36

THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE AND THE COW TREE.

The great utility of the bread-fruit as an article of food, and its luxuriant growth in the same lati

tudes as the West India Islands, caused the British Government to send out two ships to Tahiti to bring a number of young trees to be planted in our West Indian colonies, where they have thriven and increased wonderfully.

Not only is bread obtained from trees, but in South America there grows a tree from which the people obtain milk. It is called the Cow Tree, and grows on rocky ground near the Andes Mountains. It is very tall, and yet its roots do not strike deep into the earth. Its leaves resemble leather.

In

THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE AND THE COW TREE. 37

order to get the milk, the pcople pierce or cut the bark of the tree near to the ground, and a white milky juice flows out, which soon fills their bowls or other vessels. Some drink the milk on the spot, others carry it home for the use of their families.

DICTATION.

Piece, peace; bread, bred; week, weak; hue, Hugh, hew;

What is the height of the bread-fruit | the bark of the tree used for? What tree? What is the length and breadth is made of the leaves? What is the of its leaves? What is the size of the wood employed in? Who caused a fruit? What nut does this fruit re- number of young trees to be planted semble? What does the fruit contain? in the West Indies? How have they To whom does the fruit form a chief succeeded there? What other tree is article of food! Where are the Society mentioned in the lesson? Where does Islands? What taste has the fruit? it grow? What do people obtain from What has it been compared to? How the cow-tree? What do its leaves reis it cooked? When roasted or baked, semble? How do they get the milk what does it resemble? When is the from it? fruit in greatest perfection? What is

38

UP WITH THE DAWN.

To dig the nine for hidden wealth;
Or make the woods to ring;
With swinging axe, and steady stroke,
To fell the forest king. ·

With ocean car and iron steed

To traverse land and sea,

And spread our commerce round the globe,
As wind that wanders free.
Subdue the earth and conquer fate,
Outspeed the flight of time:
Old earth is rich, and man is young,
Nor near his jocund prime.

Work! and the clouds of care will fly;
Pale want will pass away.
Work! and the leprosy of crime

And tyrants must decay.
Leave the dead ages in their urns:

The present time be ours,

To grapple bravely with our lot,
And strew our path with flowers.

Thomas Elliot.

"Sons of toil," working-men. "Harnessed team," horses that draw the plough. "Forest king," the oak tree. "Ocean car," steamship. "Iron steed," railway locomotive engine.

What should the sons of toil be up | What should they spread round our with? What should they drive afield? globe? What should we grapple What should they till? For what bravely with? With what should we should they dig the mine? With strew our path?

what do they traverse sea and land?!

Grat'-i-fy, please.

unable to be

done.

Ab-surd', nonsensical.

XVI. THE WILFUL BOY.

Con-tra-dict'-ing, opposing the Im-pos'-si-ble,

desires of.

In-qui'-ring, asking.
Mis'-er-a-ble, unhappy.
Pe'ev-ish, ill-natured.

A LADY had an only child-a boy; and, as is very common in such cases, she indulged him so much by giving him everything he asked for, that he became fretful and peevish whenever any of the servants did not, at a moment's notice, gratify his desires, however absurd they might be.

On one occasion the lady saw her cherished boy crying, and seemingly very angry at one of the servants who, instead of giving him what he wanted, told him he could not get it, and that he might save himself the trouble of crying for it. But worse still, he laughed in the boy's face, and called him a little fool for his pains.

The lady overhearing the last remark was enraged at the servant's denial, and instead of inquiring what was the cause, in order to see whether or not it was a proper thing for her child to get, said to the servant, Give him at once what he wants. Why do you make him cry so?"

"Madam, although he should cry till to-morrow, he will not obtain what he wishes."

"How now; what do you mean by such insolence? I command you to gratify the little darling this very instant!"

"Madam, it is impossible."

"Oh! this is beyond endurance. I will call your master, who shall teach you not to cross the poor child in this manner."

She called aloud to her husband, who was walking in the garden at the time with a few friends, and in great anger and excitement said, "Turn away this impudent servant, who mocks me, and seems to take a pleasure in contradicting our dear boy. He refuses to give him something he is crying for, and will not give it even at my command."

This is very strange," said the equally indulgent father to the servant; "very strange indeed! that you allow yourself to fail so grossly in your duty to your mistress, and that you laugh to see your young master cry so. Give him what he wants, or leave the house."

"I will leave the house, if it must be so, sir; but how can I give him the moon which he has seen in a pail of water, and which he insists I should reach down and bring up to him?"

At these words the master and mistress looked at each other for a moment. All the company burst out laughing; husband and wife followed the merry example, and promised each other to correct their weakness towards their spoilt child, whose every wish they saw too well it would be difficult to satisfy; while it also became evident that the more they indulged their child, the more miserable they would make him when at any time he should desire things which even their wealth could not purchase for him.