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.

4.  She brought her bread and milk to eat under the trees, and was sure to leave crumbs for the squirrels.

5.  When they came near, she sat very still and watched them.  So, little by little, she made them her friends, till, at last, they would sit on her shoulder, and eat from her hand.

6.  Squirrels build for themselves summer houses.  Those are made of leaves, and sticks, and moss.  They are nice and cool for summer, but would never do for the winter cold and snow.

7.  So these wise little people find a hollow in an old tree.  They make it warm and snug with soft moss and leaves; and here the squirrels live all through the long winter.

LESSON XXVII.

fright’ened int end’ wheat Thom’as com plains’ plums

choose shock’ing spar’row rip’est rob’bing

break’fast plen’ty share treat tales wait

[Illustration:  Sparrow perched on snow-covered branch.]

THE SPARROW.

1.  Glad to see you, little bird;
   ’Twas your little chirp I heard: 
   What did you intend to say? 
   “Give me something this cold day”?

2.  That I will, and plenty, too;
   All the crumbs I saved for you. 
   Don’t be frightened—­here’s a treat: 
   I will wait and see you eat.

3.  Shocking tales I hear of you;
   Chirp, and tell me, are they true? 
   Robbing all the summer long;
   Don’t you think it very wrong?

4.  Thomas says you steal his wheat;
   John complains, his plums you eat—­
   Choose the ripest for your share,
   Never asking whose they are.

5.  But I will not try to know
   What you did so long ago: 
   There’s your breakfast, eat away;
   Come to see me every day.

LESSON XXVIII.

aft’er noon    sup’per    deep      length    car’riage    threw
hedge          stood      tru’ly    road      few          sad

[Illustration:  Woman and boy riding in carriage pulled by horse.  Man in foreground holding gate open for carriage.]

SAM AND HARRY.

1.  One fine summer afternoon, Sam was walking home from school.  He went along slowly, reading a book.

2.  Sam had spent all his money for the book, but he was a happy boy.

3.  At length he came into the highroad, where there was a gate.  A blind man stood, holding it open.

4.  The poor man said, “Please give me a few cents to buy some bread!” But Sam gave him nothing.

5.  What! did Sam give the poor blind man nothing?  Yes; for, as I told you, he had spent all his money.