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And carelessly tossed off a curl,
That played on her delicate brow.

5. "My father was lost on the deep;

The ship never got to the shore;
And mother is sad, and will weep,

To hear the wind blow and sea roar.

3. "She sits there at home, without food,
Beside our poor, sick Willy's bed;
She paid all her money for wood,
And so I sell matches for bread.

7. "I'd go to the yard and get chips, But then it would make me too sad To see the men building the ships,

And think they had made one so bad.

8. "But God, I am sure, who can take Such fatherly care of a bird,

Will never forget nor forsake

The children who trust in his word.

9. "And now, if I only can sell

The matches I brought out to-day,
I think I shall do very well,

And we shall rejoice at the pay."

10. "Fly home, little bird," then I thought,

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Fly home, full of joy, to your nest; For I took all the matches she brought,

And Mary may tell you the rest.

DEFINITIONS.—1. Blån'ket, a square of loosely woven woolen cloth. 2. Mǎtch'eş, small splints of wood, one end of which has been dipped in a preparation which will take fire by rubbing. 3. Pěn'ny, cent. 4. Děl'i eate, soft and fair. 8. For sake', leave, reject.

LESSON LXVI.

THE LITTLE LOAF.

1. Once when there was a famine, a rich baker sent for twenty of the poorest children in the town, and said to them, "In this basket there is a loaf for each of you. Take it, and come back to me every day at this hour till God sends us better times."

2. The hungry children gathered eagerly about the basket, and quarreled for the bread, because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman.

3. But Gretchen, a poorly-dressed little girl, did not quarrel or struggle with the rest,

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but remained standing modestly in the distance. When the ill-behaved girls had left, she took the smallest loaf, which alone was left in the basket, kissed the gentleman's hand, and went home.

4. The next day the children were as illbehaved as before, and poor, timid Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the size of the one she got the first day. When she came home, and her mother cut the loaf open, many new, shining pieces of silver fell out

5. Her mother was very much alarmed, and said, "Take the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have got into the dough by accident. Be quick, Gretchen! be quick!"

6. But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No, no, my child, it was no mistake. I had the silver pieces put into the smallest loaf to reward you. Always be as contented, peaceable, and grateful as you now are. Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is your own."

DEFINITIONS.-1. Făm'ine, a general scarcity of food. Loaf, a molded mass of regular shape (as of bread or cake). 3. Grětch'en, a girl's name-the shortened form, or pet name, for Marguerite. Re mained', staid. Dis'tançe, place which is far off. Ill-be hāved', rude, having bad manners. 5. Ae'çident, mistake. 6. Měs'sage, word sent, communication. Pēaçe'a ble, quiet, gentle.

LESSON LXVII.

SUSIE AND ROVER.

1. "Mamma," said Susie Dean, one summer's morning, "may I go to the woods, and pick berries?"

2. "Yes," replied Mrs.

replied Mrs. Dean, "but you

must take Rover with you.'

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3. Susie brought her little basket, and her mother put up a nice lunch for her. She tied down the cover, and fastened a tin cup to it.

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4. The little girl called Rover a great Newfoundland dog-and gave him a tin pail to carry. "If I bring it home full, mamma, she said, "won't you make some berry cakes for tea?"

5. Away she tripped, singing as she went down the lane and across the pasture. When she got to the woods, she put her dinner basket down beside a tree, and began to pick berries.

6. Rover ran about, chasing a squirrel or a rabbit now and then, but never straying far from Susie.

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7. The tin pail was not a very small one.. By the time it was two thirds full, Susie began to feel hungry, and thought she would eat her lunch.

8. Rover came and took his place at her side as soon as she began to eat. Did she not give him some of the lunch? No, she was in a selfish mood, and did no such thing.

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