New National Fourth Reader Part 66

"At first, they started with caution; but presently they spread their wings and went off at such a speed that they seemed scarcely to touch the ground."

The voice of the ostrich is deep and hollow, and is said to resemble at times the roar of the lion. The bird frequently makes a kind of cackling noise, and when enraged at an enemy, it hisses very loudly.

Ostriches make their nests in the sand. One female will, in a single season, lay from twenty to thirty eggs, weighing about three pounds each.

Most of these she places in the nest, standing them on one end; but some of them are left outside of the nest as food for her young when they are hatched.

The natives of Africa are very fond of ostrich eggs, using them for food. In taking the eggs, they exercise great caution; for should the birds discover them, they would break all the eggs and leave the nest.

Young ostriches are readily tamed. Some families in Africa keep them as we do chickens. They play with children, sleep in the houses, and when a family moves, the ostriches follow the camels, frequently carrying the children on their backs.

Within the past few years, ostriches have been brought to this country; and places called ostrich farms have been established in California and other States, for the purpose of raising them for their feathers.

Language Lesson.--Let pupils point out any points that are omitted from the following

a.n.a.lysis.--1. Where the ostrich lives. 2. Its size and appearance--body, head, neck, eyes, feathers, and plumes. 3. Its food. 4. An incident. 5.

Its speed. 6. Its strength,--leg and foot. 7. Riding ostriches. 8.

Voice of ostrich. 9. Nests and habits of the birds. 10. Ostriches in this country.

Change such points as may be found necessary, and use the _a.n.a.lysis_ in describing some well-known bird.

LESSON LXIV.

plead, _urge as a reason_.

breach, _a breaking, as of a promise_.

re buke', _call attention to wrong-doing_.

strew, _spread; scatter_.

chide, _find fault with_.

re sent'nent, _anger on account of an injury_.

un a vail'ing, _useless; not helping in any way_.

jus'tice, _honesty; what is right_.

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.

If Fortune, with a smiling face, Strew roses on our way, When shall we stoop to pick them up?-- To-day, my friend, to-day.

But should she frown with face of care, And talk of coming sorrow, When shall we grieve, if grieve we must?-- To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

If those who have wronged us own their fault, And kindly pity pray, When shall we listen and forgive?-- To-day, my friend, to-day.

But if stern justice urge rebuke, And warmth from memory borrow, When shall we chide, if chide we dare?-- To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

If those to whom we owe a debt Are harmed unless we pay, When shall we struggle to be just?-- To-day, my friend, to-day.

But if our debtor fail our hope, And plead his ruin thorough, When shall we weigh his breach of faith?-- To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

For virtuous acts and harmless joys The minutes will not stay;-- We have always time to welcome them To-day, my friend, to-day.

But care, resentment, angry words, And unavailing sorrow, Come far too soon, if they appear To-morrow, friend, to-morrow.

Directions for Reading.--Let some pupil in the cla.s.s state the manner in which the lesson should be read.

What is the effect of repeating the words _to-day_ and _to-morrow_, in the fourth and eighth lines of each stanza?

Language Lesson.--Let pupils give the meaning of each stanza in their own words.

_Warmth from memory borrow_ means become more angry when we remember our own acts of kindness toward the person now doing us injury.

Explain the meaning of the following expressions.

_Strew roses on our way._

_Breach of faith._