THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LIVE ON EARTH. 61

DICTATION.

Wrong, wreck, wrap, 'wroth, wreak, wreath, wren, wrist, write.

Supply the words omitted in-It is | Bring a of flowers. The is to quarrel. I saw the of the a very small bird. He has got his up my parcel. To sprained. Please is to be angry. We should

ship. Can you be

for me.

QUESTIONS.

a letter

we

How many ways are there of living | glittering store, what should on earth? What are the two ways? choose? What are all the things that What does kindness seek to make? gold can purchase? What is the conWhat should our pleasures be free stant study of some beings? What from? What should we not find in a is it that others can do? Who are neighbour's fortune? What should the happy? we not envy? When fate denies its

IN this country it was at one time quite a common custom to train hawks or falcons to fly after other birds and kill them for the benefit of the hunter, even as hounds are trained to chase and kill hares. But the people of China have been able to tame a bird called the cormorant, and to teach it to catch fish for them. The rivers of China are very large, and contain a great number of fishes, which are much used as food. The fisherman, who has sometimes as many as ten or a dozen trained birds, sets out in his boat, allowing it to drift away down the stream till he reaches what he considers good fishing ground. He then casts anchor, and gives his birds an order or signal to begin. It being quite a

62

CHINESE CORMORANTS.

natural instinct of the cormorants to catch fish, for which they dive under water, the birds drop at once into the river, and skim along in search of their prey.

As soon as a bird sees a fish, he dashes after it, seizes it in a moment, and brings it to the surface in his bill. The fisherman, who is eagerly watching all the movements of his birds, instantly calls on every one which brings a fish to the surface. The obedient bird flies towards him, drops the fish into the boat, and then sets off in search of more. In this way, when the birds work well, a great many fish are caught in a day, and the fisherman duly

CHINESE CORMORANTS.

63

rewards his labourers with the offal whenever he gets home.

But, seeing the cormorant is such, a greedy creature, he could hardly be expected to bring all the fish safely to the boat without devouring any; for it is only when the birds are hungry that they are keen in the pursuit. The Chinaman, knowing this, provides against it, by tying a string round the bird's neck firm enough to keep his throat from widening so as to swallow the fishes, but not so tight as to do him any injury. This contrivance keeps the birds honest.

Sometimes a bird seems more intent on play than on work, which, when the fisherman notices, he strikes the water close by the indolent bird with a long cane. This has the effect of bringing the bird to a sense of duty, and he very soon thereafter gives a proof of his renewed diligence by dropping another fish into the boat.

DICTATION.

Quite, quiet; hares, hairs; who, whose, whom; anchor, anker; caught, taught, fought, nought, sought, thought; cane, Cain.

What were hawks or falcons trained | What do they set out in? How far to do? What bird have the Chinese does the fisherman allow his boa to taught to catch fish for them? What are the rivers of China? What do they contain? How many trained birds have fishermen sometimes?

drift down the stream? After casting anchor what does he next do? What is it quite natural for the cormorants to do? How do they catch the fish?

64

CHINESE CORMORANTS.

When the birds drop into the river what do they do next? As soon as a bird sees a fish what does he do? What does the fisherman do when he sees a bird bring a fish to the surface? What then does the obedient bird do? What does the fisherman give the birds when he gets home? What kind of creature is the cormorant? When

is it the birds are keen in the pursuit of fish? How does the Chinamen keep the birds from swallowing the fish they catch? When a fisherman sees a bird more intent on play than on work what does he do? What does this bring the bird to a sense of? How does the bird give a proof of his renewed diligence?

XXVII.-A PLAIN MAN'S PHILOSOPHY.

Ar-bour, seat shaded with leaves | Guin'-ea, gold coin worth twenty

I've a guinea I can spend,

I've a wife, and I've a friend,

And a troop of little children at my knee, John Brown ; I've a cottage of my own,

With the ivy overgrown,

And a garden with a view of the sea, John Brown.

I can sit at my own door,

By my shady sycamore,

Large of heart, though of very small estate, John Brown; So in the cool retreat

Of my arbour take a seat,

And I'll tell you what I love and what I hate, John Brown,

I love the chant of birds,

And the children's early words,

And a loving woman's voice low and sweet, John Brown; And I hate a false pretence,

And the want of common sense,

And arrogance, and fawning, and deceit, John Brown,

I love the meadow flowers,

And the brier in the bowers,

And I love an open face, without guile, John Brown ;

A PLAIN MAN'S PHILOSOPHY.

65

And I hate a selfish knave,

And a proud contented slave,

And a lout who'd rather beg than he'd toil, John Brown, I love a simple song

That awakes emotions strong,

And a word of hope that raises him who faints, John Brown; And I hate the constant whine

Of the foolish who repine,

And turn their good to evil by complaints, John Brown, But even when I hate,

If I seek my garden gate,

And survey the world around me and above, John Brown; The hatred flies my mind,

And I sigh for human kind,

And excuse the faults of those I cannot love, John Brown.

So if you like my ways,

And the comfort of my days,

I will tell you how I live so unvexed, John Brown;
I never scorn my health,

Nor sell my soul for wealth,

Nor destroy one day the pleasures of the next, John Brown,

I've parted with my pride,
And I take the sunny side,

For I've found it worse than folly to be sad, John Brown; I keep a conscience clear,

I've a hundred pounds a year,

And I manage to exist and be glad, John Brown.

Charles Mackay, LL.D.

DICTATION.

Knee, knack, knag, knapsack, knarled, knave, knead, knell, knife, knight, knit, knob, knock, knoll, knot, know, knuckle.

cut the stick.
man. I can
is a brass

A

is a noble

Supply the words omitted in-His was hurt. He has a of doing my stocking. There this. A in wood is very hard. The on the door. Do not soldier lost his in the battle. so loud. The is a hillock. This is an old tree. The is Tie a on the string. I do not not to be trusted. Can you the of my dough for bread. A ing of a funeral bell.

R. III,

This

the man.

The

is the toll- middle finger was hurt.

will
E