Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 20

5. In another instant, before the spectators had thought of the danger, and before its friends could secure it, the fawn was leaping wildly through the street, and the hound in full chase. The by-standers were eager to save it; several persons instantly followed its track; the friends who had long fed and fondled it, were calling the name it had hitherto known; but, in vain.

6. The hunter endeavored to call back his dog; but, with no better success. In half a minute, the fawn had turned the first corner, dashed onward toward the lake, and thrown itself into the water. But, if, for a moment, the startled creature believed itself safe in the lake, it was soon undeceived; for the hound followed in hot and eager chase, while a dozen village dogs joined in the pursuit.

7. A large crowd collected on the bank--men, women, and children,--anxious for the fate of the little animal. Some threw themselves into boats, hoping to intercept the hound before he reached his prey. But the splashing of the oars, the voices of men and boys, and the barking of the dogs, must have filled the beating heart of the poor fawn with terror and anguish; as if every creature on the spot where it had once been caressed and fondled, had suddenly turned into a deadly foe.

8. It was soon seen that the fawn was directing its course across a bay, toward the nearest borders of the forest. Immediately the owner of the hound crossed the bridge, ran at full speed in the same direction, hoping to stop his dog as he landed. On swam the fawn, as it had never swam before; its delicate head scarcely seen above the water, but leaving a disturbed track which betrayed its course alike to anxious friends and fierce enemies.

9. As it approached the land, the interest became intense. The hunter was already on the same side of the lake, calling loudly and angrily to his dog; but the animal seemed to have quite forgotten his master's voice in the pitiless pursuit. The fawn touched the land; in one leap, it had crossed the narrow piece of beach, and, in another instant, it would reach the cover of the woods.

10. The hound followed true to the scent, aiming at the same spot on the sh.o.r.e. His master, anxious to meet him, had run at full speed, and was now coming up at the same critical moment. Would the dog listen to his voice? Could the hunter reach him in time to seize and control him? A shout from the spectators proclaimed that the fawn had pa.s.sed out of sight into the forest. At the same instant, the hound, as he touched the land, felt the hunter's strong arm clutching his neck.

11. The worst was believed to be over; the fawn was leaping up the mountain-side, and its enemy restrained. The other dogs, seeing their leader cowed, were easily managed. A number of men and boys dispersed themselves through the wood in search of the little creature; but, without success. They all returned to the village, reporting that the animal had not been seen by them. Some persons thought that, after its fright had pa.s.sed over, it would return of its own accord.

12. It wore a pretty collar with its owner's name engraved upon it, so that it could be easily known from any other fawn, that might be straying about the woods. Before many hours had pa.s.sed, a hunter presented himself before the lady, whose pet the little creature had been, and showed a collar with her name upon it. He said that he was out hunting in the morning, and saw a fawn in the distance. The little creature, instead of bounding away as he expected, moved toward him. He took aim, fired, and shot it to the heart.

13. When he found the collar about its neck, he was very sorry he had killed it. One would have thought that that terrible chase would have made it afraid of man; but no; _it forgot the evil_, and _remembered the kindness only_; and came to meet, as a friend, the hunter who shot it.

It was long mourned by its best friend.

QUESTIONS.--1. Where did the lady reside who kept this pet fawn? 2. Is there a lake near that village? 3. What river rises in that lake? 4.

Describe the chase of the pet fawn. 5. How came it to be shot? 6. What did it forget, and what remember?

LESSON XII.

IN' FLU ENCE, moral power.

DROOP' ED. bent over; languished.

TING' ED, stained; colored.

DEL' I CATE, soft; tender.

TRIB' UTE, pay; requital.

CASE' MENT, window.

PERCH' ED, alighted.

PLAINT' IVE, sorrowful.

AF FRIGHT' ED, alarmed.

TIM' ID, fearful; timorous.

RE STRAIN' ED, held back.

AT TEST', bear witness.

SUA' SION, act of persuading.

COM PLI' ANCE, submission.

PAL' ED, inclosed.

DE BAS' ED, degraded.

DE' VI ATE, wander; stray.

LE' NI ENT, mild; merciful.

KINDNESS.

KATE CLARENCE.

1. Not _man_ alone, but _every thing_ in nature, owns its influence. I knew a little flower that sprang up amidst the weeds and brambles of a long-neglected garden; but soon drooped its slender stem, and its leaves grew tinged from the waste around.

2. I took it to my home, supported its drooping stem, and placed it where the warm sunshine and refreshing showers cheered its little life.

Again it raised its beautiful head, and its delicate buds burst forth in gladness; and when the winds of autumn came, the dying flower gave up to me its golden seeds--a thankful tribute for my love. 'Twas a little thing, but _kindness_ did the deed.

3. There came to my cas.e.m.e.nt, one winter's morning, a shivering, starving bird, and perched itself there, striving to tell its tale of suffering; but feeble were its plaintive notes, and its glossy breast was ruffled in the blast. I raised the window. Affrighted, the little wanderer spread its wings, as if to soar away; but, weak and faint, it sank fluttering in my outstretched hands. I drew it in. Alarmed, it darted round and round the room, and beat against the frosted pane. _O Cruelty! thou hast taught even the little birds to doubt!_

4. When the little stranger grew less timid, I gave it clear water, and tempting food, and so, for many weeks, we dwelt together; but when came the first warm, sunny day, I opened my doors, and it flew away,--_away up, up_ into the dark-blue heavens, till it was lost to my eager gaze.

5. But not an hour had pa.s.sed, ere I heard the flutter of its tiny wings, and saw, without, its little breast glittering in the golden sunbeams. It had a joyous life. No wired cage restrained its restless wing; but, free as the summer cloud, would it come each day, and gladly would my delighted soul drink in the silvery notes of its gladdening melody.

6. And it is not _birds_ and _flowers_ alone, that, treated with kindness flourish so brightly 'neath its heaven-born rays. Individuals, families, nations, attest its truth. _Legal suasion_ may frighten to compliance, but _moral suasion_ rules the will.

7. To the erring wanderer, in the by and forbidden paths of sin, with a heart paled in darkness, and lost to every better feeling of his nature, one little word, one little act of kindness, however slight, will find a sunny resting-place in that sinful shade, and prove a light to guide the wayward one to holier and better deeds. The lion licked the hand that drew the thorn from his wounded foot; and Powhatan stayed the descending club, when the burning lips of the Indian girl pressed the prisoner's [Footnote: Captain Smith] pallid brow.

8. And it is _ever_ thus. There beats not a heart, however debased by sin, or darkened by sorrow, that has not its n.o.blest impulses aroused, in view of a _generous and kindly action_. The Holy Father implanted His own pure principles in the breast of _every one_, and widely do we deviate from their just dictates, when an unkind word, or an unkind act, wounds a broken heart, or crushes a loving, gentle nature.

9. "_Speak not harshly_,--much of care Every human heart must bear; Enough of shadows rudely play Around the very sunniest way; Enough of sorrows darkly lie Vailed within the merriest eye.

By thy childhood's gushing tears, By thy grief in after years, By the anguish thou dost know, _Add not to another's woe._

10. "_Speak not harshly_,--much of sin Dwelleth every heart within; In its closely caverned cells, Many a wayward pa.s.sion dwells.

By the many hours misspent, By the gifts to error lent, By the wrongs thou didst not shun, By the good thou hast not done, With a lenient spirit scan The weakness of thy brother man."

QUESTIONS.--1. On what has kindness an influence? 2. What influence had it upon the little flower? 3. What, upon the little bird? 4. What is said of cruelty? 5. What is said of legal and moral suasion? 6. What is said of the lion? 7. Of Powhatan? 8. Why ought we not to speak harshly?

LESSON XIII.

SHAFT, arrow; _here_, careless word.

MES' SEN GERS, message-bearers.

PANG, distress; anguish.

SPELLS, charms; enchantments.

SEAL' ED, closed up; under seal.

SEP' UL CHER, (_ch_ like _k_), grave; tomb.

SUM' MON ED, called.

AG' O NY, extreme suffering.

WRING, writhe.

UN A WARES, unconsciously.

MIN' GLES, unites; mixes.

EN DEAR' ING, kind; affectionate.

E CLIPSE', darkness; obscuration.

CHER' ISH ED, fostered.

EN SHRIN' ED, sacredly preserved.

UT' TER ED, expressed.

CARELESS WORDS.