They sat down and watched it carefully. "It is an insect," said the teacher. "Now, James, tell me how its body is marked." "The upper part of its body," said James, as he turned it over with a stick, "is black, marked with green lines. The under part is white." 66 Now, notice its wings," said the teacher, holding it in his hand. "Its wings are thin as gauze, and it has four: two large and two small ones." "That is correct, James; and now tell me what else you can about it." "Its eyes stand out from the sides of its head. It has six legs, and each leg ends in a large claw." "Yes, James," said the teacher; "and you remember we heard one sing in the elm tree. We say it sings, but the cicada does not really sing. It has a little instrument on each side of its body. With these it makes the noise we heard. There, you can hear it again." "How do they grow?" asked James. "The mother cicada stings the branches of the trees and lays her eggs in the holes she makes in the branches. "When the eggs are hatched, out creeps a little worm. This falls to the ground; and, as it then has no wings, it crawls into the ground. This worm makes its way to the roots of the trees. Upon these roots it feeds. "By and by it comes to the top of the ground again. But a wonderful thing hapto the cicada now. Its shell pens 66 'Oh, yes; I see," cried James; "that is why I found so many shells with the backs cracked open." "Just so," answered his teacher. In Greece long ago the people kept these little insects in cages, because they loved to hear them sing. The brook is brimmed with melting snow, The maple sap is running, And on the highest elm a crow His coal-black wings is sunning. A close, green bud, the Mayflower lies Upon its mossy pillow; And sweet and low the south wind blows, And through the brown fields calling goes, 66 Come, Pussy! Pussy Willow! Within your close brown wrapper stir; Come out and show your silver fur: Soon red will bud the maple trees, And bluebirds will be singing, And yellow tassels in the breeze Be from the poplars swinging; And rosy will the Mayflower lie Upon its mossy pil low; "But you must come the first of all ; Come, Pussy!" is the south wind's call. "Come, Pussy! Pussy Willow! A fairy gift to children dear, The downy firstling of the year: Come, Pussy! Pussy Willow!" Spärta ancient com'pa ny à re nå reeds de fend' rushes XXII. THE BOYS OF SPARTA. A part of ancient Greece was called Sparta. The people of Sparta loved their country and gladly gave their lives to defend it. One of their wise men was asked what the people might do to help their country. said, He Make the youth of the country strong." So Sparta had schools in which the boys were made strong. The boys, at seven years of age, were put into companies. These com |