Chapter 6

THIRD READER. 175 2. "Yes," replied Mrs. Dean, "but you must take Rover with you." 3. Susie brought her little basket, and her mother put up a nice lunch for her. She tied down the cover, and fastened a tin cup to it. 4. The little girl called Rover--a great Newfoundland dog--and gave him a tin pail to carry. "If I bring it home full, mamma," she said, "won't you make some berry cakes for tea?" 5. Away she tripped, singing as she went down the lane and across the pasture. When she got to the woods, she put her dinner basket down beside a tree, and began to pick berries. 6. Rover ran about, chasing a squirrel or a rabbit now and then, but never straying far from Susie. 7. The tin pail was not a very small one. By the time it was two thirds full, Susie began to feel hungry, and thought she would eat her lunch. 8. Rover came and took his place at her side as soon as she began to eat. Did she not give him some of the lunch? No, she was in a selfish mood, and did no such thing.

176 ECLECTIC SERIES. 9. "There, Rover, run away! there's a good dog," she said; but Rover staid near her, watching her steadily with his clear brown eves.

10. The meat he wanted so much, was soon eaten up; and all he got of the nice dinner, was a small crust of gingerbread that Susie threw away. 11. After dinner, Susie played a while by

THIRD READER. 177 the brook. She threw sticks into the water, and Rover swam in and brought them back. Then she began to pick berries again. 12. She did not enjoy the afternoon as she did the morning. The sunshine was as bright, the berries were as sweet and plentiful, and she was neither tired nor hungry. 13. But good, faithful Rover was hungry, and she had not given him even one piece of meat. She tried to forget how selfish she had been; but she could not do so, and quite early she started for home. 14. When she was nearly out of the woods, a rustling in the underbrush attracted her attention. "I wonder if that is a bird or a squirrel," said she to herself. "If I can catch it, how glad I shall be!" 15. She tried to make her way quietly through the underbrush; but what was her terror when she saw it large snake coiled up before her, prepared for a spring! 16. She was so much frightened that she could not move; but brave Rover saw the snake, and, springing forward, seized it by the neck and killed it. 17. When the faithful dog came and rubbed his head against her hand, Susie put her 3, 12.

178 ECLECTIC SERIES. arms 'round his neck, and burst into tears. "O Rover," she cried, "you dear, good dog! How sorry I am that I was so selfish!" 18. Rover understood the tone of her voice, if he did not understand her words, and capered about in great glee, barking all the time. You may be sure that he had a plentiful supper that evening. 19. Susie never forgot the lesson of that day. She soon learned to be on her guard against a selfish spirit, and became a happier and more lovable little girl. Mrs. M. O. Johnson--Adapted.

LESSON LXVIII. THE VIOLET.

1. Down in a green and shady bed, A modest violet grew; Its stalk was bent, it hung its head, As if to hide from view

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2. And yet it was a lovely flower, Its colors bright and fair; It might have graced a rosy bower Instead of hiding there.

3. Yet there it was content to bloom, In modest tints arrayed, And there it spread its sweet perfume, Within the silent shade.

4. Then let me to the valley go, This pretty flower to see; That I may also learn to grow In sweet humility. Jane Taylor.

180 ECLECTIC SERIES. LESSON LXIX. NO CROWN FOR ME. 1. "Will you come with us, Susan?" cried several little girls to a schoolmate. "We are going to the woods; do come, too." 2. "I should like to go with you very much," replied Susan, with a sigh; "but I can not finish the task grandmother set me to do." 3. "How tiresome it must be to stay at home to work on a holiday!" said one of the girls, with a toss of her head. "Susan's grandmother is too strict." 4. Susan heard this remark, and, as she bent her head over her task, she wiped away a tear, and thought of the pleasant afternoon the girls would spend gathering wild flowers in the woods. 5. Soon she said to herself, "What harm can there be in moving the mark grandmother put in the stocking? The woods must be very beautiful to-day, and how I should like to be in them!" 6. "Grandmother," said she, a few minutes afterwards, "I am ready, now." "What, so

THIRD READER. 181 soon, Susan?" Her grandmother took the work, and looked at it very closely. 7. "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." 8. Susan's cheeks were scarlet, and she did not say, "Thank you." As she left the cottage, she walked slowly away, not singing as usual. 9. "Why, 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. 10. "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 remembered her grandmother's words, "You have never deceived me." 11. "Yes, I have deceived her," said she to herself. "If she knew all, she would never trust me again." 12. When the little party had reached an open space in the woods, her companions ran about enjoying themselves; but Susan sat on

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the grass, wishing she were at home confessing her fault. 13. After a while Rose cried out, "Let us make a crown of violets, and put it on the head of the best girl here." 14. "It will be easy enough to make the crown, but not so easy to decide who is to wear it," said Julia. 15. "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?" 16. "Yes, yes; the crown shall be for Susan,"

THIRD READER. 183 cried the other girls, and they began to make the crown. It was soon finished. 17. "Now, Susan," said Rose, "put it on in a very dignified way, for you are to be our queen." 18. As these words were spoken, the crown was placed on her head. In a moment she snatched it off, and threw it on the ground, saying, "No crown for me; I do not deserve it." 19. 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 stocking, that I might join you in the woods." 20. "Do you 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." 21. Susan now ran home, and as soon as she got there she said, with a beating heart, "O grandmother! I deserve to be punished, for I altered the mark you put in the stocking. Do forgive me; I am very sorry and unhappy." 22. "Susan," said her grandmother, "I knew it all the time; but I let you go out, hoping

184 ECLECTIC SERIES. that your own conscience would tell you of your sin. I am so glad that you have confessed your fault and your sorrow." 23. "When shall I be your own little girl again?" "Now," was the quick reply, and Susan's grandmother kissed her forehead.

LESSON LXX.

YOUNG SOLDIERS.

1. Oh, were you ne'er a schoolboy, And did you never train, And feel that swelling of the heart You ne'er can feel again?

2. Did you never meet, far down the street, With plumes and banners gay, While the kettle, for the kettledrum, Played your march, march away?

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3. It seems to me but yesterday, Nor scarce so long ago, Since all our school their muskets took, To charge the fearful foe.

4. Our muskets were of cedar wood, With ramrods bright and new; With bayonets forever set, And painted barrels, too.

5. We charged upon a flock of geese, And put them all to flight-- Except one sturdy gander That thought to show us fight.

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6. But, ah! we knew a thing or two; Our captain wheeled the van; We routed him, we scouted him, Nor lost a single man!

7. Our captain was as brave a lad As e'er commission bore; And brightly shone his new tin sword; A paper cap he wore.

8. He led us up the steep hillside, Against the western wind, While the cockerel plume that decked his head Streamed bravely out behind.

9. We shouldered arms, we carried arms, We charged the bayonet; And woe unto the mullein stalk That in our course we met!

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10. At two o'clock the roll we called, And till the close of day, With fearless hearts, though tired limbs, We fought the mimic fray,-- Till the supper bell, from out the dell, Bade us march, march away.

LESSON LXXI.

HOW WILLIE GOT OUT OF THE SHAFT. 1. Willie's aunt sent him for a birthday present a little writing book. There was a place in the book for a pencil. Willie thought a great deal of this little book, and always kept it in his pocket. 2. One day, his mother was very busy, and he called his dog, and said, "Come, Caper, let us have a play."

188 ECLECTIC SERIES. 3. When Willie's mother missed him, she went to the door and looked out, and could not see him anywhere; but she knew that Caper was with him, and thought they would come back before long. 4. She waited an, hour, and still they did not come. When she came to the gate by the road, she met Mr. Lee, and told him how long Willie had been gone. Mr. Lee thought he must have gone to sleep under the trees. So they went to all the trees under which Willie was in the habit of playing, but he was nowhere to be found. 5. By this time the sun had gone down. The news that Willie was lost soon spread over the neighborhood, and all the men and women turned out to hunt. They hunted all night. 6. The next morning the neighbors were gathered round, and all were trying to think what to do next, when Caper came bounding into the room. There was a string tied round his neck, and a bit of paper tied to it. 7. Willie's father, Mr. Lee, took the paper, and saw that it was a letter from Willie. He read it aloud. It said, "O father! come to me. I am in the big hole in the pasture."

THIRD READER. 189 8. Everybody ran at once to the far corner of the pasture; and there was Willie, alive and well, in the shaft. Oh, how glad he was when his father caught him in his arms, and lifted him out!

9. Now I will tell you how Willie came to be in the shaft. He and Caper went to the pasture field, and came to the edge of the shaft and sat down. In bending over

190 ECLECTIC SERIES. to see how deep it was, he lost his balance, and fell in. He tried very hard to get out, but could not. 10. When the good little dog saw that his master was in the shaft, he would not leave him, but ran round and round, reaching down and trying to pull him out. But while Caper was pulling Willie by the coat sleeves, a piece of sod gave way under his feet, and he fell in too. 11. Willie called for his father and mother as loud as he could call; but he was so far away from the house that no one could hear him. 12. He cried and called till it was dark, and then he lay down on the ground, and Caper lay down close beside him. It was not long before Willie cried himself to sleep. 13. When he awoke it was morning, and he began to think of a way to get out. The little writing book that his aunt had given him, was in his pocket. He took it out, and, after a good deal of trouble, wrote the letter to his father. 14. Then he tore the leaf out, and took a string out of his pocket, and tied it round Caper's neck, and tied the letter to the

THIRD READER. 191 string. Then he lifted the dog up, and helped him out, and said to him, "Go home, Caper, go home!" The little dog scampered away, and was soon at home.

LESSON LXXII. THE PERT CHICKEN.

1. There was once a pretty chicken; But his friends were very few, For he thought that there was nothing In the world but what he knew: So he always, in the farmyard, Had a very forward way, Telling all the hens and turkeys What they ought to do and say. "Mrs. Goose," he said, "I wonder That your goslings you should let Go out paddling in the water; It will kill them to get wet."

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2. "I wish, my old Aunt Dorking," He began to her, one day, "That you would n't sit all summer In your nest upon the hay. Won't you come out to the meadow, Where the grass with seeds is filled?" "If I should," said Mrs. Dorking, "Then my eggs would all get chilled." "No, they wo n't," replied the chicken, "And no matter if they do; Eggs are really good for nothing; What's an egg to me or you?"

3. "What's an egg!" said Mrs. Dorking, "Can it be you do not know

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You yourself were in an eggshell Just one little month ago? And, if kind wings had not warmed you, You would not be out to-day, Telling hens, and geese, and turkeys, What they ought to do and say!

4. "To be very wise, and show it, Is a pleasant thing, no doubt; But, when young folks talk to old folks, They should know what they're about." Marian Douglas.

LESSON LXXIII.

INDIAN CORN.

1. Few plants are more useful to man than Indian corn, or maize. No grain, except rice, is used to so great an extent as an article of food. In some countries corn is almost the only food eaten by the people.

3, 13

194 ECLECTIC SERIES. 2. Do you know why it is called Indian corn? It is because the American Indians were the first corn growers. Columbus found this grain widely cultivated by them when he discovered the New World. They pounded it in rude, stone bowls, and thus made a coarse flour, which they mixed with water and baked. 3. Indian corn is now the leading crop in the United States. In whatever part of this land we live, we see corn growing every year in its proper season. Yet how few can tell the most simple and important facts about its planting and its growth! 4. Corn, to do well, must have a rich soil and a warm climate. It is a tender plant, and is easily injured by cold weather. The seed corn does not sprout, but rots, if the ground is cold and wet. 5. To prepare land properly for planting corn, the soil is made fine by plowing, and furrows are run across the field four feet apart each way. At every point where these furrows cross, the farmer drops from four to seven grains of seed corn. These are then covered with about two inches of earth, and thus form "hills" of corn.

THIRD READER. 195 6. In favorable weather, the tender blades push through the ground in ten days or two weeks; then the stalks mount up rapidly, and the long, streamer-like leaves unfold gracefully from day to day. Corn must be carefully cultivated while the plants are small. After they begin to shade the ground, they need but little hoeing or plowing. 7. The moisture and earthy matter, drawn through the roots, become sap. This passes through the stalk, and enters the leaves. There a great change takes place which results in the starting of the ears and the growth of the grain. 8. The maize plant bears two kinds of flowers,--male and female. The two are widely separated. The male flowers are on the tassel; the fine silk threads which surround the ear, and peep out from the end of the husks, are the female flowers. 9. Each grain on the cob is the starting point for a thread of silk; and, unless the thread receives some particle of the dust which falls from the tassel flowers, the kernel with which it is connected will not grow. 10. The many uses of Indian corn and its products are worthy of note. The green

196 ECLECTIC SERIES. stalks and leaves make excellent fodder for cattle. The ripe grain is used all over the earth as food for horses, pigs, and poultry. Nothing is better for fattening stock. 11. Green corn, or "roasting ears," hulled corn and hominy, New England hasty pudding, and succotash are favorite dishes with many persons. Then there are parched corn and pop corn--the delight of long winter evenings. 12. Cornstarch is an important article of commerce. Sirup and sugar are made from the juice of the stalk, and oil and alcohol from the ripened grain. Corn husks are largely used for filling

THIRD READER. 197 mattresses, and are braided into mats, baskets, and other useful articles. 13. Thus it will be seen how varied are the uses of Indian corn. And besides being so useful, the plant is very beautiful. The sight of a large cornfield in the latter part of summer, with all its green banners waving and its tasseled plumes nodding, is one to admire, and not to be forgotten.

LESSON LXXIV. THE SNOWBIRD'S SONG.

1. The ground was all covered with snow one day, And two little sisters were busy at play, When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree, And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee.

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2. He had not been singing that tune very long Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song; "O sister, look out of the window!" said she; "Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee.

3. "Poor fellow! he walks in the snow and the sleet, And has neither stockings nor shoes on his feet: I wonder what makes him so full of his glee; He's all the time singing his chick-a-de-dee.

4. "If I were a barefooted snowbird, I know, I would not stay out in the cold and the snow; I pity him so! oh, how cold he must be! And yet he keeps singing his chick-a-de-dee.

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5. "O mother; do get him some stockings, and shoes, And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose: I wish he'd come into the parlor, and see How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee!"

6. The bird had flown down for some sweet crumbs of bread, And heard every word little Emily said: "What a figure I'd make in that dress" thought he, And laughed as he warbled his chick-a-de-dee.

7. "I am grateful," said he, "for the wish you express, But have no occasion for such a fine dress; I rather remain with my little limbs free, Than to hobble about, singing chick-a-de-dee.

8. "There is One, my dear child, though I can not tell who, Has clothed me already, and warm enough, too. Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?" And away he flew, singing his chick-a-de-dee. F. C. Woodworth.

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LESSON LXXV. MOUNTAINS. 1. The Himalayas are the highest mountains on our globe, They are in Asia, and separate India from Thibet. They extend in a continuous line for more than a thousand miles. 2. If you ever ascend one of these mountains from the plain below, you will have to cross an unhealthy border, twenty miles in width. It is, in fact, a swamp caused by the waters overflowing the river banks. 3. The soil of this swampy border is covered with trees and shrubs, where the tiger, the elephant, and other animals find secure retreat. Beyond this border, you will reach smiling valleys and noble forests. 4. As you advance onward and upward, you will get among bolder and more rugged scenes. The sides of the mountains are very steep, sometimes well wooded to quite a height, but sometimes quite barren. 5. In crossing a river you must be content with three ropes for a bridge. You will find the streets of the towns to be simply stairs

THIRD READER. 201 cut out of the rock, and see the houses rising in tiers. 6. The pathways into Thibet, among these mountains, are mere tracks by the side of

foaming torrents. Often, as you advance, you will find every trace of the path swept away by the failing of rocks and earth from above.

202 ECLECTIC SERIES. 7. Sometimes you will find posts driven into the mountain side, upon which branches of trees and earth are spread. This forms a trembling foothold for the traveler. 8. In the Andes, in South America, the sure-footed mule is used to carry travelers. Quite often a chasm must be crossed that is many feet wide and hundreds of feet deep. The mule will leap across this chasm, but not until it is sure it can make a safe jump. 9. "One day," says a traveler, "I went by the worst pass over the Andes Mountains. The path for seventy yards was very narrow, and at one point it was washed entirely away. On one side the rock brushed my shoulder, and on the other side my foot overhung the precipice." 10. The guide told this man, after he was safely over the pass, that, to his knowledge, four hundred mules had fallen over that precipice, and in many instances travelers had lost their lives at that terrible spot.

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LESSON LXXVI.

A CHILD'S HYMN.

1. God make my life a little light, Within the world to glow; A little flame that burneth bright Wherever I may go.

2. God make my life a little flower, That giveth joy to all, Content to bloom in native bower, Although its place be small.

3. God make my life a little song, That comforteth the sad; That helpeth others to be strong, And makes the singer glad.

4. God make my life a little hymn Of tenderness and praise; Of faith--that never waxeth dim In all His wondrous ways.

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LESSON LXXVII. HOLDING THE FORT. 1. While Genie was walking slowly down street one day, she heard an odd rapping on the pavement behind her. Looking round, she saw Rob Grey hobbling on crutches. 2. "Why, what is the matter?" cried Genie. "I have n't seen you for a week, and now you are walking in that way." 3. "I shall have to walk in this way as much as a week longer, Genie. I sprained my ankle by stopping too quick-- no, not too quick, either, for there was something in my way." "What was it?" asked Genie. 4. "One of the Commandments," replied Rob. "You remember how that lecturer talked to us about 'holding the fort'? Well, I thought I should like to do it; but it's a pretty long war, you know--all a lifetime, and no vacations-- furloughs, I think they call them." 5. "If there was nothing to fight, we should not need to be soldiers," said Genie. 6. "Well, I thought I would try; but the

THIRD READER. 205 first day, when we came out of the schoolhouse, Jack Lee snatched my books out of my hand, and threw them into the mud. 7. "I started after him as fast as I could run. I meant to throw him where he had

thrown the books, when, all of a sudden, I thought of the Commandment about returning good for evil. 8. "I stopped short--so short, that, somehow,

206 ECLECTIC SERIES. my foot twisted under me. So, you see, it was one of the commandments." 9. "If one must stumble at them, it is a good thing to fall on the right side," said Genie, with a wise nod of her head. 10. "The whole thing puzzles me, and makes me feel-- well, like giving it up," said Rob. "It might have served me right when I was chasing Jack; but when I thought of the Commandment, I really tried to do the right thing." 11. "You did do it, Rob," said Genie. "You 'held the fort' that time. Why, do n't you see--you are only a wounded soldier." 12. "I never thought of that," said Rob. "If I believe that way--" He began to whistle, and limped off to school without finishing the sentence. But Genie knew, by the way he behaved that day, that he had made up his mind to hold the fort.

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LESSON LXXVIII.

THE LITTLE PEOPLE.

1. A dreary place would be this earth, Were there no little people in it; The song of life would lose its mirth, Were there no children to begin it;

2. No little forms, like buds to grow, And make the admiring heart surrender; No little hands on breast and brow, To keep the thrilling love chords tender.

3. The sterner souls would grow more stern, Unfeeling nature more inhuman, And man to utter coldness turn, And woman would be less than woman.

4. Life's song, indeed, would lose its charm, Were there no babies to begin it; A doleful place this world would be, Were there no little people in it.

John G. Whittier.

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LESSON LXXIX.

GOOD NIGHT.

1. The sun is hidden from our sight, The birds are sleeping sound; 'T is time to say to all, "Good night!" And give a kiss all round.

2. Good night, my father, mother, dear! Now kiss your little son; Good night, my friends, both far and near! Good night to every one.