2.  I knew a boy who liked a good game very much.  He could run, swim, jump, and play ball; and was always merry when out of school.

3.  But he knew that time is not all for play; that our minutes, hours, and days are very precious.

4.  At the end of his play, he would go home.  After he had washed his face and hands, and brushed his hair, he would help his mother, or read in his book, or write upon his slate.

5.  He used to say, “One thing at a time.”  When he had done with work, he would play; but he did not try to play and to work at the same time.

LESSON XI.

twit-twee bough (bow) twit-twit top’most lock

spray mate close’ly ros’y an’swer (an’ser)

[Illustration:  Bird perched on tree branch.]

What A bird taught.

1.  Why do you come to my apple tree,
     Little bird so gray? 
   Twit-twit, twit-twit, twit-twit-twee! 
     That was all he would say.

2.  Why do you lock your rosy feet
     So closely round the spray? 
   Twit-twit, twit-twit, twit-tweet! 
     That was all he would say.

3.  Why on the topmost bough do you get,
     Little bird so gray? 
   Twit-twit-twee! twit-twit-twit! 
     That was all he would say.

4.  Where is your mate? come, answer me,
     Little bird so gray. 
   Twit-twit-twit! twit-twit-twee! 
     That was all he would say. 
                                      Alice Cary.

LESSON XII.

bright’ness pleas’ant learned dress

play’mates un kind’ rag’ged word

ques’tions smil’ing crowed child

Sun’beam cheered Sus’ie gave

glad’ness un less’ name gate

SUSIE SUNBEAM.

1.  Susie Sunbeam was not her real name; that was Susan Brown.  But every one called her Susie Sunbeam, because she had such a sweet, smiling face, and always brought brightness with her when she came.

[Illustration:  Older girls playing with younger girl.  Three children standing in background.]

2.  Her grandfather first gave her this name, and it seemed to fit the little girl so nicely that soon it took the place of her own.

3.  Even when a baby, Susie laughed and crowed from morning till night.  No one ever heard her cry unless she was sick or hurt.

4.  When she had learned to walk, she loved to go about the house and get things for her mother, and in this way save her as many steps as she could.

5.  She would sit by her mother’s side for an hour at a time, and ask her ever so many questions, or she would take her new book and read.

6.  Susie was always pleasant in her play with other children.  She never used an unkind word, but tried to do whatever would please her playmates best.