VII Lazy Ned. (38)
1. “’T is royal fun,” cried lazy Ned,
“To coast, upon my fine, new sled,
And beat the other boys;
But then, I can not bear to climb
The tiresome hill, for every time
It more and more annoys.”
2. So, while his schoolmates glided by,
And gladly tugged uphill, to try
Another merry race,
Too indolent to share their plays,
Ned was compelled to stand and gaze,
While shivering in his place.
3. Thus, he would never take the pains
To seek the prize that labor gains,
Until the time had passed;
For, all his life, he dreaded still
The silly bugbear of uphill,
And died a dunce at last.
DEFINITIONS.-l. Roy’al, excellent, noble. Coast, to slide. An—noys’, troubles. 2. In’do-lent, lazy. 3. Prize, a reward. Bug-bear, something frightful. Dunce, a silly fellow.
EXERCISES.—What did Ned like? What did he not like?