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particles gathered from the surface of Greenland nd snow, and brought here by the moving currents r. Only, of one thing we may be sure, that they from the water of our earth.

Sometimes, if the air is warm, these water partimay travel a long way without ever forming into s; and on a hot, cloudless day the air is often full of invisible vapor. Then, if a cold wind comes ping along, high up in the sky, and chills this vat forms into great bodies of water-dust clouds, and ky is overcast.

At other times clouds hang lazily in a bright and these show us that just where they are the 3 cold, and turns the invisible vapor rising from ground into visible water-dust, so that exactly in spaces we see it as clouds. Such clouds form on a warm, still summer's day, and they are ed like masses of wool, ending in a straight line v. They are not merely hanging in the sky, they eally resting upon a tall column of invisible vapor h stretches right up from the earth; and that ght line under the clouds marks the place where air becomes cold enough to turn this invisible r into visible drops of water.

And now, suppose that, while these or any other of clouds are overhead, there comes along either a cold wind, or a wind full of vapor. As it passes ugh the clouds, it makes them very full of water, f it chills them, it makes the water-dust draw more -ly together; or, if it brings a new load of water, the air is fuller than it can hold. In either case, r particles are set free, and our fairy force "cohe"seizes upon them at once, and forms them into

the air, and so they can float no they come in a shower of rain.

9. There are other ways in wh chilled, and rain made to fall, as, 1 wind laden with moisture strikes aga mountains. Thus the Khasia Hills the Bay of Bengal, chill the air wh its way from the Indian Ocean. driven up the sides of the hills, tl the vapor is chilled, and, forming torrents of rain. You will not be country on the other side of thes any rain, for all the water has bee air before it comes there.

10. In this way, from different which the sun has robbed our riv back to us, after it has traveled to world, floating on the bosom of the a always fall straight back into the ri a large part of it falls on the lan down slopes, and into the earth, in its natural home, and it is often caug it can reach the great waters.

11. Go to any piece of ground and untouched, you will find it c weeds, and other plants; if you dig will find innumerable tiny roots cr ground in every direction. Each of sponge-like mouth, by which the pla Now, imagine raindrops falling on and sinking into the earth. On e find rootlets thirsting to drink then

THE FOX AT THE POINT OF DEATH.

123

be sucked up as if by tiny sponges, and drawn into the plants, and up the stems to the leaves.

co-he'sion (-zhun), that force by which particles of the same matter cohere or stick together.

wa'ter-dust, a name given by Dr.

Tyndall to vapor chilled into tiny drops of water.

in-tol'er-a-ble, unbearable; unendurable.

Spell and pronounce: separate, necessarily, currents, torrents, kettle, gathers.

Where is Greenland? the Gulf of Mexico? Find on the map the Khasia Hills (kä'shi-á); Bay of Bengal (ben-gawl'). What is the meaning of "in our imagination," in paragraph 3?

XXI. THE FOX AT THE POINT OF DEATH.

GAY.

JOHN GAY, an English poet and a friend of Pope, was born in 1688 and died in 1732. He wrote plays and short poems. His drama of "The Beggar's Opera" and the ballad of "Black-eyed Susan' were once very popular. His "Fables" are admired for their sprightly style and ingenious fancy.

1. A Fox, in life's extreme decay,

Weak, sick, and faint, expiring lay;
All appetite had left his maw,
And age disarmed his mumbling jaw.
His numerous race around him stand
To learn their dying sire's command;
He raised his head with whining moan,
And thus was heard the feeble tone.

2. "Ah, sons, from evil ways depart!
My crimes lie heavy on my heart.
See, see, the murdered geese appear!
Why are those bleeding turkeys there?

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7. "Though we like harmless sheep should feed, Honest in thought, and word, and deed, Whatever hen-roost is decreased,

We shall be thought to share the feast.
The change shall never be believed,
A lost good name is ne'er retrieved."

8. "Nay, then," replies the feeble fox
"But hark! I hear a hen that clocks!
Go, but be moderate in your food;
A chicken too might do me good."

Comach.

-m, a fancied vision.

-nate, immoderate.

sen'su-al (-shoo-al), given to the indulgence of the appetites.

gins (jinz), engines, traps, and snares.

ain: the searching eye of power (4); puts a period to my woe (5); sty your passions rein (5).

= in prose the advice of the old fox.

XXII.· THE FISH I DID N'T CATCH.

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WHITTIER.

IN GREENLEAF WHITTIER was born in Haverhill, Mass., Decem1807. His most advanced school instruction was obtained at the cademy, which he attended for two years.

"Skipper Ireson's Many of his ring

has written both prose and verse, but it is as a poet that he has won g fame. No poetry is more popular than his, and no poet is perheld in greater honor. Among his best known poems are "Snow" "Maud Muller," "The Barefoot Boy," and A noble moral purpose pervades all his writings. ics have been written for the sake of freedom and human brotherHe is a member of the Society of Friends, and is sometimes called Quaker Poet." He has remained unmarried, and for many years has - Amesbury, Mass.

I REMEMBER my first fishing excursion as if it were westerday. I have been happy many times in my

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