Chapter 4
"The wolves, thus nimbly eluded, now kept on after Harry, who, in turn, became the object of our anxiety.
"In a moment they were close upon him; but he, already warned by his brother, wheeled in a similar manner, while the fierce brutes, swept along by the force of their running, were carried a long distance upon the ice before they could turn themselves.
"Their long, bushy tails, however, soon enabled them to turn about and follow in the new direction, and they galloped after Harry, who was now the nearest to them.
"Frank, in the meantime, had again turned, and came sweeping past behind them, at the same time shouting loudly, as if to tempt them away from their pursuit of Harry.
"They heeded him not, and again he changed his direction, and, as though he was about to skate into their midst, followed the wolves.
"This time he skated up close behind them, just at the moment when Harry had turned again, and thus made his second escape.
"At this moment, we heard Frank calling out to his brother to make for the shore, while, instead of retreating himself, he stopped until Harry had passed, and then dashed off, followed closely by the whole pack.
"Another slight turn brought him nearly in our direction; but there was a large hole broken through the ice close by the shore, and we saw that, unless he turned again, he would skate into it.
"We thought he was watching the wolves too intently to see it, and we shouted to warn him. Not so; he knew better than we what he was about.
"When he had reached within a few feet of the hole, he wheeled sharply to the left, and came dashing up to the point where we stood to receive him.
"The wolves, too intent upon their chase to see any thing else, went sweeping past the point where he had turned, and the next moment plunged through the broken ice into the water.
"Then Cudjo and I ran forward, shouting loudly, and, with the heavy rail and the long spear, commenced dealing death among them.
"It was but a short, though exciting scene. Five of them were speared and drowned, while the sixth crawled out upon the ice and was rapidly making off, frightened enough at his cold ducking.
"At that moment I heard the crack of a rifle and saw the wolf tumble over.
"On turning round I saw Harry with, my rifle, which my wife had brought down and handed to him, as a better marksman than herself.
"The wolf, only wounded, was kicking furiously about on the ice; but Cudjo now ran out, and, after a short struggle, finished the business with his spear.
"This was, indeed, a day of great excitement in our forest home. Frank, who was the hero of the day, although he said nothing, was no doubt not a little proud of his skating feat.
"And well he might be, as, but for his skill, poor Harry would no doubt have fallen a prey to the fierce wolves."
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Language Lesson.--Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of what is given below in dark type.
Again he _changed his direction_.
He then _dashed off_.
He wheeled _sharply_ to the left.
Cudjo and I commenced _dealing death among them_.
Cudjo _finished the business_ with his spear.
Harry would have _fallen a prey to_ the fierce wolves.
Tell the story in your own words, using the points in the following
Analysis.--1. Frank and Harry go to skate. 2. The alarm. 3. The wolves. 4. The pursuit. 5. The escape. 6. Death of the wolves.
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LESSON VII.
craft, _ship; a boat of any kind_.
mew'ing, _crying, like a cat_.
a dopt'ed, _received as one's own_.
ad mir'er, _one who likes another_.
voy'age, _journey by water_.
dain'ty, _nice in form or taste_.
a loft', _on high; in the air_.
wind'ward, _the point from which the wind blows_.
star'board, _the right-hand side of a ship_.
bruised, _injured, hurt_.
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OUR SAILOR CAT.
She was a sailor cat, indeed, and it was a sailor who first brought her on board.
Our steamer was lying at her pier in the North River, at New York, taking in cargo.
One of our men, who had been ashore, came back with a little gray-and-white kitten in his arms. She was very poor and thin, and her little furry coat was sadly soiled with dirt and grease.
But she had not lost all her fun, for she was making play with her tiny fore-paws at the ends of the sailor's red beard, to honest Jack's great delight.
"Where did you pick that up, Jack?" asked the third officer.
"Well, your honor," said Jack Harmon, touching his cap with a grin, "seems to me she must have left her ship and gone to look for another, for I found her tramping along the pier there, and mewing as if she was calling out for somebody to show her the road.
"So I thought that, as we have many rats aboard the old craft, she would be able to pick up a good living there; and I called to her, and she came at once, and here she is."
Here she was, sure enough; and as Jack ended his story, she chimed in with a plaintive little "Me-ow," which said, as plainly as ever any cat spoke yet, "I'm very cold and hungry, and I do wish somebody would take me below and give me some food!"
She had not long to wait. Half an hour later she was the best-fed cat in that part of New York City, and that night she lay snugly curled up with a good warm blanket over her.
Of course, the first thing to do with an adopted cat is to give it a name, and Jack Harmon, who was a bit of a wag in his way, and a great admirer of the monster elephant which was just then making such a stir in New York, called his new pet "Jumbo."
Jumbo soon became the pet of the whole crew, and of the passengers, too, when they came on board, a few days later, for the voyage back to England.
Before we were half-way across the ocean, the bits of meat or cake, and bits of white bread soaked in milk, which were being constantly given her by one and another, had made her look as round as an apple.
The ladies were never tired of stroking her soft fur and admiring her dainty white paws, which were now as spotless as snow. The children romped all day with this new playmate, who seemed to enjoy the sport quite as much as themselves.
But Jumbo was not content with mere play. She seemed to think herself bound to do something to "work her passage." Whenever any of the crew went aloft to take in sail, Jumbo would always climb up, too, as if to help them.
Jack Harmon was still her favorite, and whenever it came his turn to stand at the bow and keep watch, there was Jumbo going backward and forward.
On the eighth night of the voyage, the stars looked dim and watery, and a low bank of clouds began to rise to windward of us, just between sea and sky.
The old sailors shook their heads and looked grave, as if they expected an unusual storm. Suddenly the wind began to blow strongly upon the starboard quarter, stirring up a cross-sea which tossed the great ship like a toy.
Nearly all the passengers had gone below, and the few who remained on deck buttoned their water-proof coats, and held tightly on by any thing they could seize.
Jack Harmon had shut up his cat below, but poor puss escaped somehow, for all at once a shrill cry was heard, and there was Jumbo clinging to a rail, with a great mountain of a wave coming right down upon her.
Several men sprang toward the spot, but Jack was foremost, and he had just reached his little pet when down came the great wave upon them both.
Instantly the whole after-deck was one roaring, foaming waterfall, the flying spray of which blinded one for a moment. But when it cleared, there stood our brave Jack--dripping, bruised, and bleeding from a cut on the head.
But his little favorite was safe in his arms, and as he came back with her, such a cheer went up from all who were on deck, as the old ship had not heard for many a day.
"Let's send round the hat for him," said one of the passengers.
And the hat was sent around, so successfully that Jack got enough money to give his poor old mother a happy Christmas, and still have something left over for himself and Jumbo, who was his mother's pet ever after.
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Directions for Reading.--Should this lesson be read with the same tone of voice as Lessons V. and VI.?
In the first paragraph, do not say _pier rin_ for _pier in; dir' tand_ for _dirt and_.
Point out two other places in the lesson where mistakes similar to those just given might occur.
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Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark the sounds of letters in the following words: _cargo, officer, blanket, passengers, instantly, bleeding_.
_Work her passage_ means to pay her fare by making herself useful.
Make out an _analysis_ in six parts for this lesson, and use it in telling the story in your own words.
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LESSON VIII.
loi'ter ing, _going slowly, lingering_.
pro tect'or, _one who keeps another from harm_.
throng'ing, _gathering in large numbers_.
wrecked, _dashed to pieces_.
thatched, _covered with straw or twigs_.
bronzed, _brown, darked-colored_.
bleach'ing, _whitening_.
van'ished, _gone out of sight; departed suddenly_.
rapt'ure, _great joy; delight_.
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RESCUED.
"Little lad, slow wandering across the sands so yellow, Leading safe a lassie small--O tell me, little fellow, Whither go you, loitering in the summer weather, Chattering like sweet-voiced birds on a bough together?"
"I am Robert, if you please, and this is Rose, my sister, Youngest of us all"--he bent his curly head and kissed her, "Every day we come and wait here till the sun is setting, Watching for our father's ship, for mother dear is fretting.
"Long ago he sailed away, out of sight and hearing, Straight across the bay he went, into sunset steering. Every day we look for him, and hope for his returning, Every night my mother keeps the candle for him burning.
"Summer goes, and winter comes, and spring returns but never Father's step comes to the gate. O, is he gone forever? The great, grand ship that bore him off, think you some tempest wrecked her?" Tears shone in little Rose's eyes, upturned to her protector.
Eagerly the bonny boy went on: "O, sir, look yonder! In the offing see the sails that east and westward wander; Every hour they come and go, the misty distance thronging. While we watch and see them fade, with sorrow and with longing."
"Little Robert, little Rose!" The stranger's eyes were glistening At his bronzed and bearded face, upgazed the children, listening; He knelt upon the yellow sand, and clasped them to his bosom, Robert brave, and little Rose, as bright as any blossom.
"Father, father! Is it you?" The still air rings with rapture; All the vanished joy of years the waiting ones recapture! Finds he welcome wild and sweet, the low-thatched cottage reaching, But the ship that into sunset steered, upon the rocks lies bleaching.
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Directions for Reading.--Read the conversational parts of this poem like conversation in prose.
Point out the _emphatic words_ in the first line of the last stanza.
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Language Lesson.--_Into sunset steering_, means sailing westward.
_The misty distance thronging_, means gathering together in the distance.
_The still air rings with rapture_, means that the air becomes full of joyful shouts.
_All the vanished joy of years the waiting ones recapture_, means that the children regain the happiness lost during their father's absence.
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LESSON IX.
impos'ing, _grand looking; of great size_.
glar'ing, _fierce looking_.
lim'its, _space_.
e nor'mous, _very large; huge_.
start'led, _suddenly alarmed; surprised_.
au'dible, _that may be heard_.
maj'esty, _greatness; nobility_.
increas'ing, _growing larger_.
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THE LION.
There is, in the appearance of the lion, something both noble and imposing. Nature has given him wonderful strength and beauty.
His body, when full grown, is only about seven feet long and less than four feet high; but his large and shapely head, with its powerful jaws, his glaring eye, and long, flowing mane, give him an air of majesty that shows him worthy of the name--"King of Beasts."
Yet we are told that a lion will not willingly attack man, unless first attacked himself or driven by hunger to forget his habits.
On meeting man suddenly, he will turn, retreat slowly for a short distance, and then run away.
The lion belongs to the cat family, and his teeth and claws are similar in form and action to those of the house cat.
His food is the flesh of animals; and so great is his appetite, that it must require several thousand other animals to supply one lion with food during his life-time.
His strength is so enormous that he can crush the skull of an ox with a single blow of his powerful paw, and then grasp it in his jaws and bound away.
Unless driven by hunger to bolder measures, he will hide in the bushes, or in the tall reeds along the banks of rivers, and spring suddenly upon the unlucky animal that chances to come near him.
Many lions have been captured, and their habits and appearance carefully studied. Although there is a difference in color--some being of a yellowish brown, others of a deep red, and a few silvery gray--the general form and appearance of all lions is the same.
The mane is of a dark brown, or of a dusky color, and the tail nearly three feet long, with a bunch of hair at the tip.
The lioness, or female lion, is smaller in every way than the male and has no mane.
It is in the night-time that the lion goes out from his den to seek for food, and his color is so dark and his movements so silent, that his presence is not known even at the distance of a few yards.
These dangerous beasts are no longer found in Europe, although they lived there in numbers many hundred years ago. It is only in the deserts and rocky hills of Asia and Africa that they are met with.
Those who have visited a menagerie, and have seen a lion within the limits of a narrow iron cage, can form no idea of the majesty of the brute when roaming about freely on his native soil.
The voice of the lion is loud and strong. It is likely to strike terror to the bravest heart.
"It consists," says a well-known writer, "at times of a low, deep moaning, repeated five or six times, and ending in scarcely audible sighs; at other times, the forest is startled with loud, deep-toned, solemn roars, increasing in loudness to the third or fourth, and then dying away in sounds like distant thunder."
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Directions for Reading.--This lesson should be read a little more slowly than conversation. When we wish to describe any thing, we must give time for those who listen to us to get the meaning of what we say.
Do not run the words together when reading. (See Directions for Reading, page 42.)[03]
Example.--"There is, in the appearance of the lion, something both noble and imposing."
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Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words: _meeting, require, Europe, idea, terror, measures, unlucky, narrow, bolder_.
_Air of majesty_ means the noble appearance supposed to belong to kings.
[03] See Lesson VII.
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LESSON X.
ar ti fi' cial, _not real; made by human skill_.
ex er'tion, _great effort; attempt_.
destroyed', _killed; put an end to_.
cleansed, _cleaned; freed from dirt_.
sit u a'tion, _position_.
fa'mous, _much talked of; well known_.
fre'quent ly, _often_.
in'ci dent, _adventure; event_.
nar rat'ed, _told_.
hurled, _thrown with force_.
stu'por, _sleepy feeling_.
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ADVENTURE WITH A LION.
The dangers of lion-hunting may be understood from the following incident, narrated by Livingstone, the famous African traveler:
"The villagers among whom I was staying were much troubled by lions, which leaped into their cattle-pens and destroyed their cows.
"As I knew well that, if one of a number of lions is killed, the others frequently take the hint and leave that part of the country, I gave the villagers advice to that end, and, to encourage them, offered to lead the hunt.
"The lions were found hiding among the rocks on a hill covered with trees, and about a quarter of a mile in length. The men circled the hill, and slowly edged in closer and closer, so that the lions might be completely surrounded.
"Presently one of the natives spied a lion sitting on a piece of rock, and fired at him, the ball missing the beast and striking the rock.
"The lion turned, bit like a dog at the spot where the bullet had struck, and then bounded off to the shelter of the brushwood.
"Soon I saw another lion in much the same situation as the former, and, being not more than thirty yards from it, let fly with both barrels.
"As the lion was still on its legs, I hastened to reload my gun; but hearing a sudden and frightful cry from the natives, I looked up and saw the wounded lion springing upon me.
"I was caught by the shoulder and hurled to the ground. Growling terribly in my ear, the lion shook me as a dog does a rat.
"The shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of a cat.
"The lion then leaped upon one of the natives who had tried to shoot at him, and then sprang at the neck of a second native who, armed with a spear, was rushing to the rescue.
"The exertion was too much for the wounded beast, and so, with his claws bedded in the spearman's shoulder, he rolled over and died.
"I had escaped, but with a shoulder so broken as to need an artificial joint, and with eleven teeth wounds in my arm.
"These wounds were less severe than they would have been, had not a heavy jacket which I had on, cleansed the teeth of the lion in their passage. As it was, they were soon cured and gave me no trouble afterward."
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Directions for Reading.--Read this lesson in a full and clear conversational tone of voice.
Those parts of the lesson to which we wish to call attention, should be read slowly.
Example.--"The men edged in closer and closer, so that the lions might be completely surrounded."
Should the slow and clear reading be kept up throughout pages 51 and 52, or should those pages be read more rapidly?[04]
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Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words: _Livingstone, bullet, growling, jacket, offered, advice, severe_.
_Edged in closer and closer_ means went slowly nearer and nearer.
_Let fly with both barrels_ means fired both barrels of his gun at the same time.
_Still on its legs_ means not so badly wounded but that it was able to stand up.
Tell the story in your own words.
[04] See this lesson.
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LESSON XI.
en riched', _made rich_.
de tec'tion, _being found out_.
dis mount'ed, _got down from_.
sat' is fied, _supplied with all one wants_.
sum'mit, _top; highest point_.
en trust'ed, _gave the care of_.
em ployed', _used; made use of_.
im por'tant, _worthy of attention_.
ad dressed', _spoke to_.
di' a mond, _a very valuable stone_.
in clud' ed, _put in as a part_.
* * * * *
THE NOBLEST DEED OF ALL.
A rich Persian, feeling himself growing old, and finding that the cares of business were too great for him, resolved, to divide his goods among his three sons, keeping a very small part to protect him from want in his old age.
The sons were all well satisfied, and each took his share with thanks, and promised that it should be well and properly employed. When this important business was thus finished, the father addressed the sons in the following words:
"My sons, there is one thing which I have not included in the share of any one of you. It is this costly diamond which you see in my hand. I will give it to that one of you who shall earn it by the noblest deed.
"Go, therefore, and travel for three months; at the end of that time, we will meet here again, and you shall tell me what you have done."
The sons thereupon departed, and traveled for three months, each in a different direction. At the end of that time they returned; and all came together to their father to give an account of their journey. The eldest son spoke first.
"Father, on my journey a stranger entrusted to me a great number of valuable jewels, without taking any account of them. Indeed, I was well aware that he did not know how many the package contained.
"One or two of them would never have been missed, and I might easily have enriched myself without fear of detection. But I gave back the package exactly as I had received it. Was not this a noble deed?"
"My son," replied the father, "simple honesty cannot be called noble. You did what was right, and nothing more. If you had acted otherwise, you would have been dishonest, and your deed would have shamed you. You have done well, but not nobly."
The second son now spoke. He said: "As I was riding along on my journey, I one day saw a poor child playing by the shore of a lake; and just as I rode by, it fell into the water, and was in danger of being drowned.
"I at once dismounted from my horse, and plunging into the water, brought it safe to land. All the people of the village where this happened will tell you that what I say is true. Was it not a noble action?"
"My son," replied the old man, "you did only what was your duty. You could hardly have left the child to die without exerting yourself to save it. You, too, have acted well, but not nobly."
Then the third son came forward to tell his tale. He said: "Father, I had an enemy, who for years had done me much harm and tried to take my life.
"One evening during my journey, I was passing along a dangerous road which ran beside the summit of a cliff. As I rode along, my horse started at sight of something in the road.
"I dismounted to see what it was, and found my enemy lying fast asleep on the very edge of the cliff. The least movement in his sleep and he must have rolled over and been dashed to pieces on the rocks below.
"His life was in my hands. I drew him away from the edge and then woke him, and told him to go on his way in peace."
Then the old Persian cried out with great joy, "Dear son, the diamond is yours, for it is a noble and godlike thing to help an enemy and return good for evil."
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Directions for Reading.--Read this lesson in a conversational tone of voice, and somewhat more slowly than Lesson III.
Read what is said by each one of the four different persons, as you think each one of them would speak.
How would you read the third and fourth paragraphs?--the last paragraph?
Point out the _emphatic words_ in the last paragraph.
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Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words: _Persian, therefore, valuable, account, jewels, aware, contained, dishonest, duty, enemy_.
Let pupils use other words, to express the following:
To go on his way in peace. Return good for evil.
Tell the story in your own words, using the points in the following
Analysis.--1. The father divides his goods. 2. What he said to his sons. 3. What the eldest son did. 4. What the second son did. 5. What the third son did. 6. What the father said.
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LESSON XII.
a new', _over again_.
al'ma nac, _a book giving days, weeks, and months of the year_.
rus'tling, _shaking with a gentle sound_.
scents, _smells_.
drow'sy, _sleepy; making sleepy_.
larch, _a kind of tree_.
flue, _an opening for air or smoke to pass through_.
haunt'ing, _staying in; returning often_.
mur'mur, _a low sound_.
fra' grant, _sweet smelling_.
* * * * *
MARJORIE'S ALMANAC.
Robins in the tree-top, Blossoms in the grass, Green things a-growing Every-where you pass; Sudden fragrant breezes, Showers of silver dew, Black bough and bent twig Budding out anew; Pine-tree and willow-tree, Fringed elm and larch,-- Don't you think that May-time's Pleasanter than March?
Apples in the orchard Mellowing one by one; Strawberries upturning Soft cheeks to the sun; Roses faint with sweetness, Lilies fair of face, Drowsy scents and murmurs Haunting every place; Lengths of golden sunshine, Moonlight bright as day,-- Don't you think that summer's Pleasanter than May?
Roger in the corn-patch Whistling negro songs; Pussy by the hearth-side Romping with the tongs; Chestnuts in the ashes Bursting through the rind; Red leaf and gold leaf Rustling down the wind; Mother "doin' peaches" All the afternoon,-- Don't you think that autumn's Pleasanter than June?
Little fairy snow-flakes Dancing in the flue; Old Mr. Santa Claus, What is keeping you? Twilight and firelight, Shadows come and go; Merry chime of sleigh-bells Tinkling through the snow; Mother knitting stockings (Pussy's got the ball!)-- Don't you think that winter's Pleasanter than all?
* * * * *
Directions for Reading.--Read the lesson with spirit, and avoid anything like sing-song.
Do not make the last word of each line _emphatic_, unless it is really an _emphatic word_.
* * * * *
Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words; _Marjorie's, chestnuts, peaches, afternoon_.
What part of the year is described in each stanza?
What two words can be used for each of the following: _May-time's, summer's_.
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LESSON XIII.
col'o ny, _a number of people living together in one place_.
set'tlers, _those people who form a colony_.
shy, _easily frightened; timid_.
es tab'lished, _formed; settled_.
war'rior, _a soldier; one who fights in war_.
fur'ni ture, _articles used in a house_.
dread'ed, _feared very much_.
pros' per ous, _successful; rich_.
* * * * *
THE STORY OF INDIAN SPRING.