LONDON:
BLACKIE & SON, 49 & 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C.

GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, AND DUBLIN.

PREFACE.

THE special features in these Readers are: (1) They are progressive,
comprehensive, and are written in language suitable to the minds of
children; (2) They are carefully graduated and systematically ar-
ranged.

It is confidently hoped, that the subjects selected will be found
such as will foster in the youthful mind a love of reading and a high
moral tone of feeling and conduct. Kindness to animals is inculcated
in a variety of illustrative instances, so as to strike the mind and
impress the memory of the pupil.

Prefixes derived from the Latin,

Prefixes derived from the Greek,

Derivations of some of the Words occurring in this Book, 310

I. Derivatives from the Latin,

II. Derivatives from the Greek,

310

318

309

310

FIFTH READER.

THE HAPPINESS OF ANIMAL LIFE.

1. This world is a happy world after all. The air, the earth, the water teem with delighted existence. In a spring noon or a summer evening, on whichever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my view. The insect youth are on the wing. Swarms of new-born flies are trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual change of place, testify their joy, and the exultation they feel in their lately discovered faculties.

2. A bee, amongst the flowers in spring, is one of the most cheerful objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment; so busy and so pleased; yet it is only a specimen of insect life with which we are better acquainted than that of others. The whole winged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally intent upon their proper employments.

3. But the atmosphere is not the only scene of enjoyment for the insect race. Plants are covered with aphides, greedily sucking their juices, and constantly, as it would seem, in the act of sucking. It cannot be doubted that this is a state of gratification. What else should fix them