nd higher, as Ray let out the string. When the
string was all unwound, he tied it to a fence; and then he
stood and gazed at his kite as it floated high up in the air.
6. While Ray was enjoying his sport, some people who
were out on the street in the village, saw a strange light in
the sky. They gathered in groups to watch it. Now it was still
for a few seconds, then it seemed to be jumping up and
down; then it made long sweeps back and forth through the
air.
7. "What can it be?" said one person. "How strange!" said
another. "It can not be a comet; for comets have tails," said a
third. "Perhaps it's a big firefly," said another.
8. At last some of the men determined to find out what
this strange light was--whether it was a hobgoblin dancing in
the air, or something dropped from the sky. So off they
started to get as near it as they could.
9. While this was taking place, Ray, who had got tired of
standing, was seated in a fence corner, behind a tree. He
could see

110 ECLECTIC SERIES.
the men as they approached; but they did not see him.
10. When they were directly under the light, and saw what
it was, they looked at each other, laughing, and said, "This is
some boy's trick; and it has fooled us nicely. Let us keep the
secret, and have our share of the joke."
11. Then they laughed again, and went back to the village;
and some of the simple people there have not yet found out
what that strange light was.
12. When thc men had gone, Ray thought it was time for
him to go; so he wound up his string, picked up his kite and
lantern, and went home. His mother had been wondering
what had become of him.
13. When she heard what he had been doing, she hardly
knew whether to laugh or scold; but I think she laughed, and
told him that it was time for him to go to bed.

THIRD READER. 111

LESSON XLII.
BEWARE OF THE FIRST DRINK.

1. "Uncle Philip, as the day is fine, will you take a walk
with us this morning?"
2. "Yes, boys. Let me get my hat and cane, and we will
take a ramble. I will tell you a story as we go. Do you know
poor old Tom Smith?"
3. "Know him! Why, Uncle Philip, everybody knows him.
He is such a shocking drunkard, and swears so horribly."
4. "Well, I have known him ever since we were boys
together. There was not a more decent, well-behaved boy
among us. After he left school, his father died, and he was
put into a store in the city. There, he fell into bad company.
5. "Instead of spending his evening