McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 8

wool with a large pair of shears.
7. It is then dyed, spun, and woven into cloth.
8. In a short time, before the cold winter comes, new wool grows out on the sheep. By the corning of spring there is so much, that it must be cut off again.

LESSON XXV.
bear'ers earth warm sul'try wan'der
rays grain clouds o'er we're
THE CLOUDS
1. "Clouds that wander through the sky, Sometimes low and sometimes high; In the darkness of the night, In the sunshine warm and bright. Ah! I wonder much if you Have any useful work to do."
2. "Yes, we're busy night and day, As o'er the earth we take our way. We are bearers of the rain To the grasses, and flowers, and grain; We guard you from the sun's bright rays, In the sultry summer days."

LESSON XXVI.
peo'ple for'est squir'rel cool near'est tame hol'low
snug shoul'der miles sticks gen'tly though Pat'ty
[Illustration: Girl sitting under tree, play with squirrel.]
PATTY AND THE SQUIRREL.
1. Little Patty lives in a log house near a great forest. She has no sisters, and her big brothers are away all day helping their father.
2. But Patty is never lonely; for, though the nearest house is miles away, she has many little friends. Here are two of them that live in the woods.
3. But how did Patty teach them to be so tame? Patty came to the woods often, and was always so quiet and gentle that the squirrels soon found they need not be afraid of her.
4. She brought her bread and milk to eat under the trees, and was sure to leave crumbs for the squirrels.
5. When they came near, she sat very still and watched them. So, little by little, she made them her friends, till, at last, they would sit on her shoulder, and eat from her hand.
6. Squirrels build for themselves summer houses. Those are made of leaves, and sticks, and moss. They are nice and cool for summer, but would never do for the winter cold and snow.
7. So these wise little people find a hollow in an old tree. They make it warm and snug with soft moss and leaves; and here the squirrels live all through the long winter.

LESSON XXVII.
fright'ened int end' wheat Thom'as com plains' plums
choose shock'ing spar'row rip'est rob'bing
break'fast plen'ty share treat tales wait
[Illustration: Sparrow perched on snow-covered branch.]
THE SPARROW.
1. Glad to see you, little bird; 'Twas your little chirp I heard: What did you intend to say? "Give me something this cold day"?
2. That I will, and plenty, too; All the crumbs I saved for you. Don't be frightened--here's a treat: I will wait and see you eat.
3. Shocking tales I hear of you; Chirp, and tell me, are they true? Robbing all the summer long; Don't you think it very wrong?
4. Thomas says you steal his wheat; John complains, his plums you eat-- Choose the ripest for your share, Never asking whose they are.
5. But I will not try to know What you did so long ago: There's your breakfast, eat away; Come to see me every day.

LESSON XXVIII.
aft'er noon sup'per deep length car'riage threw hedge stood tru'ly road few sad
[Illustration: Woman and boy riding in carriage pulled by horse. Man in foreground holding gate open for carriage.]
SAM AND HARRY.
1. One fine summer afternoon, Sam was walking home from school. He went along slowly, reading a book.
2. Sam had spent all his money for the book, but he was a happy boy.
3. At length he came into the highroad, where there was a gate. A blind man stood, holding it open.
4. The poor man said, "Please give me a few cents to buy some bread!" But Sam gave him nothing.
5. What! did Sam give the poor blind man nothing? Yes; for, as I told you, he had spent all his money.
6. So Sam walked on, very sad. Soon after, a fine carriage came up, and in it were Harry and his mother.
7. The blind man stood, and held out his hat. "Let us give the poor man something," said Harry to his mother.
8. His mother gave him some cents. Harry took them, but did not put them into the man's hat.
9. He threw them into the hedge as far as he could. The poor man could not find them, for, you know, ho was blind.
10. Sam had turned back to look at the fine carriage. He saw Harry throw the cents into the hedge; so he came back at once, and looked for the money until he found it all for the blind man.
11. This took so long a time, that he almost lost his supper.
12. Which of the boys do you think was truly kind to the poor man?
13. I know which he thanked most in his heart.

LESSON XXIX.
rip'pling fringe stray thou mill
vil'lage brink clear wild hill
course bathe tiny pool