LESSON V. SPELL AND DEFINE. 1 Immortal, undying. 2 Beings, persons existing. The lark is up to meet the sun, And shall I sleep when beams of morn To waste their time in bed. Shall birds and bees and ants be wise, And to my duty haste. QUESTIONS.-1 Is it not wrong to waste your time in bod? 2 Do you rise late? 3 Is not the morning the best time for study or work? 4 Are not scholars, that rise late, apt to be late at school? LESSON VI. SPELL AND DEFINE. 1 Culling, selecting; choosing from many. 2 Engage to attract and fix. 3 Riper, more mature. ADVICE FROM A BEE. Busy bee, pray tell me why Thus from flower to flower you fly; Never leaving off to play? Little friend, I'll tell thee why, Summer flowers will soon be o'er, Little friend, now learn of me; QUESTIONS.-1 What reason is given why the busy bee flies from flower to flower? 2 What lesson are you here taught by the bee? 3 Why is youth called the seed time? LESSON VII. SPELL AND DEFINE. 1 History, relation of facts or events; story. 2 Grati fied, pleased; indulged according to desire. 3 Recol lection, the act of recalling to memory. 4 Uneasiness, restlessness; want of ease; disquiet. 5 Disobey, to neg lect or refuse to obey. 6 Distressed, suffering great pain; severely afflicted. 7 Disturbed, discomposed; disquieted; agitated. 8 Concealed, kept close or secret. STORY OF A ROBIN, RELATED BY HERSELF, TO THE KIND LITTLE GIRL. You have wished for my history, sweet little Miss, and you deserve to be gratified. So I will tell it to you. Though it is a sad tale, it will give me pleasure to relate it, if it will please you. My mother early taught me to repay all the kindness I received, and she set me an example of doing so. Besides her music, she gave her labor for the use of a snug little spot in the branches of an apple tree. I overheard the gardener saying that my mother was the best tenant his master had; for she gave him a song every morning, and helped him very much in clearing his garden of insects. In the dear little nest I have mentioned, I was born. You may wonder at the strength of my memory, but I have a distinct recollection of the uneasiness I felt, when I was in total darkness, surrounded on all sides by a smooth hard shell. In my impatience I kept pecking harder and harder, till at length it gave way. My mother soon helped me into liberty, by applying her great beak to the prison walls which confined me. I was a little cold at first, but she covered me carefully with her wings and warm body. My feathers grew very fast, and I was soon warm enough, even when she was away. I did not often know what it was to be 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 think they are very wicked to disobey them, as I have sometimes seen them do. When I was nearly large enough to fly, 1 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. 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. 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? LESSON VIII. SPELL AND DEFINE. 1 Agonized, distressed with extreme pain. 2 Anguish, severe pain either of body or mind. 3 Desolation, ruin. 4 Approached, drew near. 5 Tarried, staid behind; delayed. 6 Treasure, something highly valued. 7 Suc ceeded, prospered. 8 Inclined, was disposed. 9 Occu pation, business; employment. 10 Interior, internal; inner. 11 Reluctantly, unwillingly. STORY OF THE ROBIN CONTINUED. 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. As they came near, I flew in terror from the nest, and my agonized mate few towards it at the same time. Our movements guided them to the spot, and one of them declared he would have the young birds. |