McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 6

tear of joy,
"You are a dear, good boy, Henry. I did not know how I could earn
enough to buy bread with, but now I think we can manage to get along
quite well,"
8. Henry worked all the day, and went to school in the evening. He
earned almost enough to support his mother and his little sister.

LESSON XV.
tread whis'per soft'ly talk cheer ful' care'ful
DON'T WAKE THE BABY.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
Baby sleeps, so we must tread Softly round her little bed, And be
careful that our toys Don not fall and make a noise.
We must not talk, but whisper low, Mother wants to work, we know,
That, when father comes to tea, All may neat and cheerful be. ]

LESSON XVI.
full load heav'y mid'dle heav'i er

slip wrong han'dle broth'er de ceived'
[Illustration: Two boys carrying a basket on a pole between them.]
A KIND BROTHER.
1. A boy was once sent from home to take a basket of things to his
grandmother.
2. The basket was so full that it was very heavy. So his little brother
went with him, to help carry the load.
3. They put a pole under the handle of the basket, and each then took
hold of an end of the pole. In this way they could carry the basket very
nicely.
4. Now the older boy thought, "My brother Tom does not know about
this pole.
5. "If I slip the basket near him, his side will be heavy, and mine light;
but if the basket is in the middle of the pole, it will be as heavy for me
as it is for him.
6. "Tom does not know this as I do. But I will not do it. It would be
wrong, and I will not do what is wrong."
7. Then he slipped the basket quite near his own end of the pole. His
load was now heavier than that of his little brother.
8. Yet he was happy; for he felt that he had done right. Had he deceived
his brother, he would not have felt at all happy.

LESSON XVII.
bus'y (biz'zy) mis'chief looked un'to glee
con triv'ing ring'lets nod'dle drew nun

press'ing fin'gers car'pet wise lips
em brace' pon'der lash'es climb true
MY GOOD-FOR-NOTHING.
1. "What are you good for, my brave little man? Answer that question
for me, if you can,-- You, with your fingers as white as a nun,-- You,
with your ringlets as bright as the sun. All the day long, with your busy
contriving, Into all mischief and fun you are driving; See if your wise
little noddle can tell What you are good for. Now ponder it well."
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