New National Fourth Reader Part 55

Directions for Reading.--Let pupils read the following lines, and then mark the _inflection_.

"And what do you think they were? b.u.t.terflies? like their mamma, only very much smaller?"

Does the first question expect the answer _yes_ or _no?_

Do the last two questions expect the answer _yes_ or _no?_

What would be the inflections used in the following questions?

What kind of an answer is expected to each question?

"Where are you going?"

"Are you coming back again?"

Fill blanks in the following statements.

Questions which may be answered by _yes_ or _no_, regularly require the ---- inflection.

Questions which can not be answered by _yes_ or _no_, regularly require the ---- inflection.

Language Lesson. Let pupils copy the following words.

seize chief grief fear beach receive

relief believe weary beacon

Write sentences, each containing one of the preceding words, used in such a way as to show its meaning.

LESSON LIV.

ob'sti nate, _determined to have one's own way_.

vi'cious, _not well tamed; given to bad tricks_.

sub dued', _made gentle; overcome_.

swerve, _turn from a direct line_.

squad'ron, _a number of horses drawn up together_.

pli'able, _capable of being turned or bent_.

strove, _attempted; tried hard_.

ex ceed'ed, _went beyond_.

thong, _a long strip of leather_.

WILD HORSES OF SOUTH AMERICA.

At the time of the discovery of America there were no wild horses in any part of the continent.

Soon, however, some of the horses brought over from Europe by the early settlers, wandered away, and now wild horses are to be met with in large numbers, in some cases as many as a thousand at a time.

They appear to be under the command of a leader, the strongest and boldest of the herd, whom they obey.

When threatened with danger, at some signal, understood by them all, they either close together and trample their enemy to death, or form themselves into a circle and welcome him with their heels.

The leader first faces the danger, and when he finds it prudent to retreat, all follow his rapid flight.

Byron thus describes a troop of wild horses:

"A trampling troop; I see them come!

In one vast squadron they advance!

I strove to cry--my lips were dumb.

The steeds rush on in plunging pride; But where are they the reins to guide?

A thousand horse--and none to ride!

With flowing tail, and flying mane, Wide nostrils--never stretch'd by pain, Mouths bloodless to the bit or rein And feet that iron never shod, And flanks unscarr'd by spur or rod, A thousand horse, the wild, the free, Like waves that follow o'er the sea.

On came the troop....

They stop--they start--they snuff the air, Gallop a moment here and there, Approach, retire, wheel round and round, Then plunging back with sudden bound, They snort--they foam--neigh--swerve aside, And backward to the forest fly."

The capture and breaking in of wild horses in America are described by Miers as follows--

"The la.s.so is used by the natives of South America. It is a very strong braided thong, half an inch thick, and forty feet long, made of many strips of rawhide, braided like a whip-thong, and made soft and pliable by rubbing with grease.

"It has at one end an iron ring, about an inch and a half in diameter, through which the thong is pa.s.sed, forming a running noose.