Part 20

which — together, +welcher die Geister der Kontinente mit einander verbindet+; before — elapse = in a few years.

See App. § 16.

to put a girdle round the globe, +einen Gürtel rings um die Erde ziehen+. ‘+Rings um die Erde zieh’ ich einen Gürtel in viermal zehn Minuten.+’ +Puck, Sommernachtstraum.+

Section 22.

OATS.

Oats are (S. 2, N. 1) chiefly used whole as food for horses. Ground into meal, they are used in some countries (especially in Scotland) for making porridge and cakes. As a plant, it is extremely hardy, and grows where neither wheat nor barley could be made productive. For this reason it is a favourite crop in mountainous countries and moist climates—for example in Scotland and Wales. It (S. 5, N. 2) also grows luxuriantly in Australia, Northern and Central Asia, and in North America.—NELSON’S READERS.

+Der Hafer+, which noun is never used in the plural.

whole, +ungemahlen+; to use, +benutzen+; food for horses, +Pferdefutter+, n.

Ground — meal, +zu Mehl vermahlen+; they — used = one uses (+gebrauchen+) it (m.). see S. 4, N. 4; ‘country’, here +Gegend+.

for — cakes, +um Mehlsuppe und Kuchen daraus zu machen+.

‘As — hardy’, say ‘The plant is extremely hardy (+kräftig+)’.

could — productive = would thrive.

For — reason, +Daher+, adv., App. § 14. Render the pron. ‘it’ by ‘+der Hafer+’; a favourite crop, +das Hauptgetreide+.

in +Nord- und Mittelasien+.

Section 23.

SPRING-BLOSSOMS.

The blossoms of Spring are as brief as they are beautiful. For a short time they embellish the country, spreading, as it were, a bridal veil over every tree and hedge. It seems, indeed, as if Nature had given them existence only to (S. 19, N. 7) show their worth, and then to destroy them. Yet they are “fair pledges of a fruitful tree,” and teach us the solemn lesson—that everything lovely on earth is destined soon to perish, and like them to glide into the grave.—REV. E. M. DAVIES.

+Frühlingsblüten.+

+vergänglich.+

+Auf+; to embellish, +schmücken+.

spreading = and spread; as it were, +gleichsam+.

‘every — hedge’, say ‘hedges and trees’.

+wirklich+; as — only, +als hätte die Natur ihnen nur das Dasein verliehen+.

‘Yet — tree’, say ‘They are however the lovely messengers (+Vorboten+) of a fruitful (+fruchtreich+) tree’.

solemn lesson, +ernste Wahrheit+.

that — perish, +daß alles Schöne auf Erden der Vergänglichkeit geweiht ist+.

‘and — grave’, say ‘and like the blossoms must (App. § 18) glide (+sinken+) into an early grave’.

Section 24.