11. "And often after sunset, sir, When it is light and fair, I take my little porringer,

And eat my supper there.

12. "The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,

Till God released her of her pain,
And then she went away.

13. "So in the churchyard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.

14. "And when the ground was white with snow, And I could run and slide,

My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side."

15. "How many are you, then," said I.
"If they two are in heaven?"
Quick was the little maid's reply,
"O master! we are seven."

16. "But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!"-
"Twas throwing words away; for still
The little maid would have her will,
And said, "Nay, we are seven!"

4

1. Clustered, rustic, kerchief, porringer, moaning, cottage, re leased, together, heaven.

2. In the eighth stanza would you emphasize then or ye? Which would make the feet regular? What irregularity is there in the second line of the first stanza and the fourth line of the third stanza? What color were the child's eyes? What is meant by "wildly clad"? Were there seven of the children?

XIV. THE HORNBILL.

All

1. We live in a very wonderful world. around us are the strangest things, which Nature seems always asking us to study. All we have to do is to open our eyes and read the stories she is writing for us.

2. Many volumes have been written by man showing the wonders of bird life, but not half the leaves of Nature's book have yet been turned. We know much about the structure of birds and its peculiar adaptation to bird life,-how some birds are made to float on the water, and are kept dry and warm by their well-oiled feathers, while their webfeet enable them to swim with ease; and how others, that fly high in air, have hollow bones so connected with their lungs that they can be filled with warm air, to make their bodies so light that their tiny wings can bear them swiftly at their will.

3. But perhaps the strangest thing is the way in

which they rear their young. From the great eagle, which builds its nest of sticks away up on some high mountain, out of the reach of man, to the tiny humming bird, with its soft, silky home for its tender little ones, each species instinctively makes its nest and rears its young in just the way necessary for their safety.

4. Away off in Africa there is found an odd-looking bird called the hornbill. It has many enemies, and without great care and skill it could never rear its little ones. One of its most cunning foes is the monkey, who, finding fresh birds' eggs very desirable food, is always on the watch for a nest of them.

5. The hornbill selects a hollow tree. To suit her perfectly, the hollow must be so deep that the monkey cannot easily reach the eggs with his long arms. It must also extend a little way above the opening, to give a place where the mother bird can go when any enemy attempts to break in, and from which she can strike down upon the intruder.

6. When the place is chosen, the mother bird makes a soft nest of feathers plucked from her own breast. She then settles down on her nest and begins to lay her eggs, and her mate plasters up the entrance with mud until there is only a small hole left, too small for enemies to enter.

7. But the poor

mother can no more get out than

her enemies can get in, and so the mate has enough to do to feed her.

8. Every day, and many times a day, he brings her the choicest bits of food, and talks with her as she eats, telling her all the news he has heard.

9. So she stays there quite contented, with the mother-love strong within her breast, lays her eggs, and hatches her queer little ones.

10. They are too tempting a morsel to be exposed to enemies, and so the mother patiently waits in her strange prison until the young birds are covered with feathers.

11. Then the father, who has worked early and late to feed his hungry family, after long and earnest consultations with the mother, breaks down the mud barrier, and she goes out to help him.

12. But it is not safe even yet to leave the little ones in this way, and so the hole is again plastered over with mud, and they are kept hidden until they are ready to fly.

13. It is a great day with the entire family when the mud is torn away for the last time, and the fledgelings are told to come out and try their wings. The old birds congratulate each other on their fine family. They scold this one for being too timid, and that one for not using his wings in the proper way, until at last they are all taught to fly and can take care of themselves.

14. There are just as strange things done by birds where you live; and, if you watch them, you will find out much more than books can tell you of the skill and patience and knowledge of these beautiful creatures.

1. Structure, adaptation, instinctively, desirable, intruder, consultations, plastered, congratulate, barrier, fledgelings.

2. How does Nature write stories for us? What is meant by "Nature's book"? Do birds in this country have to protect their nests and young from enemies? Can you give an instance of this from your own knowledge?

XV. SOLON.

1. Every nation which has become great in itself has contributed something to make other nations great also; but to the ancient Greeks the world owes more than to any other people for their lessons in art, and for the wisdom of their laws.

2. Not that all the laws were wise. That could hardly be expected. But their state was one of the first to be governed by a code of laws, while most of the nations round them were subject to their rulers or were controlled by force or cunning.

3. Solon, one of the "seven wise men of Greece," framed the first code of laws for Athens, the chief city of the state. He lived about six centuries be

fore the Christian era.