Chambers's Elementary Science Readers Part 19

Smoke was coming out of it already. A flame burst out in front, and soon the whole lump was in a blaze.

7. 'It seems such a pity that it should all be burned up,' said Harry, 'when it took so long to make.'

'That is the way of fire,' said father, 'it eats up everything, and when it has nothing more to feed on it comes to an end--it goes out, we say.'

8. 'We don't want it to go out, and so we keep on feeding it,' said mother. 'It is like a wild beast in a cage.'

'Now look at the coal!' said father.

9. By this time the lumps were red and very hot. The children went down on their knees to look for pictures in the fire. They soon saw what looked like men and dogs, rocks, hills, and trees, and at last a great cat with red-hot eyes and a very curly tail.

OBJECT LESSONS.

THE CAT. [_Page 7._

1. The cat lives in and about our homes; so we call it a domestic animal.

2. It belongs to the same tribe of animals as the lion and tiger. They are savage--puss is tame. Like them, it is a beast of prey--that is, it catches and eats other animals. They cannot hear it coming with its soft, padded feet.

3. The cat leaps upon its prey. It sticks its strong, sharp claws into a mouse, and soon kills it with its sharp teeth.

4. Puss is covered with fur; she has five claws on each fore-paw, and four on each hind one. She draws them into little sheaths when not angry.

5. With its rough tongue the cat can lap up milk, and also clean its fur. It likes to be clean. It opens its eyes wider in the dark, and can see to run about at night. On each side of its head are long whiskers, with which it feels its way.

_Write and learn:_

Cats have-- Padded feet.

Sharp claws and teeth.

Rough tongues.

Good sight at night.

Cats like-- Milk.

Meat.

Mice and rats.

Birds and fish.

Cats are-- Domestic.

Tame.

Useful.

Cleanly.

THE DOG. [_Page 12._

1. The dog is larger and more active than the cat. It is also of more use to man, for it guards the house, minds the sheep, and will not allow any one to harm its master.

2. There are many kinds of dogs. All are of some use--from the large Newfoundland dog to the little fox-terrier.

3. Dogs are like cats in some things. They have padded feet and strong claws. But their claws are blunt. They cannot draw them into sheaths as puss does; so they make more noise in walking.

4. The dog is also a beast of prey. But it is not so fierce as the wolf or the fox, which belong to the same tribe of animals. It likes meat and bones, but will also eat bread and vegetables. Its teeth are very strong and sharp.

5. Most dogs have keen scent, pointed noses, and quick sight.

_Write and learn:_

Dogs have-- Blunt claws.

Sharp, strong teeth.

Keen scent.

Quick sight.

Dogs-- Bark.

Watch.

Jump.

Hunt.

Dogs are-- Useful.

Faithful.

Friendly.

Wise.

b.u.t.tERCUPS. [_Page 15._

1. b.u.t.tercups grow wild. They are of a golden yellow colour. Each flower has five yellow leaves growing out from the middle of five smaller green ones.

2. The flowers are something like a cup in shape, with a little tuft of gra.s.s-like threads standing in each one. In the green ball in the middle there are tiny seeds from which other b.u.t.tercups will grow if they fall into the ground.

3. b.u.t.tercups come in spring. They grow on taller stems than daisies.

They have no nice scent such as violets or roses have.

_Write and learn:_

b.u.t.tercups-- Grow wild.

Come in spring.