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The Spaniards were not only cruel to the poor Indians, but they were cruel also to Columbus, who had made them so rich.

They did not make Columbus happy; he died before he was an old man; he was very willing to die, because he was unhappy. Christopher Columbus discovered Ameri ca in the year 1492.

TABLE 28-XXVIII.
Familiar Lessons.

Harriet, bring your book, let me hear you read. What book have you? Let me see: a little volume of poems. How many can you repeat? Let me hear my dear Harriet speak

one.

The Bird's Nest.

Yes, little nest, I'll hold you fast,

And little birds, one, two, three, four;
I've watch'd you long, you're mine at last;
Poor little things! you'll 'scape no more.

Chirp, cry, and flutter, as you will,
Ah! simple rebels, 'tis in vain;
Your little wings are unfledg'd still,
How can you freedom then obtain?

What note of sorrow strikes my ear;
Is it their mother thus distrest?
Ah yes, and see, their father dear

Flies round and round, to seek their nest.
And is it I who cause their moan?
I, who so oft in summer's heat,
Beneath yon oak have laid me down
To listen to their songs so sweet?

If from my tender mother's side,

Some wicked wretch should make me fly,
Full well I know, 'twould her betide,
To break her heart, to sink, to die.

And shall I then so cruel prove,
Your little ones to force away!
No, no; together live and love;
See here they are-take them I pray.

Teach them in yonder wood to fly,

And let them your sweet warbling hear,
'Till their own wings can soar as high,
And their own notes may sound as clear.

Go, gentle birds; go, free as air,
While oft again in summer's heat,
To yonder oak I will repair,

And listen to your songs so sweet.

Mary, what a charming little sonnet your sister Harriet has repeated. Come, my sweet girl, you must let me hear what you can say. But stop, let me see your work. Your little fingers are very handy with a needle. Very pretty indeed; very pretty work. What small stitches. You shall hem and mark all your papa's handkerchiefs, and very soon you shall work a muslin frock for yourself. Now, my girl, let me hear you repeat some verses,

On a Goldfinch starved in his Cage.

Time was when I was free as air,
The thistle's downy seed my fare,
My drink the morning dew;
I perch'd at will on every spray,
My form genteel, my plumage gay,
My strains for ever new.

But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain,
And form genteel, were all in vain,
And of a transient date;

For caught and cag'd, and starv'd to death,
In dying sighs, my little breath

Soon pass'd the wiry grate.

FABLE I.

Charles, you have heard Harriet and Mary recite some pretty verses; now let me hear what you can say. Do you remember the fable of the bees? If you do, repeat it.

A FABLE,

Showing how the Bees lost their freedom. The Bees had a republican government They had no king, no great lords to support, and no one to make them afraid: but they enjoyed equal rights, and were quite free and happy.

Every bee had his own cell, which he kept always full of honey, and bread for his own use, and which no one dared to take away from him without his consent.

The rulers had no more than their share, and were obliged to do every thing they could for the good of the whole hive. If they were dishonest, or neglected their du

ty, they were turned out, and better ones chosen to fill their places.

They continued to live in this prosperous and happy manner for a long time. At length they were divided into parties, quarrelled about trifles, abused their good magistrates, and were on the eve of a civil

war.

Upon hearing this, a hornet, who was fond of fighting, came and offered his services. He made them a great many fair speeches, said he loved the bees very much, and if they would choose him for their leader, he would be their humble servant.

The bees were so weak and foolish as to listen to his cunning speeches, and finally chose him for their governor, and gave him the command over the whole swarm.

The hornet then assembled all the fighting bees about him, and when he thought his party strong enough, he seized upon the whole hive as his own property.

He created a lazy set of nobility, called drones, declared that the whole hive belonged to himself and his drones-that the working bees were his slaves; and that if any one dared to complain he should be stung to death.

The bees now saw their folly. They found that their violent party quarrels had destroyed their freedom and happiness, and reduced them to a state of slavery.

TABLE 29-XXIX.

In the following words, c, s, and t have the sound

of sh.

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TABLE 30.-XXX.

Words in which ch have the sound of k.

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