The Illustrated English Reader

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...are quite abundant on the coast. The garrison is ready to sally from the castle. That sick man has a sallow complexion. Are we far from the ferry? Her fairy foot treads lightly on the lea. What is the value of, the farm that lies in the valley? Cost what'it may, I shall buy it. Really, you cannot rely on his promise. The enemy were seen to rally, and charge down the valley. Pronounce cit'-ron, mel'-on, lem'-on, ba-nii'-na, A-zo'res, Made'ir-as, St. Mi'ohael (mi'-kel). This beautiful and delicious fruit, a favourite alike with old and young, belongs to a family that comprises, besides the orange itself, the lemon, the lime, the citron, the shaddock, and the forbidden-fruit. Before steam-ships were used in commercial navigation, we could import fresh fruit from those warm countries only that lie nearest our own shores. Steam, however, has given us access to new sources of supply, and at the present day our fruit market is abundantly stored with the luscious products of distant lands. The West India Islands supply us with pine-apples, bananas, the forbidden-fruit, and citrons. From the Azores, Madeiras, Malta, and Crete, as well as from Spain and Portugal, we obtain oranges; while lemons are imported from Sicily and several other islands in the Mediterranean. Fruits that were rare and expensive in former days, are now exposed for sale in our streets and shops at a price that brings them within reach of the poor; and we are thus enabled to share with our brethren abroad the wealth that a bountiful Providence has lavished upon their lands. The varieties of oranges most commonly sold in this country are the St. Michael, the Seville, and the Maltese. The first, which have a rich and delicate flavour, are readily known by the smoothness and...