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1 muscles, the fleshy parts of animals, by means of which they are able to move. 2 naturalist, one who devotes most of his time in examining the structures and habits of animals. prairie, a very large tract of land, destitute of trees, but covered with coarse grass. There are immense prairies in North America. procession, a number moving forward together. pencillings, lines as if drawn with a pencil or small brush. roosting, sleeping on the branches of trees. foraged, sought for food. 8 passenger pigeon; this extraordinary bird is a native of America. It passes from one part of the country to another in search of food, hence its name. 9 New York, on the mouth of the Hudson, United States. New York is the largest city of the New World.

con-ver-sa'-tion

mem-o-ran'-dum

sat-is-fac-tion

su-per-flu-i-ties in-dus'-tri-ous exer-cise
de-ter-mined sur-prised'

"MONEY does not last long nowadays," said Mr. Andrews to his wife one evening. "It is only a week since I received my month's salary, and now I have but little more than half of it left. I bought a load of 1pine wood to-day, and to-morrow I must pay for that suit of clothes which Daniel had: that will be ten dollars more."

“And Daniel will need a new pair of shoes in a day or two; those he wears now are all ripped, and hardly fit to wear," said Mrs. Andrews.

"How fast he wears out shoes! It seems hardly a fortnight since I bought the last pair for him," said the father.

"Oh, well! But then he enjoys running about

so very much, that I cannot check his pleasure, so long as it is quite harmless. I am sure you would feel sorry to see the little shoes last longer from not being used so much," answered the affectionate mother.

Daniel, during this conversation, was sitting on the floor in a corner with his kitten, trying to teach her to stand upon her hind legs. He was apparently much occupied with his efforts, but he heard all that his father and mother had said. Very soon he arose, and, going to his father, said, "Father, do I cost you much money?"

Now, Mr. Andrews was a book-keeper for a manufacturing company, and his salary was hardly sufficient for him to live comfortably at the high rate at which everything was selling. He had nothing to spare for "superfluities, and his chief enjoyment was being at home with his wife and boy, his books and pictures. Daniel's question was a strange one, but his father replied as correctly as he could.

"Whatever money you may cost me, my son, I do not regret it, for I know that it adds to your comfort and enjoyment. To be sure, your father does not have a great deal of money, but he would be poor indeed without his little Daniel."

How much will my new suit of clothes cost?" asked Daniel.

Ten dollars," was the reply.

'And how much for my shoes?"

"Two dollars more, perhaps," said his father.

"That will make twelve dollars. I wish I

could work and earn some money for you, father," said Daniel.

Oh, well, my son, don't think about that now. If you are a good boy, and study well at school, that will repay me," said Mr. Andrews.

Daniel said no more, but he determined to try at once, and see if he could not help to pay for the clothes his father was so kind as to buy for him. That very afternoon the load of wood, which his father had bought, came, and was placed close to the cellar door. It was Saturday, and there was no school.

"Now I can save father some money," thought Daniel; and he ran into the house to ask his mother if he might put the wood into the cellar. "I am afraid the work is too heavy for you," said his mother.

"I think I can do it, mother. The wood lies close to the cellar door, and all I have to do is to throw it down," replied Daniel.

"Very well, you may try; but if you find it too hard, you must let Rooney put it in," said his mother.

Daniel skipped away, and went first to the cellar, where he unhooked the trap-door, and opened it; then he climbed out into the yard where the sticks of wood lay in a great heap. At first it was good fun to send the sticks clattering one on the other down into the cellar, but very soon it grew tedious, and Daniel began to think he would rather do something else.

Just then George Flyson came into the yard, and

asked Daniel if he wasn't going to fish for smelts that day. "I must not. This wood must be put in, and then it will be too late to go far," replied Daniel.

"Oh, let the wood be! We have some at home, waiting to be put into our cellar, but I shan't do it. Father may hire a man to do such work. Come! old Rooney will be glad of that job," said George.

"No, I am going to do this before anything else," said Daniel, as he picked up a big stick and sent it flying down into the cellar.

The wood-pile in the cellar grew larger, until the heap in the yard was all gone; then Daniel shut the trap-door, ran into the house, brushed his clothes, and started out to find his playmates to have a game. He felt very happy at his play, for he had done something for a kind father who was always earning something for him; and the thought of this pleased him much.

He felt happier still when his father came home to supper, and said while at the table, "My wood did not come, did it, mother? I told the man to send it up this afternoon, certainly."-Mr. Andrews always called his wife "mother."

Oh, yes, the wood came. I saw the team back into the yard," replied Mrs. Andrews.

Then Rooney must have put it in. I suppose he will charge fifty or seventy-five cents for doing it," said Mr. Andrews.

"I think a boy put it in," said his wife.

"What boy?"

Oh, a smart little fellow that plays about here a good deal. He wanted a job, and so I let him do it," said Mrs. Andrews.

"Some little boy who wanted some pocket

"He felt very happy at his play." (p. 24).

money, I suppose. Whose boy was it?" asked Mr.

Andrews.

There he is; he will tell you all about it; and Mrs. Andrews pointed to Daniel, who was enjoying the fun quietly. And now he was pleased indeed to hear how gratified his father was at