SLATE WORK

[Illustration:  Script Exercise: 

I wish, Mamma you would tell me where the rain comes from.  Does it come from the sky?  And when the little drops pitter-patter on the window do you think they are playing with me?  I can not work or read for I love to listen to them.  I often think their sound is pretty music.  But the rain keeps children at home and sometimes I do not like that, then.  The little raindrops only say, “Pit, pitter, patter, pat; While we play on the out-side, Why can’t you play on that?” ]

LESSON L.

sled throw win’ter hurt ice cov’er Hen’ry next

skate ground mer’ry snow sister laugh’ing (laf’ing) pair

[Illustration:  Children skating and playing in the snow.]

I like winter, when snow and ice cover the ground.  What fun it is to throw snowballs, and to skate on the ice!

See the boys and girls!  How merry they are!  Henry has his sled, and draws his little sister.  There they go!

I think Henry is kind, for his sister is too small to skate.

Look!  Did you see that boy fall down?  But I see he is not hurt, for he is laughing.

Some other boys have just come to join in the sport.  See them put on their skates.

Henry says, that he hopes his father will get a pair of skates for his sister next winter.

LESSON LI.

paw po lite’ means isn’t speak sir shake Fi’do

tricks teach din’ner El’len bow’wow

[Illustration:  Girl and boy playing with dog.  Dog on hind legs, seated on chair, with hat on head.]

Ellen, do look at Fido!  He sits up in a chair, with my hat on.  He looks like a little boy; but it is only Fido.

Now see him shake hands.  Give me your paw, Fido.  How do you do, sir?  Will you take dinner with us.  Fido?  Speak!  Fido says, “Bowwow,” which means, “Thank you, I will.”

Isn’t Fido a good dog, Ellen?  He is always so polite.

When school is out, I will try to teach him some other tricks.

LESSON LII.

puss shed pain way stole saw hid eat

Hat’tie suf’fer sor’ry some’thing caught tried Ne’ro

[Illustration:  Cat sitting on box.]

“O Hattie!  I just saw a large rat in the shed; and old Nero tried to catch it.”

“Did he catch it, Frank?”

“No; Nero did not; but the old cat did.”

“My cat?”

“No, it was the other one.”

“Do tell me how she got it, Frank.  Did she run after it?”

“No, that was not the way.  Puss was hid on a big box.  The rat stole out, and she jumped at it and caught it.”