New National Fourth Reader eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 258 pages of information about New National Fourth Reader.

New National Fourth Reader eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 258 pages of information about New National Fourth Reader.

The dampness scared me more than the ghosts, for I had never seen a ghost yet; but I had been haunted by rheumatism, and found it a hard thing to get rid of.

“I’ve taken a room there, so I’m rather interested in knowing what company I’m to have.”

“Taken a room, have you?  Well, I dare say you won’t be troubled.  Some folks have a knack of seeing spirits, and then again some haven’t.

“My wife is uncommon powerful that way, but I an’t; my sight’s dreadful poor for that sort.”

There was such a sly look in the starboard eye of the old fellow as he spoke, that I laughed outright, and asked, sociably—­

“Has she ever seen the ghosts of the cottage?  I think I have rather a knack that way, and I’d like to know what to expect.”

“No, her sort is the rapping kind.  Down yonder, the only ghost I take much stock in is old Bezee Tucker’s.  Some folks say they’ve heard him groaning there nights, and a dripping sound; he bled to death, you know.

“It was kept quiet at the time, and is forgotten now by all but a few old fellows like me.  Bezee was always polite to the ladies, so I guess he won’t bother you, ma’am;” and the old fellow laughed.

“If he does, I’ll let you know;” and with that I left him, for I was called and told that the beach party was anxious for my company.

In the delights of that happy hour, I forgot the warning of the old gentleman on the hill, for I was about to taste a clam for the first time in my life, and it was a most absorbing moment.

Perched about on the rocks like hungry birds, we sat and watched the happy cooks with breathless interest, as they struggled with frying-pans, fish that refused to brown, steaming sea-weed, and hot ashes.

Little Margie Grant waited upon me so prettily, that I should have been tempted to try a sea porcupine if she had offered it, so charming was her way of saying, “O here’s a perfectly lovely one!  Do take him by his little black head and eat him quick!”

I indulged without thought, in clams, served hot between two shells, little dreaming what a price I was to pay for that banquet.

* * * * *

Language Lesson—­Let pupils use other words to express the meaning of the parts given below in dark type.

    “Right down there—­just a step, you see.”

    “Pretty likely place for a prospect.”

    “The only one I take much stock in.”

Write out in full the words for which ’em and an’t are used.

* * * * *

LESSON XLVI.

quaked, shook, as with fear.

cha’os, a great number of things without order.

gi gan’tic, of very great size.

stealth’y, very quiet, so as to escape notice.

fa’tal, causing great harm.

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Project Gutenberg
New National Fourth Reader from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.