In the winter of 1883, the Ohio River received so much water from the
thousands of rivulets flowing into it, that it overflowed its banks.

The result of this overflow was one of the greatest floods ever known,
and many, no doubt, who read this, were there to see its terrible
effects.

But where does all this water come from? you may ask.

Let me see if I can explain it to you. The water in all these rivers,
lakes, and oceans is constantly rising into the air in what is called
moisture or vapor. We can not see this moisture, neither can we see the
air.

If the air is cold, moisture does not rise rapidly; but, as the air
becomes heated, it takes up more moisture, so that the more heat there
is in the air, the more moisture rises.

Heated air is light, and rises higher and higher from the ground, taking
the moisture with it, until it reaches a point where it begins to cool.

Then as the air cools, the moisture forms into clouds, and these clouds
are, in a certain sense, floating water.

Floating water! How can water float! do you ask?

Well, I will tell you. Cold air is heavier than heated air, and until
the clouds become so full of moisture as to return some of it to the
earth, in the shape of rain, they float because they are lighter than
the air underneath them.

The winds, by the flapping of their mighty wings, drive the clouds over
the land to the hills and the mountains and the thirsty fields; and
there they pour their blessings on the farms, pastures, orchards, and
the dusty roads and way-side grass, bringing greenness and gladness
every-where.

Without water nothing would grow; every thing would dry up and wither.

All animals drink water, for it forms a part of their blood and thus
helps to keep them alive. All trees and plants drink it by drawing it
through their roots or leaves, for it helps to form their sap.

Sometimes on a summer morning you will see drops of clear sparkling
water on flowers and grass.

To look at them you would think it had rained during the night; but,
noticing that the ground is dry, you know that no rain has fallen.

What then are these glittering drops of water? Where do they come from?

I will tell you. These drops are called dew. As night comes on, the
grass and the leaves of flowers and plants become cool.

When the warm air touches them, it becomes chilled, and as the air can
not then carry so much moisture as before, it leaves some of its
moisture on the flowers and grass.

A moisture like dew sometimes collects in the house. Did you ever
observe it in drops on the outside of a pitcher of cold water? Some
people suppose that the water comes through the pitcher, but it does
not.

The water being cold makes the pitcher cold, and as the warm air of the
room strikes it, a moisture like dew is left on the pitcher, in the same
manner as dew is left on grass, leaves, and flowers.

In cold weather, when the dew gathers on plants and flowers, it
sometimes freezes and forms frost, and when the clouds throw off their
moisture in rain drops, the rain becomes sleet, hail, or snow.

So you see that dew, rain, frost, sleet, snow, and hail are only
different forms of water.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON XXVI.


treas'ure, _a large quantity of money; valuable things_.

for'mer ly, _in time past; heretofore_.

mod'er ate, _not great; limited in quantity_.

or'phan, _a child whose father and mother are dead_.

at tract'ive, _inviting; having power to draw toward_.

em'er y, _a kind of hard, sharp sand_.

ex treme', _last point or limit_.

rub'bish, _things of no value_.

fit'tings, _things needed in making an article ready for use_.


*       *       *       *       *




THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

PART I.


On a pleasant street in the old town of Fairfield, stands a neat, little
cottage. This was formerly the home of Mrs. Reed, an old lady respected
by her neighbors and loved by all the young people of the place.

There was about Mrs. Reed a kindly manner which pleased all who knew
her. Although very poor, she took much interest in her young friends and
tried to make them happy.

Mrs. Reed had not always been poor. Her husband when alive was supposed
to be rich; but after his death, it was found that nothing was left to
his widow but two small cottages.

In one of these cottages, Mrs. Reed lived; the other, she rented. But
the rent received was no more than enough to enable her to live with
moderate comfort. She had little or nothing left with which to do for
others.

One cold winter morning, two persons were talking together in the cozy
sitting-room of the cottage. One was Mrs. Reed, and the other, Alice
Brown, a poor orphan girl, who lived with some distant relatives in
Fairfield.

"You are very kind to come to see me so often, Alice," said Mrs. Reed.
"I wonder why you do; because there is nothing attractive here."

"Why, Mrs. Reed!" replied Alice; "how can you talk so? are you not here?
do I not always receive a kind word and a welcome smile from you?"

"Well, you know I love you, Alice, and am always delighted to have you
come," said Mrs. Reed; "I am sure that were it in my power to do so, I
would have you here all the time.

"I would like to give you books, have you attend school, and do every
thing to make you happy. But alas! Alice, you know I am too poor to do
what I wish, and at times it makes me feel very sad."

"O, indeed you are too good, Mrs. Reed! My greatest pleasure is to come
and see you, and I hope you will always love me.

"I wish I could stay here all day; but you know that the day after
to-morrow will be Christmas, and I must hurry home now, as auntie wants
me to help her prepare for it. So good-by."

"But, Alice, you will come to see me Christmas morning, will you not?"
asked Mrs. Reed.

"Yes," replied Alice, "for a little while." And with a kiss and another
good-by, she left Mrs. Reed alone.

"What a dear good girl she is," said Mrs. Reed to herself, as she
watched Alice tripping down the street toward her home.

"She was so good to me last summer when I was ill! and here is Christmas
and I have no money with which to buy her a present.

"O dear, dear! why was I left so poor! I am sure my husband had some
money; what could he have done with it!"

Mrs. Reed sat down in her rocking-chair and for a full half hour looked
thoughtfully into the fire. Starting up suddenly, she again exclaimed to
herself:

"I do really believe that if I go up into the garret, I can find,
something for a Christmas present, that will please Alice.

"I remember a curious old box that Mr. Reed had, that was sent to him
from India. If I can find some bits of ribbon, and silk, I will line it
and make it into a nice little work-box for Alice."

Then Mrs. Reed climbed up the narrow stairway into the garret, and,
after searching some time among the rubbish that lay around in all the
nooks and corners, discovered the box.

Taking it down-stairs and finding some pieces of silk, she spent the
rest of the day in making it into a work-box.

She made a pretty needle-book, a tiny pincushion, and an emery bag like
a big strawberry. Then from her own scanty stock she added needles,
pins, thread, and her only pair of small scissors, scoured to the last
extreme of brightness.

One thing only she had to buy--a thimble; and that she bought for a
penny. The thimble was of brass and so bright that it was quite as
handsome as gold.

When full, the little box was very pretty. In the bottom lay a quilted
lining, which had always been there, and upon which she had placed the
fittings.


*       *       *       *       *


Directions for Reading.--The conversational parts of this lesson may
be read as a dialogue by two pupils.

Which is the most _emphatic word_ in the following sentence?

"O dear, dear! Why was I left so poor!"

Point out the _emphatic words_ in the third paragraph of the lesson.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON XXVII.


hand'y, _convenient; ready for use_.

ad join'ing, _next to; neighboring_.

sin cere'ly, _honestly; truly_.

fort'u nate, _favored; lucky_.

act'u al ly, _really; truly_.

suf fi'cient, _enough; plenty_.

carv'ings, _figures cut in wood or stone_.

mys'ter y, _something entirely unknown_.

thresh'old, _a piece of board which lies under a door_.

tile, _a thin piece of baked clay_.

ex am'ine, _look at with care_.


*       *       *       *       *




THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

PART II.


Christmas morning came, and soon Alice Brown entered Mrs. Reed's cottage
and received a warm welcome.

"Merry Christmas! Mrs. Reed," said Alice.

"Thank you, my dear," replied Mrs. Reed; "it will indeed be a 'Merry
Christmas' if you can remain with me this forenoon."

"Well, I can stay till dinner-time," said Alice. "See what a pretty
present cousin John sent me!" and Alice held up a new pocket-book.

"That is very nice, Alice," said Mrs. Reed; "now if you had some one to
fill it with money, it would be better still."

"Yes, indeed," cried Alice, laughingly; "but as I was not so fortunate
as to receive any money, and have none of my own to put in it, the
pocket-book is not likely to be worn out for a long time."

"Well, well, Alice," replied Mrs. Reed, "it is always handy to have
things in the house; for some time they may be needed.

"Excuse me a moment, Alice," continued Mrs. Reed; "sit down here by the
fire and warm yourself."

Alice took a seat by the fire and warmed her fingers; for, although it
was a bright sunshiny day, it was very cold.

Mrs. Reed stepped into the adjoining room, and with a light heart and
an expression on her face that no one had seen for many a day, took up
the little work-box she had prepared for Alice.

Returning again to the sitting-room with the box in her hand, she
approached Alice and said;

"Here, my dear, is a little Christmas present I have for you. I
sincerely wish it were something better. It will be useful, I know, and
I hope it will please you."

"O how beautiful!" exclaimed Alice, as she caught sight of the curious
carvings on the outside of the box. "And a work-box, too!" she
continued, as she took it in her hands and lifted the cover; "is it
really for me?"

"For no one else, I assure you," replied Mrs. Reed, as her face lighted
up with joy, at seeing Alice so happy.

"O how can I ever thank you enough!" exclaimed Alice, as she threw her
arms around Mrs. Reed's neck and kissed her again and again.

Then taking a seat by Mrs. Reed, Alice began to examine the contents of
the new work-box, lifting out the articles one by one, and placing them
in her lap.

She then admired the beautiful lining which. Mrs. Reed had put in the
box, asking her where she got such pretty pieces of silk.

"That piece of silk at the top, Alice, is a bit of my wedding-dress; and
that on the sides, is a part of my wedding-sash. Those remind me of
happy days, Alice.

"I had plenty then: a good husband, a happy home, and never thought that
I should come to poverty."

"What is this from?" asked Alice, touching the silk lining at the
bottom of the box.

"O that was always in the box, Alice. It was there when my husband
received it, and must be a piece of India silk.

"Is any thing the matter with it?" continued Mrs. Reed, as she noticed
Alice picking at one corner of it.

"O nothing is the matter," replied Alice; "it only seemed to me to be a
little loose."

"Let me look," said Mrs. Reed. "I don't think it can be loose, or I
should have seen it when I was lining the box."

"It is actually quite loose," said Alice, as she examined it further,
and picked up one corner with, a pin; "and here is a little piece of
paper underneath it."

"That is remarkable," said Mrs. Reed, as she put on her spectacles and
drew up her chair a little closer to Alice.

"And there is some writing on it too," said Alice, as she drew it from
its hiding-place and handed it to Mrs. Reed.

"Why, it's my husband's writing!" exclaimed Mrs. Reed, as she closely
examined the faded letters. "What can it mean? I never saw it before.
Read it, Alice; your eyes are younger than mine."

Alice read: "'Look and ye shall find,' and underneath this," continued
Alice, "is a picture of a mantel-piece, and underneath that, it reads:
'A word to the wise is sufficient.'"

Mrs. Reed again took the paper. Her hand trembled and her face became a
little pale.

"Alice," said she, "this is a picture of the old tile mantel-piece in
the other room. There is some mystery about this. What can it mean?"

"Yes," said Alice, "the tiles in that mantel have quotations on them."

In an instant, Alice was on her feet and sprung into the other room,
leaving Mrs. Reed in a state of wonderment.

Hastily examining the tiles in the mantel, Alice cried out: "O Mrs.
Reed, do come! here is a tile with exactly the same words on it!"

Mrs. Reed hurried into the room, and had scarcely passed the threshold,
when the tile fell to the hearth and broke into a dozen pieces.


*       *       *       *       *


Directions for Reading.--Point out breathing-places in the last
paragraph.

Pronounce carefully the following words: _fortunate, adjoining,
clothes, hearth, sitting-room, wedding-dress_.


*       *       *       *       *


Language Lesson.--Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of
the following sentences.

_Alice received a warm welcome_.

_Mrs. Reed stepped into the adjoining room with a light heart_.

_Her face lighted up with joy_.

_Those things remind me of happy days_.

"_A word, to the wise is sufficient_."

Change the _statements_ given above to _questions_.

Change the following _exclamations_ to complete _statements_.

Do come!           Let me look!           Read it, Alice!

Model.--See my pocket-book! = I wish you would look at my pocket-book.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON XXVIII.


be fall'en, _happened to_.

thrust, _move suddenly or with force_.

mis hap', _something which has occurred to cause pain or sorrow_.

ex cit'ed ly, _in a very earnest manner_.

min'gled, _joined closely; united_.

le'gal ly, _as the law requires_.

a bun'dant, _beyond one's need; plentiful_.

com'fort a ble, _having everything needed to keep one from pain or want_.

re la'tions, _the feelings or acts of people toward each other_.

charm'ing, _very pleasant_.


*       *       *       *       *




THE HIDDEN TREASURE.

PART III.


"O what have I done! what have I done!" cried Alice. "O Mrs. Reed, I'm
so sorry--I have broken the tile!"

"How did it happen, Alice? Was it loose?"

"Why yes," replied Alice; "I put my hand on it, and thought it appeared
to move a little. Having my scissors with, me, I, through curiosity, ran
the points in between that tile and the next one."

"Never mind, child," said Mrs. Reed kindly, seeing that Alice was
feeling sad over the mishap; "perhaps the tile can be mended--let us
see."

As they both stooped down to pick up the pieces, Alice noticed that
there was a hollow space back of where the tile had been, and that it
contained something of a dingy white color.

"O Mrs. Reed!" cried she; "there is something in there! See, it looks
like a bag tied up! May I take it out?"

Mrs. Reed turned deadly pale. "Yes," she replied, scarcely knowing what
she expected or dared hope.

Alice thrust her hand into the hole to pull the hag out, but as it was
very old, it fell apart, and O wonder of wonders! as many as a hundred
pieces of gold coin fell with a jingle on the hearth and rolled every
way.

"My husband's money!" exclaimed Mrs. Reed, as she leaned on Alice to
keep from falling.

Alice was nearly wild and talked like a crazy person.

"O goody, goody!" she cried, clapping her hands and jumping up and down.
"Now you can have everything you want! you won't be poor any longer!"

But Mrs. Reed was too much overcome to hear what Alice said.

[Illustration]

She could scarcely realize the good fortune that had so suddenly
befallen her.

Presently, however, with the tenderness of a mother, she placed her arms
around Alice and said: "O you precious child! but for you, I should
never have known this!"

"And if you had not given me the work-box," said Alice, "perhaps no one
would ever have found it out.

"But," continued she, excitedly, "let us see if there is any thing more
in there."

Again reaching into the hole in the mantel-piece, she sprung back with a
look of amazement that frightened Mrs. Reed.

"Why, Alice, what is the matter?" inquired the old lady.

"Matter!" exclaimed Alice. "Why, dear me! Mrs. Reed, there are lots and
lots of bags in there yet!"

"Is it possible!" said Mrs. Reed hoarsely. Then reaching her hand into
the hole, she drew out bag after bag, handling them very carefully, so
that they would not fall to pieces as the first one had done.

In the meantime Alice had pushed a table up near the fire-place. The
bags were emptied upon it, until the glittering gold made a heap that
struck Mrs. Reed and Alice with greater amazement than ever.

"Alice," said Mrs. Reed, "this is a blessing from Heaven that I do not
deserve. I can not tell you how thankful I am for it. My happiness now
will be in doing for others."

Alice said nothing; her heart was too full. A look of sadness came over
her face.

She was wondering whether Mrs. Reed would continue to love her, and
thinking, with a mingled feeling of fear and dread, that now her friend
was rich, perhaps she, the poor orphan girl, might not be so welcome at
the cottage as before.

Mrs. Reed seemed to understand somewhat the nature of Alice's thoughts.
"Cheer up, Alice," said she; "this is not a time to be sad! Come, help
me put away this gold.

"By the way, Alice, now is the time to use your pocket-book; you know I
told you it was handy to have things in the house, they might be
needed," she continued, smilingly.

"Why, certainly, Mrs. Reed; do you want to borrow my pocket-book? here
it is."

"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Reed, "I shall want a new one myself, and I
want to see yours. I wonder how many pieces of gold it will hold."

Then Mrs. Reed crammed the pocket-book full of gold pieces.

"There!" said she, handing it to Alice; "that is the Christmas present I
wanted to give you this morning, but did not have it."

"What! this for me! O no, no! I do not deserve it!" cried Alice.

"But you must take it, Alice, and listen; for I have something to tell
you. I want you to be my daughter now. I will have abundant means to
make both of us comfortable and happy."

"O Mrs. Reed," said Alice, bursting into tears; "I would love to be your
daughter, nothing could make me happier."

In a very short time every thing was changed in the little cottage. Mrs.
Reed had legally adopted Alice as her daughter and was sending her to
school.

Fresh paint, inside and out, and many new comforts, made the old house
charming and bright. But nothing could change the happy relations
between the two friends, and a more contented and cheerful household
could not be found anywhere.


*       *       *       *       *


Language Lesson.--Tell the story in your own words, using the points
given in the following

Analysis.--1. Mrs. Reed's home. 2. Her talk with Alice. 3. Mrs. Reed
prepares a present for Alice. 4. Alice receives the work-box. 5. What
was found in it. 6. The broken tile and the discovery of the money. 7.
What happened after that.


*       *       *       *       *