7. In looking at an elephant, one would hardly suppose that the solemn, stately brute could ever condescend to be funny; but we are told that some years ago the keeper of a menagerie, hearing a noise in the elephant's apartment, went thither. It was about two o'clock at night, and he found the creature practising a dance to the tune of "Nancy Dawson," which he had been taught some days beforc. 8. In a zoological garden in London were once an elephant and a rhinoceros, who frequently amused themselves with each other. The elephant used to tickle the rhinoceros with his trunk, and then stroke his ears, now and then giving his tail a sly pull. Upon this the rhinoceros would cut a clumsy caper, wheel round and nibble the elephant's trunk with his huge lips. 9. It is probable that all animals, even the most sedate and solemn in appearance, have their amusements. We often see even the usually grave cows and oxen so excited by the gambols of the younger animals as to toss their tails in air, and scamper over the fields with all the gayety of youth. At such a time even the old mare will join in the race, while the geese, catching the spirit of fun, will fly over the fences and houses, cackling like so many children broken loose from school. 10. The squirrels seem to spend a great part of their lives in frolic. They are like jolly sprites, flying rather than leaping from tree to tree. Even in eating their nuts they are scarcely able to suppress their fun. 11. The hunters tell us that the otter, which is a peculiarly shy creature, is a great lover of sport. These animals have a mode of sliding down hill, in which they show as much animation as boys. They do not wait for snow, nor do they use sleds, but they stretch themselves flat and glide down the slippery banks of the lakes and streams, plunging into the water, and then scrambling out, and sliding down again. They enter into this amusement with all their heart, and chase each other up and down; he that goes the quickest seeming to be thought the best fellow. 12. A forest on a fine morning in spring seems to be a mere sporting ground for birds. There they play "hide and seek," run races, and engage in mock battles, evidently relishing such things as much as if they were a parcel of school-children making the most of Saturday. 13. In Australia there are birds that build bowers for their amusement; from which circumstance they derive the name of "bowerbirds." These bowers are built of twigs, and beautifully lined with tall grasses. They are adorned with the most gay-colored articles that the birds can find; such as the feathers of parrots, shells, pebbles, and bleached bones. 14. These bowers are not the nests of the birds, but their play grounds, their "ball-rooms," as they have been called. Here the feathered bipeds devote themselves to the elegancies and amusements of life in perhaps as rational a way as featherless bipeds do. Here many individuals of both sexes meet, and run through and around the bowers in a sportive and playful manner, dancing to the music of their own buoyant feelings. 15. The bower-birds have the dancing without any music; there are many birds that have music without the dancing. The power of song seems to form an inexhaustible source of delight to the performers themselves; and it is probable that almost all birds enjoy the music of such skillful performers as the wood-thrush, the catbird, and, above all, the mocking-bird. 16. The amusements of the lower animals are not confined to mere physical exertions. Some of their sports may be said to be in a certain degree intellectual. They seem to have a perception of humor. Hunters tell us that young bears not only race, wrestle, and scamper with each other, but that they often tease their old mothers by hiding themselves among the trees and rocks. After a time they come out, leering and grinning as if they thought the thing a capital joke. 17. A painter went to the Garden of Plants in Paris for the purpose of taking the portrait of an elephant. Wishing to represent him in a striking attitude, he employed a little boy to throw apples into the elephant's mouth, which obliged the animal to keep his trunk uplifted. 18. By the painter's directions the boy occasionally deceived the elephant by merely pretending to throw, and thus made the supply of apples last longer. The animal expressed no anger at the frequent disappointments, but, keeping his eye on the well-filled bag, he crunched with apparent good-humor the apples that were thrown. 19. When all the apples were gone the elephant went to his water-tank, as if for the purpose of washing down his repast. A few more touches would have finished the picture, when a well-directed stream of water discharged from the elephant's trunk spoiled the picture and drenched the painter. The animal evidently enjoyed the joke; for he walked proudly round his enclosure, uttering sounds of satisfaction which seemed equivalent to a laugh. 20. An Irish terrier, named Rory,was particularly fond of terrifying lapdogs, a species of animal which he held in supreme contempt. On one occasion he met a very fat lapdog waddling along the streets with its mistress, an equally fat old lady. Rory looked at it for a short time, and then gave it a pat which rolled it over on its back. 21. Its mistress immediately snatched it up, and put it on her muff; whereupon Rory raised himself on his hind legs, and walked along by her side, making occasional snatches at the lapdog. The terrified old lady struck at him with her boa, which Rory immedi ately caught in his mouth, dashing off with it down the street in an ecstasy of delight, ever and anon tripping over it, and rolling head over heels. 22. A. favorite magpie was accustomed to receive bits of sugar or other dainties from the mouth of its mistress. Its usual way of begging was to perch on her shoulder and insert its beak between her lips. One day the bird took its place, and presented its beak as usual-not, however, as it proved, to beg, but to give; for no sooner did she open her lips than the grateful bird dropped an immense, fat, green caterpillar into the lady's mouth. 23. A sky-lark, which was found in a nest in the grass, was taken to the house and domesticated. The little creature seemed almost as happy as if enjoying his natural liberty. 24. There was a gentleman, an intimate friend of the family, who, in his repeated visits, had made himself familiar with Tommy. Whenever he made a morning call he would say, "Ha! Tommy! good morning to you! Are you ready for a game at shuttlecock?" The little creature would instantly fly to his extended hand, and suffer himself to be thrown into the air like that toy, and fall again into the gentleman's hand. So the game would continue for several minutes, until at length Tommy would fly to the ceiling, singing, at his utmost pitch, that splendid melody natural to the lark. 25. Another game which Tommy perfectly understood was "hideand-go-seek." One of the young ladies would say, "Now Tommy, I am going to hide;" then drawing the room-door open, she would place herself behind it, and cry, "Whoop!" Tommy would immediately commence strutting up and down the floor, and, stretching out his neck, would peer under the tables and behind the chairs as if he was seeking for her. At length coming opposite to where she stood, he would give a loud scream, and fly up to attack her hair. 26. When this was over the young lady would say, "Now, Tommy, it is your turn to hide." Immediately the bird would stand still under a table, and she would commence a diligent search. "Where is Tommy? Has any one seen Tommy?" In the mean time no sound or movement on his part gave the least indication that he was in the room; but the moment she thought proper to find him he would again scream, and fly up to her bosom. 27. A friend owned a colt of uncommon beauty and intelligence. This colt, when about a year and a half old, saw for the first time a string of bells hung round his mother's neck when she was harnessed for a drive. As she moved off at a brisk pace the bells jingled merrily in the frosty air. 28. This novel sound immediately arrested his attention, and seemed to please him greatly. He stood with uplifted ears, watching and listening, till the sleigh had passed out of sight and hearing. Then, giving a snort and a rear, he capered round the barnyard in a state of unusual excitement. 29 When the mare returned the sound of the bells attracted him from afar, and he appeared to observe them closely while they were taken off and laid in the sleigh with the harness. 30. As soon as the man had left them the colt seized them between his teeth, and began to trot up and down the road, shaking them with prodigious satisfaction. This manner of playing old horse was evidently as entertaining to the colt as it is to a boy to play soldier with feathered cap and drum. 31. If we descend to the tribes of insects, we find that even among them a great part of the time is devoted to sport. A poet addressing the grasshopper and the cricket says, "O sweet and tiny cousins, that belong, One to the fields, the other to the hearth, Both have your sunshine; both, though small, are strong At your clear hearts; and both were sent on earth To sing in thoughtful ears this natural song,- LESSON CCXVII. CON-VUL'SION, violent spasm and con- | traction of the muscles produced by pain. CRE-DEN TIAL, proof of authority. JU'DAH, Judea, the land of the Jews. MAIL, armor made of steel rings or net- POLE'-STAR, the North Star, which never STIM'U-LATE, to give vigor and energy. PRONUNCIATION.-Gen'cr-al 36, un-shrink'ing 23, hosʼtile 5a, Ju'dah (not Ju'dee) 7, gath-er (not geth'er) 34, car cass-es 1. DAVID AND GOLIATH. Goliath. WHERE is the mighty man of war, who dares Accept the challenge of Philistia's chief? What victor king, what general drenched in blood, Thick set with spears and swords and coats of mail Direct my sight. I do not war with boys. where! D. I stand prepared my single arm to thine. G. Why, this is mockery, minion! it may chance Expects his death from me? Which is the man D. The election of my sovereign falls on me. D. Thou foul idolater! I do defy thee, Hast thou not scorned The armies of the living God I serve? By me he will avenge upon thy head Thy nation's sins and thine. Armed with his name, That ever bathed his hostile spear in blood. G. Now will I meet thee, Thou insect warrior, since thou darest me thus. Dissevered each from each, ere long to feed The fierce blood-snuffing vulture. Mark me well! No: D. G. The curses of Philistia's gods be on thee! Mark us well. D. Ha! sayest thou so? Come on then. |