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1. THE sheep is a very meek animal. It is also very timid, and runs away when it hears the bark of a dog. A young sheep is called a lamb. When sheep are full grown, a male sheep is called a ram, and a female an ewe. The flesh of the sheep, when it is dead, is called mutton. 2. Sheep live in flocks. They feed on grass in meadows, on heaths, on hills, on mountains,

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or on downs, which are hills near the sea. winter, they are fed on turnips and other food. The man who takes care of sheep is called a shepherd.

3. The shepherd loves his sheep, and takes them to the nice fresh grass to feed. He keeps watch over them at night, puts them into a fold, and guards them with his dog. If one goes astray, he hunts after it till he finds it. If he finds it in a ditch, he pulls it out with his crook.

4. Lambs are born in the spring, and when very young, they require great care. The shepherd has to be with them all night then, to feed them, and to look to their dams. Some shepherd boys will bring up great numbers of lambs. I knew one who, from a flock of three hundred ewes, only lost two. This was a boy not more than twelve years old. He had a present of money and a gold medal given to him for his care.

5. In summer, sheep are washed in a pond, and when their coats are dry, they are cut off with a pair of shears. This is called shearing the sheep. The wool that is cut off the sheep's back is spun into yarn, woven into cloth, and made into coats, blankets, and other articles.

6. Young lambs are very playful. They can run about soon after they are born. If they can get near a bank, they will leap and frisk on it, and play about the grass in high

glee. It makes the heart glad to see young lambs at play.

7. There are many kinds of sheep. Those that live in foreign countries, as in Egypt and Spain, have long hair and very large fat tails, which weigh from forty to fifty pounds. Other sheep have a long mane, and a dew-lap of fat under the chin.

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LESSON 20.-THE HOG.

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1. THE hog or pig is found in all parts of the world. There are many kinds of pigs, and some are very large. When in a wild state, they live in large droves or herds, and feed on acorns, beechmasts, and the seeds of trees.

2. A male pig is called a boar, and a female pig is called a sow. The flesh of a pig is called pork. The fat is called lard. Their bristles are used by the shoemaker, and their skin is made into saddles.

3. Wild boars have large tusks, and look very fierce; men hunt them in the woods with dogs; when they can run no further, they turn round and stand at bay, and will fight till the last. 4. A pig is of great use to a poor man. The pig can be kept cheaply on the spare gardenstuff, and when he is full grown and fat, he can be sold to pay the rent. A good fat pig is worth sevenpence the pound; and if he weigh twelve stone, he will be worth nearly five pounds in cash.

5. When a hog, of which bacon is to be made, is killed, the first thing to be done is to swale him. A fire is made with light straws all round him, and this will singe off his hairs. He is then cut up and well salted. After this, he is hung over a large fire till he is quite dry, and the bacon is then said to be cured.

6. The hog is not a clean animal, for he is fond of dirt, and filth, and mire. He will eat all kinds of food. But he ought to be kept clean and warm in his sty, and should never be hurt or crossly spoken to, if we mean him to thrive and get fat.

7. It is well to let hogs loose in the autumn, and turn them into the woods, when they find out a great deal of food. They like to get into ditches and grub among the leaves, and feed upon the fallen fruit, such as crabs, sloes, hips, and haws; they will grub up pig-nuts and truffle, with their noses.

8. When at home, hogs are made fat with pea-meal, peas, beans, and barley-meal. At this time they should be kept dry, and fed at least four times a day, and have nice clean straw to lie on, and all filth swept from the sty every day. In six months they will get very fat.

9. The hog is not so stupid as we sometimes think him to be. He can be made to do many things, and he knows those that feed him, and is fond of those that are kind to him.

10. There was once a pig called the learned pig. He could spell words by picking out the letters of the alphabet, he could also tell the time of the day and the day of the month, and could do many strange tricks beside.

11. It is to be feared that dogs, pigs, or other animals taught to do such things, are sometimes ill-used. But if they cannot be taught without ill-usage, it is very wrong to teach them.

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1. THE most handsome bird in the farm is the peacock, but he is not very useful. The most useful birds are the cocks and hens, the ducks and the geese. The fowls strut about the farm yard, and the cock takes care of the hens, and will not hurt them. If the cock finds any nice

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