of us a queer looking affair in the road. It proved to be a rusty old sleigh, fastened behind a covered wagon, proceeding at a very slow rate, and taking up the whole road. 4. "Finding that the owner was not disposed to turn out, we determined upon a volley of snowballs and a good hurrah. They produced the right effect, for the crazy machine turned out into the deep snow, and the skinny old pony started on a full trot. 5. "As we passed, some one gave the horse a good crack, which made him run faster than he ever did before, I'll warrant. 6. "With that, an old fellow in the wagon, who was buried up under an old hat, bawled out, 'Why do you frighten my horse?' 'Why don't you turn out, then?' says the driver. So we gave him three rousing cheers more. His horse was frightened again, and ran up against a loaded wagon, and, I believe, almost capsized the old creature-and so we left him." 7. "Well, boys," replied the teacher, "take your seats, and I will tell you a story, and all about a sleigh ride, too. Yesterday afternoon a very venerable old clergyman was on his way from Boston to Salem, to pass the rest of the winter at the house of his son. That he might be prepared for journeying in the following spring he took with him his wagon, and for the winter his sleigh, which he fastened behind the wagon. 8. "His sight and hearing were somewhat blunted by age, and he was proceeding very slowly; for his horse was old and feeble, like his owner. He was suddenly disturbed by loud hurrahs from behind, and by a furious pelting of balls of snow and ice upon the top of his wagon. 9. "In his alarm he dropped his reins, and his horse began to run away. In the midst of the old man's trouble, there rushed by him, with loud shouts, a large party of boys, in a sleigh drawn by six horses. "Turn out! turn out, old fellow!' 'Give us the road!' 'What will you take for your pony?' 'What's the price of oats, old man?' were the various cries that met his ears. 10. "Pray, do not frighten my horse!' exclaimed the infirm driver. 'Turn out, then! turn out!' was the answer, which was followed by repeated cracks and blows from the long whip of the 'grand sleigh,' with showers of snowballs, and three tremendous hurrahs from the boys. 11. "The terror of the old man and his horse was increased, and the latter ran away with him, to the great danger of his life. He contrived, however, to stop his horse just in season to prevent his being dashed against a loaded wagon. A short distance brought him to the house of his son. That son, boys, is your instructor, and that 'old fellow,' was your teacher's father!" 12. When the boys perceived how rude and unkind their conduct appeared from another point of view, they were very much ashamed of their thoughtlessness, and most of them had the manliness to apologize to their teacher for what they had done. DEFINITIONS.—1. Pŏp'u-loŭs, full of inhabitants. 2. Ex-cûrsion, a pleasure trip. In'çi-dents, things that happen, events. 5. War'rant, to declare with assurance. 6. Cap-sized', upset. 7. Věn’er-a-ble, deserving of honor and respect. 8. Blunt'ed, dulled. EXERCISES.-Repeat the boys' story of the sleigh ride. The teacher's story. Were the boys ill-natured or only thoughtless? Is thoughtlessness any excuse for rudeness or unkindness? XX. FREAKS OF THE FROST. By Hannah Flagg Gould, who was born at Lancaster, Vermont, in 1789. She published several volumes of poems (one for children) and one collection of prose articles, entitled "Gathered Leaves." She died in 1865. 1. THE Frost looked forth one still, clear night, I will not go on, like that blustering train, 2. Then he flew to the mountain, and powdered its crest; He lit on the trees, and their boughs he dressed Of the quivering lake, he spread A coat of mail, that it need not fear 3. He went to the windows of those who slept, Most beautiful things; there were flowers and trees; There were bevies of birds, and swarms of bees; There were cities with temples and towers, and these All pictured in silver sheen. 4. But he did one thing that was hardly fair; He peeped in the cupboard, and, finding there That all had forgotten for him to prepare, "Now just to set them a-thinking, I'll bite this basket of fruit," said he, "This costly pitcher I'll burst in three; And the glass of water they've left for me Shall 'tchick!' to tell them I'm drinking." DEFINITIONS.-1. Blus'ter-ing, being noisy and loud. Bus'tle, stir. 2. Crěst, the top. Quiv'er-ing, trembling, shaking. Mär gin, edge, border. 3. Bev'ies, flocks. Pie'tured, painted. brightness, splendor of appearance. Sheen, EXERCISES.-What did the frost say? What did he do to the mountain? The trees? The lake? What is a "coat of mail"? What did he do to the window? The pitcher? XXI. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. 1. Mr. Jones. Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these parcels for me? 2. The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good whipcord. Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, and then to untie it. 3. John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at the other, to pull off the string. But the cord had been too well secured, and he only drew the knots tighter. 4. John. I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly, as if they were never to be undone. Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone? What is in your parcel? I wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get the string off. I will cut it. 5. Ben. Oh, no, do not cut it, John! nice cord this is, and yours is the same. to cut it. Look, what a 6. John. Pooh! what signifies a bit of pack thread? 7. Ben. It is whipcord. 8. John. Well, whipcord then! what signifies a bit of whipcord? You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents; and who cares for three cents? Not I, for one. So, here it goes. 9. So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places. 10. Mr. Jones. Well, my boys, have you undone the parcels for me? 11. John. Yes, sir; here is the parcel. 12. Ben. And here is my parcel, father, and here is also the string. 13. Mr. Jones. You may keep the string, Ben. 14. Ben. Thank you, sir. What excellent whipcord it is! 15. Mr. Jones. And you, John, may keep your string, too, if it will be of any use to you. 16. John. It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir. 17. Mr. Jones. No, I am afraid not, if this is it. 18. A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top. 19. John. How is this, Ben? These tops have no strings. What shall we do for strings? 20. Ben. I have a string that will do very well for mine. And he pulled it out of his pocket. 21. John. Why, if that is not the whipcord! I I wish I had saved mine. (4.-5.) |