Fif teen, a. five and ten. Flåt, a. even, level, smooth; insipid; dull: n. a piece of level, low, smooth land; a level, a plain; in music, mark of depression: v. to level; to make or become flat. [before, in the fore part. Fore, a. being in front, that comes first; anterior: ad. Form' ing, par. of Form, to plan, to arrange; to make; to constitute: n. shape; external appearance; model; ceremony; a long seat. Får, n. fine, soft hair; skins; a substance or coat of matter: v. to line or cover with fur. Gnaw ing (nåw' îng), par. of Gnaw, to eat or bite by degrees; to bite in agony. Hab i ta tions (hâb è tả' shûnz), n. plu. of Habitation, a place of abode; residence, dwelling. In ca pa ble (în kȧ' på `bl), a. not capable, unfit; wanting power, unable; disqualified. In ge ni ous (in jè' nè `ûs), a. possessed of genius, [conveying knowledge. inventive. In struc tive (în strûk' tiv), a. giving instruction; In ter wo ven (în têr wo' vn), per. par. of Inter weave, to weave or mix one with another; to intermingle. [rounded by land; a kind of color. Lake, n. a large extent or collection of water surLives (livz), pres. t. of Live, to exist; to pass life; to abide, to dwell. Mor' bid, a. diseased; sickly; unsound. Paws (påwz), n. plu. and pres. t. of Paw, the foot of a beast: v. to scrape or strike with the foot along the ground; to handle roughly. 'Pêr sẻ ve' ring, part. a. firm and constant in prosecuting any plan: par. of Persevere, to persist in that which has been begun; to be steadfast. Pro ceed (pro sèèd'), v. to go on or forward; to advance; to act; to arise; to issue. Råt, n. a little well known animal of the mouse kind. Sa ga cious ly (så gå' shûs 'lè), ad. with great sagacity. Shal low (shal' 18), a. not deep; futile, silly, weak in intellect: n. a shoal, a bank of sand. Si zes (si' zîz), n. plu. and pres. t. of Size, dimensions; bulk; a glutinous substance: v. to adjust; to cover with size. SI' ping, par. of Slope, to take or run to an oblique or inclining direction: n. an oblique or inclining direction; a declivity: a. oblique, not perpendicular, slanting. [seclusion; a desert. Sol i tude (solètude), n. loneliness, lonely life; Squir rel (skwer' ril), n. a small, active animal. Stream (strèèm), n. a running water; a current: v. to flow; to issue forth. Suc ceed (sûk sèèd'), v. to prosper, to make successful; to follow in order; to be subsequent to. READING LESSON XXIX. The Beaver. 1. The beaver, which is an amphibious animal, is very common in the northern parts of America. He is about two feet long, and not quite one in height. 2. In form he resembles a rat, except in the tail, which is broad and flat. The color of the hair is light brown, and the fur is of great value. The teeth are formed like those of the rat, and are well adapted to the purpose of cutting down trees. 3. The beaver, when separated from his companions, and kept in a state of confinement, appears to be a mild, gentle animal, without passion, but incapable of attachment, and naturally of a morbid, sad appearance. 4. But, though solitude and confinement have such an effect upon this animal, society produces a most astonishing change; for, in his natural state, we behold him ardent and persevering, and offering an instructive lesson to mankind. 5. About the middle of the summer, the beavers begin to assemble for the purpose of forming that social compact, which is to continue the greatest part of the year; and, these companies generally consist of two hundred of these skilful and ingenious animals. 6. The place where they assemble is always by the side of a river, or lake; and, if they choose a river, their first object is to form a dam across the stream, which they sagaciously contrive in the most shallow part; and, if a tree is accidentally placed near the spot, they instantly decide to cut it down, and in this enterprise succeed by gnawing it at the root. 7. After the tree has fallen into the river, they proceed to gnaw off the branches. It then serves as a support to that fabric which, with so much labor, they are about to rear. 8. The work is then filled up with wood of various sizes, which they have cut and collected, and interwoven together; and, this is covered over with clay; against which they raise a large bank of earth, ten or twelve feet thick at the bottom, and sloping off from the water, till it is about two feet thick at the top. 9. When the beavers' dam is finished, they build their habitations near the land, but partly in the water. Some of their houses are so large, as to contain families of fifteen or twenty beavers ; and, they have sometimes twenty or thirty houses in one village. When an enemy approaches, they dart or run into the water. 10. The beaver lives on wood of various kinds, and roots. In eating, he sits like the squirrel, and holds his food in his fore paws. QUESTIONS.-What is the beaver? Where is it common? What is the size of the beaver? What does the beaver resemble im form? Is the fur of the beaver valuable? What does the beaver appear to be when separated from his companions and confined? Of what is he incapable? What do we behold him in his nature? What do the beavers do in the middle of summer? Of how many does one of their companies consist? Where do they assemble? What do they form across the stream? If a tree stand near the spot what is done with it by them? What do they do with the branches of the tree when down? What does the tree answer for? What is next done? How thick is the bank made by them? When their dam is completed what do they then do? How large are some of their houses or habitations? How many have they in one village sometimes? What do they do, when an enemy approaches? On what does the beaver live? How does he sit, and hold his food, in eating? SPELLING LESSON XXX. A cid (ås' sid), a. sour, sharp: n. sharp substance. a kind of sour or [turer, one who adventures. Ad ven tu rers (åd vên' tshù `rûrz), n. plu. of AdvenA pri cot (à prè 'kot), n. a kind of fine, delicious fruit somewhat resembling the plum. A ra bi a (å rå' bè â), n. prop. the name of a country. price or rate; most common, of the least worth. Con sti tutes (kỗn' stè `tùtez), pres. t. of Constitute, to make; to appoint; to erect; to depute. Con trib u ted (kontrîb' à 'têd), pre. of Contribute, to bear a part, to have a share in any act; to give for a common purpose. Cool ing (k881 ing), part. a. adapted to lessen heat: par. of Cool, to make or grow cold: a. a little or moderately cold; indifferent. Crown ed (kround), pre. of Crown, to reward; to invest with a crown, to adorn; to complete: n. the regal or royal ornament of the head; top of the head; a piece of money. De press ed (de prêst'), part. a. cast or thrust down; lowered; humbled, dejected: pre. of Depress, to cast or thrust down; to humble, to deject. Do min ions (dỏ mîn' yûnz), n. plu. of Dominion, territory governed; sovereign or supreme authority; region, district. Es cu lent (ês' kù lênt), a. good for food, eatable. Fam ine (fâm' in), n. want or scarcity of food; dearth. Fig, n. a tree and its fruit. Im port ed (im port' êd), pre. of Import, to bring from abroad or another country or port; to infer; to signify. In tro du ced (in trò dùst'), pre. of Introduce, to bring in; to make known; to conduct, lead, or usher in. Låt ér ál, a. belonging or pertaining to the side. Lem on (lêm' ûn), . a tree and its fruit. Or an ges (or rin jiz), n. plu. of Orange, a tree and its fruit; one of the seven primitive colors. Pick les (pik' klz), n. plu. and pres. t. of Pickle, a thing pickled; vinegar or salt and water: v. to preserve in pickle; to season. Plum, n. a tree and its fruit. Pome gran ate (pûm grân' ất), n. a tree and its fruit. Pur plish, a. somewhat purple. [place. Ra leigh (råw' lè), n. prop. a person's name, and of a Sim ple (sim' pl), a. plain, unmingled; artless; silly. Six teenth (siks' tèènth), a. the first after the fifteenth; the ordinal of sixteen. Tâm' å `rînd, n. a tree and its fruit. Up right (up' rite), a. straight up, perpendicular, erect; honest, just: n. an elevation; something standing erect. Wal ter (wål' tûr), n. prop. a man's or boy's name. |