At these sugar parties every one was expected to eat as much sugar as possible; and those who are practiced in it can eat a great deal.

It is a peculiar fact about eating warm maple sugar, that though you may eat so much of it one day as to be sick, you will want it the next day more than ever.

At the “sugaring off” they used to pour the hot sugar upon the snow, where it congealed into a sort of wax, which I suppose is the most delicious substance that was ever invented.  And it takes a great while to eat it.

If you should close your teeth firmly on a lump of it, you would be unable to open your mouth until it dissolved.  The sensation while it is melting is very pleasant, but it will not do to try to talk, for you can not.

The boy used to make a big lump of it and give it to the dog, who seized it with great avidity, and closed his jaws on it, as dogs will on any thing.

It was funny the next moment to see the expression of perfect surprise on the dog’s face when he found that he could not open his jaws.

He shook his head; he sat down in despair; he ran round in a circle; he dashed into the woods and back again.

He did every thing except climb a tree, and howl.  It would have been such a relief to him if he could have howled.  But that was the one thing he could not do.

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Language Lesson.—­Let pupils change the verbs in the following lines, so that they will indicate present time.

“He shook his head; he sat down in despair; he ran around in a circle; he dashed into the woods and back again.”

Suggestion.—­Let the teacher, from time to time, select stories, and have them read before the class.  After the reading, let pupils make oral analyses.  The stories should be short, and the exercise conducted without the use of pencils or paper.

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LESSON LXXI.

en’sign, flag.

dis man’tled, stripped of masts, sails, and guns.

pa tri ot’ic, full of love for one’s country.

hulk, a dismantled ship.

frig’ate, a ship of war.

tat’tered, torn.

me’te or, a fiery body in the heavens.

van’quished, conquered; overcome.

har’pies, destroyers.

manned, supplied with men.

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OLD IRONSIDES.

During our second war with Great Britain, which began in the year 1812, many battles were fought both on land and sea.

Among the ships of war belonging to the United States Government, was a frigate named the Constitution.  She was built about the beginning of the present century, and owing to her good fortune in many engagements, her seamen gave her the name of “Old Ironsides.”