McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 3

"See how high it floats in the air!
I can see--ah! it has burst."
6. "I can see the house and the trees and the sky in mine," says Willie;
"and such beautiful colors."
7. "How many, Willie?"
8. "Red, one; blue, two; there--they are all out. Let us try again."
9. "I know how many colors there are," says Harry. "Just as many as
there are in the rainbow."
10. "Do you know how many that is?"
LESSON III.

rub'ber gun par'lor street
num'ber ten o'clock' shoot
WILLIE'S LETTER. [Illustration: Script Exercise:
New York, Dec. 10, 1878. Dear Santa Claus: Papa is going to give me
a Christmas tree, and he says that you will put nice things on it if I ask
you. I would like a gun that will shoot, and a rubber ball that I can
throw hard, and that will not break Mamma's windows or the big glass
in the parlor. Now, please don't forget to come. I live on Fourth St.,
number ten. I will go to bed at eight o'clock, and shut my eyes tight. I
will not look, indeed I won't. Your little boy, Willie. ]

LESSON IV.
a bove' world dark oft
nev'er spark dew till
di'a mond twin'kle blaz'ing
The Little Star
1. Twinkle, twinkle, little star; How I wonder what you are, Up above
the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky!
2. When the blazing sun is set, And the grass with dew is wet, Then
you show your little light; Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
3. Then, if I wore in the dark, I would thank you for your spark. I could
not see which way to go, If you did not twinkle so.
4. And when I am sound asleep, Oft you through my window peep; For
you never shut your eye, Till the sun is in the sky.

LESSON V.
be hind' to geth'er nob'le Scotch
Dodg'er min'utes crib wag'on
ter'ri er coun'try scold fel'low
shag'gy frisk'i ly fits cel'lar
guards New'found land yard har'ness
[Illustration: Two dogs, one large, the other a small puppy.]
TWO DOGS.
1. James White has two dogs. One is a Newfoundland dog, and the
other is a Scotch terrier.
2. The Newfoundland is a large, noble fellow. He is black, with a white
spot, and with long, shaggy hair. His name is Sport.
3. Sport is a good watchdog, and a kind playfellow. Every night he
guards the house while James and his father are asleep.
4. In the daytime, James often uses Sport for his horse. He has a little
wagon, and a set of small harness which just fits the dog.
5. He hitches Sport to this wagon, and drives over the country. In this
way, he can go almost as fast as his father with the old family horse.
6. The name of James's Scotch terrier is Dodger. He is called Dodger
because he jumps about so friskily. He is up on a chair, under the table,
behind the door, down cellar, and out in the yard,--all in a minute.
7. Dodger has very bright eyes, and he does many funny things. He
likes to put his paws up on the crib, and watch the baby.
8. The other day he took baby's red stocking, and had great fun with it;

but he spoiled it in his play, and James had to scold him.
9. Everyone likes to see James White with his two dogs. They always
seem very happy together.

LESSON VI.
bet ween' bu'reau (-ro) stairs nee'dle
a fraid' shad'ow held stir
AFRAID IN THE DARK.
1. "Willie, will you run upstairs, and get my needle book from the
bureau?"
2. But Willie did not stir. "Willie!" said mamma. She thought he had
not heard.
3. "I'm afraid," said Willie.
4. "Afraid of what?"
5. "It's dark up there."
6. "What is the dark?" asked mamma. "See! It is nothing but a shadow."
And she held her hand between the lamp and the workbasket on the
table.
[Illustration: Mother, seated in rocking chair, kerosene lamp on table,
boy standing, examining his shadow on the wall.]
7. "Now it is dark in the basket; but as soon as I take my hand away, it
is light."
8. "Come and stand between the lamp and the wall, Willie. See! There
is your shadow on the wall. Can your shadow hurt you?"

9. "Oh no, mamma! I am sure it can not hurt me."
10. "Well, the dark is only a big shadow over everything."
11. "What makes the big shadow, mamma?"
12. "I will tell you all about that, Willie, when you are a little older. But
now, I wish you would find me a brave boy who is not afraid of
shadows, to run upstairs