McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey
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William Holmes McGuffey >> McGuffey\'s Second Eclectic Reader
2.
Over the carpet the dear little feet
Came with a patter to climb on my seat;
Two merry eyes, full of frolic and glee,
Under their lashes looked up unto me;
Two little hands pressing soft on my face,
Drew me down close in a loving embrace;
Two rosy lips gave the answer so true,
"Good to love you, mamma, good to love you."
Emily Huntington Miller.
LESSON XVIII.
ber'ries strikes rob'in ea'gle short king rid
foe dart fails sharp hawk worms ac'tive
[Illustration: Bird perched on branch.]
THE KINGBIRD.
1. The kingbird is not bigger than a robin.
2. He eats flies, and worms, and bugs, and berries.
3. He builds his nest in a tree, near some house.
4. When there are young ones in the nest, he sits on the top of a tree
near them.
5. He watches to see that no bird comes to hurt them or their mother.
6. If a hawk, a crow, or even an eagle comes near, he makes a dash at it.
7. Though he is so small, he is brave, and he is also very active.
8. He never fails to drive off other birds from his nest.
9. He flies around and around the eagle, and suddenly strikes him with his
sharp bill.
10. He strikes at his eye, and then darts away before the eagle can catch
him.
11. Or he strikes from behind, and is off again before the eagle can turn
round.
12. In a short time, the great eagle is tired of such hard blows, and
flies away. He is very glad to get rid of his foe.
13. Is not the little fellow a brave bird?
14. Because he can drive off all other birds, he is called the KINGBIRD.
LESSON XIX.
watch'ing gath'ers an'gels be gin'
dark'ness a cross' lone'ly beasts
[Illustration: Sunset;lake in foreground, town in background.]
EVENING HYMN.
1. Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
2. Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep;
Birds, and beasts, and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
3. Through the lonely darkness,
May the angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.
LESSON XX.
di vid'ed quar'rel a gree' thus sey'tle
set'tling ker'nel e'qual apt parts
THE QUARREL.
1. Under a great tree in the woods, two boys saw a fine, large nut, and
both ran to get it.
2. James got to it first, and picked it up.
3. "It is mine," said John, "for I was the first to see it."
4. "No, it is mine" said James, "for I was the first to pick it up."
[Illustration: Three boys standing by a fence, one older than the others.]
5. Thus, they at once began to quarrel about the nut.
6. As they could not agree whose it should be, they called an older boy,
and asked him.
7. The older boy said, "I will settle this quarrel."
8. He took the nut, and broke the shell. He then took out the kernel, and
divided the shell into two parts, as nearly equal as he could.
9. "This half of the shell," said he, "belongs to the boy who first saw
the nut.
10. "And this half belongs to the boy who picked it up.
11. "The kernel of the nut, I shall keep as my pay for settling the
quarrel.
12. "This is the way," said he, laughing, "in which quarrels are very apt
to end."
LESSON XXI.
crea'tures drones in'side hive i'dle
de fense' driv'en killed cells size
work'ers queen stings shape wax
THE BEE.
1. Bees live in a house that is called a hive. They are of three
kinds,--workers, drones, and queens.
2. Only one queen can live in each hive. If she is lost or dead, the other
bees will stop their work.
[Illustration: Three bee-hives; wooden boxes about two feet square and four
feet high, with a sloped roof.]
3. They are very wise and busy little creatures. They all 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 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 rill
THE LITTLE HILL.
1. Run, run, thou tiny rill;
Run, and turn the village mill;
Run, and fill the deep, clear pool
In the woodland's shade so cool,
Where the sheep love best to stray
In the sultry summer day;
Where the wild birds bathe and drink,
And the wild flowers fringe the brink.
[Illustration: Mill, with mill pond in foreground.]
2. Run, run, thou tiny rill,
Round the rocks, and down the hill;
Sing to every child like me;
The birds will join you, full of glee:
And we will listen to the song
You sing, your rippling course along.
LESSON XXX.
has'tened pos'si ble bal'ance Ed'gar save
boat'man dan'ger quick'ly move trip
stretched sev'er al start'ed folks fell
THE BOAT UPSET.
1. "Sit still, children. Do not move about in the boat," said Mr. Rose to
the young folks he was taking for a trip on the water.
2. The boat was a large one, and could not easily be upset. There were in
it Mr. and Mrs. Rose, the boatman, and several little boys and girls.
3. "Keep still, please, young gentlemen," said the boatman, when Edgar
Rose and Thomas Read began to move from one side to the other.
4. They kept quiet for a short time only. Edgar soon wanted a stick which
Thomas held in his hand. He lost his balance in trying to get the stick,
and fell into the water.
[Illustration: Overturned boat, people clinging to boat and debris.
Another boat approaching.]
5. Mr. and Mrs. Rose both started up, and stretched out their arms to save
him; but in so doing, they upset the boat.
6. Every one fell into the water, and all were in the greatest danger of
being drowned.
7. Another boat was near, with but one man in it. He hastened to them as
quickly as possible, and saved them from drowning.
8. Children should always be careful and quiet when they are in a boat on
the water, and should obey what older people tell them.
LESSON XXXI.
MARY'S LETTER.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
Forest Hill, June 25, 1878
My Dear Fanny:
This morning while
out rowing, we all came near
being drowned. Brother Ed, in
trying to take a stick from Tom
Reed, tripped and fell out of the
boat. Papa and Mamma caught
at him to save him, and before
we knew it we were all in the
water. The boat upset and how
we were all saved I can hardly
tell. A man in another boat
which was near, picked us up.
Had it not been for this, you
would to-day have no cousin.
Mary Rose.
]
LESSON XXXII.
li'on bod'y stripes de light' Eng'lish
prey ti'ger col'lar ti'gress fright'ful
seize chain un like' swift'est an'i mals
roar gi'ant slight'est of'fi cers whisk'ers
[Illustration: Tigress carrying cub away from tent.
Playing card scattered on ground.]
THE TIGER.
1. The tiger is a giant cat. His body is nearly covered with black
stripes.
2. Unlike the lion, he runs so fast that the swiftest horse can not
overtake him. He goes over the ground by making bounds or springs, one
after another.
3. By night, as well as by day, the tiger watches for his prey. With a
frightful roar, he will seize a man, and carry him off.
4. Have you ever thought what use whiskers are to cats? Lions have great
whiskers, and so have tigers and all other animals of the cat kind.
5. Whenever you find an animal with whiskers like the cat's, you may be
sure that animal steals softly among branches and thick bushes.
6. By the slightest touch on the tiger's whiskers, he knows when there is
anything in his road.
7. A few years ago, some English officers went out to hunt. When coming
home from their day's sport, they found a little tiger kitten.
8. They took it with them and tied it, with a collar and chain, to the
pole of their tent. It played about, to the delight of all who saw it.
9. One evening, just as it was growing dark, they heard a sound that
frightened them greatly. It was the roar of a tiger.
10. The kitten pulled at the chain, and tried to break away. With a sharp
cry, it answered the voice outside.
11. All at once, a large tigress bounded into the middle of the tent. She
caught her kitten by the neck, and broke the chain which bound it.
12. Then turning to the door of the tent, she dashed away as suddenly as
she had come.
LESSON XXXIII.
then u'su al cous'in fire'side sew'ing (so-)
Ka'tie bet'ter crac'kle knit'ting per haps'
Jane rea'son to-night' hap'pi er in struct'ive
THE FIRESIDE.
1. One winter night, Mrs. Lord and her two little girls sat by a bright
fire in their pleasant home. The girls were sewing, and their mother was
busy at her knitting.
[Illustration: Mother and two girls sewing under a lamp.]
2. At last, Katie finished her work, and, looking up, said, "Mother, I
think the fire is brighter than usual. How I love to hear it crackle!"
3. "And I was about to say," cried Mary, "that this is a better light than
we had last night."
4. "My dears," said their mother, "it must be that you feel happier than
usual to-night. Perhaps that is the reason why you think the fire better,
and the light brighter."
5. "But, mother," said Mary, "I do not see why we are happier now than we
were then; for last night cousin Jane was here, and we played 'Puss in the
corner' and 'Blind man' until we all were tired."
6. "I know! I know why!" said Katie. "It is because we have all been doing
something useful to-night. We feel happy because we have been busy."
7. "You are right, my dear," said their mother. "I am glad you have both
learned that there may be something more pleasant than play, and, at the
same time, more instructive."
LESSON XXXIV.
dew'drops hop'ping la'zi est bends sung
pa'tience in stead' dar'ling ought rest
slum'ber my self ' re ply' miss lose
BIRDIE'S MORNING SONG.
1. Wake up, little darling, the birdies are out,
And here you are still in your nest!
The laziest birdie is hopping about;
You ought to be up with the rest.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
[Illustration: Three birds perched in bush.]
2. Oh, see what you miss when you
slumber so long--
The dewdrops, the beautiful sky!
I can not sing half what you lose in my song;
And yet, not a word in reply.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
3. I've sung myself quite out of patience with you,
While mother bends o'er your dear head;
Now birdie has done all that birdie can do:
Her kisses will wake you instead!
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
George Cooper.
LESSON XXXV.
sent store Bounce float'ing load cir'cle
rip'ples catch'ing cake blocks strolled how ev'er
WILLIE AND BOUNCE.
1. Two fast friends were Willie Brown and his little dog Bounce. Willie
could never think of taking a walk without Bounce. Cake and play were
equally shared between them.
2. Willie taught his dog many cunning tricks, and often said that Bounce
could do almost anything in the world but talk.
3. There came a time, however, when Bounce really told Willie's father
something, though he could not talk. Let me tell you how he did this.
[Illustration: Boy and dog walking through forest.]
4. It was on a bright summer afternoon. Willie had strolled with Bounce
down to the river, which was not more than two blocks from his father's
store.
5. Willie began to throw stones into the water, and to watch the ripples
as they made one circle after another.
6. Bounce lay on the grass, watching the flies that buzzed around his
nose, and catching any that came too near.
7. There were some logs floating in the river near the shore. Willie
jumped upon one of them, to see if he could throw a stone across the
river.
8. He drew back, and sent the stone with all his might. just as it left
his hand, the log turned, and he fell into the water.
9. He was very much frightened, for he did not know how to swim, and there
was no one to hear, though he called as loud as he could for help.
LESSON XXXVI.
yelp loud'ly against look'ing bark'ing
spring clothes o'pened dis'tress scratched
WILLIE AND BOUNCE.
(CONCLUDED.)
1. Poor little Bounce gave a great yelp of distress. If he had been a big
water dog, he could have jumped in and brought his master out.
[Illustration: Boy in water clinging to log. Dog yelping.]
2. He ran up and down the bank two or three times, barking, looking first
at Willie and then around. Then he started, as fast as he could run, up
the street to the store.
3. When he got there the door was shut, but he scratched against it and
barked loudly, until some one came and opened it.
4. He caught hold of Mr. Brown's clothes, then ran to the door, then back
again, catching at him, barking, and jumping.
5. A friend who was in the store said to Mr. Brown, "Something must be
wrong; I would put on my hat, and go with the dog." Bounce, seeing Mr.
Brown take his hat, started for the river.
6. Then Mr. Brown thought of Willie. As he came to the river, he saw
Willie's hat floating on the water, and his small arm thrown up.
7. He sprang in and caught him just as he was going down for the last
time, and quickly carried him to the bank. "Willie soon got over his
fright, and no one seemed to be more delighted than Bounce.
[Illustration: Father carrying boy from water.]
LESSON XXXVII.
talk'a tive im prove' o bli'ging writ'ten tick-tock
clock truth'ful it self' kitch'en fear
reach'es most
[Illustration: Girl holding younger sister, both watching clock.]
THE KITCHEN CLOCK.
1. Listen to the kitchen clock!
To itself it ever talks,
From its place it never walks;
"Tick-tock-tick-tock: "
Tell me what it says.
2. "I'm a very patient clock,
Never moved by hope or fear,
Though I've stood for many a year;
Tick-tock-tick-tock: "
That is what it says.
3. "I'm a very truthful clock:
People say about the place,
Truth is written on my face;
Tick-tock-tick-tock: "
That is what it says.
4. "I'm a most obliging clock;
If you wish to hear me strike,
You may do it when you like;
Tick-tock-tick-tock: "
That is what it says.
5. "I'm a very friendly clock;
For this truth to all I tell,
Life is short, improve it well;
Tick-tock-tick-tock: "
That is what it says.
6. What a talkative old clock!
Let us see what it will do
When the hour hand reaches two;
"Ding-ding--tick-tock: "
That is what it says.
LESSON XXXVIII.
Her'bert or'ange find post inch'es thread
beam thick pine next groove scales
hole peel gim'let rib'bon
[Illustration: Boy and girl near table holding balance scale.]
THE NEW SCALES.
I. "Herbert, will you please peel my orange?" said Lucy. Herbert was
reading his new book, but he put it down at once, and took the orange from
his little sister.
2. "Shall I make a pair of scales, Lucy, for you to use when you play
store?"
3. "Oh yes! but how can you do that'!"
4. "I'll show you. First, we must take the peel off in two little cups,
one just as large as the other. While I do this, see if you can find me
two nice sticks about ten inches long."
5. Lucy ran out to the woodhouse to find the sticks.--" Will these do?"
6. "No, they are too hard. Find some pine sticks if you can."