whitcombe19xxfirstreader | First reader / literary editor, R.F. Irvine art editor, D.H. Souter;

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THE PACIFIC READERS (SOUTHERN CROSS SERIES)

FIRST READER

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, SPELLING LISTS, AND ENGLISH EXERCISES.

Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin, N.Z.; Melbourne and London

WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED

©BAKIN UN IV. LIBRARI

PREFACE

The Pacific Readers are designed by the publishers to provide for Australasian children reading that will stand in more direct relation to our surroundings than the subject matter usually found in foreign reading books, and that will at the same time assist in fostering the growth of national and patriotic sentiments, which cannot be inculcated at too early an age.

Our seasons and climate, our indigenous plants and animals, our social and political conditions, are all widely different from those of the Mother Country; it is surely fitting, therefore, that the actual state of our daily lives should be reflected in the school reading lessons, which form so important a factor in the education of our youth.

It will be found that the topics chosen cover a wide field; for while many are of direct Australasian interest, others have been included with a view to broaden the outlook of the children and counteract any tendency to insularity. Then in the senior numbers wise selections have been included from the masterpieces of English literature, so that it may be fairly claimed that the series as a whole has been devised to produce the culture which good reading affords—in short the books are not mere manuals for learning to read, but aids to the cultivation of taste and the healthy development of the imagination of young readers.

Educationists frequently draw attention to the importance of developing the faculty of observation in the children attending our schools. It is hoped that the present series will prove of service in this direction by bringing the minds of the children into more direct contact with the facts of life and of nature as thev know them.

Xo expense or trouble has been spared to make the illustrations worthy of the high aims of these books; for the most part the pictures have been drawn and engraved specially to illustrate tha text by some of the first artists of the day.

PAGE			PAGE
1. Two Frogs and Two Boys	7	29.	New Zealand Trees ...	79
2. The Sparrow ... ...	10	30.	Who Loves the Trees
3. Sleep, Baby, Sleep ...	14		Best ? ... ... ...	83
4. A Boy in Blossom ...	14	31.	What the Moon Saw—I	84
5. Fairies—I ... ...	16	32.	What the Moon Saw—II	86
6. Fairies—II ... ...	18	33.	The New Moon ... ...	89
7. A Raindrop ... ...	20	34.	Adrift in a Shoe... ...	91
8. Waxing and Waning Moon	22	35.	My Shadow ... ...	94
9. The Three Bears—I ...	23	36.	The Unhappy Pine Tree	96
10. The Three Bears—II ...	27	37.	The Wind ... ...	100
11. The Cock is Crowing ...	30	38.	The Sheep ... ...	102
12. Eskimo Dogs ... ...	31	39.	The Pea Blossom—I ...	106
13. The Daffodil Baby—I ...	34	40.	The Pea Blossom—II ...	109
14. The Daffodil Baby—II...	38	41.	The Daisies ... ...	114
15. The Coming of Spring ...	42	42.	Up in the Sky—I ...	115
16. The Magpie and his Family ... ... 17. A Day in the Bush ...	44	43.	Up in the Sky—II ...	118
	47	44.	Up in the Sky—III ...	120
18. Coming and Going—I ...	51	45.	A Ride Through the Air	123
19. Coming and Going—II...	53	46.	The Year Queen and her
20. The Anxious Leaf ...	57		Fairies—I ... ...	124
21. The Wind and the Leaves	60	47.	The Year Queen and her
22. The Story of King Midas	61		Fairies—II ... ...	128
23. Foreign Lands ... ...	64	48.	The Land of Counterpane	132
24. An Acorn ... ...	66	49.	The Shag ......	133
25. Little by Little ... ...	69	50.	The Battle of the Birds	136
26. The Opossum ... ...	70	51.	The Clouds ... ...	140
27. Bunny-boy ... ...	72	52.	The Little Buttercup ...	143
28. Seven Times One ...	77	53.	Smiles and Frowns ...	144

The First Pacific Eeader

TWO FROGS AND TWO BOYS

cit'-y

farm'-house

talk'-ing

boast'-ing

puffed peo'-ple friends

cheeks sat'-in mon'-ey

great'-ly break won'-der-ful

a-fraid' struck re-plied'

1. Two small boys, who had always lived in the city, went one 81111111161* to spend a few weeks with their aunt at a farm in the country.

2. Just below a little hill, near the farmhouse, was a pond. On the first day of their visit, after it began to grow dark, the boys went out to throw stones into the pond. Cu-chug! went a stone into the water; and then another cu-chug.

3. Now, two very old bullfrogs were sitting on the end of a log in the pond. They were talking about old times, and boasting how far they could jump when they were young.

4. When they heard the splashes, one of them puffed up his cheeks, and said, “Brek-ek-eks co-ax.”

“ Co-ax, co-ax,” said the other frog, and they both jumped in, thud! thud!

5. The boys ran home greatly afraid, and told their aunt that there was some strange thing in the pond which said, “ Break their necks with

TWO FROGS AND TWO BOYS

whacks, whacks, whacks,” and then struck the water two hard blows.

“Oh,” said their aunt, “those are friends of mine, and very nice people. Did you see them ? ”

G. “No, indeed,” said the boys;

14 , ,

we ran.

“You should have stayed to see them.”

“Tell us how they look, auntie.”

7. “ Very bright and wide awake, and always well dressed. Their coats look like satin, and they wear white vests every day. You must go and see them. They won’t break your necks.

8. “ To-morrow night you hac better begin to know them. You pay money in the city to go and see what is not half so wonderful as the things they can do.”

^u But, who are they, auntie ? ”

“ We call them frogs,” she replied.

THE SPARROW

feath'-ers goose'-ber-ries poi'-son rough

na'-tive in'-sects be-tween' clum'-sy

par'-rot worms crept e-nough'

chat'-ter-ing scare'-crows fright'-en caught

ear'-ly dread'-ful soft'-est hus'-band

fowl'-yard nois'-es warm'-est la'-zy

1. I am only a plain little sparrow. Most of my feathers are of the

same colour, and I always wear

the same brown coat. Like the white man, I have not been long in this country. My native home is far over the sea.

2. I have no pretty feathers like the parrot ; but I do not mind that, for I am quite content to be what God made me, a plain little sparrow.

3. I live in the town, and I am very happy. Town children know^ me well. They like to hear me chirping and chattering in the early morning. I think town without me would be a very dull place.

4. I know we pick up the grain in the fowl-yard. And we like to dig up the early peas in the gardens as soon as their green shoots appear above the ground. We also like the little tender buds of the gooseberries that we find in early spring.

5. But just think how busy we are all the winter. We pick up seeds of tlie weeds Ave can find, as well as worms, grabs, and insects, sncli as the green fly that spoils your nice roses.

6. I know my friends in the country eat a good deal of Avlieat. The farmer alone knoAVS Iioav much. And, yes, they cannot pass a cherry-tree, even if there are scare-crows and dreadful noises to frighten them away, or guns and poison to kill them.

7. My nest is under the roof of a house. BetAA^een the top of the wall and the roof I found a tiny hole. I crept through this, and found a snug corner on the beams. Then I flew out into the garden and the yard, and picked up straAA^r, grass, feathers and such things; and aa itli these I made one of the softest and warmest nests in the world.

8. We build nests in all sorts of places. They are always big, and they may look rough and clumsy to you, but they are very cosy for our little babies.

9. If you could look into my nest, you would see four dear little sparrows. They say “ cliee-op, cliee-op!” all day long. Their mouths are nearly always wide open, and they are asking for food all the time they are awake.

10. At times I have hard work to find worms enough for them, for the worms do not like to be caught, and often keep out of sight.

11. My husband is rather lazy, and does very little for his young ones, lie leaves the work for me. Still, 1 do not mind. I am quite happy. So may you be, little boys and girls, if you make the best of things.

SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP

tends lambs dream'-land

shak'-ing guess shep'-herd-ess

1. Sleep, baby, sleep.

Father tends the sheep,

Mother is shaking the dreamland tree, Down falls a little dream on thee.

Sleep, baby, sleep.

2. The large stars are the sheep,

The little stars are lambs, I guess,

And the fair moon is the shepherdess. Sleep, baby, sleep.

A BOY IN BLOSSOM

grand'-fa-ther	prom'-is-es	hail	fruit
or'-chard	plen'-ty	break	de-light'-ed
blos'-soms	frost	bear	an'-swer
1. “0	grandfather,”		said Harry

one day, “what lots of pears there are going to be this year! Just come into the orchard and see how white the trees are with blossoms.”

2. Grandfather went with Harry and looked at the trees. “Yes,” he said, “if the trees keep their promises there will be plenty of pears, but if they are like some little boys I know, there may not be any.”

3. “ What do you mean by ⁴ keeping their promises’?” asked Harry.

4. ⁴⁴ Why,” said grandfather, ⁴⁴ blossoms are only the trees’ promises, just as the promises little boys often make are only the blossoms. Sometimes the frost nips these blossoms, or the hail or rain may break them, or the wind may blow them from the tree, and they do not bear any fruit. Sometimes boys’ promises are not kept, so they also come to nothing.”

5. ⁴⁴ I see,” said Harry. ⁴⁴ Then you think that, when I promise to be a better boy, I am only a blossom; but I mean to show you, grandfather, that

tlie frost can’t nip my blossoms; I am going to bear fruit.”

6. “ I hope you will,” said his grandfather, delighted with his answer.

How many of you boys and girls will do the same ?

FAIRIES—I

1. Rain fairies playing on my garden

bed,

Each little flower raises up its head ;

2. Holds up its cup to catch the rain

drops bright,

Drinks in the freshness, and reaches for the light.

3. Sun fairies beam and bring the

blossoms gay ;

Now, little rain fairies, you must fly away,

4. Fly to your cloud home, far up in the sky ;

Welcome, little sun fairies; rain fairies, good-bye.

FAIRIES—II

mer'-ry

drear'-y

col'-ours

or'-ange

in'-di-go

vi'-o-let

path

rain'-bow

beau'-ti-ful

brid'-ges

please

heav'-en

builds

earth

pret'-ty

pret'-ti-er

1. Sometimes the rain fairies meet the sun fairies. What a happy, merry time they have then! They are no longer dark and dull and dreary. They shine and become bright with many colours.

2. Some are red, some orange, and some yellow. Others are green, blue, indigo, or violet.

3. They make a bright pathway across the sky. This path is called a rainbow.

4. It is made by the sun on the raindrops. Each raindrop helps to make it.

5. The clouds alone are dull and dark. The sunlight makes them bright and beautiful.

d There are bridges on the rivers, As pretty as you please ;

But the bow that bridges heaven, And overtops the trees,

And builds a road from earth to sky,

Is prettier far than these.

A RAINDROP

ti'-ny heav'-y val'-leys

forks to-geth'-er in-stead'

1. A raindrop is very small. What good can the tiny thing do ? Where does it come from ?

2. The mist in the air forms a

cloud. By-and-by the clouds grow

very black and heavy. They get so heavy that the rain begins to fall.

3. It falls in tiny drops upon the hills. The drops run together and form a little rill.

4. The little rills run together and soon they form a pretty brook.

5. The brooks run down the hillside to the valleys and plains. They get bigger and bigger as they go.

6. As they flow along they water the fields and the woods. Then they flow into the rivers.

7. Some of the water in them sinks into the ground instead of going on.

It goes to the roots of trees and plants, and they drink it up. In some places, too, men dig wells and draw up the water for their use.

8. If there was no rain, the plants and trees would all die.

0. Then the rivers flow on to the sea,, and some of the water again forms a mist.

10. Boats sail on the rivers,

And ships sail on the seas.

But clouds that sail across the sky Are prettier far than these.

WAXING AND WANING MOON

At sunset, when the light is least We see the moon’s horns facing east; (Tis then we see the new moon With the old moon in her arms);

But when her horns are facing west At night or morn, she’s past her best.

THE THREE BEARS—1

a-woke'

feel'-ing

hun'-gry

boiled

por'-ridge

bowl

chair

wash'-ing

poured

break'-fast

smelt

tas'-ted

pulled

cush'-ion

upstairs'

pil'-low

1. Once upon a time there lived in a wood three bears called Big Bear, Middle Bear, and Little Bear. They had a fine house of their own in the heart of the wood ; and each bear had his own porridge-bowl, his own chair, and his own bed.

2. Big Bear’s porridge-bowl was as big as a washing tub. Middle Bear’s porridge-bowl was as big as the basin that you wash your face in. Little Bear’s porridge-bowl was no bigger than the bowl you take your own porridge in.

3. Well, one fine morning in spring, the bears awoke feeling very hungry. First they made up their beds, and then they boiled the porridge.

4. When the porridge was ready, they poured it into the three bowls; the great bowl of Big Bear, the bowl of Middle Bear, and the small bowl of Little Bear. Then they went out for a walk till the porridge should cool.

5. Just then, who should look in at the door but a little girl called Goldy Locks. She, too, was taking a walk before breakfast, and when she smelt the porridge, she felt very hungry. How good it looked and smelt!

6. She took up a spoon and tasted the porridge in Big Bear’s bowl, but

it was too hot. Then she tasted the porridge in Middle Bear’s bowl, but it also was too hot. Then she tasted the porridge in Little Bear’s bowl, and it was just right. It was so good that she ate it all.

7. Goldy Locks then thought that she would rest for a little. She sat down on Big Bear’s chair, but it was too high for her. She pulled off the cushion in trying to get up.

Then she tried Middle Bear’s chair, and found it too soft for her.

Then she sat down in Little Bear’s chair, and it was just right. Goldy Locks rested in the chair till the bottom of it fell out.

8. Then she went upstairs, and found three beds. First she tried Big Bear’s bed ; but it was too high for her. She pulled off the pillow in trying to get up into it.

Then she tried Middle Bear’s bed, but, like Middle Bear’s chair, it was too soft for her.

Then she tried Little Bear’s bed, and it was just right. So little Goldy Locks very soon fell fast asleep.

THE THREE BEARS—IT

sound'-ed mo'-ment through win'-dow

growled an'-gri-ly heard

voice squeak'-y dreamt

fun'-ny thief thun'-der

eat'-en ly'-ing far'-ther

1. Just then the bears came back

from their walk. “ The porridge must be cool now,” said Big Bear, as he

looked about for his spoon.

2. “ SOME OXE has been AT MY PORRIDGE ! ” growled Big Bear, in his deep voice, as he saw the spoon standing in his porridge.

3. “ Some one has been at my

porridge ! ” said Middle Bear, in his funny voice, as he saw the spoon

standing in his porridge.

4. “ Some one has been at my

porridge, and has eaten it all up ! ” cried Little Bear angrily, in his small squeaky voice.

5. Then all the bears began to look about to find the thief.

SOME ONE has been sitting in MY CHAIR! ” growled Big Bear, in his deep voice, when he saw his cushion on the floor.

“ Some one has been sitting in my chair ! ” said Middle Bear in his funny voice, as he looked at his soft chair.

“ Some one has been sitting in my chair, and has sat the bottom out of it! ” cried Little Bear angrily, in his small squeaky voice.

6. Then they all went upstairs to look for the thief.

^u SOME ONE has been lying in my bed! ” growled Big Bear, when he saw the pillow on the floor.

“ Some one has been lying in my bed! ” said Middle Bear, as he looked at his soft bed.

“ Some one has been lying in my bed, and here she is! ” said Little Bear angrily, in his small squeaky voice.

7. When Goldy Locks heard the deep voice of Big Bear, she dreamt that she was walking in the wood, and that there was thunder.

When she heard the voice of Middle Bear, she thought that there was more thunder, but farther off.

But when the small squeaky voice of Little Bear sounded near her ear, she awoke, and saw the three

bears standing at the side of the bed.

8. In a moment she was out of bed on the other side. By good luck, the window was open, and she jumped through, and was soon out of sight in the wood.

THE COCK IS CROWING

crow'-ing strong'-est for'-ty plough

stream cat'-tle arm'-y whoop'-ing

twit'-ter graz'-ing de-feat'-ed mount'-ains

young'-est rais'-ing re treat'-ed pre-vail'-ing

1. The cock is crowing,

The stream is flowing,

The small birds twitter,

The lake doth glitter,

The green field sleeps in the sun;

The oldest and youngest Are at work Avith the strongest; The cattle are grazing Their heads never raising :

There are forty feeding like one !

2. Like an army defeated,

The snow hath retreated.

And now doth fare ill,

On the top of the bare hill ; The plough boy is whooping— anon—anon:

There's joy in the mountains; There's joy in the fountains; Small clouds are sailing.

Blue sky prevailing;

The rain is over and gone!

William Wordsworth.

ESKIMO DOGS

friends

hors'-es

sledg'-es

heav'-y

Zea'-iand

whom

obey'

re-fus'-es

Es'-ki-mo

Stew'-art

Is'-land

mis'-tress

trav'-el dis'-tanc-es N im'-rod rough

1. My name is Nancy. I am an Eskimo dog. My father and mother came from the land of the Eskimo, but I have never been there. I was born on Stewart Island. Do any of you boys and girls know where that is?

2. My white coat is long and thick. In the cold Eskimo land we need it

to keep us warm. In this land it sometimes makes us feel too hot.

3. My mistress got me when I was a puppy. She is very fond

of me, and I am a very good watch dog.

4. Many of my friends have a much harder life than I have. In the land we come from we have to work. There are no horses there ; it is too cold for them. We draw the sledges with heavy loads over the snow. Sometimes we travel very long distances.

5. Some of my friends went in the ship Nimrod with the men who wanted to find the South Pole.

6. They had very hard work, pulling the sledges over the snow and rough ice they found there, and many of them died.

7. Some puppies were born down there. They did not feel the cold so much as their mothers who went from Stewart Island. When the puppies grew bigger they were able to draw the sledges.

8. Some of these puppies came back to New Zealand with the Nimrod, but they did not like the hot days.

9. A pack of Eskimo dogs always has a king wliom they obey. To show that he is king he will make first one dog and then another lie down while he stands oyer him. When he finds that they will obey him, he lets them get up.

10. Sometimes a young dog refuses to obey the king. Then there is a great fight, and the dog who wins becomes king.

THE DAFFODIL BABY—I

Daf'-fo-dil Earth'-worm slept smil'-ing

wrapped crawled rest'-less read'-y

blank'-ets shiv'-er-ing flood'-ed cloak

con-tent'-ed fro'-zen drowned world

1. It was winter time, and the Daffodil Baby lay wrapped in her warm brown blankets under the ground. But she was not a contented baby ; she wanted fo be up above the ground tc see what the great world was like.

2. “ It is very dull down here,” she said to her little friend, the Earthworm. "Do please go up and see if it is time for me to rise.”

3. The Earthworm crawled up to the top of the ground, but he soon came back again, shivering with cold.

4. ^u Don't think of going up yet,” he said; "lie down and sleep again in your warm blankets. Up on the earth there is nothing to be seen but snow and ice. You would be frozen if you went up now.”

5. So the Daffodil Baby lay down again and went to sleep. She slept for many days and nights. By-and-by she woke and grew restless again.

G. ^u Please go and see if I may go up yet,” she said. The kind little Earthworm went up again, but he came back as quickly as before.

7. “Stay where you are,” he said. “ It has rained so much that all the garden is flooded. You would be drowned if you went up now.”

8. The Daffodil Baby had to lie down again. She tried to sleep, but she only grew more restless. At last she begged her friend to go up once more to see what the world was like.

9. This time he came back smiling. “ You may safely go up now,” he said. “ The snow and floods are all away, and the sunbeams are there, and they are looking for you.”

10. The Daffodil Baby jumped for joy. She sprang out of her blankets and began to push her way up as fast as she could, wrapping herself as she went in a warm thick cloak.

11. When she reached the top, she felt the little sunbeams lay their warm hands on her, and paint her cloak green. Then she heard her tall leaf-brothers say to one another, “ Here comes Baby.” But she did not look out from her

cloak, for she said to herself, “I must make my frock and grow bigger before I shall be ready to play with the sunbeams.”

12. So she worked away as bard as she could under her green cloak, and grew taller and taller every day. The little Earthworm often came out to look at her, but all be could see was the green cloak. “ Why don’t you come out and see the world?” be would call up from the ground; but she always said, “ Wait a little longer. My frock is not made yet.”

THE DAFFODIL BABY—II

fin'-ished

sprang

grown

shoes

yel'-low

talked

mer'-ri-Iy

sea'-son

vis'-it

friend'-ly

climb

sway'-ing

eas'-i-ly

gid'-dy

snug'-ly

be-lieve'

1. At last, one beautiful spring morning, the frock was finished. ^a I am coming out now,” cried the Daffodil Baby, and the Earthworm came up to

see, and the sunbeams flew down to help.

2. The sunbeams tugged at the thick green cloak with their warm hands till it flew open and out sprang the Daffodil Baby—a baby no longer, but grown into a lovely Daffodil Lady. Her frock was all yellow and frilled, and she wore pretty little green shoes. She was very beautiful, and the Earthworm could not take his eyes off her.

3. ^u What a lovely world!” cried the little yellow lady. “Now I am going to be very happy.” And so she was. She played with the sunbeams, and danced with the winds, and talked merrily to her green-leaf brothers. The bees and the moths came to see her every day, and one warm day the first butterfly of the season came to visit her.

4. But with all her good times she did not grow proud. She was just as friendly with the Earthworm, now when she stood so far above him, as she had been when under the ground, and she often had long talks with him in the early mornings before the birds were awake.

5. “ Why don’t you climb up here ? ” she asked him one day. “ It is much nicer up here swaying in the wind, and I could talk to you so much more easily.”

6. “I should grow giddy up there,” said the Earthworm. “It is not the place for me at all. Besides, I shall be able to talk to you all through the long winter, when you are in your bed again.”

7. “ What ! ” cried the Daffodil Lady. “ You don’t mean to say that I shall have to go down under the ground again. I would much rather stay here where everything is bright and gay and sunny.”

8. Tlie Earthworm smiled. “ It is

not bright and gay and sunny all the year, little friend,” he said; “ and

when the cold winter conies, yon will lie glad to creep down into your warm blankets and lie snugly sleeping till the spring comes round again.”

9. The Daffodil Lady looked at the blue sky and the warm sun, and could not believe him; but after many days, when the sunshine fled and the cold rains fell, she knew that what he had said was true, and she was glad and thankful to creep down and nestle in her warm blankets all winter.

Daffy-down Dilly came up in the cold, Through the brown mould,

Although the spring breezes blew keen in her face,

Although the white snow lay in many a place.

THE COMING OF SPRING

pur'-ple	brief	clus'-ter-ing	clothed
maid'-en	soar'-ing	bleat'-ing	pleas'-ure
pleas'-ant	gnats	crowd	grat'-i-tude
hon'-ey	cat'-kins	or'-chard	bless'-ings
blos'-som	prim'-roses mel'-o-dies		pour
1. “ I am	coming,	little maiden,

With the pleasant sunshine laden; With the honey for the bee,

With the blossom for the tree,

With the flower and with the leaf; Till I come the time is brief

2. “ I am coming, I am coming !

Hark ! the little bee is humming ; See, the lark is soaring high In the bright and sunny sky ;

And the gnats are on the wing ; Little maiden, now is Spring !

3. “ See, the yellow catkins cover

All the slender willows over ;

And on mossy banks so green, Star-like primroses are seen ;

And, their clustering leaves below, White and purple violets grow.

‘ Hark ! the little lambs are bleating, And the cawing rooks are meeting In the elms, a noisy crowd ;

And all birds are singing loud ;

And the first white butterfly In the sun goes flitting by.

Little maiden, look around thee ! Green and flowery fields surround thee ;

Every little stream is bright,

All the orchard trees are white,

And each small and waving shoot Has for thee sweet flower or fruit.

Turn thine eyes to earth and heaven !

God for thee the Spring hath given ; Taught the birds their melodies, Clothed the earth, and cleared the skies,

For thy pleasure or thy food.

Pour thy soul in gratitude !

So may’st thou ’mid blessings dwell ; Little maiden, fare thee well Î ”

THE	MAGPIE AND HIS		FAMILY
fam'-i4y	choice	e-lev'-en	whis'-tling
built	stretch	plen'-ty	ei'-ther
chance	appeared'	worm	mu'-sic
piec'-es	feath'-ers	worms	flute
col'-our	bod'-ies	e-nough'	hap'pi-ly

1. I am a magpie and am called Blackie because of my black back. I live in the bush in Australia with my little wife and family.

2. Our home is built in a gum-tree. My wife—little Twinkles—and I built our nest of bits of wire, twigs, and grasses. When we had the chance, we stole small pieces of silk or rags to make the nest cosy for our little ones.

3. One day, about a month ago, Twinkles laid an egg, light green in colour, and about one inch long. Next day another egg was laid. Then for three weeks Twinkles sat on the eggs and kept them warm.

4. I used to bring her choice bits of food every day, and in the morning and in the evening Twinkles used to leave the nest for a little Avhile just to stretch her wings.

5. When the three weeks were over, two dear little baby magpies

appeared in our home. They were so strange looking at first, because they had no feathers. In about a week the first feathers appeared on their little black bodies.

6. For eleven days our babies could not see; but when they opened their eyes, we saw what bright, knowing eyes they had. The first one we called “ Brighteyes ” and the younger one “ Sweet.”

7. Of course Twinkles and I had to feed our babies. We fed them with grubs, worms, and insects, and hard work it is to get plenty of food for four hungry birds. Now, our two little ones are getting old enough to find food for themselves. We have to teach them what is the best kind of food for them, and where they can find it.

8. My wife and I are very fond of singing and whistling, and we always sing or whistle our sweetest either in the early morning or on moonlight nights. Some people think our music is like that of a flute.

9. By-and-by Brigliteyes and Sweet will learn to sing, bnt they are too young just yet.

10. We all live very happily in our little home in the gum-tree, but when our young ones grow up they will leave us and get homes of their own, and Twinkles and I shall be left alone.

A DAY IN THE BUSH

hol'-i-day wan'-dered ri'-mu ki'-wi

birth'-day cov'-ered mer'-ry dur'-ing

gjll'-y a-mong' sweet'-est love'-li-est

dain'-ty hop'-ping ra'-ta afraid'

1. Jack, Dick, and Frank had a holiday from school. It was Jack’s birthday and their mother said they might spend the day in the bush.

2. So she packed them a good lunch in their school bags. It was quite early when they started. The sun shone brightly and the sky was

TELE FIRST PACIFIC READER

clear and blue. They all felt very happy.

3. The sun was very hot as they walked along the dry, dusty road, but

when they got to the bush, it was cool and shady.

4. They sat down to rest beside a creek in a deep gully. All around

them were many kinds of lovely ferns.

5. As they wandered through the bush they saw a rata tree, covered with its bright red flowers.

6. They heard many kinds of birds singing and calling to their mates among the pine trees.

7. In a rimu tree Jack found the nest of a tui. It had two eggs in it. The eggs were pale pink spotted with brown. The mother tui seemed afraid that the boys would take her eggs. Xot far off another tui sat on a twig singing a merry song.

8. They also saw some fantails hopping about from twig to twig. These dainty little birds seemed to be very tame. They were opening and shutting their tails like little fans.

9. The boys also heard a bell bird singing. It was the sweetest bird’s song they had ever heard. They

looked up into the pine trees, but could not see the bird.

10. Their father had told them that the kiwi slept during the day, and

like the owl, came out at night. They spent a long time looking under the roots of trees and among the long grass trying to find one. They knew

that if they found one he could not fly away. Do you know why ?

11. After a long happy day the hoys set off for home. On their way they saw the sun set behind the hills. That sunset was one of the loveliest sights they saw that day.

COMING AND GOING—I

gar'-den gath'-er-ing spot'-ted loud'-er

beau'-ti-ful an'-swered mov'-ing want'-ed

bus'-y brought an-oth'-er mo'-ment

hum'-ming be-cause' hatched hap'-pi-er

1. Once there came to my garden a pair of birds. They had never built a nest nor seen a winter.

2. Oh, how beautiful everything was. The garden was full of flowers. The trees were green. The bees were busy flying about humming and gathering honey.

3. One of the birds began to sing. The other bird said, “ Who told you to sing?” He answered, “The flowers

THE FIRST PACIFIC READER

f.) iJ

told me. The bees told me. The wind and the leaves told me. You told me.”

4. Then his mate asked, “ When did I tell you to sing ? ” And he answered, “ Every time you brought grass or straw or moss for the nest.”

5. His mate asked, “ What are you singing about?” He said, “About everything; I sing, because I am so happy.”

6. By-and-by four little spotted eggs were in the nest. The birds said to each other, “ Is there anything in all the world so pretty as our eggs?”

7. In a week or two the mother said, “ One of my eggs is peeping and moving.” Soon another moved, and another, and another, and four little birds were hatched.

8. Now the father bird sang louder than ever. The mother bird wanted to sing, too, but she was too busy. So she turned her song into work.

9. Every morning away each bird lew. The moment the little birds heard heir father and mother coming, four ittle yellow months opened wide. Nothing could be seen in the nest )ut the four little yellow mouths.

10. “ Can anybody be happier ? ” ;aid the birds. ^u We will live in this Tee always.”

COMING AND GOING—II

.aught praised chang'-es e-nouglV

nin'-ute pleased cov'-er-ing can’t

^)a -rent sis'-ter to-geth'-er bloomed

1. The very next day one of the ittle birds fell out of the nest. A ng black cat caught it and ate it up n a minute. The parent birds were .ery sad. They did not want to sing it all that dav.

2. Soon the other little birds were Mg enough to fly. Great was the parents’ joy to see them leave the nest.

3. The first bird flew from one branch to another. His parents praised him. He was so proud and

pleased that he tried again. He flew, and flew, and did not stop till he fell down in the road. A little boy caught him and put him into a cage.

4. Now his parents were more sad than when the cat ate his little sister. They thought the sun was not so bright as it used to be. They did not want to sing at all now.

5. Soon the other little birds could fly. They flew away. Their parents never saw them again.

6. The mother bird said to her mate, “Why don’t you sing?” He answered, “ I can’t sing. I can only think and think.”

7. “What are you thinking of?”

“ I am thinking how everything changes. The leaves are falling. Soon we shall have no covering over our heads. The flowers are all gone. The bees stay in their hives. Last night there was a frost.”

8. “Let us fly away together,” said the mother bird.

9. Then they rose high in the air. They looked to the south. Far away

they saw snow coming. They looked to the north. There they saw green leaves.

10. All day they flew north, and all night they flew and flew, till they found a land where there was no winter. There it was summer all the time, and flowers always bloomed and birds always sang.

THE ANXIOUS LEAF

eaf	branch	beau'-ti-ful	clothes
eaves	rus'-tled	col'-ours	caught
sigh	a-fraid V	meant	whirled
✓oice	au'-tumn	be-cause'	a-mong'
:hrow	be-com'-ing	re-plied'	hun'-dreds

1. Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and to cry. Leaves often do that when a soft wind is blowing.

2. The twig said, “What is the matter, little leaf?” The leaf said in a sad voice, “ The wind just told me that one day he would pull me off and throw me on the ground.”

3. The twig told this to the branch, and the branch told it to the tree.

4. The tree rustled all over and sent back word to the leaf, “ Hold on tightly. Do not be afraid. You shall not go until you want to.”

5. So the leaf stopped sighing and went on singing and dancing all day.

6. All summer it grew, then April came. In the bright clear days of autumn, the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some of them were red, some yellow, some brown, and some were all three colours.

7. Then the little leaf asked the tree what this meant. The tree said, “ All these leaves are getting ready to fly away. They put on these gay dresses because they are so happy.”

8. Then the little leaf began to rant to go too. It also grew very »eautiful.

9. The leaf saAV that the branches Lad no gay colours. It said, “ Why a*e you so dull when we are so »eautiful and golden ? ”

10. The branches replied, “We must :eep on our work clothes. Our work is not done.”

11. Just then a little puff of wind tame. The leaf let go without thinking >f it. The wind caught it up and vhirled it over and over.

12. Then it dropped gently down nnong hundreds of other leaves. Soon hey all fell asleep and never woke tgain.

THE WIND AND THE LEAVES

mead'-ows heard danc'-ing earth'-y

dress'-es flut'-ter-ing con-tent' blank'-et

1. “Come, little leaves/’ said the wind

one day,

“ Come o’er the meadows with me and play ;

Put on your dresses of red and gold— Summer is gone and the days grow cold.”

2. Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s

loud call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all; Over the brown fields they danced and they flew,

Singing the soft little song they knew.

3. Dancing and flying the little leaves

went;

Winter had called them and they were content ;

Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds, The snow laid a blanket over their heads.

THE STORY OF KING MIDAS

piec'-es to-mor'-row break'-fast bathe strang'-er thread starve sprink'-le

touch clothes death nei'-ther*

1. A great many years ago there lived a very rich king. It took him many weeks to count his gold pieces. But all the time he was thinking how he could get more.

2. One day when he was counting his gold and looking very sad, he looked up and saw a stranger standing before him.

3. ^uMidas, why have you all this gold?’¹ the stranger asked.

“ This is only a little,” said the king. “ I want more, I want everything I touch to turn to gold.”

4. The stranger said, ^u From tomorrow everything you touch shall become gold.”

5. Midas could hardly sleep. In the morning he touched the cover of his bed. In a moment every thread was gold.

6. Then he got up and began to put on his clothes. They turned to gold in his hands.

7. When he went for his morning walk, every flower he touched became a golden flower. “How happy I am,” thought Midas.

8. When he sat down to breakfast his food an as turned to gold. He asked for a glass of Avater. The moment it touched his lips it turned to gold.

9. The poor king iioav thought lie Avould staiwe to death. He could neither eat nor drink gold.

10. While he Avas feeling so sad the stranger again stood before him. The king, Avitli tears in his eyes, begged him to take aAAay the touch that turned eAerytliing to gold.

11. Go doAvn and bathe in the river, and the golden touch aauII leaA^re you,” said the stranger. “ Bring back some Ayater Avitli you. Sprinkle it oyer everything you haA^e touched and it Avill change back from gold.”

12. Midas ran to the river. The water Avashed away his golden touch, but the sands of the river became golden. It is said that grains of gold are to be found there to this daA^r.

«j

13. Midas became a happier king than he had ever been before. He saw that one should be content with much and not want more.

FOREIGN LANDS

cher'-ry a-dorned' peo'-ple far'-ther

abroad' pleas'-ant tramp'-ing ei'-ther

for'-eign dim'-pling high'-er chil'-dreri

1. Up into the cherry tree

Who should climb but little me ?

I held the trunk with both my hands And looked abroad on foreign lands.

2. I saw the next door garden lie, Adorned with flowers, before my eye, And many pleasant places, more Than I had ever seen before.

3. I saw the dimpling river pass

And be the sky's blue looking-glass ; The dusty roads go up and down With people tramping in to town.

4. If I could find a higher tree Farther and farther I should see,

To where the grown-up river slips Into the sea among the ships.

5. To where the roads on either hand Lead onward into fairy-land,

Where all the children dine at five, And all the playthings come alive.

R. L. Stevenson.

[By permission of Messrs. Longmans, Green and Co.]

AN ACORN

a'-corn au'-tumn

thou'-sands loose

un-less' months

cov'-ered hid'-ing

signs sea'-son

up'-wards be-come' be-tween' af'-ter-wards slow'-ly won'-der-ful

1. An acorn falls from an oak tree. It is tlie seed of the tree. Thousands and thousands of acorns may fall from the same tree, and yet not one • of them will grow unless it is covered with earth.

2. It may be that one acorn falls into a hole in the ground. The autumn rains wash the loose earth down upon it and it is covered up. It lies hidden in the ground, safe and sound, through the long winter months.

3. In the spring the ivarm sunshine falls upon the acorn’s hiding place, and the spring rains wet the earth. The acorn begins to show signs of life.

4. It first sends a strong root deep down below it; then it sends two green leaves upward into the air.

5. Between the two green leaves you can see a tiny twig. The twig grows very slowly, but it grows a little every sunny day. Then come more leaves. All the summer they are a lovely green.

G. When autumn comes the green leaves turn brown and yellow. All the sap goes out of them and they become quite dry, and then they fall to the ground.

7. All winter the little tree is bare. The tiny buds are fast asleep waiting for the spring sunshine to waken them up.

8. Many, many years pass by like this, each season doing its own work, and at last the acorn lias become a great oak tree.

9. Now think how much has come from the tiny acorn that was covered up when the autumn rains were falling, and was afterwards brought to life by the spring showers. Is it not very wonderful ?

LITTLE BY LITTLE

im-prov'-ing em-ploy' slen'-der* might'-y

earn'-est ap-pear' branch'-es fon'-ests

“ Little by little/’ the acorn said,

As it slowly sank in its mossy bed ;

I am improving day by day,

Hidden deep in the earth away.”

Little by little each day it grew ;

Little by little it sipped the dew ; Downward it sent out a thread-like root ; Up in the air sprang a tiny shoot.

Day after day, and year after year, Little by little the leaves appear ;

And the slender brandies spread far and wide,

Till the mighty oak is the forest's pride.

“ Little by little/’ said an earnest boy,

“ Moment by moment 1 11 well employ, Learning a little every day,

And not spending all my time in play ; And still this rule in my mind shall dwell, Whatever I do, I will do it well.”

THE OPOSSUM

o-pos'-sum clev'-er-ly branch'-es hand'-some

wheth'-er squip'-pels grapes caught

cloaks ant'-ic no'-tico pre-vent'

knot per-form' ber'-ries slip'-ping

1. In Australia there are many kinds of opossums. Some are as small as mice, others are as large as cats.

2. During the day they curl themselves up in their nests and go to sleep. They like to make their nests in hollows or knots of trees.

3. You can tell whether an opossum lives in a tree or not, for if it does, you will see a little track made by its claws on the trunk. This track leads to its nest.

4. After sunset, when little boys and girls are going to bed, opossums awake. They climb up and down the trees and jump about among the branches as cleverly as squirrels.

5. What antics they perform, and what fun they have on moonlight nights, in the tall branches of a blue-gum tree.

6, For their food they like the nice green leaves of the blue-gum, hut if they cannot get them, they eat insects, eggs, and young birds.

7. Opossums like to pay a visit to 'the vines growing in gardens. They

eat the small unripe wine berries but take no notice of the ripe grapes. They do so much harm in the gardens, that men go out at night and shoot them.

8. The fur of the opossum is very handsome. From it rugs and warm cloaks are often made.

9. Sometimes opossums are caught and tamed and become great pets. It is very funny to see them hanging by their long tails. The rough skin on the lower part of the tail prevents them from slipping.

BUNNY-BOY

non -sense	de-light'	field	front
chance	an'-swer	rushed	saved
wait'-ing	through	caught	crept
world	fright'-ened	month	al'-ways
naught'-y	enjoy'	teeth	dread'-fu

1. Now, Bunny-boy,” said his mother, look after the house while 1 am away, and mind you do not go outside, for there are boys about to-day.”

2. “What nonsense!” thought Bunny-boy to himself. “As if I could not run faster than any boy. And I have been waiting for a chance to go and see the world, so I shall go to-day.”

3. As soon as the Bunny-mother was out of sight, he slipped out and ran away, this naughty Bunny-boy, with his little white tail bobbing, and his eyes shining with delight. “Now I shall see what the great world is like,” he thought.

4. He came to a skylark sitting on her nest in the grass. “ Good day, Lady Skylark! ” he said, “ I am going to see the world. Would you like to come with me?”

5. “Oh dear no, indeed,” said the skylark. “I have to sit on my eggs. Does your mother know you are going ? ” Bunny-boy ran off at once. He did not want to answer that.

6. He came next to a little hill, where other Bunny-boys and Bunny-girls lived. They all came running out to see him, and said, “ Stay and play with us.”

7. ^u No,” lie said, “ I am going to see the world.” ^u Where is that ? ” they asked.

^ww Somewhere over that big fence,” said Bunny-boy. “You may come with me if you like.”

8. “ We do not want to go,” they said. ^uYou stay here with us.” But Bunny-boy would not stay. He ran off again. The others called out, “ We shall tell your mother.” But he only ran the faster.

9. He went through the big fence, and came into a field of oats. Here men were busy cutting the oats, and Bunny-boy was so frightened by the noise they made that he ran out of that field into the next. This was a field of grass, and Bunny-boy thought, “ Now I can begin to enjoy myself.”

10. Just then he heard a bark, and a big dog rushed over the grass after him. A boy came with the dog, and now poor Bunny-boy had to run for his life. How he did run!

But the dog could run too, and he nearly caught Bunny-boy. His mouth,

snap

with its sharp teeth, was just open ready to

Bunny-boy’s back, when Bunny-boy

saw a hole in front of him, jumped into it, and was saved.

11. At the bottom of the hole he found a Bunny-house, and some kind Bunnies, who let him stay there till the dog and its master had gone away. Then he crept out, and Avent sadly home.

12. “ I shall always do what you tell me,” he said to his mother that night. ^u It was dreadful out in the world. I would much rather stay at home and mind the house.”

SEVEN TIMES ONE

dai'-sies	saiT-ing	you’re	mon'-ey
clo'-ver	shin'-ing	you’ve	steal
heav'-en	fail'-ing	pow'-dered	trusts
less'-ons	vel'-vet	brave	lin'-net
1. There's	no dew	left on the	daisies

and clover,

There's no rain left in heaven ,

I've said my “ seven times" over and over,

Seven times one are seven.

2. I am old! so old—I can write a letter !

My birthday lessons are done ;

The lambs play always, they know no better,

They are only one times one.

3. O moon! in the night I have seen

you sailing,

And shining so round and low ; You were bright, all bright! but your light is failing,

You are nothing now but a bow.

4. O velvet bee, youTe a dusty fellow,

You've powdered your legs with gold !

0 brave marsh-mary buds, rich and

yellow,

Give me your money to hold !

5. And show me your nest with the

young ones in it,

I will not steal them away ;

1 am old, you may trust me, linnet,

linnet,

I am seven times one to-day

Jean Ingelow.

NEW ZEALAND TREES

col-lect'-ing ma'-nu-ka coun'-tpy caus'-es

piec'-es pol'-ished man'-tel scar'-let

Ma'-o-ri streaks chief'-ly splen'-did

ma'-tai hand'-some pur'-pos-es cap'-i-tal

bridg'-es swamp'-y wound pres'-ent

shin'-ing mount'-ain tea'-tpee\ build'-ing

1. At school we are collecting pieces of wood from as many trees as we can get, and our teacher is telling us something about each piece.

2. We have a piece of black pine. The Maori name for it is matai. It is a very large tree. The wood from the black pine is of great value. It is very strong and lasts a long time. Men use it for building bridges. The floors in our school and in our church are made of it.

3. We have a piece of rimu or red pine. You should see how it shines. It has been polished to show the dark streaks and marks on the red wood. It is very handsome.

Rimu always has a deep red colour. In our house some of the doors and a mantel-piece are made of it.

Kauri trees.

4. Then we have a piece of white pine. In swampy country there are often large forests of this tree. They grow very straight and tall. The frame work of houses is often built of white pine. Many packing cases are also made of it.

5. We have a lovely bit of kauri. The kauri tree is the king of the Xew Zealand bush. It grows chiefly in Auckland. Its trunk is smooth and covered with a grey bark. The tree grows very straight and high, and it has a very thick trunk.

6. Kauri is used for more purposes than any other Kew^r Zealand timber* When the tree gets even a slight wound, gum flows out. Kauri gum is also of great value.

7. From the totara tree the Maoris made their war canoes.

8. We have also a piece of rata. Our teacher told us that a mountain slope covered with rata trees in full bloom and the sun shining on the bright scarlet flowers, is a sight never to be forgotten.

The wood of the rata tree makes splendid firewood.

9. The manuka also makes capital firewood. It is sometimes called the tea-tree. I have seen the pretty white flowers on a manuka.

10. These are all the kinds of wood we have at present, but we hope to collect a great many more.

WHO LOVES THE TREES BEST?

1. Who loves the trees best ?

“ 1,” said the Spring ,

“ Their leaves so beautiful To them I bring.”

2. Who loves the trees best ?

“ I,” Summer said ;

“ I give them blossoms,

White, yellow and red.”

3. Who loves the trees best ?

“ I/' said Autumn ;

“ I give them sweet fruits, Bright tints to some.”

4. Who loves the trees best ?

“ I love them best,”

Harsh Winter answered ;

“ I give them rest.”

WHAT THE MOON SAW—I The Little Gikl and the Chickens

court'-yard brood e'-ven-ing perch'-es

e-lev'-en scold'-ed min'-utes naugh'-ty

chick'-ens fright'-en-ing raised sor'-ry

to'-wards be-hind' flut'-tered eyes

1. “ I was looking down last night,” said the moon, “ upon a little court-yard, with houses on every side.

2. “ There I saw a clucking hen

and eleven chickens. A pretty little

girl came skipping out and ran towards the chicks.

3. “ The hen clucked, for she was afraid, and she spread her warm wings over her little brood.

4. “ The girl’s father came out of the house and scolded her for frightening the chicks. Then I sailed away behind a cloud.

5. “But this evening, only a few minutes ago, I looked again into the same court-yard. All was quiet; but soon the little girl came out softly.

6. “ She stepped lightly across to the hen-house, raised the latch, and went in among the hens and chickens.

7. “They cried aloud and fluttered off their perches, and the little girl

ran after them. I saw it all, for I was peeping in

k.K

through a hole in the wall.

8. “ I was quite angry with the naughty girl, and I felt glad when her father came out, and, holding her fast by the arm, scolded her even more than he did last night.

9. “ She hung down her head, and her blue eyes filled with tears. ¹ What are you doing here ? ’ he asked.

10. “ She cried and said, ‘ I wanted to tell the hen how sorry I was for giving her a fright last night, but I did not like to tell you so.’

11. “ Then the father kissed the sweet child’s mouth, and I kissed her eyes and chin.”

WHAT THE MOON SAW—II The Doll up a Tree

beau'-ti-ful be-gin'-ning su'-gar-loaf no'-bod-y

broth'-ers stretched gob'-lin wheth'-er

un-hap'-py al-read'-y laughed an'-y-thing

wrong re-mem'-ber hob'-bles an'-i-mals

1. “ I saw a little girl weeping,” said the moon ; “ she was weeping

because of the badness there was in the world. She had had a most beautiful doll given her. Oh! it was such a lovely doll!

2. “But the little girl’s brothers, those big fellows, had taken the doll and set it up in a high tree in the garden and had then run away. The little girl could not reach the doll; and that was why she was crying.

3. “ The doll cried, too; it stretched out its arms among the green branches, and looked very unhappy. Yes, here were some of the things which mother sometimes spoke about —the hard things of life.

4. “ Poor doll! It was beginning to grow dark, and night would come on while it was still up in the tree. Was it to be left there alone all night? No, no; the little girl’s heart could not bear that. ⁴1 will stay with you,’ said she, though she Avas not very brave.

5. ⁴⁴ She thought she already saw quite plainly little ugly fairy men, with their tall sugar-loaf caps peeping from among the bushes, and that down in the dark path long goblin-shapes were dancing.

8. “ She thought they came nearer and nearer, laughed and pointed their

fingers at her, and at the doll in the tree. Ah! how frightened the little girl was!

7. “‘But if one has not done anything wrong’ she thought, ‘ nobody can do one any harm. I wonder whether I have done anything wrong.’

8. “And she remembered; ‘Ah, res! I laughed at the poor duck with he red rag about its leg, which lobbies along in such a funny way; hat is why I laughed at it; but it s wrong to laugh at the animals.’

9. “ Then she looked up at the loll. ‘Did you laugh at the animals?’ ihe asked; and it seemed as if the loll shook its head.”

THE NEW MOON

• pet'-ty	we’d	cpa'-dle	dawn
hey’ll	you’d	’twould	slide
piends	mid'-dle	poam	pain'-bow
.. Oh,	father, how	pretty	the moon

looks to-night !

She was never so pretty before, Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright,

I hope they’ll not grow any more.

2. If I were up there with you and my friends,

We'd rock in it nicely, you'd see, We’d sit in the middle, and hold by both ends,

Oh, what a bright cradle 'twould be!

3. We'd call to the stars to keep out

of the way,

Lest we should rock over their toes ;

And there we would stay till the dawn of the day,

And see where the pretty moon goes.

4. And there we would rock on the

beautiful skies,

And through the bright clouds we would roam ;

We'cl see the sun set, and see the sun rise,

Then slide down a rainbow to home.

ADRIFT IN A SHOE

Rob'-in-son	built	fol'-lowed sto'-len
Cru'-soe	storm	float'-ed piece
is'-land	mew'-ed	coun'-try an'-i-mals
yes'-ter-day	shoe	Hol'-land break'-fast J
1. Do	you think that I am
Robinson	Crusoe ?	I wish I were.

He found an island to live on. I do not see any land at all.

2. Yesterday this was all dry land. This land is very low and flat, so the people have built a big wall to keep the sea out.

3. Last night a great storm came, and the waves dashed against the wall and broke a hole in it. The sea ran through the hole and overflowed everything.

4. Look at my master’s house. The water has nearly covered it up. I ran in to get away from the water. This shoe was in the porch. My master always puts his shoes there.

The people all wear big shoes like this. They are made of Avood.

5. The water followed me into the porch. I do not like to get AA^ret. I jumped up on this shoe to keep dry.

G. More and more water came in. It could not Avet the top of the shoe. The shoe rose AA^rith the Avater and floated out of the porch.

7. It makes a good boat, but Avhere shall I sail to ? There is no one in the house. They all AA^rent aAvay in boats. I mewed loudly but they did not hear me.

8. They call this country Holland. They say this piece of it Avas stolen from the sea. I think the sea has got it back again. Don’t you ?

9. I Avish they had not stolen it. Then I might have been born soine-AAdiere else. What is going to become of me ?

10. What is this I see coming? It is a boat with my master in it. I am

safe now. He says we must go and see if there are any more of the animals from the farm to be found. Then he will take me to the hill, where breakfast is waiting.

MY SHADOW

shad'-ow prop'-er has'-n’t nur'-sie

fun'-ni-est in'-di-a-rub'-ber cow'-ard ar'-pant

1. I have a little shadow that goes in

and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me, from the heels up to the head ;

And I can see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

2. The funniest thing about him is the

way he likes to grow—

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow ;

For lie sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball.

And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.

>. He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of ivay.

He stays so close beside me lie’s a coward you can see ;

I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me !

4. One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,

Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

R. L. Stevenson.

[By 'permission of Messrs. Longmans, Green and Co.]

THE UNHAPPY PINE TREE

nee'-dles us'-u-al sil'-ver knocked

ppet'-ti-ep sur-pnse' glit'-teped against'

faip'-y beau'-ti-ful spap'-kled bit'-tep-ly

glis'-tened con-tent'-ed fop'-est thank'-ful

1. Once a little pine tree lived in the forest. He was never happy. He did not like his needles. The other trees had broad leaves, and he thought them so much prettier than his own.

2. One day a fairy came and said to him, “ What kind of leaves do you want ? ” ^u Gold leaves,” said the little pine tree.

3. That night he cried himself to sleep as usual. In the morning he woke up. What a surprise he had. How beautiful he looked. His leaves were gold, they shone and glittered in the sun. They were just the very kind he had wished for most of all. How happy he was.

4. By-and-by a man, who Avas passing, saAv the gold leaA^es. He went up to the tree, and picked off every one. He put them all in his bag. There Avas not one leaf left. The tree Avas quite bare.

5. The little tree cried more than eA^rer that night, and AA^as very unhappy.

6. The fairy again came to see what Avas the matter. ^u I Avant glass leaA^es,” said the little tree.

7. In the morning he had glass leaves. They made a sound like silver bells. They glistened and sparkled in the sun.

8. Soon a strong wind came. It shook the leaves on the trees. All the glass leaves were knocked against

each other. They broke and fell to the ground.

9. The little tree was very unhappy again, and said, “ I will ask the fairy for soft green leaves like the other trees.”

10. In the morning he had nice

green leaves. At noon, a goat and her kids came into the forest. They soon saw the little tree with his nice fresh leaves. So they ate all the

new leaves for their dinner.

11. The poor little tree now cried most bitterly. The fairy soon came to see what was the matter. “ Oh, please, give me back my needles; I see they are the very best dress for me to have. I do not want any other kind of leaves.*'

12. So he got back his needles once more and the fairy said, “ Be thankful and change no more. The thing you are is always the thing you had better be.” So ever after that the little tree was contented and happy.

THE WIND

snatch	au'-tumn	branch'-es	sweep
tan'-gle	fright'-en	scat'-ter	path'-way
yel'-low	blos'-soms	hol'-lows	chif-dren
win'-dow	whirl	drifts	whis'-tle
1.	High and	low

The spring winds blow !

They take the kites of the boys at

play,

And carry them off high into the air ;

They snatch the little girls' hats away,

And toss and tangle their flowing hair.

2. High and low

The summer winds blow!

They dance and play with the garden flowers,

And bend the grasses and yellow grain ;

They rock the bird in her hanging nest,

And dash the rain on the window pane.

3- High and low

The autumn winds blow !

They frighten the bees and blossoms away,

A Winter scene in England.

And whirl the dry leaves over the ground ;

They shake the branches of all the trees,

And scatter ripe nuts and apples around.

4. High and low

The winter winds blow!

They fill the hollows with drifts of snow,

And sweep on the hills a pathway clear;

They hurry the children along to school,

And whistle a song for my happy ear.

THE SHEEP

thou'-sands crowd'-ing fleece mut'-ton

hun'-dreds sort'-ed caught blank'-ets

shears machine' buy'-ing coun'-tries

shear'-ers sev'-er-al shorn car'-ries

1. My Uncle Jack has a large sheep farm or run. There are thousands of sheep on the run. Some of them live on the hills and some on the plain.

2. Last spring I went to pay him a long visit. It was a very busy time on the run then. Hundreds of dear little lambs were being born, and the men had to watch the flocks every day.

3. In early summer came another busy time, for it was time to shear the

1 if*

Shearing by hand.

put

the

one

sheep. First it took several days to muster the sheep, that is, to get them all in off the hills, and them into yards.

4. Early morning Uncle Jack called me to to the shearing shed with him. The shed was a very large room close to the bank of a creek. Down one side were a number of pens in which the sheep were put. All down the other side ivas an open space where the shearers worked.

5. I helped to drive the sheep into the shed. It was very hot and dusty, but 1 liked to hear the men shouting ^,:ⁱrrr^T "7. sr and the dogs barking, and to see the

sheep crowding
up the steps	1
into the shed. ,
6. When ¹ \ _ \

the pens were filled I watched the men at work. Each man had a pair of large shears. When

it was time to Shearing by machinery.

begin, every man caught a sheep, and began to cut off its wool. Uncle says that a good shearer can shear a hundred sheep in a day.

7. Uncle Jack talks about buying a shearing machine like the one we saw at the Show. I hope I shall be able to see it at work some day.

8. After a sheep is shorn it is put through a little door leading into a pen outside. A boy passes up and down behind the shearers. He picks up the fleeces and carries them away to a table to be sorted. After the bad parts of the wool have been picked out, the fleeces are rolled up and packed in bales.

9. One day I went with the dray that was taking bales of wool to the train. The wool was sent to market and sold. Some of it went to some of our own mills to be made into blankets and cloth. The rest was sent in ships to other countries.

10. Besides being useful for their wool sheep are killed for their flesh. As you know, mutton is one of our

chief foods. Many of Uncle Jack’s fat sheep are killed and frozen, and sent away in a big ship to England.

THE PEA BLOSSOM—I

pleas'-ant pulled

course dropped

won'-der-ing jack'-et

per-haps' pock'-et

sud'-den-ly trav'-el

far'-thest

burst

straight

sec'-ond

suit

against'

board

gar'-ret

closed

cap'-tive

1. There were once five peas in one pod. They were green and the pod was green; so they thought the whole world was green.

2. The sun shone and warmed the pod. It was mild and pleasant in the daytime, and of course, dark at night.

3. The peas grew bigger and bigger. They thought a great deal, wondering what they should do by-and-by.

4. “ Must we stay here always ? ” asked one. “ I think there must he something outside of our shell. I am

sure of it.”

5. Weeks passed by. The

peas became yellow, and the shell became yellow, too.

6. “All the world is turning yellow,” said they. Perhaps they were right.

7. Suddenly something pulled the

pod. It was torn off and held fast.

Then it was dropped into a jacket pocket, with other pods. ^u Now we shall soon be opened,” said one. “ That is just what I want.”

8. “ I should like to know which of us will travel farthest,” said the smallest pea. “ We shall soon see, now.” “ What is going to happen will happen,” said the largest pea.

9. “ Crack! ” went the pod as it burst. The five peas rolled out into the bright sunshine. There they lay in a child’s hand. A little boy was holding them fast. He said they were five fine peas for his pea shooter. So saying, he put one in, and shot it forth.

10. “Now I am flying out into the world,” said the pea. “ Catch me it you can!” He was gone in a moment. “ I shall fly straight to the sun,” said the second pea. “ That is a pod that will just suit me.” Away he went.

11. “We shall go farther than the others,” said the next two. And away they went. “ What is to happen will happen,” said the last of the five, as he was shot out of the pea shooter.

12. As he spoke, he flew against an old board, under a garret window. He fell into a crack, which was almost filled with moss and soft earth. The moss closed over him. There he lay a little captive. But God saw him. ^u What is to happen will happen,” said the pea to himself.

THE PEA BLOSSOM—II

wom'-an qui'-et-ly ear'-ly through th pew

mov'-ing

a-muse'

bud'-ding

be-lieve'

e'-ven-ing

brok'-en

piece

ten'-drils

twine

raised

blos'-som

ten'-der

leaves

smiled

an'-gel

1. In the garret lived a poor woman. She went out every day to work for her living. She had one little girl, who was very sick. All

the long winter the sick child lay quietly in her bed. She was alone all day, Avhile her mother was away at work.

2. Spring came, and early one morning the snn shone brightly through the little window. He threw his rays over the floor of the sick room. The mother was going to her work, when the child cried— ^u O mother! look out of the window. What can that little green thing be? It is moving in the wind.”

3. The mother went to the window and opened it. “ Oh ! ” she said. “ It is a little pea that has taken root in this moss, and is sending out its green leaves. How could it have found its way into this crack ? Now you will have a little garden to amuse you.”

4. The mother then drew the sick girl’s bed nearer to the window, that

the child might see the budding plant. Then she went to her work.

5. “ Mother, I do believe that I shall get well,” said the child, when her mother came home in the evening. ^u The san has been so bright and warm to-day, and the little pea makes me so happy. I think I shall get better soon, and be able to go out into the warm sunshine again.”

6. “ I hope so,” said the mother as she kissed her child. Then she brought a little stick to prop the tiny plant, that it might not be broken by the wind.

7. She tied a piece of string to the window sill, so that the little pea tendrils might twine round it as they grew up. Indeed, the little girl could almost see them grow from day to day.

8. “ Here is a flower coming ! ” said the mother one morning. The

little girl seemed so much better that now the mother began to think she would get well. For some time she had seemed brighter and better, and she had raised herself up in bed to look at her garden, with its one pea plant.

9. A week after, she sat up foi* the first time, for a whole hour.

She was quite happy as she sat by her window in the warm sunshine,

while the little pea plant outside bore one pink blossom. The child kissed the tender leaves gently. This was her Thanksgiving Day.

10. Her mother, who stood beside her, said, "Our Father Himself planted that pea and made it grow and

blossom to bring joy to you and hope

to me.” And she smiled at the flower as if it had been an angel.

THE DAISIES

o'-ver-head

dai'-sies

mead'-ows dream'-ing

a-cposs'

gath'-ep

a-pise'

skies

dpopped

1. At evening when I go to bed I see the stars shine overhead ; They are the little daisies white That dot the meadow of the night.

2. And often while Em dreaming so, Across the sky the moon will go ; She is a lady, sweet and fair,

Who comes to gather daisies there.

3. And when at morning I arise, There's not a star left in the skies; She's picked them all, and dropped

them down

Into the meadows green and brown.

Kind hearts are the gardens ;

Kind thoughts are the roots ; Kind words are the dowers ; Kind deeds are the fruits.

UP IN THE SKY—I

yes'-tep-day earth hup'-pied laughed

straw'-ber-ries chased whis'-pered fin'-ish knocked shad'-ows cup'-tains mer'-ry

1. The sun sprang up very early one morning behind his cloud curtains, for he had a great deal to do. “ That big rain yesterday must be dried up,” he said, “ and I must make the roses bloom to-day. Besides, it is quite time the strawberries were getting ripe.”

2. So he knocked at the doors of the little rooms where the sunbeams slept, and called, “Get up, lazy little sunbeams, and go down to the earth and chase the shadows away.”

3. The little sunbeams jumped out of their cloud-beds and hurried down to the earth. They chased the shadows all away, and crept in between the trees on to the roses and strawberries. ^u Open up! Open up!” they whispered, and the roses opened their soft petals and smiled at the merry little sunbeams.

4. In a rose there lay a tiny rain-fairy asleep. She had crept in there

Sunbeams hurrying down to earth.

to wait for the sunbeams, for she wanted to get up to the sky. She was tired of the earth, and she

thought the sky would make a much nicer home.

5. So she said, “ Little Sunbeam, please take me up to your home in the sky. I’m tired of the earth, where we have to do so much work. I want to go up with you.”

6. The merry sunbeam laughed. “ Tired of work, are you ? Well, you shall come with me, but wait till I come back for you.” So she flew oft' to finish her work, and the rain-fairy stood on the edge of the rose and dried her pretty wings in the sunshine.

7. “How nice it will be up there,” she thought. “ I shan’t have to be always looking after the rain then. I shall have all day to play with the ^Jouds and the sunbeams, and at night I can dance and sing with the stars. What a merry life it will be.”

UP IN THE SKY—II

to-geth'-er your-self' mess'-ag-es sil'-ver

love'-ly walked bus'-y frocks

fluf'-fy car^r-ry grey plen'-ty

1. By-and-by the sunbeam came back. “ I’m ready now,” she said. She took the rain-fairy by the hand, and together they flew up into the sky. What a lovely place it Avas! The rain-fairy was glad to be among the little fluffy clouds and the laughing sunbeams.

2. “Now you must make yourself at home,” said the sunbeam. “ I have to go down to the earth again.” So off she went with her brothers and sisters.

3. The fairy walked about for a time. Then she thought, “ I’ll ask some of them to play with me now.”

4. So she asked the sunbeams. But they only laughed and shook their heads. “No, no, little fairy, we have no time for play just now. Don’t yon see we are coming and going all the while ? We have our day’s work to do. Why, what would the sun do without his little sunbeams to carry his messages ?”

5. “ Dear me,” said the fairy, “ I had no idea you were so busy. Well, I'll go and ask the clouds to play.” She went to the fluffy morning clouds, and said, “ Come and play with me.”

6. “ What! ” cried the clouds, “ we have no time to play. We must get across the sky before dinner time. Then we must brush our little grey and silver frocks, and sew in fresh laces, and make ourselves smart and gay for the afternoon. Indeed, we have plenty to do, and no time for play.”

UP IN THE SKY—III

ev'-er-y-bod'-y front brought thirst'-y

gpum'-bled fol'-lowed tired soak'-ing

1. So it went on. Everybody she asked to play had no time, for they all had their day’s work to do, and they loved doing it. No one grumbled and said she had too much to do. So the rain-fairy began to feel dull and lonely.

2. At last night came and she thought, “Now all will be right, for all those who have been working are sure to go to the star-dance/¹ So she went to the sunset clouds and followed them into the red-and-gold land where the sun was.

3. Here she found that everybody had to pass in front of the sun, and tell him what work they had done that day. Then they passed on into the big star-hall and joined in the star-dance. Now that their work was done, they could play.

4. When the fairy’s turn came, the sun said with a smile, ^u And what work have you found to do in the sky, little rain-fairy ? ” The fairy hung her head. ^u I thought I could play up here," she said; "I have done no work at all.”

5. Then you cannot go to the star-dance,” he said. She felt very sorry but she had to turn back.

6. Next morning she went to the sunbeam who had brought her up. ^u Please take me down again,” she said. I want to do my work.” The sunbeam laughed. " 1 thought you were tired of work,” he said. “ I’m tired of doing nothing now,” said the fairy.

7. So the sunbeam took her down again, and the fairy set to work and did all she had to do much better than she had ever done it before.

8. She closed up the flower-cups so that the rain should not wash

away all their colours; she parted the thick leaves to allow the rain to reach the thirsty roots. She drew the leaves across the top of the birds’ nests when the mothers were away, so that the rain should not drip in and give the wee birds a soaking.

9. When the sun heard how hard she worked, he told the sunbeams they might bring her to the star-dance. So she went to the star-hall, and danced with the sunbeams and had a merry time.

Pretty little flower folks,

In the garden beds ;

Gentle dews to bathe them— See them nod their heads— Busy bees to visit them ;

Birdlings full of glee :

Do you love your garden home, Or will you come with me ?

A RIDE THROUGH THE AIR

jour'-ney car'-riage tum'-bling grass'-es hap'-pened breeze fright'-ened com-pelled'

a-gree' coun'-try folk car'-ried

1. Some little drops of water,

Whose home was in the sea,

To go upon a journey Once happened to agree.

2. A cloud they had for carriage ;

They drove a playful breeze,

And over town and country They rode along at ease.

3. But oh ! there were so many,

At last the carriage broke,

And to the ground came tumbling These frightened little folk.

4. And through the moss and grasses,

They were compelled to roam, Until a brooklet found them And carried them all home.

THE YEAR QUEEN AND HER FAIRIES—I

South'-em forth beau'-ty an'-swered

an'-nu-al de-part'-ed No-vem'-ber wak'-ened ap peared' mount'-ains De-cem'-ber wak'-ening Au'-gust vi'-o-let Jan'-u-ary shad'-ow-y Sep-tem'-ber birth thirst'-y ap-peared'

Oc-to'-ber size lagged prim'-rose

1. In the lands of the Southern Cross the Year Queen called her four Fairies to give them their annual orders.

2. The first who appeared was the Spring Fairy.

3. To her the Year Queen said, “ You will go over all the land from north to south and waken the little leaves that are lying in their cosy beds.

4. “ Tell them all to put on their new green dresses when they awake from their winter sleep.

5. ^u Take with you August, September, and October. They will carry

the fresh winds, the soft showers, and the warm sunbeams.*’

6. The Spring Fairy answered and said, “ I am ready to go. I will try and get all my work done in time.

Last year when I went forth August lagged behind with Winter. She was helping her to bring frost and snow.

7. “ Many of the babies that I had wakened could not bear the cold, and

so they died. Others did not waken till kind September came along. But we shall try and do our best this year.” So Spring departed.

8. I come, I come ! Ye have called me long,

I come o’er the mountains with light and song;

Ye may trace my step o’er the wakening earth,

By the winds which tell of the violet’s birth,

By the primrose stars in the shadowy grass,

By the green leaves opening as I pass.

9. Then the Summer Fairy appeared before the Year Queen.

10. The Queen said, “ You will follow Spring, and as you go from north to south bring out all the blossoms and the bright flowers. Make the land gay with colour. Make

everything grow to its full size. Let all show their greatest beauty.

11. ^uTake with you to help you November, December and January. They will carry warm sunshine and cooling rains. If they do not bring enough rain for the thirsty plants, they will bring plenty of soft dew every night. December will bring the longest days.”

THE YEAR QUEEN AND HER FAIRIES—II

Feb'-ru ary Na'-ture

breez'-es calm

lav'-ish ber'-riea

grieves hoard

au'-tumn lull'-ing

cra'-dle qui'-et

1. Then the Summer Fairy departed on her rounds.

2. Summers sunny days have come ; Soft and sweet the wind is blowing ;

Bees across the meadows hum, Where the golden flowers are growing,

Oh, the happy summer hours,

All the world’s a world of flowers !

1 am a honey-bee,

Buzzing away Over the blossoms

The long summer day ;

Now in the lily’s cup Drinking my fill,

Now where the ro^es bloom Under the hill,

Gaily we fly,

My fellows and I,

Seeking the honey The flowers supply.

3. Xext came the Autumn Fairy and stood before the Queen.

4. The Queen said, “ You will follow Summer. Take with you February, March and April. Let the corn ripen and turn to gold. Let the blossoms change to fruit. Let the fruit ripen. Let the cradles be made for next year’s baby buds. Let the leaves turn red and brown and yellow.

5. ^u February and March will bring with them hot days and gentle breezes. April will bring stronger winds to scatter the seeds and leaves.”

6. Then Autumn departed to do her Queen’s bidding.

7. Heap high the farmer’s winter

hoard !

Heap high the golden corn !

No richer gift has Autumn poured From out her lavish horn.

8. As Autumn departed the Winter Fairy appeared before the Queen.

9. “You will go over the land from north to south following Autumn. Take with you May, June and July.

10. “ As you go you will tell all the growing things to stop and rest. They must sleep now and be ready

to waken up when Spring returns. Your helpers will carry rain and snow, frost and ice to do the earth good. June will bring the shortest days and longest nights and all nature will have time to rest."

11. So Winter departed singing her cradle song and lulling everything to sleep. And over all the land there was a great calm. Everything slept quietly until the Year Queen would send Spring again.

12. When winter snows are on the

ground,

The little robin sadly grieves ;

For then no berries can be found, And on the trees there are no

leaves.

13. Spring for sowing, Summer for

growing,

Autumn for reaping, and Winter for sleeping.

THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE

watched dif'-fer-ent through ci'-ty

lead'-en u'-ni-forms fleets cit'-ies

sol'-diers clothes hous'-es dale

plain some'-times gi'-ant pleas'-ant

1. When I was sick and lay a-bed,

I had two pillows at my head,

And all my toys beside me lay,

To keep me happy all the day.

2. And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes, through the

hills ;

3. And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about.

4. I was the giant great and still, That sits upon the pillow-hill,

And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane.

R L. Stevenson.

[By permission of Messrs. Longmans, Green and Co.]

THE SHAG

o'-cean schnap'-per rau'-po branch

clev'-er swamp'-y us'-u-al-ly Chi'-na

greed'-y tus'-sock com'-pan-y enough

div'-ing flax perch swal'-low-ing

1. Most boys and girls who have been at the seaside must have seen a shag. In Australia and New Zealand there are many kinds of these birds.

2. The ocean shag can fly and swim well, and he is a very clever diver.

3. He is a very greedy bird. He lives on fish, and is very fond of a fish called schnapper. Have any of you ever seen a schnapper with the sharp spines on his back ?

4. The shag shows great skill in diving. That is how he often catches his food. He can also stay under the water longer than most birds.

5. Ocean shags make their nests in swampy places near the sea coast. The}^ are very fond of making them on

“ nigger heads,” or swamp tussocks, just above the water.

6. Each nest is built of

dry leaves, Wigs, flax leaves, dry grasses,

or raupo flags. The nest is large, and in it the mother bird usually lays from two to four white eggs. Often the father bird, as well as the mother, sits on the eggs to keep them warm.

7. River shags nest in trees far inland near a river. These shags are fond of company, and you may often find five or six nests in the same tree. They can perch well on the trees, as they hold on to a branch with their great feet.

8. The people in China make a strange use of shags. They train these birds to catch fish for them. They take them out in a boat, put a ring or a strap round their necks, and pull it just tight enough to stop them from swallowing the fish they catch. This is rather a lazy way of catching one’s dinner.

THE BATTLE OF THE BIRDS

A Maori Fable

leg'-end q uar'-re I a-greed' to-geth'-er swal'-low

s!ip'-per-y

throat

beau'-ty

vis'-it-or

gath'-ered

re-plied'

laughed

mocked

death

strug'-gled

de-cid'-ed

friends

de-feat'-ed

en-joy'

for'-ests

1. The Maoris have a legend telling how it is that the sea-birds live at the seaside and not inland.

2. A river shag met an ocean shag one day. Now the ocean shag lived by the sea and fed on fish, but the river shag had a swamp of his own and lived on eels.

3. As they talked they began to quarrel about which had the best kind of food.

4. The river shag said to the ocean shag, ^u Come on shore with me, and see what fine food I have.”

5. The ocean shag agreed, and together they went to the river shag’s swamp. The river shag stood on a fine “ nigger head ” in the swamp and said to his visitor, “ Now, dive.”

6. Down dived the ocean shag, and came up with a fine eel in his beak.

“Now, swallow it.” Down went the slippery eel.

7. “ Throw it up again,” said the river shag, and up came the eel from the throat of the ocean bird.

8. ^u That is the beauty of my food,” said the river shag, “ you can do what you like with it.”

9. “ Now,” said the ocean shag, let us go to the sea, and I will show you what we can do.”

10. So away they flew. When they reached the sea, the ocean shag said to his visitor, “Now let me see you dive.”

11. “Oh, no,” replied the river shag. ^u I have come to see what kind of food you can bring out of the sea.”

12. Down dived the ocean shag, and came up with a schnapper in his beak.

13. “ Very good,” said the river shag; “now, swallow it, as you did the eel.”

Down went the fish.

14. “Now, throw it up again.” The poor ocean shag tried but tried in vain. The sharp spines of the schnapper’s back stuck fast in his throat.

15. The river shag laughed and mocked him. “ There is death in your food,” he said, and so there was, for the poor ocean bird struggled and struggled till he died.

. -r~rT

The Huia calling the land-birds.

16. This was the cause of the battle, for the sea birds now saw how much better Avas the food on shore. They all gathered together, and decided to come and live on the land.

17. When the land birds heard that the sea birds meant to come and take their feeding grounds, they, too, gathered all their friends together.

18. The huia fle\A^r about with his cry “ lmia-huia," Avliich meant, “ come together.” When the other birds heard it, they all came from far and near. The tui did all the talking, telling them to be brave. So they all got ready for war.

19. Then there was a great fight. The land birds defeated the sea birds and drove them back to the sea.

That is why they are still there, while the land birds enjoy their forests and swamps.

	THE	CLOUDS
Ia'-zi-ly	feath'-ers	bridg'-es	tum'-bling
pret'-ty	plucked	heav'-ens	pelt'-ing
fierce	breasts	lone'-ly	droop'-ing
1. On	the grass	in a meadow	a little

boy lay,

With his face turned up to the

sky,

And he watched the clouds as far

away

They lazily floated by.

2. “I love you, clouds/’ the little boy said;

“ You look so pretty and white ; And you keep the sun from my face and head

When he shines too fierce and bright.

3. “ Sometimes you look like a flock

of doves

Flying far, far away,

Or feathers plucked from their downy breasts,

Or little white lambs at play.

4. “ Sometimes there are heaps of foam

and snow,

And fishes, dogs, and sheep,

With bridges and other things that I know,

As over the heavens you sweep.

5. “ Sometimes you look like the sails

of a ship,

With the blue sky for the sea. I am lonely, clouds, and I love you so! Do come and play with me! ”

6. The white clouds heard as they

floated by,

And they thought they should like to go

And play awhile with the little boy Who seemed to love them so.

7. So they gathered thickly over his head,

And before he looked again,

The little clouds came tumbling down In a pelting shower of rain.

8. The thirsty buds and the drooping

flowers

Were glad that the shower had come; But the little boy jumped up and ran As fast as he could for home.

9. Next day the little boy looked again,

And said as the clouds sailed by, “ I love you, clouds, but I love you best When you stay away up in the sky/'

THE LITTLE BUTTERCUP

A little yellow buttercup Stood laughing in the sun ;

The grass and leaves all green around, The summer just begun,

His saucy little head abrim With happiness and fun.

The flowers smiled up, the sun beamed down,

As they for years had done,

Until as golden as his friend The little flower had grown.

As summer passed and autumn came, The flowers above him said,

“ Come, buttercup, our work is done ;

It’s time to go to bed.”

“Not yet,” said he, “the sun still smiles, I’ll wait till he has fled ;

I yet some little seeds can form,

Some smiles about me shed.”

The merry buttercup laughed on,

And tossed his golden head.

SMILES AND FROWNS 1.

If l knew the box where the smiles were kept,

No matter how large the key,

Or strong the bolt, I would try so hard, Twould open, I know, for me.

Then over the land and sea broadcast, I’d scatter the smiles to play,

That the children’s faces might hold them fast

For many and many a day.

If I knew a box that was large enough To hold all the frowns I meet,

I would like to gather them, every one, From nursery, school, and street.

Then folding, and holding, I’d pack them in,

And turning the monster key,

Fd hire a giant to drop the box Into the depths of the sea.

English Exeiicises

[Exercises should be written only after they have been done orally several times.]

I. TWO FROGS AND TWO BOYS—Page 7

small farm talk great

smaller farming talking greatly

smallest farmer talked greatness

Make little sentences by filling in the gaps :—

1. The boys lived......

2. Their aunt......farm......country.

3. I will break......necks......whacks.

II. THE SPARROW—Page 10

little many pretty think

less more prettier thinking

least most prettiest thought

Write little sentences in answer to these questions:—

1. What colour is the sparrow’s coat ?

2. What do sparrows eat ?

3. Where does the sparrow build its nest?

III.

keep

keeping

keeper

kept

A BOY IN

fruit

fruits

fruitful

fruitless

BLOSSOM—Page 14

come

came

coming

welcome

know

knew

knowing

known

1. Make new w^Tords from : wind, frost, white.

2. Fill in the gaps below from the above lists :—

[a] Have you always......your promises? (6) My

apple-tree has plenty of ...... (c) We did not ......

that you were......

IV. FAIRIES—Page 18

fairy light sun rain

fairies bright sunny rainbow

fairy-like flight sunlight rainy

1. Write down the names of all the colours you know.

2. When do we see a rainbow in the sky ?

V. A RAINDROP—Page 20

good heavy sail run

better heavier sailing ran

best heaviest sailor running

Fill in the gaps below :—

1. A raindrop......tiny thing. 2. The brooks run

into...... 3.......flow into the sea. 4. Boats and

ships sail......water.

VI.

smell

smelling

smelt

THE THREE BEARS—Page 23

too hot eat anger

too high ate angry

too soft eaten angrily

1. Write a sentence using the words : too hot. Write two

more using : too high, too soft.

2. Build new words from : squeak, lie, hear, see, luck, open.

VII. ESKIMO DOGS—Page 31 father boy master king puppy

mother girl mistress queen puppies

1. Add words to make each of these into a sentence:—

I am...... We are...... I was...... We were......

You are...... You are...... You were...... You were......

He is...... They are...... He was...... They were.....

She is...... She was......

VIII. THE DAFFODIL BABY—Page 34

sleep	rest	easy	winter
sleepy	restful	easier	winters
sleeper	restless	easily	wintry
myself	ourselves	himself ^
yourself	yourselves	herself itself j	\| themselves

Write a sentence in answer to each question :—

1. Where did the daffodil baby lie through the winter?

2. Who was it went up to the surface?

3. What did he go for ?

4. How many times did he go up ?

5. What colour was the Daffodil Baby’s cloak ?

G. What colour was the Daffodil Lady’s frock ?

IX. THE MAGPIE AND HIS FAMILY—Page 44

build lay body four

building laying bodies fourteen

built laid nobody forty

1. Make sentences of your own, using one or two of these

words in each.

2. Make new words from: light, young, cosy, hunger,

teach, sing.

3. Write three sentences about Twinkles.

X. A DAY IN THE BUSH—Page 47 shine shade rest fly

shining shady restful flew

shone shadow unrest flown

1. Make new words from : birth, sun, bush, happy, love,

sweet, sleep.

2. Write a sentence about each of the following birds : tui,

fantail, bell-bird, kiwi, owl.

3. Write a sentence about the rata tree.

XI.	COMING AND	GOING—Page	51
nest	leaf	catch	high
nesting	leaves	catche	higher
nested	leafy	catching	highest
nestling	leafless	caught	height
Use is and	was when speaking	of one; but use are and
were when	speaking of more than one. Fill in		the gaps
below :—
1. There.....	.a frost last night.	2. Four birds...	...now in
the nest. 3	. Yesterday the egg.	.....hatched. 4.	The bird
	now. 5. Who......the mate you have chosen ?
6. There.....	.many flowers in	the garden at	present.
7.......you	in the garden last night ? 8. The flowers......
all gone to-day. 9. Snow......beginning to fall.
XII.	TFIE ANXIOUS	LEAF—Page 57
tell	throw	see	grow
telling	threw	saw	grew
told	throwing	seen	grown
tale	thrown	sight	growth

Use has when you speak of o?ie, and use have when you speak of more than one (Exception—We always say I have, you have, even though we are speaking of only one.)

Fill in has or have in the gaps below:—

1. All trees......leaves. 2. Every twig......leaves. 3. The

wind......been blowing. 4. Who......told this to the

branch ? 5. All the leaves......to fly away? 6. “ Do I......

to fly away?” said the leaf. 7. “ Yes, you......said the

wind. 8. Where......the leaves gone ? 9. We......our

work to do. 10. All the leaves......gone to sleep.

XIII. THE STORY OF KING MIDAS—Page 61

sad cloth gold much

sadly clothes gild more

sadness clothing golden most

1. Write sentences using each of these words.

2. Fill in the gaps below :—

(a) Midas.....rich king. (6) He wanted (c) Everything Midas touched ...... (d) The king thought ......

happy. (e) But he could not ...... gold. (/) At last the

golden touch ...... (g) We should be content with ......

XIY. PICTURE LESSONS

Many of the pictures in the book tell a little story. Ask yourself questions about each picture. The answers to these will give you the little sentences you are asked to write. For example, take the picture on page 62. Ask the questions as below and then write down the answers.

Questions.

1. What is King Midas

doing ?

2. Who is standing behind

him ?

3. Why does she look so

surprised ?

4. Who are coming in at

the door ?

Answers.

1. King Midas is seated at

the breakfast table.

2. Behind him is standing a

maid-servant.

3. Everything the king

touches changes to gold.

4. Two other maids are bringing in dishes for the king’s breakfast.

Write three sentences about each of the following pictures : Pages 2, 8, 19, 25, 29, 32, 48, 65, 67, 73, 76, 85, 92, 95, 107, 110, 127, 134, 137.

XV.	ADRIFT IN A	SHOE—Page	91
yesterday	wood	steal	make
to-day	wooden	stole	made
to-morrow	woodman	stolen	maker
Write sentences, using one of the above words in			each.
think	build look	say	teach
thinks	builds looks	says	teaches

Use the second word in each column when speaking of one person or thing, and the first word when speaking of more than one.

Supply the correct word in each of the following blanks :—

1. The cat ...... she is like Robinson Crusoe.

2. The men......a wall to keep out the sea.

3. Do you hear what my master ......?

4. The boat ...... safe.

XYI. THE PEA BLOSSOM—Page 106

right

rightly

aright

upright

warm

warmed

warming

warmth

travel

travelling

travelled

traveller

child

children

childish

childhood

(1) Build new words from earth, move, crack, amuse, bed, work.

(2) Write sentences, using in each one of the following pairs of words : threw and through ; straight, strait; forth, fourth ; too, two ; pair, pear.

(3) Write answers to these questions: (a) Who lived in

the garret? (b) Who lay sick in bed? (c) What did she see at the window ? \d) V\ hat good did the blossom do ?

(,e) Whom did the little girl thank ?

XVII. CONTRACTIONS

there’ll = there will. I’m = I am.

I’ll = I will.

I’d = I would, you’d = you would, we’d = we would, we’ll = we will I’ve = I have, we’ve = we have, you’ve = you have, o’er = over, e’er = ever, ne’er = never.

Mrs. = Mistress (Missis).

Write down and read aloud don’t = do not. isn’t = is not. shan’t = shall not. won’t = will not. hasn’t = has not. haven’t = have not. can’t = can not. couldn’t = could not. there’s = there is. here’s = here is. she’s = she is.

’tis = it is. it’s = it is. who’s = who is.

Mr. = Mister.

XVIII. CAPITAL LETTERS Always begin with a capital letter :—

1. The first word in a sentence.

2. Names of persons : Harry, Goldy Locks, Nancy, Midas,

Jack, Dick, Frank, Maoris, Robinson Crusoe.

3. Names of places: Australia, New Zealand, London,

Sydney, Holland, China.

4. Names of the days of the week : Monday, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

5. Names of the months: January, February, March, April,

May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

6. The word “ God,” or any other word standing for Him, as Our Father Himself, God Almighty.

7. The word “ I.”

Write little sentences, using each of the words given in the above examples.

WOliDS OF LIKE SOUND BUT DIFFERENT

MEANING

Write sentences to use each of these words :—

flower	there	sea	pane	our
flour	their	see	pain	hour
hole	air	court	for	of \|=ov)
whole	e’er	caught	four	off
	ere		fore
blue	no	bear	so	great
blew	know	bare	sow	grate
			sew
red	reed	piece	tail	sent
read	read	peace	tale	scent
wood	threw	strait	forth	pair
would	through	straight	fourth	pare
				pear
to	rays	tied	here	some
too	raise	tide	hear	sum
two
one	herd	been	sort	new
won	heard	bean	sought	knew
made	rain	born	died	the
maid	rein	borne	dyed	thee
	reign

PKONOUNCE DISTINCTLY

quite old raw dumb paw were

quiet next roar calm pour wear

where

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