McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader - William Holmes McGuffey (novel books to read .txt) 📗

to keep warm. Mary would sit on one of the old man's knees, and Jane on the other.

6. Sometimes their grandfather would tell them a droll story. Sometimes he would teach them a hymn.

7. He would often talk to them of their father, who had gone to sea, or of their good, kind mother, who was in her grave. Every night he prayed God to bless them, and to bring back their father in safety.

8. The old man grew weaker every year; but the little girls were glad to work for him, who had been so good to them.

[Illustration: Girls and grandfather greeting father at door.]

9. One cold, windy night, they heard a knock at the door. The little girls ran and opened it. Oh, joy to them! There stood their father.

10. He had been at sea a long time. He had saved some money, and had now come home to stay.

11. After this the old man did not have to work. His son worked for him, and his grandchildren took care of him. Many happy days they spent together.

LESSON LVII.

hoe grave knock ex cept'

droll hymn prayed cot'tage

THE GREEDY GIRL.

1. Laura English is a greedy little girl. Indeed, she is quite a glutton. Do you know what a glutton is? A glutton is one who eats too much, because the food tastes well.

2. Laura's mother is always willing she should have as much to eat as is good for her; but sometimes, when her mother is not watching, she eats so much that it makes her sick.

3. I do not know why she is so silly. Her kitten never eats more than it needs. It leaves the nice bones on the plate, and lies down to sleep when it has eaten enough.

4. The bee is wiser than Laura. It flies all day among the flowers to gather honey, and might eat the whole time if it pleased. But it eats just enough, and carries all the rest to its hive.

[Illustration: Heavy girl eating two apples. Plate on floor with food scraps. Cat lying on footstool.]

5. The squirrel eats a few nuts or acorns, and frisks about as gayly as if he had dined at the king's table.

6. Did you ever see a squirrel with a nut in his paws? How bright and lively he looks as he eats it!

7. If he lived in a house made of acorns, he would never need a doctor. He would not eat an acorn too much.

8. I do not love little girls who eat too much. Do you, my little readers?

9. I do not think they have such rosy cheeks, or such bright eyes, or such sweet, happy tempers as those who eat less.

LESSON LVIII.

lend Sa'rah com'fort a shamed' your wil'ling

thim'ble else'where us'ing bor'row of fend'ed de pend'ed

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.

Mary. I wish you would lend me your thimble,
       Sarah. I can never find my own.

Sarah. Why is it, Mary, you can never find it?

Mary. How can I tell? But if you will not lend me yours, I can borrow one elsewhere.

Sarah. I am willing to lend mine to you, Mary. But I would very much like to know why you come to me to borrow so often.

[Illustration: Two girls seated, talking.]

Mary. Because you never lose any of your things, and always know where to find them.

Sarah. And why do I always know where to find my things?

Mary. I do not know why, I am sure. If I did know, I might sometimes find my own.

Sarah. I will tell you the secret. I have a place for
       everything, and I put everything in its place when I
       have done using it.

Mary. O Sarah! who wants to run and put away a
       thing as soon as she has used it, as if her life
       depended upon it?

Sarah. Our life does not depend upon it, but our comfort does, surely. How much more time will it take to put a thing in its place, than to hunt for it or to borrow whenever you want to use it ?

Mary. Well, Sarah, I will never borrow of you again, you may depend upon it.

Sarah. You are not offended with me, I hope.

Mary. No, but I am ashamed. Before night, I will have a place for everything, and then I will keep everything in its place. You have taught me a lesson that I shall remember.

LESSON LIX.

con'stant lead'ing ear lull didst meek

hark thee none mild thine nurse

ease thy re joice' fret'ful

[Illustration: Mother rocking daughter.]

MY MOTHER.

[Illustration: Script Exercise:

Hark! My mother's voice I hear,
Sweet that voice is to my ear;
Ever soft, it seems to tell,
Dearest child, I love thee well.

Love me, mother? Yes, I know
None can love so well as thou.
Was it not upon thy breast
I was taught to sleep and rest?

Didst thou not, in hours of pain,
Lull this head to ease again?
With the music of thy voice,
Bid my little heart rejoice?

Ever gentle, meek and mild,
Thou didst nurse thy fretful child.
Teach these little feet the road
Leading on to heaven and God.

What return then can I make?
This fond heart, dear mother take;
Thine its, in word and thought,
Thine by constant kindness bought.
]

LESSON LX.

skip'ping mean George gift en gaged' Mason El'let

THE BROKEN WINDOW.

1. George Ellet had a bright silver dollar for a New-year gift.

2. He thought of all the fine things he might buy with it.

3. The ground was all covered with snow; but the sun shone out bright, and everything looked beautiful.

4. So George put on his hat, and ran into the street. As he went skipping along, he met some boys throwing snowballs. George soon engaged in the sport.

5. He sent a ball at James Mason, but it missed him, and broke a window on the other side of the street.

6. George feared some one would come out of the house and find him. So he ran off as fast as he could.

[Illustration: Boy throwing snowball through window.]

7. As soon as he got round the next corner, George stopped, because he was very sorry for what he had done.

8. He said to himself, "I have no right to spend my silver dollar, now. I ought to go back, and pay for the glass I broke with my snowball."

9. He went up and down the street, and felt very sad. He wished very much to buy something nice. He also wished to pay for the broken glass.

10. At last he said, "It was wrong to break the window, though I did not mean to do it. I will go and pay for it, if it takes all my money, I will try not to be sorry. I do not think the man will hurt me if I pay for the mischief I have done."

LESSON LXI.

mer'chant hon'est ly rang mind

part'ner with out' rich bell THE BROKEN WINDOW. (CONCLUDED.)

1. George started off, and felt much happier for having made up his mind to do what was right.

2. He rang the doorbell. When the man came out, George said, "Sir, I threw a snowball through your window. But I did not intend to do it. I am very sorry, and wish to pay you. Here is the dollar my father gave me as a New- year gift."

3. The gentleman took the dollar, and asked George if he had no more money. George said he had not. "Well," said he, "this will do."

[Illustration: George paying for broken window.]

4. So, after asking George his name, and where he lived, he called him an honest boy, and shut the door.

5. George went home at dinner time, with a face as rosy, and eyes as bright, as if nothing had gone wrong. At dinner, Mr. Ellet asked him what he had bought with his money.

6. George very honestly told him all about the broken window, and said he felt very well without any money to spend.

7. When dinner was over, Mr. Ellet told George to go and look in his cap. He did so, and found two silver dollars there.

8. The man, whose window had been broken, had been there, and told Mr. Ellet about it. He gave back George's dollar and another besides.

9. A short time after this, the man came and told Mr. Ellet that he wanted a good boy to stay in his store.

10. As soon as George left school, he went to live with this man, who was a rich merchant. In a few years he became the merchant's partner.

LESSON LXII.

line fig'ure sec'ond grain verse per'fect ly

ad vice' im pa'tient stud'y bus'i ly fol'lowed un der stand'

[Illustration: Mother talking to small boy. Hour-glass and flowers on table between them.]

FRANK AND THE HOURGLASS.

1. Frank was a very talkative little boy. He never saw a new thing without asking a great many questions about it.

2. His mother was very patient and kind. When it was proper to answer his questions, she would do so.

3. Sometimes she would say, "You are not old enough to understand that, my son. When you are ten years old, you may ask me about it, and I will tell you."

4. When his mother said this, he never teased any more. He knew she always liked to answer him when he asked proper questions.

5. The first time Frank saw an hourglass, he was very much amused; but he did not know what it was.

6. His mother said, "An hourglass is made in the shape of the figure 8. The sand is put in at one end, and runs through a small hole in the middle. As much sand is put into the glass as will run through in an hour."

7. Frank watched the little stream of sand. He was impatient, because it would not run faster. "Let me shake it, mother," said he; "it is lazy, and will never get through."

8. "Oh yes, it will,