basket of ears, Samuel asked his cousins, why corn was sometimes called
Indian corn.

"It is because it formed the chief food of the Indians, before white men
came to this country," replied Thomas. "Father says its proper name is
maize. It was first found in this country; and there are some parts of
America where it is used altogether instead of wheat or rye. Did you
ever taste cakes made from it?"

"Yes," said Samuel; "they were sweeter than wheat bread; but I would not
like to eat them every day."

"Nor I either," said John; "but I like Indian meal with sugar, eggs, and
milk in it, and then baked brown in the oven. Don't you, Samuel?"

"I never tasted it that way. But I think corn is best boiled on the ear,
and eaten with meat and vegetables."

Mr. Harvey's library, as I have already told you, was very large. He
spent much time in the room where it was, either reading or writing. In
the afternoon, after the boys had gathered the corn, he called them into
this room, and showed them some beautiful pictures of animals and
countries. While looking at them, Samuel asked him if he thought every
animal had been made for some useful purpose.

"Yes, my boy," answered his uncle; "we have reason to believe that even
things which appear to be entirely useless, such as gravel stones, or
weeds, have been made by God for some good end. The more we learn about
animals and plants, the more plainly this appears. I will show you the
picture of a very curious animal, called a Sloth. It looks a little like