of science and literature. It enlarges the sphere of observation, and affords abundant materials for exercising the faculties of the mind. 2. Among all people, distinguished for their refinement and civilization, the most prevalent and important art is that of reading. The improvement of the mind, the cultivation of taste, and the acquisition of knowledge, are the advantages derived from this art. 3. From reading, we are made acquainted with the passing events and occurrences in various parts of the world, and are enabled to repeat the sentiments of those who have existed in former times. 4. It brings to view the scenes of departed years, and exhibits the rise and fall, and the revolutions of the ancient communities of mankind, and offers to our reflection all the most important circumstances connected with the improvement of human society. 5. To have good books, and to be able to read them well, is a great privilege. They make us both wiser, and better; they instruct us in our duty, and teach us how to behave ourselves. They comfort us in our distresses and afflictions. 6. They pass away our leisure hours pleasantly and usefully, and the amusement which they afford is cheaper than almost any other. They are true friends, excellent counselors, and agreeable companions. When you are 7. Be careful to read with attention. reading, do not be thinking of anything else. People who read without thinking what they are reading about, lose their time, and they cannot be the wiser, or the better, for what they read. 8. Reflect upon what you have read, or heard other people read; and, if you have a proper opportunity, converse upon it. To relate what you have read or heard, is the best way to help you to remember it. 9. It may afford many useful and pleasant subjects of con versation; and it may often prevent quarreling, telling idle tales, silly joking, and talking scandal. In order to remember any particular passages in a book, read them over several times. 10. If it instructed you in any particular duty, consider whether you have done your best to practice it. A little, read in this way, is more improving than many volumes, however excellent in themselves, read over in a hasty and careless manner. 11. Let nothing tempt you to read a bad book, of any kind. It is better not to read at all, than to read bad books. A bad book, it is truly said, is the worst of thieves; it robs us of time, money, and principles. QUESTIONS. 1. To what does reading give us access? 2. What is the most important art among refined people? 3. With what are we made acquainted by reading? 4. What does it bring to view? 5. What effect do good books have upon us? 5. What do they teach us? 7. How should we read books? 8. What is the best way to enable us to remember what we read? 9. What will reading prevent? 11. Should you read bad books? Why? LESSON L. 1 Sim-i-lar'i-ty, likeness, resemblance. acter. 3. Oc-ca'sion-al, occurring at intervals. 5. A-bund'ant-ly, plentifully. 7. Ce-ler'i-ty, swiftness, speed. 8. Un-guard'ed, not guarded. 10. Un-suc-cess'ful-ly, without success. 16. Cir-cum'fer-ence, distance round a ERRORS.1. Cow'gar for cougar; 2. gin-er-os'i-ty for gen-er-os'i-ty; 3. yal'ler for yellow; 9. hos-ses for hors'es; 10. bouns for bounds; 10. ketch for catch; 11. heerd for heard; 12. sim-ul-ta' ne-ous-ly for si-mul-ta'ne-ous-ly; 12. crooch'ed or crouch'ed; 4. pint for point; .5. an'i-mil for an'i-mal. THE COUGAR. 1. THE cougar is the largest animal, of the cat kind, found in North America," and has occasionally received the name of NOTE. -a See North America, p. 186, note b. American lion, from the similarity of its proportions and color to the lion of the old world. 2. It is very little inferior in size, and not at all in the qualities of magnanimity, clemency, and generosity, which have been so lavishly, yet so falsely, attributed to the "king of beasts." It may be stated to be about one third less in size than the lion, and has no mane nor tuft at the extremity of the tail, which is about half the length of the body and head. 3. The skin is clothed with a soft and close hair over the limbs and body, of a brownish yellow color, or of a mixture of red and blackish, with occasional patches of a rather deep reddish tint, which are only remarkable in certain lights, and disappear entirely with the advancing age of the individual. 4. A dark red is spread over all the upper parts, produced by the tips of the hair, which is black at the base; and this color is deeper upon the back, the head, and upper part of the than upon the sides. tail, 5. The cougar, at an early period, was distributed, in considerable numbers, over the whole of the warm and temperate regions of this continent; and is still found, though by no means abundantly, in the southern, middle, and north-western parts of the Union; becoming, however, gradually more rare as the population increases, and cultivation is extended. 6. It is a savage and destructive animal, yet timid and cautious. In ferocity, it is quite equal to most of its kindred species, and kills numbers of small animals for the sake of drinking their blood; and when pressed with hunger, it attacks large quadrupeds, though not always with success. 7. When the cougar seizes its prey, it is by the throat, and then flinging the victim over its back, it dashes off with great ease and celerity, to devour it at leisure. It climbs, or rather springs up large trees with surprising facility and vigor, and in that way, is enabled, by dropping suddenly upon deer and NOTES. -a The lion, properly so called, is found only on the Eastern Continent, particularly in Asia and Africa. b Union; a name sometimes given to the United States other quadrupeds, to secure prey which it would be impossible for it to overtake. 8. In the day time, the cougar is seldom seen, but its peculiar cry frequently thrills the experienced traveler with horror, while encamping in the forest at night; or he is startled to hear the cautious approaches of the animal, stealing step by step toward him, over the crackling brush and leaves, in expectation of springing on an unguarded or sleeping victim, whom nothing but a rapid flight can save. b 9. The following account is from the pen of a gentleman of Lexington, Kentucky. "About the close of the late war," says the writer, "a merchant by the name of Herse, and a fellowtraveler, traveling near Fort Wayne," in Indiana, concluded to pass the night in the woods without a fire; and turning their horses loose, they lay down in their blankets on the leaves. 10. "In the night, they were roused by hearing the horses snort, as they are apt to do on the approach of Indians, and shortly after, they were heard to make several bounds through the woods, as if some one had unsuccessfully attempted to catch them. 11. "After some time had elapsed, they both distinctly heard what they supposed to be a man, crawling toward them on his hands and feet, as they could hear first one hand cautiously extended, and pressed very gently on the leaves to avoid making a noise, then the other, and finally the other limbs in like manner, and with equal care. 12. "When they believed that this felonious visitor was within about ten feet of them, they touched each other, sprung up simultaneously, and rushed to some distance through the woods, where they crouched and remained without further disturbance. A short time after, they heard the NOTES.—a Lex'ington; the oldest town in Kentucky, situated 25 miles east of Frankfort. b Kentuck'y; one of the Western States, situated between Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, on the north, and Tennessee on the south. Fort Wayne; a town situ ated in the north-eastern part of Indiana, on the Maumee river. d In-dï-ä'na; one of the Western States, north of Kentucky. See Indians, p. 131, note b. e horses snorting and bounding furiously through the woods, but they did not venture to arise until broad daylight, being still ignorant of the character of their enemy. 13. "When it was sufficiently light to see, by climbing a sap ling, they discovered the horses at a considerable distance on the prairie. On approaching them, it was at once evident that their disturber had been nothing less than a cougar. It had sprung upon the horses, and so lacerated their flanks with its claws and teeth, that with the greatest difficulty were they able to drive the poor creatures before them. 14. "I now offered a reward of ten dollars to any of the Indians who would bring in this animal, and a few evenings after, on returning from a day's hunting, I found an Indian waiting with the body of the cougar, which he had killed about two hours before. This Indian found its track, which he followed about twelve miles, where he was on the point of abandoning the chase. 15. "At this moment, he heard the bushes rustle, and turning, he saw the beast which had sprung against the body of a tree, to observe its pursuer. He instantly fired, and shot him through the heart, as I found on dissecting the animal. 16. "The Indian dragged the body about a quarter of a mile on the snow, but finding it too heavy, he procured a sled, on which he brought it in. It was six feet and nine inches in length, from the nose to the end of the tail, and the circumference of the body, just below the fore legs, was two feet and seven inches." NOTE. a Prairies are of three kinds; the heathy, which have springs, and are covered with shrubs; the dry, which, in general, are destitute of vegetation except grass, and the alluvial, which have a fertile soil and a rank vegetation. QUESTIONS. 1. What is the cougar sometimes called? 1. Where only is the true lion to be found? 2. How does the cougar compare with the lion in size? 3. What is its color? 5. Where is the cougar found? 5. What is meant by the name Union? 6. What is said of the ferocity of the cougar? 7. How does it seize the prey it cannot overtake? 8. When does the cougar usually seek for its prey? 9. Relate the story of the cougar and travelers? 9. What is said of Lexington 9. What is said of Kentucky? 9. What is said of Fort Wayne? 9. What is said of Indiana? 15. How did the Indian kill the cougar? 16. What is said of his size? |