McGuffey's Second Eclectic Reader

Excerpt

LESSON I.

news'paper cold or'der seem through

stock'ings chat sto'ry 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. ]

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...!