New National Fourth Reader Part 41

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Mothers scream to their children not to swing on the garden gate for fear they may be drowned. Water roads are more frequent there than common roads and railroads; water-fences, in the form of lazy green ditches, inclose pleasure-ground, farm, and garden.

Sometimes fine green hedges are seen; but wooden fences, such as we have in America, are rarely met with in Holland. As for stone fences, a Hollander would lift his hands with astonishment at the very idea.

There is no stone there excepting those great ma.s.ses of rock that have been brought from other lands to strengthen and protect the coast.

All the small stones or pebbles, if there ever were any, seem to be imprisoned in pavements, or quite melted away. Boys, with strong, quick arms, may grow from ap.r.o.ns to full beards without ever finding one to start the water-rings, or set the rabbits flying.

The water roads are nothing less than ca.n.a.ls crossing the country in every direction. These are of all sizes, from the great North Holland Ship Ca.n.a.l, which is the wonder of the world, to those which a boy can leap.

Water-omnibuses constantly ply up and down these roads for the conveyance of pa.s.sengers; and water-drays are used for carrying fuel and merchandise.

Instead of green country lanes, green ca.n.a.ls stretch from field to barn, and from barn to garden; and the farms are merely great lakes pumped dry. Some of the busiest streets are water, while many of the country roads are paved with brick.

The city boats, with their rounded sterns, gilded bows, and gayly-painted sides, are unlike any others under the sun; a Dutch wagon with its funny little crooked pole is a perfect mystery of mysteries.

One thing is clear, you may think that the inhabitants need never be thirsty. But no, Odd-land is true to itself still. With the sea pushing to get in, and the lakes struggling to get out, and the overflowing ca.n.a.ls, rivers, and ditches, in many districts there is no water that is fit to swallow.

Our poor Hollanders must go dry, or send far inland for that precious fluid, older than Adam, yet young as the morning dew.

Sometimes, indeed, the inhabitants can swallow a shower, when they are provided with any means of catching it; but generally they are like the sailors told of in a famous poem, who saw

"Water, water, every-where, Nor any drop to drink!"

Great flapping windmills all over the country make it look as if flocks of huge sea birds were just settling upon it. Every-where one sees the funniest trees, bobbed into all sorts of odd shapes, with their trunks painted a dazzling' white, yellow, or red.

Horses are often yoked three abreast. Men, women, and children, go clattering about in wooden shoes with loose heels.

Husbands and wives lovingly harness themselves side by side on the bank of the ca.n.a.l and drag their produce to market.

Directions for Reading.--Let pupils practice upon the inflections marked in the following

Model.--Houses', bridges', churches', and ships', sprouting into masts', steeples', and trees'.

Which words take the _falling inflection_?

LESSON XL.

whisk'ing, _pulling suddenly and with force_.

lus'ti er, _stronger; louder_.

of fend'ed, _made angry_.

fa mil'iar, _friendly; as of a friend_.

ma'tron ly, _elderly; motherly_.

com mo'tion, _noise; confusion_.

pant'ed, _breathed quickly_.

sa lute', _greeting_.

mute, _silent; unable to speak_.

stur'dy, _strong; powerful_.

ker'chiefs, _pieces of cloth worn about the head_.

a do', _trouble; delay_.

in'mates, _the persons in a house_.

THE WIND IN A FROLIC.

The wind one morning sprung up from sleep, Saying, "Now for a frolic! Now for a leap!

Now for a madcap galloping chase!

I'll make a commotion in every place!"

So it swept with a bustle right through a great town, Creaking the signs and scattering down Shutters, and whisking with merciless squalls, Old women's bonnets and gingerbread stalls.

There never was heard a much l.u.s.tier shout, As the apples and oranges tumbled about.

Then away to the fields it went bl.u.s.tering and humming, And the cattle all wondered whatever was coming.

It pulled by their tails the grave, matronly cows, And tossed the colts' manes all about their brows, Till, offended at such a familiar salute, They all turned their backs and stood silently mute.

So on it went, capering and playing its pranks; Whistling with reeds on the broad river banks; Puffing the birds, as they sat on the spray, Or the traveler grave on the king's highway.

It was not too nice to hustle the bags Of the beggar, and flutter his dirty rags.

'Twas so bold that it feared not to play its joke With the doctor's wig, and the gentleman's cloak.