McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey (classic reads txt) 📖

light Har'ry

branch'es kiss burns Mrs. e vents'

an oth'er Mr. stool lamp mends

[Illustration: Family at evening; father reading newspaper, mother sewing, boy and girl reading.]

EVENING AT HOME.

1. It is winter. The cold wind whistles through the branches of the trees.

2. Mr. Brown has done his day's work, and his children, Harry and Kate, have come home from school. They learned their lessons well to-day, and both feel happy

3. Tea is over. Mrs. Brown has put the little sitting room in order. The fire burns brightly. One lamp gives light enough for all. On the stool is a basket of fine apples. They seem to say, "Won't you have one?"

4. Harry and Kate read a story in a new book. The father reads his newspaper, and the mother mends Harry's stockings.

5. By and by, they will tell one another what they have been reading about, and will have a chat over the events of the day.

6. Harry and Kate's bedtime will come first. I think I see them kiss their dear father and mother a sweet good night.

7. Do you not wish that every boy and girl could have a home like this?

LESSON II.

beau'ti ful porch rain'bow burst

bub'bling same biggest sneeze col'ors

main soap wash red ma'ny (men'y)

[Illustration: Three children playing with bubbles and cat.]

BUBBLES.

1. The boys have come out on the porch to blow bubbles. The old cat is asleep on the mat by the door.

2. "Ha! ha!" laughs Robert, as a bubble comes down softly on the old cat's back, and does not burst.

3. Willie tries to make his bubble do the same. This time it comes down on the cat's face, and makes her sneeze.

4. "She would rather wash her face without soap," says Harry. "Now let us see who can make the biggest bubble."

5. "Mine is the biggest," says Robert. "See how high it floats in the air! I can see—ah! it has burst."

6. "I can see the house and the trees and the sky in mine," says Willie; "and such beautiful colors."

7. "How many, Willie?"

8. "Red, one; blue, two; there—they are all out. Let us try again."

9. "I know how many colors there are," says Harry. "Just as many as there are in the rainbow."

10. "Do you know how many that is?"

LESSON III.

rub'ber gun par'lor street

num'ber ten o'clock' shoot

WILLIE'S LETTER.
[Illustration: Script Exercise:

New York, Dec. 10, 1878. Dear Santa Claus: Papa is going to give me a Christmas tree, and he says that you will put nice things on it if I ask you. I would like a gun that will shoot, and a rubber ball that I can throw hard, and that will not break Mamma's windows or the big glass in the parlor. Now, please don't forget to come. I live on Fourth St., number ten. I will go to bed at eight o'clock, and shut my eyes tight. I will not look, indeed I won't. Your little boy, Willie. ]

LESSON IV.

a bove' world dark oft

nev'er spark dew till

di'a mond twin'kle blaz'ing

The Little Star

1. Twinkle, twinkle, little star;
   How I wonder what you are,
   Up above the world so high,
   Like a diamond in the sky!

2. When the blazing sun is set,
   And the grass with dew is wet,
   Then you show your little light;
   Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

3. Then, if I were in the dark,
   I would thank you for your spark.
   I could not see which way to go,
   If you did not twinkle so.

4. And when I am sound asleep,
   Oft you through my window peep;
   For you never shut your eye,
   Till the sun is in the sky.

LESSON V.

be hind' to geth'er nob'le Scotch

Dodg'er min'utes crib wag'on

ter'ri er coun'try scold fel'low

shag'gy frisk'i ly fits cel'lar

guards New'found land yard har'ness

[Illustration: Two dogs, one large, the other a small puppy.]

TWO DOGS.

1. James White has two dogs. One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier.

2. The Newfoundland is a large, noble fellow. He is black, with a white spot, and with long, shaggy hair. His name is Sport.

3. Sport is a good watchdog, and a kind playfellow. Every night he guards the house while James and his father are asleep.

4. In the daytime, James often uses Sport for his horse. He has a little wagon, and a set of small harness which just fits the dog.

5. He hitches Sport to this wagon, and drives over the country. In this way, he can go almost as fast as his father with the old family horse.

6. The name of James's Scotch terrier is Dodger. He is called Dodger because he jumps about so friskily. He is up on a chair, under the table, behind the door, down cellar, and out in the yard,—all in a minute.

7. Dodger has very bright eyes, and he does many funny things. He likes to put his paws up on the crib, and watch the baby.

8. The other day he took baby's red stocking, and had great fun with it; but he spoiled it in his play, and James had to scold him.

9. Everyone likes to see James White with his two dogs. They always seem very happy together.

LESSON VI.

bet ween' bu'reau (-ro) stairs nee'dle

a fraid' shad'ow held stir

AFRAID IN THE DARK.

1. "Willie, will you run upstairs, and get my needle book from the bureau?"

2. But Willie did not stir. "Willie!" said mamma. She thought he had not heard.

3. "I'm afraid," said Willie.

4. "Afraid of what?"

5. "It's dark up there."

6. "What is the dark?" asked mamma. "See! It is nothing but a shadow." And she held her hand between the lamp and the workbasket on the table.

[Illustration: Mother, seated in rocking chair, kerosene lamp on table, boy standing, examining his shadow on the wall.]

7. "Now it is dark in the basket; but as soon as I take my hand away, it is light."

8. "Come and stand between the lamp and the wall, Willie. See! There is your shadow on the wall. Can your shadow hurt you?"

9. "Oh no, mamma! I am sure it can not hurt me."

10. "Well, the dark is only a big shadow over everything."

11. "What makes the big shadow, mamma?"

12. "I will tell you all about that, Willie, when you are a little older. But now, I wish you would find me a brave boy who is not afraid of shadows, to run upstairs and get my needlebook."

13. "I am bravo, mamma. I will go. —Here it is."

14. "Thank you, my brave little man. You see the dark didn't hurt you."

SLATE WORK.

[Illustration: Script Exercise:

Beautiful faces are they that wear
The light of a pleasant spirit there;
Beautiful hands are they that do
Deeds that are noble good and true;
Beautiful feet are they that go
Swiftly to lighten another's woe.
]

LESSON VII.

spi'ders tick'ling stay neck nose se'cret crawls

legs beck ope goes toes speck choose

dot nod shoes spread be lieve' six

[Illustration: Mother and baby watching fly on the wall.]

BABY BYE.

1. Baby Bye,
   Here's a fly;
   We will watch him, you and I.
   How he crawls
   Up the walls,
   Yet he never falls!
   I believe with six such legs
   You and I could walk on eggs.
   There he goes
   On his toes,
   Tickling Baby's nose.

2. Spots of red
   Dot his head;
   Rainbows on his back are spread;
   That small speck
   Is his neck;
   See him nod and beck!
   I can show you, if you choose,
   Where to look to find his shoes,
   Three small pairs,
   Made of hairs;
   These he always wears.

3. Flies can see
   More than we;
   So how bright their eyes must be!
   Little fly,
   Ope your eye;
   Spiders are near by.
   For a secret I can tell,
   Spiders never use flies well;
   Then away,
   Do not stay.
   Little fly, good day.

24 ECLECTIC SERIES. LESSON VIII.

serv'ant sud'den ly lon'ger re turned' lived tired

since five anx'ious trou'ble cer'tain nea'ly

doz'en sev'en at'tic strange great prop'er

coal seemed

[Illustration: Cat carrying kitten up stairs by the scruff of the neck.]

PUSS AND HER KITTENS.

1. Puss, with her three kittens, had lived in the coal cellar; but one day she thought she would carry them to the attic.

2. The servant thought that was not the proper place for them; so she carried them back to the cellar.

3. Puss was certain that she wanted them in the attic; so she carried them there again and again, five, six, seven, —yes, a dozen times; for each time the servant took them back to the cellar.

4. Poor puss was nearly tired out, and could carry them no longer.

5. Suddenly she went away. Where do you think she went?

6. She was gone a long time. When she returned, she had a strange cat with her that we had never seen before.

7. She seemed to tell him all about her great trouble, and he listened to her story.

8. Then the strange cat took the little kittens, one by one, and carried them to the attic. After this he went away, and we have never seen him since.

9. The servant then left the kittens in the attic, for she saw how anxious puss was to have them stay there.

10. Was not the strange cat kind to puss? This lesson should teach children to be ever ready to help one another.