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. 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; Chirp, cry, and flutter, as you will, What note of sorrow strikes my ear; Flies round and round, to seek their nest. If from my tender mother's side, Some wicked wretch should make me fly, And shall I then so cruel prove, Teach them in yonder wood to fly, And let them your sweet warbling hear, Go, gentle birds; go, free as air, 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, But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, For caught and cag'd, and starv'd to death, 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. |