many days. Aures often puts his feet together and humps his back quickly when he thinks Hardy has ridden enough, but Hardy rides so well he is seldom thrown.

Another time Hardy and his two sisters, Agnes and Kate, all climbed upon Aures. You may be sure that the crusty little donkey felt angry at so heavy a load. He trotted sullenly down the road to the river and when he reached the water he waded in a little way, put his head down quickly and let the children all slide into the stream. Agnes, who was up first, said that she could see a smile of triumph on his face as he started for home. The children, who are used to the water, laughed heartily and thought it a fine joke. Aures carries loads of wood from the hills, and bags of clover to the cows. He and Hardy are great friends and are seldom apart. The little boys who live near Hardy think him a lucky boy and are always happy when Hardy lets them ride.

LESSON 4.

WORDS THAT STATE.

1. Myrtle studies.

2. Swallows are twittering.

3. Water freezes.

4. Alaska was bought.

In sentence one, which word tells, or states, what Myrtle does?

In sentence two, what two words state something about the swallows?

In sentence three, of what does the word freezes state something?

In sentence four, what do the words was bought do?

Write a statement about Robert.

Write a statement about some animal.

Write a statement about a tree.

Words that state are called VERBS.

Which verbs in the following sentences consist of one word?

Which consist of more than one?

1. Ruby runs.

2. An owl can fly.

3. Fishes swim.

4. Harold has been studying.

5. Flora must walk.

6. The horse trots.

7. Father may be reading.

8. Sara can sew.

Make statements, using in each a verb from column two, a noun from column one, and a group of words from column three:

Select the verbs in the above sentences.

Change the above statements to questions, so that each

verb will ask instead of state.

What do you notice about the position of the verbs in your questions?

Make questions, using in each a verb from column two, a noun from column one, and a group from column three:

In sentence one, what pronoun helps the verb rules to ask the question?

In sentence two, what is the verb?

What pronoun helps this verb to ask the question?

In sentence three, what is the word which? What does it do?

In the following sentences, select the verbs and the asking

pronouns:

1. Who conquered Mexico?

2. Which way did Lidia go?

3. What did Fulton do?

4. Which city ships most wheat?

5. Who discovered the Mississippi river?

6. What did you say?

LESSON 6.

WORDS THAT COMMAND.

Change the following sentences to commands:

1. Soldiers fight. 2. Cowards run. 3. Faithful dogs watch.

WORDS THAT COMMAND.

105

What word in your first sentence commands the soldiers to do something?

What is the commanding word in your second sentence? In your third sentence, what does the word watch do?

Make commands, using in each a verb from column two, a noun from column one, and a group from column three:

VERBS are words that state, ask, or command.

LESSON 7.

Make statements, using one of the following verbs in each:

Make questions, using one of the above verbs in each.

Make ten commands, and draw a line under the verb in each sentence.

Select five verbs of one word each from your reading lesson. Select five verbs of more than one word each from your reading lesson.

LESSON 8.

After reading this poem carefully, select from it and write in one column sixteen nouns; in another column, fifteen verbs.

Poor Tray is asleep in the noonday sun,
And the flies go about him, one by one;
And pussy sits near with a sleepy grace,
Without even thinking of washing her face.

There flies a bird to a neighboring tree,

But very lazily flieth he;

And he sits and twitters a gentle note,
And scarcely ruffles his little throat.

I wish, O I wish I was yonder cloud
That sails about with its misty shroud;

Books and work I'd no more see,

And I'd come and float, dear mother, o'er thee.

AN EXERCISE IN DISCRIMINATION.

To the Teacher. In the first part of the following story all the words joined to nouns to show "what kind" or to "limit" them are printed in italics. After the pupil has carefully noted these, he is to make an effort to select from the second part all the words that are similar in office.

HARDY AND HIS DONKEY.

Hardy lives in the mountains of California by a beautiful river of clear water. Hardy has a donkey that he calls Aures and upon this donkey he rides everywhere over the hills. Sometimes Aures is cross and then he does some strange things. One day Hardy was riding him after the cows and they came to a mountain that was very steep. Aures does not like steep mountains, so when he saw it he stopped, stiffened his legs, and stood still. Hardy coaxed him in every way, but the stubborn fellow only switched his tail as if he were saying "You must climb that hill alone.”