“Poor rat!  It must have been very hungry; it came out to get something to eat.”

“Why, Hattie, you are not sorry puss got the rat, are you?”

“No, I can not say I am sorry she got it; but I do not like to see even a rat suffer pain.”

LESSON LIII.

roll build grand’pa hard foam ships

hous’es long sail break wood’en blow

[Illustration:  Two girls play in sand.  Man with cane and top hat is seated on beach.]

Mary and Lucy have come down to the beach with their grandpa.  They live in a town near the sea.

Their grandpa likes to sit on the large rock, and watch the big ships as they sail far away on the blue sea.  Sometimes he sits there all day long.

The little girls like to dig in the sand, and pick up pretty shells.  They watch the waves as they roll up on the beach, and break into white foam.

They sometimes make little houses of sand, and build walls around them; and they dig wells with their small wooden spades.

They have been picking up shells for their little sister.  She is too young to come to the beach.

I think all children like to play by the seaside when the sun is bright, and the wind does not blow too hard.

LESSON LIV.

asked want’ed four Wil’lie’s night rab’bits

lad car’ried cents tell’ing fif’ty mas’ter

[Illustration:  Two boys playing with rabbits.]

One day, Willie’s father saw a boy at the market with four little white rabbits in a basket.

He thought these would be nice pets for Willie; so he asked the lad how much he wanted for his rabbits.

The boy said, “Only fifty cents, sir.”

Willie’s father bought them, and carried them home.

Here you see the rabbits and their little master.  He has a pen for them, and always shuts them in it at night to keep them safe.

He gives them bread and grass to eat.  They like grass, and will take it from his hand.  He has called in a little friend to see them.

Willie is telling him about their funny ways.

Slate work.

[Illustration:  Script Exercise: 

Some rabbits are as white as
snow, some are black, and others
have white and black spots. 
What soft, kind eyes they have.
]

LESSON LV.

bush cun’ning place show find bro’ken

o’ver bring a’gain (a gen’) fas’ten (fas’ n )

[Illustration:  Boy and girl looking over a fence in woods.]

“Come here, Rose.  Look down into this bush.”

“O Willie! a bird’s nest!  What cunning, little eggs!  May we take it, and show it to mother? "