LESSON XXIV.

thor'ough ly month dried dyed cuts shear'er sheep

those spun dirt oth'er wise wov'en cloth wool rub

[Illustration: Two men shearing sheep.]

SHEEP-SHEARING.

1. Sheep are washed and sheared some time in the month of June. This
should be done quite early in the month, before the hot days begin.

2. It is fine sport for those who look on, hut not much fun for the sheep.

3. It is best for the sheep to have the wool taken off; otherwise they
would suffer in the summer time.

4. When the time comes for washing the sheep, they are driven to a pond or
a little river.

5. Then they are thrown into the water, one at a time. The men who are in
the water catch them, and squeeze the wet wool with their hands to get the
dirt all out of it.

6. Then the wool is thoroughly dried, the sheep are taken to the shearer;
and he cuts off the wool with a large pair of shears.

7. It is then dyed, spun, and woven into cloth.

8. In a short time, before the cold winter comes, new wool grows out on
the sheep. By the corning of spring there is so much, that it must be cut
off again.

LESSON XXV.

bear'ers earth warm sul'try wan'der

rays grain clouds o'er we're

THE CLOUDS

1.
"Clouds that wander through the sky, Sometimes
low and sometimes high;
In the darkness of the night,
In the sunshine warm and bright.
Ah! I wonder much if you
Have any useful work to do."

2.
"Yes, we're busy night and day,
As o'er the earth we take our way.
We are bearers of the rain
To the grasses, and flowers, and grain;
We guard you from the sun's bright rays,
In the sultry summer days."

LESSON XXVI.

peo'ple for'est squir'rel cool near'est tame hol'low

snug shoul'der miles sticks gen'tly though Pat'ty

[Illustration: Girl sitting under tree, play with squirrel.]

PATTY AND THE SQUIRREL.

1. Little Patty lives in a log house near a great forest. She has no
sisters, and her big brothers are away all day helping their father.

2. But Patty is never lonely; for, though the nearest house is miles away,
she has many little friends. Here are two of them that live in the woods.

3. But how did Patty teach them to be so tame? Patty came to the woods
often, and was always so quiet and gentle that the squirrels soon found
they need not be afraid of her.