McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 7

join together to build cells of wax for their honey.
4. Each bee takes its proper place, and does its own work. Some go out and gather honey from the flowers; others stay at home and work inside the hive.
5. The cells which they build, are all of one shape and size, and no room is left between them.
6. The cells are not round, but have six sides. 7. Did you ever look into a glass hive to see the bees while at work? It is pleasant to see how busy they always are.
8. But the drones do not work. Before winter comes, all the drones are driven from the hive or killed, that they may not eat the honey which they did not gather.
9. It is not quite safe for children to handle bees. They have sharp stings that they know well how to use in their defense.

SLATE WORK.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour. And gather honey all the day From every opening flower! ]

LESSON XXII.
blos'soms drear'y wea'ry pinks smell'ing toil'ing
lev'ies buzz fra'grant this'tle weeds scent
treas'ure yel'low mead'ow tax sum'mer clo'ver
cloud'y dai'sy daf'fo dil lies columbine humming
[Illustration: Flowers]
THE SONG OF THE BEE.
1. Buzz! buzz! buzz! This is the song of the bee. His legs are of yellow; A jolly, good fellow, And yet a great worker is he.
2. In days that are sunny He's getting his honey; In days that are cloudy He's making his wax: On pinks and on lilies, And gay daffodillies, And columbine blossoms, He levies a tax!
3. Buzz! buzz! buzz! The sweet-smelling clover, He, humming, hangs over; The scent of the roses Makes fragrant his wings: He never gets lazy; From thistle and daisy, And weeds of the meadow, Some treasure he brings.
4. Buzz! buzz! buzz! From morning's first light Till the coming of night, He's singing and toiling The summer day through. Oh! we may get weary, And think work is dreary; 'Tis harder by far To have nothing to do. Marian Douglas.

LESSON XXIII.
un hap'py prom'ised heed'less be came' grow'ing
care'less harsh'ly leav'ing eas'i ly ef fects'
an noy' ma'am blame worse torn
hard'ly nic'est spend hab'it e'vil
[Illustration: Mother and daughter sitting under a tree.]
THE TORN DOLL.
1. Mary Armstrong was a pretty little girl, but she was heedless about some things.
2. Her way of leaving her books and playthings just where she had used them last, gave her mother much trouble in picking them up and putting them in their proper places.
3. She had often told Mary the evil effects of being so careless. Her books became spoiled, and her toys broken.
4. But worse than this was the growing habit of carelessness, which would be of great harm to her all her life. It would make her unhappy, and would annoy her friends.
5. One day Mary and her mother went out into their pleasant yard, to spend an hour in the open air. Mrs. Armstrong took her work with her.
6. Mary ran about and played with Dash, her pet dog, and was having a happy time.
7. But in a corner of the yard she found her nicest doll all torn and broken, and its dress covered with mud.
8. She knew, at once, that Dash had done this, and she scolded him harshly.
9. Carrying the broken doll to her mamma. she showed it to her, and could hardly keep from crying.
10. Mrs. Armstrong asked Mary if she had not left the doll on the porch where Dash could easily get it; and Mary had to answer, "Yes, ma'am."
11. "Then you must not blame the dog, Mary, for he does not know it is wrong for him to play with your doll. I hope this will be a lesson to you hereafter, to put your things away when you are through playing."
12. "I will try," said Mary. And her mother promised to mend the doll as well as she could.

LESSON XXIV.
thor'ough ly month dried dyed cuts shear'er sheep
those spun dirt oth'er wise wov'en cloth wool rub
[Illustration: Two men shearing sheep.]
SHEEP-SHEARING.
1. Sheep are washed and sheared some time in the month of June. This should be done quite early in the month, before the hot days begin.
2. It is fine sport for those who look on, hut not much fun for the sheep.
3. It is best for the sheep to have the wool taken off; otherwise they would suffer in the summer time.
4. When the time comes for washing the sheep, they are driven to a pond or a little river.
5. Then they are thrown into the water, one at a time. The men who are in the water catch them, and squeeze the wet wool with their hands to get the dirt all out of it.
6. Then the wool is thoroughly dried, the sheep are taken to the shearer; and he cuts off the