Catherine T. Bryce

“ These three grow side by side.
They are not alone.
Many other flowers are growing all around them.
But none are as beautiful as Rose.
None are as bright-eyed as Daisy.
None are as fair as Lily.
83
“Good morning, Rose,” says Daisy.
“Where were you all winter?”
“I was down under the white snow, sound asleep.” ”

“ He knows the cold winter is coming.
Then he can gather no honey.
There will be no flowers in the fields.
The cold winter winds will blow.
144
Snow will cover fields and flowers.
But the little bee will be happy.
He will be safe in his snug hive.
There he will keep snug and warm.
Now he can eat his store of honey.
He can eat all he wants.
He will be glad he worked in summer.
He will be glad of his snug warm hive.
He can sleep and rest waiting for another summer.
When it comes he will be busy again.
145 WHY THE CLOVER IS SWEET
A little fairy flew to a daisy. ”

“ Over the ice and snow,
With a sleigh just full of good things?
Tell me if you know.
Just listen to his sleigh bells!
They are ringing out so clear,
And they tell us as we listen,
That Santa Claus is near.
98
SANTA CLAUS
Hush! hark! I hear sleigh bells!
Listen and you will hear them.
They are ringing out so clear.
They say, “Some one is coming.”
Who can it be? I think I know.
He has a big sleigh.
It is just full of good things.
There is something for you and me.
Little reindeer draw this sleigh.
They come rushing, bounding over the ice and snow.
99
They are coming near, near, nearer! ”

“ She was tired of the snow.
54She longed for the summer.
She longed for the sweet singing of the birds.
She was so glad when Blue-bird called.
She awoke. She came out. She grew.
Blue-bird and Violet were so glad.
Winter was past; summer was here.
55Dear little baby, close your eye,
Close your eye so blue,
Mother will sing to you, “Rock-a-bye,
Baby and birdies, too.”
All little babies should be asleep,
For the stars are shining through,
And into the nest of all they peep,
Babies and birdies, too.
56 MOTHER’S SONG
It is night. ”

“ The initial stock of about one hundred “sight words,” which the reading of the Primer has furnished, is increased gradually. At first most of the new words are easily acquired, as were those of the Primer, through the memorizing of simple and interesting rhymes. viSuch rhymes occur on pages 3, 6, 11, 15, 17, 25, 28, 33, 37, 47, 55, 75. But for the development of the power and the habit of independent mastery of new words by the child reliance is placed on the exercises in phonics, which should be systematic and constant throughout the book. ”

“ I should like to go and live with them always,” answered the star.
“Do you not love me, little star?”
“Yes, mother dear, I do love you.”
“Do you not love the other stars?”
“Yes, I love you all, but I love the dear flowers best.”
“Then why do you not go to them?” said the sad Mother Moon.
90“I will, I will; good-by, good-by,” said the star.
In the morning this little star was gone from the sky.
But a beautiful dandelion was growing in the meadow.
91
THE DANDELION’S FRIENDS
Bright-eyed Daisy grew in the meadow. ”

“ No formidable mechanism is involved in the teaching of phonics. The plan is an entirely simple and natural one. The pupil is shown how and encouraged from the outset to do quickly, directly and intelligently what he otherwise learns slowly, indirectly and unconsciously. ”

“ The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to Mr. Nathaniel L. Berry, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.
v INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful. The content is concrete, alive and full of action. ”

“ What fun they have in the deep snow!
They are almost covered with it.
Just hear them shout!
How they make the snow fly!
Up the steep hill they run.
They draw their sleds after them.
117Then down they slide.
They ought to look out for the sleighs.
Their sleds go very fast.
Sometimes the sleds tip over and throw them into the snow.
But they do not care.
It is all fun for them.
Now they are making a snow man.
118
He is made of big balls of snow. ”

“ Aldine Reading, as presented in this and in the other books of the Aldine Series, is vastly more important than any mere method or device for acquiring mastery of the mechanics of reading—it does lead to that mastery speedily; it is all-round, rich, sound education for the primary child; and withal it is a joy to child and teacher, as all primary education ought to be.
vii CONTENTS
1 With·The·Birds
2
3Fly, little birds, to the tall tree. ”

“ We must be busy like the birds.
We must be glad, too.”
88
THE STAR
A little star lived away up in sky-land.
At night it looked down at the trees.
It peeped under the leaves.
It looked into the birds’ nest.
It looked long at the sweet flowers.
The little star liked them best of all.
89It was always shining on them.
It was always trying to wake them.
One night Mother Moon saw the little star looking down.
“Bright star,” said she, “why are you always shining on the flowers?” ”

“ All three are very happy this beautiful Christmas morning.
The sun is just peeping over the hills.
Mother goes to get breakfast.
Tom and Baby are kept busy with their new play-things.
115
PLAYING IN THE SNOW
“Come quick! See the snow!
See the snow!” cries Tom.
“Mother, may we go out and play?
May we take our sleds with us?
May we take the ones Santa Claus brought us?
Do say we may go, Mother.”
“Yes, children,” answers mother.
“You may play in the white snow.
You may take your Christmas sleds.
Come, I will put on your warm coats.”
116
“Where is my nice hood?” ”