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LESSON XXXI.

CLIP IT, a vulgar phrase denoting to run fast.

DE-POT', (de-po'), a place of deposit; a building connected with railroads, to be occupied by passengers and goods. FELLOW, a companion, an associate; vulgarly used with the meaning of person.

FIB, (perhaps corrupted from fable), a word vulgarly used as a softer expression than lie.

PRECIOUS, (presh'us), of great value

or worth; used ironically to signify
worthless.

PEEL'ER, a vulgar expression to denote
something extraordinary.
RUM'MAGE, to search narrowly.
SCRAPE, a low word denoting difficulty,
perplexity.

WHEW, is used to represent the whistling
by which children often express won-
der or surprise.

WOR'RY, as used in this lesson is a low word denoting harassing anxiety.

PRONUNCIATION.-Been 33, were 33, are 33, el'e-phant la, fel'low 6, booth 15, put 33, in-quire 1, er'rand 34, kit'tens 4d, a-shamed' lf, a-gain' 33.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

FRANK AND THOMAS-A DIALOGUE.

Thomas. WHAT's your hurry, Frank? Stop a minute.

Frank. I can't stay; father sent me with this letter to the railroad depot.

T. Well, the depot will not run away.

F. But the cars will. There's a gentleman going to New-York; he promised to carry this letter, and there's money in it for my brother.

The cars you.

T. But don't you see it is but ten minutes past three? don't start till four, and you have time enough for what I want of

F. Well, what do you want?

T. Just step in here to see the wild beasts with me; you have never been in, have you?

F. No; I'll go when I come back from my errand.

T. No, you can't; for then it will be time to go to the writing

master.

F. Then I will go with you to-morrow.

T. No, you can't; for this is the last day of the exhibition.

F. Is it? That's bad! I did not know there were any beasts in town till to-day. How many are there?

T. Ever so many. There's a polar-bear, and an elephant, and a most beautiful rhinoceros.

F. I have seen a rhinoceros, and he is the ugliest creature that ever was; his skin sits as loosely upon him as a sailor's trowsers. 7. Well, there's a royal tiger

F. Is there? I never saw a royal tiger.

T. Oh, he's a beauty,—all yellow, and covered with black stripes. Then there are little leopards playing just like kittens; and-there! there! do you hear that?—that's the lion roaring.

F. Whew! that's a peeler! How long will it take to see them all? T. Oh, not half an hour; and it would not take you five minutes to run down to the depot afterward, if you clip it like a good fellow. F. Are there many monkeys?

T. Plenty of them! the funniest monkeys you ever saw; they make all sorts of faces.

F. Well, I don't know.-What if I should be too late for the cars?

T. No danger of that, I tell you. The town clock up there is too fast; it's all out of order; and besides, you might see half the beasts while you are standing here thinking about it, looking up the street and down the street.

F. Well, come along, then. Where's your money?

T. Oh, I don't pay. I got acquainted with the door-keeper after I had been in twice, and now he lets me in for nothing every time I bring a fellow that does pay.

F. Oh, ho! Well, I suppose it is a quarter of a dollar; and I have one somewhere in my pocket. [Pulling out his handkerchief to search for the money, he drops the letter.] Ah! here it is! Come Tom! no

time to be lost. Mind you do not let me stay too long.

[They go into the exhibition booth.

Frank's father, passing along, picks up the letter, examines it, looks round for Frank, and passes hastily away.

After some time the boys come out.]

T. You did not half see them, you were in such a hurry and worry. F. I know it. Are you sure that clock is too fast, Tom?

T. I don't know, I suppose so,—the clocks are wrong half the time.

F. Why, you told me it was too fast, Tom! and now I'll bet any thing that I shall be too late. I wish I had not gone in.

T. Well, why don't you move, then? What are you rummaging after?

F. Why, after my letter. I'm sure I put it in this pocket. What in the name of wonder has become of it?

T. Look in the other pocket.

F. It isn't there, nor in my hat.

What shall I do?

7. Why, you can not have lost it,- can you?

F. I have lost it. I am as sure as can be I had it in this very pocket just before I met you; and now it is gone.

T. Perhaps somebody stole it in the crowd.

F. That's comfort! There was ever so much money in it, for I heard father talking about it at dinner-time.

T. Oh, I will tell you what has become of it!

F. What? What?

T. Why, I guess the elephant took it out of your pocket.

F. You ought to be ashamed to stand there laughing, after you have got me into such a scrape. I have a great mind to go in again and look all round.

T. They will not let

you in again unless you pay.

F. O Tom, what will my father say to me? Where shall I look? I wish I had never heard of the beasts; there was no comfort in looking at them, for I was thinking of the cars all the time; and now letter is gone, and brother Henry's money, and all; and what will father do to me?

my

T. What's the use of telling him anything about it? He'll never know whether the letter went or not, if you don't say a word.

F. Yes, he will; my brother will write to inquire for the money. T. Well, and can you not say you gave the letter to the gentleman?

F No, Tom; I can not do that. I can not tell a lie, and, above father.

all, to my

T. The more fool you! You need not look so mad about it. There is your father coming now. Run and tell him quick, and get a whipping.

F. He will punish me, Tom; that he will. What shall I do?
T. Take my advice; I'll tell a fib for you, and do you hold to it.
F. I never told a lie in my life, Tom.

T. Then it's high time you did. You'll have to tell a great many before you die.

F. I do not believe that.

T. Well here's your father. Now, see how I will get you out of the

scrape. That's right! keep staring up at the handbill on the wall. [Enter father.]

Father. Why, Frank, you have run yourself out of breath. I trust that letter will go safe, for your brother wants the money very much.

T. Frank was just in time, sir. The cars were just starting.
Father. Oh, you went with him, did you?

T. Yes, sir; and I saw the gentleman put the letter in his pocketbook very carefully. I fancy it will go safe enough.

Father. I fancy it will.-What is in that handbill, Frank, that interests you so much?

F. I don't know, sir.

Father. What's the matter, my boy?

F. I can not stand it, father! I can not stand it! I had rather take ten whippings, Tom, any day, than-than

Father. Ho, ho! what is all this?

T. You are a fool, Frank.

F. I know I am a fool; but I can not tell a lie. I lost the letter, father; I went to see the wild beasts with Tom, and lost the letter. Father. And this precious fellow wanted you to deceive me about it, did he?

T. Why, I thought

Father. Frank, I would willingly lose a dozen letters, with ten times as much money in them, for the pleasure of finding you resist the temptation. Come here, my boy, and leave off crying. I found the letter, and carried it myself to the depot in time for the cars. I can forgive your folly, since it has not ended in wickedness; but remember one thing; I shall not forgive you, if henceforward you associate with this unprincipled boy.-Begone, sir! I am glad to see shame in your face. Had my boy taken your advice, he, too, would have been at this moment a detected, conscience-smitten, despised liar; but he is holding up his head, and his heart is light in his bosom. You are the very boy, Thomas, that I was requested to take into my employment; but I will have nothing to do with you. Never come near my son again.

"It is a lovely thing for youth

To walk betimes in wisdom's way;
To fear a lie, to speak the truth,
That we may trust to all they say.

"But liars we can never trust,

Though they should speak the thing that's true :

And he that does one fault at first,

And lies to hide it, makes it two."

LESSON XXXII.

COM MO'TION, tumult,excitement.
KER CHIEF, (contracted from coverchef,
from French couvrir, to cover, and
chef, the head,) a cloth to cover the
head.

LUST'Y, stout, vigorous.

MAD CAP, wild, violent.

POULTRY, (from French poule, a hen,)
domestic fowls, such as cocks and hens,
geese, turkeys, and ducks.
SPRAY, a branch of a tree, a twig.
THATCH, Covering of straw.

UR CHIN, a hedgehog; a name given to
a child or small boy in sport or anger.

PRONUNCIATION.-Bus'tle 21, sa-lute' 16, roared 9, mon'ster 9, a-larm' lf, mute 16, ma'tron-ly 276, whis'tling 21.

THE WIND IN A FROLIC.

1. THE wind one morning sprang up from sleep,
Saying, "Now for a frolic! now for a leap!
Now for a madcap galloping chase!

I'll make a commotion in every place!"

2. So it swept with a bustle right through a great town,
Creaking the signs, and scattering down

Shutters, and whisking, with merciless squalls,
Old women's bonnets and gingerbread-stalls.
There never was heard a much lustier shout,
As the apples and oranges tumbled about;
And the urchins, that stand with their thievish eyes
Forever on watch, ran off each with a prize.

3. Then away to the field it went blustering and humming,
And the cattle all wondered what might be coming.
It plucked by their tails the grave, matronly cows,
And tossed the colts' manes all over their brows,
Till, offended at such a familiar salute,

They all turned their backs and stood sullenly mute.

4. So on it went, capering and playing its pranks,
Whistling with reeds on the broad river's banks;
Puffing the birds as they sat on the spray,
Or the traveler grave on the king's highway.

5. It was not too nice to hustle the bags

Of the beggar, and flutter his dirty rags.
'Twas so bold that it feared not to play its joke
With the doctor's wig or the gentleman's cloak.

6. Through the forest it roared, and cried gayly, "Now,
You sturdy old oaks, I'll make you bow!"

And it made them bow without more ado,

And cracked their great branches through and through.

7. Then it rushed like a monster on cottage and farm,
Striking the dwellers with sudden alarm;

And they ran out like bees in a midsummer swarm.

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