William Holmes McGuffey

“ 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. ”

“ Can your shadow hurt you?"
9. "Oh no, mamma! I am sure it can not hurt me."
10. "Well, the dark is only a big shadow over everything."
11. "What makes the big shadow, mamma?"
12. "I will tell you all about that, Willie, when you are a little older. But now, I wish you would find me a brave boy who is not afraid of shadows, to run upstairs and get my needlebook."
13. "I am bravo, mamma. I will go. —Here it is." ”

“ The fishhawk is often found sitting upon a tree over a pond, or lake, or river. He is also found by the seaside.
4. He watches the fish as they swim in the water beneath him; then he darts down suddenly and catches one of them.
5. When he catches a fish in his sharp, rough claws, he carries it off to eat, and, as he flies away with it for his dinner, an eagle sometimes meets him.
6. The eagle flies at him fiercely with his sharp bill and claws, and compels the hawk to drop the fish.
7. Then the eagle catches the fish as it falls, before it reaches the ground, and carries it off. ”

“ I do not know why she is so silly. Her kitten never eats more than it needs. It leaves the nice bones on the plate, and lies down to sleep when it has eaten enough.
4. The bee is wiser than Laura. It flies all day among the flowers to gather honey, and might eat the whole time if it pleased. But it eats just enough, and carries all the rest to its hive.
[Illustration: Heavy girl eating two apples. Plate on floor with food scraps. Cat lying on footstool.]
5. The squirrel eats a few nuts or acorns, and frisks about as gayly as if he had dined at the king's table. ”

“ Patty came to the woods often, and was always so quiet and gentle that the squirrels soon found they need not be afraid of her.
4. She brought her bread and milk to eat under the trees, and was sure to leave crumbs for the squirrels.
5. When they came near, she sat very still and watched them. So, little by little, she made them her friends, till, at last, they would sit on her shoulder, and eat from her hand.
6. Squirrels build for themselves summer houses. Those are made of leaves, and sticks, and moss. They are nice and cool for summer, but would never do for the winter cold and snow. ”

“ But Willie did not stir. "Willie!" said mamma. She thought he had not heard.
3. "I'm afraid," said Willie.
4. "Afraid of what?"
5. "It's dark up there."
6. "What is the dark?" asked mamma. "See! It is nothing but a shadow." And she held her hand between the lamp and the workbasket on the table.
[Illustration: Mother, seated in rocking chair, kerosene lamp on table, boy standing, examining his shadow on the wall.]
7. "Now it is dark in the basket; but as soon as I take my hand away, it is light."
8. "Come and stand between the lamp and the wall, Willie. See! There is your shadow on the wall. ”

“ There came a time, however, when Bounce really told Willie's father something, though he could not talk. Let me tell you how he did this.
[Illustration: Boy and dog walking through forest.]
4. It was on a bright summer afternoon. Willie had strolled with Bounce down to the river, which was not more than two blocks from his father's store.
5. Willie began to throw stones into the water, and to watch the ripples as they made one circle after another.
6. Bounce lay on the grass, watching the flies that buzzed around his nose, and catching any that came too near. ”

“ Each bee takes its proper place, and does its own work. Some go out and gather honey from the flowers; others stay at home and work inside the hive.
5. The cells which they build, are all of one shape and size, and no room is left between them.
6. The cells are not round, but have six sides. 7. Did you ever look into a glass hive to see the bees while at work? It is pleasant to see how busy they always are.
8. But the drones do not work. Before winter comes, all the drones are driven from the hive or killed, that they may not eat the honey which they did not gather. ”

“ They covered all the ground with a soft, white carpet. They hung beautiful plumes on the tall, green firs. The little bushes, they put to sleep in warm nightgowns and caps.
[Illustration: Snow covering house, shed, and road. Children playing.]
4. They hid the paths so that the boys might have the fun of digging new ones. They turned the old picket fence into a row of soldiers, and the gate posts into captains, with tall white hats on.
5. The old corn basket that was left out by the barn, upside down, they made into a cunning little snow house with a round roof. ”

“ She heaped up the dark, rich earth, and smoothed it over with her hands. Then she dug up violets, and spring-beauties, and other flowers,—running back and forth, singing all the while.
8. The squirrels peeped out of their holes at Bessie. The birds sang in the branches overhead. Thump, came something all at once into the middle of the bed. Bessie jumped and upset the basket, and away it rolled down the hill. ”

“ MAMMA'S PRESENT. 1. Jessie played a good joke on her mamma. This is the way she did it.
2. Jessie had gone to the woods with Jamie and Joe to get green branches to trim up the house for Christmas. She wore her little cap, her white furs, and her red leggings.
[Illustration: Three girls carrying a small Christmas tree.]
3. She was a merry little girl, indeed; but she felt sad this morning because her mother had said, "The children will all have Christmas presents, but I don't expect any for myself. We are too poor this year." ”

“ One is a Newfoundland dog, and the other is a Scotch terrier.
2. The Newfoundland is a large, noble fellow. He is black, with a white spot, and with long, shaggy hair. His name is Sport.
3. Sport is a good watchdog, and a kind playfellow. Every night he guards the house while James and his father are asleep.
4. In the daytime, James often uses Sport for his horse. He has a little wagon, and a set of small harness which just fits the dog. ”

“ Perhaps that is the reason why you think the fire better, and the light brighter."
5. "But, mother," said Mary, "I do not see why we are happier now than we were then; for last night cousin Jane was here, and we played 'Puss in the corner' and 'Blind man' until we all were tired."
6. "I know! I know why!" said Katie. "It is because we have all been doing something useful to-night. We feel happy because we have been busy." ”

“ Susie was always pleasant in her play with other children. She never used an unkind word, but tried to do whatever would please her playmates best.
7. One day, a poor little girl with a very ragged dress was going by and Susie heard some children teasing her and making fun of her.
8. She at once ran out to the gate, and asked the poor little girl to come in. "What are you crying for?" Susie asked. ”

“ He builds his nest in a tree, near some house.
4. When there are young ones in the nest, he sits on the top of a tree near them.
5. He watches to see that no bird comes to hurt them or their mother.
6. If a hawk, a crow, or even an eagle comes near, he makes a dash at it. ”

“ The hour hand of the clock has moved all around its great face.
12. "This because they keep work every minute. They do not stop to think how much they have to do, and how long it will take them to do it." ”

“ THE FISHHAWK. 1. The fishhawk, or osprey, is not so large as the eagle; but he has, like the eagle, a hooked bill and sharp claws.
2. His color is a dark brown, with black and white spots, and his length is from twenty to twenty-two inches. His breast is mostly white. His tail and wings are long. ”

“ With a frightful roar, he will seize a man, and carry him off.
4. Have you ever thought what use whiskers are to cats? Lions have great whiskers, and so have tigers and all other animals of the cat kind.
5. Whenever you find an animal with whiskers like the cat's, you may be sure that animal steals softly among branches and thick bushes.
6. By the slightest touch on the tiger's whiskers, he knows when there is anything in his road.
7. A few years ago, some English officers went out to hunt. When coming home from their day's sport, they found a little tiger kitten. ”

“ When it was gay in colors, it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright colors on them.
9. So the leaf said, "O branch! why are you lead- colored while we are all beautiful and golden?"
10. "We must keep on our working clothes," said the tree, "for our work is not yet done ”

“ While mother bends o'er your dear head;
Now birdie has done all that birdie can do:
Her kisses will wake you instead!
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
George Cooper.
LESSON XXXV. sent store Bounce float'ing load cir'cle
rip'ples catch'ing cake blocks strolled how ev'er
WILLIE AND BOUNCE. 1. Two fast friends were Willie Brown and his little dog Bounce. Willie could never think of taking a walk without Bounce. Cake and play were equally shared between them.
2. Willie taught his dog many cunning tricks, and often said that Bounce could do almost anything in the world but talk. ”

“ Sam had spent all his money for the book, but he was a happy boy.
3. At length he came into the highroad, where there was a gate. A blind man stood, holding it open.
4. The poor man said, "Please give me a few cents to buy some bread!" But Sam gave him nothing.
5. What! did Sam give the poor blind man nothing? Yes; for, as I told you, he had spent all his money.
6. So Sam walked on, very sad. Soon after, a fine carriage came up, and in it were Harry and his mother.
7. The blind man stood, and held out his hat. "Let us give the poor man something," said Harry to his mother. ”

“ Mary, you must not let Towser bark or make a noise.
5. "A long way from this place, there is a land where it is very cold, and much snow falls.
6. "The hills are very high there, and traveler's are often lost among them. There are men there who keep large dogs. These are taught to hunt for people lost in the snow. ”

“ So these wise little people find a hollow in an old tree. They make it warm and snug with soft moss and leaves; and here the squirrels live all through the long winter.
LESSON XXVII. fright'ened int end' wheat Thom'as com plains' plums
choose shock'ing spar'row rip'est rob'bing
break'fast plen'ty share treat tales wait
[Illustration: Sparrow perched on snow-covered branch.] ”

“ I am sure you must be in fun."
7. "No, Jane, I tell you the truth. My friend and I were very much surprised to see a fish falling from a fig tree.
8. "But we ran from under the tree, and saw a fishhawk flying, and an eagle after him.
9. "The hawk had caught the fish, and was carrying it home to his nest, when the eagle saw it and wanted it.
10. "They fought for it. The fish was dropped, and they both lost it. So much for fighting!"
LESSON LV. flow wide steep lakes twin'kling
[Illustration: Lake in foreground; mountain in background.]
GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD. 1. ”

“ A Period (.) is used at the end of a sentence, and after an abbreviation; as,
James was quite sick. Dr. Jones was called to see him.
An Interrogation Mark (?) is used at the end of a question; as,
Where is John going?
An Exclamation Mark (!) is used after words or sentences expressing some strong feeling; as,
Alas, my noble boy! that thou shouldst die! ”

“ Those who are lost often lie hid in the snowdrifts. "
LESSON LI. lain weak stiff shrill rode bleak
[Illustration: Dog searching on snowy mountain-side for lost traveler.]
THE STORY TELLER (CONCLUDED) 1. "One cold, bleak night, the snow fell fast, and the wind blew loud and shrill. ”

“ Lucy ran out to the woodhouse to find the sticks.—" Will these do?"
6. "No, they are too hard. Find some pine sticks if you can."
7. "Here are some."
8. "These will do nicely. Now I must make a scale beam and a post. Can you find me a little block for a post, Lucy'!"
9. "Will a ribbon block do, Herbert?" ”

“ The imagination of the artist has, in some cases, filled in details not found in the text.
The thanks of the publishers are due to very many experienced teachers, who have contributed their valuable suggestions.
June, 1879.
INTRODUCTORY MATTER. ARTICULATION PUNCTUATION SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY. Lessons. 1. Evening at Home 2. Bubbles 3. Willie's Letter (Script) 4. The Little Star 5. Two Dogs 6. Afraid in the Dark 7. Baby Bye 8. Puss and her Kittens 9. Kittie and Mousie 10. At Work 11. What a Bird Taught 12. Susie Sunbeam 13. ”

“ Dodger has very bright eyes, and he does many funny things. He likes to put his paws up on the crib, and watch the baby.
8. The other day he took baby's red stocking, and had great fun with it; but he spoiled it in his play, and James had to scold him.
9. Everyone likes to see James White with his two dogs. They always seem very happy together.
LESSON VI. bet ween' bu'reau (-ro) stairs nee'dle
a fraid' shad'ow held stir
AFRAID IN THE DARK. 1. "Willie, will you run upstairs, and get my needle book from the bureau?" ”

“ LESSON XXI. crea'tures drones in'side hive i'dle
de fense' driv'en killed cells size
work'ers queen stings shape wax
THE BEE. 1. Bees live in a house that is called a hive. They are of three kinds,—workers, drones, and queens.
2. Only one queen can live in each hive. If she is lost or dead, the other bees will stop their work. ”