"Teacher told us that all rotting or decaying matter in dustheaps and manure heaps gives off bad gases. These bad gases would be sure to find their way into any water that was near, and we could not drink such water without being made very ill.
"The cistern which holds the water for drinking and cooking our food should be kept as far as possible from rubbish and manure heaps, and bad smells of all kinds.""There is one great use of water," said Fred, "that depends upon its being absorbent. Just think of the fishes and other animals that live entirely in the water. These animals all require air. Without air they would die.""But how can they get air in the water, Fred?" said Norah. "Do they come up to the top every time they want to breathe?""No," said Fred, "they do not. Many of these creatures never come to the surface of the water at all. Yet they breathe freely, because there is plenty of air in the water.
"The water is absorbent. It is constantly sucking in air all over its surface. It is this air which the fishes and other creatures breathe."SUMMARY
