**She chose to be very angry because I — I offended her," said the cat. J^"How? may I ask," gently inquired Growler. ^"Oh, nothing worth telHng — a mere mistak e of mine." ii.^ Growler looked at her with such a questioning expression that she was com- /f f^r. 7 \ \ \ SECOND READER. © ^\ pelled to say, ''I took the wrong* thing for my breakfast." 0'2^'Tr^'^y^ J? 0.. /^/^^ "Oh I" said Growler, much enlightened. 17) "Why, the fact was/^ said thetabby cat, "I was springing at a mouse and knocked down a dish, and, not knowing exac tly what it was, I smfelt it, and it was rather nice, and — " fJ "You finished it," h iiited G rowle r. /i9j"Well, I belike I should have done so if that meddlesome cook hadn't come As it was, I left the head." m. 5" The head of what?" said Growler. ^1^" How inquisitive you are I " said the cat. ^^"Nay, but I should like to know," said Growler. /S^"Well, then, of a certain fine fish that was meant for dinner."^ <^4^' Then," said Growler, " say what you please; but, now that Fye heard both sides of the story, I only wonder she did not hang you." \^ """^ r: Tf! : I'! Mil 'H' II- " h' 'I^. SECOND READER \^HE ARROW AND THE SONG. CjI shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where ; For so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. fiji breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I kn ard say ? 9. Where does Mr. Reynard go ^ 10. What does he see when he gets to the faria-yard? l! WIio are «:uarding the farm-yard fowl ? 12. Wha. keeps passing and repassing under Re nard's nose? 13. What does he all at once do? 14. VVl run after him ? 15. Whi- does Reynard make for ? 16. What hapi .ms in the end ? Dictation. — Learn to spell and write out : [lx>-u>- cL^n. i |:i l^i |i .. > r* i ^ SECON'D READER. ExERcisKfl. — 1. Learn to spell the following words : Shlv'-er-lng Pic'-tured Cour'-age Muz'-zle Rey'-nard Wretch'-ed A-vold'-lng Shout.'-lng Stlll'-nes8 Cheer'-i-ly Trump'-et-er Wor'-ried. 2. Point out the nouns in section 1. 3. Write down the names of six barn-door fowls. 4 Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them : Frosty ; hungry ; dine ; still ; pictured ; motherly ; acreaminy ; walking ; wooded. , ^ ^ ,u 5. Explain the following phrases : ( 1 ) No sound broke the stillness of the wood. (2) They pictured to themselves a nice plump hen. (3) May fortune be kind to youl (4) He avoids the high-road. (5) He stands resplendent hi the midst of the farm-yard. (6) The farm-yard is full of din. ' 6. Tell the difference between: Heart and hart; steal and steel ; wood and would ; too and two. 7. The following words have several meaiiiugs ; give two ol them : Pitch ; crew ; trap ; bear. 8. Draw the following picture :— ■I , it" I 111 SECOND READEIi, THE FOOLISH MOUSE. Dain'-ties, nice things. Pro-vid'-ed, supplied. Ke-sid'-ed, lived. Se-cure'-ly, safely. Snug, comfortable. Lot, fortuue. Koam, wander about. Ex-cur'-siou, trip. Se-date', grave. . Ex-pressed', showed. Convinced', quite sure. Construct', build. Re-quires', needs. Cran'-nies, small cracks. Ex'-qui-site, perfect. En-treat', beg earuestly. En'-tered, went in. 01n a crack near the cupboard, with dain- ties provided. I m ■!i! in iii if."' \.. SECOND READER. A certain young morse with her mother resided ; So securely they hved, in that snug, quiet spot, Any mouse in the land might have wished for their lot. rSBut one day the young mouse, which was given to roam. Having made an excursion some way from her home, On a sudden returned, with such joy in her eyes, That her gray, sedate parent expressed some surprise. /2/« O mother," said she, '' the good folks of this house, I 'm convinced, have not any ill-will to a mouse : And those tales can't be true you always are telling. For they 've been at such pains to con- struct us a dwelling. pi SECOND READER. fgS Qj^ The floor is of wood, and the walls are of wires — Exactly the size that one's comfort re- quires ; And I 'm sure that we there shall have nothing to fear If ten cats, with kittens, at once should appear. ^'And then they have made such nice holes in the wall, One could slip in and out, with no trouble at all; But forcing one through such rough crannies as these, Always gives one's poor ribs a most terrible squeeze. ^^^ But the best of all is, they Ve provided, as well, A large piece of cheese of most exquisite smell ; 'Twas so nice, I had put in my head to go through, When I thought it my duty to come and fetch you." =f?l ■Hi m *.« Ka i' SECOND READER. (^'^ Ah, child," said the mother, ^^ believe, I entreat, Both the cage and the cheese are a terrible cheat; Do riot think all that trouble they took for our good — They would catch us, and kill us all there, if they could. ^"Thus they 've caught and killed scores, and I never could learn That a mouse who once entered did ever return." Let young people miiid what the old people say ; r- And when danger is near them, keep out of the way. Exercises. — 1. Learn to spell the following words: Cup'-board Ex-pressed' Re-quires' Ex'-qui-site Dain'-ties Ex-cur'-sion Se-date' Con-vinced' Con-struct' Ex-act'-ly Troub'-le Cran'-nies Squeeze Believe Cheat Caught. 2. Point out the nouns in verse 3. 3 Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them: Provided; resided; securebj ; lived; quiet; given; expressed. 4. Some of the following words have several meanings; give two of them: Spot; might; lot; wood; size; slip; well. SECOND READER. THE LITTLE OLD MAN OF THE FOREST. (^ Once upon a time a poor little boy, the son of a widow, went out into the meadows to gather wild strawberries. He knew all the places where the berries grew thickest and sweetest, and as he gathered the ripe fruit he sang many a merry song. \^Soon his earthen dish was full, and the boy started for home. As he was walking along a narrow path near the forest he heard a voice saying, '* Pray, give me thy berries." ^The lad turned in fright and saw an old man with a long gray beard and worn faded clothing. The man looked kindly upon him as he said again, "Pray, give me thy berries." ^*'But," said the lad, "I must take the berries to my mother. She is very poor, and she sells the berries for bread for me and my little sister/* It * - ! 1-1 W, ♦" SECOND READER. (^*' And yet," said the old man, "I have a sick child at home who would like your berries very much. She would get well and strong if she only had some of them to eat." G>The lad felt very sorry for the poor old man and the sick child. He thouglit to himself, "I will give him the berries, and if I keep very busy I can fill my dish again before night." Then he said to the old man, "Yes, you may have them. Shall I put them in the empty dish which you carry ! " Q^^'I will take your dish, with the berries in it as they are, and will give you mine in place of it," was the answer. "Your dish is old, and mine is new — but no matter." (s^And so the lad gave the old : ~.n his berries and took the new but empty dish; the gray-bearded man thanked him with a smile and walked quickly away. QfTliQ boy took the dish and turned SECOND READER. back into the meadows. Soon he came again to the place where the berries grew quite thick They were riper and larger than any he had seen before. He worked very busily, and it did not take him long to pick more than he had at first. ^When he reached home at last he told his mother all about the poor man to whom he had given his first berries, and he showed her his new dish. ^" Ah, happy are we, my child ! " she cried. "The dish is pure gold. See how it sparkles! It was the little old man of the forest whom you met. He gave you this dish because of your kindness of heart. Now, thanks to him, ;e shall not want for bread; and we will never forget to help the poor and the sick and those who are sorrowful." Questions. — 1. "W^hrf ^s the difference between an "earthen" dish and a die- of "pure gold?" 2. Why was a man with a golden dish dressed so poorly? 3. How did th& boy's mother know who the man was? 4. Had the man really a "sick child" anywhere? 6. Why does the boy's mother say "we cAa/^ not want," and "we vfill never forgeb?** 'fM M ^x. fc'H,« E4. -^ * ,x SECOFD READER. PUSSY AND HER ELEPHANT. rT^Have you heard of little Pussy, in that country o'er the sea, How the dogs came out to chase her, and she had to climb a tree? You have not ? Then I 'H tell you how tim- id Pussy Gray Climbed quickly up, hand over hand, and safely got away. (g?But then the strangest trouble came I The tree began to shake! A tremendous giant something took Pussy by the neck And tossed her off! And there again among the dogs was she, SECOND READER, And what could frightened Pussy do, but climb the same old tree? (S!)But then the strange thing came again, and, swinging high in air, Pounced right on little Pussy, as she sat trembling there; But when it touched her fur it stopped; as though its owner thought: •* 'Tis nothing but a pussy-cat that trouble here has brought. m Si ?.(, f* li'ii. ** I «->«, fi' 6 SECOND READER I '11 let her make herself at home." And Pussy, safe once more, Folded her paws contentedly and viewed the country o'er, And purred a meek apology: "Excuse me, friend, I see I've climbed a broad-backed elephant; I meant to climb a tree I " (^Whatever else she said or sung that you would like to hear. She must have whispered coaxingly into the giant ear; For often afterwar -'^t is said, Miss Pussy Gray was seen To ride the broad-backed elephant as proud as any queen! HAflNAH MOliU: JOHKSOK. nd ed ise ou ito 5sy as )¥, SECOUrn EKADER. THE COURAGEOUS BOY. Bov'-er-eignt «■ g'''^ coin worth twenty shillings, sterling = to nearly $4.87. Brib'ed, persuaded by a gift, War'rior who fights. (5 In England, one day, a farmer at work in his fields saw a party of huntsmen riding over his farm. He had a field in which the wheat was just coming up, and he was anxious that the gentlemen should not go into that, as the trampling of the horses and dogs would spoil the crop. /?^So he sent one of his farm hands, a bi'ight young boy, to shut the gate of that field and to keep guard over it. He told him that he must on no account permit the gate to be opened. /jl^carcely had the boy reached the field and closed the gate when the huntsmen came galloping up and ordered him to open it. This the boy declined to do. ^" Master," said he, " has ordered me to permit no one to pass through this gate, and I can neither open it myself nor allow any one else to do so." ^m .^-^. ^ e SECOND READER. /b) First one gentleman threatened to thrash him if he did not open it; then another offered him a sovereign; but all to no effect. The brave boy was neither to be frightened nor bribed. (^hen a grand and stately gentleman came forward and said: "My boy, do you not kn-w me? I am the Duke of Welling- ton — one not accustoiijed to be disobeyed'^ ^d I command you to open that gate, that I and my friends may pass." (5 The boy took off hia hat to the great man whom all England delighted to honor, and answered : <1\"I am sure the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey orders. I must keep this gate shut, and permit no one to pass without my master's £Si)ress_ permi^ion." 0'The^brave old warrior was great^^ pleased at the boy's answer, and lifting his own hat he said: @ '' I honor the man or the boy who can i SECOND READER. bo bribed nor frightened into doing With "n nrmy of such soldiers^ I «ould conquer^ ii< . i-^e French, but the whole world." /^ As he , iTty galloped away, the boy ran off to his work, shouting at the top of his 5^1^, '^HuEmb! hurrah for the Duke of W^Kington!" Questions. — 1. Why is the hoy called mrageoiiH f 2. What other good qualities had he ? 3. 'Viiat is a farm hand f 4. What is meant by keepiwj guard 1 5. What means were taken to induce him to leave his post ? 6. Who was the last to try him ? 7. What was the result ? 8. What did each of them say as they separated ? Exercises. — 1. Point out all the nouns in the first paragraph. 2. Tell the meanings of words spelled differently from the following, but pronounced like them: sent ; gate ; one; know; not ; whole ; would. 3. Give the different meanings of the word saw. V mmmm IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 = ? i-a |||M 1.4 III 1.6 * I.I 1.25 < ^ ^ — i v . *. Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Pi Ua ^o bi 4« 6 SECOND READER Jo- OOO/U^ rnyoJyruA. ^nd the brooklet has found the billow, Though they flowed so far apart, And has filled with its freshness and sweetness t^ That turbulent, bitter heart! ti LoiSQFEt.LO'Wr. I< H' \ I % :» :*?»_ SECOND READERj THE SOWER ANirtsE SEED. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat hy the seaside. And great multitudes were ^^athered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on th shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to «ow, and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth ; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns: and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But other fell into good^ ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thhiiyJ fold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. —Matt. xiii. 1-9. r i-i I I k ^ / I'l * ^ SECOND READER. A D 5 ^_ irds! -/ J THE WPT ,„,^rAND THE TARES. Another pa..„^lG put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field ; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the house- holder Ciime and said unto him, "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?" He said unto them, "An enemy hath done this." The servants said unto him, "Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?" But he said, "Nay; lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, * Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my bam.'" — Matt. xiii. 24-39. i H .it' W .. I hi- m H I SECOND PF.^PKR. ^ i vTH. DON'^KILL '^^^^ BIRDS. 0Don't kill the birds! the little birds, That sing about your door Soon as the joyous Spring has come, And chilling storms are o'er. /Ir/The little birds ^ how sweet they singl Oh, let them joyous live; And do not seek to take the life AYhich you can never give. C^ Don't kill the birds! the pretty birds, That play among the trees; For earth would be a cheerless place, If it were not for these. 1 1 SECOND READER. © Qt he little birds! how fond they play! Do not disturb their sport; But let them warble forth their songs, Till winter cuts them short. (pDon't kill the birds! the happy birds, That bless the field and grove; So innocent to look upon, They claim our warmest love. (^The happy l)irds, the tuneful birds, How pleasant 'tis to see! No spot can be a cheerless place Where'er their presence be. I SECOND READER, 1 7 THE ANXIOUS LEAF. ij K' 1 (r)Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to "sigh and cry, as leaves do when a gentle wind is about. (IJ^^'What is the matter, little leaf?" said the twig. r5h"The wind has just told me that some day it will pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground," sobbed the little leaf. (Is The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it to the tree; and when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent back word to the leaf: "Do not be afraid; hold on tightly, and you shall not go till you want to." [3 So the leaf stopped sighing, and went on rustling and singing. Every time the tree shook itself, and stirred up all its leaves, the branches shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself; and the little leaf danced SECOND READER. &> up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off. /0 And so it grew all summer long and till October. And, when the bright rays of autunm came, the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some v/ere yellow and some scarlet, and some striped with both colors. Then it asked the tree what it meant. Q And the tree said : " All these leaves are getting ready to fly away; and they have put on these beautiful colors because of joy." Then the little leaf began to want to go, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it, and, when it was very gay in color, saw that the branches of the tree had no color in them; and so the leaf said: ''Oh, branches! why are you lead-color, and we golden ? " C^ We must keep on our work-clothes, for our hfe is not done; but your clothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over." Just then a little puff of wind came ri SECOND READER. and the leaf let go without tliiuking of it; and the wind took it up and turned it over and over, and whirled it like a spark of fire in the air; and then it dropped gently down under the edge of the fence among hundreds of leaves, and fell into a dream, and never waked up to tell what it dreamed about. H. \V. llKKCHKK. I THE BROOK. / iJFrom a fountain, In a mountain. Drops of water ran. Trickling through the grasses; So the brook began. ^Slow it started; Soon it darted. Cool and clear and free, Rippling over pebbles. Hurrying to the sea. SECOND READER. ^Children straying Came a-playing On its pretty banks; Glad, our little brooklet Sparkled up its thanks. /j^lossoms floating Mimic boating, Fishes darting past, Swift and strong and happy, Widening very fast. /^Bubbling, singing, Rushing, ringing, Flecked with shade and sun, Soon our little brooklet To the sea has run. "Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the blossoms, Kind deeds are the fruits.'* *! fti *1« B. I l» B' NO CROAVN 'f< (?>« Will you come with us, Susan?" cried several little girls to a school-mate. " We are going to the woods; do come, too." /(^"I should like to go with you very much," replied Susan, with a sigh; "but I cannot finish the task grandmother set me to do." (^ " How tircFome it must be to stay at home to work on a holiday ! " said one of i " Grandmother," said she, a few minutes afterwards, "I am ready, now." ^^What, so soon, Susan?" Her grandmother took the work, and looked at it very closely. ^"True, Susan," said she, laying great stress on each word; "true, I count twenty turns from the mark; and, as you have never deceived me, you may go and amuse yourself as you like the rest of the day." V«) Susan's cheeks were scarlet, and she did not say, "Thank you." And as she I 8 liii, t j f T I! S1|T l^i. it! ^ HECOKD READER. I left the cottage, she walked slowly away, not singing as usual. "^ " lY hy, here is Susan ! " the girls cried, when she joined their company; "but what is the matter ? Why have you left your dear old grandmother?" they tauntingly added. p?)" There is nothing the matter." As Susan repeated these words, she felt that she was trying to deceive herself. She had acted a lie. . At the same time she remem- bered her grandmother's words, " You have never deceived me." tp " Yes, I have deceived her," said she to herself. "If she knew all, she would never trust me again." ifc When the little party had reached an open space • in the woods, her companions ran about enjoying themselves; but Susan sat on the grass, wishing she were at home confessing her fault. p\ After awhile Rose cried out, "Let us make a crown of violets, and put it on the head of the best Siirl here." ^^^It will be easy enough to make the crown, but not so easy to decide who is to wear it," said Julia. g) " Why, Susan is to wear it, of course," said Rose : " is she not said to be the best girl in school, and the most obedient at home?" ly^Yes, yes; the crown shall be for Su- san," cried the other girls, and they began to make the crown. It was soon finished. 5i^ " I^Tow, Susan," said Rose, " put it on in a very dignified way, for you are to be our queen." \A As these words were spoken the ci'own was placed on her head. In a mo- ment she snatched it off, and threw it on the ground, saying, ^^Ko crown for me; I do not desei-ve it." A The girls looked at her with surprise. "I have deceived my grandmother," said she, while tears flowed down her cheeks. ^'I altered the mark she put in the stock- ing, that I might join you in the woods." rv m m i K~. "*)i 1> SECOND READER. "Do yon call that wicked?" asked one of the girls. "I am quite sure it is; and I have been miserable all the time I have been here." ph Susan now ran home, and as soon as she got there she said, with a beating heart, "O grandmother! I deserve to be pun- ished, for I altered the mark you put in the stocking. Do forgive me ; I am very sorry and unhappy." M "Susan," said her grandmother, "I knew it all the time; but I let you go out, hoping that your own conscience would tell you of your sin. I am so glad that you have confessed your fault and your sor- row. V ^ " When shall I be your own little girl again?" "Now," was the quick reply, and Susan's grandmother kissed her forehead. III m Exercise. — Tronounce and learn to spell : Sev'-er-al Scar'-let Dig'-ni-fied Vi'-o-lets Tire'-some Taunt'-ing-ly Mis'-er-a-ble O-be'-di-ent Pleas'-aiit Ke-peal'-ed Con'-sclence Cou-fess'ed i II SECOND READEH 109J LUCK. Yd ^I don't know how it came about — I put my vest on wrong side out; ^ I could not chang-e it back all day, For that would drive, my luck away. And when I went to school, the boys Began to laugh and make a noise; But while they did so I sat still ^^ And studied s pellin g with a will; So, when our class the l esson s said, I did not miss^ but went up head ! 1|^ While coming horue I looked around, And soon a four-leaved clover found! I wished and put it in my shoe, / And, don't you think, my wish came true I It was that I might o vertak e The team and ride with Uncle Jake^ And so, you see, that all that day I had good-luck in every way; <^/ •4. It: Mi H • i K K. IS.' "1 t tl 110/ SECOND READER, And Grandma said, without a doubt O 'Twa^ 'cause my vest was wrong side out. Margaret B. Harvey. Questions.— 1. What does "luck" mean? 2. May "luck" be bad as well as good? 3. Was it "luck" or "study" that put the boy "up head"? 4. Can we make our own "luck"? 5. What "luck" does a four-leaved clover bring? SECOND READER •'There may be water in it," he said; **ril go and see." f^He was right. There was water there, but so little that he could not reach it with his bill. "0, dear!" he said, ''what shall I do?" QTYiQ sight of it made him want it all the more. *'I could get it," he said, "if I broke the pitcher." But the pitcher was too strong for him to break. /\"I might tip it over," he added, "and then get a little of the water as it runs out." But the pitcher was too heavy for him. ^He looked at the water, and was more thirsty still. " I won't give up until I have to," he said. "There must be some way for me to get that water. I'll try to find it out." ^At last he flew away. Do you think he gave it up! Not he. Wait a little and you shall see what he did. 0He came flying back with a little pebble in his mouth and let it drop into Ii N SECOND READER. the pitcher. Then he flew away, but soon came back again with another pebble. "They will help to bring the water up to me," he said. Was he not a bright little bird to think of such a way as that? <5)He went again and again and again. Each pebble made the water rise in the pitcher a little ; each time he came the crow tried to reach it. ^ " If I can drop pebbles enough it will save my life," he said. For now he was growing faint. The very next pebble that he dropped he could reach down and touch, and one or two more brought the water so high that he could dip his bill into it. lijyHe drank every drop. And now he felt well and strong again. ** This," he said, " is what people mean when they say, *If I cannot find a way, I will make one.'" Questions. — 1. Is feeling thirsty the same as being thirsty? 2. What is meant by "spied a pitcher?" 3. Why could the crow not reach the water at first? 4. Why did putting pebbles in the pitcher make him able to reach it? 6. What is a pebble? 6. Is every stone a pebble? "^iJrsL^j ^'f^^' \s 4 \v "*. f St v< 4^ G SECOMJ HEADER, THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL. C)The mountain and the squirrel luul ji quarrel, And the former called the latter ''Little Prig;" Bun replied, *'Yoi' are doubtless very big ; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together To make up a year and a sphere, SECOND UKADKH, ^ Anrl I think it no disgrace To occupy uiy place. ^ If I'm not so largo as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry. I'll not deny you make A very pretty squirrel track. Talents differ; all is well and wisely put; If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut." Ralph Walpo Emehson. e> "Ttla^' J />/ i THE WOODMAN'S AX. k Now you must know that it was the water-fairy who spoke to the woodman. No sooner had he finished his speech than the fairy was gone. Down she went to the bottom of the river, but immediately returned bearing in her hand an ax of gold. (5 "Is this your ax?" she asked. But the woodman shook his head. " No, no ! >h SECOND READER. (^ >)v^ My ax was not so fine as that. That would buy mine a thousand times over; but it is not mine, it is not mine." ^ Then the fairy sank beneath the water again. In a moment she re-appeared, bearing a silver ax. "Is this yours?" she asked again. "No, no!" said the wood- man; "that is much finer than mine. Mine was made of iron." ^Then the fairy went down once more, and when she came back she carried in her arms the woodman's ax. "That is it!" he cried ; " That is it ! " " Yes," said the fairy, "this is the honest ax with which you earn the bread to feed your hungry children. Because you would not lie, the silver ax and the gold one shall both be yours." The woodman thanked the fairy, and hurried home to show his treasures to his family. tS>On the way he met a neighbor, a lazy man, who had spent all that he owned. "Good day!" said the neighbor; "where i***. 'Ni, K ^; 'vr I SKCOMI) liKADKR. did you get those fine axes?" Then the woodman told him. (^ Away hurried the lazy man to try his luck at the river. Down went his ax into the water, and loudly he cried for help. The water-fairy came and asked him the cause of his weeping. "I have lost my ax," he said; "I have lost my good ax." (?r)The fairy sank beneath the water. Soon she brought up an ax of gold. "Is this your ax? " she asked. " Yes,'^ he cried, greedily, " that is mine ; I know it so well." f^y '' You dishonest rogue ! " said the fairy; "this is my ax, not yours. I shall take it home with me, but you must dive for your own if you wish to get it." QuESTioNS.-l_mat_isjthediffe5^ce^^ an "honest" man, and a^MW^^^anT'^^r^h^is-a " woodman ? " 3. Why did the woodman " love his ax ^ 4 What is a "water-fairy?" 5. Why did the fairy offer the woodman a gold ax and a silver one, before offering him his own ax? 6. Of what was his ax made? 7. Why did the fairy call the ax -honest?" 8. What is the dif- ference between an "honest" woodman and an "honest ax? 9. WhaUs meant by " try his luck?" 10. What was the result of the trial? 11. What is meant by "dis- honest rogue?" 12. May one say an "honest rogue? SECONJJ liEADElL m /iN Grandpapa's hair is very white, And grandpapa walks but slow; He likes to sit still in his easy-chair While the chil(fren come and go. "Hush! play quietly," says mamma; "Let nobody trouble dear grandpapa." X) Grandpapa's hand is thin and weak, It has worked hard all his days, — A strong right hand and an honest hand, That has won all good men's praise. "Kiss it tenderly," says mamma; "Let every one honor grandpapa." A Grandpapa's eyes are growing dim; They have looked on sorrow and death ; But the love-light never went out of them, Nor the courage and the faith. " You, children, all of you," says mamma, "Have need to look up to dear grandpapa." m pf I hi ! f ^ .? 'it , * \.A IT- H ■k'! .i"!^- 124 SECOND READER. A Grandpapa's years are wearing few, But he leaves a blessing behind: A good life lived, and a good fight fought, True -heart, and equal mind. '* Eemember, my children," says mamma, "You bear the name of your grandpapa." Mrs. Craik, THE NEW MOON. jt)Oh, mother, how pretty the moon looks to-night ! She was never so cunning before ; Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright, I hope they'll not grow any more! i^ If I were up there with you and my friends, "We'd rock in it nicely, you'd see; We'd sit in the middle, and hold by both ends — Oh, what a bright cradle 'twould be ! SECOND READER. 12» We'd call to the stars to keep out of the way, Lest we should rock over their toes; And there we would stay till the dawn of the day, And see where the pretty moon goes. ^And there we would rock in the beautiful skies, And through the bright clouds we would roam ; We'd see the sun set and see the sun rise, *■ And on the next rainbow come home. Questions. — 1. What is the difference between "pretty" and "cunning" as applied to the moon? 2. What are the u^> FIECOND HEADER. moon's "horns"? 3. Do the^ "grow"? 4. Does the moon itself grow? 6. What is the shape of the moon called when it is "ne "? 6. What is its shape when it is "full"? 7. How long a time elapses from "new moon " to "new moon " ? 8. What is meantfty " sun set " and "sun rise " ? 9. What is a "rainbow''! ? 10. Why is it called a " bow " ? 11. Why is it called a "rain" bow? 12. How many colors are there to be seen in the rainbow ? h}^-/ GRANDMAMMA. T V. /S,Graii(lmamnia sits in her quaint arrn-cliair; Never was lady so sweet and fair; Her gray locks ripple like silver shells, And her placid brow its story tells Of a gentle life and a peaceful even, A trust in God and a hope in heaven. V' 1. A Little girl May sits rocking away In her own low seat like some winsome Two doll babies her kisses share, Another one lies by the side of her chair ; May is ns fair as the morning dew. Cheeks of roses and ribbons of blue. - SECOND READER. /^" Sa}', grandmamma," says the pretty elf, "Tell me a story about yourself. - When you were little, what did you play? Were you good or naughty the whole long day? Was it hundreds and hundreds of years ago? And what makes vour soft hair as white as snow ? 6\" Did you have a mamma to hug and kiss, And a dolly like this, and this, and tliis? Did you have a pussy like my little Kate? Did you go to bed when the clock struck eight? Did you have long curls, and beads like mine ? And a new silk apron with ribbons fine? ^J^Grandmamma smiled at the little maid, And laying aside her knitting, she said: "Go to my desk, — a red box you'll see; Carefully lift it and bring it to me." So May put her dollies away, and ran. Saying, "I'll be as careful as ever I can." f *)■% 1^ ,% / 1 ^128> SECOND BKADKE. I^he grandmamma opened the box, and lo! ■ A beautiful child with throat like snow, Lips just tinted witb pink shells rare, Eyes of hazel, and golden hair, Hands all dimpled, and teeth like pearls,— Fairest and sweetest of little girls! f\''0\ who is it!" cried winsome May; "How I wish she were here to-day! Wouldn't I love her like everything! Wouldn't I with her frolic and sing! Say, dear grandmamma, who can she be?" "Darling," said grandmamma, ''I was she." ^May looked long at the dimpled grace, And then at the saint-like, fair, old face: "How funny!" she cried, with a smile , and a kiss, "To have such a dear little grandma as this ! Still," she added, with smiling zest, "I think, dear grandma, I like you best." SECOND READER. gj ^So May climbed up on the silken knee, And grandmamma told her history: What plays she played, what toys she had, How at times she was naughty, or good, or sad! "But the best thing you did," said May, ''don't you see? Was to grow a beautiful grandma for me." THE IDLE BOY. 7^ ^9^0 Lf ^1 QT'When i^was a boy at school," said an old man, " I was often very idle. Even wl^ile at my lessons, I used to play with other boys as idle as myself. Of course we tried to hide this from the teacher, but one day we were fairly caught. (J;::^'' ' 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. Now, while you are young, is the time to learn. Let any one of you, r"*s>»" 'H 1 ■<. ,1. f^y SECOND HE AD K II who sees another hoy looking off his hook, come and tell me.' ^'''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 his book I will tell. Not very long after, I saw Fred looking off his book, so I went up and told the teacher.' rA^'Aha!' said he, 'how do you know he was idle!' "'Please, sir,' said I, 'I saw him.' '^'0 you did, did you! And where were your eyes when you saw him! Were they on your book!' (g>'I was fairly caught. I saw the other boys laugh, and I hung my head, while the teacher smiled. It was a good lesson for me. I did not watch for idle boys again." QnESTioNS.-l. What is meant by an "idle" boy? 2. What is the difference between an "idle" boy and a "lazy" boy? 3. What is the difference between "lessons" in the ninth line and "lesson " in the line next to the last? 4. What ismeantby "caught?" 5. What made the other boys laugh? 6. What was the " good lesson?" L(t iM/ SECOND READER. THE HUMMING-BIRD. -^ (ij Humming-birds are found in all countnesL where the summer is warm enough for them ; but they are more beautiful in very and SojjjiL-Aj^^B£ica, than in colifix cli mate s. The bir4| getj" its name from the soft, hum- ming sound made by the very rapid motion of its wings in the air. It flies very fast from place to place, and when it stop« to take honey from a flower it does not ll' V !*»; f SECOND READER. aligh t on its feet, but balaiicps itself in the air with its wings. It gathers honey by means of a long, sharp bill, which it thrusts into the middle of the flower, and it never remaiua^ more than a few moments in one spot. (^ It is very hard to describe the plumage of the humming-bird, because the colors of its head and breast change with every change of its positio^ In this respect it is like a larger bird of the same class found in Australia, and called, on account of its great beauty, the Bird of Paradise . The TiiiTHmingjJiiai is often killed and stuffed to be used as an ornament f or ladies' heatT-dresses ; but it loses, after death, a great d^ai of the brightne ss which makes its plumage so beautiful in life. r% The humming-bird can be tamed by land and careful treatment. When tame it sips melted sugar or honey from a ves- sel instead of gat hering the latter for itself from flowers. Its nest is, like the bird. .1: the ^ /C7kZi/i/ i J ■H SKCOND UKADKH. very small, n(it larger than lialf the shell of a small hen's egg. The female hum- ming-bird fights fiercely in defence of her nest, and with her long sharp bm tries to d^stjiliy the eyes of any one who ma}' happen to come too close to her eggs or her young. Questions.— Where are humming-birds found ? 2. W here are those with the most beaullTul plumage to be seen? '6. Why are they called humming-birds? 4. What do ihuy use for food ? 5. How do thoy gather it? 6. What otlifiX large bird is it like? 7. Where is this other bird' found? 8. For wKal purpose are humming-birds lised when dead? 9. When tamed what food does the little bird use? 10. De- scribe its nest? 11. How does the female bird defend her eggs or young ones ? ExEKCisE. — I. Pronounce and learn to spell: E-nough' Pos-i'-tion In-stead Coub'-tries Par'-a-diso Gath'-erin^ Eap'-id Or'-na-ment Fierce'-ly Bal'-an-ces Beau'-ti-ful l>e- fence' 2. Find out on the map where the West Indies* South America, and Australia ^j-q <^" •"""""">— "-«-^'--- ! ,»«^':».'«»*^*''l-'«-,' iW i ■■ hi) ^^uS SECOND READER. THE CANADIAN SONG SPARROW. rOFrom the leafy maple ridges, , From the thickets of the cedar, From the alders by the river, From the bending willow branches, ' From the hollows and the hillsides, Through the lone Canadian forest, Comes the melancholy music, Oft repeated,— never changing,— ^' All-is- vanity-vanity- vanity." (s.^Wliero the farmer ploughs his furrow, Sowing seed with hope of havvest, In the orchard white with blossom. In the early field of clover, Comes the little brown-clad singer Flittinof in and out of bushes. Hiding well behind the fences, Piping forth his song of sadness, — " Poor-hu-manity-manity-manity." Sir James Edqar. SECOND READER. LORD NE^BON^S feOYHOOD [35 /ijWhen Lord Nelson was a boy he went as a midshipman on board a vessel com- manded by his uncle, on a cruise of dis- covery in the Arctic ocean. /2jHis fearless nature was shown in many ways. Whenever there was any special danger or a chance for an adventure, mid- shipman Nelson was sure to be *'on hand" to lead in work or in fun. i^One day a party was sent out on a large field of ice to try and shoot seals or other animals for fresh meat. Young Nel- son went with them. OThey had been out some time, when thev noticed that Horatio was missing. They could not see him anywhere. '7/V(6\At length they heard the report of a gun, and running in the direction of the sound, they found that he had wounded a great white bear, but that he had only shghtly disabled it / l> V 136 SECOND READER re) Fortunately for him there was a large crack in the ice between the bear and him, and as often as the bear tried to jump across this crack, young Nelson struck him with his musket, and knocked him back. frSThe whole party ran towards him, and arrived just in time. The boy in making a hard blow at the bear slipped and fell, and his gun fell from his hands. (j^ln a moment the angry beast had bounded across the chasm and was about to kill the defenceless lad, when one of the men fired and saved the too daring boy. "" f^ His uncle was at first very angiy , and scoMed Horatio for his folly. He could not help admiring his bravery, however. 58>"Why did you go alone to attack a bear*?" he asked. (Til " I wanted to get the skin for ' my father," the boy answered. A^Then the Captain's voice grew tender, and taking his nephew's hand, he said: "Were you not afraid, Horatio!" SECOND READER, (lijS'Wliat is meant by being afraid, uncle?" the boy asked. ^His uncle tried to make him under- stand what fear is, but the brave boy could not understand him fulK, because he had never felt fear. ^5/)The enemies of England found, when he became a man, that Lord Nelson was never afraid of them ; and his sailors were always brave when they had their darling hero to lead them. my /I J %.'.§UTTLE BY LITTLE. uN/' Little by little" an acorn said. As it slowly sank in its mossy bed j *'I am improving every day, Hidden deep in the earth away." k jLittle by little each day it grew, Little by little it sipped the dew ; Downward it sent out a thread-like root, Up in the air sprung a tiny shoot. %■ .. t li !! M.N' in M •N^ «i vi! h \' fr ■**♦»' SECOND READER. TsNDay after day and year after year, Little by little the leaves appear, And the slender branches spread far and wide Till the jnighty oak is the forest's pride. riy^ Little by little " said a thoughtfnl boy, ''* Moment by moment I'll well employ, Learning a little every day And not spending all my time in play; And still this rule in my mind shall dwell— * Whatever I do I'll do it well.' r^>^" Little by little Til learn to know The treasured wisdom of long ago, And one of these days perhaps we'll see That the world will be the better for me." And do you not think that this simple plan Mati. ^ ^>t J H / Cap'-i-tal, very I (lirNThere was oi^ce a mar There was diice a man who Avas so cross and Biu'ly that he thought his wife never did ^'^ y » I't^, SECOND READER. anything right in the house. So one even- ing — it was in haymaking time — he came home scolding, and grumbling, and making a great uprrmr. (2. " Deal- : and, don't be so angry," said his wife. " 1 have been thinking, and I have thought of a capital plan. To-morrow let us change work. I'll go out with the mowers and mow, and you shall stay at home and mind the house." The husband thought that would do very well. He was quite willing, he said. So, early next morning, the wife took a scythe and went out into the hayfield with the mowers, and began to mow ; but the man was to mind the house, and to do the work at home. /Qs^irst of all, he wanted to churn the butter; but, when he had churned a while he found it very dry work, and he got thirsty, and went down to the cellar to tap a barrel of cider. When he had just knocked in the bung, and was putting the tap into the cask, SECOND READER. he heard overhead the pig come trotting into the kitchen. /5l)Then off he ran up the cellar steps, with the tap in his hand, as fast as he could, to look after the pig, lest it should upset the churn; but, when he got up, and saw the pig had already knocked the churn over, and stood there rooting and grunting amongst the cream, which was running all over the floor, he got so wild with rage that he quite forgot the cider-barrel, and ran at the pig as hard as he could. £\He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it such a kick, that it lay for dead on the spot. All at once he remembered that he had the tap in his hand; but, when he got down to the cellar, every drop of cider had run out of the cask. A Then he went into the dairy, and found enough cream left to fill the churn again, and so he began to churn, for they must have butter. When he had churned for some time, he remembered that their milk- ' 1 Ir ' SECOND BEADEB. ^-cow was still shut up in the cow-house, and had not had anything to eat or a drop to drink all the morning, though the sun wasl^gh in tie heavens. ,. \.Jffma-i once he thought it was too farto take her down to the meadow, so he would just get her up to feed on the house- top: for the house, you know, was thatched with sods, and a fine crop of grass was growing there. ]Srow their house lay close up against a steep hill, and he thought that if he laid a plank across to the thatch at the back, he'd easily get the cow up. ^Yet he could not leave the churn, for thWe was the little baby crawling on the floor; " and if I leave," he thought, " the child is sure to upset the churn." So he took the churn on his back, and went out with if, but then he thought he had better first water the cow before he turned her out on the thatch. So he took up a bucket to draw water out of the well; but as he stooped down at the well's brink, all the cream ran SECOND READER, out of the churn over his shoulders, and down into the well. /io^Now it was near dinner-time, and he had not yet got even the butter; so he thought he had best boil the porridge, and he filled the pot with water, and hung it by a chain over the fire. When he had done that, he thought the cow might perhaps fall off the thatch and break her legs or neck, fii) So he got up on the house to tie her up. One end of the rope he made fast to the cow's neck, and the other he slipped down the wide chimney, and tied round his own thigh; and he had to make haste, for the water now began to boil in the pot, and he had still to grind the oatmeal. ^So he began to grind away; but whije he was hard at it, down fell the cow ofi" the house-top after all, and as she fell she dragged the man up the chimney by the rope. There he stuck fast; and as for the cow, she hung half-way down between the thatch and the ground — ■ for she could neither get down nor up. '¥ ?■ h SECOND HEADER. |i3.\And now the wife had waited long for her husband to come and call them to dinner. At last she thought she had waited long enough, and went home. But when she got there and saw the cow hanging in such an ugly place, she ran up and cut the rope in two with her scythe. ^But, as she did this, down came her husband out of the chimney; and so, when his old dame came inside the kitchen, there she found him standing on his head in the porndge-pot. G. W. DAbEJsr. Exercises. — 1. Spell the following words: Ti / „- Dai'-rv Shoul'-ders Up -roar i^ai -ry Scythe Thatched Chim -ney. 2 Point out the nouns in paragraph 12. ^ ^ ,. 3'. Make nouns out of the following words, either by adding something to them or by taking something away from them T^ lury; ckurnlny; knocked ; J oryet ; k.jk; ynnd; stuck. SECOND REAVER. p^^ CHERRIES ARE RIPE. J" S Zander the tree the farmer said, Smiling and shaking his wise old head, "Cherries are ripe; but then, you know, There's the grass to cut and the corn to hoe ; We can gather the cherries any day, But when the sun shines we must make our hay. To-night, when the work has all been done, We'll muster the boys for fruit .a,nd fun." /^ Up in a tree a robin said. Shaking and nodding his saucy head, "Cherries are ripe, and so to-day We'll gather them while you make the hay ; For we are the boys with no com to hoe. No cows to milk, and no grass to mow." At night the farmer said, " Here's a trick ! These roguislk robins have had their pick! ,;\ m \ 1 m il; 1 \ 'A, N* ■*«»•« .146. SECOND nKAVKR. OLb BRONZE, l^ b g'-Ifs the strangest thing," said Jessie, with wide-open eyes. ^ '' And my flowers will never grow, said Euth, shaking her head ruefully. g It was strange. Out in a corner of the SECOND READER. ( 8 garden was a rockery. On the rockery was an iron basket made to liold flowers. Ruth had phmted in tlie middle of it a white Hly hulb. All around the edges she had put morning-glory seeds. She wjinted the vines to droop over the sides of the basket and run down upon the stones. ^Kvery day the children visited it and found that something was doing mischief. It was very plain that the seeds and the bulb were trying to do their duty, for many and many a tiny shoot came peeping above ground. But tiie earth about them was scratched and the tender green stalks broken down and withered. j^And it kept on day after day ! *'It nmst be rats," said Jack. But nothing else in the garden was ever touched. ''Couldn't be frost,' could it?" asked little Nan. They all laughed, for tlie geram'um and pansies were smiling up in tlie sunshine. i I i ^^d Bronze was'^th SECOND READER. fr,^ One day the cliildren came home early from school. Out into the garden they ran, and then there was a shout: — '^pid^Br^^ze!" he largest cat they had. Jack had named him long ago, not because he was bronze colored, but because Jack knew that bronze was some kind of a color, and thought it sounded well. J) There lay Old Bronze on the basket. It was just the time when the afternoon sun shone on it. He probably found the warm earth a very comfortable bed. (A They all laughed, and Jack said, ''I'll fix him ! " He got the watering hose, and aimed at Old Bronze, while Harry ran to turn on the water. (2)''0h, don't!" cried Ruth. '^ spring From such a very little thing I SECOND RKADER. ;'vj > w 1 #'e'' i)EER-MICE. r1 1 \i beautiful (leer-mouso lived in the rye, iCwu-colorod and velvet-furred his skin; And his tail was long enough to tie In a dandy bow-knot under his chin; He did not wear it so, it is true. But carried it just as other mice do ! U . i i»1 SECOND READER. Qm ^yH.e rented a rye-rick for his house, After the reapers had cut the grain, And there he lodged with his lady mouse And four pink babies, out of the rain ; His rent was never paid up, it's true, — He just forgot it as other mice do. 6jThen came the farmer and raised that rick And tumbled it sheaf by sheaf in his cart; And Bose, the dog, was eager and quick When he saw the beautiful deer-mice start. They would make him a slender meal he knew, If they went the way some other mice do. (t\ But Bose, good Bose, I am pleased to say You must dine to-day on the master's beef; The pretty deer-mice went not the way You opened for them; but snug in a sheaf They rode, well-stowed, and took lodgings new In the farmer's barn, as othei* mice do. Geo, S. Buklkigh. I m m fl tm' L»r ^:,i\ W Ih SECOND READER, r^ /i&o's ma^r Kad to go on a lon^ journey, and he took her with him. He rode a beautiful horse, and Fido trotted cheerfully at the horse's heels. Often the master would speak a cheering word to. the dog, and she would wag her tail and bark a glad answer. And so they travelled on and on. (2.;? The sun shone hot and the road was dusty. The beautiful horse was covered with sweat, and poor Fido's tongue lolled out of her mouth, and her legs were so tired they could hardly go any more. /t) At last they came to a cool, shady wood, and the master, stopped, dismounted, and tied his horse to a tree. He took from the saddle his heavy saddle-bags; they were heavy because they were filled with gold. IQThe niP laid the bags down very carefully in a shady place, and, pointing SECOND READER. /%\ to them, said to Fido, " Watch them?^ Then he drew his cloak about him, lay- down with his head on the bags, and soon was fast asleep. fb\ Fido curled herself up close to her master's head, with her nose over one end of the bags, and w.ent to sleep too. But she did not sleep very soundly, for her master had told her to watch, and every few moments she would open her eyes and prick up her ears, to learn if anybody were coming. A Her master was tired, and slept soundly and long — very much longer than he had intended. At last he was awakened by Fido's lickins: his face. >i .^ . Q The^og saw 'that ^the sun was nearly setting, and knew that it was time for her master to go. The man patted Fido, and jumped up, much troubled to find he had slept so long. /^He snatched up his cloak, threw it over his horse, untied his bridle, sprang ¥> I W^ I 'n: mi 15 SECOND READER. Tnto the saddle, und, calling Fido, started off in great haste. But Fido did not seem ready to follow him. /d She ran after his horse and bit at his heels, and then ran back again to the woods, all the time barking furiously. This she did several times; but her mas- ter had no time to heed her foolish pranks, and galloped away, thinking she would follow him. /S,)At last the littie dog sat down by the rokdside, and looked sorrowfully after her umster, until he had turned a bend in the road. A) When he was no longer in sight, she spmng up with a wild bark and ran after him She overtook him just as he had stopped to water his horse in a brook that flowed across the road. She stood beside the brook and barked so savagely that her master rode back and called her to him; but instead of coming to him she darted ofi down the road still barking. SECOND READER [■ted eem , his the isly. tnas- mks, ould Y the r her Li the fc, she after } had k. that beside at her ► hira; darted ^ Her master did not know what to think, and began to fear that his dog was going mad. Mad dogs are afraid of water, and act strangely when they see it. While the man was thinking of this, Fido came running back again, and dashed at him furiously. She leaped up on the legs of the horse, and even jumped up and bit the toe of her master's boot; then she ran down the road again, barking with all her might. ^ Her master was now convinced that she was mad, and, taking out his pistol, he shot her. \i! It I 'I: lit U^ SECOND READER. ^ He^ode^ay'^quickly, for he loved her dearly, and did not wish to see her die; but. he had not ridden very far when he stopped as suddenly as if he had him- self been shot. He felt quickly under his cloak for his saddle-bags. Theij were not there ! Q Had he dropped them, or had he left them behind in the wood? He felt sure he must have left them in the wood, for he could not recall picking them np or fastening them to his saddle. He turned quickly about and rode back again as fast as his horse could go. (m\ When he came to the brook, he said, *'Poor Fidol" and looked about, but he could see nothing of her. After he had crossed the stream ha sav/ some drops of blood upon the ground ; and all along the road, as he went, he still saw drops of blood. Poor Fido ! Qk Tears came into the man's eyes, and his heart began to ache, for he understood SECOND READER. now why Fido had acted so strangely. She was not mad at all. She knew that her master had le^t his precious bags of gold, and she had tried to tell him in the only way she could. A Oh, how guilty the man felt, as he galloped along and saw the drops of blood by the roadside! At last he came to the wood, and there, all safe, lay the bags of gold ; and there, beside them, with her nose lying over one end of them, lay faithful Fido, dead. it' i i 58. SECOND RKADKR, fh TbjlK)mair was poor" and old and gray, fh^Thlf oman'was'poo'r'and'oid and gray And bent with the chill of the winter's day; The street was wet with a recent snow, And the woman's feet were aged and slow. I^She stood at the crossing and waited long, Alone, uncared for, amid the throng Of human beings who passed her by, Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye. r?\Down the street with laughter and shout, Glad in the freedom of "school let out," Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep. /TjPast the woman so old and gray Hastened the children on their way, Nor offered a helping hand to her So meek, so timid, afraid to stir Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet Should knock her down in the open street. /^ At last came one of the merry troop— The gayest laddie of all the group; / ■/ / SECOND READEE. 150 He paused beside her and whispered low, "I'll help you across if you wish to go." /eNHer aged hand on Ms strong young arm She pilaced, and so without hurt or harm He guided the trembling feet along, Proud that his own were firm and strong. (\ Then back to his friends again he went, His young heart happy and woil content. £/* She's somebody's mother, boys, a on know. For all she's aged and poor and slow ; And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To lieJp my mother, if she should stand At a crossing, weary and old and gray. When her own dear boy is far away." /8^And '^somebody's mother" bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said Was, **God, be kind to the noble boy. Who is somebody's son and pride and joy.'' ;II ^ SECOND RKADKR, (DRob fs a^'bgy wlioT thinRs a% great deal. Whatever he sees that he does not understand he tries hard to study out for himself. And he solves sojne pj-oblems \ J > ]\ p ^eat 3 not t for )lems which would seem too difficult for Ruch a little fellow. tr^Rob is the owner of a foot-rule and a yardstick, and he takes great pleasure in measuring garden walks, fences, and many other things about the place. ^jHe will often guess at the distance from one point to another, and then measure it to see how near he came. 4) He had some difficulty when he tried to find out the length of his own shadow, for sometimes it was quite short and at other times very long. (^ At length, however, he discovered that it was long in the morning, grew shorter till noon, then grew longer all the afternoon till sunset, when it would disappear. /^ He -also learned that twice each day (once in the forenoon and once in the afternoon) his shadow was exactly of the same lengtli^s himself, j.^^^ a \[^\ ^ There ^^fh^^^^^ii^^^^ \<^ house, which runs up tall and slim. Rob 'I i\\f' m iifi\U'i hf. f m P used to say that it almost toiicluMl ihe sky. (h He often longed to know its real height, but could see no way of measuring it. One morning he noticed the long shadow of this tree plahily marked on the smooth green lawn. Just then a new thought came to him. Why not find out the height of the tree by the length of its shadow I (^He drove a stake into the ground and found that its shadow was now longer than the stake. But he knew that shadows were growing shorter at this hour of the day, so he waited and watched. ^Mn about an hour the stake and its shadow were of the same length. Then Bob ran to measure the shadow of thcj tree. He found it to be thirty-one feet and he felt sure that this was the height of the maple, (i) He was dehghted with his discovery He tidked about it a great deal and said he should some time try to measure the distance to the moon. lie ) THE :\IAPLK LKAF FOIIF.VKR. hXln (lays of yore, from l^ritaiii's ssliore, Wolfe, tlie (launtleHH hero cjune, And planted firm Britannia's fla ( ¥S I" Ml W * A fertile land, where he who toils, Shall well rewarded be. And he who joys in nature's channs, Exulting, here may roam 'Mid scenes of grandeur, whicii adorn My own Canadia,n home. /iNShall iu>t the race that tread thy plains: ^ Spurn all that would enshive ? Or they who battle with thy tides, Shall not that race be, brave f Shall not Niagara's mighty voice Inspire to actions high! 'Twere easy such a land to love, Or for her glory die. (;t)And doubt I Be armed to strike at tliee, Thy trumpet call throughout the land Keed scarce repeated be! As bravely as on Queenston's Heights, C)r as in Lundv's Lane. Thy sons will battle for thy rights. And freedom's cause niaintahi. nbtf^hould a foeman's hand SKroXJ) HEADFR. ^Did kindly lieaven afford to me The clioiee where I would dwell, Fair Canada ! that choice shoidd be, The land I love so well. I love thy hills and valleys wide, Thy waters' flash and foam ; May God in love o'er thee preside, Mv own Canadinn home! F,. G. Nelsov. Questions. — 1. Wh}'' are the thistle, the shamrock, the rose, and the maple leaf all mentioned together? 2. Is there any difference in meaning between "Britain" and "Britannia?" 3. What is meant by "days of yore?" 4. When and where did Wolfe "plant the British flag" in Canada? 5. When were battles fought at " Qiieenston's Heights and Lundy's Lane," and with what result? 6. What is meant by "freedom," "rights," and "enslave," as used in the two poems? 7. Whai, is meant by making "The Maple Leaf Forever" a "watchword?" 8. Why are the words "the voice of many waters" placed between quotation marks? 9. What is meiint by "peer," "dome," "symphony," "a/ure," "achievements," "heritage," "dauntless," "sever," "emerald?" 10. Is there reason to believe that natural objects such as lakes, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, and tides have the eHect of inspiring peo[)le to perform great achievements? ExEROlSKS. — 1. Show from the contents of the above two poems that they are written on the same subject, though they have different titles. 2. Point out on the map of Canada: Queenston' Heights, Lundy's Lan,>, the Niagara River and Falls, Capo Race, Nootka Sound. *:<■ w 'm 168 SECOND READER. i (L)Tliese birds are the most beautiful in all the world, with their splendid plumes that have every ricli color in them, just like precious stones. In old times tliese plumes were worn on iadiesi' bonnets. . 16 i [ in mes just liese F^ECOND RFADKR. pr)Tlie natives of the East Indies, where thev are mostly found, prepare the skins with the feathers all on and then sell them for a good deal of money. ^Birds of Paradise were once called ^' God's birds." Do yon wonder! There are a great many varieties, more than eight thousand; and they all have the same peculiar scream. (?) Every morning before you were up, if you could be in the forest where the\' live, you would hear their "Wauk, wauk, wok, wok," as if they were calling all the other feathered, tribes, to be up and doing. (J) The "King^ Paradise" is the largest of them all— seventeen feet from the bill to the tip of its tail. Think of that for a bird! Almost as long as three men put together. Its breast is covered wit!) the richest shades of purple and violet, with soft-colored feathers all over its head and neck. riNin the early spring, when these birds If it-, m f^KCOND nKADKIi. are fiillv dressed, tliey get togetlier before tlie sun is up and have their ''dancing- parties," as the natives call them. Choosing a tree with verv wide branches and large leaves, they lift their wings, stretch out their necks, and raise those gorgeous j)hnnes keeping them all the time in motion. As they move from branch to branch tlie whole tree seems alive with these changing colors. Wouldn't you like to see them in the land where they live! Perhaps you will, some day ! Mrs. G. Hall. THE SIGNS OT fHl^: SEASONS. (?) What does it mean when the l.luebird comes And builds its nest, singing sweet and clear? When violets ; oep among blades of grass? — These are the signs that Spring is here. ^ What does it mean when berries are ripe ? When l)utteriiies flit and honey-bees hum 1 ()* r> J lit IS in to th ke les 11(1 re. >e? \"^jLy sru'oNi) ni'.ADiai When rattle stjind ;iii(l(;r tlie shady trees? — These are the signs that Smniner has come. a\ Wliat does it mean when the crickets chirp, And away to the south the robins steer? When apples are falling, and leaves grow brown ? — These are the sii>-ns thnt Autiunii is here. ^ What does it mean when days are short ? When leaves are gone and brooks are dumb? When fields are white with drifted snow? — These are the signs that Winter has come. /^The old stars set and the new ones rise, The skies that were stormy grow bright and clear; And so the beautiful wonderful signs Go round and round with the changing year. /' I fr \ .^//,a/- & ^ m 72 SI^CaNP HKAVKli. r^ Bessie lived on a large tarm in beautiful country. The liouse war very- old, and the trees around it were old too. But such cherries and pears and apples Bessie thought never grew anywhen^ else. (t) There were a great many chickens and cows in tlie farm-yard. Bessie used to i\ SFr'OND UEADKR. play with tliom all; for tlioy soonied to know tliat tlie detir little fj^irl would not do them any harm. But her |> ts wen the big dog, Hero, and the little cat, Jet. Every morning and every evening, when the maids were guin'g out to milk the cows,* you might have seen Bessie walking behind them. She hud a biff dojr on one side, and a little black cat on the other. In one hand she carried a little pail and in the other a milking-stool. Old Boss, the gentlest cow, woidd \\\\o\\' that a very little milkmaid was coming to her, and two littl ' hands would so(m be working to fill the tiny pail. The cow would stand very still, not even kicking the flies a .ay, for fear of hurting t' e little dairy-mai I. /^ The pail would soon be full of foaming creamy milk. Then it would be poured into a deep dish l< v Hero and Jet to 'Irink. [4J\ Papa had changed thu name of the dog to Hero. Onto, when Bessie .vas a tiny little girl, she was pla\'ing in the grass SKCONP HHADI'M. witli tlio (lo<,'', then quite Hmall and called Fido. A bio', \vickcd-lookini SKCOXn JiKAUKU SWINGING. ^ (^ ^OV^i^ ^ ^ //^ ^^.;;^ , ^Here we go in tlie garden swing, Under the chestnut tree. Up in the branches birdies sing Songs to lW)y and me, Baby and kitty and nie. Then up, high up, for tlie ropes are long, And down, low down, for the l)ninch is strong, And there's room on the seat for three, Just Baby and kitty and me; Merrily swinging, Merrily singing. Under 'the chestnut tree. £)Up to the clustering leaves we go, Down we sweep to the grass, Touching the daisies there below, Bowing to let us pass, Smiling, too, as we pass. *(?• SECOND HF.AVKll. mil up, aigh uP' f<'^ ^^'^ ^'^P^^ ^'''^ ^*'"f' And down, low down, for the branch is strong, And there's room on the setit for three, Just Baby and kitty and me, Merrily swinging. Merrily singing, Under the chestnut tree. r5>)Slow and shower well let it swing, Under the chestnut tree; Low and lower the birdies sing Songs for Baby and me, Baby and kitty and me. Then slow and soft though the ropes be long. And soft and slow tliough the' branch be strong, And room on the «eat for three. Just Baby and kitty and me. Sleepily swinging. Sleepily singing, Under the chestnut tree. anon. is ■ee, i he 1 l)e N. I