24. "What a nice morsel for my poor fatherless ones," cooed the dove, and, pecking at the ant, was just flying away with it in quite a sentimental style, when the hawk, seeing this, screamed out, "what a pretty plump dove for a dinner! Providence has ordained that I should eat her." He was carrying her off, when the eagle darted upon him, and soaring to his aerie on the summit of an inaccessible rock, composedly made a meal of both hawk and dove. Then picking his teeth with his claws, he exclaimed with great complacency, "What a glorious thing it is to be king of birds!" 25. "Humph," exclaimed I, rubbing my eyes, for it seemed I had been half asleep, "humph, a man is not so much worse than his neighbors, after all," and shaking off the spell that was over me, bent my steps homeward, wondering why it was, that it seemed as if all living things were created for the sole purpose of preying on each other. PAULDING. QUESTIONS.-By what authority does man hold dominion over animals? Does this include the right to torture them, or to kill them unnecessarily? Under what circumstances is it right to kill them? On what account are the animals, in this fable, supposed to be incensed at man? How did they show, by their own conduct, the folly of finding fault with others? When we see faults in others, where should our attention be directed? In what way can we make the best use of the faults of others? TO TEACHERS. Frequent examination in grammatical construction will add interest to the reading lesson, and will be highly profitable to the pupil. A few questions of this kind are occasionally inserted in this book, merely as examples of the manner of conducting this exercise. This and all the collateral exercises should receive due attention, for this alone will redeem the reading exercise from its usual prosy and monotonous character, and give to it proper variety, interest, and profit. ARTICULATION. Truly, trusty, thrifty, throttl'd, through, thrall. Truly he is trusty and thrifty. The brute was with difficulty throttl'd. Through the storm and danger's thrall. He has many cents, and but little sense. The prince bought some prints. LESSON XLVIII. PRONOUNCE Correctly.-Mel-an-chol-y, not mel-un-chul-y: meadows, not mead-ers: hol-lows, not hol-luz: rust-le, pro. rus'l: beau-te-ous, not beau-che-ous: up-land, not up-lund: youth-ful, not youth-f'l: cold not cole: moist, not mois: friend, not fren: flowers, not flow-uz. 1. Wail'-ing, a. lamenting, mourning. 3. Glade, n. an open place in the forest Sear, a. dry, withered. Glen, n. a valley, a dale. THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS. 1. THE *melancholy days are come, The robbin and the wren have flown, And from the wood-top calls the crow Through all the gloomy day. 2. Where are the flowers, the fair young flowers, In brighter light and softer airs, Alas! they all are in their graves; Are lying in their lowly beds, With the fair and good of ours. S. The wall-flower and the violet, They perished long ago, + And the brier-rose and the orchis died Amid the summer's glow; But on the hill, the golden rod, And the aster in the wood, And the yellow sun-flower by the brook Till fell the frost from the clear, cold heaven, And the brightness of their smile was gone + 4. And now, when comes the calm, mild day, To call the squirrel and the bee When the sound of dropping nuts is heard, The waters of the trill, The south wind searches for the flowers 5. And then I think of one, who in The fair, meek blossom that grew up In the old, moist earth we laid her, And we wept that one so lovely W 3. BRYANT. QUESTIONS. To what season of the year do these lines refer? Why are they called the melancholy days? How are the woods and leaves described? What is meant by the "eddying gust?" What birds are common at this season? What flowers are mentioned as having died one after the other? What is said about the squirrel, and the bee, and the nuts? What is said of the south wind? Describe, in your own language, the event referred to, in the last stanza. Explain the inflections, and point out the emphatic words in this lesson. Parse "To call," in the 4th stanza. Parse "twinkle" in the same (It has "waters" for its nominative.) Name all the adjectives in the 1st stanza, and compare each. Which verbs in the last stanza are in the potential mood? Which are the adjectives in the same stanza, and what does each one qualify? What does the word adjective mean. REMARK. LESSON XLIX. Avoid reading in a faint and low tone. This is a very common fault, and should be carefully guarded against. PRONOUNCE Correctly.-Trow (pro. tro), not trou: gath-ers, not geth-uz: to'-ward, not to-ward': un-heard (pro. un-herd), not un-heerd. 1. Trow, v. suppose, think. Trap'-pings, n. ornaments. 3. In-ter-ve'-ned, p. situated between. [person. 4. Tint'-ings, n. colorings. 2. Im'-be-cile, n. (pro. im'-be-cil) a sick 5. Sti'-fled, v. suppressed, checked. IT SNOW S. 1. "It snows!" cries the School-boy, "Hurrah!" and his shout Is ringing through parlor and hall, While swift as the wing of a swallow, he's out, And his playmates have answered his call; It makes the heart leap but to witness their joy, Like the rapture that throbs in the pulse of the boy, Then lay not the trappings of gold on thine heirs, 2. "It snows!" sighs the Imbecile, "Ah!” and his breath + While, from the pale aspect of nature in death, And nearer and nearer, his soft-cushioned chair + Oh! small is the pleasure existence can give, When the fear we shall die only proves that we live ! The wind rushes by, but its howl is unheard For bright through the tempest his own home appeared, Blest thought! how it lightens the grief-laden hour, 4. "It snows!" cries the Belle, "Dear, how lucky!" and turns From her mirror to watch the flakes fall; Like the first rose of summer, her dimpled cheek burns, There are visions of conquests, of splendor, and mirth, But the tintings of Hope, on this storm-beaten earth, Turn, turn thee to Heaven, fair maiden, for bliss; 5. "It snows!" cries the Widow, "Oh God!" and her sighs Its burden ye'll read in her tear-swollen eyes, 'Tis night, and her fatherless ask her for bread; And she trusts, till her dark hearth adds + horror to dread, Poor sufferer! that sorrow thy God only knows; MRS. S. J. HALE QUESTIONS.-Why does the school-boy rejoice when it snows? Why does the sick man receive no pleasure from the same source? What feelings are excited in him by the snow storm? What effect does it have upon the traveler, and what does he think about? Why does the belle congratulate herself, and of what are her dreams? widow's troubles in a time like this? What are the poor |