McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

had          went           call           might
flag           near           swam           swing

Did you call us, mamma?

I went with Tom to the pond. I had my doll, and Tom had his flag.

The fat duck swam to the bank, and we fed her. Did you think we might fall into the pond?

We did not go too near, did we, Tom?

May we go to the swing, now, mamma?

Lesson XXIII

here          band           hear           horse           play           they
pass           where           front           fine           hope           comes

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

Here comes the band! Shall we call mamma and Fanny to see it?

Let us stand still, and hear the men play as they pass.

I hope they will stop here and play for us.

See the large man in front of the band, with his big hat. What has he in his hand? How fine he looks!

Look, too, at the man on that fine horse.

If the men do not stop, let us go with them and see where they go.

Lesson XXIV

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

Bess          hap’py           make           cart
tent           woods           lit’tle           ver’y
bed           Rob’ert           gone           draw

Bess and Robert are very happy; papa and mamma have gone to the woods with them.

Robert has a big tent and a flag, and Bess has a little bed for her doll.

Jip is with them. Robert will make him draw Bess and her doll in the cart.

Lesson XXV

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

James          Ma’ry           made           sang           my           lay
sport           spade           lap           dig           doll’s           sand           said


y

“Kate, will you play with me?” said James. “We will dig in the sand with this little spade. That will be fine sport.”

“Not now James” said Kate; “for I must make my doll’s bed. Get Mary to play with you.”

James went to get Mary to play with him. Then Kate made the doll’s bed.

She sang a song to her doll, and the doll lay very still in her lap.

Did the doll hear Kate sing?

Lesson XXVI

its          shade           brook           picks           all
by           help           stones           glad           soft

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

Kate has left her doll in its little bed, and has gone to play with Mary and James. They are all in the shade, now, by the brook.

James digs in the soft sand with his spade, and Mary picks up little stones and puts them in her lap.

James and Mary are glad to see Kate. She will help them pick up stones and dig, by the little brook.

Lesson XXVII. Review

“What shall we do?” said Fanny to John. “I do not like to sit still. Shall we hunt for eggs in the barn?”

“No” said John; “I like to play on the grass. Will not papa let us catch Prince, and go to the big woods?”

“We can put the tent in the cart, and go to some nice spot where the grass is soft and sweet.”

“That will be fine,” said Fanny. “I will get my doll, and give her a ride with us.”

“Yes,” said John, “and we will get mamma to go, too. She will hang up a swing for us in the shade.”

Lesson XXVIII

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

peep          while           take           sleep
tuck           safe           oh           wet           feet
chick           can’t           feels           wing

Peep, peep! Where have you gone, little chick? Are you lost? Can’t you get back to the hen?

Oh, here you are! I will take you back. Here, hen, take this little chick under your wing.

Now, chick, tuck your little, wet feet under you, and go to sleep for a while.

Peep, peep! How safe the little chick feels now!

Lesson XXIX

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

wind          time           there           fence
kite           high           eyes           bright
flies           why           day           shines

This is a fine day. The sun shines bright. There is a good wind, and my kite flies high. I can just see it.

The sun shines in my eyes; I will stand in the shade of this high fence.

Why, here comes my dog! He was under the cart. Did you see him there?

What a good time we have had! Are you not glad that we did not go to the woods with John?

SLATE WORK.

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

The pond is still. How it
shines in the hot sun! Let
us go into the woods where
we can sit in the shade.

Lesson XXX

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

wish          float           tie           know
rope           boat           try           shore
give           pole           don’t           push
drag           won’t           oar           fun’ny

“Kate, I wish we had a boat to put the dolls in. Don’t you?”

“I know what we can do. We can get the little tub, and tie a rope to it, and drag it to the pond. This will float with the dolls in it, and we can get a pole to push it from the shore.”

“What a funny boat, Kate! A tub for a boat, and a pole for an oar! Won’t it upset?”

“We can try it, Nell, and see.”

“Well you get the tub, and I will get a pole and a rope. We will put both dolls in the tub, and give them a ride.”

SLATE WORK.

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

The dolls had a nice ride
to the pond. A soft wind
made the tub float out.
Nell let the pole fall on
the tub, and upset it.

Lesson XXXI

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

bound          Rose           called           got
drown           found           brave           came
Pon’to           jumped           mouth
a round’           brought           wa’ter

“Here, Ponto! Here, Ponto!” Kate called to her dog. “Come, and get the dolls out of the pond.”

Rose went under, but she did not drown. Bess was still on the top of the water.

Ponto came with a bound, and jumped into the pond. He swam around, and got Bess in his mouth, and brought her to the shore.

Ponto then found Rose, and brought her out, too.

Kate said, “Good, old Ponto! Brave old dog!”

What do you think of Ponto?

Lesson XXXII

June          Lu’cy’s           air           kind           trees           sing’ing
blue           when           pure           says           sky           pic’nic

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

What a bright June day! The air is pure. The sky is as blue as it can be.

Lucy and her mamma are in the woods. They have found a nice spot, where there is some grass.

They sit in the shade of the trees, and Lucy is singing.

The trees are not large, but they make a good shade.

Lucy’s kind mamma says that they will have a picnic when her papa can get a tent.

Lesson XXXIII. Review

James and Robert have gone into the shade of a high wall to play ball.

Mary and Lucy have come up from the pond near by, with brave old Ponto, to see them play.

When they toss the ball up in the air, and try to catch it, Ponto runs to get it in his mouth.

Now the ball is lost. They all look for it under the trees and in the grass; but they can not see it. Where can it be?

See! Ponto has found it. Here he comes with it. He will lay it at little Lucy’s feet, or put it in her hand.

Lesson XXXIV

boy       our        spoil        hur rah’        own        coil        noise        fourth
such        join        thank        a bout’        hoist        pay        Jul y’        play’ing

McGuffey’s First Eclectic Reader

“Papa, may we have the big flag?” said James.

“What can my little boy do with such a big flag?”

“Hoist it on our tent, papa. We are playing Fourth of July.”

“Is that what all this noise is about? Why not hoist your own flags?”

“Oh! they are too little.”

“You might spoil my flag.”

“Then we will all join to pay for it. But we will not spoil it, papa.”

“Take it, then, and take the coil of rope with it.”

“Oh! thank you. Hurrah for the flag, boys!”

Lesson XXXV