Chambers's Elementary Science Readers Part 24

Points.

Needles are used-- For sewing.

For darning.

For other work.

THE KNIFE. [_Page 80._

1. A knife is most useful for cutting. The blade is made of steel; the handle of ivory, bone, or wood.

2. The blade and handle are fastened together by a long, thin piece of iron which goes into the handle. The blades have to be heated as needles are, to make them hard.

3. A knife is blunt on one edge; sharp on the other. The grinder sharpens it on a huge stone which goes round and round. The blades are polished before being put into the handles, as well as after.

4. There are many kinds of knives. Pocket-knives have a spring to make them shut tightly. A table-knife is rounded at the end; the carving-knife has a sharp pointed blade.

_Write and learn:_

Knives are-- Sharp.

Bright.

Useful.

Knives have-- Blades.

Handles.

Springs.

Knives are made-- In Sheffield.

THE HEN. [_Page 83._

1. The hen is a domestic bird. Some are white; some black; others many colours. The hen finds much of its own food in the fields. It is fed with barley, bread, potatoes, and other things from the house.

2. The hen has a small head with eyes at the sides. Its bill is strong and sharp.

3. The hen sleeps on a perch on one leg. It never falls off; its foot is made for grasping.

4. Hens are useful for the eggs they give us; and they are also good for food. Their feathers, too, are useful.

_Write and learn:_

The hen has-- A small head.

A strong bill.

A grasping foot.

The hen is-- A domestic bird.

A percher.

Useful.

The hen gives us-- Eggs.

Food.

Feathers.

THE SPARROW. [_Page 86._

1. The sparrow is a small bird with brown and gray feathers. It builds its nest on our houses, and sometimes in the pipes which carry the rain off the roof. A sparrow's nest is seldom found in a tree. It lays five or six eggs which are spotted with brown.

2. Farmers often kill sparrows because they steal the corn and fruit.

But they are really good friends to the farmer. They eat the worms and grubs, which would destroy _all_ the fruit.

3. The sparrow is a very bold little bird, and is to be found in the streets of the largest towns as well as in the country.

_Write and learn:_

The sparrow has-- Brown and gray feathers.

Sharp claws.

A long tail.

The sparrow is-- Small.

Bold.

Useful.

The sparrow eats-- Grain.

Worms.

Fruit.

HERBS. [_Page 90._

1. Herbs are plants or vegetables with soft stalks or stems. Some grow wild, others we grow in our gardens.

2. We use some for eating, such as mustard and cress. Others, such as parsley, mint, sage, and thyme, we use to flavour our food. Many are used as medicine.

3. Most herbs have a nice scent. They are very plentiful, and very useful.

_Write and learn:_