," said his mother. So they threw the hay, as Ralph wished,
and he was very happy.

8. "Now you must be tired," said his mother. "Sit down here, and I will
get a nice red rose for you."

9. "I would like to have one," said Ralph. So his mother brought the red
rose to him.

10. "Thank you, mother," he said. "But you have a white one, also. Please
give me that."

[Illustration: Mother and boy sitting in field.]

11. "No, my dear," said his mother. "See how many thorns it has on its
stem. You must not touch it. If you should try to pluck a rose like this,
you would be sure to hurt your hand."

12. When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to
scream, and snatched it. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns tore his
hand. It was so sore he could not use it for some time.

13. Ralph did not soon forget this. When he wanted what he should not
have, his mother would point to his sore hand. He at last learned to do as
he was told.

LESSON XLVII.

slope voic'es rush'ing beam'ing track cheeks

flood'ing laugh'ter health a glow' coast'ing trudg'ing

frost'y Is'a bel pleas'ure land'scape

[Illustration: Several children sledding down snowy hill.]

COASTING DOWN THE HILL.

[Illustration: Script Exercise:

Frosty is the morning;
But the sun is bright,
Flooding all the landscape
With its golden light.
Hark the sounds of laughter
And the voices shrill!
See the happy children
Coasting down the hill.

There are Tom and Charley,
And their sister Nell;
There are John and Willie,
Kate and Isabel,--
Eyes with pleasure beaming,
Cheeks with health aglow;
Bless the merry children,
Trudging through the snow!

Now I hear them shouting,
"Ready! Clear the track!"
Down the slope they're rushing,
Now they're trotting back.

Full of fun and frolic,
Thus they come and go.
Coating down the hillside,
Trudging through the snow.

]

LESSON XLVIII.

heed sight sly'ly stream drift'ing

flock flight snaps hid'den cir'cling

THE FOX AND THE DUCKS.

1. On a summer day, a man sitting on the bank of a river, in the shade of
some bushes, watched a flock of ducks on the stream.

2. Soon a branch with leaves came drifting among them, and they all took
wing. After circling in the air for a little time, they settled down again
on their feeding ground.

[Illustration: Fo