Parker's Second Reader: National Series of Selections for Reading, Designed For The Younger Classes In Schools, Academies, &C.Parker, Richard Green
General
Parker's Second Reader: National Series of Selections for Reading, Designed For The Younger Classes In Schools, Academies, &C.
Parker, Richard Green
Readers (Elementary); Recitations -- Juvenile literature
3. "My house, my garden, all is thine:
On turnips feast whene'er you please,
And riot in my beans and peas;
If the potato's taste delights,
Or the red carrot's sweet invites,
Indulge thy morn and evening hours,
But let due care regard my flowers;
My tulips are my garden's pride--
What vast expense these beds supplied!"
4. The hog, by chance, one morning roamed
Where with new ale the vessels foamed;
He munches now the steaming grains,
Now with full swill the liquor drains;
Intoxicating fumes arise,
He reels, he rolls his winking eyes;
Then, staggering, through the garden scours,
And treads down painted ranks of flowers;
With delving snout he turns the soil,
And cools his palate with the spoil.
5. The master came,--the ruin spied.
"Villain, suspend thy rage!" he cried:
"Hast then, thou most ungrateful sot,
My charge, my only charge, forgot?
What, all my flowers?" No more he said;
But gazed, and sighed, and hung his head.
6. The hog, with stuttering speech, returns:--
"Explain, sir, why your anger burns;
See there, untouched, your tulips strown,
For I devoured the roots alone!"
7. At this the gardener's passion grows;
From oaths and threats he fell to blows;
The stubborn brute the blows sustains,
Assaults his leg, and tears the veins.
Ah! foolish swain, too late you find
That sties were for such friends designed!
8. Homeward he limps with painful pace,
Reflecting thus on past disgrace:
Who cherishes a brutal mate,
Shall mourn the folly soon or late.
LESSON XXXV.
_The Hare and many Friends._--GAY.
1. A hare, who, in a civil way,
Complied with everything, like Gay,
Was known by all the bestial train
Who haunt the wood, or graze the plain.
Her care was never to offend,
And every creature was her friend.
2. As forth she went, at early dawn,
To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn,
Behind she hears the hunter's cries,
And from the deep-mouthed thunder flies.
3. She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;
She hears the near advance of death;
She doubles to mislead the hound,
And measures back her mazy round;
Till, fainting in the public way,
Half dead with fear, she gasping lay.
4. What transport in her bosom grew,
When first the horse appeared in view!
"Let me," says she, "your back ascend,
And owe my safety to a friend.
You know my feet betray my flight,--
To friendship every burden's light."
5. The horse replied:--"Poor honest puss,
It grieves my heart to see thee thus.
Be comforted,--relief is near;
For all your friends are in the rear."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account