McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader Part 15

14. F. Try; take this pin and touch the k.n.o.b. Well, what do you see?

15. A. Oh, how curious!

16. F. What is curious?

17. A. The moment I touched it, it flew open. A little cloud rose out like enchantment, and four beautiful little stems sprung up as if they were alive; and, now that I look again with the gla.s.s, I see an elegant little flower as nice and perfect as a lily itself.

18. F. Well, now examine the leaves.

19. A. Oh, I see they are all covered over with little bristles; and when I examine them with the gla.s.s, I see a little bag, filled with a juice like water, at the bottom of each. Ha! these are the things which stung me.

20. F. Now touch the little bag with the point of the pin.

21. A. When I press the bag, the juice runs up and comes out at the small point at the top; so I suppose the little thorn must be hollow inside, though it is finer than the point of my cambric needle.

22. F. Have all the leaves those stings?

23. A. No, papa; some of the young ones are quite green and soft, like velvet, and I may handle them without any danger.

24. F. Now look at the stem, and break it.

25. A. I can easily crack it, but I can not break it asunder, for the bark is so strong that it holds it together.

26. F. Well, now you see there are more curious things in the nettle than you expected.

27. A. Yes, indeed, I see that. But you have often told me that G.o.d makes nothing without its use; and I am sure I can not see any use in all these things.

28. F. That we will now consider. You saw the little flower burst open, and a cloud rose, you say, like enchantment. Now all this is necessary for the nature of the plant. There are many thousand plants in the world, and it has pleased G.o.d, in his wisdom, to make them all different. Now look at this other nettle, which grew on the opposite side of the road; you see that it is not exactly like the one you have just examined.

29. A. No, papa; this has little flat seeds instead of flowers.

30. F. Very right, my dear. Now, in order to make those seeds grow, it is necessary that the little flower of this plant and the seed of that should be together, as they are in most others. But plants can not walk, like animals. The wisdom of G.o.d, therefore, has provided a remedy for this.

When the little flower bursts open it throws out a fine powder, which you saw rise like a cloud; this is conveyed by the air to the other plant, and when it falls upon the seed of that plant it gives it power to grow, and makes it a perfect seed, which, in its turn, when it falls to the ground, will produce a new plant. Were it not for this fine powder, that seed would never be perfect or complete.

31. A. That is very curious, indeed; and I see the use of the little cloud and the flower; but the leaf that stung me, of what use can that be?

There, dear papa, I am afraid I puzzle you to tell me that.

32. P. Even these stings are made useful to man. The poor people in some countries use them instead of blisters, when they are sick. Those leaves which do not sting are used by some for food, and from the stalk others get a stringy bark, which answers the purpose of flax. Thus you see that even the despised nettle is not made in vain; and this lesson may serve to teach you that we only need to understand the works of G.o.d to see that "in goodness and wisdom he has made them all."

DEFINITIONS.--12. Mag'ni-fy-ing gla.s.s, an instrument used to make objects appear larger. 17. En-chant'ment, magic art, witch-craft. 5. A-sun'der, apart, into parts. 30. Rem'e-dy, that which removes an evil. Con-veyed', carried. 32. String'y, full of strings.

XLV. THE TEMPEST. (125)

By James T. Fields (born 1817, died 1881), who was born at Portsmouth, N.

H. He was a poet, and the author, also, of some well known prose works. Of these, his "Yesterdays with Authors" is the most noted.

1. We were crowded in the cabin; Not a soul would dare to sleep: It was midnight on the waters, And a storm was on the deep.

2. 'T is a fearful thing in winter To be shattered by the blast, And to hear the rattling trumpet Thunder, "Cut away the mast!"

3. So we shuddered there in silence, For the stoutest held his breath, While the hungry sea was roaring, And the breakers threatened death.

4. And as thus we sat in darkness, Each one busy in his prayers, "We are lost!" the captain shouted, As he staggered down the stairs.

5. But his little daughter whispered, As she took his icy hand, "Is n't G.o.d upon the ocean, Just the same as on the land?"

6. Then we kissed the little maiden, And we spoke in better cheer; And we anch.o.r.ed safe in harbor When the morn was s.h.i.+ning clear.

DEFINITIONS.--l. Deep, the ocean. 2. Blast, tempest. 3. Break'ers, waves of the sea broken by rocks. 6. Cheer, state of mind.

XLVI. THE CREATOR. (126)

The poetry at the close of this selection is by John Keble, a celebrated English clergyman, born in 1792. He held for some years the professors.h.i.+p of Poetry at Oxford University. He died in 1866.

1. Come, and I will show you what is beautiful. It is a rose fully blown.

See how she sits upon her mossy stem, the queen of flowers. Her leaves glow like fire. The air is filled with her sweet odor. She is the delight of every eye.

2. But there is one fairer than the rose. He that made the rose is more beautiful than the rose. He is altogether lovely. He is the delight of every heart.

3. I will show you what is strong. The lion is strong. When he raiseth himself up from his lair, when he shaketh his mane, when the voice of his roaring is heard, the cattle of the field fly, and the wild beasts of the desert hide themselves; for he is terrible.

4. But He who made the lion is stronger than the lion. He can do all things. He gave us life, and in a moment can take it away, and no one can save us from his hand.

5. I will show you what is glorious. The sun is glorious. When he s.h.i.+neth in the clear sky, when he sitteth on his throne in the heavens, and looketh abroad over the earth, he is the most glorious and excellent object the eye can behold.

6. But He who made the sun is more glorious than the sun. The eye cannot look on his dazzling brightness. He seeth all dark places, by night as well as by day. The light of his countenance is over all the world.

7. This great Being is G.o.d. He made all things, but He is more excellent than all that He has made. He is the Creator, they are the creatures. They may be beautiful, but He is Beauty. They may be strong, but He is Strength. They may be perfect, but He is Perfection.

8. There is a book, who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts, And all the lore its scholars need-- Pure eyes and loving hearts.

9. The works of G.o.d, above, below, Within us, and around, Are pages in that book, to show How G.o.d himself is found.

10. The glorious sky, embracing all, Is like the Father's love; Wherewith encompa.s.sed, great and small In peace and order move.

11. Thou who hast given me eyes to see And love this sight so fair, Give me a heart to find out Thee And read Thee everywhere.

DEFINITIONS.--1. Blown, blossomed, bloomed. O'dor, smell, scent. 3. Lair, bed of a wild beast. Des'ert, a wilderness, a place where no one lives. 5.

Ex'cel-lent, surpa.s.sing others in worth, su-perior. 6. Daz'zling, overpowering with light. 7. Per-fec'tion, the state of being perfect, so that nothing is wanting. 8. Im-parts', makes known. Lore, learning. 10.

En-com'pa.s.sed, surrounded.