stone. "I can't understand
it."

But the bean grew on without minding him. The roots pushed down into the
soil and drank up the moisture from the ground. Then this moisture went
into the stem, and the stem climbed bravely up into the light.

"How happy I am!" cried the bean.

It ran over the red stone, and clasped it with long green branches,
covered with white bean flowers.

"O indeed!" said the stone. "Is this what you call growing? I thought
you were only in fun. How handsome you are!"

"May I hang my pods on you, so that they can ripen in the sun?" said the
bean.

"Certainly, friend," said the stone.

He was very polite, now that he saw the bean was a full-grown vine.

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--Read in a conversational tone of voice, as in
Lessons I and II.

What word is emphatic in the third paragraph?

* * * * *

Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the
words, _broken, packages, courage, polite_.

Tell in your own words how the bean grew.

* * * * *

LESSON IV.

elf, _a very small person; an unreal being_.

vex, _make angry; trouble_.

pon'dered, _thought about with care_.

streak, _line; long mark_.

* * * * *

TO-MORROW.

A bright little boy with laughing face,
Whose every motion was full of grace,
Who knew no trouble and feared no care,
Was the light of our household--the youngest there.

He was too young--this little elf--
With troublesome questions to vex himself;
But for many days a thought would rise,
And bring a shade to the dancing eyes.

He went to one whom he thought more wise
Than any other beneath the skies:
"Mother,"--O word that makes the home!--
"Tell me, when will to-morrow come?"

"It is almost night," the mother said,
"And time for my boy to be in bed;
When you wake up and it's day again,
It will be to-morrow, my darling, then."

The little boy slept through all the night,
But woke with the first red streak of light;
He pressed a kiss on his mother's brow,
And whispered, "Is it to-morrow now?"

"No, little Eddie, this is to-day;
To-morrow is always one night away."
He pondered awhile, but joys came fast,
And this vexing question quickly passed.

But it came again with the shades of night:
"Will it be to-morrow