oblique, not parallel sides. A figure of this kind is called a cone, or its shape is called conical. A sugar-loaf is conical, broad at the base, and small at the apex.

Some objects are round, like a ball. An orange is nearly round; and so is the Earth nearly round. A round object is sometimes called a sphere, or is said to be spherical.

Some figures are of an oval form, thus:

The oval is not a true

An oval is also called an ellipse. round or circle; it is like a circle drawn out on two opposite sides. An egg is oval or elliptical in figure, but it is not a perfect oval, because one end of it is generally smaller than the other.

Every one knows what is meant by a flat or level surface. The table is flat, the floor is flat, and many other things are flat. Some objects, however, are not perfectly flat; they have a rounded or bulged-out surface. When a surface rises in this manner, it is said to be convex. is a specimen of a convex surface rising from a flat surface.

Here

Some objects are convex on two sides, thus:

The glasses or lenses in spectacles are generally convex;

that is, they are thicker at the middle than they are at

the edges.

Surfaces may be concave. A concave surface is a rounded hollow like the inside of a basin. A flat object may also be hollowed out, so as to form a concave surface on one side, or it may be hollowed on both sides to form a double concave.

cam'pion.
rev'erence.

THE NETTLE-KING.

stellar'ia.

Veron'ica.

There was a Nettle both great and strong; and the threads of his poison flowers were long; he rose up in strength and height also, and he said: 'I'll be king of the plants below!' It was in a wood both drear and dank, where grew the Nettle so broad and rank; and an Owl sat up in an old ash tree that was wasting away so silently; and a Raven was perched above his head, and they both of them heard what the Nettle-king said; and there was a Toad that sat below, chewing his venom sedate and slow, and he heard the words of the Nettle also.

:

The Nettle he throve, and the Nettle he grew, and the strength of the earth around him he drew there was a pale Stellaria meek, but as he grew strong, so she grew weak; there was a Campion, crimson-eyed, but as he

grew up, the Campion died; and the blue Veronica, shut from light, faded away in a sickly white; for upon his leaves a dew there hung, that fell like a blight from a serpent's tongue; nor was there a flower about the spot, Herb-Robert, Harebell, or Forget-me-not. Yet up grew the Nettle like water-sedge, higher and higher above the hedge; the stuff of his leaves was strong and stout, and the points of his stinging flowers stood out; and the child that went in the wood to play, from the great King-nettle would shrink away!

I am

'Now,' says the Nettle, 'there's none like me ; as great as a plant can be! I have crushed each weak and tender root with the mighty power of my kingly foot; I have spread out my arms so strong and wide, and opened my way on every side; I have drawn from the earth its virtues fine, to strengthen for me each poisonspine both morn and night my leaves I've spread, and upon the falling dews have fed, till I am as great as a forest-tree; the great wide world is the place for me!' said the Nettle-king in his bravery.

Just then came up a Woodman stout, in the thick of the wood he was peering about; the Nettle looked up, the Nettle looked down, and graciously smiled on the simple clown: 'Thou knowest me well, Sir Clown,' said he; 'and 'tis meet that thou reverence one like me!' Nothing at all the man replied, but he lifted a scythe that was at his side, and he cut the Nettle up by the root, and trampled it under his heavy foot; he saw where the Toad in its shadow lay, but he said not a word, and went his way.

A NIGHT-SCENE IN A POOR MAN'S HOUSE (1).

betimes', early, very soon.

com'fortlessly, not giving any com

fort.

exclaimed', cried out.

attended to by the wife of the house.

huddled, crowded close.

impatiently, without patience.

hope'fully, with hope of being increased', made more in number.

rejoined', said in answer or reply.

able to pay it. housewifery, affairs of the house, unobserved', not seen or noticed.

It was the middle of winter, on the night of the 23d of January, when the weather was miserably cold; it neither decidedly froze, nor yet did it thaw; but between the two it was cold and damp, and penetrated to the very bone, even of those who sat in carpeted rooms before large fires, and were warmly clad.

It was on this evening that the seven little children of David Baird, the weaver, stood huddled together in their small room, beside a small fire, which was burning comfortlessly. The baby lay in a wooden cradle at one corner of the hearth. The fire, to be sure, gave some warmth, because it had boiled a potful of potatoes, but it gave very little cheeriness to the room. The mother had portioned out the evening meal-a few potatoes to each-and she now sat down by the round table, lighted the farthing candle, and was preparing to do some little piece of housewifery.

'May I stir the fire?' asked David, the eldest boy. 'No, no,' replied the mother; it burns away too fast if it is stirred.'

'I wish we had a good fire!' sighed Judith, the second girl.

'Bless me!' said the mother, it is a good fire! Why,

I

there's Dame Grundy and her grandchild gone to bed because they have no fire at all!'

'I should like some more salt to my potatoes,' said little Bessy; 'may I have some more, mother?' '

There is none, child,' she replied; I put the last in the pot.'

'O dear!' cried out little Joey, my feet are so bad! They get no better, mother, though I did beat them with holly.'

'Poor thing!' sighed the mother; 'I wish you had better shoes.'

'There's a pair,' said Joey briskly, 'at Timmy Nixon's, for fourteen-pence.'

"Fourteen-pence!' repeated the mother; 'it would take a long time to get fourteen-pence.'

'Mat Willis begged a pair of nice warm boots,' replied Joey.

'We will not beg,' said the mother, if we can help it -but let me see the shoes;' and Joey put up one of his frost-bitten feet on his mother's knee. 'Bless thee! my poor lad,' said the mother, 'thou shalt not go to work again till it is warmer.'

'Mother,' interrupted little Susan, may I have some more?'

'There is no more,' said she; but I have a whole loaf yet.'

"O dear, O dear, how nice!' cried the children, clapping their hands; and give Joey the bottom crust,' said one, because of his poor feet.'

'And give me a big bit,' cried Susan, holding out a fat little hand.

The mother divided the loaf-setting aside a piece for her husband-and presently the husband came.