McGuffeys Second Eclectic Reader | Page 4

are spread; That small speck Is his neck; See him nod and beck! I can show you, if you choose, Where to look to find his shoes, Three small pairs, Made of hairs; These he always wears.
3. Flies can see More than we; So how bright their eyes must be! Little fly, Ope your eye; Spiders are near by. For a secret I can tell, Spiders never use flies well; Then away, Do not stay. Little fly, good day.
24 ECLECTIC SERIES.
LESSON VIII.
serv'ant sud'den ly lon'ger re turned' lived tired
since five anx'ious trou'ble cer'tain nea'ly
doz'en sev'en at'tic strange great prop'er
coal seemed
[Illustration: Cat carrying kitten up stairs by the scruff of the neck.]
PUSS AND HER KITTENS.
1. Puss, with her three kittens, had lived in the coal cellar; but one day she thought she would carry them to the attic.
2. The servant thought that was not the proper place for them; so she carried them back to the cellar.
3. Puss was certain that she wanted them in the attic; so she carried them there again and again, five, six, seven, --yes, a dozen times; for each time the servant took them back to the cellar.
4. Poor puss was nearly tired out, and could carry them no longer.
5. Suddenly she went away. Where do you think she went?
6. She was gone a long time. When she returned, she had a strange cat with her that we had never seen before.
7. She seemed to tell him all about her great trouble, and he listened to her story.
8. Then the strange cat took the little kittens, one by one, and carried them to the attic. After this he went away, and we have never seen him since.
9. The servant then left the kittens in the attic, for she saw how anxious puss was to have them stay there.
10. Was not the strange cat kind to puss? This lesson should teach children to be ever ready to help one another.

LESSON IX.
nine mous'ie fro frol'ic bit slipped
spied crow teeth pearl used
[Illustration: White cat sneaking up on a mouse.]
KITTY AND MOUSIE.
1. Once there was a little kitty, White as the snow; In a barn he used to frolic, Long time ago.
2. In the barn a little mousie Ran to and fro; For she heard the little kitty, Long time ago.
3. Two black eyes had little kitty, Black as a crow; And they spied the little mousie, Long time ago.
4. Four soft paws had little kitty, Paws soft as snow; And they caught the little mousie, Long time ago.
5. Nine pearl teeth had little kitty, All in a row; And they bit the little mousie, Long time ago.
6. When the teeth bit little mousie, Mousie cried out "Oh!" But she slipped away from kitty, Long time ago.

LESSON X.
washed hours(ours) pre'cious game
harm a'ny (en'y) brushed end
AT WORK.
1. A little play does not harm any one, but does much good. After play, we should be glad to work.
2. I knew a boy who liked a good game very much. He could run, swim, jump, and play ball; and was always merry when out of school.
3. But he knew that time is not all for play; that our minutes, hours, and days are very precious.
4. At the end of his play, he would go home. After he had washed his face and hands, and brushed his hair, he would help his mother, or read in his book, or write upon his slate.
5. He used to say, "One thing at a time." When he had done with work, he would play; but he did not try to play and to work at the same time.

LESSON XI.
twit-twee bough (bow) twit-twit top'most lock
spray mate close'ly ros'y an'swer (an'ser)
[Illustration: Bird perched on tree branch.]
WHAT A BIRD TAUGHT.
1. Why do you come to my apple tree, Little bird so gray? Twit-twit, twit-twit, twit-twit-twee! That was all he would say.
2. Why do you lock your rosy feet So closely round the spray? Twit-twit, twit-twit, twit-tweet! That was all he would say.
3. Why on the topmost bough do you get, Little bird so gray? Twit-twit-twee! twit-twit-twit! That was all he would say.
4. Where is your mate? come, answer me, Little bird so gray. Twit-twit-twit! twit-twit-twee! That was all he would say. Alice Cary.

LESSON XII.
bright'ness pleas'ant learned dress
play'mates un kind' rag'ged word
ques'tions smil'ing crowed child
Sun'beam cheered Sus'ie gave
glad'ness un less' name gate
SUSIE SUNBEAM.
1. Susie Sunbeam was not her real name; that was Susan Brown. But every one called her Susie Sunbeam, because she had such a sweet, smiling face, and always brought brightness with her when she came.
[Illustration: Older girls playing with younger girl. Three children standing in background.]
2. Her grandfather first gave her this name, and it seemed to fit the little girl so nicely that soon it took the place of her own.
3. Even when a baby, Susie laughed