McGuffeys Third Eclectic Reader | Page 5

if you did n't cry when your kite string broke," retorted
Herbert. 8. "Losing a kite is quite another thing," answered Joe, a little

dashed. "The kite was gone forever; but your blocks were as good as
before, and you had only to build again." 9. "I do n't see," said papa,
"that crying was of any more use in your case then in Herbert's. Sticks
and paper are easily found, and you had only to go to work and make
another kite." Joe looked down at his book, and went on reading. By
this time the castle was finished. 10. "It is ever so much nicer than the
one
24 ECLECTIC SERIES. pussy knocked down," said Hetty. And so
thought Herbert, as he looked at it proudly from all sides. 11. "If pussy
knocks that down, I'll-" 12. "Build it up again," said papa, finishing the
sentence for his little boy.
13. "But, papa, pussy must not knock my castles down. I can't have it,"
spoke out Herbert, knitting his forehead. 14. "You must watch her, then.
Little boys, as well as grown up people, have to be often on their guard.
If you go into the street, you have to look out for the carriages, so as
not to be run over, and you have to keep out of people's way. 15. "In
the house, if you go about heedlessly, you will be very apt to run
against some one. I have seen a careless child dash suddenly into a
room just as a servant was leaving it with a tray of dishes in her hands.
A crash followed."
THIRD READER. 25 16. "It was I, was n't it?" said Hetty. 17. "Yes, I
believe it was, and I hope it will never happen again." 18. Papa now left
the room, saying, "I do n't want any more of this crying over spilled
milk, as Joe says. If your castles get knocked down, build them up
again."
LESSON VI.

LEND A HAND.

26 ECLECTIC SERIES.

THIRD READER. 27
LESSON VII.

THE TRUANT. 1. James Brown was ten years old when his parents
sent him to school. It was not far from his home, and therefore they
sent him by himself. 2. But, instead of going to school, he was in the
habit of playing truant. He would go into the fields, or spend his time
with idle boys. 3. But this was not all. When he went home, he would
falsely tell his mother that he had been to school, and had said his
lessons very well. 4. One fine morning, his mother told James to make
haste home from school, for she wished, after he had come back, to
take him to his aunt's. 5. But, instead of minding her, he went off to the
water, where there were some boats. There he met plenty of idle boys.
6. Some of these boys found that James
28 ECLECTIC SERIES, had money, which his aunt had given him;
and he was led by them to hire a boat, and to go with them upon the
water. 7. Little did James think of the danger into which he was
running. Soon the wind began to blow, and none of them knew how to
manage the boat.
8. For some time, they struggled against the wind and the tide. At last,
they became so tired that they could row no longer. 9. A large wave
upset the boat, and they were all thrown into the water. Think of James
Brown, the truant, at this time! 10. He was far from home, known by no
one. His parents were ignorant of his danger.
THIRD READER. 29 He was struggling in the water, on the point of
being drowned. 11. Some men, however, saw the boys, and went out to
them in a boat. They reached them just in time to save them from a
watery grave. 12. They were taken into a house, where their clothes
were dried. After a while, they were sent home to their parents. 13.
James was very sorry for his conduct, and he was never known to be
guilty of the same thing again. 14. He became regular at school, learned

to attend to his books, and, above all, to obey his parents perfectly.
LESSON VIII.

THE WHITE KITTEN.
1. My little white kitten's asleep on my knee; As white as the snow or
the lilies is she; She wakes up with a pur When I stroke her soft fur:
Was there ever another white kitten like her?
30 ECLECTIC SERIES.
2. My little white kitten now wants to go out And frolic, with no one to
watch her about; "Little kitten," I say, "Just an hour you may stay, And
be careful in choosing