II. Sŏl'-emn (-em), nigh, o-bey', de-eãyed', suf-ficed' (-fizd'), scythe, con-çeived', sub'-tle (sŭt'l), hērb'-age (ērb’aj).

III. Un-avoid able (a syllable placed before a word, to change its meaning, is called a prefix-pre meaning before; hence prefix = fixed before. So un is a prefix, meaning not; hence, unavoidable means not avoidable. A syllable, or syllables, placed after a word for the same purpose is called a suffix. Thus able is a suffix, meaning "possible to be": avoidable means possible to be avoided), unshod (prefix un), circumvent (circum = around; circumvent = come round, hence to gain advantage over), recede (re: back; recede go back), diameter (dia through; meter measure).

=

=

IV. Aliment, area, expedient, rescued, withered, inflammable, environed, combustible, "pan of his rifle," avidity, ruminating, wanton laziness," reconnoitering.

V. "Lined a loaded bee." (When loaded with honey, the wild bee pur. sues a straight line for its hive, which is generally in a hollow tree. The bee hunter watches its course, and finds the hive.)

XLIX. THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.

1. The Mountain and the Squirrel

Had a quarrel,

And the former called the latter "Little Prig."

2. Bun replied:

"You are doubtless very big;

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together,

To make up a year,

And a sphere;

3. And I think it no disgrace

To occupy my place.

If I'm not so large as you,

You're not so small as I,
And not half so spry.

4. I'll not deny you make

A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put:
If I can not carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

FOR PREPARATION.-I. What fables have you had before in this Do you remember any difference between the fable and other

Reader? stories ?

II. Squir'-rel (note the English pronunciation; see Lesson XXXIX.), moun'-tain (-tin), quar'-rel, doubt'-less (dout'-), weath'-er, Ŏe'-eu-py, dif'-fer, nei'-ther.

III. Explain the omissions in I'm, you're, I'll. Give the other forms of the pronouns I (my, mine, me, we, our, ours, us), you, it, my.

IV. Prig (conceited fellow), sphere, occupy, spry, "squirrel track.”

V. Who is called "Bun" in this fable? "All sorts of things and weather must be taken in together, to make up a year (of time), and a sphere" (of space, i. e., the world). If largeness has its advantages, so has smallness too. Does the squirrel express contempt by saying, "I'll not deny you make a very pretty squirrel track "?

L.-THE LILLIPUTIAN WAR AT SEA.

1. The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to the northeast of Lilliput, from which it is parted only by a channel eight hundred yards wide.

2. I had not yet seen it, and, upon this notice of an intended invasion, I avoided appearing on that side of the coast, for fear of being discovered by some of the enemy's ships, who had received no intelligence of me; all intercourse between the two empires having been

strictly forbidden during the war, upon pain of death, and an embargo laid by our emperor upon all vessels whatsoever.

3. I communicated to His Majesty a project I had formed of seizing the enemy's whole fleet; which, as our scouts assured us, lay at anchor in the harbor, ready to sail with the first fair wind. I consulted the most experienced seamen upon the depth of the channel, which they had often plumbed; who told me that in the middle, at high water, it was seventy glumgluffs deep, which is about six feet of European measure; and the rest of it fifty glumgluffs at most.

4. I walked toward the northeast coast, over against Blefuscu, where, lying down behind a hillock, I took out my small perspective glass and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, consisting of about fifty men-of-war and a great number of transports. I then came back to my house, and gave orders (for which I had a warrant) for a great quantity of the strongest cable and bars of iron. The cable was about as thick as pack thread, and the bars of the length and size of a knitting needle.

5. I trebled the cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason I twisted three of the iron bars together, bending the extremities into a hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I went back to the northeast coast, and, putting off my coat, shoes, and stockings, walked into the sea in my leathern jerkin, about half an hour before high water. I waded with what haste I could, and swam in the middle about thirty yards, till I felt ground.

6. I arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour. The enemy were so frightened when they saw me, that

I

they leaped out of their ships and swam to shore, where there could not be fewer than thirty thousand souls. then took my tackling, and, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each, I tied all the cords together at the end.

7. While I was thus employed, the enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my hands and face, and, besides the excessive smart, gave me much disturbance in my work. My greatest apprehension was for my eyes, which I should have infallibly lost if I had not suddenly thought of an expedient.

8. I kept, among other little necessaries, a pair of spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed before, had escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took out and fastened as strongly as I could upon my nose, and, thus armed, went on boldly with my work in spite of the enemy's arrows, many of which struck against the glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect further than a little to discompose them.

9. I had now fastened all the hooks, and, taking the knot in my hand, began to pull; but not a ship would stir, for they were all too fast held by their anchors, so that the boldest part of my enterprise remained. I therefore let go the cord, and, leaving the hooks fixed to the ships, I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that fastened the anchors, receiving about two hundred arrows in my face and hands; then I took up the knotted end of the cables to which my hooks were tied, and with great ease drew fifty of the enemy's largest men-of-war after

me.

10. The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imagination of what I intended, were at first confounded with

astonishment. They had seen me cut the cables, and thought my design was only to let the ships run adrift, or fall foul on each other; but when they perceived the whole fleet moving in order, and saw me pulling at the end, they set up such a scream of grief and despair as it is almost impossible to describe or conceive.

11. When I had got out of danger, I stopped awhile to pick out the arrows that stuck in my hands and face, and rubbed on some of the same ointment that was given me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then took off my spectacles, and, waiting about an hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through the middle with my cargo, and arrived safe at the royal port of Lilliput.

12. The emperor and his whole court stood on the shore, expecting the issue of this great adventure. They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water. When I advanced to the middle of the channel, they were yet more in pain, because I was under water to my neck. The emperor concluded me to be drowned, and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in a hostile

manner.

13. But he was soon eased of his fears; for, the channel growing shallower every step I made, I came in a short time within hearing, and, holding up the end of the cable by which the fleet was fastened, I cried in a loud voice, "Long live the most puissant King of Lilliput!" This great prince received me at my landing with all possible encomiums, and created me a nardac upon the spot, which is the highest title of honor among them.

Dean Swift.