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this is a dish never found but at my table, and I wish thee to eat thy fill of it.

As he said this, the Barmecide pretended to take a piece in his hand, and put it to Shacabac's mouth. Shacabac held his head forward, opened his mouth, pretended to take the piece, and to chew and swallow it with the greatest delight.

SHAC.: O my master! verily this dish hath not its equal in sweetness of flavor.

BARM.: Do justice to it, I pray, and eat more of it. The goose, too, is very fat. Try only a leg and a wing. Ho there, boy! bring us a fresh

supply. SHAC.:

eat any more. BARM.:

O no, my lord! for in truth, I can not

Let the dessert, then, be served, and the fruit brought. Taste these dates: they are just gathered, and very good. Here, too, are some fine walnuts, and here some delicious raisins. Eat, and be not ashamed.

Shacabac's jaws were by this time weary of chewing nothing. “I assure thee,” said he, “I am so full that I can not eat another morsel of this cheer."

Well, then, we will now have the wine.
Here, my friend, take

BARM.:

- Boy, bring us the wine!

this cup: it will delight thee. Come, drink my health, and tell me if thou thinkest the wine good. But the wine, like the dinner and dessert, did not appear. However, he pretended to pour some out, and drank the first glass, after which he poured out another for his guest.

Shacabac took the imaginary glass, and, first holding it up to the light to see if it was of a good bright color, he put it to his nose to inhale its perfume; then, making a profound reverence to the Barmecide, he drank it off with every mark of keen enjoyment.

The Barmecide continued to pour out one bumper after another so frequently, that Shacabac, pretending that the wine had got into his head, made believe to be tipsy. This being the case, he raised his fist, and gave the Barmecide such a violent blow that he knocked him down. BARM.: What, thou vilest of creation! Art thou mad? SHAC.:

O my master! thou hast fed me with thy provisions, and given me old wine; and I have become intoxicated, and committed an outrage upon thee. But thou art of too great dignity to be angry with me for my ignorance!

He had hardly finished this speech before the

Barmecide burst into laughter. "Come," said he,

"I have long been looking for a man of thy character. Let us be friends. Thou hast kept up the jest in pretending to eat: now thou shalt make my house thy home, and eat in earnest."

Several

Having said this, he clapped his hands. slaves instantly appeared, whom he ordered to set out the table and serve the dinner. His commands were quickly obeyed, and Shacabac now enjoyed in reality the good things of which he had before partaken only in dumb show.

Just here the train began slowing up. "Niagara Falls!" shouted the conductor. "All out for the

Falls!"

And, headed by Uncle Jack, they soon found themselves on the station platform ready to start for the Falls.

TO THE PUPIL:

66

1. Substitute synonyms or synonymous expressions for the following, in the paragraph on p. 270, beginning Although no boy appeared": Appeared, observed, began to rub, he urged, liked a jest, pretended to wash, to wipe them.

2. Viands means articles of food, victuals; bumper, a glass brimful.

TO THE TEACHER:

This entire episode should be dramatized often. Vary the cast.

Call attention to the mark of courtesy mentioned in the paragraph beginning “As he said this," p. 272.

Note that near by cannot properly be used as an adjective. It is always an adverbial phrase.

THIRTY-FIRST DAY

"Hurrah!" shouted Ben. "Home again!"

On the way home, Niagara Falls had been visited, they had seen the rapids and the Cave of the Winds, and everyone was glad now to be at home.

"Home again, from a foreign shore,' it should be," said May.

"So be it," said Uncle Jack, as he sat down to the piano, and played while they all

sang.

HOME AGAIN

Arr. by GEORGE H. GARTLAN

MARSHALL S. PIKE

6

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1. Home again, home a - gain, From a for - eign 2. Hap-py hearts, happy hearts, With mine have laughed in 3. Music sweet, mu sic soft Lin

gers round the

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shore! And oh,

it fills my soul with joy To glee, But oh, the friends I loved in youth Seem place, And oh, I feel the child-hood charm That

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