But, worn with their toilsome watch, they slept,
While slowly o'er their foreheads crept,
The golden light of the morning sun,
Like a victor's crown, when his palm is won.

"God bless you, children!" the keeper cried;
"God bless thee, father!" the boy replied.
"I dreamed that there stood beside my bed
A beautiful angel, who smiled and said,
'Blessed are they whose love can make
Joy of labor, for mercy's sake!'"

[Illustration]

*       *       *       *       *


Directions for Reading.--Mark the _inflection_ of the following lines.

The tide comes up, and the tide goes down.

The fair little sister wept, dismayed,
But the brother said, "I am not afraid."

Name the _emphatic words_ in the lines just quoted. State whether the
emphasis falls upon words that are inflected.


*       *       *       *       *


Language Lesson.--Why is the sea called _cruel_ and its roar _hungry?_
Give two examples of a similar use of words.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON LIII.


oc'cu pant, _one who is in possession of a thing_.

ac quired', _gained_.

mi'cro scope, _a glass so formed as to make small_
_objects appear large_.

slug'gish, _slow; stupid_.

in spect'ing, _looking at with attention_.

com posed', _made up_.

se'ries, _a number of things in order_.

stub'bed, _short and thick_.

dis turbed', _interfered with_.


*       *       *       *       *




THE CATERPILLAR AND BUTTERFLY.


Last summer, when the trees were covered with green leaves, and when the
little stream was sparkling and dancing in the sun, there appeared in
the garden, a large caterpillar of many colors, and about as pretty as a
caterpillar could be.

All day long it was nibbling the green leaves, and leaf after leaf
disappeared before it with wonderful rapidity. It seemed to live only
for eating.

As autumn came on, it quite lost its appetite; so much so, that even the
tenderest and most juicy leaves could not tempt it to eat any more. It
grew dull and stiff, and lost all interest in life.

Feeling that some change was about to happen, it crawled into a little
hole in the old garden wall. It wrapped itself up in a cobweb, and fell
into a long sleep, during which it became changed from a caterpillar
into a dried-up, dead-looking grub or chrysalis.

It remained in this state through all the long winter, till the snow and
frost had gone, and the cold March winds were over.

In April the trees burst forth with their bright green leaves, and the
grass looked fresh under the power of the warm rains.

In May the many-tinted flowers appeared, filling the air with their
sweetness, and brightening the fields and gardens with their gay colors.

At this time another great change came over the old grub. It showed
signs of life again; but it was now no longer a caterpillar--it was
something else.

It wriggled and turned in its narrow little home, and seemed anxious to
get out and look at the sunshine and flowers. It bumped its head up and
down until it succeeded in pushing off a little door.

When the door was off, and the bright sunlight shone in, this little
occupant of the chrysalis took a look at itself.

It saw that during its long winter's nap, it had acquired a pair of
beautiful wings, and its legs had grown longer and stronger than they
were before.

Crawling out of the chrysalis, and taking a position on a branch of the
tree, it discovered that instead of a caterpillar, it was now a
beautiful butterfly.

It was a kind that is called the swallow-tail butterfly, because each of
its wings tapered to a point, something like the tail of a swallow. We
will call the butterfly, Miss Swallow-tail, and now let us see what her
next move was.

Her wings were damp and heavy, and she stood shivering and trembling;
for although she had six legs, they were weak, having never before borne
such a weight.

But fresh air brings strength; so she soon felt like trying to walk. At
first her movements were sluggish, but she finally reached a sunny spot
where she dried and warmed herself, giving her wings a little shake now
and then, until they opened grandly above her back.

And how beautiful they were! Dark brown, bordered with two rows of
yellow spots; and there were seven blue spots on each of the hind
wings.

As she stood there in the sun, a little wind came along and raised Miss
Swallow-tail off her feet. She spread her wings to keep from falling,
and found herself floating in the air.

This proved to be such a delightful way of traveling, that she lifted
her wings occasionally, and so kept herself floating; and in a short
time she learned to turn in any direction she chose.

As she flew along, growing stronger every minute, she was attracted by
the bright colors of a flower, and stopped to admire it.

The sweet perfume tempted her to taste, and unrolling her long tongue
from under her chin, where she carried it, she put it down into the
flower and drew up the honey hidden there.

Miss Swallow-tail had wonderful eyes. All butterflies have wonderful
eyes. If you will look at them through a microscope you will find that
each eye is composed of a great many smaller ones, that can see in all
directions.

They have great need of such eyes, because there are so many birds and
other hungry creatures, that want to eat them.

One day a whiff of celery coming from a garden near by, reminded Miss
Swallow-tail of the time when she was a baby and liked to eat celery.

So she flew over into the garden, and fastened her eggs to a celery bush
with some glue that she carried with her. Then she left them, and never
thought of them again.

In about ten days the babies that had been growing inside of the eggs,
broke open the shells and crawled out. And what do you think they were?
Butterflies? like their mamma, only very much smaller?

No, indeed! for you know butterflies never grow any larger. They were
the smallest green and black worms you ever saw!

As soon as they were out of the shells, they began eating the celery,
and grew so fast that in a week they were quite large worms.

They were covered with green rings and black rings dotted with yellow.
They each had sixteen short legs, and they had a flesh-colored, Y-shaped
horn hidden away under a ring above the head, that they would show when
they were disturbed.

One morning the gardener discovered that something was eating his
celery. Searching among the leaves he found all but one of the little
worms, and put them where they could do no more mischief.

Soon the little worm that had escaped his notice, had grown so fat that
he was too stupid to eat any more; so he crawled away to a dark place on
the fence and fastened himself there.

But first he covered a small spot of the fence with a white, silken
carpet, that he wove from a web which he drew from his under lip.

He then glued the end of a web to the carpet, carried the rest of it up
over his breast, and down on the other side and fastened it there.

He then bent his head down under it, letting it pass over his head, and
by bending forward and backward worked it down near the middle of his
back. After inspecting his work, he bent his head upon his breast, and
leaned against the fence.

After resting two days, he began a series of twistings and turnings
that burst open his skin from the corners of his mouth down a short way,
and worked it all off himself.

He drew his head in out of sight, and sent out a stubbed horn on each
side of it, and lo! no worm was to be seen!--but a chrysalis, like the
one his mother was sleeping in when we first found her.


*       *       *       *       *


Directions for Reading.--Let pupils read the following lines, and then
mark the _inflection_.


"And what do you think they were? Butterflies? like their mamma,
only very much smaller?"


Does the first question expect the answer _yes_ or _no?_

Do the last two questions expect the answer _yes_ or _no?_

What would be the inflections used in the following questions?

What kind of an answer is expected to each question?

"Where are you going?"

"Are you coming back again?"

Fill blanks in the following statements.

Questions which may be answered by _yes_ or _no_, regularly require
the ---- inflection.

Questions which can not be answered by _yes_ or _no_, regularly
require the ---- inflection.


*       *       *       *       *


Language Lesson. Let pupils copy the following words.

seize    chief    grief    fear    beach    receive

relief    believe    weary    beacon

Write sentences, each containing one of the preceding words, used in
such a way as to show its meaning.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON LIV.


ob'sti nate, _determined to have one's own way_.

vi'cious, _not well tamed; given to bad tricks_.

sub dued', _made gentle; overcome_.

swerve, _turn from a direct line_.

squad'ron, _a number of horses drawn up together_.

pli'able, _capable of being turned or bent_.

strove, _attempted; tried hard_.

ex ceed'ed, _went beyond_.

thong, _a long strip of leather_.


*       *       *       *       *




WILD HORSES OF SOUTH AMERICA.


At the time of the discovery of America there were no wild horses in any
part of the continent.

Soon, however, some of the horses brought over from Europe by the early
settlers, wandered away, and now wild horses are to be met with in large
numbers, in some cases as many as a thousand at a time.

They appear to be under the command of a leader, the strongest and
boldest of the herd, whom they obey.

When threatened with danger, at some signal, understood by them all,
they either close together and trample their enemy to death, or form
themselves into a circle and welcome him with their heels.

The leader first faces the danger, and when he finds it prudent to
retreat, all follow his rapid flight.

Byron thus describes a troop of wild horses:

"A trampling troop; I see them come!
In one vast squadron they advance!
I strove to cry--my lips were dumb.
The steeds rush on in plunging pride;
But where are they the reins to guide?
A thousand horse--and none to ride!
With flowing tail, and flying mane,
Wide nostrils--never stretch'd by pain,
Mouths bloodless to the bit or rein
And feet that iron never shod,
And flanks unscarr'd by spur or rod,
A thousand horse, the wild, the free,
Like waves that follow o'er the sea.
On came the troop....
They stop--they start--they snuff the air,
Gallop a moment here and there,
Approach, retire, wheel round and round,
Then plunging back with sudden bound,
They snort--they foam--neigh--swerve aside,
And backward to the forest fly."

The capture and breaking in of wild horses in America are described by
Miers as follows--

"The lasso is used by the natives of South America. It is a very strong
braided thong, half an inch thick, and forty feet long, made of many
strips of rawhide, braided like a whip-thong, and made soft and pliable
by rubbing with grease.

"It has at one end an iron ring, about an inch and a half in diameter,
through which the thong is passed, forming a running noose.

"The herdsmen--gauchos, as they are called--are generally mounted on
horseback when they use the lasso. One end of the thong is attached to
the saddle; the remainder is coiled in the left hand, except about
twelve feet belonging to the noose end, which is held in a coil in the
right hand.

"This long noose is then swung around the head, the weight of the iron
ring at the end of the noose assisting in giving to it, by a continued
circular motion, a sufficient force to project it the whole length of
the line.

"The gauchos drive the wild horses into a corral, which is a circular
space surrounded by rough posts firmly driven into the ground. The
corral," relates Miers, "was quite full of horses, most of which were
young ones about two or three years old.

"The chief gaucho, mounted on a strong, steady horse, rode into the
corral, and threw his lasso over the neck of a young horse and dragged
him to the gate.

"For some time he was very unwilling to lose his companions; but the
moment he was forced out of the corral his first idea was to gallop
away; however, a timely jerk of the lasso checked him.

"Some of the gauchos now ran after him on foot, and threw a lasso over
his fore legs, and jerking it, they pulled his legs from under him so
suddenly that I really thought the fall had killed him.

"In an instant a gaucho was seated on his head. They then put a piece of
hide in his mouth to serve for a bit, and a strong hide halter on his
head, and allowed him to get on his feet.

"While two men held the horse by his ears, the gaucho who was to mount
him fastened on the saddle, and then quickly sprung into it.

"The horse instantly began to jump in a manner which made it very
difficult for the rider to keep his seat; however, the gaucho's spurs
soon set him going, and off he galloped, doing every thing in his power
to throw his rider.

"Then another horse was brought from the corral; and so quickly was
every thing done that twelve gauchos were mounted in less than an hour.

"It was wonderful to see the different manner in which different horses
behaved. Some would actually scream while the gauchos were fastening
the saddle upon their backs, and some would instantly lie down and roll
upon it.

"Others would stand without being held, their legs stiff and in
unnatural positions, their necks half bent towards their tails, and
looking vicious and obstinate.

"It was now curious to look around and see the gauchos trying to bring
their horses back to the corral, which is the most difficult part of
their work, for the poor creatures had been so scared there that they
were unwilling to return to the place.

"At last they brought the horses back, apparently subdued and broken in.
The saddles and bridles were taken off, and the young horses trotted
off towards the corral, neighing to one another.

"When a gaucho wishes to take a wild horse, he mounts a horse that has
been used to the sport, and gallops over the plain.

"As soon as he comes near his victim, the lasso is thrown round the two
hind-legs, and as the gaucho rides a little on one side, the jerk
throws the wild horse without doing injury to his knees or his face.

[Illustration]

"Before the horse can recover from the shock, the rider dismounts, and
snatching his cloak from his shoulders, wraps it round the fallen
animal's head.

"He then forces into his mouth one of the powerful bridles of the
country, fastens a saddle on his back, and, mounting him, removes the
cloak.

"Upon this the astonished horse springs to his feet, and attempts to
throw off his new master, who sits calmly on his back.

"By a treatment which never fails, the gaucho brings the horse to such
complete obedience that he is soon trained to give his whole speed and
strength to the capture of his companions."


*       *       *       *       *


Directions for Reading.--Let pupils pronounce in concert, and singly,
the following words: _I, hide, side, rides, flight, wild, finds,
retire, describe_.

Mark the inflection of the last six lines of poetry on page 256.[15]

What _inflection_ is used (1) to keep up the interest?--(2) to show
hesitation?--(3) to express a decided opinion?--(4) to give the
conclusion of a story?--(5) to ask a question that may be answered by
_yes_ or _no_?--(6) to ask a question that can not be answered by
_yes_ or _no_?

Let pupils state the special uses of _inflection_ shown in the
following examples.

I, I think perhaps you may go.

I know that you may go.

They silently went away.

Yesterday, about three o'clock, just as we were preparing to go home,
suddenly we heard a band of music.


[15] This lesson.


*       *       *       *       *




LESSON LV.


career', _course of life_.

gen'erous, _free in giving aid to others_.

char'ity, _goodwill; desire to aid others_.

in her'ited, _came into possession of_.

in jus'tice, _wrong-doing_.

ac cused', _charged with a fault_.

hes i ta'tion, _delay_.

pre scrip'tion, _an order for medicine_.

flor'ins, _pieces of money, each valued at about fifty cents_.

pen'sion, _money paid for service in war_.

re stor'ing, _giving back_.

phy si'cian, _doctor of medicine_.


*       *       *       *       *




AN EMPEROR'S KINDNESS.


Joseph II., Emperor of Austria, was a generous, warm-hearted man, who
took great delight in doing acts of kindness and charity.

One time, as he was passing through the streets of Vienna, dressed as a
private gentleman, his attention was attracted to a boy about twelve
years old, who timidly approached, and seemed, anxious to speak to him.

"What do you wish, my little friend?" said the gentleman. His voice was
so tender, and he had such a kindly look in his eyes, that the boy had
courage to say:

"O sir, you are very good to speak to me so kindly. I believe you will
not refuse to do something for me."

"I should be sorry to refuse you," replied the gentleman; "but why are
you begging? You appear to be something better than a beggar; your voice
and your manner show it."

"I am not a beggar, sir," replied the boy, as a tear trickled down his
cheek. "My father was a brave officer in the army. Owing to illness, he
was obliged to leave the service, and was granted a pension by the
emperor.

"With this pension he supported our family; but a few months ago he
died, and we are left very poor indeed."

"Poor child!" said the gentleman. "Is your mother living?"

"Yes, sir, she is; and I have two brothers who are at home with her now.
She has been unable to leave her bed for weeks, and one of us must watch
beside her, while the others go out to beg."

Saying this, the poor boy tried very hard to keep back the great tears,
but they would come in spite of all he could do to stop them.

"Well, well, my boy," said the gentleman, "do not feel so unhappy; I
will see what can be done to help you. Is there a physician to be found
near you?"

"There are two, sir, only a little way from where we live."

"That is well. Now you go at once and have one of them visit your
mother. Here is money, not only for the physician, but for other things
to feed you and make you comfortable."

"O sir," said the boy, as he looked upon the gentleman in amazement,
"how can I thank you enough? This money will save my mother's life, and
keep my brothers from want."

"Never mind, my child; go and get the physician."

The boy obeyed, and the good emperor having learned the situation of the
house where the boy's mother lived, bent his steps in that direction,
and soon arrived there.

The room in which he found the poor woman gave evidence of great misery.

She was lying on a low bedstead, and though still young, her face was
pale and thin from sickness and want. Very little furniture of any kind
was to be seen, for the mother had disposed of nearly all she possessed
to obtain bread for her children.

When the emperor entered the room, the widow and her children looked at
him in astonishment. They did not know he was their emperor.

"I am a physician, madam," said he, bowing respectfully; "your neighbors
have informed me of your illness, and I am come to offer what service
may be in my power."

"Alas! sir," she answered with some hesitation, "I have no means of
paying you for your attention."

"Do not distress yourself on that account; I shall be fully repaid if I
have the happiness of restoring you to health."

With these words, the emperor approached the bed and inquired all about
her illness, after which he wrote a few lines and placed them on the
chimney-piece.

"I will leave you this prescription, madam; and on my next visit, I hope
to find you much better." He then withdrew. Almost immediately after
this, the eldest son of the widow came in with a medical man.

"O mother!" cried the boy, "a kind, good gentleman has given me all
this!" and he placed in his mother's hand, the money which the emperor
had given him. "There now, don't cry, mother; this money will pay the
doctor and buy every thing till you are well and strong again."

"A physician has already been here, my child, and has left his
prescription. See, there it is." and she pointed to the paper on the
chimney-piece. The boy took the paper, and no sooner had he glanced at