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McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey Lesson 41: The Fishhawk

Lesson:

1. The fishhawk, or osprey, is not so large as the eagle; but he has, like the eagle, a hooked bill and sharp claws.
2. His color is a dark brown, with black and white spots, and his length is from twenty to twenty-two inches. His breast is mostly white. His tail and wings are long.
3. The fishhawk is often found sitting upon a tree over a pond, or lake, or river. He is also found by the seaside.
4. He watches the fish as they swim in the water beneath him; then he darts down suddenly and catches one of them.
5. When he catches a fish in his sharp, rough claws, he carries it off to eat, and, as he flies away with it for his dinner, an eagle sometimes meets him.
6. The eagle flies at him fiercely with his sharp bill and claws, and compels the hawk to drop the fish.
7. Then the eagle catches the fish as it falls, before it reaches the ground, and carries it off.
8. The poor fishhawk, with a loud cry, timidly flies away. He must go again to the water and catch another fish for his dinner.
9. Thus you see, that the eagle is a robber. He robs fishhawks, whose only mode of getting a living is by catching fish.

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey Lesson 39: The Bear and the Children

Lesson:
1. In the parlor of an inn in a small town, sat a man who had been going about with a bear. He was waiting for his supper, and the bear was tied up in the yard.

2. Up in the attic, three little children were playing together. The eldest might have been six years old; the youngest, not more than two.

3. Stump! stump! stump! Someone was coming up the stairs.

4. The door flew open suddenly, and there stood the great, shaggy bear. He had got tired of waiting, and had found his way to the stairs.

5. The children were badly frightened. Each one crept into a corner, but the bear found them all out, and smelt their clothes, but did not hurt them.


6. ‘This must be a great dog,’ they said, and they began to pat him.

7. Then the bear lay down on the floor, and the youngest boy climbed on his back, hid his head in the shaggy fur, and played at ‘hide and seek.’

8. The eldest boy took his drum and began to strike it, when the bear rose on his hind legs and danced. At that the children gave a merry shout.

9. The two younger boys took their wooden guns, and gave the bear one. Away they all marched around the room, keeping step.

10. Now the frightened mother of the children came to the door. But the youngest boy shouted, joyfully. ‘See, we are playing soldiers!’

11. Then the bear’s master came running up, and took the bear away.

McGuffey’s Second Eclectic Reader by William Holmes McGuffey: The New Scales

Lesson 38: The New Scales

Words:

• Herbert
• orange
• find
• post
• inches
• thread
• beam
• thick
• pine
• next
• groove
• scales
• hole
• peel
• gimlet
• ribbon

Lesson:

1. ‘Herbert, will you please peel my orange?’ said Lucy. Herbert was reading his new book, but he put it down at once, and took the orange from his little sister.
2. ‘Shall I make a pair of scales, Lucy, for you to use when you play store?’
3. ‘Oh yes! but how can you do that’!’
4. ‘I’ll show you. First, we must take the peel off in two little cups, one just as large as the other. While I do this, see if you can find me two nice sticks about ten inches long.’
5. Lucy ran out to the woodhouse to find the sticks.–‘ Will these do?’
6. ‘No, they are too hard. Find some pine sticks if you can.’
7. ‘Here are some.’
8. ‘These will do nicely. Now I must make a scale beam and a post. Can you find me a little block for a post, Lucy’!’
9. ‘Will a ribbon block do, Herbert?’
10. ‘Yes, if it is not too thick.’
11. ‘Here is one an inch thick.’
12. ‘That will be just right. Now get the little gimlet.’
13. Herbert worked away until he had made the beam and the post. Then he made a hole in the middle of the block, and put the post in. Next, he put the beam into a little groove at the top of the post, so that it would balance nicely.
14. ‘Now, Lucy, we must have a needle and some thread. We must put four threads to each cup; then we will tie the threads to the ends of the beam.
15. ‘There, Lucy, what do you think of that?’
16. ‘Why, Herbert, that is just as nice as the real scales in father’s store; and you may have all my orange for making them.’