3. Then the traveller in the dark Thanks you for your tiny spark; He could not see which way to go did not twinkle so. If you 4. In the dark-blue sky you keep, peep, 5. As your bright but tiny spark 1. WE have been down to the beach. We went down a high cliff, which has a lighthouse on the top of it. When the light is seen at Pronounced kruz. 2 Pronounced herd. 3. Pronounced gråt. night by the crews of ships at sea, they know on what part of the coast they are. 2. When we were on the beach, the sea was calm and smooth. There was not a wave to be seen, or a sound to be heard: all was still. The sun shone, and the sky was bright and clear. 3. But at night the wind rose, and there was a great storm. Next day we were told that a ship had come on shore. We went down to the beach to see the wreck. The sea did not look like the same sea that we had last seen. 4. The waves were rough and high. The sky was dark, and the wind blew very hard. There was a great noise, and there were no ships or boats in sight. 5. The wreck lay close to the shore, and masts and spars, ropes and torn sails, casks and bales of goods, were strown on the sands. 6. The crew were all safe. The life-boat had gone off in the night, and brought them safe on shore. 7. The crew of the life-boat were brave men; they went three times to the ship to bring off the crew, and we saw them all safe on the beach. 1. A LITTLE bird built a nest in a tree which grew by the side of my window. 2. Did you ever see a bird's nest? It is very pretty; all woven with hair and wool. 3. It is very rough on the outside, so that an insect cannot crawl up and get in; but the inside is very smooth and soft. 1 Pronounced brâwt. 2 Pronounced comd. 3 Pronounced fin'isht. 4 Pronounced men'e. 4. There are no sharp sticks to hurt the tender little ones; all is smooth and soft as the little bird's own breast that covers them. 5. This little bird was some days making her nest, for she had to bring a great many things to build it with. 6. First she brought some coarse sticks and straw; then she brought some strong, black hair which had been combed from a horse's mane; and some wool and feathers to make a soft bed for the eggs to lie upon. 7. The bird was quite happy when her nest was finished. She soon had four little eggs to hatch-blue eggs with red spots; and she sat on them many days and nights. 8. One day I suppose that she heard the bills of her little ones tap on the shell, to ask her to let them out. So she helped them break the shells, and out they came. 9. There they were; four little tiny1 birds, with little legs and wings which they could not use, and great beaks that gaped for food, and no feathers to keep them warm. 10. But their mother could do all for them. Their hungry beaks did not gape in 1 Pronounced ti'ny. 2 Pronounced gäpd. vain. She flew to find them food, and fed them all in turn. 11. At night, when they were cold, she spread her warm wings over them, and made them very happy. 12. I hope no little boy will rob this nest, or set a cage to catch the bird when she is seeking food for her little ones. Birds are made to be happy, and it is our duty not to hurt or destroy them for our sport. Young birds in their pretty nest, To grieve their mother's breast. 1 Pronounced wûd. 2 Pronounced shûd. 3 Pronounced stō'ln. 4 Pronounced würdz. |