McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 8

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