once formed a part of a very large town called Dunstable. It was one of the most ancient towns in the county or state, and the Indians frequently attacked it, murdering the inhabitants and destroying their property. The land which lies on the bank of the river is level and rich for farmers to cultivate; but that which lies at a distance from it, is uneven. The uneven land is good for pastures, for orchards of fruit trees, and to raise hay upon. On Nisitissit River, which runs into the Nashua, there are several mills for different purposes; and the Nashua itself has several falls in its course along the border of the town, sufficient for a great number of mills or factories. In the middle of the town there are several handsome dwelling-houses and a meeting-house.

Reading. There are but three towns in the county, which have more people in them than there are in Reading. It is also a very old town; and before many white people lived in this part of the

of its age and its sufferings from the Indians? What is the quality of the land? What is the uneven land good for?

What is said of the mills and falls on Nisitissit and Nashua Rivers ? What buildings are there in the middle of the town? Draw the shape of Reading. Draw the river which passes through the town. What is its name? How is Reading

bounded on the North? East? South? West?

How many towns in the county have more people than Reading? What is said of the age of the town and the suffer

county the Indians frequently troubled the inhabitants. Once four or five of them came from Dunstable to Reading and killed a woman who had eight children. They also killed three of her children, and carried the rest away with them. But some of the white people followed the Indians into the woods, overtook them, and brought back those children whose lives had been preserved. There are several very handsome houses near the meeting-house and some stores. Many of the people who live in Reading are farmers, and cultivate their lands, but there are also a great many shoemakers. Very large quantities of shoes are made in the different parts of the town.

Sherburne is an ancient town, but it is now a very small one, and has but few people. The people generally work upon the land and are good farmers. There is a meeting-house in the

ings of the early inhabitants? Relate the circumstances of an attack upon the town by some Indians who came from Dunstable? What is said of the buildings of the town? What are the employments of the people? What is said of the manufacture of shoes in Reading?

Draw the shape of Sherburne. North East? South? West?

What bounds it on the Which way does Charles

River run while it is a boundary of Sherburne ?

What is said of the age and size of Sherburne? How are the people employed? What is said of the buildings of the

town?

town, and a few good dwelling-houses, but the houses are not generally very handsome.

Shirley. The land in Shirley is not generally of the best quality for cultivation, though some of the farmers raise good crops of hay and grain. The town lies on low land, and its pastures are not so good as those of more hilly towns; and on that account cattle do not grow so fast or so large as they do in many other places. There is a small meeting-house in the middle of the town, and a few good dwelling-houses. But the largest village is in the south part of the town, near a stream, which empties into Nashua River. There are in this village several small mills, a paper-mill, and two cotton factories. many people work in these mills and factories, and live in the houses which have been built near them.

A great

A family of Shakers live in the south part of the town, and their land extends into Lancaster in

Draw the shape of Shirley. What river bounds it on the North ? What river bounds it on the East? What bounds it on the South? West? What river runs through the town? Draw it.

What is the quality of the land in Shirley? What is said: of the pastures? What buildings are there in the middle of the town and where is the largest village? What mills and facto-ries are there in the village?

In what part of the town do the Shakers live? What is

Worcester County. The Shakers are very industrious and good people, though they have many customs, which appear singular to those who do not belong to their society. The family consists of nearly two hundred persons, and they live and work together in their shops and on their land. The Shakers do not allow marriage among their number. They think it is contrary to the Bible, and therefore sinful. The men and women who belong to the same society do not live in the same houses, nor sit at the same table to eat their food, nor enter their meeting-house for worship at the same door. This seems to people generally to be very singular; but the Shakers think it is right according to the Bible, and therefore they hold their peculiar customs, though all other people do differently. The society of Shakers own all their property in common. They do not trade and make bargains with one another like other people, but each has an equal right to all that belongs to the whole society. The children belonging to said of the character and customs of the Shakers? How many are there in the society? Are the Shakers married like other people? Why? What peculiar customs have the Shakers about living, eating, and going to their meeting-house for worship? Why do they hold such singular customs? How do they own their property? Do they trade with one another?

read and write,

Then they are

laid out in handsome They look as if they

the Shakers are taken from poor families in the neighbouring towns, and supported without expense to their parents. They are well clothed, and kept at school till they can and are large enough to work. employed on the farm or in the garden, or in the workshops. The aged, sick, and infirm people among the Shakers do not work more than they please, but they are taken good care of by the rest of the society till they die. The farms belonging to the Shakers are lots and have good fences. were well cultivated, and as if they produced large crops. In the gardens they raise large quantities of seeds of all kinds, which are prepared in small papers and sold in the neighbouring towns. In the workshops they make a great many kinds of small articles, such as people will buy and pay them money for. All the houses, barns, and shops belonging to the society make a considerable village, and it looks very neat to one passing by it. The society seem to have all

How do the Shakers receive little children into their society? How do they treat them? How are the aged, sick, and infirm treated? What is the appearance of the farms of the Shakers? What do they raise in their gardens ? What is made in their workshops ? What is said of the buildings belonging to the