H́nh ảnh trang
PDF
ePub

hungry, for my mother brought me a plenty of the sweetest food she could find. I soon learned to love her very much, and I always tried to please her. If little boys and girls have such a kind mother as I had, I hink they are very wicked to disobey them, as I have sometimes seen them do.

6. When I was nearly large enough to fly, I was terribly frightened. A very great boy climbed up to the nest, and took me in his hand, and gave me to his little sister who stood on the ground. My mother flew round and round the tree, appearing to be more distressed than I had ever seen her before.

7. This moved the little girl's pity, and she begged her brother to put me back. At first, he seemed unwilling to do so, but the kind gardener soon came, and ordered him to return me instantly, and never to disturb our little home again.

8. The next spring, I was old enough to build a nest, and my dear mate and myself were so afraid of being disturbed, that we made it in a concealed spot in a thicket of bushes, in a retired pasture. At length four little birds made their appearance.

QUESTIONS.-1. What does the robin say her mother early taught her? 2. When nearly large enough to fly, what took place? 3. Who ordered the boy to place her back in the nest? 4. What did she and her mate do the next spring? EXERCISES.-Will you pronounce distinctly gar den er, in sects, mem' o ry, dis tinct, sweet est?

LESSON VIII.

Spell and Define-1. AG' O NI ZED, distressed with extreme pain. 2. AN' GUISH, Severe pain either of body or mind. 3. DES O LA' TION, ruin. 4. AP PROACH' ED, drew near. 5. TAR RI ED, staid behind; delayed. 6. TREAS' URE, wealth; something highly valued. 7. SUC CEED' ED, prospered. 8. IN CLI' NED, disposed. 9. OC CU PA' TION, business; employment. 10. IN TE' RI OR, internal; inner. 11. RE LUCTANT LY, unwillingly. 12. TRU' ANT, an idler. 13. EN' VY, to grieve at another's good.

[graphic]

STORY OF THE ROBIN.-CONTINUED.

1. As our little birds increased in size, we were promising ourselves the sweet privilege of teaching them to fly from the nest, and sing among the neighboring trees. But suddenly our hopes were blasted forever. Two

truant boys were rambling in the fields, within sight of the church spire, where we had heard the bell ring, that very morning, to invite them to the Sabbath School.

2. As they came near, I flew in terror from the nest, and my agonized mate flew toward it at the same time. Our movements guided them to the spot, and one of them declared that he would have the young birds.

3. With the acutest anguish, we watched the robber, as he carried off the darling objects of our care.

4. O, how changed was the face of nature around us! The fields and groves no longer seemed pleasant, but desolation and gloom were spread over them. I wish those boys had stopped to consider whether the nest gave as much joy to them, as its loss gave grief to us. I hope you will teach all your acquaintances to be kind to the robins, and we will repay them with our sweetest music.

5. As Winter approached, all the robins in the region where we lived, flew away to the South. My mate and myself tarried at the North as long as we dared, in hopes we should find our lost treasures. When we could wait no longer, we started on our sad journey. Our loneliness seemed doubly distressing, when we saw other robins guiding their happy broods on their first journey.

6. I did not envy them, kind Miss, but their happiness made me more keenly feel

my own loss. When we returned in the Spring, we found that my old friend, the gardener, had a neat little cottage of his own. "Here is the very place for us to build our nest," said I to my mate, as I alighted upon an inviting spot, in a cherry tree, close to his chamber window.

7. "We succeeded so badly when we tried to conceal our nest," he replied, “that I am half inclined to take your advice." I then told the story of the good man's kind. ness, and he agreed that we should be safer near his window than any where else.

8. You can guess how we were employed for several weeks from that time. I will only say that while busied in our pleasant occupation, it was a delight to us both to give our sweetest music to our loving neighbors.

9. After the young birds were hatched, you would have been delighted to have seen my mate flying around the doors and windows, picking up insects, and bringing them to the nest.

10. But I come now to the saddest day of my life. My mate had gone to the edge of a little pool, where insects were plenty, while I staid to shelter our little chicks. As he returned with a worm in his mouth, I saw him alight on the fence. A moment after, I was startled by a noise like thunder, and looking up again, I saw him fall bleeding and fluttering to the ground.

11. I can never tell this part of my story, without stopping awhile to think of my dear mate who will never join me again, in my songs or my labors.

12. By the help of the kind gardener and his wife, I reared my young ones. Just before we were ready to take our winter journey, the same boy who ran with a gun in his hand, and picked up my mate when he fell, passed near the spot where I was resting a moment from my labors, on the branch of a tree.

13. I started instantly to fly away, but I was not quick enough to avoid a heavy stone which he aimed at me. It struck one of my wings, and almost broke it.

14. I was still able to fly, though with some pain, and soon started southward with my young brood. I bore the suffering from my wounded wing, without complaint, till we arrived in the interior of Pennsylvania.

15. Here I stopped, and my young ones reluctantly left me to take care of myself, while they went forward with the company. For several days, I found food in abundance, but when that snow storm came, I was forced to seek it near your door.

16. You now have my story, sweet child, and as we are so well acquainted, I hope you will not object to my spending the winter with you; and I will repay your kindness as well as I know how.

« TrướcTiếp tục »