ion: Cat sitting on box.]

"O Hattie! I just saw a large rat in the shed; and old Nero tried to catch
it."

"Did he catch it, Frank?"

"No; Nero did not; but the old cat did."

"My cat?"

"No, it was the other one."

"Do tell me how she got it, Frank. Did she run after it?"

"No, that was not the way. Puss was hid on a big box. The rat stole out,
and she jumped at it and caught it."

"Poor rat! It must have been very hungry; it came out to get something to
eat."

"Why, Hattie, you are not sorry puss got the rat, are you?"

"No, I can not say I am sorry she got it; but I do not like to see even a
rat suffer pain."

LESSON LIII.

roll build grand'pa hard foam ships

hous'es long sail break wood'en blow

[Illustration: Two girls play in sand. Man with cane and top hat is
seated on beach.]

Mary and Lucy have come down to the beach with their grandpa. They live in
a town near the sea.

Their grandpa likes to sit on the large rock, and watch the big ships as
they sail far away on the blue sea. Sometimes he sits there all day long.

The little girls like to dig in the sand, and pick up pretty shells. They
watch the waves as they roll up on the beach, and break into white foam.

They sometimes make little houses of sand, and build walls around them;
and they dig wells with their small wooden spades.

They have been picking up shells for their little sister. She is too young
to come to the beach.

I think all children like to play by the seaside when the sun is bright,
and the wind does not blow too hard.

LESSON LIV.

asked want'ed four Wil'lie's night rab'bits

lad car'ried cents tell'ing fif'ty mas'ter

[Illustration: Two boys playing with rabbits.]

One day, Willie's father saw a boy at the market with four little white
rabbits in a basket.

He thought these would be nice pets for Willie; so he asked the lad how
much he wanted for his rabbits.

The boy said, "Only fifty cents, sir."

Willie's father bought them, and carried them home.

Here you see the rabbits and their little master. He has a pen for them,
and always shuts them in it at night to keep them safe.

He gives them bread and grass to eat. They like grass, and will take it
from his hand. He has called in a little friend to see them.

Willie is telling him about their funny ways.

SLATE WORK.

[Illustration: Script Exercise:

So