Part 5
15. "Right in these woods, and in the fields," said his teacher. " Here are lovely blue violets, down by the brook are white ones, and among the rocks are ferns and mosses. Bring them all to my house, and I will help you arrange them."
16. So, day after day, Davy hunted the woods for the prettiest flowers, and the most dainty ferns and mosses. After his teacher had helped to arrange them, he took them to the city that was near, and sold them.
17. He soon earned money enough to buy new clothes. Now the sunshine and the bird's songs make him glad.
LESSON LXVI.
deep flour dough mill'er wheth'er
cook a far' dust'y cra'dles grind'ing
glow doth val'ley reap'ers a-knead'ing
ALICE'S SUPPER. 1. Far down in the valley the wheat grows deep, And the reapers are making the cradles sweep; And this is the song that I hear them sing, While cheery and loud their voices ring: "'Tis the finest wheat that ever did grow! And it is for Alice's supper--ho! ho!"
2. Far down by the river the old mill stands, And the miller is rubbing his dusty hands; And these are the words of the miller's lay, As he watches the millstones grinding away: "'Tis the finest flour that money can buy, And it is for Alice's supper--hi! hi!"
3. Downstairs in the kitchen the fire doth glow, And cook is a-kneading the soft, white dough; And this is the song she is singing to-day, As merry and busy she's working away: "'Tis the finest dough, whether near or afar, And it is for Alice's supper--ha! ha!"
[Illustration: Mother serving supper to small girl seated at table.]
4. To the nursery now comes mother, at last, And what in her hand is she bringing so fast? 'Tis a plateful of something, all yellow and white, And she sings as she comes, with her smile so bright: "'Tis the best bread and butter I ever did see, And it is for Alice's supper--he! he!"
LESSON LXVII.
tall hung storm pick'et
firs north gowns spar'ked
roof flakes fair'ies cap'tains
A SNOWSTORM.
1. Last night, the cold north wind blew great snow clouds over the sky. Not a star, not a bit of blue sky could be seen.
2. Soon the tiny flakes floated softly down, like flocks of little white birds. Faster and faster they came, till they filled the air. They made no noise, but they were busy all night long.
3. They covered all the ground with a soft, white carpet. They hung beautiful plumes on the tall, green firs. The little bushes, they put to sleep in warm nightgowns and caps.
[Illustration: Snow covering house, shed, and road. Children playing.]
4. They hid the paths so that the boys might have the fun of digging new ones. They turned the old picket fence into a row of soldiers, and the gate posts into captains, with tall white hats on.
5. The old corn basket that was left out by the barn, upside down, they made into a cunning little snow house with a round roof.
6. When the busy little flakes had done their work, the sun came up to see what they had been about.
7. He must have been pleased with what he saw, for he smiled such a bright, sweet smile, that the whole white world sparkled as if it were made of little stars.
8. Who would have thought that the black clouds could hide the little fairies that made the earth so beautiful!
LESSON LXVIII.
dug roots thump of fense'
toad spool heaped smoothed
forth a'pron clos'ets dan'de li ons
BESSIE.
1. One day, Bessie thought how nice it would be to have a garden with only wild flowers in it. So into the house she ran to find her Aunt Annie, and ask her leave to go over on the shady hillside, across the brook, where the wild flowers grew thickest.
[Illustration: Girl planting small garden. Toad sitting in garden.]
2. " Yes, indeed, you may go," said Aunt Annie; "but what will you put the roots and earth in while you are making the garden?"
3. "Oh," said Bessie, "I can take my apron."
4. Her aunt laughed, and said, "A basket will be better, I think." So they looked in the closets and the attic, everywhere; but some of the baskets were full, and some broken; not one could they find that would do.
5. Then Aunt Annie turned out the spools and the bags from a nice large workbasket, and gave that to Bessie. "You may have this for your own," she said, "to fill with earth, or flowers, or anything you like."
6. "Oh I thank you," said Bessie, and she danced away through the garden. She slipped through the gate, out into the field all starred with dandelions, down in the hollow by the brook, then up on the hillside out of sight among the shady trees.
7. How she worked that afternoon! She heaped up the dark, rich earth, and smoothed it over with her hands. Then she dug up violets, and spring-beauties, and other flowers,--running back and forth, singing all the while.
8. The squirrels peeped out of their holes at Bessie. The birds sang in the branches overhead. Thump, came something all at once into the middle of the bed. Bessie jumped and upset the basket, and away it rolled down the hill.
9. How Bessie laughed when she saw a big, brown toad winking his bright eyes at her, as if he would say, "No offense, I hope."
10. Just then Bessie heard a bell ringing loudly. She knew it was calling her home; but how could she leave her basket? She must look for that first.
11. "Waiting, waiting, waiting," all at once sang a bird out of sight among the branches; "waiting, Bessie."
12. "Sure enough," said Bessie; "perhaps I'm making dear mother or auntie wait; and they are so good to me. I'd better let the basket wait. Take care of it, birdie; and don't jump on my flowers, Mr. Toad."
LESSON LXIX.
visit soaked o be'di ent ru'ined
[Illustration: Girl on couch looking out window.]
BESSIE. (CONCLUDED.)
1. She was back at the house in a few minutes, calling, "Mother! mother! auntie! Who wants me?"
2. "I, dear," said her mother. "I am going away for a long visit, and if you had not come at once, I could not have said good-by to my little girl."
3. Then Bessie's mother kissed her, and told her to obey her kind aunt while she was gone.
4. The next morning, Bessie waked to find it raining hard. She went into her aunt's room with a very sad face. "O auntie! this old rain!"
5, "This new, fresh, beautiful rain, Bessie! How it will make our flowers grow, and what a good time we can have together in the house!"
6. "I know it, auntie; but you will think me so careless!"
7. "To let it rain?"
8. "No; don't laugh, Aunt Annie; to leave your nice basket out of doors all night; and now it will be soaked and ruined in this--this--beautiful rain." Bessie did not look as if the beautiful rain made her very happy.
9. "You must be more careful, dear, another time," said her aunt, gently. "But come, tell me all about it."
10. So Bessie crept very close to her auntie's side, and told her of her happy time the day before; of the squirrel, and the toad, and how the basket rolled away down the hill; and then how the bell rang, and she could not stop to find the basket.
11. "And you did quite right," said her aunt. "If you had stopped, your mother must have waited a whole day, or else gone without seeing you. When I write, I will tell her how obedient you were, and that will please her more than anything else I can say."
LESSON LXX.
sought sure'ly (shu) wel'come light'some
loft'y maid'en cher'ished in tro duce'
CHEERFULNESS.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:
There is a little maiden-- Who is she? Do you know? Who always has a welcome, Wherever she may go.
Her face is like the May time, Her voice is like the bird's; The sweetest of all music Is in her lightsome words.
Each spot she makes the brighter, As if she were the sun; And she is sought and cherished And loved by everyone;
By old folks and by children, By loft and by low; Who is this little maiden? Does anybody know?
You surely must have met her. You certainly can guess; What! I must introduce her? Her name is Cheeerfulness. Marian Douglas ]
LESSON LXXI.
west'ern breathe dy'ing moon babe sails
LULLABY.
1. Sweet and low, sweet and low, Wind of the western sea, Low, low, breathe and blow, Wind of the western sea! Over the rolling waters go, Come from the dying moon, and blow, Blow him again to me; While my little one, while my pretty one sleeps.
2. Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, Father will come to thee soon; Rest, rest, on mother's breast, Father will come to thee soon; Father will come to his babe in the nest, Silver sails all out of the west, Under the silver moon; Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep.
Tennyson.