LESSON x.x.xIX.

USES OF ANIMALS.

What domestic animals are used for food?

What wild animals are used for food?

[Ill.u.s.tration: "WHAT DOMESTIC ANIMALS ARE USED FOR FOOD?"]

From what animals do we get beef? pork? mutton? veal?

What birds and fowls are used for food? What fishes?

From what animal do we get wool? How is wool taken from the sheep? What articles of dress are made of wool?

[Ill.u.s.tration: "FROM WHAT ANIMAL DO WE GET WOOL?"]

Name the animals whose skins are used to make leather. How is leather prepared? Did you ever see a tannery? What do they do there?

From what animals do we get furs?

What is silk?

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SILKWORM AND MOTH.]

Silk is made by little worms called silkworms. When the worm is fully grown, it spins round itself a small ball of silk, called a coc.o.o.n. If this coc.o.o.n were left to itself, the worm would change to a moth, and the moth would eat its way out of this little house. But this, of course, would cut the little threads and spoil the silk. As soon, therefore, as the coc.o.o.n is made, it is put into hot water to kill the worm. In this way the silk is saved.

Almost every part of the cow is made use of. For what is the flesh used?

What use is made of the hoofs? horns? hair? What is done with the skin?

What other uses has the cow?

What animal shows the most affection for his master?

Mention some kinds of dogs.

You may have seen a dog called the St. Bernard. He is large, with long curly hair. In the Alps mountains, where traveling is dangerous, the St.

Bernard dogs have saved many lives. Who use their dogs, as we use horses, to draw their sledges?

Which is the most useful animal to man?

Draw and paint some of the animals spoken of in the lesson.

_Write the names:_

Of animals useful for food.

Of animals which work for man.

Of animals useful to us for clothing.

Of birds and fowls used for food.

LESSON XL.

THE SIGNS OF THE SEASONS.

What does it mean when the bluebird comes And builds its nest, singing sweet and clear?

When violets peep among blades of gra.s.s?-- These are the signs that spring is here.

What does it mean when berries are ripe?

When b.u.t.terflies flit, and honeybees hum?

When cattle stand under the shady trees?-- These are the signs that summer has come.

What does it mean when the crickets chirp, And away to the south the robins steer?

When apples are falling, and leaves grow brown?-- These are the signs that autumn is here

What does it mean when days are short?

When leaves are gone, and brooks are dumb When fields are white with drifted snow?-- These are the signs that winter has come.

LESSON XLI.

THINGS FOUND IN THE EARTH.

The earth contains many things that are of great value to us. These we must find and dig out.

The coal we burn in our grates to warm us; iron, from which so many useful things are made; gold, silver, tin, lead, and copper,--all come out of the earth.

But these are not all the valuable things hidden away in the earth.

From salt wells we get a great deal of the salt used on our tables. From oil wells is obtained the oil we use in our lamps to give us light.

Diamonds which sparkle so beautifully, and the stone we use in building, are also taken from the earth.

Coal, iron, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, mercury, and salt are called minerals.

The opening dug in the earth from which minerals, except stone, are taken; is called a _mine_.

One of the most useful of minerals is _coal_. Did you ever stop to think how much hard work coal does for us? It grinds our wheat, it weaves our cloth, it carries us by sea and by land over the earth. Hardly any labor can be done without coal.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OIL WELLS.]

You have noticed that some coal burns with a great deal of flame and smoke. That is called soft or bituminous coal. That hard, clean-looking coal, which burns with little blaze, yet gives out such great heat, is anthracite coal.