*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65323 *** A FIRST READER [Illustration] _THE ALDINE READERS_ [Illustration] A FIRST READER By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn. and Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn. [Illustration] With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb NEW YORK NEWSON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS _Copyright, 1906, by_ NEWSON AND COMPANY _All rights reserved_ 1648–13 The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR. NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book. INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful. The content is concrete, alive and full of action. The joys of happy childhood at play in the open—with the birds, the animals, the flowers, the wind, the snow and the rain—the joys of childhood’s imagination, are presented in the language of childhood and from the child’s point of view. The child finds here none of the drudgery—to him quite meaningless—so often associated with the disagreeable task of learning how to read; the child reads from the very first page—he has been reading all through the Primer—reads with delight and real understanding, reads the thoughts and feels the pleasures of childhood. Hence the not uncommon occurrence of a child’s suddenly discovering in surprise that he has learned how to read—that he can read—that he is reading—and that he likes to read! But there is no magic about the Aldine method, if it can be called a method. Like the marvellous modern achievements of applied science, its success depends upon the simple principle of understanding and utilizing, instead of ignoring and antagonizing, nature. The child’s nature furnishes the key, the sure guide to all the method there is in Aldine reading. The initial stock of about one hundred “sight words,” which the reading of the Primer has furnished, is increased gradually. At first most of the new words are easily acquired, as were those of the Primer, through the memorizing of simple and interesting rhymes. Such rhymes occur on pages 3, 6, 11, 15, 17, 25, 28, 33, 37, 47, 55, 75. But for the development of the power and the habit of independent mastery of new words by the child reliance is placed on the exercises in phonics, which should be systematic and constant throughout the book. Just what these exercises are and just how they are to be carried out to make them most effective are matters fully explained in the _Teacher’s Manual_, “Learning to Read.” No formidable mechanism is involved in the teaching of phonics. The plan is an entirely simple and natural one. The pupil is shown how and encouraged from the outset to do quickly, directly and intelligently what he otherwise learns slowly, indirectly and unconsciously. He is taught to observe, to analyze and to compare words; he is taught to apply constantly his growing knowledge of sounds and of letters used to represent sounds. These exercises are scarcely less interesting to the child than are the rhymes, stories and dramatizing, for the child understands what he is doing and why he is doing it, and he feels the joy of increasing mastery. So rapid and sure is the child’s progress and growth in independent power that he reads at sight and reads well any interesting Primer long before he has completed this First Reader. When this book is completed he can read any properly graded First Reader, in fact almost anything that he can understand, and he can read it absolutely at sight with little hesitation and read it with intelligent expression. Aldine Reading, as presented in this and in the other books of the Aldine Series, is vastly more important than any mere method or device for acquiring mastery of the mechanics of reading—it does lead to that mastery speedily; it is all-round, rich, sound education for the primary child; and withal it is a joy to child and teacher, as all primary education ought to be. CONTENTS PAGE WITH THE BIRDS 1 OUT OF DOORS 23 The Wind 26 The Leaves 28 The Birds and the Leaves 30 The Snow 34 Little Birdie 38 Feeding the Squirrels 40 The Squirrels 43 IN SUMMER TIME 45 Summer is Coming 47 Pussy Willows 48 The Pussies 50 Little Violet 52 Mother’s Song 56 Baby 58 Baby Asleep 62 The New Kite 66 Tom and the Wind 68 The Song of the Wind 72 WITH FLOWER AND STAR 73 The Rose 75 The Beautiful Garden 77 The Garden in Winter 80 Rose, Daisy, and Lily 82 The Spring Time 85 Tom and the Birds 86 The Star 88 The Dandelion’s Friends 91 AT CHRISTMAS-TIDE 95 Who Is It? 97 Santa Claus 98 Who is Santa Claus? 100 The Night Before Christmas 102 The Doll and the Sled 106 Christmas Morning 111 Playing in the Snow 115 IN GARDEN AND MEADOW 119 The Little Plant 121 Be Glad 122 The Fairy Butterfly 123 The Butterfly in the Garden 125 The Little Fairy 127 The White Lily 131 The Caterpillar 134 The Dandelion 138 The Bee 140 The Busy Bee 142 Why the Clover is Sweet 145 VOCABULARY 147 With·The·Birds [Illustration] [Illustration] Fly, little birds, to the tall tree. Fly to your nest and little birds three. [Illustration] tall three Fly, little birds. Fly to your nest. Fly to the tall tree, little birds. Fly to your little birds. Fly to your three little birds. Your little birds fly. Your little birds fly to the tall tree. Your little birds fly to the nest. [Illustration] [Illustration] Little birds, fly to your nest. Fly to the tall tree. Fly to your three little birds. Fly to your nest and three little birds. [Illustration] Fly, little birds, To the place you love best, To the tall tree And your dear little nest. place love (n est) dear b est [Illustration] Fly, little birds. Fly to the tall tree. Fly to the place you love best. Fly to your dear little nest. You love the tall tree, little birds. You love your dear little nest. You love your three little birds best. Your little birds fly to the tall tree. Your little birds fly to the nest. Your little birds love the tall tree. Your little birds love the nest. Your dear little birds love you best. [Illustration] [Illustration] The birds are flying. They are flying to the tall tree. They are flying to the place they love. Where are they flying? They are flying to the dear little nest. They are flying to three little birds. They are flying to the birds in the nest. They love the tree and the nest. They love the little birds best. [Illustration] Fly, little birds. Fly to the tall tree. Fly to the place you love best. Fly to your dear little nest. Your nest is in the tall tree. Your little birds are in the nest. Fly to your nest. Fly to your dear little birds. Your little birds love the tree. Your little birds love the nest. They love the nest in the tall tree. They love you best. You love your nest. You love your little birds best. [Illustration] Robin, Robin Redbreast, Singing on the bough, Come and get your breakfast, I will feed you now. bough Rob in will get Red breast break fast feed [Illustration] Where are you, Robin Redbreast? Come, Robin, come and get your breakfast. I will feed you, Robin. I will feed you now. I see you, Robin, in the tree. You are flying to the tall bough. You are singing to your little birds. They are in the nest in the tall tree. The nest is on the bough. You love your nest in the tall tree. Fly to your dear little nest. [Illustration] Robin Redbreast is singing on the bough. Where is Robin’s nest? It is in the tall tree. Robin’s nest is on the bough. He is singing to the little birds. The little birds are in the nest. Robin wants breakfast. He wants breakfast for the little birds. Good Robin Redbreast! too here [Illustration] Come, Robin Redbreast, come to me. I want to feed you. Come, here is your breakfast. Now you can feed your little birds. I want to feed the little birds, too. There is a nest in the old oak tree, Safe and high, Safe and high. There are three tiny eggs blue as blue can be, Like the sky, Like the sky. [Illustration] as (fl y) like eggs tiny sk y (c old) high oak old safe A nest is in the old oak tree. It is a Robin’s nest. The nest is safe on a high bough. Three tiny eggs are in the nest. The eggs are as blue as blue can be. They are like the sky. [Illustration] There are three baby birds in the tiny nest, Up so high, Up so high, And the wind rocks the bough where they safely rest, Rock-a-bye, Rock-a-bye. [Illustration] ba by (n est) (g o) rock s safe ly r est s o Rock-a-bye (bird) soon made bird ies but tree-top [Illustration] Robin made a nest in the oak tree. There it is high up on the bough. Three tiny eggs are in the nest. They are as blue as blue can be. They are as blue as the sky. Soon there will be three baby birds in the tiny nest. [Illustration] The wind will rock the bough. But the birds will be safe in the nest. And they will like the wind to rock the bough. The old birds will sing. They will sing to the little birds. They will sing,“Rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye. Rock-a-bye, birdies, on the tree-top.” [Illustration] (sn ow) flowers then gr ow not THE OLD OAK TREE There is the old oak tree. See the birds flying to the nest. The nest is in the tree. Little blue flowers grow under it. The tree loves birds and flowers. And they love the old oak tree. The old oak rocks the birds in the nest. The nest is on a high bough. The wind blows the bough. But the little birds rest there safely. The old birds fly in to the nest. They feed the little birds. Then they fly to the tree-top. There they sing and sing. “We love you! We love you!” The little birds can not fly; they can not sing. So they say, “Peep! peep! We love! we love!” The little flowers look up to the old tree. They can not fly; they can not sing. But they, too, love the old oak tree. [Illustration] Out·of·Doors [Illustration] [Illustration] Whichever way the wind doth blow Some heart is glad to have it so. Then blow it east or blow it west, The wind that blows—that wind is best. [Illustration] doth have (at) which ever (s ay) th at heart w ay east cra dle (n ow) down (t all) breaks h ow their f all THE WIND How the wind blows! The tall trees rock in the wind. See the boughs sway up and down. Some little birds are in their nest. The nest is on a high bough. They are glad to have the wind blow. Their hearts are glad. They like the west wind best. It rocks them in their nest. They like that. They like to rock in the tree-top. Sing to the dear little birds. Sing a song to the birds in the nest. “Rock-a-bye, birdies, on the tree-top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come rock-a-bye, birdies and all.” The nest is the little birds’ cradle. It is on a bough in the tree-top. It rocks when the wind blows. When the bough breaks it falls. It falls down, down, away down! It falls to the ground. And down fall birdies and all. THE LEAVES “Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day, “Come over the meadows with me and play.” [Illustration] leaves said one [Illustration] Come, little leaves. Come over the meadows. Come and play with me, little leaves. “Come, little leaves,” said the wind, “come with me. Come over the meadows with me. Come play with me in the meadows.” One day the wind said, “Come, come with me, little leaves. I want to play with you. Will you play with me?” two could fl ew gr ew saw were bl ew [Illustration] THE BIRDS AND THE LEAVES An old oak tree grew in the meadow. Two birds made a nest in it. Soon there were three little birds there. They could not fly; they could not sing. But the old birds loved the little ones. The little leaves looked into the nest. They saw the little birds. The leaves said, “Come and play.” The little birds said, “Peep! peep!” They wanted to go with the leaves. They wanted to fly from their nest. But they could not fly. Up blew the wind one day. [Illustration] “Come, little leaves,” said he. “Come over the meadows with me.” The leaves flew away with the wind. [Illustration] They played in the meadow all day. The old oak tree said, “Come to me, little leaves.” But they did not come. “Come! come! come!” said the little birds. “We want to play with you.” But the leaves could not come. They were asleep in the meadow. [Illustration] Come, little birds, Stop your play. Snow is coming down, You must hide away. (top) hide must s top sum mer out (s o) them back n o THE SNOW All summer the little birds played in the old oak tree. They flew in and out. They flew round and round. They flew from bough to bough. They rocked on the high boughs. They rested there. They played with the little leaves. They flew up, up to the blue sky. They flew down to see the flowers. They flew down under the tree. Up to the tree-top they flew again. They flew east and west. Whichever way they flew, they were glad. [Illustration] One day the wind said, “Come, little birds. You must stop your play. Fly away from your nest in the tree. The little leaves are all asleep. The little flowers are all asleep. The snow will soon be coming down. You must hide away.” How the little birds wanted to stay! But no, they must fly away. The wind said they must fly away. And away they flew. They flew away over the meadows. Will they come back again? [Illustration] [Illustration] What does little birdie say In her nest at peep of day? “Let me fly,” says little birdie, “Mother, let me fly away.” “Birdie, rest a little longer, Till the little wings are stronger.” So she rests a little longer, Then she flies away. (oth er) (s ings) (g et) (w ill) m oth er w ings l et t ill str ong er l ong er flies her [Illustration] LITTLE BIRDIE Little birdie is in her nest. She says, “Peep, peep, peep.” “What does birdie want?” says mother. “I want to fly from the nest. Mother, let me fly away. Let me fly high over the tree-top.” [Illustration] But the mother says, “No, no, you can not fly. Rest in the nest a little longer. Soon your wings will be stronger. Then you can fly away. You can fly over the tree-tops. You can fly over the meadows.” So birdie will stay in the nest a little longer. And when her wings are stronger, she will fly away. (c an) alone r an winter FEEDING THE SQUIRRELS It was a cold day. The ground was covered with snow. The cold winds blew. The trees were bare. It was winter. Baby ran out to play. He saw three little squirrels. They were running over the ground. “What can the little squirrels want?” said Baby. The squirrels ran to the oak tree. “Are you looking for acorns? There are no acorns now. Stay here, little squirrels. I will feed you.” Baby ran to mother. “Come, mother,” he said. [Illustration] “Come out with me. There are three squirrels in the tree. They want some acorns. We will feed the little squirrels. I have some acorns. Come, feed the squirrels, mother.” Mother ran out with Baby. There were the squirrels in the tree. “Come, squirrels,” said Baby. “Here are some acorns.” The squirrels ran to Baby. They were glad to see the acorns. They ran to get some. They covered some with snow. Can you tell why? Then they ran to the old oak tree. (see) (b are) (m ade) (f ast) see k c are sh ade l ast [Illustration] THE SQUIRRELS Two squirrels made their nest in the old oak tree. All summer they played in the shade. They ran up and down the boughs. They played hide and seek. [Illustration] In the fall the leaves flew away. All the little birds flew away, too. They were going away for the winter. They were flying away from the snow. At last the squirrels are alone. Must they leave the old tree, too? No, little care they for the snow. They have a nest; they have acorns. They will be glad all winter. Summer will come again. Then birds and leaves will come back. In·Summer Time [Illustration] [Illustration] SUMMER IS COMING Summer is coming! Summer is coming! How do you think I know? I found some pussy willows, So I know it must be so. Summer is coming! Summer is coming! This I know very well, For I found a sweet blue violet, And that is how I tell. pus sy wil lows this (gr ound) sweet vi o let (t ell) f ound do think w ell very [Illustration] PUSSY WILLOWS Summer is coming. I know it is. How do you think I know? To-day I found some pussy willows. Pussy willows come to tell us winter is over. All winter they were asleep. But now they are awake. They are peeping out. How glad they look! They know winter is over. [Illustration] So I know that summer is coming. Pussy willows say, “Summer is coming! Winter is over!” I love the summer. And I love the dear little pussy willows. was THE PUSSIES It was a glad spring morning. Some little pussies were out playing. They were playing beside the old willow tree. Two little birds were in the tree. They were singing a glad song. They were singing, “Spring is come! Be glad! Be glad! Be glad!” It was a sweet, sweet song. It made the boys and girls glad. But do you think it made the pussies glad? Little cared they for the sweet song! They said, “Now we have found some breakfast. We will get the little birds.” Up into the tree they jumped. They ran from bough to bough. The little birds saw them. They flew away. “We can have no breakfast here,” said the pussies. “We must look for some other birds. We will jump to the ground.” But what do you think! They could not get away. They were growing fast to the tree! They were no longer pussies. They were pussy willows! (f all) (gl ad) (long er) c all ed h ad long ed came tired been [Illustration] LITTLE VIOLET Little Violet was fast asleep. She had been asleep all winter. All winter she had been sleeping under the snow. Blue-bird was flying from tree to tree. He flew to the tree over Little Violet. [Illustration] He was singing, “Dear Little Violet, come out, come out! Get up! get up! Are you not tired of winter? Summer is coming! Summer is coming! I am tired of winter! Tired of winter! I love the summer! I love the summer! Come, Little Violet, come up! I will sing to you.” Little Violet was tired of winter. She was tired of the snow. She longed for the summer. She longed for the sweet singing of the birds. She was so glad when Blue-bird called. She awoke. She came out. She grew. Blue-bird and Violet were so glad. Winter was past; summer was here. [Illustration] Dear little baby, close your eye, Close your eye so blue, Mother will sing to you, “Rock-a-bye, Baby and birdies, too.” All little babies should be asleep, For the stars are shining through, And into the nest of all they peep, Babies and birdies, too. [Illustration] close (ba by) (c ould) stars ba bies sh ould eye shin ing through MOTHER’S SONG It is night. The stars are shining. They are shining through the night. They are shining into Robin’s nest. The baby birds are asleep. The baby squirrels are asleep. Now the stars peep in at Baby. Baby is going to sleep, too. She is so tired! She has been playing all day. She should be asleep now. Mother is singing to Baby. Baby likes mother’s sweet song. I think you will like it, too. Here is the song. “Rock-a-bye, baby. Now go to sleep. Mother will sing of little sheep. The little sheep run round and round. The little sheep jump over the ground. They run to the haycock. What do they see? Little Boy Blue. Who is he? Rock-a-bye, baby. Are you asleep? Mother is singing of little sheep.” Now mother’s song is over. Baby’s blue eyes close. She is fast asleep. (as) gave (h ide) thank h as bread s ide time BABY Baby has been playing in the meadow. She has been playing there all day. She has been playing hide and seek. She likes to hide. She likes to seek. All day Blue-bird has been singing. She has been singing in the meadow. Playing and singing, singing and playing! What a good time Baby and Blue-bird have had! They have been glad all the day long. [Illustration] Blue-bird was singing to her little ones. Baby said she was singing to her, too. Baby saw Blue-bird’s nest. Three little birds were in the nest. She gave them some bread for breakfast. “Peep! peep! Thank you! thank you!” said the little birds. They were glad, but they longed to fly. They wanted to fly over the tree-tops. Baby found some pussy willows. They were growing in the meadow. She found a sweet blue violet, too. Pussy willows and violet were growing there side by side. They peeped at Baby as she came up. [Illustration] [Illustration] Baby gave the violet to her mother. “Thank you, my dear,” said mother. “I love the sweet violet. I love my baby, too. Violet tells me summer is coming, Summer, and the summer sky, so blue.” [Illustration] n ight (sing ing) t ight (shin ing) l ight (sleep ing) m ight (peep ing) r ight (play ing) br ight (rock ing) (morn ing) BABY ASLEEP Baby is tired, so tired. She has played all the day long. Mother will rock her; Mother will sing her to sleep. Rock-a-bye, baby, close your eyes. Close your sweet blue eyes, Baby dear. [Illustration] Sleep, my Baby, sleep. You are so tired, Baby. You have played all day. Now you must rest. Blue-bird is asleep. Little blue-birds are asleep in their nest. Pussy willow and Violet are sleeping, too. You should sleep, baby. You should sleep and rest. Rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, Close your sweet blue eyes, Close your sweet blue eyes, baby dear. The little stars are shining. [Illustration] High up in the sky, they are shining through the night. They are peeping into Blue-bird’s nest. They see the little birds sleeping there. They peep in at mother, rocking and singing to baby. They want to see baby sleeping, too. Baby does not see them. Baby’s sweet blue eyes are closed at last. Good-night, Baby. [Illustration] Good-night, Sleep tight, Wake up bright, In the morning light, To do what’s right, With all your might. (s ing) Tom did str ing kite went THE NEW KITE Tom has a new kite. Who do you think made it? Tom made the kite all alone. It is a blue kite. It has a long string. To-day the wind is blowing. “I will take my kite to the meadow,” said Tom. “I will fly it there.” Tom went out with his new kite. He ran up and down. But the kite did not fly well. Soon Tom grew tired. “I do not want to play with my kite. It does not fly well,” he said. “The wind is not strong to-day. I think the string should be longer. I will go home now. I will get a longer string. Some day the wind will be stronger. I will come again to the meadow. I will bring Baby with me. I will fly my kite for her.” Tom ran home. He found a new string. It was a good long string. In the morning he will go again to the meadow. ( at) (see) (m other) (long) h at see ms br other a long TOM AND THE WIND Tom is Baby’s brother. Tom loves Baby. He likes to play with her. Tom likes to play with the wind, too. And the wind seems glad to play with Tom and Baby. To-day they were in the meadow. All three were playing there. They ran up and down. How fast they ran! The wind blew Tom’s hat away. How it flew over the meadow! [Illustration] The wind made the leaves fly round and round. They flew high and low. They looked like little birds. The wind blew them east. The wind blew them west. They found no place to hide. They found no place to rest. [Illustration] Tom made a kite. Along came the wind. Up went the kite! High, high up over the tree-tops it flew! Then down, down, down it came. Up, up, up, again it went. Tom said, “It is flying to the sky. It will fly right out of sight.” As he said this, he let go the string. Away went the kite. And away went the wind with it. Then Tom and Baby went home. [Illustration] loud THE SONG OF THE WIND You-oo-oo! I blow! I blow! I blow the tall trees. I rock the birdies in their nest. I sing to the flowers. I sing a sweet song to them. Winter is coming; snow is coming. Sleep, little flowers, sleep. Some days I sing a loud song. I sing, Come, little snowflakes! Cover the cold bare ground. “O I am the wind and I come very fast; Through the tall trees I blow a loud blast.” With.Flower.&.Star [Illustration] [Illustration] beau ti ful lil y dai sy (sw eet) blos soms ap ple f eet fair (cl ose) gar den (k ite) fair est r ose done wh ite [Illustration] THE ROSE The beautiful summer is here again. We have done with the winter, the snow and rain; The flowers grow bright by the garden wall, And the rose is the fairest one of all. [Illustration] The apple tree blossoms are fair and sweet, And the bright-eyed daisy that grows at its feet. The lilies white are fair and tall, But the rose is the fairest flower of all. THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN Long ago there was a beautiful garden. Fair blossoms grew in this garden. An old apple tree grew there. It grew by the wall. In the spring it was beautiful. It was covered with blossoms. In the fall it was covered with apples. A little daisy grew at its feet. Her eye was bright and shining. She closed it at night. But all day she looked up and was glad. Daisy loved the beautiful garden. A tall lily grew in the garden. She was sweet and white. [Illustration] Close beside her grew a rose. The sweet flowers loved their home. They were glad all spring. They blossomed all summer. In the fall the cold wind came to the beautiful garden. He blew and blew and blew! “Summer is done,” he said. “Time to go to sleep, sweet flowers. Close your eye, Daisy. Sleep, Rose and Lily.” The little flowers went to sleep. The old apple tree saw them. “Time for me to sleep, too,” she said. “Come, wind, blow my leaves away. I do not want them now. Cover the flowers with them. They might be cold in the winter.” The wind blew all the leaves from the old apple tree. He covered Rose, Daisy, and Lily. “Now go to sleep, old tree,” he said. “The beautiful blossoms are all covered with your leaves. They will not be cold. So sleep, old apple tree. Sleep till spring comes back again.” (d ear) warm h ear buds n ear many THE GARDEN IN WINTER It is winter. The garden is covered with snow. Many sweet flowers sleep under the cold white snow. Daisy is asleep under the apple tree. Lily sleeps near her. Rose sleeps near Lily. They are covered with warm leaves. The old apple tree is sleeping. All her buds are sleeping, too. In the spring they will wake. Now they are covered with snow. The snow covers the flowers, too. They are safe and warm. For many days they will sleep. All winter they will rest. Then spring will come. The warm days will come again. Robin will sing to the flowers. All the buds and flowers will wake. They will hear the robin’s song. They will look up. They will be glad. They will say, “The warm spring days have come back.” All the buds will blossom. The garden will be beautiful again. (the) (c ould) (d one) the se w ould n one f elt (r un) (f eed) m elt ing s un in d eed ROSE, DAISY, AND LILY Rose, Daisy, and Lily grow in a beautiful garden. These three grow side by side. They are not alone. Many other flowers are growing all around them. But none are as beautiful as Rose. None are as bright-eyed as Daisy. None are as fair as Lily. [Illustration] “Good morning, Rose,” says Daisy. “Where were you all winter?” “I was down under the white snow, sound asleep.” “And so was I,” says Lily. “And where have you been, Daisy?” “Indeed, I do not know. I think I must have been asleep, too. When I waked, the sun was shining. It was shining brightly all around. I felt the warm wind blowing over me. I saw the snow melting away. I was glad. I knew summer would soon be here. Look! There is little Violet now. See, she is blossoming. I must stop. My leaves are growing. My buds are coming. Good-by.” [Illustration] full dart ing (r ain) music pl ain wood lands busy THE SPRING TIME Now the days are full of music! All the birds are back again; In the tree-tops, in the meadows, In the woodlands, on the plain. See them darting through the sunshine! Hear them singing loud and clear! How they love the busy spring time— Sweetest time of all the year! TOM AND THE BIRDS One morning Tom ran to mother. “Mother, mother!” he called. “The springtime has come!” “How do you know?” said mother. “The birds have come back,” said Tom. “I saw so many in the garden! They are singing their sweetest songs. Come and hear them, mother. The garden is full of music! Do come, mother!” Mother and Tom went into the garden. Robins were calling from the tree-top. Bluebirds were darting around. They were darting in the sunshine. All were singing their sweetest songs. They seemed to say, “It is time all nests were made.” They were so busy and glad. All wanted new nests. Robin’s nest was in the apple tree. Blue-bird’s nest was near it. How glad they all were! The garden was full of music. “I love the springtime,” said Tom. “I love to hear the birds sing.” “Hear their glad songs,” said mother. “See them darting in the sunshine! See how busy they are! We must be busy like the birds. We must be glad, too.” be cause an swered gone (s oon) dan de li on live m oon al ways [Illustration] THE STAR A little star lived away up in sky-land. At night it looked down at the trees. It peeped under the leaves. It looked into the birds’ nest. It looked long at the sweet flowers. The little star liked them best of all. It was always shining on them. It was always trying to wake them. One night Mother Moon saw the little star looking down. “Bright star,” said she, “why are you always shining on the flowers?” “Because I love them so, mother. I should like to go and live with them always,” answered the star. “Do you not love me, little star?” “Yes, mother dear, I do love you.” “Do you not love the other stars?” “Yes, I love you all, but I love the dear flowers best.” “Then why do you not go to them?” said the sad Mother Moon. “I will, I will; good-by, good-by,” said the star. In the morning this little star was gone from the sky. But a beautiful dandelion was growing in the meadow. [Illustration] quietly happy heard friends asked [Illustration] THE DANDELION’S FRIENDS Bright-eyed Daisy grew in the meadow. All day she looked up at the sky. It was so bright and blue. She saw the sun shining. She heard the birds singing. But at night she would close her eye and sleep quietly. Blue Violet grew in the meadow, too. She did not always sleep at night. She looked up into the sky. She saw a bright star shining there. She wanted the star to come to her. One morning Violet and Daisy found a dandelion growing near them. [Illustration] “Where did you come from, Dandelion?” they asked. [Illustration] “I was a star,” answered Dandelion. “I lived in sky-land. All the long nights through I looked down at you in the meadow. You looked so sweet and happy here! I grew to love you dearly. And I wanted to come down and live with you. So here I am. Are you glad to see me? Do you want me to go back to the sky, bright Daisy? Will you let me stay with you here always, sweet Violet?” “Stay always,” said Daisy and Violet. [Illustration] At·Christmas·Tide [Illustration] [Illustration] WHO IS IT? Who is it comes with his reindeer, Over the ice and snow, With a sleigh just full of good things? Tell me if you know. Just listen to his sleigh bells! They are ringing out so clear, And they tell us as we listen, That Santa Claus is near. [Illustration] (is) sleigh Santa Claus (m ust) h is lis ten rein deer j ust ice us al most big h ush hark (s aw) r ush ing dr aw SANTA CLAUS Hush! hark! I hear sleigh bells! Listen and you will hear them. They are ringing out so clear. They say, “Some one is coming.” Who can it be? I think I know. He has a big sleigh. It is just full of good things. There is something for you and me. Little reindeer draw this sleigh. They come rushing, bounding over the ice and snow. [Illustration] They are coming near, near, nearer! Hear the bells, loud, loud, louder! They must be almost here. Now do you know who is coming? Who is coming in his big sleigh? Who is bounding over ice and snow? Who brings a sleigh full of good things? Tell me if you know. Christmas (st ar) world house f ar chimneys bed WHO IS SANTA CLAUS? _Tom_: Christmas will soon be here. _Baby_: Christmas? What is Christmas? _Tom_: Why, Baby! Christmas is the time Santa Claus comes. _Baby_: Who is Santa Claus? _Tom_: He is the friend of all good girls and boys. _Baby_: Where does he live? _Tom_: He lives in a cold land far away from here. Santa Claus comes in a big sleigh. Little reindeer draw his sleigh. _Baby_: Did you see him, Tom? _Tom_: No, he comes when all the boys and girls are asleep. He comes down the chimneys. _Baby_: Why does he come down the chimneys? _Tom_: To bring something to all the boys and girls. _Baby_: Will he bring something to us? _Tom_: He will bring something good. _Baby_: What will he bring, Tom? _Tom_: You will know in the morning. (k ept) (t ire d) (d id) cr ept f ire h id (r ock) (l oud) hung st ock ing cl oud s be fore THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS It was the night before Christmas. Baby hung up her stocking. She hung it by the big fire-place. Tom hung his there, too. “Come, Baby,” said Tom. “We must go to bed. You know who comes to-night.” Then they crept quietly away to bed. They lay so still, listening, listening. But not a sound could be heard. [Illustration] What did they think they would hear? Soon their tired little eyes were closing. They were fast asleep. Outside it was cold, so cold. Ice was all around. Wind was blowing; snow was flying. Cold clouds hid the blue sky. Yet over all moon and stars were shining brightly. [Illustration] At last the moon peeped out. She peeped through the cold clouds. She looked far down at the cold world. Her rays fell upon a beautiful sight. There was dear old Santa Claus with sleigh and reindeer. They were flying from house to house. They were rushing over ice and snow. Down the chimneys Santa went. In one house he found two stockings. They hung side by side. They hung by the fire-place. We know who hung them there. Santa filled them full as they could hold. He filled them up to the very top. “Good!” said Santa, “good! How glad Tom and Baby will be! They have just what they want!” Back up the chimney Santa went. Into his big sleigh he jumped. “Get up, get up, reindeer!” Then away and away they flew! So they kept on leaving their good things all the night through. [Illustration] ought (out) (w ood) br ought sh out h ood (ice) our (b ed) n ice kind sl ed quick doll THE DOLL AND THE SLED It was night. Santa had gone up the chimney. A new sled was by Tom’s stocking. It was a bright red sled. “Are you awake, doll?” called the sled. “I am,” answered the doll. “Where are you?” asked the sled. “Here, in this stocking,” said the doll. The sled looked up. There was a dear little doll peeping out of Baby’s stocking. “Well, here we are in our new home,” said the doll. “How do you like it?” “It is a good home,” said the sled. “I think we should be happy here. Santa brought me to the little boy who lives in this house. I think I will like him. I know he will like me. I am so bright and new.” “He ought to like you,” said the doll. “You are a nice sled. You are so bright and new. I am for a dear little girl. Santa calls her Baby. He says she will be kind to me. He says she will love me. Do you think she will? I know I will love her. Santa brought her a new hood. It is such a warm little hood!” “Hush!” said the sled. “Quick! Get back into the stocking! I hear some one coming!” “Who can it be?” asked the doll. “I think it is mother,” said the sled. “Oh, dear,” said the doll. “It may be Tom or Baby.” “No,” answered the sled. “They will not come till morning. They are in their beds. They are asleep now. Hush! Be quiet. Some one is coming near.” The doll crept back into the stocking. The sled lay down, too. How quiet they were! Mother came in. She made a light. Then she looked around. She saw the new sled. It lay close to Tom’s stocking. She looked into Baby’s stocking. She saw the new doll. She saw the new hood. She saw many other things. But not a sound did she hear. “Santa has been here,” she said. Then she went away quietly. All was quiet till Christmas morning. [Illustration] off smiles (d oll) (fee t) (k ind) f oll ows fee l m ind (th ey) (up) (fl ies) o b ey c up cr ies CHRISTMAS MORNING Christmas morning is here. Tom and Baby awake. “Mother, mother,” they cry, “has Santa Claus been here? What did he leave for us? Let’s go look in our stockings quick!” [Illustration] “Come, Baby, we can feel our way.” Away they rush to the fire-place. Mother follows fast with a light. “Look, mother, look! a sled, a top, a horn, candy. So many good things!” shouts Tom. “See this lovely doll,” cries Baby. “And here is a warm hood, a big book, and a cup. My! how many things dear old Santa brought us!” “Did you know Santa had been here, mother?” asks Tom. “Did you think he would bring us so many nice things? I have just what I wanted.” [Illustration] “And so have I,” says Baby. Mother just smiles sweetly and says: “Santa Claus has been very kind to you. I know he thinks you ought to be good. He will want you to obey mother.” “We will do that,” says Baby. “Indeed we will mind you always.” “That makes me so glad!” says mother. “It will make Santa glad, too.” All three are very happy this beautiful Christmas morning. The sun is just peeping over the hills. Mother goes to get breakfast. Tom and Baby are kept busy with their new play-things. (p eep) (other) (s un) coat d eep an other f un tip st eep children put PLAYING IN THE SNOW “Come quick! See the snow! See the snow!” cries Tom. “Mother, may we go out and play? May we take our sleds with us? May we take the ones Santa Claus brought us? Do say we may go, Mother.” “Yes, children,” answers mother. “You may play in the white snow. You may take your Christmas sleds. Come, I will put on your warm coats.” [Illustration] “Where is my nice hood?” asks Baby. “I will bring it to you,” answers Tom. “How warm it is!” What fun they have in the deep snow! They are almost covered with it. Just hear them shout! How they make the snow fly! Up the steep hill they run. They draw their sleds after them. Then down they slide. They ought to look out for the sleighs. Their sleds go very fast. Sometimes the sleds tip over and throw them into the snow. But they do not care. It is all fun for them. Now they are making a snow man. [Illustration] [Illustration] He is made of big balls of snow. What a big tall man! See them throw snow balls at him! “Come, children,” calls mother. “It is time to come in now. Come, take off your things by the fire. Another day you may play out again. You may play with your sleds.” In·Garden·& Meadow [Illustration] [Illustration] bur ied plant voice won der ful THE LITTLE PLANT In the heart of a seed Buried deep, so deep, A dear little plant Lay fast asleep. “Wake!” said the sunshine, “And creep to the light.” “Wake!” said the voice Of the raindrops bright. The little plant heard And it rose to see What the wonderful Outside world might be. —KATE LOUISE BROWN. (with) (is) (h ark) (k ind) with er ’t is d ark be h ind BE GLAD Is it raining, little flower? Be glad of rain. Too much sun would wither thee; ’Twill shine again. The clouds are very dark, ’Tis true; But right behind them Shines the blue. * * * * * Butterfly, butterfly, you’re a fairy bright, Flying high, flying low, in the summer light. [Illustration] searching cried honey THE FAIRY BUTTERFLY It was a glad summer day. May was playing in the meadow. Something flew near. “What a beautiful butterfly!” she cried. “What shining bright wings it has!” The butterfly flew nearer. May crept close to it. “Oh, it is not a butterfly! What can it be?” she cried. “Oh, it is a dear little fairy! Stop and play, dear fairy,” she cried. But the fairy flew away. She was too busy to stop. She was searching for honey. [Illustration] work among (m ead ow) lift h ead THE BUTTERFLY IN THE GARDEN One day I saw a beautiful butterfly. She was in the garden. She was flying among the flowers. She was playing with them. “Good morning, beautiful butterfly! Good morning,” said I again. But the butterfly made no answer. “Good morning, little fairy,” said I. But the butterfly just went on playing. She seemed to be searching for honey. She flew in and out among the flowers. The butterfly loves the flowers. And the flowers all love the butterfly. She flies from flower to flower, now high, now low. [Illustration] She flies this way and that way. She likes the sweet bright flowers best of all. These give the butterfly honey. They seem to lift their heads when she comes. The butterfly works very little. She plays almost all the time. Would you like to play always? Would you like to be a butterfly? (in) shone (c ame) th in waits n ame sto ry [Illustration] THE LITTLE FAIRY A dear little fairy lives in a garden. The garden is full of beautiful flowers. The fairy has lived there all summer. Fairies always live among flowers. Did you not know that? This fairy is very beautiful. Her thin wings are bright and shining. All day she flies from flower to flower. Is she telling them some sweet story? What do you think she says? This is what the fairy is saying. Listen if you want to hear. “The blue violet is sweet. The lily is white and tall. The daisy’s eye is bright. But the rose is the fairest of all.” [Illustration] Some nights this fairy creeps into the tall white lily. There she clings through the night. She holds on very fast. She does not feel the cold wind. Other nights she rests in a red rose. She is buried out of sight. There she waits for the morning. She hears the voice of the wind. The wind blows among the flowers. It rocks the fairy’s flower cradle. The stars shine down on her. She drops asleep. She sleeps all the long night. What a wonderful fairy she is! What name do we call her? Can you tell me? Yes, that is right. It is fairy butterfly. [Illustration] Sleep, little fairy, sleep and rest, Of all the flowers, Rose loves you best. (sh one) (d own) (s ee) st one g own gr ee n [Illustration] THE WHITE LILY A tall white lily grew in a beautiful garden. Her home was near the old stone wall. Her gown was white and shining green. May cared for Lily. She kept the ground soft. [Illustration] Lily seemed to know that May loved her. She lifted her head and smiled at the girl. One day the sun shone. O how warm it grew! Lily could not lift up her head. “Dear rain,” she cried. “Do come to the garden. We want you. Come, kind friend. Come before all the sweet flowers wither.” The rain heard Lily’s call. [Illustration] “I am coming,” he cried. “Lift up your head. I will be with you soon, dear Lily.” The bright raindrops fell to the ground. Faster and faster and faster they came. A soft wind blew. Lily lifted her cup. The rain filled it. How glad she was! “Thank you, dear rain,” she said. “Now I am happy again. My gown looks new. How kind you are!” (lea ves) (k ept) (b ig) (h ung) lea f sl ept tw ig cl ung cat er pil lar o pen ed THE CATERPILLAR A caterpillar rested on a lily leaf. He lay there very still. He was very big and very green. “Go away,” cried the lily, “go away! I do not like caterpillars.” “I am so tired,” said the caterpillar. “I can not go away. Let me rest. I am so sleepy. Do let me stay. I will be very still.” [Illustration] “No! No! Go away,” said the lily. “You must go away. You may not stay. I will not have you.” The caterpillar fell from the lily leaf. In his fall he kept hold of a little twig. There he clung fast. He was tired, so very tired. He spun a little coat around him. Then he fell asleep. All winter he slept there soundly. In the spring the bright sun shone warm. Its rays fell on the caterpillar’s coat. [Illustration] The caterpillar’s coat opened. And what do you think came out? A caterpillar? No! No! No! A wonderful thing! A beautiful butterfly! What shining, bright wings! How it flew among the flowers! It came flying to the lily. The lily said, “Come, beautiful butterfly, come to my sweet blossoms! Rest on me—I love you, butterfly! You are so bright and beautiful!” But the butterfly answered, “When I was a caterpillar, you did not want me. You would not let me rest on you then. You said you did not like caterpillars. You would not let me stay. Now I will not stay with you. I will go to the red rose. Good-by, lily; you are fair but cold.” [Illustration] (h im) grass (f air) d im pled h air [Illustration] THE DANDELION O dandelion yellow as gold, What do you do all day? I just wait here in the tall green grass Till the children come to play. O dandelion yellow as gold, What do you do all night? I wait and wait till the cool dews fall And my hair grows long and white. [Illustration] And what do you do when your hair is white And the children come to play? They take me up in their dimpled hands And blow my hair away. or chard fields (over) car ry weath er vis it cl over hive gath er snug buzz store [Illustration] THE BEE “Buzz, buzz,” said the bee, “I have much work to do, The garden and orchard I must search through and through. I must visit the meadows And fields of red clover, And search them for honey Over and over. [Illustration] To the hive I must carry My honey with care, And store it away While the weather is fair. For soon will come winter, The ice and the snow, And round our snug bee-hive The cold winds will blow. Buzz, buzz, little children, Keep out of my way; I must gather and store All I can this bright day.” (h eat) (work) (st ore) eat work er m ore [Illustration] THE BUSY BEE Hear the bee. “Buzz, buzz,” he says. “Keep out of my way! I can’t stop for you.” He is a busy worker. When the weather is fair he is busy all day. He flies through garden and orchard. He visits all the sweet flowers. He is searching for honey. All little flowers are glad to have him come to them. The red clover has more honey than many other flowers. So the bee and the clover are friends. The bee gathers honey from all the sweet flowers. He gathers all he can carry. Then he flies away. Over the fields he goes to his hive. There he stores his honey with care. He knows the cold winter is coming. Then he can gather no honey. There will be no flowers in the fields. The cold winter winds will blow. [Illustration] Snow will cover fields and flowers. But the little bee will be happy. He will be safe in his snug hive. There he will keep snug and warm. Now he can eat his store of honey. He can eat all he wants. He will be glad he worked in summer. He will be glad of his snug warm hive. He can sleep and rest waiting for another summer. When it comes he will be busy again. WHY THE CLOVER IS SWEET A little fairy flew to a daisy. “Dear Daisy,” she said, “will you give me some honey?” “No, go away,” said the daisy. The fairy flew away to a rose. “Beautiful Rose,” she said, “will you give me some honey?” “You may have just a little,” answered the rose. “Thank you,” said the fairy. “I do not care for your honey.” Away she flew to the clover. “Little Clover,” she said, “will you give me some honey?” “Indeed I will, dear Fairy. Take all that you want.” “Thank you,” said the fairy. “Now I will be kind to you. Hereafter you will have more honey than any other flower.” And from that day, the clover has been sweet with honey. [Illustration: THE END] VOCABULARY Most of the words used in the Aldine Primer are used frequently in this First Reader. The Primer words are not listed in this vocabulary, however; here are given only the words used for the first time in this book. The number at the left of a word refers to the page on which the story begins in which that word is first used. New words are listed in the text immediately before or after the lesson in which they are used; they are listed after the lesson when they occur in rhymes to be memorized (see Teacher’s Manual), before the lesson in all other cases. Words of series that have already been studied (see Teacher’s Manual) are not usually listed in the text, but are given in this vocabulary. A 26. all 98. almost 40. alone 68. along 88. always 125. among 115. another 88. answered 75. apple 15. as 91. asked B 55. babies 17. baby 34. back 115. ball 15. be 75. beautiful 88. because 100. bed 140. bee 52. been 102. before 122. behind 97. bell 6. best 98. big 18. birdies 72. blast 30. blew 75. blossom 111. book 11. bough 98. bounding 58. bread 26. break 11. breakfast 62. bright 68. brother 106. brought 80. bud 121. buried 85. busy 18. but 123. butterfly 140. buzz 58. by C 115. call 52. called came 111. candy 43. care 140. carry 134. caterpillar 115. children 100. chimney Christmas 68. clear 127. cling 55. close 102. cloud 140. clover 134. clung 115. coat 30. could 40. crack 26. cradle 121. creep 102. crept 123. cried 111. cries 110. crowned 111. cry cup D 75. daisy 88. dandelion 122. dark 85. darting 6. dear 115. deep 138. dew 66. did 138. dimpled 47. do 106. doll 75. done 25. doth 26. down 98. draw 121. drop E 25. east 142. eat 15. egg 55. eye F 75. fair fairest 122. fairy 26. fall 100. far 130. fed 11. feed 111. feel 75. feet 134. fell 82. felt 140. field 102. filled fire 30. flew 38. flies 21. flower 111. follow 47. found 91. friend 85. full 115. fun G 75. garden 140. gather 58. gave 11. get 138. gold 88. gone 82. good-by 138. grass 130. green 30. grew 21. grow H 52. had 138. hair hand 91. happy 98. hark 58. has 68. hat 25. have 125. head 80. hear 91. heard 25. heart 38. her 14. here 102. hid 33. hide 15. high 115. hill 97. his 140. hive 102. hold 123. honey 106. hood 100. house 26. how 102. hung 98. hush I 97. ice 82. indeed J 97. just K 140. keep 102. kept 106. kind 66. kite 47. know L 88. land 43. last 121. lay 134. leaf 28. leaves 38. let 125. lift 62. light 15. like 75. lilie lily 97. listen 88. live 52. longed 38. longer 72. loud 6. love 122. low M 18. made 111. make 95. man 80. many 115. may 82. melting 62. might 111. mind 88. moon 142. more 38. mother 85. music 33. must N 127. name 80. near 106. nice 62. night 34. no 82. none 21. not O 138. O 15. oak 111. obey 115. off 15. old 28. one 134. opened 140. orchard 106. ought our 34. out 121. outside P 6. place 85. plain 121. plant 47. pussy 115. put Q 106. quick 91. quietly R 40. ran 102. ray 127. red 11. redbreast 97. reindeer 17. rest 62. right 97. ringing 11. robin 17. rock rock-a-bye 75. rose 98. rushing S 15. safe 17. safely 28. said 97. Santa Claus 30. saw 123. searching 121. seed 43. seek 68. seem 43. shade 38. she 55. shining 127. shone 55. should 106. shout 58. side 68. sight 15. sky 106. sled 97. sleigh 138. slept 115. slide 111. smile 140. snug 17. so 115. sometimes 18. soon 82. sound 134. spun 55. star 34. stay 115. steep 102. still stocking 130. stone 33. stop 140. store 127. story 66. string 38. stronger 34. summer 82. sun 85. sunshine 26. sway 47. sweet T 138. take 3. tail 58. thank 25. that 26. their 34. them 21. then 82. these 127. thin 97. thing 47. think this 3. three 55. through 115. throw 62. tight 38. till 58. time 15. tiny 115. tip 52. tired. 122. ’tis 66. Tom 14. too 18. top tree-top 134. twig 122. ’twill 30. two U 97. us V 47. very violet 140. visit 121. voice W 127. wait 75. wall 80. warm 50. was 25. way 21. we 140. weather 47. well 66. went 30. were 25. west whichever 75. white 40. why 11. will 47. willow 38. wing 40. winter 122. wither 121. wonderful 85. woodland 125. work 142. worker 100. world 82. would Y 85. year 103. yet [Illustration: VAN REES PRESS NEW YORK] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65323 ***