LESSON LVI.

hoe grave knock ex cept’

droll hymn prayed cot’tage

[Illustration:  Old man holding two little girls.]

A GOOD OLD MAN.

1.  There once lived an old man in a snug, little cottage.  It had two rooms and only two windows.  A small garden lay just behind it.

2.  Old as the poor man was, he used to work in the fields.  Often he would come home very tired and weak, with his hoe or spade on his shoulder.

3.  And who do you think met him at the door!  Mary and Jane, his two little grandchildren.

4.  They were too young to work, except to weed in the garden, or bring water from the spring.

5.  In winter, as they were too poor to buy much wood or coal, they had little fire; so they used to sit close together to keep warm.  Mary would sit on one of the old man’s knees, and Jane on the other.

6.  Sometimes their grandfather would tell them a droll story.  Sometimes he would teach them a hymn.

7.  He would often talk to them of their father, who had gone to sea, or of their good, kind mother, who was in her grave.  Every night he prayed God to bless them, and to bring back their father in safety.

8.  The old man grew weaker every year; but the little girls were glad to work for him, who had been so good to them.

[Illustration:  Girls and grandfather greeting father at door.]

9.  One cold, windy night, they heard a knock at the door.  The little girls ran and opened it.  Oh, joy to them!  There stood their father.

10.  He had been at sea a long time.  He had saved some money, and had now come home to stay.

11.  After this the old man did not have to work.  His son worked for him, and his grandchildren took care of him.  Many happy days they spent together.

LESSON LVII.

hoe grave knock ex cept’

droll hymn prayed cot’tage

THE GREEDY GIRL.

1.  Laura English is a greedy little girl.  Indeed, she is quite a glutton.  Do you know what a glutton is?  A glutton is one who eats too much, because the food tastes well.

2.  Laura’s mother is always willing she should have as much to eat as is good for her; but sometimes, when her mother is not watching, she eats so much that it makes her sick.

3.  I do not know why she is so silly.  Her kitten never eats more than it needs.  It leaves the nice bones on the plate, and lies down to sleep when it has eaten enough.

4.  The bee is wiser than Laura.  It flies all day among the flowers to gather honey, and might eat the whole time if it pleased.  But it eats just enough, and carries all the rest to its hive.