in; and he would lock the door and take out his tools. He would stay there a long time, and not allow his sister Ann or his little brother Harry to come in.

3. How much they wished to find out what he was doing! They would knock at the door and shout: 'Do let us come in! Do let us come in! We won't tell anybody!' But Tom only laughed, and said they must be content to wait a little longer.

4. They could hear him at work, planing, sawing, hammering; but they could not guess what he was making. It might be a cage-or a rabbit-hutch-or a box-or a mouse-trap-or a water-mill-or something for the kitchen or for one of the bedrooms.

5. By and by little Harry's birthday came. He was just six years old. His father, his mother, and his sister Ann each gave him a nice little present. Then Tom asked them all to come out to the pond and see what he had been making for Harry. And what do you think it was?

6. It was a pretty little ship-painted within and without in the brightest colours. Its white sails were spread to catch the wind; and, when Tom untied the string

which held it fast, it glided swiftly over the

water.

7. This was Tom's secret; and Harry could hardly find words to express how

pleased he was with so pretty a present. And, whenever the weather was fine, Harry would be found proudly sailing his boat upon the pond.

EXERCISES.-1. Pronounce and write :

Speak, speech

White,

Saw, sawyer

whiteness Sail, sailor

Moon, month

2. Mention or write down the names of eight things in the lesson.

3. Tell which of the words in section 2 are nouns, and which verbs.

down'-y, lined with small soft feathers.

1. Stay, dear blackbird, with me stay; Why wilt thou fly from me,

I pray?

Stay, and sing thy pretty song;
I will not keep thee here too long.

2. I would not rob thy downy nest

Of the young ones

thou lov'st best;

I would not hurt thy gentle wing;
Stay, dear blackbird, stay and sing.

3. In bright summer I'll give thee

Red, ripe cherries from the tree;
When the ground is white with snow,
At the door some crumbs I'll throw.

4. Stay, dear blackbird, with me stay;
Fly not yet from me, I pray!
Stay and sing thy pretty song;
I will not keep thee here too long.

prey, animals caught for food re-gard', look upon.

1. A lion had been hunting through the whole of a long hot day. At last, tired out, he lay down to rest, a little before sunset, beneath the leafy branches of a thick shady

oak. While he was sleeping, a band of field-mice, that lived among the roots of the oak-tree, began to play at hide-and-seek.

2. One of them ran over his nose, which tickled him and awoke him. He growled in anger; and, quickly putting out his paw, he caught one of the little mice.

3. He was just going to put the little mouse to death, when the poor trembling creature looked up in his face, clasped together its little paws, and said: 'Oh please, sir, I'm very sorry; but we did not mean to wake you. We were only playing. Think how big and strong you are, and how very small a little mouse is, and spare me.' The lion was good and gentle; and let him go.

4. Not long after, the strong lion was caught in a snare which had been set for him by some hunters. He tried to get out; he tugged and tugged; he rolled over and over; he bit and bit; he roared again and again; but he could not get out. The ropes were too strong for him, and held him tight.

5. The mouse heard his roar; and knew the voice of the lion that had been so kind

to him. So it ran up and said: 'Fear