WHEAT grows from seed which is sown in the fields. When it first comes up it is as green as grass, but, after a time, a strong stalk rises above the green leaves, and an ear of wheat shoots out. The ear is at first soft and green, but when the summer heat has made it ripe, it grows full and hard, and is of a rich reddish brown or golden colour. When quite ripe it is cut down and put into sheaves to dry. Then it is put into a barn, or into stacks to keep it safe. It is next beaten with flails, or put into a mill, and all the grains or seeds of wheat are beaten out of the ears. The stalk is straw, and the shell which was round the grain is chaff. The straw is of use for beds for cows, and for the horse or the ox, and things are made of it. When the grain or seed is all out of the ears, it is sent to a flour-mill and ground into white dust, which is the flour we make into bread. LONG ago, a poor slave, who had run away from his master, was about to be put to death. They brought him to a great wide place, with a wall round it, and a great many seats above, full of people, and let loose a fierce lion upon him, to tear him to pieces, if he could not kill it. The lion sprang at the poor man with a wild, loud roar; but all at once it stood still, wagged its great tail kindly, and leaped round him in joy, and licked his hands like a cat. The people were amazed, and asked the slave how it came about. "When I ran away from my master," said he, "I hid myself in a cave in the waste. Then this lion came moaning to me, and showed me its paw, into which a sharp thorn had run. I drew WRITING COPY.-16. Pride is great folly. out the thorn, and from that time the lion brought wild game to me for food, and we lived in peace with each other in the cave. At the last hunt we were both caught, one in this place, the other in that, and now the good beast is glad to see me again." The people were so pleased with the tale, that they cried out to "give the slave and the lion their lives," which was done, and the `slave and the lion went away with each other. RIDDLE. There are two windows in every man's house. He opens them when he likes and looks out, but no one can look in through them. A MAN was once riding home on his ass, and let his boy walk at his side. "What are you doing, you lazy fellow ?" said a passer-by; "letting your poor boy walk, while you, with your strong legs, ride!" Then the father got off the ass and let the son ride. Some one else passed and said, "That isn't right, boy, to let your father walk while you ride. You have young legs." Then they both got on the ass, and rode on. By and by comes a third man, and he says, "What a shame! two upon a poor beast. It would serve you right to take a stick and give the two of you a good thump!" Then both got off the ass and went a-foot. By comes a fourth man, who says, "You are threestrange friends. Is it not enough for two to walk? It would surely be better for one of you to ride!" Then the father and son tied the legs of the ass together, and got a stout pole and put it between the legs of the ass, and carried the ass on the pole. That came of the hope to please every one. RIDDLE. on the. I fly in the air, and I lie ground; I sit on the tree, and I melt |