MARJORIE'S ALMANAC.
Robins in the tree-top,
Blossoms in the grass,
Green things a-growing
Every-where you pass;
Sudden fragrant breezes,
Showers of silver dew,
Black bough and bent twig
Budding out anew;
Pine-tree and willow-tree,
Fringed elm and larch,—
Don't you think that May-time's
Pleasanter than March?
Apples in the orchard
Mellowing one by one;
Strawberries upturning
Soft cheeks to the sun;
Roses faint with sweetness,
Lilies fair of face,
Drowsy scents and murmurs
Haunting every place;
Lengths of golden sunshine,
Moonlight bright as day,—
Don't you think that summer's
Pleasanter than May?
Roger in the corn-patch
Whistling negro songs;
Pussy by the hearth-side
Romping with the tongs;
Chestnuts in the ashes
Bursting through the rind;
Red leaf and gold leaf
Rustling down the wind;
Mother "doin' peaches"
All the afternoon,—
Don't you think that autumn's
Pleasanter than June?
Little fairy snow-flakes
Dancing in the flue;
Old Mr. Santa Claus,
What is keeping you?
Twilight and firelight,
Shadows come and go;
Merry chime of sleigh-bells
Tinkling through the snow;
Mother knitting stockings
(Pussy's got the ball!)—
Don't you think that winter's
Pleasanter than all?
Directions for Reading.—Read the lesson with spirit, and avoid anything like sing-song.
Do not make the last word of each line emphatic, unless it is really an emphatic word.
Language Lesson.—Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the following words; Marjorie's, chestnuts, peaches, afternoon.
What part of the year is described in each stanza?
What two words can be used for each of the following: May-time's, summer's.
LESSON XIII.
col'o ny, a number of people living together in one place.
set'tlers, those people who form a colony.
shy, easily frightened; timid.
es tab'lished, formed; settled.
war'rior, a soldier; one who fights in war.
fur'ni ture, articles used in a house.
dread'ed, feared very much.
pros' per ous, successful; rich.