New National Fourth Reader | Page 9

one roaring, foaming waterfall, the flying spray of which blinded one for a moment. But when it cleared, there stood our brave Jack--dripping, bruised, and bleeding from a cut on the head.
But his little favorite was safe in his arms, and as he came back with her, such a cheer went up from all who were on deck, as the old ship had not heard for many a day.
"Let's send round the hat for him," said one of the passengers.
And the hat was sent around, so successfully that Jack got enough money to give his poor old mother a happy Christmas, and still have something left over for himself and Jumbo, who was his mother's pet ever after.
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Directions for Reading.--Should this lesson be read with the same tone of voice as Lessons V. and VI.?
In the first paragraph, do not say pier rin for _pier in; dir' tand_ for dirt and.
Point out two other places in the lesson where mistakes similar to those just given might occur.
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Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark the sounds of letters in the following words: _cargo, officer, blanket, passengers, instantly, bleeding_.
Work her passage means to pay her fare by making herself useful.
Make out an analysis in six parts for this lesson, and use it in telling the story in your own words.
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LESSON VIII.
loi'ter ing, _going slowly, lingering_.
pro tect'or, one who keeps another from harm.
throng'ing, gathering in large numbers.
wrecked, dashed to pieces.
thatched, covered with straw or twigs.
bronzed, _brown, darked-colored_.
bleach'ing, whitening.
van'ished, _gone out of sight; departed suddenly_.
rapt'ure, _great joy; delight_.
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RESCUED.
"Little lad, slow wandering across the sands so yellow, Leading safe a lassie small--O tell me, little fellow, Whither go you, loitering in the summer weather, Chattering like sweet-voiced birds on a bough together?"
"I am Robert, if you please, and this is Rose, my sister, Youngest of us all"--he bent his curly head and kissed her, "Every day we come and wait here till the sun is setting, Watching for our father's ship, for mother dear is fretting.
"Long ago he sailed away, out of sight and hearing, Straight across the bay he went, into sunset steering. Every day we look for him, and hope for his returning, Every night my mother keeps the candle for him burning.
"Summer goes, and winter comes, and spring returns but never Father's step comes to the gate. O, is he gone forever? The great, grand ship that bore him off, think you some tempest wrecked her?" Tears shone in little Rose's eyes, upturned to her protector.
Eagerly the bonny boy went on: "O, sir, look yonder! In the offing see the sails that east and westward wander; Every hour they come and go, the misty distance thronging. While we watch and see them fade, with sorrow and with longing."
"Little Robert, little Rose!" The stranger's eyes were glistening At his bronzed and bearded face, upgazed the children, listening; He knelt upon the yellow sand, and clasped them to his bosom, Robert brave, and little Rose, as bright as any blossom.
"Father, father! Is it you?" The still air rings with rapture; All the vanished joy of years the waiting ones recapture! Finds he welcome wild and sweet, the low-thatched cottage reaching, But the ship that into sunset steered, upon the rocks lies bleaching.
[Illustration]
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Directions for Reading.--Read the conversational parts of this poem like conversation in prose.
Point out the emphatic words in the first line of the last stanza.
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Language Lesson.--Into sunset steering, means sailing westward.
The misty distance thronging, means gathering together in the distance.
The still air rings with rapture, means that the air becomes full of joyful shouts.
All the vanished joy of years the waiting ones recapture, means that the children regain the happiness lost during their father's absence.
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LESSON IX.
impos'ing, _grand looking; of great size_.
glar'ing, fierce looking.
lim'its, space.
e nor'mous, _very large; huge_.
start'led, _suddenly alarmed; surprised_.
au'dible, that may be heard.
maj'esty, _greatness; nobility_.
increas'ing, growing larger.
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THE LION.
There is, in the appearance of the lion, something both noble and imposing. Nature has given him wonderful strength and beauty.
His body, when full grown, is only about seven feet long and less than four feet high; but his large and shapely head, with its powerful jaws, his glaring eye, and long, flowing mane, give him an air of majesty that shows him worthy of the name--"King of Beasts."
Yet we are told that a lion will not willingly attack man, unless first attacked himself or driven by hunger to forget his habits.
On meeting man suddenly, he will turn, retreat slowly for a short distance, and then run away.
The lion belongs to the cat family, and his teeth and claws are similar in form and action to those of the house cat.
His food is the