The little girl now thought how dearly her own mother loved her.

So she left the birds.  Then picking some flowers, she went home, and told her mother what she had seen and heard.

LESSON XLIII.

eight ask aft’er town past ah tick’et

right half two train ding light’ning

[Illustration:  Boy and girl sitting in wicker clothes basket.  Woman sitting in chair.]

“Mamma, will you go to town?”

“What do you ask for a ticket on your train?”

“Oh! we will give you a ticket, mamma.”

“About what time will you get back? "

“At half past eight.”

“Ah! that is after bedtime.  Is this the fast train?”

“Yes, this is the lightning train.”

“Oh! that is too fast for me.”

“What shall we get for you in town, mamma?”

“A big basket, with two good little children in it.”

“All right!  Time is up!  Ding, ding!”

LESSON XLIV.

school e’ven (e’vn) three room small

book teach’er noon rude read’ing poor

[Illustration:  Several children in woods.  Three are holding books, others are playing with a ball.]

It is noon, and the school is out.  Do you see the children at play?  Some run and jump, some play ball, and three little girls play school under a tree.

What a big room for such a small school!

Mary is the teacher.  They all have books in their hands, and Fanny is reading.

They are all good girls, and would not be rude even in playing school.

Kate and Mary listen to Fanny as she reads from her book.

What do you think she is reading about?  I will tell you.  It is about a poor little boy who was lost in the woods.

When Fanny has finished, the three girls will go home.

In a little while, too, the boys will give up their playing.

LESSON XLV.

ap’ple mew tease crack’er down new sil’ly a sleep’

wants calls knew friends up on’ flew Poll Pol’ly

[Illustration:  Girl sitting at dinner table.  Parrot is on a perch in the foreground.]

Lucy has a new pet.  Do you know what kind of bird it is?  Lucy calls her Polly.

Polly can say, “Poor Poll!  Poor Poll!  Polly wants a cracker;” and she can mew like a cat.

But Polly and the cat are not good friends.  One day Polly flew down, and lit upon the cat’s back when she was asleep.

I think she knew the cat would not like that, and she did it to tease her.

When Lucy pets the cat, Polly flies up into the old apple tree, and will not come when she calls her.  Then Lucy says, “What a silly bird!”