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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9106-8.txt b/9106-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..720872c --- /dev/null +++ b/9106-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16592 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elson Readers, Book 5 +by William H. Elson and Christine M. Keck +#5 in our series by William H. Elson and Christine M. Keck + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Elson Readers, Book 5 + +Author: William H. Elson and Christine M. Keck + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9106] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 7, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELSON READERS, BOOK 5 *** + + + + +Produced by Mike Pullen. + + + + +THE ELSON READERS + +BOOK FIVE + +WILLIAM H. ELSON AND CHRISTINE M. KECK + + + + +PREFACE + + +This book is based on the belief that an efficient reader for the +fifth grade must score high when tested on five fundamental features: +quality of literature; variety of literature; organization of +literature; quantity of literature; and definite helps sufficient to +make the text a genuine tool for classroom use. + +Quality Literature: + +First among these features is the essential that the foundation of the +book must be the acknowledged masterpieces of American and British +authors. American boys and girls may be depended upon to read current +magazines and newspapers, but if they are ever to have their taste and +judgment of literary values enriched by familiarity with the classics +of our literature, the schools must provide the opportunity. This +ideal does not mean the exclusion of well established present-day +writers, but it does mean that the core of the school reader should be +the rich literary heritage that has won recognition for its enduring +value. Moreover, these masterpieces must come to the pupil in complete +units, not in mere excerpts or garbled "cross-sections"; for the pupil +in his school life should gain some real literary possessions. + +A study of the contents of The Elson Readers, Book Five, will show how +consistently its authors have based the book on this sound test of +quality. The works of the acknowledged "makers" of our literature have +been abundantly drawn upon to furnish a foundation of great stories +and poems, gripping in interest and well within the powers of +child-appreciation in this grade. + +Variety of Literature: + +Variety is fundamental to a well-rounded course of reading. If the +school reader is to provide for all the purposes that a collection +of literature for this grade should serve, it must contain material +covering at least the following types: (1) literature representing +both British and American authors; (2) some of the best modern poetry +and prose as well as the literature of the past; (3) important race +stories--great epics--and world-stories of adventure; (4) patriotic +literature, rich in ideals of home and country, loyalty and service, +thrift, cooperation, and citizenship--ideals of which American +children gained, during the World War, a new conception that the +school reader should perpetuate; (5) literature suited to festival +occasions, particularly those celebrated in the schools: Armistice +Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Arbor Day and Bird Day, +anniversaries of the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington, as well as +of Longfellow and other great American authors; (6) literature of the +seasons, Nature, and out-of-door life; (7) literature of humor that +will enliven the reading and cultivate the power to discriminate +between wholesome humor--an essential part of life--and crude humor, +so prevalent in the pupil's outside reading; (8) adventure stories +both imaginative and real; (9) literature suited to dramatization, +providing real project material. + +This book offers a well-rounded course of reading covering all the +types mentioned above. Especially by means of groups of stories and +poems that portray love of home and its festivals, love of our free +country and its flag, and unselfish service to others, this book makes +a stirring appeal to good citizenship. Moreover, it will be noted that +wholesome ethical ideals pervade the literature throughout. + +Organization of Literature: + +The literature of a school reader, if it is to do effective work, must +be purposefully organized. Sound organization groups into related +units the various selections that center about a common theme. This +arrangement enables the pupil to see the larger dominant ideas of the +book as a whole, instead of looking upon it as a confused scrapbook +of miscellaneous selections. Such arrangement also fosters literary +comparison by bringing together selections having a common theme or +authorship. + +This book has been so organized as to fulfill these purposes. There +are three main Parts, each distinguished by unity of theme or +authorship. Part I, leading from a wholesome appreciation of Nature, +particularly in its American setting, centers mainly about the +important themes of patriotism, service, and good citizenship; Part II +introduces some of the great tales that typify our love of stirring +deeds; Part III presents some of our greatest American authors at +sufficient length to make them stand out to the pupil. Through these +grouped selections, together with the accompanying biographies, pupils +may come to be familiar with and love some of the great company of +writers that have made the name of America known in the world of +literature. + +Attention is called to three special features that keep the dominant +theme of each Part clearly in the foreground: (1) "A Forward Look" and +"A Backward Look" for each main division and important subdivisions +emphasize the larger theme, and show how each selection contributes to +the group-idea (see pages 19, 56, etc.); (2) the Notes and Questions +frequently call the pupil's attention to the relation the selection +bears to the main thought (see pages 39, 75, etc.); (3) the three main +divisions, and the subordinate groups within each main unit, are made +to stand out clearly by illustrations that typify the theme (see +pages 18, 21, etc.) and by topical headings that enable the pupil to +visualize the group-units. By these three means the organization of +the book is emphasized, and fundamental ideals are kept dominant. + + +Quality of Literature: + +Obviously, a book that is to supply the pupil with a year's course in +literature must be a generous volume. Variety is impossible without +quantity, especially where literary wholes rather than mere +fragmentary excerpts are offered. Particularly is this true when +complete units are included not only for intensive study, but also for +extensive reading--longer units, of the so-called "paper classics" +type, to be read mainly for the story-element. In bulk such units +should be as large as the pupil can control readily in rapid silent +reading, a kind of reading that increases the power to enjoy with +intelligence a magazine or a book. + +The Elson Readers, Book Five, is a generous volume in provision for +these needs. Its inclusiveness makes possible a proper balance between +prose and poetry, between long and short selections, and between +material for intensive and extensive reading. + + +Definite Helps: + +If the pupil is to gain the full benefit from his reading, certain +definite helps must be provided. An efficient reader must score a high +test not only on the fundamentals of quality, variety, organization +and quantity of literature, but also on its fitness as a tool for +classroom use. The effectiveness of this Reader as such a tool may be +indicated by the following distinguishing features: + +(1) A distinctive introduction, "The Crystal Glass" (see page 13), +gives the pupil an illuminating interpretation of the organization and +literary content of the volume. + +(2) Definite suggestions for developing speed and concentration in +silent reading. (See pages 21, 30, 34, 163, etc.) + +(3) A comprehensive Glossary (pages 399-418) contains the words +and phrases that offer valuable vocabulary training, either of +pronunciation or meaning. The teacher is free to use the Glossary +according to the needs of her particular class, but suggestive type +words and phrases are listed under Notes and Questions. + +(4) A complete program of study, "How to Gain the Full Benefit from +Your Reading" (pages 28, 29), gives a concise explanation of the +various helps found in the book. + +(5) The helps to study are more than mere notes; they aid in making +significant the larger purposes of the literature. These "Notes and +Questions" include: + + (a) Biographies of the authors, that supply data for interpreting the + stories and poems; particularly helpful are those of Part III; + + (b) Historical settings, wherever they are necessary to the + intelligent understanding of the selection (see pages 94, 105, etc.); + + (c) Questions and suggestions that present clearly the main idea, + stimulate original discussion and comparison, and bring out modern + parallels to the situations found in the selections; + + (d) Words of everyday use frequently mispronounced, listed, for study + under "Discussion" (see page 29, etc.); + + (e) Phrases that offer idiomatic difficulty; for convenience in + locating these phrases the page and line numbers are indicated; + + (f) Projects, individual and social. + + +CONTENTS + +PREFACE +SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ORDER OF READING +THE CRYSTAL GLASS + +PART I + +NATURE--HUMOR--HOME AND COUNTRY + +THE WORLD OF NATURE + +A Forward Look + +ANIMALS + +Turk, The Faithful Dog Samuel White Baker +Our Uninvited Guest Ernest Harold Baynes +Hunting The American Buffalo Theodore Roosevelt + + +BIRDS AND THEIR SONGS + +The Birds And I Liberty H. Bailey +The Brown Thrush Lucy Larcom +Sing On, Blithe Bird William Motherwell + + +FLOWERS + +The Violet And The Bee John B. Tabb +Four-Leaf Clovers Ella Higginson +Jack In The Pulpit Clara Smith + + +TIMES AND SEASONS + +September Helen Hunt Jackson +October's Bright Blue Weather Helen Hunt Jackson +November Alice Cary +Today Thomas Carlyle +The Night Has A Thousand Eyes Francis Bourdillon + +A Backward Look + + +STORIES IN LIGHTER VEIN + +A Forward Look + +Adventures of Munchausen R. E. Raspe +The Blind Men and the Elephant John G. Saxe +Darius Green John T. Trowbridge +Birthday Greetings Lewis Carroll +The Wind and The Moon George Macdonald + +A Backward Look + + +HOME AND COUNTRY + +A Forward Look + +HOME AND ITS FESTIVALS + +Home, Sweet Home John Howard Payne +The Grapevine Swing Samuel Minturn Peck +Lullaby of an Infant Chief Sir Walter Scott +The First Thanksgiving Day Margaret Junkin Preston +A Visit from St. Nicholas Clement C. Moore + + +OUR COUNTRY AND ITS FLAG + +The Land of Liberty (Author Unknown) +The Flag of Our Country Charles Sumner +The Name of Old Glory James Whitcomb Riley +The Star-Spangled Banner Francis Scott Key +The Boyhood of Lincoln Elbridge S. Brooks +Washington with Braddock Elbridge S. Brooks + + +SERVICE + +Somebody's Mother (Author Unknown) +The Leak in the Dike Phoebe Cary +Casablanca Felicia Hemans +Tubal Cain Charles Mackay +The Inchcape Rock Robert Southey +My Boyhood on the Prairie Hamlin Garland +Woodman, Spare That Tree George P. Morris +The American Boy Theodore Roosevelt + +A Backward Look + + + +PART II + +STORIES OF ADVENTURE + +A Forward Look + +STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + +Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp +Ali Baba and the Open Sesame +Sindbad The Sailor + +Robin Hood Joseph Walker McSpadden +Gulliver's Travels Jonathan Swift +Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe + +A Backward Look + + + +PART III + +GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORS + +A Forward Look + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN + +Biography +The Whistle +An Ax to Grind + +WILLIAM GULLEN BRYANT + +Biography +The Yellow Violet +The Gladness of Nature + +JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER + +Biography +The Huskers +The Corn-Song + +WASHINGTON IRVING + +Biography +Capturing the Wild Horse +The Adventure of the Mason + +HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW + +Biography +The Arrow and the Song +The Children's Hour +The Song of Hiawatha + +NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE + +Biography +The Paradise of Children +The Golden Touch + +A Backward Look + + + + +SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ORDER OF READING + + +In The Elson Readers selections are grouped according to theme or +authorship. Such an arrangement enables the pupil to see the dominant +ideas of the book as a whole. This purpose is further aided by A +Forward Look, or introduction, and A Backward Look, or review, for +each main group. The book, therefore, emphasizes certain fundamental +ideals, making them stand out clearly in the mind of the pupil. This +result can best be accomplished by reading all the selections of a +group in the order given, before taking up those of a different +group. The order of the groups, however, may be varied to suit school +conditions or preferences. + +It goes without saying that selections particularly suited to the +celebration of special days will be read in connection with such +festival occasions. For example, "The First Thanksgiving Day," page +92, will be read immediately before the Thanksgiving holiday, even if +the class at that particular time is in the midst of some other +main part of the Reader. Before assigning a selection out of order, +however, the teacher should scrutinize the notes and questions, to +make certain that no references are made within these notes to a +discussion in A Forward Look or to other selections in the group +that pupils have not yet read. In case such references are found +the teacher may well conduct a brief class discussion to make these +questions significant to the pupils. + +It is the belief of the authors that the longer selections, such as +those found in Part II, should be read silently and reported on in +class. In this way the monotony incident to the reading of such +selections aloud in class will be avoided. However, the class will +wish to read aloud certain passages from these longer units because of +their beauty, their dramatic quality, or the forceful way in which +the author has expressed his thoughts. Class readings are frequently +suggested for this purpose. In this way reading aloud is given +purposefulness. + + + + +THE CRYSTAL GLASS + + +Once upon a time, as the fairy tale has it, there was a mighty +magician named Merlin. He was the teacher of the young Prince Arthur, +who was one day to become the British King. Merlin was old and +wise, and he had the power of prophecy. One of his most wonderful +possessions was a magic glass, a globe of crystal, into which one +might gaze and see distant places as if they were near at hand, and +see the events of past and future as if they were happening right +before his eyes. + +No one knows now the whereabouts of this wonder-working crystal, or +what was its appearance. Very likely it seemed ordinary enough, though +a glass of curious shape. Only those who knew how to use it could +learn its secrets; for all others it had no power. But the magic that +once lay in it has been given to certain books, which, like Merlin's +globe, are filled with mysterious power. Such a book you now hold in +your hands. If you do not understand how to use it, it will tell you +nothing. But if you have this understanding, you have only to look +within these pages, and past and present and future will be unfolded +to your gaze. + +Here is what you will find if you use this book as a Merlin's glass +wherein to see the wonders which lie concealed within it. + +First of all, you will see the world of animals and birds and flowers +and times and seasons--the world of Nature. There is a story about a +little girl who wanted to see the King to ask of him a favor. But no +one could see him unless he was accompanied by some friends, for the +King would not trust anyone unless he had proved himself friendly so +that people loved to be with him. Now this little girl was very poor, +and she had no friends. She wandered alone in the forest, and cried +because she had no friends. Just at this time she came into the +knowledge of a wonderful secret by which she could understand the +language of the birds and of all the shy animals of the forest, and as +soon as she could understand them and talk with them, they loved +her, and the forest was no longer a lonely place but was filled with +friends. Some of these friends went with her to the King's palace, and +she now had no difficulty. She knew the language of those who lived in +the forest, and she was no longer poor and lonely. So in the pages +of this book you will learn of the lives of faithful dogs and huge +buffaloes, and the brown thrush will sing for you a song full of +meaning. The modest violet, the jack-in-the-pulpit, even the four-leaf +clovers will tell you stories about the forest and the field, so that +wherever you walk you will be surrounded by your friends. The magic +glass of Merlin will unseal for you this world of Nature. + +Merlin's globe also enables you to look into the past and live in +it as if it were the present. You will take part in the first +Thanksgiving Day. You will learn why the flag of our country is called +Old Glory. You will look in upon the boy Lincoln, tired after his +hard day's work on the farm, reading by the open fire in his father's +cabin. You will see the young Washington bravely helping General +Braddock to save his soldiers. So the magic glass of reading will make +the early history of our country real to you, and the past will no +longer be the past but a part of your present life. + +If you wish to live for a time in the fairy realm, where there are +buried treasure chests or magic lamps and rings, or if you would like +to make a journey to far-off lands where are many wonders, you have +only to look in this magic glass, and in a twinkling you are whisked +away. You find yourself in a strange country where men and women wear +curious, flowing garments of many colors, where trees and animals are +unfamiliar, and where queer buildings with many towers attract your +delighted eyes. The narrow streets are filled with strange life. You +see a boy with eyes that seem to be looking on strange things. He is +talking with an evil-looking man who bends over him, pointing down the +street and out into the open country at the other end of the town. And +presently the boy goes with the stranger, and you follow, for it is +Aladdin and the magician, and you wish to know the adventure that is +to come. + +After this, Ali Baba and the cave of buried treasure and the forty +thieves and Morgiana, the shrewd slave-girl, and the jars of oil +will all appear in the magic glass, and another series of marvelous +adventures will be disclosed to you. And then again, you come to a +rich man's home, and before it, gazing enviously at it, is a poor +tramp. Go up the steps with him and look upon the feast within the +house. There is a queer table filled with food of strange form. And +there is the rich man, Sindbad the Sailor, and you may listen if you +will to his stories of travel to marvelous lands. Thus you travel +to the mysterious East, without effort. You take part in wonderful +adventures, without danger. Your magic glass is the window through +which a world of fairy magic gleams vividly. + +At another time you look, and the glass shows an English scene. It is +the greenwood, somewhat out from London. Never were trees so green, or +flowers so fresh and gay, or birds so filled with joy. You listen, and +a gay fellow sings, + + "Under the greenwood tree + Who loves to lie with me, + And tune his merry note + Unto the sweet bird's throat, + + "Come hither! come hither! come hither! + Here shall he see + No enemy + But winter and rough weather." + +Presently you hear the sound of a horn deep in the forest, to be +followed soon by the coming of a merry crowd. Here is the prince +of outlaws, clad in Lincoln green and followed by a score of lusty +fellows, and at once there are songs, wrestling matches, and merry +jests, till your heart is filled with joy. Little John, and the +Sheriff of Nottingham, and Friar Tuck, and Robin Hood, and last of +all, the King himself--these are the actors in the play that you see +through your magic glass. And so it goes through all these stories of +adventure--they become a part of your experience, and you live more +lives than one. Last of all, your magic glass, which is this book, and +which is always ready to do you service when you call upon it, will +introduce you to a group of great Americans who long ago learned these +secrets and wrote down what they themselves had seen. A patriot who +helped to make our America will tell you several stories of his +childhood. A Nature-loving poet will tell you about flowers and birds. +Another poet will furnish stories about merry times on the farm. A +third will tell you legends of the Indians. Once more the world of +Nature, the world of adventure, and the world of history and legend +will open before you, but this time you will learn something also of +the men who have lived in our America and have written about it in +such way as to show us that, after all, we need no marvelous Eastern +country or desert islands--there is adventure enough and to spare all +about us, if we have eyes to see. + +And here is the greatest charm of all. It is good to know about this +magic glass of reading, so that we shall never want for the joy it +can bring. But while we use it, we shall find our sight made pure and +strong, so that when we no longer have the crystal globe, we can walk +in field and wood, and along our streets, and see, wondering, the +beauty of the world in which we live. + + + + + +PART I + +NATURE--HUMOR--HOME AND COUNTRY + +Better--a thousand times better--than all the material wealth the +world can give is the love for the best books. + + + + +THE WORLD OF NATURE + +A FORWARD LOOK + + +If we have eyes to see, the world of Nature is a fairyland. Further +on in this book you will read how Aladdin--a boy who was led by a +magician to a cave in which were all kinds of wonderful objects--came +upon a garden underground wherein grew trees filled with extraordinary +fruit. "Each tree bore fruit of a different color," we are told: "The +white were pearls; the sparkling were diamonds; the deep red were +rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, turquoises." + +Now with this compare a story about a great American author, Ralph +Waldo Emerson. Emerson loved all the forms of Nature. He wrote of +the bee, of the wild flowers, of the storm, of the snowbird, and of +running waters. And in talking of the magic of a river he reminds us +of Aladdin's fairy fruits: + + "I see thy brimming, eddying stream + And thy enchantment, + For thou changest every rock in thy bed + Into a gem. + All is opal and agate, + And at will thou pavest with diamonds." + +Now we may suppose that Aladdin often waded through the brook and +noticed the shining pebbles and heard the tinkling music of the water +as it rippled over stones in the stream. He noticed the pebbles, but +did not look at them. He heard the murmur of the waters, but he did +not listen. But when the magician uttered his magic words, and the +earth opened, and Aladdin saw a little ladder leading down into a deep +cave, and in that cave found curious trees bearing curious fruits, he +was so surprised that he looked more closely, and all that he saw was +full of wonder. Now the poet is like the magician. His words open the +door of enchantment for us if we care to enter. + +For the poets have been lovers of Nature, and they help us to see +the beauty that lies about us. One of them calls the stars "the +forget-me-nots of the angels." Another writes of the song of the brook +as it goes dancing and singing down into the river, until we hear the +music of the waters in the melody of the poet's verse. Through such +stories and poems of animals and birds and flowers and of the seasons +of the year as you will find in the following pages, your magic glass +of reading will open up the fairyland of Nature. + +For magic wonders are not limited to the fairylands that we read about +in the Arabian Nights or in the tales of Cinderella or of the Sleeping +Beauty. There is the enchantment which put the princess and all her +household to sleep for a hundred years until the prince came to +release them. There is also the enchantment of the frost, that stills +all the life of brook and lake and river, and holds the outdoor world +in deep sleep until the breath of spring comes and releases the +prisoners. There is the enchantment which Aladdin controlled by his +lamp and his ring, so that at his bidding giant figures appeared to do +his will; there is also the enchantment of the snow, of the fire, +of the lightning, of the storm; or there is the equally marvelous +enchantment by which the rose unfolds from the bud, the apple grows +from the blossom, and the robin from the tiny blue egg. Only we must +see and listen when the magicians lead us to the fairy world of +Nature. Aladdin had passed the entrance to the magic cave a hundred +times and had seen nothing. So men pass the fields and see nothing but +the corn and the wheat and the cotton, and in the autumn they see the +harvesters gathering the crops of the fields. But the poet looks on +these same fields and gathers another crop from them, and this he puts +into a song, and this song opens for us the world of Nature. + + + + +ANIMALS + + +TURK, THE FAITHFUL + +Samuel White Baker + + +TURK'S FAILURE + +When I was a boy, my grandfather frequently told a story concerning a +dog which he knew, as an example of true fidelity. This animal was +a mastiff that belonged to a friend, Mr. Prideaux, to whom it was a +constant companion. Whenever Mr. Prideaux went out for a walk, Turk +was sure to be near his heels. Street dogs would bark and snarl at the +giant as his massive form attracted their attention, but Turk seldom +noticed them. At night he slept outside his master's door, and no +sentry could be more alert upon his watch than the faithful dog. + +One day Mr. Prideaux had a dinner party. The dog Turk was present, and +stretched his huge form upon the hearthrug. It was a cold night in +winter, and Mr. Prideaux's friends after dinner began to discuss the +subject of dogs. Almost every person had an anecdote to relate, and +my own grandfather, being present, had no doubt added his mite to the +collection, when Turk suddenly awoke from a sound sleep, and having +stretched himself, walked up to his master's side and rested his large +head upon the table. "Ha, ha, Turk!" exclaimed Mr. Prideaux, "you +must have heard our arguments about the dogs, so you have put in an +appearance." + +"And a magnificent animal he is!" remarked my grandfather; "but +although a mastiff is the largest of dogs, I do not think it is as +sensible as many others." + +"As a rule you are right," replied his master, "because they are +generally chained up as watch-dogs, and have not the intimate +association with human beings which is so great an advantage to +house-dogs; but Turk has been my constant companion from the first +month of his life, and his intelligence is very remarkable. He +understands most things that I say, if they are connected with +himself; he will often lie upon the rug with his large eyes fixed upon +me, and he will frequently become aware that I wish to go out; at such +times he will fetch my hat, cane, or gloves, whichever may be at hand, +and wait for me at the front door. He will take a letter to several +houses of my acquaintance, and wait for a reply; and he can perform a +variety of actions that would imply a share of reason seldom possessed +by other dogs." + +A smile upon several faces was at once noticed by Mr. Prideaux, who +immediately took a guinea from his pocket, and said to his dog, "Here, +Turk! They won't believe in you! Take this guinea to No.--Street, to +Mr.--, and bring me a receipt." + +The dog wagged his huge tail with pleasure, and the guinea having been +placed in his mouth, he hastened toward the door; this being opened, +he was admitted through the front entrance to the street. It was a +miserable night. + +The wind was blowing the sleet and rain against the windows, and the +gutters were running with muddy water; nevertheless, Turk had started +upon his mission in the howling gale, while the front door was once +more closed against the blast. + +The party were comfortably seated around the fire, much interested in +the success or failure of the dog's adventure. + +"How long will it be before we may expect Turk's return?" inquired a +guest. + +"The house to which I have sent him is about a mile and a half +distant; therefore, if there is no delay when he barks for admission +at the door, and my friend is not absent from home, he should return +in about three-quarters of an hour with a receipt. If, on the other +hand, he cannot gain admission, he may wait for any length of time," +replied his master. + +Some among the company supported the dog's chances of success, while +others were against him. The evening wore away; the allotted time +was exceeded, and a whole hour had passed, but no dog had returned. +Nevertheless, his master was still hopeful. + +"I must tell you," said Mr. Prideaux, "that Turk frequently carries +notes for me, and as he knows the house well, he certainly will not +make a mistake; perhaps my friend may be dining out, in which case, +Turk will probably wait for a longer time." + +Two hours passed; the storm was raging. Mr. Prideaux himself went to +the front door, which flew open before a fierce gust the instant +that the lock was turned. The gutters were clogged with masses of +half-melted snow. "Poor Turk!" muttered his master, "this is indeed +a wretched night for you. Perhaps they have kept you in the warm +kitchen, and will not allow you to return in such fearful weather." + +When Mr. Prideaux returned to his guests, he could not conceal his +disappointment. "Ha!" exclaimed one, "with a guinea in his mouth, he +has probably gone into some house of entertainment where dogs are +supplied with dinner and a warm bed, instead of shivering in a +winter's gale!" Jokes were made at the absent dog's expense, but his +master was anxious and annoyed. Poor Turk's reputation had suffered +severely. + +It was long past midnight; the guests had departed, the storm was +raging, and violent gusts occasionally shook the house. Mr. Prideaux +was alone in his study, and he poked the fire until it blazed and +roared up the chimney. "What can have become of that dog?" exclaimed +his master to himself, now really anxious; "I hope they kept him; most +likely they would not send him back upon such a dreadful night." + +Mr. Prideaux's study was close to the front door, and his attention +was suddenly directed to a violent shaking and scratching. In an +instant he ran into the hall and unlocked the entrance door. A mass of +filth and mud entered. This was Turk! + +The dog was shivering with wet and cold. His usually clean coat was +thick with mire, as though he had been dragged through deep mud. +He wagged his tail when he heard his master's voice, but appeared +dejected and ill. The dog was taken downstairs, and immediately placed +in a large tub of hot water, in which he was accustomed to be bathed. +It was now discovered that in addition to mud and dirt, which almost +concealed his coat, he was besmeared with blood! Mr. Prideaux sponged +his favorite with warm water, and, to his surprise, he saw wounds of a +serious nature; the dog's throat was badly torn, his back and breast +were deeply bitten, and there could be no doubt that he had been +worried by a pack of dogs. + +He was now washed clean, and was being rubbed dry with a thick towel +while he stood upon a blanket before the fire. "Why, Turk, old boy, +what has been the matter? Tell us all about it, poor old man!" +exclaimed his master. + +The dog was now thoroughly warmed and he panted with the heat of +the kitchen fire; he opened his mouth, and the guinea which he had +received in trust dropped on the kitchen floor! + +"There is some mystery in this," said Mr. Prideaux, "which I will try +to discover tomorrow. He has been set upon by strange dogs, and rather +than lose the guinea, he has allowed himself to be half killed without +once opening his mouth in self-defense! Poor Turk!" continued his +master, "you must have lost your way old man, in the darkness and +storm; most likely confused after the unequal fight. What an example +you have given us in being faithful to a trust!" + +Turk was wonderfully better after his warm bath. He lapped up a large +bowl of good thick soup mixed with bread, and in half an hour was +comfortably asleep upon his thick rug by his master's bedroom door. + + +THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED + +Upon the following morning the storm had cleared away, and a bright +sky had succeeded to the gloom of the preceding night. Immediately +after breakfast Mr. Prideaux, accompanied by his dog (which was, +although rather stiff, not much the worse for the rough treatment he +had received), started for a walk toward the house to which he had +directed Turk upon the previous evening. He was anxious to discover +whether his friend had been absent, as he believed that the dog might +have been waiting for admittance, and had been perhaps attacked by +some dogs in the neighborhood. + +The master and Turk had walked for nearly a mile, and had just turned +the corner of a street, when, as they passed a butcher's shop, a large +brindled mastiff rushed from the shop-door and flew at Turk. + +"Call your dog off!" shouted Mr. Prideaux to the butcher, who watched +the attack with impudent satisfaction. "Call him off, or my dog will +kill him!" continued Mr. Prideaux. + +The usually docile Turk had rushed to meet his assailant with a fury +that was extraordinary. With a growl like that of a lion he quickly +seized his foe by the throat, and in a fierce struggle of only a few +seconds he threw the brindled dog upon his back. It was in vain that +Mr. Prideaux tried to call him off; he never for an instant relaxed +his hold, but with the strength of a wild beast of prey Turk shook the +head of the butcher's dog to the right and left. The butcher attempted +to interfere and lashed him with a huge whip. "Stand clear! fair play! +Don't you strike my dog!" shouted Mr. Prideaux. "Your dog was the +first to attack!" Mr. Prideaux seized Turk by his collar, while the +butcher was endeavoring to release his dog from the deadly grip. At +length Mr. Prideaux's voice and action appeared for a moment to create +a calm, and he held back his dog. Turk's flanks were heaving with +the intense exertion and excitement of the fight, and he strained +to escape from his master's hold to attack once more his enemy. At +length, by kind words and the caress of the well-known hand, his fury +was calmed down. + +"Well, that's the most curious adventure I've ever had with a dog!" +exclaimed the butcher who was now completely crestfallen. "Why, that's +the very dog! That's the very dog that came by my shop late last night +in the howling storm, and my dog Tiger went at him and tousled him +up completely. I never saw such a cowardly cur; he wouldn't show any +fight, although he was pretty near as big as a donkey; and there my +dog Tiger nearly ate half of him, and dragged the other half about +the gutter, till he looked more like an old door-mat than dog; and I +thought he must have killed him; and here he comes out as fresh as +paint today." + +"What do you say?" asked Mr. Prideaux. "Was it your dog that worried +my poor dog last night when he was upon a message of trust? My friend, +let me inform you of the fact that my dog had a guinea in his mouth to +carry to my friend, and rather than drop it, he allowed himself to be +half killed by your savage Tiger. Today he has proved his courage, +and your dog has discovered his mistake. This is the guinea that he +dropped from his mouth when he returned to me after midnight, beaten +and distressed!" said Mr. Prideaux, much excited. "Here, Turk, old +boy, take the guinea again, and come along with me! You have had your +revenge, and have given us all a lesson." His master gave him the +guinea in his mouth, and they continued their walk. + +It appeared, upon Mr. Prideaux's arrival at his friend's house, that +Turk had never been there; probably after his defeat he had become so +confused that he lost his way in the heavy storm, and had at length +regained the road home some time after midnight, in the condition +already described. + + + +How to Gain the Full Benefit from Your Reading + +The reading of this story, besides giving you pleasure, has no doubt +given you a new idea of the faithfulness often shown by dogs. But if +you are to get the full benefit from any story or poem in this Reader, +you will need to pause long enough to notice certain things that will +give you a better understanding of it. + + + +The Crystal Glass, A Forward Look, and A Backward Look. + +First, you should read and discuss in class "The Crystal Glass" and +study the Table of Contents, to gain a general idea of the book as a +whole. Next, you should notice that each story and poem is a part of +some special group that treats of some one big idea--such as Nature, +Home and Country, etc. Each selection will have a fuller meaning for +you if you understand how it helps to bring out the big idea of this +group. Before reading the stories in any group you should read and +discuss in class the "Forward Look" (see page 19) that precedes them. +And after you have read all the selections in a group, you will enjoy +a pleasant class period discussing the "Backward Look"--taking stock, +as it were, of the joy and benefit gained from your reading. + +In addition, each selection is followed by Notes and Questions that +contain some or all of the following features: Biography. First, it is +always desirable to learn something about the author. When you read, +for example, that Samuel White Baker gave the best years of his +life to a study of animals, you feel that his story of the dog's +faithfulness is well worth reading. Discussion. Next, if you will read +the story so carefully that you can answer the questions given under +the topic Discussion, you will probably find it easier to understand +certain incidents. For example, you hear much about the word "service" +in the different wars in which American soldiers have served their +country so nobly. But perhaps when you think of the answer to the +third question you will see more clearly than before that "service" +and "faithfulness" are qualities that are shown not only on the +battlefield but in humble walks of life--sometimes even by animals. +Glossary. One of the benefits that should result from reading is the +learning of new words. At the end of the Discussion you will find +a list of words, the meaning of which you are to look up in the +Glossary, and a second list that you should find out how to pronounce. +Many of these words you may feel certain you know how to pronounce +correctly. But perhaps you have been mispronouncing some of them. Look +up in the glossary the words listed under question 9, and you may find +that you have been mispronouncing calm, hearth, or extraordinary. When +you are looking up words in the pronunciation lists, be sure that you +understand the meaning, also. Besides the individual words that you do +not understand, you will sometimes read a phrase, or group of words, +used in some special sense. The most striking are listed under the +topic Phrases for Study. Look them up in the Glossary, for you will +often find the hardest passage of the reading lesson made easy by the +explanation of a single phrase. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Samuel White Baker (1821-1893) was an English engineer and +author. At the age of twenty-four he went to Ceylon, where he soon +became known as an explorer and hunter of big game. With his wife he +later explored the region of the Nile River. He is the author of True +Tales for My Grandsons, from which "Turk, the Faithful Dog" is taken. + +Discussion. 1. How does this story prove the intelligence of Turk? 2. +How does it prove his fidelity? 3. Here are two qualities that every +man should desire to possess; do you think many men, set upon by +robbers, would act as bravely and as faithfully as Turk? Give reasons +for your answer. 4. What do you know of the author? 5. Class readings: +The conversation between Mr. Prideaux and the butcher, (2 pupils). 6. +Outline for testing silent reading. Tell the story in your own words, +using these topics: (a) Turk's adventure; (b) how the mystery was +explained. 7. You will enjoy reading "Cap, the Red Cross Dog" (in +Stories for Children, Faulkner). 8. Find in the Glossary the meaning +of: alert; mission; dejected; besmeared; brindled; docile; relaxed; +crestfallen. 9. Pronounce: hearthrug; anecdote; guinea; toward; +extraordinary; calm. + +Phrases for Study: + +intimate association, of a serious nature, imply a share of reason, +received in trust, supported the dog's chances, succeeded to the +gloom. + + + + +OUR UNINVITED GUEST + +Ernest Harold Baynes + + +"Jimmy," our young black bear, was known to every child in the +neighborhood. If a children's vote had been taken for the most popular +animal in the county, I believe that Jimmy would have been unanimously +elected. If the grown people had held the election, however, it +is certain that there would have been some votes against him. For +example, when Mr. W--, one of our neighbors, came home very late one +night, got into bed in the dark, and unwittingly kicked a bear cub +that had climbed in at a window earlier in the evening, of course he +had his toes nipped. That man would never have voted for Jimmy. + +Neither would the farmer's wife he met one evening coming from the +barn with a pail of new milk. The weather was warm, Jimmy was thirsty, +and he was particularly fond of new milk. So he stood on his hind +legs, threw his arms around the pail, and sucked up half the contents +before the good woman had recovered from her astonishment. But with +the children he was a great favorite. He was one of them, and they +understood him. Like them he was full of fun and mischief, and he +would play as long as anyone cared to play with him. + +One Christmas we gave a children's party, and perhaps a score of girls +and boys came to spend the evening. As it was not possible to make +Jimmy understand about the party, he went to bed early, as usual, and +was asleep in his own den under the porch long before the first guests +arrived. He was not forgotten by his little friends, however, and +"Where's Jimmy?" was the first question asked by almost every child as +he came in. But there was so much to chatter about, and there were so +many games to play, that absent comrades--even Jimmy--were soon out +of mind. + +At last supper was ready, and all the children trooped into the +dining-room and took their places at the long table. + +For a little while everyone was so busy that there was little to be +heard except the clatter of forks and spoons and plates. I stood at +the end of the room, enjoying the fun. For the moment, my eyes were on +a small boy who seemed to be enjoying himself even more than the +rest. He was making more noise than anyone else, and at the same time +performing remarkable sleight-of-mouth tricks with a large piece of +cake and a plate of ice cream. Suddenly, I saw his face change. His +laugh was cut in two, his smile faded, the remains of the cake fell to +his plate, and a spoonful of ice cream, on its way to his open mouth, +remained suspended in the air. He was facing a window, and as I +followed his gaze, I saw a hairy black face, with a tawny muzzle and +a pair of small shining black eyes, looking eagerly into the room. It +was the bear cub, whose slumbers had been disturbed by the noise, and +who had come to see what it was all about. + +In an instant the room was in an uproar. All the children left the +table at once, and crowded around the window yelling--"Jimmy!" "It's +Jimmy!" "Let him in!" "Don't you do it!" "Keep him out!" "Open the +window!" "Give him some cake!" One little boy, with a piece of cake in +his hand, raised the window just a little. That was enough for Jimmy; +he thrust his strong muzzle under the sash, raised it with one jerk of +his head, and came tumbling into the room. How those children yelled +and scattered! While they all thought it good fun to have the cub +at the party, none of them knew just what he would do, and some; +especially among the younger ones, were decidedly nervous. A small +girl hid behind the window curtains, two little boys scurried upstairs +and peeped through the banisters, and another, by means of a chair, +scrambled to the top of a sideboard. But Jimmy had his own ideas about +a party. His first interest was in the supper table. Standing up on +his hind legs, he placed his forepaws on the cloth. Just in front of +him was a plate with some apple jelly on it. One sweep of his long +tongue and the plate was almost as clean as if it had been washed. +A dish of blancmange was the next to be gobbled up, and then a boy +rather bolder than the rest made an attempt to save the cake. He +seized the intruder by the skin of his neck, but except for a loud, +grumbling protest, the bear paid no attention to him. He walked right +along, pulling the boy with him, and one slice of cake after another +disappeared down the black throat. The little girl behind the +curtains, seeing that Jimmy did not intend to hurt anyone, came from +her hiding place to try to help the boy who was holding him. Now +this little girl had been eating strawberry jam, and as little girls +sometimes do, had left some of it on her lips. The moment she touched +him, Jimmy turned, and seeing and smelling the jam, he caught the +child in his short forearms, and in spite of her screams, licked her +face all over before letting her go. Then he reached for the sugar +basin, lifted it from the table with his paws, and sat down on his +haunches to devour the contents. + +By this time the children who had been nervous were quite at their +ease again, and gathered round to see him eat the sugar. In a few +moments he had satisfied his hunger, and was ready to play. First of +all he acted as if he had lost his wits; or as if he wanted to "show +off," which is about the same thing. He rolled over on his back, +turned somersaults, and batted the chairs and the table legs with +his paws. The children got down on the floor to romp with him, and +together they had a merry time. + +When they were all upon their feet again, Jimmy arose and stood +perfectly straight on his hind legs. Then he picked out a girl about +his own height and took a step toward her, raising his paws as though +inviting her to a boxing match. The girl accepted the challenge, and +as she was strong, she held her own very well for a time. But as Jimmy +warmed up to his work, he became very rough and swung his heavy paws +as hard as he could. At last he gave his playmate a stinging slap on +the side of her face, and she decided not to play any more. And as I +thought that Jimmy had had about enough fun for one evening, I opened +the door, and he galloped off to his den under the porch. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Ernest Harold Baynes (1868-1925), the naturalist-author, +lived in Meriden, New Hampshire. He was the author of the interesting +book Wild Bird Guests, and of "Our Animal Allies" (in Harper's +Magazine, January, 1921). During the World War I Mr. Baynes was in +France, studying the part that birds and animals played in helping to +win the war. Wherever he went he organized bird clubs, in order to +protect our wild birds. + +Discussion. 1. Why was Jimmy not popular with the farmer's wife? 2. +Why do you think the children liked the bear? 3. Do you think they +would have enjoyed the party more, or less, if there had been no +"uninvited guest"? 4. Class readings: The description of the supper, +page 31, line 7, to page 32, line 26. 5. Outline for testing silent +reading. Tell the story of the "uninvited guest," using these topics: +(a) the bear and how he was liked; (b) the bear's actions at the +children's party; (c) the boxing match. 6. You will find interesting +stories in Bear Stories Retold from St. Nicholas, Carter, and in The +Biography of a Grizzly, Seton. 7. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +unanimously; unwittingly; sleight-of-mouth; tawny; muzzle; intruder. +Pronounce: blancmange; haunches. + + + + +HUNTING THE AMERICAN BUFFALO + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT + + +In the fall of 1889 I heard that a very few bison were still left +around the head of Wisdom River. Thither I went and hunted faithfully; +there was plenty of game of other kinds, but of bison not a trace did +we see. Nevertheless, a few days later that same year I came across +these great wild cattle at a time when I had no idea of seeing them. + +It was, as nearly as we could tell, in Idaho, just south of the +Montana boundary line, and some twenty-five miles west of the line of +Wyoming. We were camped high among the mountains, with a small pack +train. On the day in question we had gone out to find moose, but had +seen no sign of them, and had then begun to climb over the higher +peaks with an idea of getting sheep. The old hunter who was with me +was, very fortunately, suffering from rheumatism, and he therefore +carried a long staff instead of his rifle; I say fortunately, for if +he had carried his rifle, it would have been impossible to stop his +firing at such game as bison, nor would he have spared the cows and +calves. + +About the middle of the afternoon we crossed a low, rocky ridge, and +saw at our feet a basin, or round valley, of singular beauty. Its +walls were formed by steep mountains. At its upper end lay a small +lake, bordered on one side by a meadow of emerald green. The lake's +other side marked the edge of the frowning pine forest which filled +the rest of the valley. Beyond the lake the ground rose in a pass much +frequented by game in bygone days, their trails lying along it in +thick zigzags, each gradually fading out after a few hundred yards, +and then starting again in a little different place, as game trails so +often seem to do. + +We bent our steps toward these trails, and no sooner had we reached +the first than the old hunter bent over it with a sharp exclamation of +wonder. There in the dust, apparently but a few hours old, were the +hoof-marks of a small band of bison. They were headed toward the lake. +There had been half a dozen animals in the party; one a big bull, and +two calves. + +We immediately turned and followed the trail. It led down to the +little lake, where the beasts had spread and grazed on the tender, +green blades, and had drunk their fill. The footprints then came +together again, showing where the animals had gathered and walked off +in single file to the forest. Evidently they had come to the pool in +the early morning, and after drinking and feeding had moved into the +forest to find some spot for their noontide rest. + +It was a very still day, and there were nearly three hours of daylight +left. Without a word my silent companion, who had been scanning the +whole country with hawk-eyed eagerness, took the trail, motioning +me to follow. In a moment we entered the woods, breathing a sigh of +relief as we did so; for while in the meadow we could never tell that +the buffalo might not see us, if they happened to be lying in some +place with a commanding lookout. + +It was not very long before we struck the day-beds, which were made +on a knoll, where the forest was open, and where there was much down +timber. After leaving the day-beds the animals had at first fed +separately around the grassy base and sides of the knoll, and had then +made off in their usual single file, going straight to a small pool in +the forest. After drinking they had left this pool and traveled down +toward the mouth of the basin, the trail leading along the sides of +the steep hill, which were dotted by open glades. Here we moved with +caution, for the sign had grown very fresh, and the animals had once +more scattered and begun feeding. When the trail led across the +glades, we usually skirted them so as to keep in the timber. + +At last, on nearing the edge of one of these glades, we saw a movement +among the young trees on the other side, not fifty yards away. Peering +through some thick evergreen bushes, we speedily made out three bison, +a cow, a calf, and a yearling, grazing greedily on the other side of +the glade. Soon another cow and calf stepped out after them. I did not +wish to shoot, waiting for the appearance of the big bull which I knew +was accompanying them. + +So for several minutes I watched the great, clumsy, shaggy beasts, as +they grazed in the open glade. Mixed with the eager excitement of +the hunter was a certain half-melancholy feeling as I gazed on these +bison, themselves part of the last remnant of a nearly vanished race. +Few, indeed, are the men who now have, or evermore shall have, the +chance of seeing the mightiest of American beasts in all his wild +vigor. + +At last, when I had begun to grow very anxious lest the others should +take alarm, the bull likewise appeared on the edge of the glade, and +stood with outstretched head, scratching his throat against a young +tree, which shook violently. I aimed low, behind his shoulder, and +pulled the trigger. At the crack of the rifle all the bison turned +and raced off at headlong speed. The fringe of young pines beyond and +below the glade cracked and swayed as if a whirlwind were passing, +and in another moment the bison reached the top of a steep incline, +thickly strewn with boulders and dead reckless speed; the timber. Down +this they plunged with surefootedness was a marvel. A column of dust +obscured their passage, and under its cover they disappeared in the +forest; but the trail of the bull was marked by splashes of frothy +blood, and we followed it at a trot. Fifty yards beyond the border +of the forest we found the black body stretched motionless. He was a +splendid old bull, still in his full vigor, with large, sharp horns, +and heavy mane and glossy coat; and I felt the most exulting pride as +I handled and examined him; for I had procured a trophy such as can +fall henceforth to few hunters indeed. + + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + + +Biography. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), twenty-sixth President of +the United States, was born in New York City. As a boy he was frail of +body, but overcame this handicap by regular exercise and outdoor life. +He was always interested in animals and birds and particularly in +hunting game in the western plains and mountains. In 1884 Roosevelt +bought two cattle ranches in North Dakota, where for two years he +lived and entered actively into western life and spirit. Two of the +books in which he has recorded his western experience: The Deer Family +and The Wilderness Hunter, from the latter of which "Hunting the +American Buffalo" is taken. + +Discussion. 1. What makes this story "exciting," or "thrilling"? +2. How does the writer let you know his feelings? 3. What proof of +Roosevelt's good sportsmanship is found in the second paragraph on +page 34? 4. Class reading: From page 35, line 3, to page 36, line 13. +5. Outline for testing silent reading. Tell the story briefly, using +these topics: (a) the discovery; (b) the pursuit; (c) the first view; +(d) the end of the story. 6. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +day-beds; glade; skirted; yearling; trophy. 7. Pronounce: bison; +boundary; frequented; knoll; melancholy; remnant; incline; strewn. + + +Phrases for Study pack train, hawk-eyed eagerness, frowning pine +forest, commanding lookout, much frequented, down timber, thick +zigzags, obscured their passage. + + + + + +BIRDS AND THEIR SONGS + + + + +THE BIRDS AND I + +Liberty H. Bailey + + +The springtime belongs to the birds and me. We own it. We know when +the mayflowers and the buttercups bloom. We know when the first frogs +peep. We watch the awakening of the woods. We are wet by the warm +April showers. We go where we will, and we are companions. Every tree +and brook and blade of grass is ours; and our hearts are full of song. + +There are boys who kill the birds, and girls who want to catch them +and put them into cages, and there are others who steal their eggs. +The birds are not partners with them; they are only servants. Birds, +like people, sing for their friends, not for their masters. I am sure +that one cannot think much of the springtime and the flowers if his +heart is always set upon killing or catching something. We are happy +when we are free, and so are the birds. + +The birds and I get acquainted all over again every spring. They have +seen strange lands in the winter, and all the brooks and woods have +been covered with snow. So we run and romp together, and find all the +nooks and crannies which we had half-forgotten since October. The +birds remember the old places. The wrens pull the sticks from the old +hollow rail and seem to be wild with joy to see the place again. They +must be the same wrens that were here last year, for strangers could +not make so much fuss over an old rail. The bluebirds and wrens look +into every crack and corner for a place in which to build, and the +robins and chirping-sparrows explore every tree in the old orchard. + +If the birds want to live with us, we should encourage them. The first +thing to do is to leave them alone. Let them be as free from danger +and fear as you and I. Take the hammer off the old gun, give pussy so +much to eat that she will not care to hunt for birds, and keep away +the boys who steal eggs and who carry sling-shots and throw stones. +Plant trees and bushes about the borders of the place, and let some of +them, at least, grow into tangles; then, even in the back yard, the +wary catbird may make its home. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Liberty Hyde Bailey (1858-1954) has written many books on +Nature and outdoor life. He was chairman of the Commission on Country +Life, appointed by Roosevelt. + +Discussion. 1. Why does the author say that the springtime belongs to +"the birds and me"? 2. When may we say the birds are our partners and +when our servants? 3. What different ways of dealing with birds are +spoken of? Which way does the writer prefer? 4. How may you encourage +the birds to live near you? 5. What do you gain if you persuade them +to do this? Find an answer to this question in the poems that follow. +6. What birds come to trees near your home? 7. How are birds helpful +to men? 8. You will find interesting stories and pictures of birds in +The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Burgess. 9. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: acquainted; explore; wary. 10. Pronounce: partners; +again. + + + + +THE BROWN THRUSH + +Lucy LARCOM + + There's a merry brown thrush sitting up in a tree-- + He's singing to me! he's singing to me! + And what does he say, little girl, little boy? + "Oh, the world's running over with joy! + Don't you hear? Don't you see? + Hush! Look! In my tree + I'm as happy as happy can be!" + + And the brown thrush keeps singing--"A nest do you see, + And five eggs, hid by me in the juniper-tree? + Don't meddle! don't touch! little girl, little boy, + Or the world will lose some of its joy. + Now I'm glad! Now I'm free! + And I always shall be, + If you never bring sorrow to me." + + So the merry brown thrush sings away in the tree, + To you and to me, to you and to me; + And he sings all the day, little girl, little boy-- + "Oh, the world's running over with joy; + But long it won't be, + Don't you know, don't you see, + Unless we're as good as can be?" + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Lucy Larcom (1826-1893) was the daughter of a sea captain. +During twenty years of teaching school, she wrote many charming poems +for children. + +Discussion. 1. Who is supposed to be speaking in the first two lines? +2. Who asks the question in the third line? 3. Who answers the +question? 4. Find the answer to the question in the first stanza. 5. +Why is the little bird so happy? 6. What will make him unhappy? 7. How +can you help to make the world "run over with joy"? 8. You will enjoy +hearing "Songs of Our Native Birds" and "How Birds Sing", Victor +records by Kellogg. + + + + +SING ON, BLITHE BIRD + +WILLIAM MOTHERWELL + + +I've plucked the berry from the bush, the brown nut from the tree, But +heart of happy little bird ne'er broken was by me. I saw them in their +curious nests, close couching, slyly peer With their wild eyes, like +glittering beads, to note if harm were near; I passed them by, and +blessed them all; I felt that it was good To leave unmoved the +creatures small whose home was in the wood. + +And here, even now, above my head, a lusty rogue doth sing; He pecks +his swelling breast and neck, and trims his little wing. He will not +fly; he knows full well, while chirping on that spray, I would not +harm him for a world, or interrupt his lay. Sing on, sing on, blithe +bird! and fill my heart with summer gladness; It has been aching many +a day with measures full of sadness! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. William Motherwell (1797-1835), a Scotch poet and +journalist, was born in Glasgow, where he lived and died. In 1830 +he became editor of the Glasgow Courier. He wrote a volume of local +ballads, and many of his poems were published in the magazines and +newspapers. + +Discussion. 1. To what does the poet compare the eyes of birds? 2. +Find the lines that tell why the bird is not afraid of the poet. 3. +How do you think the birds know their friends? 4. What happiness does +the poet get because of his kindness to the birds? 5. Read the lines +that another poet who loved birds has written about his love for them: + + "He prayeth well who loveth well + Both man and bird and beast. + + "He prayeth best who loveth best + All things both great and small; + For the dear God who loveth us, + He made and loveth all." + +6. You will find helpful suggestions in the illustrated Farmers' +Bulletins, Bird Houses and How to Build Them, and How to Attract +Birds, sent free by the Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. 7. +In the Forward Look, on pages 19 and 20, you were told that the poets +and wise story writers of Nature help us to see the beauty that lies +in the great outdoor world. Mention instances of help that you have +received from the stories and poems you have read in this group. 8. +Find in the Glossary the meaning of: glittering; trims; spray; blithe; +measures. + +Phrases for Study: close couching, lusty rogue, note if harm were +near, knows full well, leave unmoved, interrupt his lay. + + + + +THE VIOLET AND THE BEE + +John Bannister Tabb + + "And pray, who are you?" + Said the Violet blue + To the Bee, with surprise, + At his wonderful size, + In her eyeglass of dew. + "I, madam," quoth he, + "Am a publican Bee, + Collecting the tax + Of honey and wax. + Have you nothing for me?" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Reverend John B. Tabb (1845-1909), a Southern poet, was +born near Richmond, Virginia. All his life he was interested in birds, +flowers, and outdoor life. When the Civil War began, he joined the +Southern army, although he was a mere lad of sixteen. After the war he +became a clergyman and a teacher. + +Discussion. 1. What did the Violet ask the Bee? 2. What surprised the +Violet? 3. What is the Violet's "eyeglass of dew"? 4. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: quoth; publican; tax. + + + + +FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS + +Ella Higginson + + I know a place where the sun is like gold, + And the cherry blooms burst with snow; + And down underneath is the loveliest nook, + Where the four-leaf clovers grow. + + One leaf is for hope, and one is for faith, + And one is for love, you know; + But God put another in for luck-- + If you search, you will find where they grow. + + But you must have hope, and you must have faith; + You must love and be strong; and so, + If you work, if you wait, you will find the place + Where the four-leaf clovers grow. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Ella Higginson (1862-1940), an American writer, lived +in Bellingham, on Puget Sound, Washington. She won a prize of five +hundred dollars, offered by a magazine for the best short story. + +Discussion. 1. To whom is the four-leaf clover supposed to bring good +luck? 2. Which do you think will give greater happiness, to learn +something by hard work or to gain it by chance? Why do you think so? +3. What does the poem say we must have? 4. What does the poem say we +must do? 5. If we have all these things and do all these things, shall +we need to hunt for the four-leaf clover to bring us good fortune? +Why? 6. Commit the poem to memory. + + + + +JACK IN THE PULPIT + +Clara Smith + + Jack in the pulpit + Preaches today, + Under the green trees + Just over the way. + Squirrel and song-sparrow, + High on their perch, + Hear the sweet lily-bells + Ringing to church. + Come hear what his reverence + Rises to say + In his low, painted pulpit + This calm Sabbath day. + + Meek-faced anemones, + Drooping and sad; + Great yellow violets, + Smiling out glad; + Buttercups' faces, + Beaming and bright; + Clovers with bonnets, + Some red and some white; + Daisies, their white fingers + Half-clasped in prayer; + Dandelions, proud of + The gold of their hair; + Innocents, children + Guileless and frail, + + Meek little faces + Upturned and pale; + Wildwood geraniums, + All in their best, + Languidly leaning, + In purple gauze dressed-- + All are assembled + This sweet Sabbath day + To hear what the priest + In his pulpit will say. + + So much for the preacher; + The sermon comes next-- + Shall we tell how he preached it + And where was his text? + Alas! like too many + Grown-up folks who play + At worship in churches + Man-builded today, + We heard not the preacher + Expound or discuss; + But we looked at the people + And they looked at us. + We saw all their dresses-- + Their colors and shapes, + The trim of their bonnets; + The cut of their capes; + We heard the wind-organ, + The bee, and the bird, + But of Jack in the pulpit + We heard not a word! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Clara Smith is not a well-known writer, but her poem, "Jack +in the Pulpit," is full of beauty. The rhythm is as pleasing as the +picture is charming. + +Discussion. 1. What time of year is described in this poem? 2. Who +make up the congregation when Jack in the pulpit preaches? 3. How does +the poet make the flowers seem like people? 4. How many of the flowers +described in this poem are familiar to you? 5. Which flower is most +beautifully described? Find the lines that give the description. 6. +Why are we not told about the sermon? 7. What was the congregation +doing during the sermon? 8. What did they see? What did they hear? +9. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: drooping; beaming; gauze; +assembled; text; worship; expound. 10. Pronounce: anemones; guileless; +languidly. + +Phrases for Study: his reverence, all in their best, painted pulpit, +man-builded today. + + + + +SEPTEMBER + +Helen Hunt Jackson + + The goldenrod is yellow; + The corn is turning brown; + The trees in apple orchards + With fruit are bending down. + + The gentian's bluest fringes + Are curling in the sun; + In dusky pods the milkweed + Its hidden silk has spun. + + The sedges flaunt their harvest + In every meadow-nook; + And asters by the brookside + Make asters in the brook. + + From dewy lanes at morning + The grapes' sweet odors rise; + At noon the roads all flutter + With yellow butterflies. + + By all these lovely tokens + September days are here, + With summer's best of weather, + And autumn's best of cheer. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Helen Hunt Jackson (1831-1885) was an American poet and +novelist. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, where her father +was a professor in Amherst College, but she spent much of her life in +California. She married a banker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, +where she lived for a few years. Her poems are very beautiful, and +"September" and "October's Bright Blue Weather" are especially good +pictures of these autumn months. Every child should know these poems +by heart. + +Discussion. 1. What is meant by the harvest of the sedges? 2. How are +the "asters in the brook" made? 3. Which lines in the last stanza tell +us what September brings? 4. What things mentioned in this poem have +you seen? 5. Read again what is said on pages 19 and 20 about the poet +as a magician; what beauty of Nature does the poet show you in the +following lines? + + "And asters by the brookside + Make asters in the brook." + +6. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: sedges; flaunt; flutter. 7. +Pronounce: gentian; dusky. + +Phrases for Study: dusky pods, lovely tokens, hidden silk has spun, +best of cheer. + + + + +OCTOBER'S BRIGHT BLUE WEATHER + +Helen Hunt Jackson + + O sun and skies and clouds of June + And flowers of June together, + Ye cannot rival for one hour + October's bright blue weather; + + When loud the bumblebee makes haste, + Belated, thriftless vagrant, + And goldenrod is dying fast, + And lanes with grapes are fragrant; + + When gentians roll their fringes tight, + To save them for the morning, + And chestnuts fall from satin burs + Without a sound of warning; + + When on the ground red apples lie + In piles like jewels shining, + And redder still on old stone walls + Are leaves of woodbine twining; + + When all the lovely wayside things + Their white-winged seeds are sowing, + And in the fields, still green and fair, + Late aftermaths are growing; + + When springs run low, and on the brooks + In idle, golden freighting, + Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush + Of woods, for winter waiting; + + When comrades seek sweet country haunt + By twos and twos together, + And count like misers hour by hour + October's bright blue weather. + + O sun and skies and flowers of June, + Count all your boasts together, + Love loveth best of all the year + October's bright blue weather. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +For Biography see above. + +Discussion. 1. What comparison is made in the first stanza between +June and October? 2. Why is the bumblebee described as "loud"? 3. +Compare the description of the goldenrod in this poem with the +description of the goldenrod in "September." 4. Compare the +description of the apples in this poem with the description of the +apples in "September." 5. Find the line that tells why the "gentians +roll their fringes tight." 6. What is the color of the woodbine +leaves? 7. What are the "wayside things" usually called? 8. What do +good comrades like to do in October? 9. Why are we sorry to have +October go? 10. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: fragrant; +twining; aftermath; haunts. 11. Pronounce: rival; vagrant; freighting. + +Phrases for Study: rival for one hour, hush of woods, belated, +thriftless vagrant, count like misers, satin burs, count all your +boasts, idle, golden freighting. + + + + +NOVEMBER + +Alice Cary + + The leaves are fading and falling; + The winds are rough and wild; + The birds have ceased their calling-- + But let me tell you, my child, + + Though day by day, as it closes, + Doth darker and colder grow, + The roots of the bright red roses + Will keep alive in the snow. + + And when the winter is over, + The boughs will get new leaves, + The quail come back to the clover, + And the swallow back to the eaves. + + The robin will wear on his bosom + A vest that is bright and new, + And the loveliest wayside blossom + Will shine with the sun and dew. + + The leaves today are whirling; + The brooks are all dry and dumb-- + But let me tell you, my darling, + The spring will be sure to come. + + There must be rough, cold weather, + And winds and rains so wild; + Not all good things together + Come to us here, my child. + + So, when some dear joy loses + Its beauteous summer glow, + Think how the roots of the roses + Are kept alive in the snow. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Alice Cary (1820-1871), an American poet, was born in +Cincinnati. She and her sister, Phoebe, wrote many beautiful poems +and sketches. They removed to New York City and lived together there. +"November" is one of Alice Cary's most widely known poems. + +Discussion. 1. What signs of autumn are mentioned in the first stanza? +2. What signs of the coming winter are mentioned in the second stanza? +3. Where have the birds gone? 4. What is meant by the word "here" in +line 4, above? 5. Why are the brooks "dry and dumb" in November? 6. Is +this true in all parts of the country? 7. What are we told about the +spring in "October's Bright Blue Weather"? 8. What will happen when +the winter is over? 9. Where does the swallow build his nest? 10. What +wonder of Nature, about which you read in A Forward Look, above, does +the second stanza tell you? 11. How can the snow help keep the roots +alive? 12. In what stanza is this thought repeated? 13. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: fading; quail; eaves. + +Phrases for Study: ceased their calling, wayside blossom, vest that is +bright, beauteous summer glow. + + + + +TODAY + +Thomas Carlyle + + Lo, here hath been dawning + Another blue day; + Think, wilt thou let it + Slip useless away? + + Out of Eternity + This new day is born; + Into Eternity, + At night, will return. + + Behold it aforetime + No eye ever did; + So soon it forever + From all eyes is hid. + + Here hath been dawning + Another blue day; + Think, wilt thou let it + Slip useless away? + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a great Scotch writer of +essays and history. He lived in Edinburgh, and later in London. + +Discussion. 1. Find the lines that explain why the day is called a +"new day." 2. Find the lines which remind us that the day will pass +quickly. 3. The poet tells us in the first stanza to "think"; what +does he want us to think about? 4. Find the same lines in another +stanza. Why did the poet repeat these words? 5. Read the short story +that follows, and tell whether Titus and the poet have the same, idea +of a "useless" day. + +The Roman Emperor, Titus, won the love of all his people by his +kindness and generosity to those who were in trouble. One night +at supper, remembering that he had not helped anyone that day, he +exclaimed, "My friends, I have lost a day!" + +Phrases for Study: behold it aforetime blue day. + + + + +THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES + +Francis Bourdillon + + The night has a thousand eyes, + And the day but one; + Yet the light of the bright world dies + With the dying sun. + + The mind has a thousand eyes, + And the heart but one; + Yet the light of a whole life dies + When love is done. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Francis William Bourdillon (1852-1921) an English poet, +lived at Buddington, England. He attended college at Oxford. Few poets +have written more beautiful lines than his "The Night Has a Thousand +Eyes." + +Discussion. 1. What are the eyes of the night? 2. What is the eye of +the day? 3. How many eyes does the poet say the mind has? 4. How many +eyes does he say the heart has? 5. In which line are we told what the +eye of the heart is? 6. In A Forward Look, above, you read that the +poet is a magician whose words open for us the fairyland of Nature; +what have the words of this poet done for you? 7. Memorize the poem. + + + + +A BACKWARD LOOK + + +As you look backward over the animal stories you have read in this +group, which did you enjoy most? Which story would be the most +interesting to tell to a younger brother or sister? Which do you like +better, stories in which animals are the actors, or stories about the +hunting of animals? + +Which one of the poems about birds has lines in it that sound like +the bird's song? Which author makes you feel most keenly his love +for birds? Which one tells you of pleasures that birds enjoy? Make a +program for Arbor and Bird Day from selections found or suggested in +this group. + +In the "Notes and Questions" you have found a number of suggestions +for outside reading. Did you find in the school library or public +library any of the books that are mentioned in the different +biographies? In your class, who has read Baker's True Tales for +My Grandsons, or other selections mentioned in the biographies or +elsewhere? What progress have you made in silent reading? + +If you were making a blackboard calendar for each of the +months--September, October, and November--what stanzas in each of +the three poems on these months would give you ideas for decoration? +Select a stanza from these poems as a motto for each of your +calendars. November teaches Alice Caw a truth which she passes on to +us; what is this truth? + +On pages 19 and 20 you read that the world of Nature is a fairyland, +and that the poets help us to see the beauty that lies about us. +Perhaps now when you look up into a starry sky you say to yourself +almost without thinking, "The night has a thousand eyes--" What other +poems have revealed beauties of Nature to you? + + +A FORWARD LOOK + + +Here is matter for your entertainment. Several interesting persons +will appear and will show you that a small part of the joy of reading +consists in the merry tales that you may find in books. One of the +English poets somewhere calls upon the spirits of fun and joy, a +cheerful nymph and her companions, to drive dull care away. This poet, +John Milton by name, wrote many poems and prose works on very serious +matters. He lived in a serious time, the time when many Englishmen +were leaving their native country and emigrating to America in order +that they might find a freedom that was denied to them at home. + +But even under these circumstances, sympathizing with those who went +into exile for freedom, and studying night and day how he could +himself advance the cause of liberty, John Milton was too great a man +to believe that life is altogether serious and earnest. Humor and +jesting and wholesome fun have a part in every life; they are no more +to be neglected than the spices in a Thanksgiving pie. So the poet +called upon the cheerful nymph and her attendants to help him see the +brighter side of life; the fun that there is in foolishness, and the +health that comes with a hearty laugh. Here is what he wrote: + + "Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee + Jest and youthful Jollity, + + Come, and trip it, as you go, + On the light, fantastic toe." + +Now let us imagine that we, also, are inviting these kindly spirits of +Mirth. Our lives are serious, too. We have arithmetic to learn, or +we have a composition to write. People expect us to do all sorts of +things that take our time, and of course we want to do these things. +But here comes Laughter holding both his sides, a fat old gentleman +who makes you feel merry the moment you set eyes on him. And Father +Laughter first introduces the Baron Munchausen, who will tell some +of his marvelous experiences. We are not compelled to believe all of +them. Perhaps Father Laughter wanted to take a sly dig or two at the +yarns some travelers tell when they get home. By this means the story +illustrates one of the great sources of humor--monstrous exaggeration. +It also shows what a foolish thing it is to be a boaster. Most people, +at one time or another, are tempted to brag about their deeds, their +possessions, or their smartness. If they would only think of Baron +Munchausen, they would flee from this temptation. + +After this comes a story about the blind men and the elephant. Here +Father Laughter gets his way with you by making you see how absurd +were the guesses about the elephant made by men who knew only the +animal's trunk, or his tusks, or his tail. And here, too, after you +have laughed heartily at the foolish fellows who were so positive that +they knew everything when they knew nothing, you begin to see the +danger in what are called "snap judgments." "Look at these ridiculous +fellows," says Father Laughter, "and consider how silly it is to jump +to a conclusion unless you have all the facts." + +You will agree that Father Laughter's next performer, Darius Green, is +especially interesting in these days when men fly across the Atlantic +or from New York to San Francisco. Darius seems to have been the first +"bird-man," and though he was absurd enough, he reminds one of the +fact that many useful inventions that now add to our comfort were +prepared for by men who seemed to their friends and acquaintances +crazy enough. + +But this is introduction a-plenty; there's really no need to keep you +any longer from getting acquainted with Father Laughter and the antics +he likes to play. + + + + +ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN + +R. E. Raspe + + +The Savage Boar + +Baron Munchausen had feasted his friends right well, and after supper +he leaned back in his chair and said, "So you want me to tell you of +my adventures in the past." His guests eagerly urged him on, and he +began his story. + +Once, when I was returning from a hunt, with an empty gun (having used +all my ammunition), a raging wild boar rushed at me. Well, you know +how unpleasant such an encounter may be, so I am sure none of you will +think me a coward for hastily climbing the nearest tree; it was a +young birch which could hardly bear my weight. The boar made a dash +for the tree, but was a moment too late, for I had just drawn my legs +out of his reach. But so violent was his rush that his tusks went +through the trunk of the tree and projected an inch through the other +side. I slid down the tree, picked up a stone the size of my fist, and +riveted down the projecting points of the tusks. You can imagine what +a narrow escape I had when I tell you that the beast weighed five +tons--a good deal for a wild boar." + + +A Narrow Escape + +"At another time, when I was hunting in Ceylon, I was terrified to see +a gigantic lion approaching, with the evident intention of devouring +me. My gun was only loaded with bird-shot, and I had no other about +me. The savage animal shook his head several times, uttered a loud +roar, and prepared to spring. I turned to flee, and--my flesh creeps +even now at the recollection of it--there, on the bank of a river that +lay behind me, was a huge crocodile with his terrible jaws open ready +to swallow me! + +"Imagine, gentlemen, the horror of my situation--before me the lion, +behind me the crocodile, on my left a rushing torrent, and on the +right an abyss full of poisonous snakes! I gave myself up for lost, +and fell to the ground in an almost fainting condition, expecting +nothing better than to meet with a horrible death from one or the +other of these terrible animals. + +"After waiting a few seconds I heard a violent noise, different from +any that had fallen on my ears before. I ventured to raise my head, +and what do you think had happened? + +"The lion had, in his eagerness, jumped clean over me into the +crocodile's jaws; the head of the one stuck in the throat of the +other, and they were struggling to free themselves. I quickly sprang +to my feet, drew out my hunting-knife, and with one blow severed the +lion's head. Then, with the butt-end of my gun, I rammed the head +farther into the throat of the crocodile, and destroyed him by +suffocation. The hide of the crocodile, which was exactly forty +feet in length, I had stuffed, and it now forms one of the chief +attractions in the museum at Amsterdam, where the superintendent +relates the story to all spectators, with harrowing additions. + +"One of these is that the lion jumped right through the crocodile, +but as soon as the head appeared, Monsieur the Famous Baron (as he is +pleased to call me) cut it off, and three feet of the crocodile's tail +as well, whereupon the crocodile turned round, snatched the knife out +of my hand, and swallowed it so greedily that it pierced his heart and +killed him! + +"I need not tell you how annoyed I was by these exaggerations. In +this age of doubt people who do not know me might possibly be led to +disbelieve the real facts when they are mixed up with such absurd +inventions. + + +HOW THE BARON SAVED GIBRALTAR + + +"Some years later I made a voyage to Gibraltar to visit my old friend, +General Elliott. He received me with joy and took me for a stroll +along the ramparts to examine the operations of the enemy. I had +brought with me an excellent telescope, which I had purchased in Rome. +Looking through it, I saw that the enemy were about to discharge a +thirty-six pound cannon at the very spot where we were standing. I +rushed toward our nearest cannon, a forty-eight pounder, and placed it +exactly facing that of the enemy. I watched carefully till I saw the +Spanish gunner apply a match to the touchhole, and then I, too, gave +the word 'Fire.' + +"Both reports rang out at the same instant, and the two cannon balls +met halfway with amazing force. Ours, being the heavier, caused the +enemy's ball to recoil with such violence as to kill the man who had +discharged it; it then passed through the masts of three ships which +lay in a line behind each other, and flew across the Straits of +Gibraltar some miles into Africa. Our own ball, after repelling the +other, proceeded on its way, dismounted the very cannon which had just +been used against us, and forced it into the hold of the ship, where +it fell with so much force as to break its way through the bottom. +The ship immediately filled and sank, with about a thousand Spanish +sailors and a large number of soldiers on board, who were all drowned. + +"You can see for yourselves that this strange tale must be true, +however improbable it sounds, or else how could it possibly have +happened?" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + + +A long time ago a book called The Travels of Baron Munchausen was +written by Rudolph Erich Raspe. The tales told in this book were so +extravagant that the name Munchausen is often applied to boasters. The +author pretends that the stories are all strictly true. + +Discussion. 1. What extravagant statements do you find in the story +"The Savage Boar"? In "A Narrow Escape"? In "How the Baron Saved +Gibraltar"? 2. Which of the incidents mentioned do you think is the +most ridiculous? 3. What do you think of the proof given by the author +to prove the truthfulness of the last story? 4. Which of the sources +of humor mentioned on page 58 does this story illustrate? 5. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: boar; encounter; tusks; riveted; +gigantic; abyss; severed; whereupon; exaggerations; ramparts; +touchhole; recoil; repelling; dismounted; hold. 6. Pronounce: +Munchausen; projected; harrowing; Monsieur. + + +Phrases for Study + +evident intention, age of doubt, horror of my situation, absurd +inventions, gave myself up for lost, operations of the enemy, +harrowing additions, Straits of Gibraltar. + + + + +THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT + +John G. Saxe + + It was six men of Indostan, + To learning much inclined + Who went to see the elephant + (Though all of them were blind), + That each by observation + Might satisfy his mind. + + The first approached the elephant, + And happening to fall + Against his broad and sturdy side, + At once began to bawl: + "God bless me! but the elephant + Is very like a wall!" + + The second, feeling of the tusk, + Cried, "Ho! what have we here + So very round and smooth and sharp? + To me 'tis mighty clear + This wonder of an elephant + Is very like a spear!" + + The third approached the animal, + And happening to take + The squirming trunk within his hands + Thus boldly up and spake: + "I see," quoth he, "the elephant + Is very like a snake!" + + The fourth reached out his eager hand, + And felt about the knee. + "What most this wondrous beast is like + Is mighty plain," quoth he; + "'Tis clear enough the elephant + Is very like a tree!" + + The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, + Said: "E'en the blindest man + Can tell what this resembles most; + Deny the fact who can, + This marvel of an elephant + Is very like a fan!" + + The sixth no sooner had begun + About the beast to grope, + Than, seizing on the swinging tail, + That fell within his scope, + "I see," quoth he, "the elephant + Is very like a rope!" + + And so these men of Indostan + Disputed loud and long, + Each in his own opinion + Exceeding stiff and strong, + Though each was partly in the right, + And all were in the wrong! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + + +Biography. John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887), an American poet, was born +in Vermont. He is best known by his humorous poems, of which "The +Blind Men and the Elephant" is most widely read. + + +Discussion. 1. How could blind men "see" the elephant? 2. To what did +each compare the elephant? 3. Explain the comparison each made. 4. +Why is comparison a common way of describing objects? 5. Point out +instances of its use by other authors in this book. 6. Why were these +blind men all "in the wrong"? 7. How far was each "in the right"? 8. +What makes this poem humorous? 9. What may we learn from this story? +10. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: learning; observation; +approached; bawl; wonder; resembles; marvel; grope; disputed; stiff. +11. Pronounce: sturdy; wondrous; scope. + + +Phrases for Study + +much inclined, eager hand, satisfy his mind, within his scope. + + + +DARIUS GREEN AND HIS FLYING-MACHINE + +JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE + + If ever there lived a Yankee lad, + Wise or otherwise, good or bad, + Who, seeing the birds fly, didn't jump + With flapping arms from stake or stump, + Or, spreading the tail + Of his coat for a sail, + Take a soaring leap from post or rail, + And wonder why + He couldn't fly, + And flap and flutter and wish and try-- + If ever you knew a country dunce + Who didn't try that as often as once, + All I can say is, that's a sign + He never would do for a hero of mine. + + An aspiring genius was D. Green; + The son of a farmer--age fourteen. + His body was long and lank and lean-- + Just right for flying, as will be seen; + He had two eyes, each bright as a bean, + And a freckled nose that grew between, + A little awry--for I must mention + That he had riveted his attention + Upon his wonderful invention, + Twisting his tongue as he twisted the strings, + Working his face as he worked the wings, + Arid with every turn of gimlet and screw + Turning and screwing his mouth round, too, + Till his nose seemed bent + To catch the scent, + Around some corner, of new-baked pies, + And his wrinkled cheeks and his squinting eyes + Grew puckered into a queer grimace, + That made him look very droll in the face, + And also very wise. + + And wise he must have been, to do more + Than ever a genius did before, + Excepting Daedalus of yore + And his son Icarus, who wore + Upon their backs + Those wings of wax + He had read of in the old almanacs. + Darius was clearly of the opinion + That the air is also man's dominion, + And that, with paddle or fin or pinion, + We soon or late + Shall navigate + The azure as now we sail the sea. + The thing looks simple enough to me; + And if you doubt it, + Hear how Darius reasoned about it. + + "Birds can fly, + An' why can't I? + Must we give in," + Says he with a grin, + "'T the bluebird an' phoebe + Are smarter'n we be? + Jest fold our hands an' see the swaller + An' blackbird an' catbird beat us holler? + Does the leetle, chatterin', sassy wren, + No bigger'n my thumb, know more than men + Jest show me that! + Er prove't the bat + Has got more brains than's in my hat, + An' I'll back down, an' not till then!" + + He argued further: "Ner I can't see + What's th' use o' wings to a bumblebee, + Fer to git a livin' with, more'n to me; + Ain't my business + Importanter'n his'n is? + That Icarus + Was a silly cuss-- + Him an' his daddy, Daedalus. + They might 'a' knowed wings made o' wax + Wouldn't stan' sun-heat an' hard whacks; + I'll make mine o' luther, + Er suthin' er other." + + And he said to himself, as he tinkered and planned: + "But I ain't goin' to show my hand + To mummies that never can understand + The fust idee that's big an' grand. + They'd 'a' laft an' made fun + O' Creation itself afore 'twas done!" + So he kept his secret from all the rest, + Safely buttoned within his vest; + And in the loft above the shed + Himself he locks, With thimble and thread + And wax and hammer and buckles and screws, + And all such things as geniuses use; + Two bats for patterns, curious fellows! + A charcoal-pot and a pair of bellows; + An old hoop-skirt or two, as Well as + Some wire and several old umbrellas; + A carriage-cover, for tail and wings; + A piece of harness; and straps and strings; + And a big strong box, + In which he locks + These and a hundred other things. + + His grinning brothers, Reuben and Burke + And Nathan and Jotham and Solomon, lurk + Around the corner to see him work-- + Sitting cross-legged, like a Turk, + Drawing the waxed end through with a jerk, + And boring the holes with a comical quirk + Of his wise old head, and a knowing smirk. + But vainly they mounted each other's backs, + And poked through knot-holes and pried through cracks; + With wood from the pile and straw from the stacks + He plugged the knot-holes and calked the cracks; + And a bucket of water, which one would think; + He had brought up into the loft to drink + When he chanced to be dry, + Stood always nigh, + For Darius was sly! + And whenever at work he happened to spy + At chink or crevice a blinking eye, + He let a dipper of water fly. + "Take that! an' ef ever ye get a peep, + Guess ye'll ketch a weasel asleep!" + And he sings as he locks + His big strong box: + "The weasel's head is small an' trim, + An' he is leetle an' long an' slim, + An' quick of motion an' nimble of limb, + An' ef yeou'll be + Advised by me, + Keep wide awake when ye're ketchin' him!" + + So day after day + He stitched and tinkered and hammered + Till at last 'twas done-- + The greatest invention under the sun! + "An' now," says Darius, "hooray fer some fun!" + + 'Twas the Fourth of July, + And the weather was dry, + And not a cloud was on all the sky + Save a few light fleeces, which here and there. + Half mist, half air, + Like foam on the ocean went floating by; + Just as lovely a morning as ever was seen + For a nice little trip in a flying-machine. + + Thought cunning Darius: "Now I shan't go + Along 'ith the fellers to see the show. + I'll say I've got sich a terrible cough! + An' then, when the folks 'ave all gone off, + I'll hev full swing + For to try the thing, + An' practyse a leetle on the wing." + + "Ain't goin' to see the celebration?" + Says Brother Nate. "No; botheration! + I've got sich a cold--a toothache--I-- + My gracious!--feel's though I should fly!" + + Said Jotham, "Sho! + Guess ye better go." + But Darius said, "No! + Shouldn't wonder 'f yeou might see me, though, + 'Long 'bout noon, ef I git red + O' this jumpin', thumpin' pain 'n my head." + + For all the while to himself he said: + "I'll tell ye what! + I'll fly a few times around the lot, + To see how 't seems; then soon's I've got + The hang o' the thing, ez likely's not, + I'll astonish the nation, + And all creation, + By flyin' over the celebration! + Over their heads I'll sail like an eagle; + I'll balance myself on my wings like a sea-gull; + I'll dance on the chimbleys; I'll stan' on the steeple; + I'll flop up to winders an' scare the people! + + I'll light on the libbe'ty-pole, an' crow; + An' I'll say to the gawpin' fools below, + 'What world's this 'ere + That I've come near?' + Fer I'll make 'em believe I'm a chap f'm the moon! + An' I'll try a race 'ith their ol' bulloon." + He crept from his bed; + And, seeing the others were gone, he said, + "I'm a gittin' over the cold 'n my head." + And away he sped + To open the wonderful box in the shed. + + His brothers had walked but a little way + When Jotham to Nathan chanced to say, + "What on airth is he up to, hey?" + "Don'o'--the' 's suthin' er other to pay, + Er he wouldn't 'a' stayed to hum today." + Says Burke, "His toothache's all 'n his eye! + He never'd miss a Fo'th-o'-July + Ef he hedn't got some machine to try. + Le's hurry back an' hide in the barn, + An' pay him fer tellin' us that yarn!" + "Agreed!" Through the orchard they creep back, + Along by the fences, behind the stack, + And one by one, through a hole in the wall, + In under the dusty barn they crawl, + Dressed in their Sunday garments all; + And a very astonishing sight was that, + When each in his cobwebbed coat and hat + Came up through the floor like an ancient rat + And there they hid; + And Reuben slid + The fastenings back, and the door undid. + "Keep dark!" said he, + "While I squint an' see what the' is to see." + + As knights of old put on their mail-- + From head to foot + An iron suit, + Iron jacket and iron boot, + Iron breeches, and on the head + No hat, but an iron pot instead, + And under the chin the bail + (I believe they called the thing a helm); + And the lid they carried they called a shield; + And, thus accoutered, they took the field, + Sallying forth to overwhelm + The dragons and pagans that plagued the realm-- + So this modern knight + Prepared for flight, + Put on his wings and strapped them tight; + Jointed and jaunty, strong and light; + Buckled them fast to shoulder and hip-- + Ten feet they measured from tip to tip! + And a helm had he, but that he wore, + Not on his head like those of yore, + But more like the helm of a ship. + + "Hush!" Reuben said, + "He's up in the shed! + He's opened the winder--I see his head! + He stretches it out, + An' pokes it about, + Lookin' to see 'f the coast is clear, + An' nobody near; + Guess he don'o' who's hid in here! + He's riggin' a spring-board over the sill! + Stop laffin', Solomon! Burke, keep still! + He's a climbin' out now--of all the things! + What's he got on? I van, it's wings! + An' that 'tother thing? I yum, it's a tail! + An' there he sets like a hawk on a rail! + Steppin' careful, he travels the length + Of his spring-board, and teeters to try its strength. + Now he stretches his wings, like a monstrous bat; + Peeks over his shoulder, this way an' that, + Fer to see 'f the' 's anyone passin' by; + But the' 's on'y a ca'f an' a goslin' nigh. + They turn up at him a wonderin' eye, + To see--the dragon! he's goin' to fly! + Away he goes! Jimminy! what a jump! + Flop--flop--an' plump + To the ground with a thump! + Flutt'rin' an' flound'rin', all in a lump!" + + As a demon is hurled by an angel's spear, + Heels over head, to his proper sphere-- + Heels over head, and head over heels, + Dizzily down the abyss he wheels-- + So fell Darius. Upon his crown, + In the midst of the barnyard, he came down, + In a wonderful whirl of tangled strings, + Broken braces and broken springs, + Broken tail and broken wings, + Shooting-stars, and various things! + Away with a bellow fled the calf, + And what was that? Did the gosling laugh? + 'Tis a merry roar + From the old barn-door, + And he hears the voice of Jotham crying, + "Say, D'rius! how de yeou like flyin'?" + Slowly, ruefully, where he lay, + Darius just turned and looked that way, + As he stanched his sorrowful nose with his cuff. + "Wal, I like flyin' well enough," + He said; "but the' ain't sich a thunderin' sight + O' fun in 't when ye come to light." + + + MORAL + + I just have room for the moral here, + And this is the moral: Stick to your sphere. + Or if you insist, as you have the right, + On spreading your wings for a loftier flight, + The moral is: Take care how you light. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. John Townsend Trowbridge (1827-1916), an American writer, +lived in Cambridge. He and Lucy Larcom were for a time editors of Our +Young Folks' Magazine. Trowbridge first saw a flying-machine sixty +years after he wrote "Darius Green and His Flying-Machine." He was +then eighty-three years old. + +Discussion. 1. What did Darius Green believe that men would soon be +able to do? 2. What did Darius determine to use as material for his +machine? 3. Why did he not tell his brothers what he was trying to do? +4. When did he plan to try his machine? 5. Find the lines that tell +what he imagined he would do. 6. Find the lines that tell what he +really did. 7. What did he say was the unpleasant part of flying? 8. +Mention some inventions that people once thought were as impossible as +the boys thought this flying-machine was. 9. Mention some inventors at +whom people once laughed but who are now honored. 10. In what way does +the author make his story humorous? 11. Notice Darius's language on +pages 67 and 68. The writer shows by such words that Darius was not a +well-educated boy; are persons often judged by the way they talk? 12. +In Wildman's Famous Leaders of Industry, you will find interesting +facts about Orville and Wilbur Wright..You will enjoy reading The +Boys' Airplane Book, Collins. 13, Report any current news on airplane +development, airplane mail routes, etc., that you can find. 14. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: soaring; lank; gimlet; yore; pinion; +tinkered; mummies; quirk; smirk; crevice; weasel; cunning; ancient; +helm; ruefully. 15. Pronounce: Darius; aspiring; genius; awry; +grimace; droll; Daedalus; Icarus; almanacs; phoebe; calked; breeches; +accoutered; pagans; jaunty; stanched. + + +Phrases for Study + +aspiring genius, like a Turk, riveted his attention, knights of old, +Daedalus of yore, thus accoutered, man's dominion, plagued the realm, +navigate the azure, his proper sphere, beat us holler, stick to your +sphere. + + + + +BIRTHDAY GREETINGS C. L. DODGSON ("Lewis Carroll") Christ Church, +Oxford October 13, 1875 + +My Dear Gertrude: + +I never give birthday presents, but you see I do sometimes write a +birthday letter; so, as I've just arrived here, I am writing this to +wish you many and many a happy return of your birthday tomorrow. I +will drink your health, if only I can remember, and if you don't +mind--but perhaps you object? You see, if I were to sit by you at +breakfast, and to drink your tea, you wouldn't like that, would you? +You would say "Boo! hoo! Here's Mr. Dodgson's drunk all my tea, and I +haven't any left!" So I am very much afraid, next time Sybil looks for +you, she'll find you sitting by the sad sea-wave, and crying "Boo! +hoo! Here's Mr. Dodgson has drunk my health, and I haven't got any +left!" And how it will puzzle Dr. Maund, when he is sent for to see +you! "My dear Madam, I'm very sorry to say your little girl has got no +health at all! I never saw such a thing in my life!" "Oh, I can easily +explain it!" your mother will say. "You see she would go and make +friends with a strange gentleman, and yesterday he drank her health!" +"Well, Mrs. Chataway," he will say, "the only way to cure her is to +wait till his next birthday, and then for her to drink his health." + +And then we shall have changed healths. I wonder how you'll like mine! +Oh, Gertrude, I wish you wouldn't talk such nonsense! + +Your loving friend, + +LEWIS CARROLL + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + + +Biography. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), better known by his +pen name, "Lewis Carroll," was an English author. He was the son of +a clergyman. For four years he attended the famous school at Rugby, +after which he entered college at Oxford. He became an excellent +scholar and mathematician and was appointed a lecturer on mathematics +at Oxford University, a position that he held for many years. His keen +sympathy with the imagination of children and their sense of fun led +him to tell of the adventures of Alice, in a book called Alice's +Adventures in Wonderland. This book made Lewis Carroll's name famous. +His delightful humor is well illustrated in his letter of "Birthday +Greetings" to Gertrude Chataway. + +Discussion. 1. What is usually meant by "drink your health"? 2. What +play on the meaning of these words gives a humorous turn to them? 3. +What remedy does the author suggest the doctor will prescribe for +Gertrude? 4. What does the author call this humor? 5. The author was +a serious man, yet he believed in the value of wholesome fun; of what +great poet did you read, on page 57, who also believed in the value of +a hearty laugh? + +Phrases for Study + +many a happy return, sad sea-wave. + + + + +THE WIND AND THE MOON + +GEORGE MACDONALD + + Said the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out. + You stare in the air + Like a ghost in a chair, + Always looking what I am about. + I hate to be watched; I will blow you out." + + The Wind blew hard, and out went the Moon. + So, deep on a heap + Of clouds, to sleep + Down lay the Wind, and slumbered soon-- + Muttering low. "I've done for that Moon." + + He turned in his bed; she was there again. + On high in the sky, + With her one ghost eye, + The Moon shone white and alive and plain. + Said the Wind, "I will blow you out again." + + The Wind blew hard, and the Moon grew dim. + "With my sledge and my wedge + I have knocked off her edge. + If only I blow right fierce and grim, + The creature will soon be dimmer than dim." + + He blew and he blew, and she thinned to a thread. + "One puff more's enough + To blow her to snuff! + One good puff more where the last was bred, + And glimmer, glimmer glum will go the thread." + + He blew a great blast, and the thread was gone; + In the air nowhere + Was a moonbeam bare; + Far off and harmless the shy stars shone; + Sure and certain the Moon was gone! + + The Wind he took to his revels once more: + On down, in town, + Like a merry-mad clown, + He leaped and hallooed with whistle and roar-- + "What's that?" The glimmering thread once more. + + He flew in a rage--he danced and blew; + But in vain was the pain + Of his bursting brain; + For still the broader the moon-scrap grew, + The broader he swelled his big cheeks and blew. + + Slowly she grew--till she filled the night, + And shone on her throne + In the sky alone, + A matchless, wonderful, silvery light, + Radiant and lovely, the queen of the night. + + Said the Wind: "What a marvel of power am I + With my breath, good faith, + I blew her to death-- + First blew her away right out of the sky-- + Then blew her in; what a strength am I!" + + But the Moon she knew nothing about the affair, + For, high in the sky, + With her one white eye, + Motionless, miles above the air, + She had never heard the great Wind blare. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. George Macdonald (1824-1905), a Scotch poet, wrote many +entertaining poems and stories for children. "The Wind and the Moon" +is a good illustration of the fact that he knew how to interest boys +and girls. + +Discussion. 1. Why did the wind want to blow out the moon? 2. What +natural changes in the shape of the moon take place each month? 3. +What really caused it to disappear? 4. What did the wind do when he +thought he had succeeded? 5. Find the lines that tell how the wind +felt when he saw the moon grow broader and bigger. 6. Find the lines +which tell that the moon did not know that the wind was blowing. 7. +What qualities does this story give to the wind? 8. Do you know any +person who has these qualities? 9. The poet aims in this poem to +amuse us; by what means does he do this? 10. Find in the Glossary the +meaning of: muttering; sledge; wedge; grim; matchless; blare. 11. +Pronounce: revels; hallooed; radiant. + +Phrases for Study + +thinned to a thread, took to his revels, where the last was bred, +filled the night. + + + + +STORIES IN LIGHTER VEIN + +A BACKWARD LOOK + +Why is it good for us, even in the midst of serious work, to read +humorous stories from time to time? An interesting anecdote is told of +Abraham Lincoln that shows how he would have answered this question. +One day when the Civil War was at its height, President Lincoln opened +his cabinet meeting by saying, "Gentlemen, I am going to read you +something that will make you laugh." He then read a chapter from a +humorous book, laughing heartily as he read. When he saw that none +of the members of his cabinet joined in the laughter, he said with a +sigh, "Gentlemen, why don't you laugh? With the fearful strain that is +put on me day and night, if I did not laugh once in a while I should +die; and you need this medicine as much as I do," What did you read +in the Forward Look on page 57 about another serious-minded man who +believed that wholesome humor is a "medicine"? + +Which selection in this group gave you the heartiest laugh? Often +some sensible truth is taught through a little nonsense; of which +selections is this particularly true? It is interesting to stop for a +moment and think just why certain stories make us laugh. One story is +humorous because of its wild exaggeration; another because it makes us +see how ridiculous it is to be a boaster or to be conceited or to jump +at conclusions; and still another because it has an interesting little +play upon words. What is the source of humor in "The Savage Boar"; "A +Narrow Escape"; "How the Baron Saved Gibraltar"; "The Blind Men and +the Elephant"; "Birthday Greetings"; "The Wind and the Moon"? + +How does the present-day newspaper furnish fun for its readers? Which +newspaper cartoons do you look at regularly, and which are your +favorites? Bring to class examples of cartoons, and then divide the +collection into three groups--those that you think drive home a truth; +those that you think are funny and clever; and those that you think +are merely silly. Prepare an exhibit for "Cartoon Day" in your school, +selecting the material from these examples. Clip and bring to class +newspaper jokes that you and your family particularly enjoyed. +Recommend to your classmates humorous stories that you have read in +The Junior Red Cross News, Life, St. Nicholas, The Youth's Companion, +or in some other magazine. + +In previous pages you have found occasional suggestions for problems +similar to those of the preceding paragraph. Like suggestions will +be found later in the book. The working out of these problems and +reporting on them in class will add greatly to the value and pleasure +of your reading. + +Some of these suggested problems are: (a) Silent Reading--Making a +report showing comparisons month by month of individual and class +progress in silent reading; (b) Books I Have Read--Reviewing a +favorite book, giving title, author, time and scene of story, +principal characters, and a brief outline of the story, with readings +of the selected passages that will give your classmates most pleasure; +(c) Magazine Reading--Reporting monthly on current numbers of +magazines, telling your classmates what you have found that is +interesting; in this way you will help each other to become acquainted +with a number of magazines; (d) Newspaper Reading--Reporting current +events, and showing in the newspapers that you read the place of +general news, of editorials, society news, sports, the joke column, +cartoons, advertisements, etc.; (e) Dramatizing--Planning and +presenting before your class some selection or some incident from +a selection that you think will make an interesting play; (f) Good +Citizenship--Making a list of the suggestions you find in this Reader +that help you to be a useful home-member and a good citizen, and +preparing a program from selections in this book for "Citizenship Day" +in your school. + +Which of the problems that you have worked out did you find most +interesting? + + + + +HOME AND COUNTRY + +A Forward Look + + +One of the most famous stories in American literature tells about a +man who spoke of his country with sneers and insults and acted in such +a way that he was forbidden ever to set foot on American soil again. +So he became a wanderer. He saw how men from other countries looked +upon their homelands with pride and affection, and how his countrymen +loved America better even than their lives. He came to be known as +"the man without a country," and he lived a wretched and lonely life. +At last he came to the hour of death, and he wrote these words for all +Americans to think about if the temptation should ever come to speak +scornfully of their country: + +"If you are ever tempted to say a word or to do a thing that shall put +a bar between you and your country, pray God in his mercy to take you +that instant home to his own heaven. Stick by your family, boy; forget +you have a self, while you do everything for them. Think of your home, +boy; write and send, and talk about it. Let it be nearer and nearer to +your thoughts, the farther you have to travel from it; and rush back +to it when you are free. And for your country, boy"--and the words +rattled in his throat--"and for that flag"--and he pointed to the +ship--"never dream a dream but of serving her as she bids you, though +the service carry you through a thousand hells. No matter what happens +to you, no matter who flatters you or who abuses you, never look to +another flag, never let a night pass but you pray God to bless that +flag. Remember, boy, that behind all these men you have to do with, +behind officers, and government, and people even, there is the Country +Herself, your Country, and that you belong to Her as you belong to +your mother. Stand by Her, boy, as you would stand by your mother." + +Such was the dying message of "the man without a country" to the +Americans of his time; such is his message to us. When we were at +war, it was to be expected that all men would answer the call of +patriotism. But now that peace has come, it is not so easy to forget +self in a loyalty to our country and its flag. It is easy to be on +guard when we know that an armed enemy is close by; it is not easy +when the enemy is hidden, and the guns are silent. These hidden +enemies of our country do not fight in armies; they are the bad +citizens who are scattered about; often you do not realize who they +are. + +Generally these bad citizens, who are enemies of our country, possess +one or all of the following characteristics: + +In the first place, they have no love for home and its festivals. Now, +our nation is a collection of homes. The government was formed to +protect these homes. The good citizen is a lover of his native soil, +a lover of his home, a lover of Thanksgiving and Independence Day and +Christmas. These festivals bind men more closely together, make them +one, join them to their native land. But there are many bad citizens, +enemies of America, who seek to destroy these influences that lead +men to work together to make the community a better place in which to +live. + +Second, the history of the United States, the stories of the founding +of our nation, the stories about our flag and its defenders, have no +interest for these bad citizens. You remember how mother used to tell +you stories about when she was a little girl, and how these stories +made you love her the more. It is the same with the stories about +the days when our country was young: how the young George Washington +showed the kind of man he was, or how the young Abraham Lincoln +struggled to fit himself to become a leader of men. Through these +stories we learn what the flag really means and what it has cost, and +we love our country as we love our mother. But the enemy, the bad +citizen, laughs at these things. He just thinks of himself. He thinks +he has a right to do as he likes because this is, he says, "a free +country." He doesn't think that he owes anything to Washington and +Jefferson and Lincoln, or to those who kept the flag at the masthead +when it was in peril. + +And the third test of a man's loyalty to our country is met only if +he has the true feeling of democracy in his heart. This feeling of +democracy means service, willingness to help others. The man or woman +who thinks only of his own good time or his own fortune is a bad +citizen. + +You see, it is this way. In olden times men had no part in the +government unless they were born into a high place in society. The +ordinary man did as he was told, went to the wars at the king's +pleasure, and paid taxes that often took all he could save. He had +little opportunity to make money or collect property. If he did, very +probably the king would hear of it and would take away from him all +that he had saved. But America was founded with a different idea of +these matters. Here men got together and set up the kind of government +they wished. They taxed themselves in order to support this +government. They worked together to drive away hostile Indians, to +kill wild beasts, to conquer the forests, to plant their crops, to +make their lives safe and happy. In this cooperation, or working +together, in government and in all the ways of living we find the +spirit of democracy. + +This spirit has made America what it is today. It has opened up farms, +built railways and ships and great industries, built also mighty +cities, and made laws for the protection of property and life. All +this men have done through the cooperation that means democracy. + +If any man thinks that this freedom gives him the right to trample on +others, he is no better than one of the wicked kings of former times. +If he thinks that under this freedom he may devote himself wholly to +the selfish gain of wealth without giving a share of his money, his +time, and his skill to making his community a better place to live +in and his nation stronger and more secure, he cheats his fellows, +because he takes, without making any return, the blessings that the +founders and defenders of the Republic established with their lives. + +In the old stories the youth who was ready to be made a knight had to +do certain things. He had to take the vow of knighthood, that he would +lead a pure and blameless life. He had to render a service to someone +in distress. And he had to watch, his arms beside him, through a +night. + +You boys and girls, lovers of America, her defenders if need be, her +guardians in the years to come, must also watch by your arms. These +arms are not guns and bayonets; they belong to your heart and mind. +They are three in number: the love of home, the inheritance of +freedom, and the will to work with others. The first is a foundation +to make strong your heart; the second is a bulwark to make safe your +life; the third is a sword wherewith to slay the enemies of the +Republic. + +This foundation in the love of home, this bulwark of our inheritance +of freedom, and this sword of unselfish service are subjects often +dealt with by great writers. In the pages that follow you will find +pieces selected in order to bring out these ideas. You should read +each of these selections not only for itself but also as a member of +the group to which it belongs; and you should try to get the central +idea that unites all the pieces that make up the group. Thus, little +by little, you will come to see how your joy in Thanksgiving, the +thrill that Old Glory can give you, and the service that you can +render to someone else, are all related to each other. To defend home +and country by being a good citizen is to be your mission in life. It +is more important than a successful career, or than great personal +happiness. For both your career and your happiness will depend upon +the way in which you, and the other boys and girls of America, +thousands upon thousands, keep watch by these arms, keep faith with +home and country. + + + +HOME AND ITS FESTIVALS + + +HOME, SWEET HOME + +John Howard Payne + + 'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam + Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home! + A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there, + Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere. + Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home! + There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! + + An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain; + Oh! give me my lonely thatched cottage again! + The birds, singing gayly, that came at my call-- + Give me them--and the peace of mind dearer than all! + Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home! + There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! + + How sweet 'tis to sit 'neath a fond father's smile, + And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile! + Let others delight mid new pleasures to roam, + But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home! + Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home! + There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! + + To thee I'll return, overburdened with care; + The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there; + No more from that cottage again will I roam; + Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. + Home, Home, sweet, sweet Home! + There's no place like Home! there's no place like Home! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. John Howard Payne (1792-1852) was born in New York City. +He became an actor and also a writer of plays and operas. He died +at Tunis, Africa, to which place he had been sent as United States +consul. When Jenny Lind, the celebrated Swedish singer, visited the +United States in 1850, she sang in Washington before a large audience. +John Howard Payne sat in one of the boxes, and at the close of her +wonderful concert the singer turned toward the box in which the poet +sat, and sang "Home, Sweet Home" with so much sweetness and power that +many of the audience cried like children. + +Discussion. 1. What words in the first stanza are repeated in the +refrain, or chorus? 2. What is it that the poet says "hallows," or +blesses, us when we are in our homes? 3. With what word in the second +stanza is "cottage" contrasted? 4. What does the second stanza tell us +that the poet had at home and missed afterwards? 5. What is it that +really makes home beautiful? 6. What great service do our mothers +perform? 7. What does page 84 tell you of the value the love of home +is to a nation? 8. Explain the expression "splendor dazzles in vain". +9. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: humble; hallow; charm; fond; +soothe; beguile; roam. 10. Pronounce: exile; solace. + + + +THE GRAPEVINE SWING + +SAMUEL MINTURN PECK + + When I was a boy on the old plantation, + Down by the deep bayou-- + The fairest spot of all creation + Under the arching blue-- + When the wind came over the cotton and corn, + To the long, slim loop I'd spring + With brown feet bare, and a hat-brim torn, + And swing in the grapevine swing. + + Swinging in the grapevine swing, + Laughing where the wild birds sing, + I dream and sigh + For the days gone by, + Swinging in the grapevine swing. + + Out--o'er the water lilies bonny and bright + Back--to the moss-green trees; + I shouted and laughed with a heart as light + As a wild rose tossed by the breeze. + The mocking bird joined in my reckless glee; + I longed for no angel's wing; + I was just as near heaven as I wanted to be + Swinging in the grapevine swing. + + Swinging in the grapevine swing, + Laughing where the wild birds sing-- + Oh, to be a boy + With a heart full of joy, + Swinging in the grapevine swing! + + I'm weary at noon, I'm weary at night, + I'm fretted and sore of heart, + And care is sowing my locks with white + As I wend through the fevered mart. + I'm tired of the world with its pride and pomp, + And fame seems a worthless thing. + I'd barter it all for one day's romp, + And a swing in the grapevine swing. + + Swinging in the grapevine swing, + Laughing where the wild birds sing-- + I would I were away + From the world today, + Swinging in the grapevine swing. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Samuel Minturn Peck (1854-1886) is a native of the South. +He was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and spent most of his early years +in that city. He was gifted in music and became an excellent amateur +pianist. His published works include Cap and Bells, Rhymes and Roses, +and Rings and Love-Knots, from which "The Grapevine Swing," one of his +most musical poems, is taken. + +Discussion. 1. Why does the poet call the old plantation "The fairest +spot of all creation"? 2. What does he mean by "the long, slim loop"? +3. For what "days gone by" does the poet sigh? 4. What picture do +lines 6, 7, and 8, page 89, give you? 5. What tells you that the swing +was near the bayou? 6. What is compared to the wild rose? 7. Why do +you think the poet would "barter it all for one day's romp"? 8. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: creation; bonny; reckless; fretted; +wend; pomp; fame. 9. Pronounce: bayou; arching; laughing. + + +Phrases for Study + +arching blue, care is sowing, moss-green trees, fevered mart, sore of +heart, barter it all. + + + +LULLABY OF AN INFANT CHIEF + +SIR WALTER SCOTT + + O hush thee, my babie! thy sire was a knight, + Thy mother a lady, both lovely and bright; + The woods and the glens, from the towers which we see, + They are all belonging, dear babie, to thee. + + O fear not the bugle, though loudly it blows; + It calls but the warders that guard thy repose; + Their bows would be bended, their blades would be red, + Ere the step of a foeman draws near to thy bed. + + O hush thee, my babie! the time soon will come + When thy sleep shall be broken by trumpet and drum; + Then hush thee, my darling, take rest while you may, + For strife comes with manhood, and waking with day. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was born in Scotland. He was +a famous novelist and poet. When a child, he learned the Scottish +legends and ballads, and later he wove them into his writings. +Discussion. 1. What things mentioned in the first stanza show that the +baby has great possessions? 2. How would the warders protect the baby? +3. What word could be used instead of "blades"? 4. What will this baby +have to do when he becomes a man? 5. What will the trumpet and drum +mean to him then? 6. How could you tell that this baby lived a long +time ago? 7. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: sire; knight; lady; +glens; towers. + + +Phrases for Study + +calls but the warders, sleep shall be broken, guard thy repose, strife +comes with manhood. + + + +THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY + +MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON + +"And now," said the Governor, gazing abroad on the piled-up store Of +the sheaves that dotted the clearings and covered the meadows o'er, +"'Tis meet that we render praises because of this yield of grain; 'Tis +meet that the Lord of the harvest be thanked for his sun and rain. + +"And, therefore, I, William Bradford (by the grace of God today, And +the franchise of this good people), Governor of Plymouth, say, Through +virtue of vested power--ye shall gather with one accord, And hold, in +the month of November, thanksgiving unto the Lord. + +"He hath granted us peace and plenty, and the quiet we've sought so +long; He hath thwarted the wily savage, and kept him from wrack and +wrong; And unto our feast the Sachem shall be bidden, that he may know +We worship his own Great Spirit, who maketh the harvests grow. + +"So shoulder your matchlocks, masters--there is hunting of all +degrees; And, fishermen, take your tackle, and scour for spoils the +seas; And, maidens and dames of Plymouth, your delicate crafts employ +To honor our First Thanksgiving, and make it a feast of joy! + +"We fail of the fruits and dainties--we fail of the old home cheer; +Ah, these are the lightest losses, mayhap, that befall us here; But +see, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie; Enrich them +with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!" + +So, bravely the preparations went on for the autumn feast; The deer +and the bear were slaughtered; wild game from the greatest to least +Was heaped in the colony cabins; brown home-brew served for wine, And +the plum and the grape of the forest, for orange and peach and pine. + +At length came the day appointed; the snow had begun to fall, But +the clang from the meeting-house belfry rang merrily over all, And +summoned the folk Of Plymouth, who hastened with glad accord To listen +to Elder Brewster as he fervently thanked the Lord. + +In his seat sate Governor Bradford; men, matrons, and maidens fair, +Miles Standish and all his soldiers, with corselet and sword, were +there; And sobbing and tears and gladness had each in its turn +the sway, For the grave of the sweet Rose Standish o'ershadowed +Thanksgiving Day. + +And when Massasoit, the Sachem, sate down with his hundred braves, And +ate of the varied riches of gardens and woods and waves, And looked on +the granaried harvest--with a blow on his brawny chest, He muttered, +"The good Great Spirit loves his white children best!" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biographical and Historical Note. Margaret J. Preston (1820-1897) +was one of the leading poets of the South. She wrote many poems and +sketches. "The First Thanksgiving Day" gives a good picture of the +life in the old Pilgrim days. + +The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth December 21, 1620. During the long, +hard winter fifty-one of the one hundred Pilgrims died, among them +being Rose Standish, wife of Captain Miles Standish. As soon as spring +came, the colonists planted their fields, and by the end of summer a +plentiful harvest was gathered in. When provisions and fuel had +been laid in for the winter, Governor Bradford appointed a day of +thanksgiving. Venison, wild fowl, and fish were easy to obtain. We +are told, "there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took +many." For three days a great feast was spread, and Massasoit, the +Indian Sachem, or chief, and many of his people enjoyed it with the +colonists. + +Discussion. 1. When did the events related in this story take place? +2. Who was the governor of Plymouth at this time? 3. What proclamation +did he make? 4. What did the governor say that God had done for the +colony? 5. Who did he say should be invited to the feast? 6. What meat +did the Pilgrims have at their first Thanksgiving dinner? 7. What +fruits did they have for the feast? 8. What fruit is meant by "pine" +in line 12, page 93? 9. What did the colonists do "with glad accord" +before they sat down to their feast? 10. Find the lines that tell what +Massasoit said when he ate of the feast. 11. Why is it a good thing +for America to have a day set apart each year for us to give thanks +for our blessings? 12. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: store; +sheaves; clearings; wrack; dames; mayhap; befall; slaughtered; +appointed; summoned; fervently; sate; braves; brawny. 13. Pronounce: +therefore; franchise; wily; Sachem, pumpkin; matrons; corselet; +Massasoit; granaried. + + +Phrases for Study + +'tis meet, scour for spoils, franchise of this good people, delicate +crafts employ, virtue of vested power, fail of the fruits, with one +accord, home-brew served for wine, thwarted the wily savage, each +in its turn the sway, Great Spirit, o'ershadowed Thanksgiving Day, +shoulder your matchlocks, of all degrees, varied riches. + + + +A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS + +CLEMENT C. MOORE + + 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house + Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. + The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, + In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there + The children were nestled all snug in their beds, + While visions of sugarplums danced through their heads; + And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, + Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-- + + When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, + I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. + Away to the window I flew like a flash, + Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash; + The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow + Gave a luster of midday to objects below; + When what to my wondering eyes should appear + But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, + With a little old driver, so lively and quick, + I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. + More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, + And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: + "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! + On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!-- + To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, + Now, dash away, dash away, dash away, all!" + As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, + When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, + So, up to the housetop the coursers they flew, + With a sleigh full of toys--and St. Nicholas, too. + And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof + The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. + As I drew in my head, and was turning around, + Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound; + He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, + And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. + A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, + And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. + His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! + His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; + His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, + And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. + The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, + And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. + He had a broad face, and a little round belly + That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. + He was chubby and plump--a right jolly old elf; + And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. + A wink of his eye and a twist of his head + Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. + He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, + And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, + And laying his finger aside of his nose, + And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. + He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, + And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. + But I heard him exclaim, ere they drove out of sight, + "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Clement C. Moore (1779-1863) was am American poet and +author. He lived in New York City, where for many years he was engaged +in educational work. + +Discussion. 1. What picture do the first eight lines of this poem +give you? 2. Does this picture seem real to you? 3. Of what were the +children dreaming? 4. What word do you use instead of sugarplums? 5. +What picture do you find in lines 7-10, page 96? 6 What is the next +picture? Find the lines that make it. 7. To what is the swiftness of +the reindeer compared? 8. What words show how lightly the reindeer +flew through the air? 9. Find the lines that picture St. Nicholas +after he came down the chimney. 10. Which of all the pictures in the +entire poem can you see most distinctly? 11. Which do you like best? +12. What did you read in "A Forward Look," pages 83-86, about the +value of the home festivals? What does a love of these festivals do +for us? What should we lose if we did not celebrate them? 13. Find in +the Glossary the meaning of: clatter; coursers; hurricane; obstacle; +twinkling; tarnished; encircled; elf. 14. Pronounce: miniature; tiny; +chimney; droll. + + + + +OUR COUNTRY AND ITS FLAG + + +THE LAND OF LIBERTY + +(AUTHOR UNKNOWN) + + I love my country's pine-clad hills, + Her thousand bright and gushing rills, + Her sunshine and her storms; + Her rough and rugged rocks, that rear + Their hoary heads high in the air + In wild, fantastic forms. + + I love her rivers, deep and wide, + Those mighty streams that seaward glide + To seek the ocean's breast; + Her smiling fields, her pleasant vales, + Her shady dells, her flow'ry dales, + The haunts of peaceful rest. + + I love her forests, dark and lone, + For there the wild bird's merry tone + I hear from morn till night; + And there are lovelier flowers, I ween, + Than e'er in Eastern lands were seen, + In varied colors bright. + + Her forests and her valleys fair, + Her flowers that scent the morning air-- + All have their charms for me; + But more I love my country's name, + Those words that echo deathless fame, + "The Land of Liberty." + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What parts of our country are noted for pine forests? +2. What things about America call forth the love of the poet? 3. Does +he have all parts of America in mind, or some part that he knows well? +4. What name does he give America? Why does this "echo deathless +fame"? 5. Name one of the "mighty streams that seaward glide." 6. What +does the poet say makes the forests beautiful? 7. This poem is similar +in many ways to the national hymn, "America." Compare it with the +words of the hymn in as many ways as you can. 8. Commit to memory the +last three lines of the poem. 9. Why is our country called "The Land +of Liberty"? 10. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: gushing; +rills; rugged; rear; vales; dells; lone; ween. 11. Pronounce: hoary; +fantastic; haunts; echo. + +Phrases for Study + +pine-clad hills, smiling fields, fantastic forms, flow'ry dales, +seaward glide, Eastern lands, ocean's breast, deathless fame. + + + +THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY + +Charles Sumner + + +There is the national flag. He must be cold indeed who can look upon +its folds, rippling in the breeze, without pride of country. If he be +in a foreign land, the flag is companionship and country itself, with +all its endearments. Its highest beauty is in what it symbolizes. It +is because it represents all, that all gaze at it with delight and +reverence. + +It is a piece of bunting lifted in the air; but it speaks sublimely, +and every part has a voice. Its stripes of alternate red and white +proclaim the original union of thirteen states to maintain the +Declaration of Independence. Its stars of white on a field of blue +proclaim that union of states constituting our national constellation, +which receives a new star with every new state. The two together +signify union past and present. + +The very colors have a language which was officially recognized by our +fathers. White is for purity, red for valor, blue for justice; and all +together, bunting, stripes, stars, and colors, blazing in the sky, +make the flag of our country to be cherished by all our hearts, to be +upheld by all our hands. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Charles Sumner (1811-1874), an American statesman and +orator, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He became United States +senator in 1851. "The Flag of Our Country" is taken from an address +delivered in 1867 at Cooper Institute in New York. + +Discussion. 1. Each paragraph in this selection has a separate +message. Does the first paragraph fit America only, or could an +Englishman say the same thing about his national flag, and a Frenchman +of his? What then is the thing that any flag represents to the citizen +of the country to which he belongs? 2. What facts peculiar to America +does the second paragraph give you? 3. How many stripes has the flag? +4. How many stars were in the first American flag? How many are there +now? 5. What is meant by "union past and present"? 6. "White is for +purity"--in what way does this express the ideals of the founders of +our country? 7. Do you know the rules for the raising and lowering of +the flag? 8. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: rippling; reverence; +bunting; proclaim; original; maintain; constituting; valor; cherished. +9. Pronounce: symbolizes; sublimely; alternate; constellation. + + +Phrases for Study + +he must be cold, national constellation, all its endearments, signify +union, speaks sublimely, officially recognized, every part has a +voice, blazing in the sky. + + + +THE NAME OF OLD GLORY + +1898 + +James Whitcomb Riley + + I + + Old Glory! say, who, + By the ships and the crew, + And the long, blended ranks of the gray and the blue,-- + Who gave you, Old Glory, the name that you bear + With such pride everywhere + As you cast yourself free to the rapturous air + And leap out full-length, as we're wanting you to?-- + Who gave you that name, with the ring of the same, + And the honor and fame so becoming to you?-- + Your stripes stroked in ripples of white and of red, + With your stars at their glittering best overhead-- + By day or by night + Their delightfulest light + Laughing down from their little square heaven of blue!-- + Who gave you the name of Old Glory?--say, who-- + Who gave you the name of Old Glory? + The old banner lifted, and altering then + In vague lisps and whispers fell silent again. + + II + + Old Glory,--speak out!--we are asking about + How you happened to "favor" a name, so to say, + That sounds so familiar and careless and gay + As we cheer it and shout in our wild breezy way-- + We--the crowd, every man of us, calling you that-- + We--Tom, Dick, and Harry--each swinging his hat + And hurrahing "Old Glory!" like you were our kin, + When--Lord!--we all know we're as common as sin! + And yet it just seems like you humor us all + And waft us your thanks, as we hail you and fall + Into line, with you over us, waving us on + Where our glorified, sanctified betters have gone,-- + And this is the reason we're wanting to know-- + (And we're wanting it so!-- + Where our own fathers went we are willing to go.)-- + Who gave you the name of Old Glory--O-ho!-- + Who gave you the name of Old Glory? + The old flag unfurled with a billowy thrill + For an instant, then wistfully sighed and was still. + + III + + Old Glory: the story we're wanting to hear + Is what the plain facts of your christening were,-- + For your name--just to hear it. + Repeat it, and cheer it, 's a tang to the spirit + As salty as a tear;-- + And seeing you fly, and the boys marching by, + There's a shout in the throat and a blur in the eye + And an aching to live for you always--or die, + If, dying, we still keep you waving on high. + And so, by our love + For you, floating above, + And the sears of all wars and the sorrows thereof, + Who gave you the name of Old Glory, and why + Are we thrilled at the name of Old Glory? + Then the old banner leaped, like a sail in the blast, + And fluttered an audible answer at last.-- + + IV + + And it spake, with a shake of the voice, and it said:-- + By the driven snow-white and the living blood-red + Of my bars, and their heaven of stars overhead-- + By the symbol conjoined of them all, skyward cast, + As I float from the steeple, or flap at the mast, + Or droop o'er the sod where the long grasses nod,-- + My name is as old as the glory of God. + ...So I came by the name of Old Glory. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. James Whitcomb Riley (1852-1916) was a native of Indiana. +Most of his life was spent in Indianapolis, where he lived on the +quiet Lockerbie Street which he celebrated in one of his poems. He +is called "The Hoosier Poet." He wrote several volumes of poems, the +first being The Old Swimmin' Hole and 'Leven More Poems. The school +children of Indiana celebrated Riley's birthday on October 7, 1911, +and have each year since made this a festival day. + +Discussion. Because of the many figurative expressions used in this +selection it should be read and studied in class. + + + +THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER + +FRANCIS SCOTT KEY + + O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, + What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? + Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, + O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming; + And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, + Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; + O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? + On that shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, + Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, + What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, + As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses? + Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam-- + In full glory reflected now shines in the stream; + 'Tis the Star-Spangled Banner; O long may it wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! + + And where are the foes who so vauntingly swore + That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion + A home and a country should leave us no more? + Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. + No refuge could save the hireling and slave + From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave; + And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! + + O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand + Between their loved homes and the war desolation; + Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land + Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! + Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, + And this be our motto, "In God is our trust"; + And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biographical and Historical Note. Francis Scott Key (1780-1843), a +native of Maryland, was a lawyer and poet. His patriotic poem, "The +Star-Spangled Banner," which has become a national song, made him +famous. + +The incidents referred to in this poem occurred during the War of +1812. In August, 1814, a strong force of British entered Washington +and burned the Capitol, the White House, and many other public +buildings. On September 13, the British admiral moved his fleet into +position to attack Fort McHenry, near Baltimore. The bombardment of +the fort lasted all night, but the fort was so bravely defended that +the flag was still floating over it when morning came. + +Just before the bombardment began, Francis Scott Key was sent to the +admiral's frigate to arrange for an exchange of prisoners, and was +told to wait until the bombardment was over. All night he watched +the fort, and by the first rays of morning light he saw he Stars +and Stripes still waving. Then, in his joy and pride, he wrote the +stirring words of the song which is now known and loved by all +Americans--"The Star-Spangled Banner." + +Discussion. 1. What lines in the poem are explained by the historical +note above? 2. The poem expresses the love and reverence felt by +patriots when the flag is endangered by the attacks of armed men in +war. What is said on page 84 about the danger to our country in a +time of peace? From what people? Can you do anything to prevent this +danger? 3. Where was the reflection of the flag seen? 4. What is +the meaning of "thus" in line 1, page 105? 5. What land is the +"heav'n-rescued land"? 6. What does the poet mean when he speaks of +the "Power that hath made and preserved us a nation," line 4, page +105? 7. Find the words that must be our country's motto. 8. Do you +think this national song cheered the American soldiers in the recent +World War? 9. Explain why you think the picture on page 98 aptly +illustrates "Our Country and Its Flag." 10. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: dawn; gleaming; host; discloses; beam; triumph. 11. +Pronounce: haughty; vauntingly; pollution; hireling; desolation. + + +Phrases for Study + +proudly we hailed, fitfully blows, gallantly streaming, catches the +gleam, Star-Spangled, full glory reflected, mists of the deep, havoc +of war, dread silence reposes, foul footsteps' pollution. + + + +THE BOYHOOD OF LINCOLN + +ELBRIDGE S. BROOKS + +The future president of the United States was eight years old when +he spent the winter with his father, mother, and sister in the +"half-faced camp" on Little Pigeon Creek. It was indeed rough living +in the Lincoln home on Little Pigeon Creek. When he was "good and +ready," the father, Thomas Lincoln, set about building a better +shelter for his family than the forlorn "half-faced camp." The new +building was not such a great improvement, but it was more like a +house. It was a rough cabin of logs, without door, window, or floor. +But it seemed so much better than the shanty in which they had been +living that Abraham felt quite princely. + +His life was lonely enough in that wilderness; but, before many +months, he had company. His Uncle and Aunt Sparrow and his boy +cousin, Dennis Hanks came from Kentucky to try their luck in Indiana. +Abraham's father gave them the old "half-faced camp" as a home, and so +the Lincolns had near neighbors. + +But before the winter set in, there came sad days to both houses. A +terrible sickness--what we call an epidemic--visited that section of +Indiana. Many people died from it, and among these were first, Uncle +and Aunt Sparrow, and then Mrs. Lincoln, the mother of Abraham. + +It was a poor kind of housekeeping they had in that shiftless home on +Little Pigeon Creek after the mother of the home had been taken away. +Sarah, the eldest child, was only twelve; Abraham was but ten, and +little Dennis Hanks was eight. Sarah tried to keep house; and her +father, in his careless way, tried to help her. But about all they +could do was to keep from going hungry. Deer-meat broiled on the coals +of the wood-fire, ash-cakes made of cornmeal, with now and then a slab +of pork, was their only bill of fare. About all the pleasure Abraham +found when he was not trying to keep from being cold and hungry, was +in his books. + +How many do you think he had? Just three: the Bible, Aesop's Fables, +and The Pilgrim's Progress. Think of that, you boys and girls who have +more books than you can read, and for whom the printing presses are +always hard at work. The boy knew these three books almost by heart. +He could repeat whole chapters of the Bible, many parts of The +Pilgrim's Progress, and every one of Aesop's Fables; and he never +forgot them. + +Thomas Lincoln knew that the uncomfortable state of affairs in his log +cabin could not long continue, or his home, such as it was, would go +to ruin. So one day he bade the children good-by and told them he was +going back to Kentucky on a visit. He was away for three weeks; but +when he returned from his Kentucky visit in December, 1819, he +brought back a new wife to look after his home and be a mother to his +motherless children. + +Mrs. Lincoln seemed to take an especial liking to the little +ten-year-old Abraham. She saw something in the boy that made her feel +sure that a little guidance would do wonders for him. Having first +made him clean and comfortable, she next made him intelligent, bright, +and good. She managed to send him to school for a few months. The +little log schoolhouse, close to the meeting-house, to which the +traveling schoolmaster would come to give four weeks' schooling, was +scarcely high enough for a man to stand straight in; it had holes for +windows and greased paper to take the place of glass. But in such a +place Abraham Lincoln "got his schooling" for a few weeks only in +"reading, writing, and ciphering"; here he was again and again head of +his class; and here he "spelled down" all the big boys and girls in +the exciting contests called "spelling matches." + +He became a great reader. He read every book and newspaper he could +get hold of, and if he came across anything in his reading that he +wished to remember, he would copy it on a shingle, because writing +paper was scarce, and either learn it by heart or hide the shingle +away until he could get some paper to copy it on. + +Lamps and candles were almost unknown in his home, and Abraham, flat +on his stomach, would often do his reading, writing, and ciphering in +the firelight, as it flashed and flickered on the big hearth of his +log-cabin home. + +One day Abraham found that a man for whom he sometimes worked owned a +copy of Weems's Life of Washington. This was a famous book in its day. +Abraham borrowed it at once. When he was not reading it, he put it +away on a shelf--a clapboard resting on wooden pins. There was a big +crack between the log behind the shelf, and one rainy day the Life of +Washington fell into the crack and was soaked almost into pulp. Young +Abraham went at once to the owner of the book and, after telling him +of the accident promised to "work the book out." + +The old farmer kept him so strictly to his promise that he made him +"pull fodder" for the cattle three days as payment for the book. And +that is the way that Abraham Lincoln bought his first book. For he +dried the Life of Washington and put it in his "library." What boy or +girl of today would like to buy books at such a price? + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + + +Biography. Elbridge S. Brooks (1846-1902) was a native of +Massachusetts. He was always interested in stories of history, for his +mother descended from the Monroes, who fought bravely at Lexington. He +was for a time one of the editors of St. Nicholas. + +Discussion. 1. What were the hardships suffered by the young Lincoln +in the Indiana wilderness? 2. What do you learn about Lincoln's +reading? About his school life? 3. What was the first book Lincoln +owned, and how did he get it? 4. What do you suppose Lincoln learned +from the life of Washington? 5. How did Lincoln fix in his memory +things that he wished to remember? 6. What characteristics of the boy +help to explain why he afterwards became such a great man? 7. You will +enjoy reading The True Story of Lincoln, from which this selection +is taken. 8. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: forlorn; shanty; +princely; wilderness; epidemic; shiftless; ash-cakes; slab; guidance; +ciphering; clapboard; pulp. 9. Pronounce: Aesop; bade. + +Phrases for Study + +half-faced camp, spelled down, uncomfortable state, work the book out, +traveling schoolmaster, pull fodder. + + + + +WASHINGTON WITH GENERAL BRADDOCK + +ELBRIDGE S. BROOKS + +The King of England and his advisers determined to make a stand in +America against the French. So they sent over two regiments of British +troops under command of a brave soldier whose name was Braddock, and +told him to get what help he could in Virginia and drive out the +French. + +General Braddock came to Virginia with his splendid-looking fighting +men. When he had studied the situation there, one of the first things +he did was to ask Colonel George Washington of Mount Vernon to come +with him as one of his chief assistants. Washington at once accepted. +He saw that now the King of England "meant business," and that if +General Braddock were as wise as he was brave, the trouble in the Ohio +country might be speedily ended and the French driven out. + +But when he had joined General Braddock, he discovered that that brave +but obstinate leader thought that battles were to be fought in America +just the same as in Europe, and that soldiers could be marched against +such forest-fighters as the French and Indians as if they were going +on a parade. Washington did all he could to advise caution. It was of +no use, however. General Braddock said that he was a soldier and knew +how to fight, and that he did not wish for any advice from these +Americans who had never seen a real battle. + +At last everything was ready, and in July, 1755, the army, led by +General Braddock, marched off to attack Fort Duquesne, which the +French had built at Pittsburgh. + +Washington had worked so hard to get things ready that he was sick in +bed with fever when the soldiers started; but, without waiting to get +well, he hurried after them and caught up with them on the ninth of +July, at a ford on the Monongahela, fifteen miles from Fort Duquesne. + +The British troops, in full uniform, and in regular order as if they +were to drill before the King, marched straight on in splendid array. +Washington thought it the most beautiful show he had ever seen; but +he said to the general: "Do not let the soldiers march into the woods +like that. The Frenchmen and the Indians may even now be hiding behind +the trees ready to shoot us down. Let me send some men ahead to +see where they are, and let some of our Virginians who are used to +fighting in the forest go before to clear them away." But General +Braddock told him to mind his own business, and marched on as +gallantly as ever. + +Suddenly, just as they reached a narrow part of the road, where the +woods were all about them, the Frenchmen and Indians who were waiting +for them behind the great trees and underbrush opened fire upon the +British troops, and there came just such a dreadful time as Washington +had feared. But even now Braddock would not give in. His soldiers +must fight as they had been drilled to fight in Europe; and when +the Virginians who were with him tried to fight as they had been +accustomed to, he called them cowards and ordered them to form in +line. + +It was all over very soon. The British soldiers, fired upon from +all sides and scarcely able to see where their enemies were, became +frightened, huddled together, and made all the better marks for the +bullets of the French and Indians hiding among the trees and bushes. +Then General Braddock fell from his horse, mortally wounded; his +splendidly-drilled redcoats broke into panic, turned, and ran away; +and only the coolness of Washington and the Virginia forest-fighters +who were with him saved the entire army from being cut to pieces. + +Washington fought like a hero. Two horses that he rode were killed +while he kept in the saddle; his coat was shot through and through, +and it seemed as if he would be killed any moment. But he kept on +fighting, caring nothing for danger. He tried to turn back the fleeing +British troops; he tried to bring back the cannon, and, when the +gunners ran away, he leaped from his horse and aimed and fired the +cannon himself. Then with his Virginians, that Braddock had so +despised as soldiers, he protected the rear of the retreating army, +carried off the dying general and, cool and collected in the midst of +all the terrible things that were happening, saved the British army +from slaughter, buried poor General Braddock in the Virginia woods, +and finally brought back to the settlements what was left of that +splendid army of the King. He was the only man in all that time of +disaster who came out of the fight with glory and renown. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Tell what you can of the contest for territory in +America between the French and the English. 2. Who was General +Braddock and for what was he sent to America? 3. Compare Washington +and General Braddock in as many ways as you can. 4. Why did Washington +do all he could to help General Braddock in spite of the fact that he +knew Braddock was not acting wisely? 5. How did Washington gain glory +from the engagement? 6. What are you told on page 84 about the value +to us of studying the lives of great Americans? What do you owe to +Washington and Lincoln? 7. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +advisers; situation; caution; ford; array; gallantly; huddled; +collected; disaster; renown. 8. Pronounce: Duquesne; Monongahela; +mortally; wounded. + + + + +SERVICE + + +SOMEBODY'S MOTHER + +(AUTHOR UNKNOWN) + + The woman was old and ragged and gray + And bent with the chill of the winter's day. + The street was wet with the recent snow, + And the woman's feet were aged and slow. + + She stood at the crossing and waited long + Alone, uncared for, amid the throng + Of human beings who passed her by, + Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye. + + Down the street with laughter and shout. + Glad in the freedom of "school let out," + Came the boys like a flock of sheep, + Hailing the snow piled white and deep. + + Past the woman so old and gray + Hastened the children on their way, + Nor offered a helping hand to her, + So meek, so timid, afraid to stir, + Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet + Should crowd her down in the slippery street. + + At last came one of the merry troop, + The gayest laddie of all the group; + He paused beside her and whispered low, + "I'll help you across if you wish to go." + + Her aged hand on his strong young arm + She placed, and so, without hurt or harm, + He guided her trembling feet along, + Proud that his own were firm and strong. + + Then back again to his friends he went, + His young heart happy and well content. + "She's somebody's mother, boys, you know, + For all she's aged and poor and slow; + + "And I hope some fellow will lend a hand + To help my mother, you understand, + If ever she's poor and old and gray, + When her own dear boy is far away." + + And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head + In her home that night, and the prayer she said + Was, "God be kind to the noble boy + Who is somebody's son and pride and joy." + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Here is a story about a boy who saw a chance to do a +service and did it; how was he different from his companions? 2. What +were they interested in? 3. Wasn't he also eager to do what they did? +4. Why did he stop and help the old woman? 5. How did the woman feel +toward the boy? 6. How do you think his own mother would have felt +if she had seen him? 7. Why is this incident a splendid example of +service? How was this boy doing his part as a good citizen? + + + +THE LEAK IN THE DIKE + +PHOEBE CARY + + The good dame looked from her cottage + At the close of the pleasant day, + And cheerily called to her little son + Outside the door at play: + "Come, Peter, come! I want you to go, + While there is light to see, + To the hut of the blind old man who lives + Across the dike, for me; + And take these cakes I made for him-- + They are hot and smoking yet; + You have time enough to go and come + Before the sun is set." + + And Peter left the brother + With whom all day he had played, + And the sister who had watched their sports + In the willow's tender shade; + And told them they'd see him back before + They saw a star in sight, + Though he wouldn't be afraid to go + In the very darkest night! + For he was a brave, bright fellow + With eye and conscience clear; + He could do whatever a boy might do, + And he had not learned to fear. + + And now with his face all glowing + And eyes as bright as the day + With the thoughts of his pleasant errand, + He trudged along the way; + And soon his joyous prattle + Made glad a lonesome place-- + Alas! if only the blind old man + Could have seen that happy face! + Yet he somehow caught the brightness + Which his voice and presence lent; + And he felt the sunshine come and go + As Peter came and went. + + And now as the day was sinking, + And the winds began to rise, + The mother looked from her door again, + Shading her anxious eyes, + And saw the shadows deepen + And birds to their homes come back, + But never a sign of Peter + Along the level track. + But she said: "He will come at morning, + So I need not fret or grieve-- + Though it isn't like my boy at all + To stay without my leave." + + But where was the child delaying? + On the homeward way was he; + And across the dike while the sun was up + An hour above the sea; + He was stopping now to gather flowers, + Now listening to the sound, + As the angry waters dashed themselves + Against their narrow bound. + "Ah! well for us," said Peter, + "That the gates are good and strong, + And my father tends them carefully, + Or they would not hold you long! + You're a wicked sea," said Peter; + "I know why you fret and chafe; + You would like to spoil our land and homes; + But our sluices keep you safe." + + But hark! through the noise of waters + Comes a low, clear, trickling sound; + And the child's face pales with terror, + And his blossoms drop to the ground. + He is up the bank in a moment + And, stealing through the sand + He sees a stream not yet so large + As his slender childish hand. + 'Tis a leak in the dike! He is but a boy, + Unused to fearful scenes; + But, young as he is, he has learned to know + The dreadful thing that means. + + A leak in the dike! The stoutest heart + Grows faint that cry to hear. + And the bravest man in all the land + Turns white with mortal fear, + For he knows the smallest leak may grow + To a flood in a single night; + And he knows the strength of the cruel sea + When loosed in its angry might. + + And the boy! he has seen the danger + And, shouting a wild alarm, + He forces back the weight of the sea + With the strength of his single arm! + He listens for the joyful sound + Of a footstep passing nigh; + And lays his ear to the ground, to catch + The answer to his cry. + And he hears the rough winds blowing, + And the waters rise and fall, + But never an answer comes to him + Save the echo of his call. + + So, faintly calling and crying + Till the sun is under the sea, + Crying and moaning till the stars + Come out for company, + He thinks of his brother and sister, + Asleep in their safe warm bed; + He thinks of his father and mother, + Of himself as dying--and dead; + And of how, when the night is over, + They must come and find him at last; + But he never thinks he can leave the place + Where duty holds him fast. + + The good dame in the cottage + Is up and astir with the light, + For the thought of her little Peter + Has been with her all the night. + And now she watches the pathway, + As yester eve she had done; + But what does she see so strange and black + Against the rising sun? + Her neighbors are bearing between them + Something straight to her door; + Her child is coming home, but not + As he ever came before! + + "He is dead!" she cries; "thy darling!" + And the startled father hears, + And comes and looks the way she looks, + And fears the thing she fears; + Till a glad shout from the bearers + Thrills the stricken man and wife-- + "Give thanks, for your son has saved our land, + And God has saved his life!" + So, there in the morning sunshine + They knelt about the boy; + And every head was bared and bent + In tearful, reverent joy. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Phoebe Cary (1824-1871) was an American poet. She was born +in Cincinnati and lived with her sister, Alice, in New York City. She +wrote many poems of beauty and charm, but none is more widely read +than "The Leak in the Dike." Note. A large part of Holland consists of +meadow-land so low and flat that the sea would overflow it during high +tide if it were not protected, partly by natural sand hills but more +by a wonderful system of diking. The dikes are long mounds, or thick +walls, of earth and stone, broad at the base and gradual in slope. + +Discussion. 1. What purpose do the dikes of Holland serve? 2. There +were no Boy Scouts in those days, but here is a story of a boy who +would have been a good member of the Scouts. Why? 3. What service did +Peter's mother call him to render? 4. Had he done such things before? +5. How did the blind man think of Peter? 6. How did Peter find the +danger? 7. What would many boys have done? 8. How did he stop the leak +in the dike? 9. What would have happened if he had grown afraid, or +tired? 10. Peter saw a duty to be performed and was brave enough to +do it, though it was not easy, and might have cost him his life. What +were the results of his quick wit and courage? 11. How was Peter doing +his part as a good citizen? 12. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +prattle; presence; anxious; trickling; stoutest; save; astir; yester; +stricken. 13. Pronounce: chafe; sluices; loosed. + +Phrases for Study + +narrow bound, sun is under the sea, mortal fear, duty holds him fast. + + + +CASABLANCA + +FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS + + The boy stood on the burning deck + Whence all but him had fled; + The flame that lit the battle's wreck + Shone round him o'er the dead. + + Yet, beautiful and bright he stood, + As born to rule the storm-- + A creature of heroic blood, + A proud, though childlike, form. + + The flames rolled on--he would not go + Without his father's word; + That father, faint in death below, + His voice no longer heard. + + He called aloud: "Say, father, say + If yet my task is done!" + He knew not that the chieftain lay + Unconscious of his son. + + "Speak, father!" once again he cried, + "If I may yet be gone!" + And but the booming shots replied, + And fast the flames rolled on. + + Upon his brow he felt their breath, + And in his waving hair, + And looked from that lone post of death + In still, yet brave, despair; + + And shouted but once more aloud, + "My father! must I stay?" + While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, + The wreathing fires made way. + + They wrapped the ship in splendor wild, + They caught the flag on high, + And streamed above the gallant child + Like banners in the sky. + + There came a burst of thunder sound-- + The boy--oh! where was he? + Ask of the winds that far around + With fragments strewed the sea-- + With mast, and helm, and pennon fair. + That well had borne their part; + But the noblest thing which perished there + Was that young, faithful heart! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biographical and Historical Note. Felicia Hemans, (1793-1835), an +English poet, was born in Liverpool, but spent much of her life in +North Wales. "Casabianca" and "The Landing of the Pilgrims" are +her best known poems. The hero of this poem was the son of Louis +Casabianca, the captain of L'Orient, the flagship of the fleet that +carried Napoleon Bonaparte and his army to Egypt. The incident +narrated in this poem occurred during the Battle of the Nile. The +powder magazine exploded, the ship was burned, and the captain, and +his son perished. Discussion. 1. How did it happen that the boy was +alone on the "burning deck"? 2. Find two lines in the third stanza +that tell how the boy showed his faithfulness and his "heroic blood." +3. Why is his father called the "chieftain"? 4. What did the boy ask +his father? 5. Why did he remain in such great danger when he might +have saved himself? 6. What was it that "wrapped the ship in splendor +wild"? 7. What made the "burst of thunder sound"? 8. What things are +mentioned as fragments which "strewed the sea"? 9. Why is it good for +us to read such a poem as this? 10. What service did Casabianca do +for all of us? 11. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: chieftain; +unconscious; booming; despair; fragments; pennon. 12. Pronounce: +heroic; shroud; helm. + +Phrases for Study + +born to rule the storm, wreathing fires, heroic blood, splendor wild, +lone post of death, borne their part. + + +TUBAL CAIN + +Charles MacKay + + Old Tubal Cain was a man of might + In the days when the earth was young; + By the fierce red light of his furnace bright + The strokes of his hammer rung; + And he lifted high his brawny hand + On the iron glowing clear. + Till the sparks rushed out in scarlet showers, + As he fashioned the sword and spear. + And he sang, "Hurrah for my handiwork! + Hurrah for the spear and sword! + Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well! + For he shall be king and lord." + + To Tubal Cain came many a one. + As he wrought by his roaring fire. + And each one prayed for a strong steel blade, + As the crown of his desire; + And he made them weapons, sharp and strong, + Till they shouted loud in glee. + And gave him gifts of pearls and gold, + And spoils of forest free. + And they sang, "Hurrah for Tubal Cain, + Who hath given us strength anew! + Hurrah for the smith! hurrah for the fire! + And hurrah for the metal true!" + + But a sudden change came o'er his heart + Ere the setting of the sun, + And Tubal Cain was filled with pain + For the evil he had done. + He saw that men, with rage and hate, + Made war upon their kind; + That the land was red with the blood they shed + In their lust for carnage, blind. + And he said, "Alas, that ever I made, + Or that skill of mine should plan, + The spear and the sword for men whose joy + Is to slay their fellow-man!" + + And for many a day old Tubal Cain + Sat brooding o'er his woe; + And his hand forbore to smite the ore, + And his furnace smoldered low; + But he rose at last with a cheerful face + And a bright, courageous eye, + And bared his strong right arm for work, + While the quick flames mounted high; + And he sang, "Hurrah for my handiwork!" + And the red sparks lit the air-- + "Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made"-- + And he fashioned the first plowshare. + + And men, taught wisdom from the past, + In friendship joined their hands, + Hung the sword in the hall, the spear on the wall, + And plowed the willing lands; + And sang, "Hurrah for Tubal Cain! + Our stanch good friend is he. + + And, for the plowshare and the plow, + To him our praise shall be. + But, while oppression lifts its head, + Or a tyrant would be lord, + Though we may thank him for the plow, + We'll not forget the sword." + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Charles Mackay (1814-1889) was a Scotch poet. For some +years he was editor of the Glasgow Argus, and afterwards he became +editor of the Illustrated London News. During the Civil War he was the +special correspondent of the London Times at New York. He wrote many +poems of interest to young people. Historical Note. Tubal Cain was one +of the sons of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. He was an "instructor of +every artificer in brass and iron," that is, he was the first smith. +All that we really know of his history is given in the fourth chapter +of Genesis. Discussion. 1. What did Tubal Cain first make on his +forge? 2. Why did he think that his work was good? 3. What did men say +about him? 4. How did Tubal Cain feel when he saw what men were doing +with the products of his forge? 5. What did he do then? 6. What made +his face "cheerful" at last? 7. Is it better to make instruments of +war or tools for industry? 8. Why was Tubal Cain happy when he made +plows? 9. Was he working for money, or for service? 10. Explain the +last four lines. 11. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: fashioned; +handiwork; wrought; anew; lust; brooding; forbore; plowshare. 12. +Pronounce: hurrah; wield; carnage; smoldered; stanch. + +Phrases for Study + +man of might, smite the ore, earth was young, taught wisdom from the +past, crown of his desire, spoils of forest free, willing lands, metal +true, oppression lifts its head, upon their kind, tyrant would be +lord, whose joy is to slay. + + + +THE INCHCAPE ROCK + +ROBERT SOUTHEY + + No stir in the air, no stir in the sea; + The ship was still as she could be; + Her sails from Heaven received no motion; + Her keel was steady in the ocean. + + Without either sign or sound of their shock, + The waves flowed over the Inchcape Rock; + So little they rose, so little they fell, + They did not move the Inchcape Bell. + + The holy Abbot of Aberbrothok + Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock; + On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung, + And over the waves its warning rung. + + When the rock was hid by the surge's swell, + The mariners heard the warning bell; + And then they knew the perilous rock + And blessed the Abbot of Aberbrothok. + + The sun in heaven was shining gay; + All things were joyful on that day; + The sea-birds screamed as they wheeled around, + And there was joyance in their sound. + + The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen, + A darker speck on the ocean green; + Sir Ralph the Rover walked his deck, + And he fixed his eye on the darker speck. + + He felt the cheering power of spring; + It made him whistle, it made him sing; + His heart was mirthful to excess, + But the Rover's mirth was wickedness. + + His eye was on the Inchcape float; + Quoth he, "My men, put out the boat + And row me to the Inchcape Rock, + And I'll plague the Abbot of Aberbrothok." + + The boat is lowered, the boatmen row, + And to the Inchcape Rock they go; + Sir Ralph bent over from the boat, + And he cut the bell from the Inchcape float. + + Down sank the bell, with a gurgling sound; + The bubbles rose and burst around; + Quoth Sir Ralph, "The next who comes to the Rock + Won't bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok!" + + Sir Ralph the Rover sailed away; + He scoured the seas for many a day; + And now grown rich with plundered store, + He steers his course for Scotland's shore. + + So thick a haze o'erspreads the sky + They cannot see the sun on high; + The wind hath blown a gale all day; + At evening it hath died away. + + On the deck the Rover takes his stand; + So dark it is they see no land. + Quoth Sir Ralph, "It will be lighter soon, + For there is dawn of the rising moon." + + "Canst hear," said one, "the breakers roar? + For methinks we should be near the shore." + "Now where we are I cannot tell, + But I wish I could hear the Inchcape Bell." + + They hear no sound; the swell is strong; + Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along + Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock-- + "O Christ! it is the Inchcape Rock!" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biographical and Historical Note. Robert Southey (1774-1843) was +an English poet. From 1813 until his death he was Poet Laureate of +England. Bell Rock, or Inchcape, is a reef of red sandstone near the +Firth of Tay, on the east coast of Scotland. At the time of the spring +tides part of the reef is uncovered to the height of four feet. +Because so many vessels were wrecked upon these rocks the Abbot of +Aberbrothok is said to have placed a bell there, "fixed upon a tree or +timber, which rang continually, being moved by the sea." + +Discussion. 1. What picture do you see when you read the first stanza? +The second stanza? 2. This story tells about a man who failed. You +have read about Peter's heroism and the lives he saved, about the +service a schoolboy rendered to a poor old woman, about a blacksmith +who joyously made the tools by which men raised fruit and grain for +food, and about a boy who was faithful to orders, even though it cost +his life. Here you see how men sometimes try to make of no effect all +the good deeds that others perform. 3. The Abbot of Aberbrothok was a +man who lived up to the ideal of service; how did he do this, and why +did men bless him? 4. Ralph the Rover was a pirate; why did he destroy +the bell? 5. All the others in the stories you have read, boys and +men, thought less of themselves than of others; of what did Ralph +think? 6. Is a merchant who raises the price of food as high as he +can, who makes huge profits while others suffer or starve, any better +than Ralph the Rover? 7. What test of loyalty to our country, would +prove such a man to be a "bad citizen"? 8. Ralph was a free man--what +did "liberty" mean to him? 9. What happened to Ralph the Rover? 10. +Find in the Glossary the meaning of: keel; abbot; perilous; joyance; +breakers; methinks. 11. Pronounce: buoy; mariners; excess; scoured. + +Phrases for Study + +sound of their shock, mirthful to excess, surge's swell, plague the +Abbot, cheering power of spring, plundered store. + + + +MY BOYHOOD ON THE PRAIRIE + +HAMLIN GARLAND + +The cabin faced a level plain with no tree in sight. A mile away to +the west stood a low stone house, and immediately in front of us +opened a half-section of unfenced sod. To the north, as far as I could +see, the land billowed like a russet ocean, with scarcely a roof to +fleck its lonely spread. I cannot say that I liked or disliked it. I +merely marveled at it; and while I wandered about the yard, the hired +man scorched some cornmeal mush in a skillet, and this, with some +butter and gingerbread, made up my first breakfast in Mitchell County. + +For a few days my brother and I had little to do other than to +keep the cattle from straying, and we used our leisure in becoming +acquainted with the region round about. + +To the south the sections were nearly all settled upon, for in that +direction lay the county town; but to the north and on into Minnesota +rolled the unplowed sod, the feeding ground of the cattle, the home of +foxes and wolves, and to the west, just beyond the highest ridges, we +loved to think the bison might still be seen. + +The cabin on this rented farm was a mere shanty, a shell of pine +boards, which needed reinforcing to make it habitable, and one day my +father said, "Well, Hamlin, I guess you'll have to run the plow-team +this fall. I must help neighbor Button reinforce the house, and I +can't afford to hire another man." + +This seemed a fine commission for a lad of ten, and I drove my horses +into the field that first morning with a manly pride which added +an inch to my stature. I took my initial "round" at a "land" which +stretched from one side of the quarter section to the other, in +confident mood. I was grown up! + +But alas! My sense of elation did not last long. To guide a team for +a few minutes as an experiment was one thing--to plow all day like a +hired hand was another. It was not a chore; it was a job. It meant +moving to and fro hour after hour, day after day, with no one to +talk to but the horses. It meant trudging eight or nine miles in the +forenoon and as many more in the afternoon, with less than an hour off +at noon. It meant dragging the heavy implement around the corners, and +it meant also many shipwrecks; for the thick, wet stubble often threw +the share completely out of the ground, making it necessary for me to +halt the team and jerk the heavy plow backward for a new start. + +Although strong and active, I was rather short, even for a +ten-year-old, and to reach the plow handles I was obliged to lift my +hands above my shoulders; and so with the guiding lines crossed over +my back and my worn straw hat bobbing just above the cross-brace I +must have made a comical figure. At any rate nothing like it had been +seen in the neighborhood; and the people on the road to town, looking +across the field, laughed and called to me, and neighbor Button said +to my father in my hearing, "That chap's too young to run a plow," a +judgment which pleased and flattered me greatly. + +Harriet cheered me by running out occasionally to meet me as I turned +the nearest corner, and sometimes Frank consented to go all the way +around, chatting breathlessly as he trotted along behind. At other +times he brought me a cookie and a glass of milk, a deed which helped +to shorten the forenoon. And yet plowing became tedious. + +The flies were savage, especially in the middle of the day, and the +horses, tortured by their lances, drove badly, twisting and turning in +their rage. Their tails were continually getting over the lines, +and in stopping to kick their tormentors they often got astride the +traces, and in other ways made trouble for me. Only in the early +morning or when the sun sank low at night were they able to move +quietly along their way. + +The soil was the kind my father had been seeking, a smooth, dark, +sandy loam, which made it possible for a lad to do the work of a man. +Often the share would go the entire "round" without striking a root or +a pebble as big as a walnut, the steel running steadily with a crisp, +crunching, ripping sound which I rather liked to hear. In truth, the +work would have been quite tolerable had it not been so long drawn +out. Ten hours of it, even on a fine day, made about twice too many +for a boy. + +Meanwhile I cheered myself in every imaginable way. I whistled. I +sang. I studied the clouds. I gnawed the beautiful red skin from the +seed vessels which hung upon the wild rose bushes, and I counted the +prairie chickens as they began to come together in winter flocks, +running through the stubble in search of food. I stopped now and again +to examine the lizards unhoused by the share, and I measured the +little granaries of wheat which the mice and gophers had deposited +deep under the ground, storehouses which the plow had violated. My +eyes dwelt enviously upon the sailing hawk and on the passing of +ducks. The occasional shadowy figure of a prairie wolf made me wish +for Uncle David and his rifle. + +On certain days nothing could cheer me. When the bitter wind blew from +the north, and the sky was filled with wild geese racing southward +with swiftly-hurrying clouds, winter seemed about to spring upon me. +The horses' tails streamed in the wind. Flurries of snow covered me +with clinging flakes, and the mud "gummed" my boots and trouser +legs, clogging my steps. At such times I suffered from cold and +loneliness--all sense of being a man evaporated. I was just a little +boy, longing for the leisure of boyhood. + +Day after day, through the month of October and deep into November, +I followed that team, turning over two acres of stubble each day. I +would not believe this without proof, but it is true! At last it grew +so cold that in the early morning everything was white with frost, +and I was obliged to put one hand in my pocket to keep it warm, while +holding the plow with the other; but I didn't mind this so much, for +it hinted at the close of autumn. I've no doubt facing the wind in +this way was excellent discipline, but I didn't think it necessary +then, and my heart was sometimes bitter and rebellious. + +My father did not intend to be severe. As he had always been an +early riser and a busy toiler, it seemed perfectly natural and good +discipline that his sons should also plow and husk corn at ten years +of age. He often told of beginning life as a "bound boy" at nine, and +these stories helped me to perform my own tasks without whining. + +At last there came a morning when by striking my heel upon the ground +I convinced my boss that the soil was frozen. "All right," he said; +"you may lay off this forenoon." + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Hamlin Garland (1860-1940) was born in Wisconsin. His +father was a farmer-pioneer, who was always eager to be on the border +line of the farming country; consequently, he moved from Wisconsin to +Minnesota, from Minnesota to Iowa, and from Iowa to Dakota. The hope +of cheaper land, better soil, and bigger crops led him on. When Hamlin +Garland turned his attention to literature, he decided to write +truthfully of the western farmer's life and its great hardships in +pioneer days, as well as its hopes and joys. In A Son of the Middle +Border, an autobiography, from which "My Boyhood on the Prairie" is +taken, he has given a most interesting record of experiences in the +development of the Middle West. Mitchell County, where this scene is +laid, is in Iowa. + +Discussion. 1. Describe the boy's new home. 2. What work did the boy +have to do? 3. In what spirit did he start the plowing? 4. Why did his +"sense of elation" soon disappear? 5. Was his task harder than that of +Peter or of the boy who helped "Somebody's Mother"? 6. Must a boy do +some marvelous thing to be a hero? 7. How did the boy try to keep +himself in good cheer? 8. In The World of Nature, A Forward Look you +are told that if you have eyes to see, "the world of Nature is a +fairyland." Why do you think this boy had "eyes to see"? Find your +answer by reading the last two lines on page 131 and the first ten +lines on page 132. 9. What made him wish for freedom? 10. Class +reading: Page 131, line 8, to the end of the story. 11. Outline for +testing silent reading. Tell the story briefly, using these topics: +(a) the region and the cabin; (b) what plowing meant to a boy; (c) +how the boy was cheered. 12. Find in the Glossary the meaning +of: marveled; scorched; skillet; ridges; reinforcing; habitable; +commission; stature; implement; stubble; share; cross-brace; judgment; +tormentors; tolerable; unhoused; deposited; clog ging; evaporated. 13. +Pronounce: chore; tedious; loam; imaginable; gopher; leisure. + +Phrases for Study + +billowed like a russet ocean, guiding lines, fleck its lonely spread, +tortured by their lances, county town, astride the traces, initial +round, go the entire round, confident mood, plow had violated, sense +of elation, bound boy. + + + + +WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE + +GEORGE P. MORRIS + + Woodman, spare that tree! + Touch not a single bough; + In youth it sheltered me, + And I'll protect it now. + 'Twas my forefather's hand + That placed it near his cot; + There, woodman, let it stand; + Thy ax shall harm it not; + + That old familiar tree, + Whose glory and renown + Are spread o'er land and sea-- + And wouldst thou hack it down? + Woodman, forbear thy stroke! + Cut not its earth-bound ties; + Oh, spare that aged oak + Now towering to the skies. + + When but an idle boy, + I sought its grateful shade; + In all their gushing joy, + Here, too, my sisters played. + My mother kissed me here; + My father pressed my hand-- + Forgive this foolish tear, + But let that old oak stand! + + My heart-strings round thee cling, + Close as thy bark, old friend! + Here shall the wild-bird sing, + And still thy branches bend. + Old tree! the storm still brave! + And, woodman, leave the spot; + While I've a hand to save, + Thy ax shall harm it not. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. George P. Morris (1802-1864) was born in Philadelphia. He +was an editor and a poet and was connected with a number of newspapers +in New York City. + +Discussion. 1. To whom is the poet speaking in these verses? 2. What +does he wish to prevent? 3. Why is the tree dear to him? 4. Whom does +he remember seeing under the tree? 5. What did they do there? 6. How +will the poet protect the tree? 7. How does the American Forestry +Association protect trees? 8. Why should trees be cared for and +protected? 9. Why do we celebrate Arbor Day? 10. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: forefather; renown; towering; heart-strings. + +Phrases for Study + +near his cot, earth-bound ties, forbear thy stroke, storm still brave. + + + + +THE AMERICAN BOY + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT + +What we have a right to expect of the American boy is that he shall +turn out to be a good American man. Now the chances are strong that he +won't be much of a man unless he is a good deal of a boy. He must not +be a coward or a weakling, a bully, a shirk, or a prig. He must work +hard and play hard. He must be clean-minded and clean lived, and able +to hold his own against all comers. It is only on these conditions +that he will grow into the kind of American man of whom America can be +really proud. + +No boy can afford to neglect his work, and, with a boy, work as a +rule means study. A boy should work, and should work hard, at his +lessons--in the first place, for the sake of what he will learn, and +in the next place, for the sake of the effect upon his own character +of resolutely settling down to learn it. Shiftlessness, slackness, +indifference in studying are almost certain to mean inability to get +on in other walks of life. I do not believe in mischief-doing in +school hours, or in the kind of animal spirits that results in making +bad scholars; and I believe that those boys who take part in rough, +hard play outside of school will not find any need for horseplay in +school. While they study they should study just as hard as they play +football. It is wise to obey the homely old adage, "Work while you +work; play while you play." + +A boy needs both physical and moral courage. Neither can take the +place of the other. A coward who will take a blow without returning +it is a contemptible creature; but, after all, he is hardly as +contemptible as the boy who dares not stand up for what he deems right +against the sneers of his companions who are themselves wrong. There +is no need to be a prig. There is no need for a boy to preach +about his own conduct and virtue. If he does, he will make himself +ridiculous. But there is need that he should practice decency; that he +should be clean and straight, honest and truthful, gentle and tender, +as well as brave. + +The boy can best become a good man by being a good boy--not a +goody-goody boy, but just a plain good boy. "Good," in the largest +sense, should include whatever is fine, straightforward, clean, brave, +and manly. The best boys I know--the best men I know--are good at +their studies or their business, fearless and stalwart, hated and +feared by all that is wicked, incapable of submitting to wrong-doing, +and equally incapable of being aught but tender to the weak and +helpless. A healthy-minded boy should feel hearty contempt for the +coward, and even more hearty indignation for the boy who bullies girls +or small boys, or tortures animals. + +Of course the effect that a thoroughly manly, thoroughly straight and +upright boy can have upon the companions of his own age, and upon +those who are younger, is incalculable. He cannot do good work if he +is not strong and does not try with his whole heart and soul to count +in any contest; and his strength will be a curse to himself and to +everyone else if he does not have thorough command over himself and +over his own evil passions, and if he does not use his strength on the +side of decency, justice, and fair dealing. + +In short, in life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: +Hit the line hard; don't foul and don't shirk, but hit the line hard! +--Abridged. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +For Biography, see page 37. Discussion. 1. This selection sums up all +the stories of service that you have been reading. You will get most +out of it if you will think back over these stories and use them as +illustrations of what Mr. Roosevelt tells you is his ideal of the +American boy. What examples, in these stories, can you find to +illustrate the sentence, "He must not be a coward or a weakling.... +He must work hard and play hard"? 2. Illustrate, from the story of +Lincoln, what Mr. Roosevelt says about study. What was Lincoln's +attitude toward study? What is yours? Did Lincoln's studies have the +effect on his character that Mr. Roosevelt speaks about? 3. What story +illustrates the sentence, "There is need that he should practice +decency; that he should be clean and straight, honest and truthful, +gentle and tender, as well as brave"? 4. How does the story about life +on the prairie illustrate the paragraph that begins, "The boy can best +become a good man by being a good boy"? What is the difference between +being "a good boy" and "a goodygoody boy"? 5. Was Ralph the Rover a +brave man or a coward? 6. Apply the principle stated by Mr. Roosevelt +at the end of the selection to the story about Washington and +Braddock. To the story about the boy on the prairie. 7. Can you relate +an instance in which a manly boy had a good influence upon another boy +or Upon his companions? 8. Do you think the football slogan given in +the last sentence on page 137 is a good principle of life? Memorize +the slogan. 9. This selection is taken from The Strenuous Life; it +first appeared in St. Nicholas, May, 1900. 10. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: shirk; prig; resolutely; indifference; inability; +horseplay; deems; indignation; bullies. 11. Pronounce: adage; neither; +contemptible; ridiculous; stalwart; incapable; aught; incalculable. + +Phrases for Study + +against all comers, physical and moral courage, walks of life, +practice decency, animal spirits, in the largest sense, homely old +adage, aught but tender. + + +HOME AND COUNTRY + + +A BACKWARD LOOK + +As you gazed through your Crystal Glass of Reading at the selections +in Part I, you saw reflected now pictures of home and now again a +picture of that early Thanksgiving Day when Pilgrim and Indian sat +down together to the "varied riches of gardens and woods and waves." +When you heard Massasoit say at the feast, "The Good Spirit loves His +white children best," you wondered about the truth of his statement +and, as you thought about it, perhaps Abraham Lincoln came to mind; +what do you think Lincoln, if he had been alive at that time, might +have answered the Indian chief? The poems about home might be called +memory-pictures of home; why do you think older people remember with +so much fondness their childhood homes? Imagine yourself telling +your grandchildren about the home of your youth and about your home +pleasures; what things would you mention? Why is it a good thing for a +nation to have its people love their homes and the festival days like +Christmas and Thanksgiving? + +And now a turn of the Crystal Glass reveals a glorious flag, floating +protectingly over us. How you love to look upon its starry folds; when +statesmen and poets tell you of the meaning of Old Glory you realize +that there is good reason for your pride and your love. What did +Charles Sumner tell you about the meaning of the stars and the stripes +and the colors of the Flag? What did James Whitcomb Riley tell you +about how Old Glow got its name? What were the circumstances under +which Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner"? What are +some of the things you can do to show your respect for the Flag? What +are some of the things you remember about Lincoln's boyhood? How +does his method of memorizing com-pare with yours? The young George +Washington showed remarkable bravery as Braddock's chief assistant; +what other fine quality did he show? How may these stories about +Washington and Lincoln help you to be a worthy citizen of the country +they helped to found and preserve? + +We admire all people who are helpful to others, but when in giving +service, some forget about themselves and even sacrifice themselves +for others, we regard these as heroes. Peter, in "The Leak in the +Dike," and the boy in "Somebody's Mother" forgot about themselves in +their service to others; one disregarded danger to himself, and +the other the possible jeers of his playmates; do you know of any +instances of service in your school? It is fine to serve obediently +under the command of superiors as did the young Casabianca, but it is +even finer to think quickly in an emergency and to do what should be +done when there is no one at hand to give orders. Who gave Peter his +orders? Tubal Cain belongs to a group of men who have served their +fellow men by useful inventions; mention some other inventors and tell +how they have helped mankind. Hamlin Garland gave you a glimpse of +the pioneer's service to our country; what names of pioneers in your +locality are honored for their service in the early days? What ideas +of being useful home-members did you get from Hamlin Garland and +Theodore Roosevelt? How does the habit of being useful in the home +fit one for being a good citizen? American boys and girls have many +opportunities for service in the home, in the school, and in their +other relations; have you done any piece of service, in an organized +way, in your school? Does your school belong to the Junior Red Cross, +and does it try' to follow the motto, "Go forth to serve"? + +When you look back upon all that you have read of home and country, +you no doubt come to the conclusion that "the man without a country" +summed it all up when he said, "Stick to your family... Think of your +home... And for your country and for your Flag, never dream but of +serving her." + +From selections found in this book prepare a program for Washington's +birthday. + + + + + +PART II + + +STORIES OF ADVENTURE + + +Hush! Again a forest and somebody up in a tree--not Robin Hood... +but an Eastern King with a glittering scimitar and turban. It is the +setting-in of the bright Arabian Nights. + +Oh, now ail common things become uncommon and enchanted to me. All +lamps are wonderful; all rings are talismans... Trees are for Ali Baba +to hide in; beefsteaks are to throw down into the Valley of Diamonds +that the precious stones may stick to them and be carried by the +eagles to their nests, whence the traders, with loud cries, will scare +them. + +CHARLES DICKENS. + + +STORIES OF ADVENTURE + +A FORWARD LOOK + + +When something out of the ordinary happens to you, you call it an +adventure. Perhaps you came very near getting drowned in the swimming +pool, or you found a purse with some money and some queer treasures in +it, or you met a very curious old man, or you caught a rabbit after an +exciting chase, or you went on a long journey and saw many wonderful +things. If you have had such an experience, you like to tell about it +to your friends, and if you have not, you like to hear the stories +told by people who have had some thrilling adventure of their own. + +From the earliest times to the present the man who has had some +unusual experience to tell about has been a favorite. We are eager to +hear such stories; they make life seem more interesting and varied. +Nowadays we read such stories in books and magazines; we are not +dependent upon hearing them from the lips of those who have lived +lives of adventure. But centuries ago, before there were books and +newspapers, when any journey away from home, even for a few miles, was +filled with peril, the traveler who could tell of marvelous things, or +the weaver of tales who had a vivid imagination so that he could tell +about things that seemed really true, found eager hearers. Among the +French, stories about Roland, the wonderful knight who fought in the +wars of the Emperor Charlemagne, were known by every boy and girl. The +English had King Arthur, and Saint George, and Robin Hood. + +Besides these legends about a national hero, there are many +collections of stories that have grown up among the common people. +One of the oldest of these collections of tales is that known as the +Arabian Nights. For hundreds of years these stories were told in the +tents of the desert or in the gay bazaars of the cities of the East. +About the time of the discovery of America they were written down and +became known as the Arabian Nights Entertainment, or the tales of a +thousand and one nights. We are told that there was once a cruel King +who planned to slay all the women in his kingdom. His wife determined +to tell him such wonderful stories that he would give up his cruel +purpose. So she told him of enchanted gardens, of caves filled with +treasure, of palaces built in a night, and of many other things. He +was so eager to hear these stories that a thousand and one nights +passed before he could escape from the spell that she laid upon him. +By this time he was so much in love with her that he withdrew his +wicked order. You may see how marvelous were these tales by reading +the stories of Aladdin, of Ali Baba, and of Sindbad the Sailor. +Perhaps when you have finished them you will not wonder that the King +found the thousand and one nights so happy that he lost his desire to +carry out his cruel purpose. + +Next, you are introduced to one of the most popular of English heroes, +Robin Hood. Many old ballads and tales, older than the first American +colony, have come down to us with these stories of the famous outlaw. +The stories are very different from those of the Arabian Nights. They +have no treasure caves or magic lamps or voyages to strange countries +in them. They tell of contests in archery, for which the English were +famous; of wrestling and swimming matches; of outlaws and dwellers in +the greenwood. Because he was their champion against unjust taxation +and oppressive laws, Robin Hood was the idol of the common people. +They made up games about him, in which old and young took part. +Wandering minstrels sang about him. "Lincoln green," the color of the +clothing worn by Robin and his followers, was a favorite with all +foresters. Why Robin was so loved you may determine for yourselves by +reading the stories of Robin Hood given in the pages that follow. + +In Gulliver's Travels we pass from stories like the Arabian Nights +and "Robin Hood," which grew up among the common people, to a story +composed by a single author who wrote out his material and then had it +printed in order that all might enjoy it. We do not know who wrote the +story of Ali Baba or the adventures of Robin Hood, but we know all +about Jonathan Swift, the great English writer who tells us the story +of Gulliver's adventures among the little people, or Lilliputians. +Gulliver also had wonderful experiences among a race of giants, and in +a land where the citizens were horses that were more intelligent than +men. + +Somewhat different from all the other tales in this part of our book +is the story of Robinson Crusoe, written by Daniel Defoe about two +hundred years ago and here condensed for your enjoyment. There was, in +Defoe's time, a sailor, Alexander Selkirk by name, who was left by his +shipmates on an island and who lived by himself for four years before +he attracted the attention of a passing ship. This suggested the idea +of Robinson Crusoe to Defoe, but he has greatly expanded the story. +Crusoe lived on his lonely island for twenty-seven years. During this +time he learned how to make tools, to build his house, to cultivate +his farm, to prepare to defend himself against an enemy's attack, and +to civilize barbarous people. + +In its original form each of the stories in this group makes a +good-sized book. While some incidents and many details have been +omitted here in order to shorten and simplify the stories, the main +plot and all the most interesting incidents are given. + +The world is full of stories of adventure; these are only samples of +the joyful experiences that you may have through your power to read. +And you boys and girls are more fortunate than those who lived in the +time of Aladdin, or even those who lived in the time of Robin Hood or +Robinson Crusoe, for they had no books at all, or only a few, and +if they had any, these books were poorly printed, with very ugly +illustrations, not at all like the wonderful books that you may have +at will. + +But of all the stories that might have been selected, the ones placed +before you have been chosen for two reasons. First of all, they are +interesting, and are to be read for pure enjoyment. And next, these +stories leave with you certain ideas that are well worth while. +Aladdin and Ali Baba, the heroes of the Arabian Nights stories, who +became rich through their strange adventures, helped their neighbors +with their wealth. Robin Hood, too, helped the poor oppressed people +of his time, though he did many things that would be wrong today. +Robinson Crusoe's lonely life on a desert island shows us how much we +depend upon the work of those about us. And Captain Gulliver, in the +midst of his wonderful adventures, always kept in mind the ideas of +justice and honor. + +So in all these stories there is a sense of justice and +responsibility. Nowadays--at least in America--men are free. Buried +treasure is as hard to find as ever, but it can be found. The man who +works hard, who seizes opportunities, who builds up a business or runs +a farm, can find his treasure. The government will protect him; we +no longer need to use the methods of Robin Hood to get justice. The +important question is whether the Ali Babas and Aladdins of our day +will feel just such responsibility to others as you find recorded in +these stories, and whether the desire to help the unfortunate is as +strong in our free America as it was in the heart of Robin Hood. + + +STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + +ALADDIN, OR THE WONDERFUL LAMP + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Arabian Nights.) + +Aladdin was the son of Mustapha, a poor tailor in one of the rich +provinces of China. When the boy was old enough to learn a trade, his +father took him into his own workshop. But Aladdin, being but an idle +fellow, loved play more than work, and spent his days playing in the +public streets with other boys as idle as himself. + +His father died while he was yet very young; but Aladdin still +continued his foolish ways, and his mother was forced to spin cotton +night and day in order to keep herself and her boy. + +When Aladdin was about fifteen years old, he was one day playing in +the streets with some of his companions. A stranger who was going +by stopped and looked at him. This stranger was a famous African +magician, who, having need of the help of some ignorant person, no +sooner beheld Aladdin than he knew by his whole manner and appearance +that he was a person of small prudence and very fit to be made a tool +of. The magician inquired of some persons standing near, the name and +character of Aladdin, and the answers proved to him that he had judged +rightly of the boy. The stranger, pressing in among the crowd of lads, +clapped his hand on Aladdin's shoulder, and said, "My good lad, are +you not the son of Mustapha, the tailor?" "Yes, sir," said Aladdin; +"but my father has been dead this long time." + +"Alas!" cried he, "what unhappy news! I am your father's brother, +child. I have been many years abroad; and now that I have come home +in the hope of seeing him, you tell me he is dead!" And all the while +tears ran down the stranger's cheeks, and his bosom heaved with sighs. +Then, pulling out a purse, he gave Aladdin two pieces of gold, saying, +"Take this, my boy, to your mother. Tell her that I will come and see +her tonight, and sup with her." Pleased with the money, Aladdin ran +home to his mother. "Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" His mother +told him he had not, whereupon Aladdin pulled out his gold and told +her that a man who said he was his father's brother was coming to sup +with her that very evening. Full of bewilderment, the good woman +set out for the market, where she bought provisions, and was busy +preparing the supper when the magician knocked at the door. He +entered, followed by a porter who brought all kinds of delicious +fruits and sweetmeats for their dessert. + +As soon as they sat down to supper, he gave Aladdin's mother an +account of his travels, saying that for forty years he had been away +from home, in order to see the wonders of distant countries. Then, +turning toward Aladdin, he asked his name. "I am called Aladdin," said +he. "Well, Aladdin," said the magician, "what business do you follow?" + +At this question Aladdin hung down his head, and was not a little +abashed when his mother made answer: "Aladdin is an idle fellow; his +father strove all he could to teach him his trade, but could not +succeed; and since his death, in spite of all I can say to him, he +does nothing but idle away his time in the streets, so that I despair +of his ever coming to any good." With these words the poor woman burst +into tears, and the magician, turning to Aladdin, said: "This is not +well, nephew; you must think of helping yourself and getting your +livelihood. I will help you as far as I may. What think you--shall +I take a shop and furnish it for you?" Aladdin was overjoyed at the +idea, for he thought there was very little labor in keeping a shop, +and he told his uncle this would suit him better than anything else. + +"I will take you with me tomorrow," said the magician, "clothe you as +handsomely as the best merchants in the city, and then we will open a +shop." + +Aladdin's mother thanked him very heartily and begged Aladdin to +behave so as to prove himself worthy of the good fortune promised by +his kind uncle. + +Next day the stranger called for Aladdin as he had promised, and led +him to a merchant's, where clothes for all sorts of people were sold. +Then he caused Aladdin to try on the handsomest suits, and choosing +the one Aladdin preferred he paid the merchant for it at once. The +pretended uncle then took Aladdin to visit the bazaars, the khans +where the foreign merchants were, and the most splendid mosques, and +gave him a merry feast in the evening. + +The next morning Aladdin got up and dressed himself very early, so +impatient was he to see his uncle. Presently he saw him coming, and +ran to meet him. The magician greeted him very kindly. "Come, my good +boy," he said with a smile; "I will today show you some very fine +things." + +He then led him through some beautiful gardens with great houses +standing in the midst of them. Aladdin did nothing but exclaim at +their beauty, and so his uncle by degrees led him on farther and +farther into the country. "We shall now," said he to Aladdin, "go no +farther, for I shall here show you some extraordinary wonders that no +one besides yourself will ever have seen. I am now going to strike a +light, and do you, in the meantime, collect all the dry sticks and +leaves that you can find, in order to make a fire." + +There were so many pieces of dry sticks scattered about this place +that Aladdin collected more than enough by the time his uncle had +struck a light. The magician then set them on fire, and as soon as +they were in a blaze he threw a certain perfume, that he had ready in +his hand, upon them. A dense smoke arose, while the magician spoke +some mysterious words. At the same instant the ground shook slightly, +and, opening in the spot where they stood, showed a square stone about +a foot and a half across, with a brass ring in the center. + +Aladdin was frightened out of his wits, and was about to run away, +when the magician suddenly gave him a box on the ear so violent as to +beat him down and very nearly to knock some of his teeth out. Poor +Aladdin, with tears in his eyes and trembling in every limb, got up. +"My dear uncle," he cried, "what have I done to deserve so severe a +blow?" "I have good reasons for it," replied the magician. "Do you but +obey me, and you will not repent of it. Underneath that stone is a +great hidden treasure, which will make you richer than many kings if +you will be attentive to what I shall say to you." + +Aladdin had now got the better of his fright. "Well," said he, "what +must I do? Tell me; I am ready to obey you in everything!" "Well +said!" replied the magician; "come to me, then; take hold of this +ring, and lift up the stone." + +To Aladdin's surprise the stone was raised without any trouble, and +then he could see a small opening three or four feet deep, at the +bottom of which was a little door, with steps to go down still lower. +"You must now," said the magician, "go down into this cavern, and when +you have come to the bottom of the steps, you will see an open door +which leads into three great halls. In each of these you will see, on +both sides of you, four bronze vases as large as tubs, full of gold +and silver, but you must not touch any of it. + +"When you get to the first hall, bind your robe around you. Then go +to the second without stopping, and thence in the same manner to the +third. Above all, be very particular not to go near the walls or even +to touch them with your robe; for if any part of your dress should +chance to touch them, your instant death will be the consequence. At +the far end of the third hall there is a door which leads to a garden +planted with beautiful trees, all of which are full of fruit. Go +straight forward, and follow a path which you will see. This will +bring you to the bottom of a flight of fifty steps, at the top of +which there is a terrace. + +"There you will see a niche and in it a lighted lamp. Take the lamp +and extinguish it. Then throw out the wick and the liquid that is +within, and put the lamp in your bosom. If you should wish very much +to gather any of the fruit in the garden, you may do so; and there is +nothing to prevent your taking as much as you please." + +When the magician had given these directions to Aladdin, he took off +a ring which he had on one of his fingers and put it on his pretended +nephew, telling him at the same time that it was to secure him against +every evil that might otherwise happen to him. "Go, my child," he +said; "descend boldly; we shall now both of us become immensely rich +for the rest of our lives." + + + +ALADDIN FINDS THE WONDERFUL LAMP + +Aladdin jumped willingly into the opening and went down to the bottom +of the steps. He found the three halls exactly as the magician had +said. These he passed through with the greatest care, keeping in mind +his uncle's warning. He went on to the garden, and mounted to the +terrace without stopping. There in a niche was the lamp, which he +seized, and after he had thrown out the oil which it contained, he put +it in his bosom. + +This done, he returned to the garden. The trees here were all full of +the most extraordinary fruit. Never before had he seen fruits of +so many different colors. The white were pearls; the sparkling and +transparent Were diamonds; the deep red were rubies; the paler, a +particular sort of ruby called balas; the green, emeralds; the +blue, turquoises; the violet, amethysts; those tinged with yellow, +sapphires. All were of the largest size, and finer than were ever seen +before in the whole world. Aladdin was not yet of an age to know their +value, and thought they were all only pieces of colored glass. + +However, the variety, brilliancy, and extraordinary size of each sort +tempted him to gather some of each; and he took so many of every color +that he filled both his pockets, as well as the two new purses the +magician had bought for him at the time he made him a present of his +new suit. Since his pockets were already full, he fastened the two +purses on each side of his girdle, and also wrapped some of the gems +in its folds, as it was of silk and made very full. In this manner +he carried his treasures so that they could not fall out. He did not +forget to fill even his bosom quite full, between his robe and his +shirt. + +Laden in this manner with the most immense treasure, though ignorant +of its value, Aladdin made haste through the three halls, in order +that he might not make his uncle wait too long. Having passed through +them with the same caution as before, he began to ascend the steps +he had come down, and reached the entrance of the cave, where the +magician was impatiently waiting. + +When Aladdin saw his uncle, he called to him, "Help me up!" "My dear +boy," replied the magician, "you had better first give me the lamp, +as that will only hinder you." "It is not at all in my way," said +Aladdin, "and I will give it to you when I am out." The magician still +persevered in wishing to get the lamp before he helped Aladdin out of +the cave; but the boy had so covered it with the fruit of the trees +that he absolutely refused to give it. The wicked magician was in the +greatest despair at the obstinate resistance the boy made, and fell +into the most violent rage. He then threw some perfume on the fire, +and had hardly spoken two magic words, before the stone, which served +to shut up the entrance to the cavern, returned of its own accord to +the place, with all the earth over it, exactly in the same state as it +was when the magician and Aladdin first arrived there. + +When Aladdin found himself buried alive, he called aloud a thousand +times to his uncle, telling him he was ready to give him the lamp. +But all his cries were useless, and, having no other means of making +himself heard, he remained in perfect darkness. + +Finally he went down to the bottom of the stairs, intending to go +toward the light in the garden, where he had been before. But the +wails, which had been opened by enchantment, were now shut by the same +means. The poor boy felt all around him several times, but could not +discover the least opening. He then redoubled his cries and tears, and +sat down upon the step of his dungeon, without the least hope of ever +seeing the light of day again. + +For two days Aladdin remained in this state, without either eating +or drinking. On the third day, feeling that his death was near, he +clasped his hands in prayer and said in a loud tone of voice, "There +is no strength or power but in the great and high Heavens." In this +act of joining his hands he happened, without thinking of it, to rub +the ring which the magician had put upon his finger. + +Instantly a Genius of enormous figure and horrid countenance rose out +of the earth. This Genius, who was so extremely tall that his head +touched the roof, addressed these words to Aladdin: "What do you wish? +I am ready to obey you as your slave, both I and the other slaves of +the ring." Weak and terrified, and scarcely daring to hope, Aladdin +cried, "Whoever you are, take me, if you are able, out of this place!" +No sooner had his lips formed the words than he found himself on the +outside of the cave, at the very spot where the magician had left him. +Almost unable to believe his good fortune, he arose trembling, and +seeing the city in the distance, made his way back by the same road +over which he had come. Such a long weary road he found it to his +mother's door that when he reached it he was fainting from hunger and +fatigue: + +His mother, whose heart had been almost broken by his long absence, +received him joyfully and refreshed him with food. When he had +regained his strength, he told her all, and showed her the lamp and +the colored fruits and the wonderful ring on his finger. His mother +thought little of the jewels, as she was quite ignorant of their +value; so Aladdin put them all behind one of the cushions of the sofa +on which they were sitting. + +Next morning when Aladdin awoke, his first thought was that he was +very hungry and would like some breakfast. "Alas, my child," said his +mother, "I have not a morsel of bread to give you. Last night you ate +all the food in the house. However, I have a little cotton of my own +spinning. I will go and sell it, and buy something for our dinner." +"Keep your cotton, mother, for another time," said Aladdin, "and give +me the lamp which I brought with me yesterday. I will go and sell +that, and the money will serve us for breakfast and dinner too; +perhaps also for supper." + +Aladdin's mother took the lamp from the place where she had put it. +"Here it is," she said to her son; "but it is very dirty; if I were to +clean it a little, perhaps it might sell for something more." She then +took some water and a little fine sand with which to clean it. But she +had scarcely begun to rub the lamp, when a hideous and gigantic Genius +rose out of the ground before her, and cried with a voice as loud as +thunder, "What do you wish? I am ready to obey you as your slave, both +I and the other slaves of the lamp." + +Aladdin's mother was much terrified; but Aladdin, who had seen the +Genius in the cavern, did not lose his presence of mind. Seizing the +lamp, he answered in a firm voice, "I am hungry; bring me something to +eat." The Genius disappeared, and returned a moment later with a large +silver basin, which he carried on his head. In it were twelve covered +dishes of the same material, filled with the most delicious meats, and +six loaves as white as snow upon as many plates, and in his hand he +carried two silver cups. All these the Genius placed upon the table, +and instantly vanished. When Aladdin's mother had recovered from her +fright, they both sat down to their meal, in the greatest delight +imaginable, for never before had they eaten such delicate meats or +seen such splendid dishes. + +The remains of this feast provided them with food for some days, and +when it was all gone, Aladdin sold the silver dishes one by one for +their support. In this way they lived happily for several years, for +Aladdin had been sobered by his adventure, and now behaved with the +greatest wisdom and prudence. He took care to visit the principal +shops and public places, speaking only with wise and prudent persons; +and in this way he gathered much wisdom, and grew to be a courteous +and handsome youth. + + + +ALADDIN WEDS THE PRINCESS + +One day Aladdin told his mother that he intended to ask the Sultan to +give him his daughter in marriage. "Truly, my son," said his mother, +"you seem to have forgotten that your father was but a poor tailor; +and indeed I do not know who will dare to go and speak to the Sultan +about it." "You yourself must," said he, decidedly. "I!" cried his +mother, in the greatest surprise; "I go to the Sultan! Not I, indeed; +I will take care that I am not joined to such folly. You know very +well that no one can make any demand of the Sultan without bringing a +rich present, and where shall such poor folk as we find one?" + +Thereupon Aladdin told his mother that while talking with the +merchants in the bazaar he had learned to know the value of their +gems, and for a long time he had known that nothing which the +merchants had in their shops was half so fine as those jewels he had +brought home from the enchanted cave. So his mother took them from +the drawer where they had been hidden and put them in a dish of fine +porcelain. + +Aladdin's mother, now sure that such a gift was one that could not +fail to please the Sultan, at last agreed to do everything her son +wished. She took the porcelain dish with its precious contents and +folded it up in a very fine linen cloth. She then took another, less +fine, and tied the four corners of it together, that she might carry +it without trouble. This done, she took the road toward the palace of +the Sultan. + +Trembling, she told the Sultan of her son's boldness, and begged his +mercy for Aladdin and for herself. The Sultan heard her kindly; then +before giving any answer to her request, he asked her what she had +with her so carefully tied up in a linen cloth. Aladdin's mother +unfolded the cloths and humbly laid the jewels before him. + +It is impossible to express the surprise which this monarch felt when +he saw before him such a quantity of the most precious, perfect, and +brilliant jewels, the size of which was greater than any he had ever +seen before. For some moments he gazed at them, speechless. Then he +took the present from the hand of Aladdin's mother, and exclaimed, in +a transport of joy. "Ah! how very beautiful, how very wonderful they +are!" + +Then turning to his grand vizier, he showed him the gems and talked +privately to him for some minutes. At last he said to Aladdin's +mother: "My good woman, I will indeed make your son happy by marrying +him to the Princess, my daughter, as soon as he shall send me forty +large basins of massive gold, quite full of the same varieties of +precious stones which you have already presented me with, brought by +an equal number of black slaves, each of whom shall be led by a white +slave, young, well-made, handsome, and richly-dressed. These are +the conditions upon which I am ready to give him the Princess, my +daughter. Go, my good woman, and I will wait till you bring me his +answer." + +Full of disappointment, Aladdin's mother made her way home, and told +her son the Sultan's strange wish. But Aladdin only smiled, and when +his mother had gone out, he took the lamp and rubbed it. Instantly the +Genius appeared, and Aladdin commanded him to lose no time in bringing +the present which the Sultan had wished for. The Genius only said that +his commands should be at once obeyed, and then disappeared. + +In a very short time the Genius returned with forty black slaves, each +carrying upon his head a large golden basin of great weight, full of +pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, quite as fine as the jewels +that Aladdin's mother had given the Sultan. Each basin was covered +with a cloth of silver, embroidered with flowers of gold. There were +also forty white slaves, as Aladdin had commanded. All these slaves +with their golden basins entirely filled the house, which was but +small, as well as the court in front and the garden behind it. + +Aladdin's mother now came back and almost fainted when she saw this +great crowd and all its magnificence. Aladdin desired her at once to +follow the procession of slaves to the palace, and present to the +Sultan the dowry of the Princess. + +The astonishment of the Sultan at the sight of all these riches is +hardly to be imagined. After gazing upon the slaves with their shining +heaps of jewels, he said to Aladdin's mother, "Go, my good woman, and +tell your son that I am waiting with open arms to embrace him!" + +Aladdin was so delighted with this news that he could hardly answer +his mother, and, hastening to his chamber, he shut the door. Once more +he summoned the Genius, who brought to him garments that shone like +the sun. The Genius also brought him a splendid charger and twenty +slaves to march on either side of him on the way to the Sultan's +palace, all holding purses of gold to scatter among the people. + +If there had been a crowd before, there was ten times as great a one +now to watch Aladdin as he rode to the Sultan's palace, and to pick +up the gold pieces which were showered by his slaves as he went. The +Sultan came down from his throne to greet him, and all was feasting +and joy in the palace. + +After the feast the judge drew up a contract of marriage between +Aladdin and the beautiful Princess. As soon as this was done, the +Sultan asked Aladdin if he wished to remain in the palace and complete +all the ceremonies that day. "Sire," he replied, "however impatient I +may be to have entire possession of all your majesty's bounties, I beg +you to permit me to wait until I shall have built a palace to receive +the Princess in, that shall be worthy of her; and for this purpose I +request that you will have the goodness to point out a suitable place +for it near your own, that I may always be ready to pay my court to +your majesty. I will then neglect nothing to get it finished with all +possible diligence." + +"My son," answered the Sultan, "take the open space before my palace; +but remember that, to have my happiness complete, I cannot see you +united too soon to my daughter." Having said this, he again embraced +Aladdin, who now took leave of the Sultan as if he had been brought up +and had spent all his life at court. + +As soon as Aladdin reached home, he again summoned the Genius and +commanded him to build instantly the most gorgeous palace ever seen, +on the spot of ground given by the Sultan. Early the next morning the +Genius appeared. "Sir," said he, "your palace is finished; see if it +is as you wish." + +Words cannot paint the astonishment of the Sultan and all his +household at seeing this gorgeous palace shining in the place which +only the day before had been empty and bare. The Princess, too, +rejoiced much at the sight. Her marriage with Aladdin was held the +same day, and their happiness was the greatest that heart could wish. + + + +ALADDIN LOSES AND REGAINS THE LAMP + +For some months they lived thus, Aladdin showing great kindness to +the poor, and pleasing all by his generosity. About this time his old +enemy, the African magician, found out by some of his magic arts that +Aladdin was alive and enormously rich, instead of being, as he had +supposed, dead in the enchanted cave. He was filled with rage, and, +vowing to destroy Aladdin, he immediately set out for China. There he +learned that Aladdin had gone hunting, and was not expected home for +three or four days. + +The magician bought a dozen shining new lamps, put them in a basket, +and set out for Aladdin's palace. As he came near it he cried, "Who +will change old lamps for new?" + +When he came under the Princess's windows, one of her slaves said, +"Come, let us see if the old fool means what he says; there is an ugly +old lamp lying on the cornice of the hall of four-and-twenty windows; +we will put a new one in its place, if the old fellow is really in +earnest." The Princess having given permission, one of the slaves took +the lamp to the magician, who willingly gave her the best he had among +his new ones. + +As soon as night arrived, the magician summoned the Genius of the lamp +and commanded him to transport him, the palace, and the Princess to +the remotest corner of Africa. + +The confusion and grief of the Sultan were terrible when he found the +palace vanished and his daughter lost. The people ran in fear through +the streets, and the soldiers were sent in search of Aladdin, who had +not yet returned. + +Aladdin was soon found and dragged before the Sultan like a criminal. +He would have been beheaded had not the Sultan been afraid to enrage +the people. "Go, wretch!" cried the Sultan; "I grant thee thy life; +but if ever thou appearest before me again, death shall overtake thee, +unless in forty days thou bringest me tidings of my daughter." + +Aladdin, wretched and downfallen, left the palace, not knowing whither +to turn his steps. At length he stopped at a brook to bathe his eyes, +which smarted with the tears he had shed. As he stooped, his foot +slipped, and, catching hold of a piece of rock to save himself from +falling, he pressed the magician's ring, which he still wore on his +finger, and the Genius of the ring appeared before him, saying "What +would you have?" "Oh; Genius," cried Aladdin, "bring my palace back +without delay." + +"What you command," replied the Genius, "is not in my power; you must +call the Genius of the lamp." + +"Then I command you," said Aladdin, "to transport me to the place +where now it stands." Instantly Aladdin found himself beside his own +palace, which stood in a meadow not far from a strange city; and the +Princess was then walking in her own chamber, weeping for her loss. +Happening to come near to the window, she saw Aladdin under it. And +making a sign to him to keep silence, she sent a slave to bring him +in. The Princess and her husband having kissed each other and shed +many tears, Aladdin said, "Tell me, my Princess, what has become of an +old lamp which I left on the cornice of the hall of four-and-twenty +windows?" + +The Princess then told how her slave had exchanged it for a new one, +and said that the tyrant in whose power she was, always carried that +very lamp in his bosom. Aladdin was then sure that this person was no +other than his old enemy, the African magician. + +After talking a long while, they hit upon a plan for getting back +the lamp. Aladdin went into the city in the disguise of a slave, and +bought a powder. Then the Princess invited the magician to sup with +her. As she had never before shown him the least kindness, he was +delighted and came. While they were at table, she ordered a slave to +bring two cups of wine, one of which she had prepared by mixing in the +powder. After pretending to taste the one she held in her hand, she +asked the magician to change cups, as was the custom in China. He +joyfully seized the goblet, and drinking it all at a draft, fell +senseless on the floor. + +Aladdin was at hand to snatch the lamp from his bosom. Hastily rubbing +it, he summoned the Genius, who instantly transported the palace and +all it contained back to the place whence they had come. + +Some hours after, the Sultan, who had risen at break of day to mourn +for his daughter, went to the window to look at the spot which he +expected to see empty and vacant, and there to his unspeakable joy he +saw Aladdin's palace shining in its place. He summoned his guards and +hastened to embrace his daughter; and during a whole week nothing was +heard but the sound of drums, trumpets, and cymbals, and there were +all kinds of music and feasting, in honor of Aladdin's return with the +Princess. + +Some time after this, the Sultan died, and Aladdin and the Princess +ascended the throne. They reigned together many years and left many +noble sons and daughters at their death. + + + +Suggestions for Silent Reading + +Some stories and poems must be read thoughtfully in order to gain the +author's full meaning; such reading cannot be done rapidly. In other +selections, the meaning can be grasped easily, and the reading can be +rapid; in such cases we read mainly for the story, holding in mind the +various incidents as the plot unfolds. Throughout this book certain +stories, particularly those of Part II, may well be read silently and +reported on in class: The following suggestions will help you to gain +power in silent reading: + +(a) Time yourself by the clock as you read each story suggested for +silent reading; what was your reading speed per page? (b) Test your +ability to get the thought quickly from the printed page (1) by noting +how many of the questions that develop the main thoughts, under +Discussion, you can answer after one reading, and (2) by telling the +substance of the story from an outline. Sometimes this guiding outline +is prepared for you, as in question 19, below; sometimes you are asked +to prepare it. This outline may also be used at the close of the +lesson as a guide in retelling the story. You may have to read parts +of the story again to be able to answer all these questions and to +give the substance of the story fully. Notice that the rapid silent +readers in your class generally gain and retain more facts than +the slow readers do. Try steadily to increase your speed in silent +reading. + +To supplement and give balance to the lessons in silent reading, +certain passages notable for their beauty, their force, or their +dramatic quality, are listed, under Class readings, to be read aloud. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What kind of boy was Aladdin? What caused the magician +to notice him? 3. What did the magician do to make Aladdin and his +mother like him? 4. How did he force Aladdin to obey him? 5. What +did Aladdin see when he raised the stone? 6. What directions did the +magician give Aladdin before he descended the steps? 7. Explain the +magician's anxiety to get the lamp before he helped Aladdin up from +the cavern. 8. How was Aladdin rescued from the cavern? 9. How did he +discover the power of his lamp? 10. What effect did his good fortune +have upon him? 11. What use did Aladdin make of the fruit he had +gathered? 12. How did Aladdin persuade his mother to see the Sultan? +13. Why did the Sultan permit Aladdin to marry his daughter? 14. How +and where was Aladdin's palace built? 15. Where had Aladdin left the +lamp when he went on his hunting trip? 16. How did the magician gain +possession of it? 17. How did Aladdin regain the lamp? 18. Class +readings: Page 156, line 9, to page 160, line 4 (5 pupils). 19. +Outline for testing silent reading. Tell in your own words the story +of Aladdin, using the following topics: (a) the boyhood of Aladdin; +(b) Aladdin's pretended uncle; (c) the visit to the cave; (d) +Aladdin's return to his mother; (e) Aladdin and the Princess. 20. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: province; prudence; bewilderment; +abashed; extinguish; transparent; enchantment; dungeon; Genius; +Sultan; magnificence; bounties; cornice; transport. 21. Pronounce: +dessert; nephew; niche; fatigue; hideous; imaginable; porcelain; +vizier; gorgeous. + + +ALI BABA AND THE OPEN SESAME + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Arabian Nights.) + +In an old town of Persia there lived two brothers, Cassim and Ali +Baba. + +Cassim married a wife who owned a fine shop, a warehouse, and some +land; he thus found himself quite at his ease, and soon became one of +the richest men in the town. Ali Baba, on the other hand, had a +wife no better off than himself, and lived in a very poor house. He +supported his family by cutting wood in the forest, and carrying it on +his asses to sell about the town. + +One day Ali Baba went to the forest, and had very nearly finished +cutting as much wood as his asses could carry, when he saw high in the +air a thick cloud of dust, which seemed to be coming toward him. +He gazed at it for a long time, until he saw a company of men on +horseback, riding so fast that they were almost hidden by the dust. + +Although that part of the country was not often troubled by robbers, +Ali Baba thought that these horsemen looked like evil men. Therefore, +without thinking at all what might become of his asses, his first and +only care was to save himself. So he climbed up quickly into a large +tree, the branches of which spread out so close and thick that from +the midst of them he could see everything that passed, without being +seen. + +The robbers rode swiftly up to this very tree, and there alighted. Ali +Baba counted forty of them, and saw that each horseman took the bridle +off his horse and hung over its head a bag filled with barley. Then +they took their traveling bags, which were so heavy that Ali Baba +thought they must be filled with gold and silver. + +With his bag on his shoulder, the Captain of the thieves came close to +the rock, at the very spot where the tree grew in which Ali Baba had +hidden himself. After the rascal had made his way through the shrubs +that grew there, he cried out, "Open Sesame!" so that Ali Baba +distinctly heard the words. No sooner were they spoken than a door +opened in the rock. The Captain and all his men passed quickly in, and +the door closed again. + +There they stayed for a long time. Ali Baba was compelled to wait in +the tree with patience, as he was afraid some of them might come out +if he left his hiding-place. At length the door opened, and the forty +thieves came out. After he had seen all the troop pass out before him, +the Captain exclaimed, "Shut Sesame!" Each man then bridled his horse, +and mounted. When the Captain saw that all were ready, he put himself +at their head, and they rode off as they had come. + +Ali Baba did not come down from the tree at once, because he thought +they might have forgotten something, and be obliged to come back, and +that he should thus be caught. He watched them as long as he could; +nor did he leave the tree for a long time after he had lost sight of +them. Then, recalling the words the Captain had used to open and shut +the door, he made his way through the bushes to it, and called out, +"Open Sesame!" Instantly the door flew wide open! + +Ali Baba expected to find only a dark cave, and was very much +astonished at seeing a fine large chamber, dug out of the rock, and +higher than a man could reach. It received its light from a hole in +the top of the rock. In it were piled all sorts of rare fruits, bales +of rich merchandise, silk stuffs and brocades, and great heaps of +money, both silver and gold, some loose, some in large leather bags. +The sight of alt these things almost took Ali Baba's breath away. + +But he did not hesitate long as to what he should do. He went boldly +into the cave, and as soon as he was there, the door shut; but since +he knew the secret by which to open it, this gave him no fear. Leaving +the silver, he turned to the gold which was in the bags, and when he +had gathered enough for loading his three asses, he brought them to +the rock, loaded them, and so covered the sacks of gold over with wood +that no one could suspect anything. This done, he went to the door, +and had no sooner said the words, "Shut Sesame," than it closed. + +And now Ali Baba took the road to the town; and when he got home, he +drove his asses into the yard and shut the gate with great care. He +threw off the wood that hid the gold and carried the bags into the +house, where he laid them down in a row before his wife, who was +sitting upon a couch. + +When he had told the whole story of the cave and the forty thieves, he +emptied the sacks, making one great heap of gold that quite dazzled +his wife's eyes. His wife began to rejoice in this good fortune, and +was going to count over the money that lay before her, piece by piece. + +"What are you going to do?" said he. "Why, you would never finish +counting them. I will dig a pit to bury it in; we have no time to +lose." + +"It is right, though," replied the wife, "that we should know about +how much there may be. I will go and borrow a small grain-measure, and +while you are digging the pit, I will find how much there is." + +So the wife of Ali Baba set off and went to her brother-in-law, +Cassim, who lived a short way from her house. Cassim was away from +home, so she begged his wife to lend her a measure for a few minutes. +"That I will with pleasure," said Cassim's wife. She went to seek a +measure, but knowing how poor Ali Baba was, she was curious to know +what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure; so she put some tallow +on the bottom of the measure in such a way that no one would notice +it. + +The wife of Ali Baba returned home, and placing the measure on the +heap of gold, filled it over and over again, till she had measured the +whole. Ali Baba by this time had dug the pit for it, and while he +was burying the gold, his wife went back with the measure to her +sister-in-law, but without noticing that a piece of gold had stuck to +the bottom of it. + +The wife of Ali Baba had scarcely turned her back, when Cassim's wife +looked at the bottom of the measure, and was astonished to see a piece +of gold sticking to it. "What!" said she, "Ali Baba measures his gold! +Where can the wretch have got it?" When her husband Cassim came home, +she said to him, "Cassim, you think you are rich, but Ali Baba must +have far more wealth than you; he does not count his gold as you do; +he measures it." Then she showed him the piece of money she had found +sticking to the bottom of the measure--a coin so ancient that the name +of the prince engraved on it was unknown to her. + +Far from feeling glad at the good fortune which his brother had met +with, Cassim grew so jealous of Ali Baba that he passed almost the +whole night without closing his eyes. The next morning before sunrise +he went to him. "Ali Baba," said he, harshly, "you pretend to be poor +and miserable and a beggar, and yet you measure your money"--here +Cassim showed him the piece Of gold his wife had given him. "How many +pieces," added he, "have you like this, that my wife found sticking to +the bottom of the measure yesterday?" + + + +CASSIM VISITS THE CAVE + +From this speech Ali Baba knew that Cassim, and his wife also, must +suspect what had happened. So, without showing the least sign of +surprise, he told Cassim by what chance he had found the retreat' +of the thieves, and where it was; and offered, if he would keep the +secret, to share the treasure with him. + +"This I certainly expect," replied Cassim in a haughty tone; +"otherwise I will inform the police of it." Ali Baba, led rather by +his good nature than by fear, told him all, even to the words he must +pronounce, both on entering the cave and on quitting it. Cassim made +no further inquiries of Ali Baba; he left him, determined to seize the +whole treasure, and set off the next morning before break of day with +ten mules laden with large hampers which he proposed to fill. He took +the road which Ali Baba had pointed out, and arrived at the rock and +the tree; on looking for the door, he soon discovered it. When he +cried, "Open Sesame!" the door obeyed; he entered, and it closed +again. + +Greedy as Cassim was, he could have passed the whole day in feasting +his eyes with the sight of so much gold; but he remembered that he had +come to take away as much as he could; he therefore filled his sacks, +and coming to the door, he found that he had forgotten the secret +words, and instead of saying, "Open Sesame" he said, "Open Barley." So +the door, instead of flying open, remained closed. He named various +other kinds of grain; all but the right one were called upon, and +still the door did not move. + +The thieves returned to their cave toward noon; and when they were +within a short distance of it, and saw the mules belonging to Cassim +laden with hampers, standing about the rock, they were a good deal +surprised. They drove away the ten mules, which took to flight in +the forest. Then the Captain and his men, with their sabers in their +hands, went toward the door and said, "Open Sesame!" At once it flew +open. + +Cassim, who from the inside of the cave heard the horses trampling +on the ground, did not doubt that the thieves had come, and that his +death was near. Resolved, however, on one effort to escape and reach +some place of safety, he placed himself near the door ready to run out +as soon as it should open. The word "Sesame" was scarcely pronounced +when it opened, and he rushed out with such violence that he threw +the Captain to the ground. He could not, however, escape the other +thieves, who slew him on the spot. + +On entering the cave the thieves found, near the door, the sacks which +Cassim had filled, but they could not imagine how he had been able to +get in. + +The wife of Cassim, in the meantime, was in the greatest uneasiness +when night came and her husband did not return. After waiting as long +as she could, she went in the utmost alarm to Ali Baba, and said to +him, "Brother, I believe you know that Cassim has gone to the forest; +he has not yet come back, although it is almost morning. I fear some +accident may have befallen him." + +Ali Baba did not wait for entreaties to go and seek for Cassim. He +immediately set off with his three asses, and went to the forest. As +he drew near the rock, he was astonished to see that blood had been +shed near the cave. When he reached the door, he said, "Open Sesame!" +and it opened. + +He was shocked to see his brother's body in the cave. He decided to +carry it home, and placed it on one of his asses, covering it with +sticks to conceal it. The other two asses he quickly loaded with sacks +of gold, putting wood over them as before. Then, commanding the door +to close, he took the road to the city, waiting in the forest till +nightfall, that he might return without being observed. When he got +home, he left the two asses that were laden with gold for his wife to +unload; and having told her what had happened, he led the other ass to +his sister-in-law's. Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened +to him by Morgiana, who was a female slave, clever, and full of +invention. "Morgiana," said he, "the first thing I have to ask you is +to keep a deep secret! This packet contains the body of your master, +and we must bury him as if he had died a natural death. Let me speak +to your mistress, and hearken what I say to her." + +Morgiana went to call her mistress, and Ali Baba then told her +all that had happened before his arrival with the body of Cassim. +"Sister," added he, "here is a sad affliction for you, but we must +contrive to bury my brother as if he had died a natural death; and +then we shall be glad to offer you a shelter under our own roof." + +The widow of Cassim reflected that she could not do better than +consent. She therefore wiped away her tears, and suppressed her +mournful cries, and thereby showed Ali Baba that she accepted his +offer. + +Ali Baba left her in this frame of mind, and Morgiana went out with +him to an apothecary's there. She knocked at the shop door, and when +it was opened, asked for a particular kind of lozenge of great effect +in dangerous illness. The apothecary gave her the lozenge, asking who +was ill in her master's family. "Ah!" exclaimed she with a deep sigh, +"it is my worthy master, Cassim himself. He can neither speak nor +eat!" + +Meanwhile, as Ali Baba and his wife were seen going backwards and +forwards to the house of Cassim, in the course of the day, no one was +surprised on hearing in the evening the piercing cries of his widow +and Morgiana, which announced his death. + +And so the body of Cassim was prepared for its burial, which took +place the next day, attended by Ali Baba and Morgiana. + +As for his widow, she remained at home to lament and weep with her +neighbors, who, according to the usual custom, repaired to her house +during the ceremony of the burial, and joining their cries to hers, +filled the air with sounds of woe. Thus the manner of Cassim's death +was so well hidden that no one in the city knew anything about it. + + + +THE ROBBERS SEEK REVENGE ON ALI BABA + +But let us now leave Ali Baba and Morgiana, and return to the forty +thieves. When they came back to their cave, they found the body of +Cassim gone, and with it much of their treasure. "We are discovered," +said the Captain, "and we shall be lost if we are not very careful. +All that we can at present tell is that the man whom we killed in the +Cave knew the secret of opening the door. But he was not the only one; +another must have found it out too. Having slain one, we must not let +the other escape. Well, the first thing to be done is that one of you +should go to the city in the dress of a traveler, and try to learn who +the man we killed was." + +The thief who agreed to carry out this plan, having disguised himself +so that no one could have told who he was, set off at night, and +entered the city just at dawn. By asking questions in the town he +discovered that a body had been prepared for burial at a certain +house. Having found the house, the thief marked the door with chalk +and returned to the forest. + +Very soon after this, Morgiana had occasion to go out, and saw the +mark which the thief had made on the door of Ali Baba's house. "What +can this mark mean?" thought she; "has anyone a spite against my +master, or has it been done only for fun? In any ease, it will be well +to guard against the worst that may happen." She therefore took some +chalk, and as several of the doors, both above and below her master's, +were alike, she marked them in the same manner, and then went in +without saying anything of what she had done either to her master or +mistress. + +The thief in the meantime arrived at the forest, and related the +success of his journey. They all listened to him with great delight, +and the Captain, after praising him, said, "Comrades, we have no time +to lose; let us arm ourselves and depart, and when we have entered the +city, which we had best do separately, let us all meet in the great +square, and I will go and find out the house with the chalk mark." +Thus the thieves 'went in small parties of two or three to the city +without causing any suspicion. The thief who had been there in the +morning then led the Captain to the street in which he had marked the +house of Ali Baba. + +When they reached the first house that had been marked by Morgiana, he +pointed it out, saying that was the one. But as they continued walking +on, the Captain saw that the next door was marked in the same manner. +At this the thief was quite confused, and knew not what to say; for +they found four or five doors more with the same mark. + +The Captain, who was in great anger, returned to the square, and told +the first of his men whom he met to tell the rest that they had lost +their labor, and that nothing remained but to return to the forest. + +When they had reached the forest, the Captain declared the mistaken +thief deserving of death, and he was at once killed by his companions. + +Next day another thief, in spite of this, determined to succeed where +the other had failed. He went to the city, found the house, and marked +the door of it with red. But, a short time after. Morgiana; vent out +and saw the red mark and did not fail to make a similar red mark on +the neighboring doors. + +The thief when he returned to the forest boasted of his success, and +the Captain and the rest repaired to the city with as much care as +before, and the Captain and his guide went immediately to the street +where Ali Baba resided; but the same thing occurred as before. + +Thus they were obliged to return again to the forest disappointed. The +second thief was put to death as a punishment for deceiving them. + +Next time the Captain himself went to the city, and found the house of +Ali Baba. But not choosing to amuse himself by making marks on it, he +examined it so well, not only by looking at it. But by passing before +it several times, that at last he was certain he could not mistake it. + +Thereupon he returned to the forest, and told the thieves he had +made sure of the house, and had made a plan such that at last he was +certain he could not mistake it. And first he ordered them to divide +into small parties, and go into the neighboring towns and villages and +buy nineteen mules and thirty-eight large leather jars to carry oil, +one of which must be full, and all the others empty. + +In the course of two or three days the thieves returned, and the +Captain made one of his men enter each jar, armed as he thought +necessary. Then he closed the jars as if each were full of oil, +leaving, however, a small slit open to admit air. + +Things being thus disposed, the mules were laden with the thirty-seven +thieves, each concealed in a jar, and the jar that was filled with +oil; whereupon the Captain took the road to the city at the hour that +had been agreed, and arrived about an hour after sunset. He went +straight to the house of Ali Baba, where he found Ali Baba at the +door, enjoying the fresh air after supper. "Sir," said he, "I have +brought oil from a great distance to sell tomorrow at the market, and +I do not know where to go to pass the night; if it would not occasion +you much trouble, do me the favor to take me in." + +Although Ali Baba had seen, in the forest, the man who now spoke to +him and had even heard his voice, yet he had no idea that this was the +Captain of the forty robbers, disguised as an oil merchant. "You are +welcome," said he, and took him into the house, and his mules into the +stable. + + + +THE OIL MERCHANT IN THE HOME OF ALI BABA + +Ali Baba, having told Morgiana to see that his guest wanted nothing, +added, "Tomorrow before daybreak I shall go to the bath. Make me some +good broth to take when I return." After giving these orders, he went +to bed. In the meantime the Captain of the thieves, on leaving the +stable, went to give his people orders what to do. Beginning with the +first jar, and going through the whole number, he said to each, "When +I shall throw some pebbles from my chamber, do not fail to rip open +the jar from top to bottom with the knife you have, and to come out; I +shall be with you soon after." The knives he spoke of were sharpened +for the purpose. This done, he returned, and Morgiana took a light, +and led him to his chamber. Not to cause any suspicion, he put out the +light and lay down in his clothes, to be ready to rise as soon as he +had taken his first sleep. + +Morgiana did not forget Ali Baba's orders; she prepared his linen for +the bath and gave it to Abdalla, Ali Baba's slave, who had not yet +gone to bed. Then she put the pot on the fire to make the broth, but +while she was skimming it. The lamp went out. There was no more oil +in the house, and she had no candle. She did not know what to do. She +wanted a light to see to skim the pot, and mentioned it to Abdalla. +"Take some oil," said he, "out of one of the jars in the court." + +Morgiana accordingly took the oil-can and went into the court. As she +drew near the first jar, the thief who was concealed within said in a +low voice, "Is it time?" + +Any other slave except Morgiana, in the first moment of surprise at +finding a man in the jar instead of some oil, would have made a great +uproar. But Morgiana collected her thoughts, and without showing any +emotion assumed the voice of the Captain, and answered, "Not yet, +but presently." She approached the next jar, and the others in turn, +making the same answer to the same question, till she came to the +last, which was full of oil. + +Morgiana by this means discovered that her master, who supposed he was +giving a night's lodging to an oil merchant only, had afforded shelter +to thirty-eight robbers, including the pretended merchant, their +Captain. She quickly filled her oil-can from the last jar, and +returned to the kitchen; and after having put some oil in her lamp and +lighted it, she took a large kettle, and went again into the court to +fill it with oil from the jar. This done, she brought it back again, +put it over the tire, and made a great blaze under it with a quantity +of wood; for the sooner the oil boiled, the sooner her plan would be +carried out. At length the oil boiled. She then took the kettle and +poured into each jar, from the first to the last, enough boiling oil +to kill the robbers. + +This being done without any noise, she returned to the kitchen with +the empty kettle, and shut the door. She put out the large fire she +had made up for this purpose, and left only enough to finish boiling +the broth for Ali Baba. She then blew out the lamp and remained +perfectly silent, determined not to go to bed until she had watched +what would happen, from a window which overlooked the court. + +Morgiana had waited scarcely a quarter of an hour, when the Captain of +the robbers awoke. He got up, and opening the window, looked out. All +was dark and silent; he gave the signal by throwing the pebbles, many +of which fell on the jars, as the sound plainly proved. He listened, +but heard nothing that could lead him to suppose his men obeyed the +summons. He became uneasy at this delay, and threw some pebbles down a +second time, and even a third. They all struck the jars, yet nothing +moved, and he became frightened. + +He went down into the court in the utmost alarm; and going up to the +first jar, he was going to ask if the robber contained in it was +asleep. As soon as he drew near, he smelled a strong scent of hot and +burning oil coming out of the jar. From this he feared that his wicked +plan had failed. He went to the next jar, and to each in turn, and +discovered that all his men were dead. Terrified at this, he jumped +over the garden-gate, and going from one garden to another by getting +over the walls, he made his escape. Before daybreak Ali Baba, followed +by his slave, went out and repaired to the bath, totally ignorant of +the surprising events that had taken place in his house during his +sleep. Morgiana had not thought it necessary to wake him, particularly +as she had no time to lose, while she was engaged in her perilous +enterprise, and it was useless to disturb him after she had averted +the danger. + +When he returned from the bath, the sun being risen, Ali Baba was +surprised to see the jars of oil still in their places; he inquired +the reason of Morgiana, who let him in, and who had left everything as +it was, in order to show it to him. + +"My good master," said Morgiana to Ali Baba's question, "may God +preserve you and all your family. You will soon know the reason, +if you will take the trouble to come with me." Ali Baba followed +Morgiana, and when she had shut the door, she took him to the first +jar and bade him look in and see if it contained oil. He did as she +desired; and seeing a man in the jar, he hastily drew back and uttered +a cry of surprise. "Do not be afraid," said she; "the man you see +there will not do you any harm; he will never hurt either you or +anyone else again, for he is now a corpse." + +"Morgiana!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what does all this mean? You explain +this mystery." "I will explain it," replied Morgiana, "but pray be +cautious, and do not awaken the curiosity of your neighbors to learn +what it is of the utmost importance that you should keep secret and +concealed. Look first at all the other jars." + +Ali Baba examined all the rest of the jars, one after the other, from +the first till he came to the last, which contained the oil, and +he noticed that its oil was nearly all gone. This done, he stood, +sometimes casting his eyes on Morgiana, then looking at the jars, yet +without speaking a word, so great was his surprise. At length he said, +"And what has become of the merchant?" + +"The merchant," replied Morgiana, "is just as much a merchant as I am. +I can tell you who he is." + +She then described the marks made upon the door, and the way in which +she had copied them, adding: "You see this is a plot contrived by +the thieves of the forest, whose troop, I know not how, seems to be +diminished by two. But be that as it may, it is now reduced to three +at most. This proves that they are determined on your death, and you +will do right to be on your guard against them, so long as you are +certain that even one of the robbers remains." + +Ali Baba, full of gratitude for all he owed her, replied, "I will +reward you as you deserve, before I die. I owe my life to you, and +from this moment I give you your liberty, and wilt soon do still more +for you." + + + +MORGIANA'S GREAT COURAGE AND REWARD + +Meanwhile the Captain of the forty thieves had returned to the forest +full of rage, and determined to revenge himself on Ali Baba. + +Next morning he awoke at an early hour, put on a merchant's dress, +and returned to the city, where he took a lodging in a khan. Then he +bought a horse, which he made use of to convey to his lodging several +kinds of rich stuffs and fine linens, bringing them from the forest at +various times. In order to dispose of these wares, he took a shop, +and established himself in it. This shop was exactly opposite to that +which had been Cassim's, and was now occupied by the son of Ali Baba. + +The Captain of the thieves, who had taken the name of Cogia Houssam, +soon succeeded in making friends with the son of Ali Baba, who was +young and good-natured. He often invited the youth to sup with him, +and made him rich gifts. + +When Ali Baba heard of it, he resolved to make a return for this +kindness, to Cogia Houssam, little thinking that the pretended +merchant was really the Captain of the thieves. So one day he asked +Cogia Houssam to do him the honor of supping and spending the evening +at his house. "Sir," replied Cogia, "I am grateful for your kindness, +but I must beg you to excuse me, and for a reason which I am sure you +will think sufficient. It is this: I never eat of any dish that has +salt in it; judge, then, of the figure I should make at your table." +"If this be your only reason," replied Ali Baba, "it need not prevent +your coming to supper with me. The bread which is eaten in my house +does not contain any salt; and as for the meat and other dishes, I +promise you there shall be none in those which are served before you." + +So Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and desired Morgiana not to put +any salt in the meat she was going to serve for supper, and also to +prepare two or three dishes of those that he had ordered, without any +salt. Morgiana obeyed, though much against her will; and she felt some +curiosity to see this man who did not eat salt. When she had finished, +and Abdalla had prepared the table, she helped him in carrying the +dishes. On looking at Cogia Houssam, she instantly recognized the +Captain of the robbers, in spite of his disguise; and looking at him +more closely, she saw that he had a dagger hidden under his dress. "I +am no longer surprised," said she to herself, "that this villain will +not eat salt with my master; he is his enemy, and means to murder him! +But I wilt prevent the villain!" + +When the supper was ended, the Captain of the thieves thought that the +time for revenging himself on Ali Baba had come. "I will make them +both drink much wine," thought he, "and then the son, against whom I +bear no malice, will not prevent my plunging my dagger into the heart +of his father, and I shall escape by way of the garden, as I did +before, while the cook and the slave are at their supper in the +kitchen." + +Instead, however, of going to supper, Morgiana did not allow him time +to carry out his wicked plans. She dressed herself as a dancer, put +on a headdress suitable to that character, and wore round her waist a +fancy girdle of gilt, to which she fastened a dagger, made of the same +metal. Her face was hidden by a very handsome mask. When she had so +disguised herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take your tabor, and let us +go and entertain our master's guest, who is the friend of his son, as +we do sometimes by our performances." + +Abdalla took his tabor and began to play, as he walked before +Morgiana, and entered the room. Morgiana followed him, making a low +curtsy, and performed several dances, with equal grace and agility. At +length she drew out the dagger, and dancing with it in her hand, she +surpassed all she had yet done, by her light movements and high leaps; +sometimes presenting the dagger as if to strike, and at others holding +it to her own bosom, as if to stab herself. At length, as if out +of breath, she took the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and +holding the dagger in her right, she held out the tabor to Ali Baba, +who threw a piece of gold into it. Morgiana then held the tabor out to +his son, who did the same. Cogia Houssam, who saw that she was coming +to him next, had already taken his purse from his bosom, and was +putting his hand in it, when Morgiana, with great courage, suddenly +plunged the dagger into his heart. + +Ali Baba and his son, terrified at this action, uttered a loud cry: +"Wretch!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what hast thou done? Thou hast ruined +me and my family forever." + +"What I have done," replied Morgiana, "is not for your ruin, but for +your safety." Then opening Cogia Houssam's robe to show Ali Baba the +poniard which was concealed under it, "See," continued she, "the cruel +enemy you had to deal with; examine him, and you will recognize the +pretended oil-merchant and the Captain of the forty thieves! Do +you now see why he refused to eat salt with you? Can you require a +stronger proof of his treachery?" + +Ali Baba, who now saw all that he owed to Morgiana for having thus +saved his life a second time, cried, "Morgiana, I gave you your +liberty, and at the same time promised to do more for you at some +future time. This time has come, and I present you to my son as his +wife." A few days after, Ali Baba had the marriage of his son and +Morgiana celebrated with great feasting. + +After the marriage, Ali Baba decided to visit again the cave of the +forty thieves. On reaching it he repeated the word, "Open Sesame." At +once the door opened, and he entered the cave, and found that no one +had been in it from the time that Cogia Houssam had opened his shop +in the city. He therefore knew that the whole troop of thieves was +killed, and that he was the only person in the world who knew the +secret of the cave. + +From that time Ali Baba and his son, whom he took to the cave and +taught the secret of how to enter it, enjoyed its riches with +moderation and lived in great happiness and comfort to the end of +their long lives. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. How did Ali Baba make his living? 2. When did he +first see the robber band? 3. What words did the Captain say to gain +entrance to the cave? 4. Why did Ali Baba wish to see the cave? 5. How +did he plan to hide his gold after he returned home? 6. What aroused +the suspicions of his brother? 7. How did Cassim feel toward Ali Baba +when he heard the story? 8. What did Cassim plan to do? 9. Why could +not Cassim open the door after it closed upon him? 10. Why did Ali +Baba wish to conceal the fact that Cassim was killed by the robbers? +11. Why could not the robbers find Ali Baba's house after it had +been marked with chalk? 12. What plan did the Captain of the robbers +determine upon in order to have revenge upon Ali Baba? 13. How did +Morgiana discover the plot and prevent it from being carried out? 14. +How did Ali Baba reward her? 15. How did the Captain manage to win the +friendship of Ali Baba? 16. What was his object in doing this? 17. The +Captain would not eat salt in Ali Baba's house because, according +to an old Eastern custom, the use of salt at a meal was a sign of +friendship and loyalty. How did Morgiana save Ali Baba's life? 18. Who +is the cleverest person in the story? 19. Did Ali Baba have a right +to take the treasure from the robbers and keep it? Why? 20. Class +readings: Select passages to be read aloud in class. 21. Outline for +testing silent reading. Tell in your own words the story of Ali Baba, +using the following topics: (a.) the adventure in the forest; (b) Ali +Baba's return; (c) the fate of Cassim; (d) Morgiana's plans; (e) how +the thieves were caught; (f) how Ali Baba used his good fortune. 22. +Find in the Glossary the meaning of: bridled; recalling; astonished; +merchandise; retreat; hampers; resolved; uneasiness; utmost; +invention; packet; reflected; suppressed; ceremony; related; confused; +presently; enterprise; contrived; diminished; prevent; gilt; +surpassed; moderation. 23. Pronounce: Ali Baba; sesame; brocades; +inquiries; hearken; affliction; apothecary; lozenge; burial; comrades; +averted; corpse; Cogia Houssam; villain; curtsy; agility; poniard. + +Phrases for Study + +feasting his eyes, full of invention, natural death, repaired to her +house, had occasion to go out, lost their labor, thus disposed, wanted +nothing, collected her thoughts, rich stuffs, bear no malice, suitable +to that character. + + +SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Arabian Nights.) + +In the reign of the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid there lived in Baghdad a +poor porter called Hindbad. One day he was carrying a heavy burden +from one end of the town to the other; being weary, he took off his +load and sat upon it, near a large mansion. + +He knew not who owned the mansion; but he went to the servants and +asked the name of the master. "How," replied one of them, "do you live +in Baghdad, and know not that this is the house of Sindbad the sailor, +that famous voyager, who has sailed round the world?" + +The porter said, loud enough to be heard, "Almighty Creator of all +things, consider the difference between Sindbad and me! I work +faithfully every day and suffer hardships, and can scarcely get barley +bread for myself and family, while happy Sindbad spends riches and +leads a life of continual pleasure. What has he done to obtain a lot +so agreeable? And what have I done to deserve one so wretched?" + +While the porter was thus complaining, a servant came out of the house +and said to him, "Sindbad, my master, wishes to speak to you. Come +in." + +The servants took him into a great hall, where a number of people sat +around a table covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the upper +end was a tall, grave gentleman, with a long white beard, and behind +him stood a number of officers and servants, all ready to attend his +pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear was increased +at the sight of so many people and of so great a feast, saluted the +company tremblingly. Sindbad bade him draw near, and seating him at +his right hand, served him himself. + +Now, Sindbad had heard the porter complain, and this it was that led +him to have the man brought in. When the repast was over, Sindbad +spoke to Hindbad, asked his name and business, and said: "I wish to +hear from your own mouth what it was you said in the street." + +Hindbad replied, "My lord, I confess that my weariness put me out +of humor, and made me utter some foolish words, which I beg you to +pardon." "Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to blame +you. But you are mistaken about me, and I wish to set you right. You +think that I have gained without labor and trouble the ease and plenty +which I now enjoy. But make no mistake; I did not reach this happy +condition without suffering for several years more trouble of body and +mind than can well be imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, speaking +to the whole company, "I assure you that my sufferings have been so +extraordinary that they would make the greatest miser lose his love +of riches; and I will, with your leave, tell of the dangers I have +overcome, which I think will not be uninteresting to you." + + + + +THE FIRST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +He then told the following story: + +My father was a wealthy merchant, much respected by everyone. He left +me a large fortune, which I wasted in wild living. I then remembered +Solomon's saying, "A good name is better than precious ointment," and +resolved to walk in my father's ways. I therefore made arrangements to +go on a voyage with some merchants. + +After touching at many places where we sold or exchanged goods, we +were becalmed near a small island which looked like a green meadow. +The captain permitted some of us to land, but while we were eating and +drinking, the island began to shake, and he called to us to return to +the ship. What we thought was an island was really the back of a sea +monster. I had just time to catch hold of a piece of wood, when the +island disappeared into the sea. + +The captain, thinking I was drowned, resolved to make use of a +favorable gale, which had just risen, to continue his voyage. I was +tossed by the waves all that day and night, but the next day I was +thrown upon an island. I was very feeble, but I crept along and found +a spring of water, which did much to restore my strength. + +After this I went farther into the island and saw a man watching some +horses that were feeding near by. He was much surprised to see me and +took me to a cave where there were several other men. They told me +they were grooms of the Maharaja, ruler of the island, and that every +year they brought his horses to this uninhabited place for pasturage. + +Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, taking me +with them. They presented me to the Maharaja, who ordered his people +to care for me. The capital has a fine harbor, where ships arrive +daily from all parts of the world, and I hoped soon to have a chance +to return to Baghdad. + +One day the ship arrived in which I had sailed from home. I went to +the captain and asked for my goods. "I am Sindbad," I said, "and those +bales marked with his name are mine." At first the captain did not +know me, but after looking at me closely, he cried, "Heaven be praised +for your happy escape. These are your goods; take them and do what you +please with them." + +I made a present of my choicest goods to the Maharaja, who asked me +how I came by such rarities. When I told him, he was much pleased and +gave me many valuable things in return. After exchanging my goods for +aloes, sandalwood, camphor, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and ginger, I +sailed for home and at last reached Baghdad with goods worth one +hundred thousand sequins. + +Sindbad stopped here and ordered the musicians to proceed with their +concert. When it was evening, Sindbad gave the porter a purse of one +hundred sequins and told him to come back the next day to hear more of +his adventures. + +Hindbad put on his best robe the next day and returned to the +bountiful traveler, who welcomed him heartily. When all the guests +had arrived, dinner was served and continued a long time. When it was +ended, Sindbad said, "Gentlemen, hear now the adventures of my second +voyage. They deserve your attention even more than those of the +first." + + + +THE SECOND VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +I planned, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at +Baghdad, but I grew weary of an idle life, and put to sea a second +time, with merchants I knew to be honorable. We embarked on board a +good ship and set sail. We traded from island to island, and exchanged +goods with great profit. + +One day we landed on an island covered with fruit-trees, but we could +see neither man nor animal. We walked in the meadows and along the +streams that watered them. While some gathered flowers and others +fruits, I took my wine and provisions and sat down near a stream +between two high trees, which formed a thick shade. I made a good +meal, and afterwards fell asleep. I cannot tell how long I slept, but +when I awoke, the ship was gone. + +In this sad condition, I was ready to die with grief. I was sorry that +I had not been satisfied with the profits of my first voyage, that +might have been enough for me all my life. But my repentance came too +late. At last I took courage and, not knowing what to do, climbed to +the top of a lofty tree and looked about on all sides to see if I +could discover anything that could give me hope. Toward the sea I +could see nothing but sky and water; but looking over the land, I +beheld something white, and, coming down, I took what provisions I had +left and went toward it, the distance being so great that I could not +tell what it was. + +As I came nearer, I thought it was a white dome, of great height and +size; and when I came up to it, I touched it and found it to be very +smooth. I went around to see if it was open on any side, but saw it +was not, and that there was no climbing up to the top, as it was so +smooth. It was at least fifty paces around. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I found it +was caused by a bird of monstrous size, that came flying toward me. I +remembered that I had often heard sailors speak of a wonderful bird +called the roc, and saw that the great dome which I so much admired +must be its egg. The bird alighted, and sat over the egg. + +As I saw it coming, I crept close to the egg, so that I had before me +one of the legs of the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. +I tied myself strongly to it with my turban, hoping that the roc next +morning would carry me out of this desert island. + +After passing the night in this condition, the bird flew away as soon +as it was daylight, and carried me so high that I could not see the +earth; it afterwards descended so swiftly that I lost my senses. But +when I found myself on the ground, I speedily untied the knot, and had +scarcely done so when the roc, having taken up a serpent in its bill, +flew away. + +The spot where it left me was surrounded by mountains that seemed +to reach above the clouds, and so steep that there was no chance of +getting out of the valley. When I compared this place with the desert +island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I had gained +nothing by the change. + +As I walked through this valley, I saw it was strewn with diamonds, +some of which were of a surprising size. I had never believed what I +had heard sailors tell of the valley of diamonds, and of the tricks +used by merchants to obtain jewels from that place; but now I found +that they had stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is that the +merchants come to this valley when the eagles have young ones, and +throw great joints of meat into the valley; the diamonds, upon whose +points they fall, stick to them; the eagles pounce upon those pieces +of meat and carry them to their nests on the rocks to feed their +young; the merchants at this time run to the nests, drive off the +eagles, and take away the diamonds that stick to the meat. + +I had thought the valley must surely be my grave, but now I took +courage and began to plan a way to escape. Collecting the largest +diamonds and putting them into the leather bag in which I used to +carry my provisions, I took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it +close around me, and then lay down upon the ground, face downwards, +the bag of diamonds being made fast to my girdle. I had scarcely +placed myself in this position when one of the eagles, having taken me +up with the piece of meat to which I was fastened, carried me to his +nest on the top of the mountain. The merchants frightened the eagles, +and when they had forced them to quit their prey, one of them came +to the nest where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; but, +recovering himself, instead of asking how I came thither, began to +quarrel with me, and asked why I stole his goods. + +"You will treat me," replied I, "with more politeness when you know me +better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and myself, +more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they have they +owe to chance, but I selected for myself in the bottom of the valley +those which you see in this bag." + +I had scarcely done speaking when the other merchants came crowding +about us, much astonished to see me, but more surprised when I told +them my story. + +They took me to their camp, and there, when I opened my bag, they were +surprised at the beauty of my diamonds, and confessed that they had +never seen any of such size and perfection. + +I prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I had been carried, +for every merchant had his own nest, to take as many for his share as +he pleased. He, however, took only one, and that, too, the least of +them; and when I pressed him to take more, he said, "No, I am very +well satisfied with this gem, which is valuable enough to save me the +trouble of making any more voyages, and will bring as great a fortune +as I desire." + +The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds +that had fallen to his lot, we left the place and traveled near high +mountains, where there were serpents of great length, which we had the +fortune to escape. + +We took shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the isle +of Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphor. + +I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I should +weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for merchandise. From +here we went to other islands, and at last, having touched at several +trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, and from there +I proceeded to Baghdad. There I gave presents to the poor, and lived +honorably upon the vast riches I had gained with so many terrible +hardships and so many great perils. Thus Sindbad ended the story of +the second voyage, gave Hindbad another hundred sequins, and invited +him to come the next day to hear more of his adventures. + + + +THE THIRD VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +On the third day the porter again repaired to the house in which he +had heard such wonderful tales. After the dinner was finished, the +host began once more to tell of his travels. + +I soon grew weary of a life of idleness and embarked with some +merchants on another long voyage. One day we were overtaken by a +storm, which drove us out of our course, and we were obliged to cast +anchor near an island. As soon as we landed, we were surrounded by +savage dwarfs, who took possession of our ship and sailed away. Left +without means of escape from the island, we determined to explore it, +in hope of finding food and shelter. + +We had not advanced far, however, when we discovered that this island +was inhabited by giants, more savage than the dwarfs who had first +attacked us. We knew that we could not remain on the island, and so we +went back to the shore and planned how we might escape. + +When night came, we made rafts, each large enough to carry three men, +and as soon as it was light we put to sea with all the speed we could. +The giants saw us as we pushed out and, rushing down to the water's +edge, threw great stones, which sank all the rafts except the one upon +which I was. + +All that day and night we were tossed by the waves, but the next +morning we were thrown upon an island, where we found delicious fruit +which satisfied our hunger. Beautiful as this island was, we found +ourselves in danger as great as any we had escaped. My two companions +were killed by serpents, and I was almost in despair, when I saw a +ship in the distance. By shouting and waving my turban I attracted the +attention of the crew, and a boat was sent for me. + +As soon as I saw the captain, I knew him to be the man who, in my +second voyage, had left me on the island. "Captain," said I, "I am +Sindbad, whom you left on the island." + +"Heaven be praised," said the captain; "I am glad that my careless act +did not cause your death. These are your goods, which I always took +care to preserve." + +We continued at sea for some time and touched at many islands, where I +traded for cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. At last I returned to +Baghdad with so much wealth that I knew not its value. I gave a great +deal to the poor and bought another estate. + +Thus Sindbad finished the story of his third voyage. He gave another +hundred sequins to Hindbad and invited him to dinner the next day. + + + +THE FOURTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +After dinner on the fourth day the merchant once more began to tell of +his adventures. + +After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my love for +trade and adventure again took hold of me. I provided a stock of goods +and started on another voyage. We had sailed a great way, when we were +overtaken by a storm, and the ship was wrecked. I clung to a plank and +was carried by the current to an island; here I found fruit and spring +water, which saved my life. The next day I started to explore the +island and, seeing some huts, I went toward them. The people who lived +in these huts were savages, and they took me prisoner. I was in such +fear of them that I could not eat, and at last I became sick. + +After that they did not watch me so closely, and I found a chance to +escape. I traveled seven days, living upon coconuts, which served me +for food and drink. On the eighth day I met some people gathering +pepper, and I told them my story. They treated me with great kindness +and took me with them when they sailed home. + +On arriving in their own country they presented me to their King, who +commanded his people to take care of me, and soon I was looked upon +as a native rather than a stranger. I was not, however, satisfied +to remain away from my own home and planned to escape and return to +Baghdad. + +One day I saw a ship approaching the place where I was. I called +to the crew, and they quickly sent a boat and took me on board. We +stopped at several islands and collected great stores of costly goods. +After we had finished our traffic, we put to sea again and at last +arrived at Baghdad. I gave large sums to the poor and enjoyed myself +with my friends in feasts and amusements. + +Here Sindbad made a present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, whom he +requested to return the next day to dine with him and hear the story +of his fifth voyage. + + + +THE FIFTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +The story of the fifth day was as follows: + +All the misfortunes I had undergone could not cure me of my desire to +make new voyages. I therefore had a ship built and, taking with me +several merchants, I started on my fifth voyage. + +We touched at a desert island, where we found a roc's egg. We could +see that the young bird had begun to break the shell with his beak. +The merchants who were with me broke the shell with hatchets and +killed the young roc. Scarcely had they done this when the parent +birds flew down with a frightful noise. We hurried to the ship and set +sail as speedily as possible. But the great birds followed us, each +carrying a rock between its claws. When they came directly over our +ship, they let the rocks fall, and the ship was crushed and most of +the passengers killed. I caught hold of a piece of the wreck and swam +to an island. Here I found fruit and streams of fresh, pure water. +After resting and eating some of the fruit, I determined to find out +who lived upon the island. + +I had not walked far, when I saw an old man sitting on the bank of a +stream. He made signs to me to carry him over the brook, and as he +seemed very weak, I took him upon my back and carried him across. When +we reached the other side, the old man threw his legs around my neck +and squeezed my throat until I fainted. But he kept his seat and +kicked me to make me stand up. He made me carry him all that day, and +at night lay down with me, still holding fast to my neck. + +This continued for some time, and I grew weaker every day. One day, +feeling sure that I could not escape, he began to laugh and sing and +move around on my back. This was my opportunity, and, using all my +strength, I threw him to the ground, where he lay motionless. + +Feeling very thankful at my escape, I went down to the beach and saw a +ship at anchor there. The crew were very much surprised when I told my +adventure. "You are the first," they said, "who ever escaped from the +old man of the sea after falling into his power." + +We soon put out to sea and after a few days arrived at a great city. +One of the merchants invited me to go with him and others to gather +coconuts. The trunks of the coconut trees were lofty and very smooth, +and I saw many apes among the branches. It was not possible to climb +the trees, but the merchants, by throwing stones, provoked the apes +to throw the coconuts at us, and by this trick we collected enough +coconuts to load our ship. + +We then set sail and touched at other islands, where I exchanged +my coconuts for pepper and wood of aloes. I also hired divers, who +brought me up pearls that were very large and perfect. When I returned +to Baghdad, I made vast sums from my pepper, precious woods, and +pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains to charity, as I had done on my +return from other voyages. + +Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad and +requested him to dine with him the next day to hear the account of his +next voyage. + + + +THE SIXTH VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +When dinner was finished on the sixth day, Sindbad spoke as follows: + +After a year's rest I prepared for a sixth voyage, notwithstanding the +entreaties of my friends, who did all in their power to keep me at +home. I traveled through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, +and then embarked on a long voyage, in the course of which the ship +was carried by a rapid current to the foot of a high mountain, where +she struck and went to pieces. + +We managed to save most of our provisions and our goods, but it was +impossible to climb the mountain or to escape by the sea. We were +obliged to remain upon the strip of shore between the mountain and the +sea. At last our provisions were exhausted, and my companions died, +one after the other. Then I determined to try once more to find a way +of escape. + +A river ran from the sea into a dark cavern under an archway of rock. +I said to myself, "If I make a raft and float with the current, it +will doubtless carry me to some inhabited country." I made a very +solid raft and loaded it with bales of rich goods from the wreck, +and rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones which covered the +mountain. + +As soon as I entered the cavern, I found myself in darkness and I +floated on, I knew not where. I must have fallen asleep, for when I +opened my eyes I was on the bank of a river, and a great many people +were around me. They spoke to me, but I did not understand their +language. I was so full of joy at my escape from death that I said +aloud in Arabic, "Close thine eyes, and while thou art asleep, Heaven +will change thy evil fortune into good fortune." + +One of the men, who understood Arabic, said, "Brother, we are +inhabitants of this country and water our fields from this river. We +saw your raft, and one of us swam out and brought it here. Pray tell +us your history." After they had given me food, I told them my story, +and then they took me to their King. I told the King my adventures; +and when my raft was brought in, I showed him my rich goods and +precious stones. I saw that my jewels pleased him, and I said, "Sire, +I am at your Majesty's service, and all that I have is yours." He +answered, with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing from you; far +from lessening your wealth, I mean to increase it." + +I prayed the King to allow me to return to my own country, and he +granted me permission in the most honorable manner. He gave me a rich +present and a letter for the Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, +saying to me, "I pray you, give this present and this letter to the +Caliph Harun-al-Rashid." + +The letter was written on the skin of a certain animal of great value, +very scarce, and of a yellowish color. The characters of this letter +were of azure, and the contents as follows: + +"The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred elephants, who +lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand rubies, and +who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns enriched with diamonds, +to Caliph Harun-al-Rashid "Though the present we send you be small, +receive it, however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of +the hearty friendship which we bear for you, and of which we are +willing to give you proof. We send you this letter as from one brother +to another. Farewell." + +The present consisted of one single ruby made into a cup, about half +a foot high and an inch thick, filled with round pearls large and +beautiful; the skin of a serpent, whose scales were as bright as an +ordinary piece of gold, and had the power to preserve from sickness +those who lay upon it; quantities of the best wood of aloes and +camphor; and, lastly, a wonderful robe covered with jewels of great +beauty. + +The ship set sail, and after a successful voyage we landed at +Bussorah, and from there I went to the city of Baghdad, where the +first thing I did was to go to the palace of the Caliph. + +Taking the King's letter, I presented myself at the gate of the +Commander of the Faithful and was conducted to the throne of the +Caliph. I presented the letter and gift. When he had finished reading, +he asked me if that ruler were really as rich as he represented +himself in his letter. + +I said, "Commander of the Faithful, I can assure your Majesty he does +not stretch the truth. I bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of +admiration than the splendor of his palace. When the King appears in +public, he has a throne fixed on the back of an elephant, and rides +betwixt two ranks of his ministers and favorites, and other people of +his court. Before him, upon the same elephant, an officer carries a +golden lance in his hand, and behind him there is another who strands +with a rod of gold, on the top of which is an emerald half a foot long +and an inch thick. "He is attended by one thousand men, clad in cloth +of gold, and mounted on elephants richly decked. The officer who is +before him cries from time to time, in a loud voice, 'Behold the great +monarch, the powerful Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than +Solomon and the powerful Maharaja. After he has pronounced these +words, the officer behind the throne cries in his turn, 'This monarch, +so great and so powerful, must die, must die, must die.' And the +officer before replies, 'Praise be to Him alone who liveth forever and +ever.'" + +The Caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with a +rich present. + +Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to Hindbad, +and begged his return on the morrow to hear of his last voyage. + + + +THE LAST VOYAGE OF SINDBAD THE SAILOR + +On the seventh day, after dinner, Sindbad told the story of his last +voyage: + +On my return home from my sixth voyage, I had entirely given up all +thoughts of again going to sea; for, not only did my age now +require rest, but I was resolved to run no more such risks as I had +encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to pass the rest of my +days in peace. + +One day, however, an officer of the Caliph inquired for me. "The +Caliph," said he, "has sent me to tell you that he must speak with +you." I followed the officer to the palace, where, being presented to +the Caliph, I saluted him, throwing myself at his feet. + +"Sindbad," said he to me, "I stand in need of your service; you must +carry my answer and present to the King of the Indies." + +This command of the Caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever +your Majesty shall think fit to command; but I beg you most humbly to +consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow never to leave +Baghdad." + +The Caliph insisted, and I finally told him that I was willing to +obey. He was pleased, and gave me one thousand sequins for the +expenses of my journey. + +I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the Caliph's +letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where I +embarked, and had a safe voyage. Having arrived at the capital of the +Indies, I was shown to the palace with much pomp, when I prostrated +myself on the ground before the King. + +"Sindbad," said the King, "you are welcome; I have many times thought +of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more." I thanked him +for his kindness, and delivered the gifts from my master. + +The Caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, fifty robes +of rich stuff, a hundred of white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, +and Alexandria; a vessel of agate, more broad than deep, an inch +thick, and half a foot long, the bottom of which was carved to +represent a man with one knee on the ground, who held a bow and arrow, +ready to discharge at a lion. He sent him also a rich tablet, which, +according to tradition, had belonged to the great Solomon. + +The King of the Indies was highly gratified at the Caliph's mark of +friendship. A little time after this I asked leave to depart, and with +much difficulty obtained it. The King, when he dismissed me, made me +a very splendid present. I embarked for Baghdad, but had not the good +fortune to arrive there so speedily as I had hoped. Three or four days +after my departure we were attacked by pirates, who seized upon our +ship, because it was not a vessel of war. Some of the crew fought +back, which cost them their lives. But myself and the rest, who were +not so rash, the pirates saved, and carried into a distant island, +where they sold us. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he bought +me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me handsomely as +a slave. Some days after, he asked me if I understood any trade. I +answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and that the pirates +who sold me had robbed me of all I had. + +"Tell me," he said, "can you shoot with a bow?" I answered that the +bow was one of my exercises in my youth. + +Then my master told me to climb into a tree and shoot at the elephants +as they passed and let him know as soon as I killed one, in order that +he might get the tusks. I hid as he told me, and as I was successful +the first day, he sent me day after day, for two months. + +One morning the elephants surrounded my tree, and the largest pulled +up the tree with his trunk and threw it on the ground. Then, picking +me up, he laid me on his back and carried me to a hill almost covered +with the bones and tusks of elephants. I knew that this must be the +burial place of the elephants and they had brought me here to show me +that I could get vast quantities of ivory without killing any more +elephants. + +I went back to the city and told my master all that had happened. +He was overjoyed at my escape from death and the riches which I had +obtained for him. As a reward for my services he set me free and +promised to send me home as soon as the trade winds brought the ships +for ivory. + +A ship arrived at last, and my master loaded one half of it with ivory +for me. When we reached a port on the mainland, I landed my ivory and +set out for home with a caravan of merchants. I was a long time on the +journey, but was happy in thinking that I had nothing to fear from +the sea or from pirates. At last I arrived at Baghdad, and the Caliph +loaded me with honors and rich presents. + +Sindbad here finished the story of his seventh and last voyage. Then +addressing himself to Hindbad, he said, "Well, friend, did you ever +hear of any person who had suffered as much as I have?" + +Hindbad kissed Sindbad's hand and said, "Sir, my afflictions are not +to be compared with yours. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are +worthy of all the riches you possess. May you live happily for a long +time." + +Sindbad ordered him to be paid another hundred sequins and told him to +give up carrying burdens and to eat henceforth at his table, for he +wished him to remember that he would always have a friend in Sindbad +the Sailor. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Why did Sindbad tell the story of his voyages? 2. +What was the effect of these stories upon Hindbad? 3. If Hindbad had +desired to become as rich as Sindbad, what should he have done, and +what price would he have paid? 4. Why did Sindbad give money to his +guest at the end of each story? 5. Did he do other good deeds with his +money? 6. In each of these three long stories, of Aladdin, Ali Baba, +and Sindbad the Sailor, what do you learn about the duty of men who +have by chance or by their own hard work succeeded in acquiring +riches? 7. How many voyages did Sindbad make to satisfy his love of +adventure? 8. Which voyage was undertaken to please someone else? 9. +Mention some things that Sindbad sold at great profit. 10. Where are +these articles most used or valued? 11. Why was it so difficult to +travel by water at the time Sindbad lived? 12. What do we learn about +Sindbad's character from the story of his voyages? 13. What do we +learn about Sindbad's character from his treatment of Hindbad? 14. +What parts of the story show that people in Sindbad's time knew very +little about geography? 15. Which of Sindbad's seven voyages is the +most interesting to you? 16. What have you learned of Eastern customs +from this story? 17. Earlier you were told why we read adventure +stories of this kind; show why you think the Arabian Nights stories +have the two values mentioned. 18. Class readings: Select passages to +be read aloud. 19. Outline for testing silent reading. Tell in your +own words the story of each of the voyages of Sindbad, using the topic +headings given in the book. If possible, try to tell these stories to +some child who cannot read them. 20. The Arabian Nights by Wiggin and +Smith was illustrated by the famous American artist, Maxfield Parrish; +you will enjoy looking at these pictures. 21. Find in the Glossary the +meaning of: mansion; grave; humor; ointment; sandalwood; repentance; +turban; shipping; traffic; azure. 22. Pronounce: Caliph; +Harun-al-Rashid; savory; repast; becalmed; Maharaja; rarities; aloes; +sequin; roc; desert; Arabic; sovereign; tradition. + +Phrases for Study + +attend his pleasure, Commander of the Faithful, bountiful traveler, +trade winds. + + + + +THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Robin Hood.) + + +THE HOME OF ROBIN IN SHERWOOD FOREST + +Many hundreds of years ago, when the Plantagenets were kings, England +was so covered with woods that a squirrel was said to be able to hop +from tree to tree from the Severn to the Humber. + +It must have been very different-looking from the country we travel +through now; but still there were roads that ran from north to south +and from east to west, for the use of those who wished to leave their +homes, and at certain times of the year these roads were thronged with +people. Pilgrims going to some holy shrine passed along, merchants +taking their wares to Court, Abbots and Bishops ambling by on palfreys +to bear their part in the King's Council, and, more frequently still, +a solitary Knight, seeking adventures. + +Besides the broad roads there were small tracks and little green +paths, and these led to clumps of low huts, where dwelt the peasants, +charcoal-burners, and plowmen, while here and there some larger +clearing than usual told that the house of a yeoman was near. + +Now and then as you passed through the forest you might ride by a +splendid abbey, and catch a glimpse of monks in long black or white +gowns, fishing in the streams and rivers that abound in this part of +England, or casting nets in the fish ponds which were in the midst +of the abbey gardens. Or you might chance to see a castle with round +turrets and high battlements, circled by strong walls, and protected +by a moat full of water. + +This was the sort of England into which the famous Robin Hood was +born. We know very little about him, who he was, or where he lived, +except that for some reason he had offended the King, who had declared +him an outlaw, so that any man might kill him and never pay a penalty +for it. + +But, outlaw or not, the poor people loved him and looked on him as +their friend, and many a stout fellow came to join him, and led a +merry life in the greenwood, with moss and fern for bed, and for meat +the King's deer, which it was death to slay. + +Peasants of all sorts, tillers of the land, yeomen, and, as some say, +Knights, went on their ways freely, for of them Robin took no toll; +but rich men with moneybags well filled trembled as they drew near to +Sherwood Forest--who was to know whether behind every tree there did +not lurk Robin Hood or some of his men? + + +THE COMING OF LITTLE JOHN + +One day Robin was walking alone in the wood, and reached a river which +was spanned by a very narrow bridge, over which one man only could +pass. In the middle stood a stranger, and Robin bade him go back and +let him go over. "I am no man of yours," was all the answer Robin got, +and in anger he drew his bow and fitted an arrow to it. + +"Would you shoot a man who has no arms but a staff?" asked the +stranger in scorn; and with shame Robin laid down his bow, and +unbuckled an oaken stick at his side. "We will fight till one of us +falls into the water," he said; and fight they did, till the stranger +planted a blow so well that Robin rolled over into the river. + +"You are a brave soul," said he, when he had waded to land; and he +blew a blast with his horn which brought fifty good fellows, clad in +green, to the little bridge. "Have you fallen into the river, that +your clothes are wet?" asked one; and Robin made answer, "No, but this +stranger, fighting on the bridge, got the better of me and tumbled me +into the stream." + +At this the foresters seized the stranger and would have ducked him, +had not their leader bade them stop and begged the stranger to stay +with them and make one of themselves. "Here is my hand," replied the +stranger, "and my heart with it. My name, if you would know it, is +John Little." + +"That must be altered," cried Will Scarlett; "we will call a feast, +and henceforth, because he is full seven feet tall and round the waist +at least an ell, he shall be called Little John." + +And thus it was done; but at the feast Little John, who always liked +to know exactly what work he had to do, put some questions to Robin +Hood. "Before I join hands with you, tell me first what sort of life +this is you lead. How am I to know whose goods I shall take, and +whose I shall leave? Whom shall I beat, and whom shall I refrain from +beating?" + +And Robin answered: "Look that you harm not any tiller of the ground, +nor any yeoman of the greenwood--no, nor any knight or squire, unless +you have heard him ill spoken of. But if rich men with moneybags come +your way, see that you spoil THEM, and mark that you always hold in +your mind the High Sheriff of Nottingham." + +This being settled, Robin Hood declared Little John to be second in +command to himself among the brotherhood of the forest, and the +new outlaw never forgot to hold in his mind the High Sheriff of +Nottingham, who was the bitterest enemy the foresters had. + +Robin Hood, however, had no liking for a company of idle men about +him, so he at once sent off Little John and Will Scarlett to the great +road known as Wafting Street with orders to hide among the trees and +wait till some adventure might come to them. If they took captive Earl +or Baron, Abbot or Knight, he was to be brought unharmed back to Robin +Hood. + +But all along Wafting Street the road was bare; white and hard it lay +in the sun, without the tiniest cloud of dust to show that a rich +company might be coming; east and west the land lay still. + + +LITTLE JOHN'S FIRST ADVENTURE + +At length, just where a side path turned into the broad highway, there +rode a Knight, and a sorrier man than he never sat a horse on a summer +day. One foot only was in the stirrup; the other hung carelessly by +his side. His head was bowed, the reins dropped loose, and his horse +went on as he would. At so sad a sight the hearts of the outlaws were +filled with pity, and Little John fell on his knees and bade the +Knight welcome in the name of his master. "Who is your master?" asked +the Knight. + +"Robin Hood," answered Little John. + +"I have heard much good of him," replied the Knight, "and will go with +you gladly." + +Then they all set off together, tears running down the Knight's cheeks +as he rode. But he said nothing; neither was anything said to him. And +in this wise they came to Robin Hood. + +"Welcome, Sir Knight," cried he, "and thrice welcome, for I waited to +break my fast till you or some other had come to me." "God save you, +good Robin," answered the Knight; and after they had washed themselves +in the stream, they sat down to dine off bread and wine, with flesh of +the King's deer, and swans and pheasants. "Such a dinner have I not +had for three weeks and more," said the Knight. + +"And if I ever come again this way, good Robin, I will give you as +fine a dinner as you have given me." + +"I thank you," replied Robin; "my dinner is always welcome; still, I +am none so greedy but I can wait for it. But before you go, pay me, I +pray you, for the food which you have had. It was never the custom for +a yeoman to pay for a Knight." + +"My bag is empty," said the Knight, "save for ten shillings only." + +"Go, Little John, and look in his wallet," said Robin, "and, Sir +Knight, if in truth you have no more, not one penny will I take; nay, +I will give you all that you shall need." + +So Little John spread out the Knight's mantle, and opened the bag, and +therein lay ten shillings and naught besides. + +"What tidings, Little John?" cried his master. + +"Sir, the Knight speaks truly," said Little John. + +"Then fill a cup of the best wine and tell me Sir Knight, whether it +is your own ill doings which have brought you to this sorry pass." + +"For a hundred years my fathers have dwelt in the forest," answered +the Knight, "and four hundred pounds might they spend yearly. But +within two years misfortune has befallen me, and my wife and children +also." + +"How did this evil come to pass?" asked Robin. + +"Through my own folly," answered the Knight, "and because of the great +love I bore my son, who would never be guided of my counsel, and slew, +ere he was twenty years old, a Knight of Lancaster and his squire. For +their deaths I had to pay a large sum, which I could not raise without +giving my lands in pledge to a rich man at York. If I cannot give him +the money by a certain day, they will be lost to me forever." + +"What is the sum?" asked Robin. "Tell me truly." + +"It is four hundred pounds," said the Knight. + +"And what will you do if you lose your lands?" asked Robin again. + +"Hie myself over the sea," said the Knight, "and bid farewell to my +friends and country. There is no better way open to me." + +As he spoke, tears fell from his eyes, and he turned to depart. + +"Good day, my friend," he said to Robin; "I cannot pay you what I +should--" But Robin held him fast. "Where are your friends?" asked he. + +"Sir, they have all forsaken me, since I became poor, and they turn +away their heads if we meet upon the road, though when I was rich they +were ever in my castle." + +When Little John and Will Scarlett and the rest heard this, they wept +for very shame and fury, and Robin bade them fill a cup of the best +wine and give it to the Knight. + +"Have you no one who would stay surety for you?" said he. + +"None," answered the Knight; "there is no one who will stay surety for +me." + +"You speak well," said Robin, "and you, Little John, go to my treasure +chest, and bring me thence four hundred pounds. And be sure you count +it truly." + +So Little John went, and Will Scarlett, and they brought back the +money. + +"Sir," said Little John, when Robin had counted it and found it no +more and no less, "look at his clothes, how thin they are! You have +stores of garments, green and scarlet, in your coffers--no merchant in +England can boast the like. I will measure some out with my bow." And +thus he did. + +"Master," spoke Little John again, "there is still something else. You +must give him a horse, that he may go as beseems his quality to York." + +"Take the gray horse," said Robin, "and put a new saddle on it, and +take likewise a good palfrey and a pair of boots, with gilt Spurs on +them. And as it would be a shame for a Knight to ride by himself on +this errand, I will lend you Little John as squire--perchance he may +stand you in yeoman's stead." + +"When shall we meet again?" asked the Knight. + +"This day twelve months," said Robin, "under the greenwood tree." + + +THE KNIGHT WINS BACK HIS LANDS + +Then the Knight rode on his way, with Little John behind him, and as +he went he thought of Robin Hood and his men, and blessed them for the +goodness they had shown toward him. + +"Tomorrow," he said to Little John, "I must be in the city of York, +for if I am so much as a day late, my lands are lost forever; and +though I were to bring the money, I should not be allowed to redeem +them." + +Now the man who had lent the money, as well as the Knight, had been +counting the days, and the next day he said to his friends, "This +day year there came a Knight and borrowed of me four hundred pounds, +giving his lands as surety. If he come not to pay his debt before +midnight, they will be mine forever." + +"It is full early yet," said one; "he may still be coming." + +"He is far beyond the sea and suffers from hunger and cold," said the +rich man. "How is he to get here?" + +"It were a shame," said another, "for you to take his lands. And you +do him much wrong if you drive such a hard bargain." + +"He is dead or hanged," said a third, "and you will have his lands." + +So they went to the High Justiciar, whose duty it would be to declare +the Knight's lands forfeited if he did not pay the money. + +"If he come not this day," cried the rich man, rubbing his hands, "the +lands will be mine." + +"He will not come," said the Justiciar, but he knew not that the +Knight was already at the outer gate, and Little John with him. + +"Welcome, Sir Knight," said the porter. "The horse that you ride is +the noblest that ever I saw. Let me lead it and the steed of your +companion to the stable, that they may have food and rest." + +"They shall not pass these gates," answered the Knight sternly, and he +entered the hall alone. + +"I have come back, my lord," he said, kneeling down before the rich +man, who had just returned from court. "Have you brought my money?" + +"I have come to pray you to give me more time," said the Knight. + +"The day was fixed and cannot be gainsaid," answered the Justiciar, +who was sitting at meat with others in the hall. + +The Knight begged the Justiciar to be his friend and help him, but he +refused. + +"Give me one more chance to get the money and free my lands," prayed +the Knight. "I will serve you day and night till I have four hundred +pounds to redeem them." But the rich man only vowed that the money +must be paid that day or the lands be forfeited. + +Then the Knight stood up straight and tall. + +"You are not courteous," he said, "to make a Knight kneel so long. But +it is well to prove one's friends against the hour of need." + +Then he looked the rich man full in the face, and the man felt uneasy +and hated the Knight more than ever. "Out of my hall, false Knight," +he cried, pretending to a courage he did not feel. + +But the Knight answered him, "Never was I false, and that I have shown +in jousts and in tourneys." + +"Give him two hundred pounds more," said the Justiciar to the rich +man, "and keep the lands yourself." + +"No," cried the Knight, "not if you offered me a thousand pounds would +I do it. No one here shall be heir of mine." Then he strode up to a +table and emptied out four hundred pounds. "Take your gold which you +lent to me a year agone," he said. "Had you but received me civilly, I +would have paid you something more." + +Then he passed out of the hall singing merrily and rode back to his +house, where his wife met him at the gate. + +He went forth full merrily singing, As men have told in tale; His lady +met him at the gate, At home in Wierysdale. + +"Welcome, my lord," said his lady; "Sir, lost is all your good." "Be +merry, dame," said the Knight, "And pray for Robin Hood." + +Then he told how Robin Hood had befriended him, and how he had +redeemed his lands, and finished his tale by praising the outlaw. "But +for his kindness," he said, "we had been beggars." + +After this the Knight dwelt at home, looking after his lands and +saving his money carefully, till the four hundred pounds lay ready for +Robin Hood. Then he bought a hundred bows and a hundred arrows, and +every arrow was an ell long, and had a head of silver and peacock's +feathers. And clothing himself in white and red, and with a hundred +men in his train, he set off to Sherwood Forest. + +On the way he passed an open space near a bridge where there was a +wrestling, and the Knight stopped and looked, for he himself had taken +many a prize in that sport. Here the prizes were such as to fill any +man with envy: a fine horse, saddled and bridled, a great white bull, +a pair of gloves, and a ring of bright, red gold. + +There was not a yeoman present who did not hope to win one of them. +But when the wrestling was over, the yeoman who had beaten them all +was a man who kept apart from his fellows and was said to think much +of himself. + +Therefore the men grudged him his skill, and set upon him with blows, +and would have killed him had not the Knight, for love of Robin Hood, +taken pity on him, while his followers fought with the crowd, and +would not suffer them to touch the prizes a better man had won. + +When the wrestling was finished, the Knight rode on, and there under +the greenwood tree, in the place appointed, he found Robin and his +merry men waiting for him, according to the tryst that they had fixed +last year. + + "God save thee, Robin Hood, + And all this company." + "Welcome be thou, gentle Knight, + And right welcome to me. + + "Hast thou thy land again?" said Robin; + "Truth then tell thou me." + "Yea, 'fore God," said the Knight, + "And for it thank I God and thee. + + "Have here four hundred pounds, + The which you lent to me; + And here are also twenty marks + For your courtesie." + +But Robin would not take the money. A miracle had happened, he said, +and it had been paid to him, and shame would it be for him to take it +twice over. + +Then he noticed for the first time the bows and arrows which the +Knight had brought, and asked what they were. "A poor present to you," +answered the Knight; and Robin, who would not be outdone, sent Little +John once more to his treasury, and bade him bring forth four hundred +pounds, which were given to the Knight. + +After that they parted, in much love; and Robin prayed the Knight if +he were in any strait to let him know at the greenwood tree, and while +there was any gold there he should have it. + + +HOW LITTLE JOHN BECAME THE SHERIFF'S SERVANT + +Meanwhile the High Sheriff of Nottingham proclaimed a great +shooting-match in a broad open space, and Little John was minded to +try his skill with the rest. He rode through the forest, whistling +gaily to himself, for well he knew that not one of Robin Hood's men +could send an arrow as straight as he, and he felt little fear of +anyone else. + +When he reached the trysting place, he found a large company +assembled, the Sheriff with them, and the rules of the match were read +out: where they were to stand, how far the mark was to be, and that +three tries should be given to every man. + +Some of the shooters shot near the mark; some of them even touched it; +but none but Little John split the slender wand of willow with every +arrow that flew from his bow. + +At this sight the Sheriff of Nottingham swore that Little John was the +best archer that ever he had seen, and asked him who he was and where +he was born, and vowed that if he would enter his service he would +give twenty marks a year to so good a bowman. + +Little John, who did not wish to confess that he was one of Robin +Hood's men and an outlaw, said his name was Reynold Greenleaf, and +that he was in the service of a Knight, whose leave he must get before +he became the servant of any man. + +This was given heartily by the Knight whose lands had been saved by +the kindness of Robin Hood, and Little John bound himself to the +Sheriff for the space of twelve months, and was given a good white +horse to ride on whenever he went abroad. But for all that, he did not +like his bargain, and made up his mind to do the Sheriff, who was +hated of the outlaws, all the mischief he could. + +His chance came on a Wednesday, when the Sheriff always went hunting, +and Little John lay in bed till noon, or till he grew hungry. Then he +got up and told the steward that he wanted some dinner. The steward +answered that he should have nothing till the Sheriff came home; so +Little John grumbled and left him, and sought out the butler. + +Here he was no more successful than before; the butler just went to +the buttery door and locked it, and told Little John that he would +have to make himself happy till his lord returned. + +Rude words mattered nothing to Little John, who was not, accustomed to +be balked by trifles; so he gave a mighty kick, which burst open the +door, and then ate and drank as much as he would, and when he had +finished all there was in the buttery, he went down into the kitchen. + +Now the Sheriff's cook was a strong man and a bold one, and had no +mind to let another man play the king in his kitchen; so he gave +Little John three smart blows, which were returned heartily. "Thou art +a brave man and hardy," said Little John, "and a good fighter withal. +I have a sword; take you another, and let us see which is the better +man of us twain." + +The cook did as he was bid, and for two hours they fought, neither of +them harming the other. "Fellow," said Little John at last, "you are +one of the best swordsmen that I ever saw--and if you could shoot as +well with the bow, I would take you back to the merry greenwood, and +Robin Hood would give you twenty marks a year and two changes of +clothing." + +"Put up your sword," said the cook, "and I will go with you. But first +we will have some food in my kitchen, and carry off a little of the +gold and silver that is in the Sheriff's treasure house." + +They ate and drank till they wanted no more, and they broke the locks +of the treasure house, and took of the silver as much as they could +carry, and of the gold, three hundred pounds and more, and departed +unseen by anyone to Robin in the forest. + +"Welcome! welcome!" cried Robin, when he saw them; "a welcome, too, +to the fair yeoman you bring with you. What tidings from Nottingham, +Little John?" + +"The proud Sheriff greets you, and sends you by my hand his cook and +his silver vessels, and three hundred pounds and three also." + +Robin shook his head, for he knew better than to believe Little John's +tale. "It was never by his good will that you brought such treasure to +me," he answered; and Little John, fearing that he might be ordered to +take it back again, slipped away into the forest to carry out a plan +that had just come into his head. + +He ran straight on for five miles, till he came up with the Sheriff, +who was still hunting, and flung himself on his knees before him. + +"Reynold Greenleaf," cried the Sheriff, "what are you doing here, and +where have you been?" + +"I have been in the forest, where I saw a fair hart of a green color, +and seven score deer feeding hard by." + +"That sight would I see too," said the Sheriff. + +"Then follow me," answered Little John, and he ran back the way he +came, the Sheriff following on horseback, till they turned a corner of +the forest, and found themselves in Robin Hood's presence. "Sir, here +is the master hart," said Little John. + +Still stood the proud Sheriff; A sorry man was he. "Woe be to you, +Reynold Greenleaf; Thou hast betrayed me!" + +"It was not my fault," answered Little John, "but the fault of your +servants, master; for they would not give me my dinner." So he went +away to see to the supper. + +It was spread under the greenwood tree, and they sat down to it, +hungry men all. But when the Sheriff saw himself served from his own +dishes, his appetite went from him. + +"Take heart, man," said Robin Hood, "and think not we will poison you. +For charity's sake, and for the love of Little John, your life shall +be granted you. Only for twelve months you shall dwell with me, and +learn what it is to be an outlaw." + +To the Sheriff this punishment was worse to bear than the loss of +gold, or silver dishes, and earnestly he begged Robin Hood to set him +free, vowing he would prove himself the best friend that ever the +foresters had. + +Neither Robin nor any of his men believed him; but he swore that he +would never seek to do them harm, and that if he found any of them in +evil plight he would deliver them out of it. With that Robin let him +go. + + +HOW ROBIN MET FRIAR TUCK + +In many ways life in the forest was dull in the winter, and often the +days passed slowly; but in summer, when the leaves were green, and +flowers and ferns covered all the woodland, Robin Hood and his men +would come out of their warm resting places, like the rabbits and the +squirrels, and would play, too. Races they ran to stretch their legs, +or leaping matches were arranged, or they would shoot at a mark. +Anything was pleasant when the grass was soft once more under their +feet. + +"Who of you can kill a hart five hundred paces off?" So said Robin to +his men one bright May morning; and they went into the wood and tried +their skill, and in the end it was Little John who brought down the +hart, to the great joy of Robin Hood. + +"I would ride my horse a hundred miles to find one who could match +with thee," he said to Little John; and Will Scarlett, who was perhaps +rather jealous of this mighty deed, answered, with a laugh, "There +lives a friar in Fountains Abbey who would beat both him and you." + +Now Robin Hood did not like to be told that any man could shoot better +than himself or his foresters; so he swore lustily that he would +neither eat nor drink till he had seen that friar. Leaving his men +where they were, he put on a coat of mail and a steel cap, took his +shield and sword, slung his bow over his shoulder, and filled his +quiver with arrows. Thus armed, he set forth to Fountains Dale. + +By the side of the river a friar was walking, armed like Robin, but +without a bow. At this sight Robin jumped from his horse, which he +tied to a thorn, and called to the friar to carry him over the water, +or it would cost him his life. + +The friar said nothing, but hoisted Robin on his broad back and +marched into the river. Not a word was spoken till they reached the +other side, when Robin leaped, lightly down, and was going on his way. +Then the friar stopped him. "Not so fast, my fine fellow," said he. +"It is my turn now, and you shall take me across the river, or woe +will betide you." + +So Robin carried him, and when they had reached the side from which +they had started, he set down the friar and jumped for the second +time on his back, and bade him take him whence he had come. The friar +strode into the stream with his burden, but as soon as they got to the +middle he bent his head, and Robin fell into the water. "Now you can +sink or swim, as you like," said the friar, as he stood and laughed. + +Robin Hood swam to a bush of golden broom, and pulled himself out of +the water; and while the friar was scrambling out, Robin fitted an +arrow to his bow and let fly at him. But the friar quickly held up his +shield, and the arrow fell harmless. + +"Shoot on, my fine fellow; shoot on all day if you like," shouted the +friar; and Robin shot till his arrows were gone, but always missed his +mark. Then they took their swords, and at four of the afternoon they +were still fighting. + +By this time Robin's strength was wearing, and he felt he could not +fight much more. "A boon, a boon!" cried he. "Let me but blow three +blasts on my horn, and I will thank you on my bended knees for it." + +The friar told him to blow as many blasts as he liked, and in an +instant the forest echoed with his horn; it was but a few minutes +before half a hundred yeomen were racing over the lea. The friar +stared when he saw them; then, turning to Robin, he begged of him a +boon also; and leave being granted, he gave three whistles, which were +followed by the noise of a great crashing through the trees, as fifty +great dogs bounded toward him. + +"Here's a dog for each of your men," said the friar, "and I myself for +you"; but the dogs did not listen to his words, for two of them rushed +at Robin and tore his mantle of Lincoln green from off his back. His +men were kept busy defending themselves, for every arrow shot at a dog +was caught and held in the creature's mouth. + +Robin's men were not used to fight with dogs, and felt they were +getting beaten. At last Little John bade the friar call off his dogs, +and as he did not do so, he let fly some arrows, which this time left +half a dozen dead on the ground. + +"Hold, hold, my good fellow," said the friar, "till your master and I +can come to a bargain"; and when the bargain was made, this was how +it ran: that the friar was to forswear Fountains Abbey and join +Robin Hood, and that he should be paid a golden noble every Sunday +throughout the year, besides a change of clothes on each holy day. + +This Friar had kept Fountains Dale Seven long years or more; There was +neither Knight, nor Lord, nor Earl Could make him yield before. + +But now he became one of the most famous members of Robin Hood's men +under the name of Friar Tuck. + + +HOW ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN FELL OUT + +One Whitsunday morning, when the sun was shining and the birds +singing, Robin Hood called to Little John to come with him into +Nottingham to church. As was their custom, they took their bows, and +on the way Little John proposed that they should shoot a match, with a +penny for a wager. + +Robin, who held that he shot better than any Other man living, laughed +in scorn, and told Little John that he should have three tries to his +master's one, which John without more ado accepted. + +But Robin soon repented both of his offer and his scorn, for Little +John speedily won five shillings, whereat Robin became angry and smote +Little John with his hand. Little John was not the man to bear being +treated so, and he told Robin roundly that he would never more own him +for master, and straightway turned back into the wood. + +At this, Robin was ashamed of what he had done, but his pride would +not suffer him to say so; and he continued his way to Nottingham, and +entered the Church of St. Mary, not without secret fears, for the +Sheriff of the town was ever his enemy. However, there he was, and +there he meant to stay. + +He knelt down in the sight of all the people; but none knew him save +one man only, and he stole out of church and ran to the Sheriff and +bade him come quickly and take his foe. + +The Sheriff was not slow to do what he was bidden, and, calling his +men to follow him, he marched to the church. The noise they made in +entering caused Robin to look round. "Alas, alas," he said to himself, +"now miss I Little John." + +But he drew his two-handed sword and laid about him in such wise that +twelve of the Sheriff's men lay dead before him. Then Robin found +himself face to face with the Sheriff, and gave him a fierce blow; but +his sword broke on the Sheriff's head, and he had shot away all his +arrows. So the men closed round him and bound his arms. + +Ill news travels fast, and not many hours had passed before the +foresters heard that their master was in prison. They wept and moaned +and wrung their hands, and seemed to have gone suddenly mad, till +Little John bade them pluck up their hearts and help him deal with the +Sheriff. + +The next morning Little John hid himself and waited with a comrade +till he saw a messenger riding along the road, carrying letters from +the Sheriff to the King, telling him of the capture of Robin Hood. + +"Whence come you?" asked Little John, going up to the messenger, "and +can you give us tidings of an outlaw named Robin Hood, who was taken +prisoner yesterday?" + +"You may thank me that he is taken," said the rider, "for I laid hands +on him." + +"I thank you so much that I and my friend will bear you company," said +Little John, "for in this forest are many wild men who own Robin Hood +for leader, and you ride along this road at the peril of your life." + +They went on together, talking the while, when suddenly Little John +seized the horse by the head and pulled down the rider. + +"He was my master," said Little John, "That you have brought to bale; +Never shall you come at the King For to tell him that tale." + +Then taking the letters, Little John carried them to the King. + +When they arrived at the palace in the presence of the King, Little +John and his companion fell on their knees and held out the letters. +"God save you, my liege lord," they said, and the King unfolded the +letters and read them. + +Then he handed his own seal to Little John and ordered him to bear it +to the Sheriff and bid him without delay bring Robin Hood unhurt into +his presence. "There never was yeoman in Merry England that I longed +so sore to see," he said. + +The King also ordered his treasurer to give the messengers twenty +pounds each, and made them yeomen of the crown. + +Little John took the King's seal to the Sheriff, who made him and his +companion welcome because they came from the King. He set a feast for +them, and after he had eaten he fell asleep. Then the two outlaws +stole softly to the prison. They overpowered the guard and, taking the +keys, hunted through the cells until they found Robin Hood. Little +John whispered to his master to follow him, and they crept along till +they reached the lowest part of the city wall, from which they jumped +and were safe and free. + +"Now, farewell," said Little John; "I have done you a good turn for an +ill." "Not so," answered Robin Hood; "I make you master of my men and +me." But Little John would hear nothing of it. "I only wish to be your +comrade, and thus it shall be," he replied. + +"Little John has beguiled us both," said the King, when he heard of +the adventure. + + +HOW THE KING VISITED ROBIN HOOD + +Now the King had no mind that Robin Hood should do as he willed, and +called his Knights to follow him to Nottingham, where they would lay +plans how best to take captive the outlaw. Here they heard sad tales +of Robin's misdoings, and how of the many herds of wild deer that had +roamed the forest, in some places scarce one deer remained. This was +the work of Robin Hood and his merry men, on whom the King swore +vengeance with a great oath. + +"I would I had this Robin Hood in my hands," cried he, "and an end +should soon be put to his doings." So spake the King; but an old +Knight, full of days and wisdom, answered him and warned him that the +task of taking Robin Hood would be a sore one, and best let alone. The +King, who had seen the vanity of his hot words the moment that he had +uttered them, listened to the old man and resolved to bide his time +until perchance some day Robin should fall into his power. + +All this time, and for six weeks later that he dwelt in Nottingham, +the King could hear nothing of Robin, who seemed to have vanished +into the earth with his merry men, though one by one the deer were +vanishing, too. At last one day a forester came to the King and told +him that if he would see Robin he must come with him and take five of +his best Knights. The King eagerly sprang up to do his bidding, and +the six men, clad in monks' clothes, mounted their palfreys and rode +merrily along, the King wearing an Abbot's broad hat over his crown, +and singing as he passed through the greenwood. Suddenly at the turn +of a path Robin and his archers appeared before them. + +"By your leave, Sir Abbot," said Robin, seizing the King's bridle, +"you will stay a while with us. Know that we are yeomen, who live upon +the King's deer, and other food have we none. Now you have abbeys and +churches, and gold in plenty; therefore give us some of it, in the +name of holy charity." + +"I have no more than forty pounds with me," answered the King, "but +sorry I am it is not a hundred, for you should have it all." + +So Robin took the forty pounds, and gave half to his men, and then +told the King he might go on his way. "I thank you," said the King, +"but I would have you know that our liege lord has bid me bear you his +seal and pray you to come to Nottingham." + +At this message Robin bent his knee. + + "I love no man in all the world + So well as I do my King," + +he cried, "and Sir Abbot, for thy tidings, which fill my heart with +joy, today thou shalt dine with me, for love of my King." + +Then he led the King into an open place, and Robin took a horn and +blew it loud, and at its blast seven score of young men came speedily +to do his will. + +"They are quicker to do his bidding than my men are to do mine," said +the King to himself. + +Speedily the foresters set out the dinner, roasts of venison and +loaves of white bread, and Robin and Little John served the King. +"Make good cheer," said Robin, "Abbot, for charity, and then you shall +see what sort of life we lead, so that you may tell our King." + +When he had finished eating, the archers took their bows and hung +rose-garlands up with a string, and every man was to shoot through the +garland. If he failed, he should have a buffet on the head from Robin. + +Good bowmen as they were, few managed to stand the test. Little John +and Will Scarlett and Much all shot wide of the mark, and at length no +one was left in but Robin himself and Gilbert of the Wide Hand. Then +Robin fired his last bolt, and it fell three fingers from the garland. +"Master," said Gilbert, "you have lost; stand forth and take your +punishment, as was agreed." + +"I will take it," answered Robin, "but, Sir Abbot, I pray you that I +may suffer it at your hands." + +The King hesitated. "It does not become me," he said, "to smite such +a stout yeoman"; but Robin bade him smite on and spare him not; so he +turned up his sleeve, and gave Robin such a lusty buffet on the head +that he lost his feet and rolled upon the ground. + +"There is pith in your arm," said Robin. "Come, shoot a main with me." +And the King took up a bow, and in so doing his hat fell back, and +Robin saw his face. + +"My lord the King of England, now I know you well," cried he; and he +fell on his knees, and all the outlaws with him. "Mercy I ask, my lord +the King, for all my brave foresters and me." + +"Mercy I grant," then said the King; "and therefore I came hither, to +bid you and your men leave the greenwood and dwell in my Court with +me." + +"So shall it be," answered Robin; "I and my men will come to your +Court, and see how your service liketh us." + + +ROBIN AT COURT + +"Have you any green cloth," asked the King, "that you could sell to +me?" and Robin brought out thirty yards and more, and clad the King +and his men in coats of Lincoln green. "Now we will all ride to +Nottingham," said he, and they went merrily, shooting by the way. + +The people of Nottingham saw them coming and trembled as they watched +the dark mass of Lincoln green drawing near over the fields. "I fear +lest our King be slain," whispered one to another; "and if Robin Hood +gets into the town, there is not one of us whose life is safe"; and +every man, woman, and child made ready to flee. + +The King laughed out when he saw their fright, and called them back. +Right glad were they to hear his voice, and they feasted and made +merry. A few days later the King returned to London, and Robin dwelt +in his Court for twelve months. By that time he had spent a hundred +pounds, for he gave largely to the Knights and squires he met, and +great renown he had for his open-handedness. But his men, who had been +born under the shadow of the forest, could not live amid streets and +houses. One by one they slipped away, till only Little John and Will +Scarlett were left. Then Robin himself grew homesick, and at the +sight of some young men shooting he thought upon the time when he was +accounted the best archer in all England, and went straightway to the +King and begged for leave to go on a pilgrimage. + +"I may not say you nay," answered the King; "seven nights you may be +gone and no more." And Robin thanked him, and that evening set out for +the greenwood. It was early morning when he reached it at last, and +listened thirstily to the notes of singing birds, great and small. + +"It seems long since I was here," he said to himself; "it would give +me great joy if I could bring down a deer once more"; and he shot a +great hart, and blew his horn, and all the outlaws of the forest came +flocking round him. "Welcome," they said, "our dear master, back to +the greenwood tree"; and they threw off their caps and fell on their +knees before him in delight at his return. + +Naught that the King could say would tempt Robin Hood back again, and +he dwelt in the greenwood for two and twenty years after he had run +away from Court. And he was ever a faithful friend, kind to the poor, +and gentle to all women. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Historical Note. When William the Conqueror became King of England he +destroyed many villages and towns to make royal forests in which he +might enjoy his favorite sport of hunting. The most famous of the +hunting grounds was in Hampshire and was called the New Forest. +Hundreds of poor people were driven from their homes and left +shelterless that this hunting park might be made. In order to keep up +these hunting grounds, William and the Kings who followed him made +very severe laws for the protection of the deer. The temptation to +shoot these deer must have been very strong, especially to men living +near the forest, for the English at that time excelled all other +nations in the use of the long bow. In consequence of this, many men +killed the King's deer, and fled to the woods to escape punishment. +There they formed into bands and, knowing the forests so well, were +safe from the King's officers. Among these outlaws were many brave and +skillful archers, but none was ever more famous than the hero of this +story, Robin Hood. + +Discussion. 1. Why was Robin Hood obliged to live in the forest? 2. +How did he win the friendship of Little John? 3. What did Robin Hood +tell him about the Sheriff of Nottingham? 4. Describe the appearance +of the Knight whom Little John met in the forest. 5. What foods were +prepared for the dinner which Robin Hood invited the Knight? 6. How +had these provisions been obtained? 7. What story did the Knight tell +to Robin Hood? 8. How did Robin Hood help him? 9. Where do you think +the treasure chest was kept? 10. From whom had this treasure been +taken? 11. How did the Knight show his gratitude after he regained his +lands? 12. Why did the Sheriff of Nottingham want Little John in his +service? 13. What thought was constantly in Little John's mind? 14. +How did he accomplish his purpose? 15. What explanation did he give to +Robin Hood for what he brought from the Sheriff's house? 16. How did +he induce the Sheriff to follow him to the place where Robin Hood was? +17. What punishment did Robin Hood decide upon for the Sheriff? Why +did he not carry it out? 18. How was Robin Hood captured by the +Sheriff? 19. What reason do you think the King had for wanting to see +Robin Hood? 20. What did he determine to do after Robin Hood's escape? +21. Find words in which Robin Hood expressed his love for his King. +22. What offer did the King make to Robin Hood and his men? Why did +the King make them such an offer? 23. Why did Robin dislike living at +Court? 24. How long did Robin Hood live in the greenwood after he left +the Court? 25. Under what conditions do you think life in the forest +would be pleasant? 26. What were these men obliged to give up when +they went into the forest to live? 27. What did they gain by living in +the forest? 28. When did Robin Hood show himself generous? 29. When +did Robin show himself merciful? 30. What do you think of Little +John's treatment of the Sheriff of Nottingham after he had lived in +his house? 31. When did Little John show himself a loyal friend? 32. +When did he show himself hard and cruel? 33. What things mentioned in +this story show that the manners and life of the people in England at +this time were rough? 34. What qualities were most admired in men at +the time of Robin Hood? 35. What was the reason for this? 36. Make a +list showing the good qualities of Robin Hood, such as his courtesy, +his justice, his sense of fair play. Mention the incidents that +illustrate each characteristic. 37. Show that this story has the two +values mentioned in the last paragraph of page 146. 38. Why did Robin +dislike the Sheriff? 39. Find, from the story, ways in which poor or +unfortunate men were oppressed by the laws in those days. 40. Did the +laws seem made to give equal justice to all, or unfair advantages to +the rich and powerful? 41. How do you think Robin felt about these +matters? 42. How did he try to take the side of the poor men who were +thus unfairly dealt with by the government? 43. Tell the story of +Friar Tuck. 44. Why did the King take such an interest in Robin? Do +you think the King was glad to get away from the Court? Why? 45. What +did he say about the way in which Robin was obeyed by his followers? +46. What does the Forward Look tell you about the source of this +story? 47. Class readings: Little John's first adventure, omitting all +but the dialogue, (3 pupils); Robin and his archers with the King; +Robin at the King's Court. 48. Outline for testing silent reading. +Tell the story of Robin Hood, using these topics: (a) the home of +Robin in Sherwood Forest; (b) the coming of Little John; (c) Little +John's first adventure, (d) the Knight's recovery of his lands; (e) +Little John as the Sheriff's servant; (f) Robin's meeting with Friar +Tuck; (g) the disagreement between Robin and Little John; (h) the +King's visit to Robin Hood; (i) Robin at Court. 49. You will enjoy +seeing the pictures in the edition of Robin Hood illustrated by N. C. +Wyeth. 50. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: abbey; battlements +ell; coffers; tourneys; hart; broom; boon; noble. 51. Pronounce: +Plantagenets; palfreys; peasants; yeoman; toll; pheasants; naught; +hie; surety; Justiciar; gainsaid; jousts; heir; tryst; steward; +balked; lea; ado; liege; beguiled; buffet. + + +Phrases for Study + +King's Council, stout fellow, took no toll, break my fast, sorry pass, +guided of my counsel, stay surety, beseems his quality, stand you in +yeoman's stead, redeem them, was minded to try, without more ado, in +such wise, brought to bale, shoot a main, service liketh us. + + + + +GULLIVER'S TRAVELS + +JONATHAN SWIFT + + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Gulliver's Travels.) + + +GULLIVER SAILS FOR THE SOUTH SEA AND IS SHIPWRECKED + +My name is Lemuel Gulliver, and my home is in Nottinghamshire. I went +to college at Cambridge, where I studied hard, for I knew my father +was not rich enough to keep me when I should become a man, and that I +must be able to earn my own living. + +I decided to be a doctor, but as I had always longed to travel, I +learned to be a good sailor as well. When I had succeeded in becoming +both doctor and sailor, I married, and with my wife's consent I became +surgeon upon a ship and made many voyages. One of these voyages was +with Captain Prichard, master of a vessel called the Antelope, bound +for the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol and started upon our +journey very fairly, until there came a violent storm that drove our +ship near an island called Van Diemen's Land. The Antelope was driven +against a rock, which wrecked and split the vessel in half. + +Six of the sailors and myself let down one of the small boats, and, +getting into it, rowed away from the ruined vessel and the dangerous +rock. We rowed until we were so tired we could no longer hold the +oars; then we were obliged to allow our boat to go as the waves +carried it. + +Suddenly there came another violent gust of wind from the north, and +our small boat was at once overturned. I do not know what became of my +unfortunate companions, but I fear all must have been drowned. I was +a good swimmer, and I swam for my life. I went the best way I could, +pushed forward by wind and tide. Sometimes I let my legs drop to see +if my feet touched the bottom, and when I was almost overcome and +fainting, I found to my great joy that I was out of the deep water and +able to walk. + +By this time the storm was over. I walked about a mile, until I +reached the shore, and when I stood upon land I could not see a sign +of any houses or people. I felt very weak and tired; so I lay down +upon the grass, which was very short and soft; and soon fell into a +sound sleep. + +I must have slept all that night, for when I awoke, it was bright +daylight. I tried to rise, but found I was not able even to move. +I had been lying upon my back, and I found my arms and legs were +strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and that my hair, which +was long and thick, was also tied to the ground. I felt several +slender threads over my body. Fastened in this way, I could only look +upwards, and, as the sun came out and shone in my eyes, this was very +uncomfortable. I heard a queer noise about me, but could see nothing +except the sky. + +In a little while I felt something alive moving on my left leg; this +thing came gently forward over my breast and almost up to my chin. +Bending my eyes downward as much as I could, I saw a tiny human +creature, not more than six inches high, with a tiny bow and arrow in +his hands. While I gazed in astonishment, forty more of the same kind +followed the first. I called out so loud in my amazement that they all +ran back in a fright, and I felt them leaping from my sides to the +ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them came up so far +as to get a full sight of my face. As he looked at me, he held up his +hands and cried out in a shrill but distinct voice, "Hekinah degul!" +Of course I did not understand what this meant, but from the tone in +which it was said I thought it must express admiration for me. + +All this time I lay in great uneasiness. At length I struggled to get +loose, and managed to break the strings and pull up the pegs that +fastened my left arm to the ground. Then with a violent tug that +caused me much pain I broke the strings that tied down my hair on the +left side, and was then able to turn my head a trifle. + +The little people all ran off before I could seize them, and there +was a great deal of shouting in very shrill voices. Then in about an +instant I felt quite a hundred arrows shot on my left hand, which +pricked me like so many needles. Besides this, another hundred were +shot into the air and fell all over my body, and some upon my face. + +When this shower of arrows was over, I lay groaning with the pain and +covering my face with my free hand. I had only just done so in time, +for immediately another and larger shower fell upon me, and some of +the little people tried to stick their spears into my sides; but +luckily I had a leather waistcoat on, which the tiny spears could not +pierce. + +After this, I thought I had better lie still and remain very quiet +till night came. Then I hoped this odd army would leave me and I +should be able to set myself free. I was not at all afraid of any +number of such small people, once I had the use of my limbs. + + +GULLIVER IS VISITED BY THE EMPEROR + +When they saw I was quiet, they stopped shooting arrows; and, as I +was almost starving, I tried to show them I wanted food by putting my +finger to my mouth, and looking beseechingly at them, praying them to +give me something to eat. + +Soon several ladders were put against my sides. Upon these about a +hundred of the people mounted and walked toward my mouth, carrying +baskets full of meat. This meat was in the same shape as shoulders, +legs, and loins of mutton, but smaller than the wings of a lark. It +was all well dressed and cooked, and I ate two or three joints at a +mouthful and took three loaves at a time, which were no bigger than +bullets. The little people gave the food to me as fast as they could, +and showed much wonder at the greatness of my appetite. + +I must confess I was tempted to pick up those who were running over +my body and throw them to the ground. But remembering the shower of +arrows and the food they had given me, I felt I was bound in honor not +to do them harm. I could not help thinking these tiny creatures were +plucky and brave, that they should dare to walk over such a giant as +I must seem to them, although one of my hands was free to seize upon +them. + +After a time there came before me no less a personage than his +Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of these odd little people. His Majesty +mounted my right leg and advanced forward to my face, followed by a +dozen of his courtiers. + +As he stood looking at my face, he spoke for about ten minutes without +any sign of anger, but very gravely and sternly, and often pointing in +front of him, toward, as I afterwards found, the capital city. + +To this city the people agreed I was to be carried, and it lay about +half a mile off. I made signs to the Emperor that I wanted to be freed +from the cords that bound me to the earth, and allowed to rise. But +although he understood me well enough, his Majesty shook his head and +showed me I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other +signs that told me I should have meat and drink, and was not to be +ill-treated. After this the Emperor and his train got off my body and +went away. + +Soon after, I felt a great number of people at my left side; and they +loosened the cords that held me, and so let me turn a little upon my +right and get more ease in my uncomfortable position. + +Then they put some sweet-smelling ointment upon my face and hands, +which soon removed the smart of the arrows. Being thus refreshed, I +again fell into a deep sleep, which lasted some hours. + +These little people were very clever at making all kinds of machines +and engines for carrying heavy weights. They built their ships and +men-of-war, which were about the length of a large dining-table, in +the woods where the timber grew, and then carried them to the sea upon +the machines they made. + +They now set to work to prepare the greatest engine they had, which +was a frame of wood, raised three inches from the ground, and about as +long as one of our bedsteads and nearly as wide across. Five hundred +carpenters and engineers got this machine into readiness to carry me +to the city. There was loud shouting, as it was brought up to my side; +and then came the chief difficulty, which was how to lift me on to it. + +Eighty poles were driven into the ground, each pole about as tall as +an ordinary ruler. Then the workmen bound my neck, hands, body, and +legs in bandages, and to these bandages they fixed hooks with the +strongest cords fastened to them. Nine hundred of the strongest men +then drew up these cords by pulleys attached to the poles, and thus in +about three hours I was raised and slung upon the machine, and there +tied fast. Fifteen hundred of the Emperor's largest horses, each about +four inches and a half high, were used to draw me on the machine, to +the city. + +When at last we arrived at the city gates, the Emperor and all his +court came out to meet us. At the place where we stopped there stood +a very old temple, which was the largest in the whole kingdom. The +people no longer used it to worship in, and it had been emptied of +all its furniture and ornaments. It was in this building the Emperor +decided I should live. The great gate was about four feet high and two +feet wide, and I could easily creep through it. Upon each side of the +gate was a small window, just six inches from the ground. To one of +these windows the Emperor's smith fixed ninety-one chains, like those +we use as watch chains in England, and these chains were locked to my +left leg by thirty-six padlocks. Just in front of the temple there was +a turret five feet high, and the Emperor and his principal nobles got +upon the top of this turret to be able to look at me as I lay. + +So many people crowded from the city to see me, and all mounted upon +my body by the help of ladders, that at last the Emperor gave an order +that no one else must do so, on penalty of death. For this I was very +glad, as I was becoming quite worn out. + +When the workmen found it was impossible for me to break my chains +and get free, they cut all the strings that bound me, and I rose up +feeling very strange and sad. + +The astonishment of the people at seeing me rise was truly great. The +chains that held my left leg were two yards long, and that allowed me +to walk backwards and forwards, and also to creep into the temple and +lie down. + + +GULLIVER IS KEPT A PRISONER AT THE CAPITAL + +When I found myself on my feet, I looked about at the surrounding +country. It seemed like one big garden, and the fields, which were +about the size of an ordinary room, appeared like so many beds of +flowers. Then there were the little patches of trees, which made the +woods of this tiny country, and the tallest tree among them was not +much higher than an Englishman. The little city itself looked like the +painted scene in a theater. + +As I was extremely tired, I did not stay long to look, but crept into +my house and shut the door after me. When I had rested, I came out +again and stepped backward and forward as far as my chains allowed. +Then the Emperor began to ride up to me; but upon seeing me, the horse +took fright and nearly threw its rider, which was no wonder, as the +poor animal must have thought I was a moving mountain. The prince was +an excellent horseman and kept his seat well, while his attendants ran +to assist him. Then his Majesty got off his horse and walked up to me +and seemed to look at me with great admiration, but did not come near +enough for me to touch him. He ordered his cooks to bring me more +food and drink, and they brought me the food put into carriages upon +wheels, which they pushed forward until I could reach them. I very +soon emptied the carriages. + +The Empress and the young princes, with many other nobles and ladies, +all came and gathered round the Emperor and watched me while I ate. +His Majesty was taller than any of the others; that is to say, he +stood about the breadth of my nail above the heads of his people. He +was handsome and well made and had an air of great dignity. I heard +that he had reigned seven years, and had been victorious, and that he +was much respected. + +His dress was very plain, except that he had on his head a light +helmet made of gold and adorned with jewels and with a plume upon it. +He now held his drawn sword in his hand, to defend himself if I should +happen to break loose. This sword was about three inches long, and the +hilt and case of it were gold, enriched with diamonds. + +After about two hours the court went away, and I was left with a guard +of soldiers to keep the people from crowding round me. This guard was +necessary, for one of the men had the impudence to shoot an arrow +at me as I sat upon the ground, and it nearly hit my eye. Then the +soldiers ordered the man to be seized and bound and given into my +hands to punish. I took him up and made a face as if I were going +to eat him. The poor little fellow screamed terribly, and even the +soldiers looked very much alarmed when I took out my penknife. + +However, I soon put an end to their fears, for I cut the strings that +bound my captive and set him gently upon the ground and let him run +away. I saw that all the soldiers and people were delighted at this +mark of my mercy and gentleness; and I afterwards heard they told the +Emperor about it, and he was very pleased with me. + +When night came, I crept into my shelter again and lay upon the ground +to sleep. The next day the Emperor gave orders for a bed to be made +for me. The workmen brought six hundred beds to my house in carriages, +and sewed them all together to make one large enough for me to lie +upon. They did the same with sheets and blankets, and at the end of +two weeks' labor my bed was ready for me. + +As the news of my arrival spread over the kingdom, it brought numbers +of people to see me. The villages were almost emptied, and those men +and women who should have been at work came to the city to gaze at me. +At last the Emperor gave orders that all who had seen me once were to +go to their homes immediately, and not come near me again without his +Majesty's permission. + +The Emperor and his court met together to talk over what could be done +with me, which seemed a very difficult question. They were afraid I +might break my chains and do them harm; then they were afraid that I +would eat so much that it would cause a famine in the land and there +would be no food left for them. Luckily for me, his Majesty remembered +the kind way I had treated the man who shot the arrow at me, and +because of my good behavior he allowed me to live. Orders were given +for each of the villages round the city to send in every morning six +cows and forty sheep for my meals, and also bread and wine, for all of +which the Emperor paid. + +I was also given six hundred little men as my servants, and these +built their tents upon each side of my door. Then three hundred +tailors set to work to make me a suit of clothes like those worn in +that country, and six of the most learned men taught me to speak the +language. Lastly, the Emperor's horses and those of the nobles and +soldiers were ridden and exercised before me, until they became quite +used to seeing me and would trot quietly past. + + +GULLIVER IS GIVEN HIS LIBERTY + +My quiet and good behavior so pleased the Emperor and his court that I +began to hope he would soon give me my liberty. I did all I could to +make the people like me and lose their fear of me. I would lie down +and let five or six of them dance upon my hand, and at last the boys +and girls even dared to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair. + +There was one general, named Skyresh, who was my enemy. I had not +given him any cause to dislike me, but he did, and it was he who tried +to persuade the Emperor not to give me my liberty. However, I implored +his Majesty so often to set me free that at last he promised to do so, +but he first made me swear to certain conditions which were to be read +to me. These conditions were as follows: + +"His Majesty, the mighty Emperor of Lilliput, proposes to the +Man-Mountain the following articles, which he must swear to perform: + +"First. The Man-Mountain shall not depart from our country without our +permission. + +"Second. He shall not enter our chief city without our express +consent. + +"Third. He shall walk only along the principal roads, and not over our +meadows and fields of corn. + +"Fourth. As he walks he must take the greatest care not to trample +upon any of our subjects, or their horses and carriages, and he must +not take any into his hands without their consent. + +"Fifth. If we desire to send a message anywhere, very quickly, the +Man-Mountain shall be obliged to carry the messenger and his horse in +his pocket and return with them safe to our court. + +"Sixth. He must promise not to join the army of our enemies in the +island of Blefuscu, and he must do his utmost to destroy their fleet +of ships, which is now preparing to attack us. + +"Seventh. The Man-Mountain shall always be ready to help our workmen +in lifting heavy weights. + +"Eighth. He must walk all round our island and then tell us how many +steps round it measures. + +"Lastly. The Man-Mountain shall have a daily allowance of food +sufficient for 1724 of our subjects. + +"All of these conditions he must take a solemn oath to keep. Then he +shall be allowed his liberty." + +I swore to keep these promises, and my chains were at once unlocked +and I was at full liberty. I expressed my gratitude by casting myself +at the Emperor's feet, but he graciously commanded me to rise, telling +me he hoped I would prove a useful servant and deserve all the favors +he had conferred upon me. + +One morning, about a fortnight after I had obtained my liberty, the +principal noble who managed the Emperor's private affairs, and whose +name was Reldresal, came to my house, attended by only one servant. +He asked to speak to me privately, and I readily consented, as he had +always shown me much kindness. I offered to lie down so that he could +speak into my ear, but he chose to let me hold him in my hand during +our conversation. + +He told me that the island of Lilliput was threatened with invasion by +an army from the island of Blefuscu, which was the next island, and +one almost as large and powerful as Lilliput itself. These two islands +and their Emperors had for some time been engaged in a most obstinate +war. + +Reldresal told me that his Majesty had just heard that the +Blefuscudians had got together a large fleet of warships and were +preparing to invade Lilliput. His Majesty said he placed great trust +in my power to help them in this trouble, and had commanded his +officer to lay the case before me. + +I told Reldresal to present my humble duty to the Emperor and tell him +I thought it would hardly be fair for me, as I was a foreigner, to +interfere between the two islands. But I said I was quite ready, even +at the risk of my life, to defend his Majesty's state and person +against all invaders. + +The island of Blefuscu was separated from Lilliput by a channel eight +hundred yards wide. I had not yet seen it, but after hearing that the +Emperor of Blefuscu had a fleet of ships upon the water, I kept from +going near the coast, as I did not want to be noticed by the enemy. +The Blefuscudians did not know of my presence in Lilliput. I told his +Majesty, the Emperor of Lilliput, that I had a plan by which I could +seize all the enemy's ships. + + +GULLIVER CAPTURES THE BLEFUSCUDIAN FLEET + +I had asked the most clever seamen upon the island how deep the +channel was, and they told me that in the middle it was about six feet +deep, and at the sides it was only four feet. I then walked toward the +coast and lay down behind a hillock; here I took out my telescope and +looked at the enemy's fleet. It consisted of fifty men-of-war and a +great number of smaller vessels. I hurried back to my house and gave +orders for a quantity of the strongest rope and bars of iron. The +Emperor said all my orders were to be carried out. The rope that was +brought me was only as thick as our packing thread, and the iron bars +were the length and size of a knitting-needle. I twisted three lengths +of the rope together to make it stronger, and three of the iron bars +in the same way. I turned up the ends of the bars to form a hook. I +fixed fifty hooks to as many pieces of rope, and then I took them all +down to the coast. + +Here I took off my shoes and stockings and coat, and walked into the +sea. I waded until I came to the middle of the channel, and, the water +being deep there, I was obliged to swim about thirty yards. After this +I waded again, and in less than half an hour I arrived at the fleet of +the enemy. The Blefuscudians were so frightened when they saw me that +they leaped out of their ships and swam to shore. + +I then took my hooks and ropes and fastened a hook to the end of each +vessel. Then I tied all the ropes together. While I was doing this, +the enemy discharged several thousand arrows at me from the shore, and +many of the arrows stuck in my face and hands. This hurt me very much, +and prevented my working quickly. My worst fear was for my eyes, which +would certainly have been put out by arrows had I not thought of my +spectacles. These I fastened as strongly as I could upon my nose, and, +thus protected, I went boldly on, while the arrows struck my glasses +without even cracking them. + +When I had fastened all my hooks, I took the knot of ropes in my hands +and began to pull. But I could not move a single ship, for they were +all held fast by their anchors. Therefore I let go the cord, and, +taking my knife from my pocket, I cut the cables that held the +anchors, at the same time receiving about two hundred arrows from +the enemy, in my face and hands. After this, I once more grasped the +ropes, and, with the greatest ease, I pulled fifty of their largest +vessels after me. The Blefuscudians were confounded with astonishment. +They had seen me cut the cables, but thought I only meant to let the +ships run adrift; but when they saw me walking off with almost all of +the fleet, they set up a tremendous scream of grief and despair. + +When I had got out of danger, I stopped to pick out the arrows that +were stuck in my hands and face, and I rubbed on some of the ointment +the Lilliputians had given me. Then I took off my spectacles and waded +on with my cargo. As the tide was then fallen, I did not need to swim +through the middle, but was able to walk right into the royal port of +Lilliput. + +The Emperor and all his court stood upon the shore, watching for my +return. They saw the ships coming over the water, in the form of a +great half-moon, and soon I was able to make the Emperor hear my +voice. Holding up my rope, I cried aloud, "Long live the most glorious +Emperor of Lilliput!" + +His Majesty received me with great joy and honor, and made me a lord +of the island upon the spot. + +The Emperor then wished me to try to bring all the rest of the enemy's +ships to Lilliput. And he talked of taking the whole island of +Blefuscu, and reigning over it himself. I did not think this at all +fair, but very selfish and greedy of his Majesty. I tried to tell him +so as politely as I could, and said I could not help to bring a free +and brave people into slavery. My bold speech made the Emperor very +angry indeed, and he never forgave me. But most of his best nobles +thought the same as I did, although they dared not say so openly. + +From this time his Majesty and some of his court began to bear me +ill-will, which nearly ended in my death. I considered this very mean +of the Emperor, after my helping him as I did; but like many other +people, he became ungrateful when he found he could not get all he +wanted. About three weeks after this the Emperor of Blefuscu sent +messengers with humble offers to make peace; to this the Lilliputians +agreed, upon certain terms. + +The messengers consisted of six nobles with a train of five hundred +men. They were all very grandly and magnificently dressed. After they +had spoken to our Emperor, they expressed a wish to come to visit me. +It seems they were told I had been their friend when the Emperor asked +me to help him take Blefuscu, and they came to thank me for my justice +and generosity. They invited me to visit their island, where I should +receive every kindness and hospitality. I thanked their lordships very +much, and said I should be pleased to come and pay my respects to the +Emperor of Blefuscu before I returned to my own country. + +So the next time I saw our Emperor I begged his permission to go to +Blefuscu, which he was gracious enough to grant me, although in a very +cold manner. I afterwards heard that my request displeased him, and he +did not like my making friends of the Blefuscudians. + + +THE INHABITANTS OF LILLIPUT--THEIR LAWS AND CUSTOMS + +I am now going to say a few words about the Lilliputians and their +laws and customs. + +These little people are generally about six inches high, their horses +and oxen between four and five inches, their sheep an inch and a half, +and their geese about the size of a sparrow. One day I watched a cook +pulling the feathers off a lark, which was no bigger than a fly. + +Some of their laws are very unlike our English ones, but they are very +just all the same. If a man accuses another of any crime, and it +is proved that he has told a lie and the man is innocent, then the +accuser is severely punished, and the innocent man is rewarded for all +the injustice and pain he has suffered. This keeps people from being +so ready to tell tales about others. + +Then deceit and cunning are considered greater crimes than stealing in +Lilliput, for the people say that a man can take means to protect his +goods and money, but he cannot prevent another man's deceiving him. +And so, if any man makes a promise of importance to another and +then breaks it, he is severely punished. Also, if he has any money +belonging to another and has promised to take care of it, and then +loses it through carelessness or spends any upon himself, he is +guilty of a crime. Another law is that not only the guilty should be +punished, but that the innocent shall be rewarded. So that whoever +shall behave himself well and keep the laws of his country for a whole +year, shall receive a sum of money and a favor from the Emperor. + +When the Emperor has some special favor to confer, or position to +offer, he does not choose the most clever or learned man to give it +to, but picks out the one who has been the best behaved and who is the +bravest and truest among his subjects. + +Ingratitude among the Lilliputians is considered a capital crime, and +anyone who returns evil for good is judged not fit to live. + +I am sorry to say that the Emperor and his people did not keep these +good laws as they should have done, for if they had, his Majesty would +never have treated me so badly after I had done my best to help him. + +In Lilliput there are large public schools to which parents are bound +to send their children. Here they are educated and fitted for some +position in life, for no one is allowed to be idle. + +All the children are brought up very well indeed, and taught to be +honorable, courageous, and truthful men and women. + +The nurses are forbidden to tell the children foolish or frightening +stories, and if they are found to do so, they are soundly whipped and +sent to a most lonely part of the country. + +And now I will give a further account of my own way of living among +these strange little people. + +I had made myself a table and chair, as large as I could get out of +the biggest tree in the royal park. Two hundred sewing women were +employed to make my shirts and the linen for my bed and table. They +got the strongest and coarsest linen the island could produce, and +even then they were obliged to sew several folds together to make it +strong enough for my use. The sewing women took my measure as I lay +upon the ground, one standing at my neck and another at my leg, with a +strong cord that each held, one at one end and one at the other. + +One clever woman fitted me for a shirt by simply taking the width of +my right thumb, for she said that twice round the thumb is once round +the wrist, and twice round the wrist is once round the neck, and twice +round the neck is once round the waist. By this means she was able to +fit me exactly. + +The three hundred tailors who were employed to make my clothes had +another way of measuring me. I knelt down, and they raised a ladder +from the ground to my neck; upon this ladder one man mounted, and let +fall a cord from my collar to the floor, which was the length for my +coat. My waist and arms I measured myself. As the largest piece of +cloth made in the island was only about the size of a yard of wide +ribbon, my clothes looked like a patchwork quilt; only, the cloth was +all of the same color. + +I had three hundred cooks to prepare my food, and each one cooked me +two dishes. When I was ready for my meal, I took up twenty waiters in +my hand and placed them upon the table; a hundred more attended on the +ground, carrying the dishes. The waiters upon the table drew these +things up by cords, as we might draw a bucket from a well. + +One joint of meat generally made a mouthful for me, but once I +actually had a sirloin of beef so large that I was forced to make +three bites of it. I never had another as big. The geese and turkeys +also only made a mouthful, and of the small fowl I could take up +twenty at a time on my fork. + + +GULLIVER ESCAPES TO BLEFUSCU + +I must now tell my reader of a great plot that had been formed against +me in the island of Lilliput. + +I was preparing to pay my promised visit to the Emperor of Blefuscu, +when one day a Lilliputian noble called at my house privately, and at +night; and without sending in his name, he asked me to allow him to +come in and speak to me. + +I went out and picked up his lordship and brought him on to my table. +Then I fastened the door of my house and sat down in front of the +noble. As I saw he looked very anxious and troubled, I asked him if +anything was the matter. At that he begged me to listen to him with +patience, as he had much to tell me that concerned my life and honor. +I replied that I was all eagerness to hear him, and this is what he +told me: + +"You must know," said he, "that his Majesty has lately had many +private meetings with his nobles about yourself. And two days ago he +formed a plan that will do you great injury. You know that Skyresh has +always been your mortal enemy; and his hatred grew even more when +you so successfully won the ships of the Blefuscudians. He was very +jealous, and considered you had taken away some of the glory that +ought to have been his, as an admiral of his Majesty. This lord, with +some others who dislike you, has prepared a charge against you of +treason and other crimes. Now, because I consider this to be unjust +treatment, and because you have always shown me kindness and courtesy, +I have risked my life to come here tonight to warn you. + +"Skyresh and the other nobles insisted that you should be put to +death, and that in the most cruel way: either by setting fire to your +house while you slept, or by having you shot with poisoned arrows by +twenty thousand men. But his Majesty could not be persuaded to do +this cruelty, and decided to spare your life. Then Reldresal, who has +always been your true friend, was asked by the Emperor to give his +opinion, which he accordingly did. + +"He allowed your crimes to be very great, but said that he considered +mercy ought to be shown you in return for the services you had +rendered the Empire. He advised his Majesty to spare your life, but +have both your eyes put out. By this means justice would be satisfied, +and the loss of your eyes would not take from your bodily strength, so +that you could still be useful to us. This proposal of Reldresal was +not at all approved by the other lords. Skyresh flew into a great +passion, and said he wondered Reldresal could dare to wish to save +the life of a traitor. He again accused you of being a traitor, and +insisted that you should be put to death. + +"Still his Majesty refused to consent to your death, but said that, +as the court did not consider putting out your eyes was sufficient +punishment for your crimes, some other must be thought of. + +"Then Reldresal again spoke, saying that, as it cost so much to feed +you, another way of punishing you would be to give you less and less +to eat, until you were gradually starved to death. + +"This proposal was agreed upon, but it was decided to keep the plan of +starving you a great secret. In three days from now Reldresal will be +sent here to read these accusations I have now told to you, and to +tell you that his Majesty condemns you to the loss of your eyes. +Twenty of his Majesty's surgeons will attend in order to perform the +operation, which will be done by shooting very sharp pointed arrows +into the balls of your eyes as you lie upon the ground. + +"I have now told you all that will happen to you, and must leave you +to act as you think best. As no one must know I have been here with +you now, I must hasten back to the court as secretly as I can." + +This his lordship immediately did, leaving me in much doubt and +trouble. Knowing the good and just laws of the island of Lilliput, +I was much shocked and astonished to find the Emperor could so far +forget them as to condemn an innocent man to so brutal a punishment. I +tried to think what I had better do to save myself. My first idea was +to wait quietly and go through with my trial. Then I could plead my +innocence and try to obtain mercy. But, upon second thoughts, I saw +that this was a dangerous, almost a hopeless, plan, as my enemies at +court were so bitter against me. + +Then I almost made up my mind to use my own strength, for while I had +liberty I knew that I could easily overcome all the Lilliputians and +knock the city to pieces with stones. But I put the idea away as +unfair and dishonorable, because I had given my oath not to harm the +island and its inhabitants. And even though the Emperor was so unjust +and cruel to me, I did not consider that his conduct freed me from the +promise I had made. + +At last I formed a plan by which I hoped to save my eyesight and my +liberty, and, as things proved, it was a very fortunate plan for me. +As I had obtained the Emperor's permission to visit the island of +Blefuscu, I at once made preparations to go there. I sent a letter to +Reldresal telling him I intended to visit Blefuscu, according to the +permission I had obtained from his Majesty, and that I was starts g +that morning. By wading and swimming I crossed the channel and reached +the port of Blefuscu. + +I found the people there had long expected me, and they appeared very +pleased to see me. They lent me two guides to show me the way to the +capital city. These men I held in my hands, while they directed me +which way to take. Having arrived at the city gate, I put them down +and desired them to tell his Majesty, the Emperor of Blefuscu, that I +was awaiting his commands. + +I had an answer in about an hour, which was that his Majesty and the +royal family were coming out to receive me. + +The Emperor and his train then rode out of the palace, and the Empress +and her ladies also drove up in coaches. They did not seem at all +frightened at seeing me. I lay upon the ground to kiss his Majesty's +and the Empress's hands. I told his Majesty I had come according to my +promise and with the consent of the Emperor of Lilliput, and that +I considered it a great honor to receive the welcome I did. I also +begged to offer his Majesty any service I could render him. + +I was treated with much kindness and generosity while at Blefuscu; but +as there was no place large enough for me to get into, I had to be +without house and bed. So I was forced to sleep upon the ground, +wrapped in my cloak. + + +GULLIVER RETURNS TO ENGLAND + +Three days after my arrival at Blefuscu I was walking along the coast, +when I suddenly caught sight of some object in the sea that looked +like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings, and waded +out into the water. As I drew near the object, I could plainly see +that it was a big boat, which, I suppose, must have been driven there +by some tempest. Having made this discovery, I hastened back to shore +and went to the city to beg his Majesty to lend me twenty of his +tallest ships, and three thousand sailors, under the command of an +admiral. + +The Emperor gave his consent, and the fleet of ships sailed to the +place where I had discovered the boat. I again waded into the water, +and found that the tide had driven the boat still nearer the shore. +The sailors in the ships were all provided with cord, which I had +twisted together and made strong. I walked as near the boat as I +could, then swam up to it. The sailors threw me the end of the +cord, which I fastened to part of the boat and the other end to a +man-of-war. Then, getting behind the boat, I swam and pushed it as +best I could with one hand until I had got it out of the deep water. +Being then able to walk, I rested a few minutes, and then, taking +some other ropes, I fastened all of them to the boat and they to +the vessels the Emperor had lent me. Then the sailors pulled, and I +shoved, and, the wind being favorable, we arrived at the shore of +Blefuscu, dragging the boat with us. With the help of two thousand +men, with ropes and engines, I was able to turn the boat upon the +right side, and found it was in quite good condition. + +After this I worked hard for many days making paddles for my boat, +and getting it ready to go to sea in. The people of Blefuscu came and +gazed in wonder and astonishment at so immense a vessel. I told the +Emperor that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry +me to some place from which I might be able to return to my native +land. And I begged his Majesty to allow me to have materials with +which to fit it up, and also to give me his gracious permission to +depart when it was ready. This his Majesty most kindly granted me. + +Five hundred workmen were employed to make two sails for my boat, +under my directions. This had to be done by sewing together thirteen' +folds of their strongest linen. Then I made rope by twisting together +twenty or thirty lengths of the stoutest cord upon the island. After a +long search by the seashore I discovered a large stone, which had +to serve me for an anchor. I used the fat of three hundred cows for +greasing my boat. Then I set to work and cut down some of the largest +trees to make into oars and masts. His Majesty's carpenters helped me +greatly in smoothing them after I had cut them into shape. + +In about a month all was ready, and I sent to tell his Majesty I was +going to take my leave. + +The Emperor and royal family came out of the palace and allowed me +to kiss their hands. His Majesty presented me with fifty purses +containing two hundred pieces of gold hands. I told his Majesty I had +come according to my promise and with the consent of the Emperor +of Lilliput, and that I considered it a great honor to receive the +welcome I did. I also begged to offer his Majesty any service I could +render him. + +I was treated with much kindness and generosity while at Blefuscu; but +as there was no place large enough for me to get into, I had to be +without house and bed. So I was forced to sleep upon the ground, +wrapped in my cloak. + + +GULLIVER RETURNS TO ENGLAND + +Three days after my arrival at Blefuscu I was walking along the coast, +when I suddenly caught sight of some object in the sea that looked +like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings, and waded +out into the water. As I drew near the object, I could plainly see +that it was a big boat, which, I suppose, must have been driven there +by some tempest. Having made this discovery, I hastened back to shore +and went to the city to beg his Majesty to lend me twenty of his +tallest ships, and three thousand sailors, under the command of an +admiral. + +The Emperor gave his consent, and the fleet of ships sailed to the +place where I had discovered the boat. I again waded into the water, +and found that the tide had driven the boat still nearer the shore. +The sailors in the ships were all provided with cord, which I had +twisted together and made strong. I walked as near the boat as I +could, then swam up to it. The sailors threw me the end of the +cord, which I fastened to part of the boat and the other end to a +man-of-war. Then, getting behind the boat, I swam and pushed it as +best I could with one hand until I had got it out of the deep water. +Being then able to walk, I rested a few minutes, and then, taking +some other ropes, I fastened all of them to the boat and they to +the vessels the Emperor had lent me. Then the sailors pulled, and I +shoved, and, the wind being favorable, we arrived at the shore of +Blefuscu, dragging the boat with us. With the help of two thousand +men, with ropes and engines, I was able to turn the boat upon the +right side, and found it was in quite good condition. + +After this I worked hard for many days making paddles for my boat, +and getting it ready to go to sea in. The people of Blefuscu came and +gazed in wonder and astonishment at so immense a vessel. I told the +Emperor that my good fortune had thrown this boat in my way to carry +me to some place from which I might be able to return to my native +land. And I begged his Majesty to allow me to have materials with +which to fit it up, and also to give me his gracious permission to +depart when it was ready. This his Majesty most kindly granted me. + +Five hundred workmen were employed to make two sails for my boat, +under my directions. This had to be done by sewing together thirteen' +folds of their strongest linen. Then I made rope by twisting together +twenty or thirty lengths of the stoutest cord upon the island. After a +long search by the seashore I discovered a large stone, which had +to serve me for an anchor. I used the fat of three hundred cows for +greasing my boat. Then I set to work and cut down some of the largest +trees to make into oars and masts. His Majesty's carpenters helped me +greatly in smoothing them after I had cut them into shape. + +In about a month all was ready, and I sent to tell his Majesty I was +going to take my leave. + +The Emperor and royal family came out of the palace and allowed me +to kiss their hands. His Majesty presented me with fifty purses +containing two hundred pieces of gold did Gulliver capture the fleet +from Blefuscu? 7. What did the Emperor of Lilliput wish to do when +Gulliver had won the victory? 8. What evil thing about war does this +incident show? 9. Can a nation fight a great war without desire to +add to its territory? Was this true of the United States in the war +recently fought?' 10. What was Gulliver's feeling about the proposal +of the Emperor? Was he right? 11. How did the Emperor feel toward him +after his refusal? 12. How did Gulliver learn of the plot against him? +13. Why did he not use his strength against his enemies? 14. What did +he decide to do? 15. What fortunate discovery did Gulliver make at +Blefuscu? 16. How did Gulliver get back to England? 17. Name two or +three things that you think he learned on his travels. 18. What are +we told about the education of children in Lilliput? 19. Why did the +people consider deceit worse than stealing? 20. What did they think of +a person who returns evil for good? 21. Name some of the laws of the +Lilliputians. Which of these laws do you like, and why? 22. Why were +not all the people of Lilliput good when they had such good laws? 23. +Compare Gulliver's adventures with those of Baron Munchausen. 24. How +does this story differ as to its source from the Arabian Nights tales? +25. Show that it has the two values mentioned on page 146. 26. Class +readings: Select passages to be read aloud in class. 27. Outline for +testing silent reading. Tell the story briefly in your own words, +following the topic headings given in the book. 28. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: keep; human; engines; bandages; turret; +carriages; merchantman. 29. Pronounce: ruined; drowned; waistcoat; +Imperial; courtiers; theater; reigned; learned; Lilliput; graciously; +fortnight; Lilliputians. + +Phrases for Study + +express consent, capital crime, state and person, mortal enemy, +confounded with astonishment, gave me a good character, fair voyage. + + + + +ROBINSON CRUSOE + +DANIEL DEFOE + +(Ed.--This story, in it's original, uncondensed version, in addition +to many others, can be found at the web site https://www.gutenberg.org, +searching in the index for the title Robinson Crusoe.) + + +HOW I WENT TO SEA AND WAS SHIPWRECKED + +I was born at York, in England, on the first of March, 1632. From the +time that I was quite a young child I had felt a great wish to spend +my life at sea, and as I grew, so did this taste grow more and more +strong; till at last on September first, 1651, I ran away from my +school and home, and found my way on foot to Hull, where I soon got a +place on board a ship. + +Never did any young adventurer's misfortunes begin sooner or continue +longer than mine, for when we were far out at sea, some Turks in a +small ship came on our track in full chase. After a long pursuit our +vessel was captured, and all on board were taken as slaves. + +The chief of the Turks took me as his prize to a port which was held +by the Moors. There I remained in slavery for several years, and +bitterly did I repent my rash act in leaving my good parents in +England. + +At length I found an opportunity to escape to a vessel that was +passing by, and was kindly received by the captain, who proved to be +an English sailor bound on a voyage of trade. + +I had not been aboard more than twelve days when a high wind took us +off, we knew not where. All at once there was a cry of "Land!" and the +ship struck on a bank of sand, in which she sank so deep that we could +not get her off. At last we found that we must make up our minds to +leave her and get to shore as well as we could. There had been a boat +at her stern, but we found it had been torn off by the force of the +waves. One small boat was still left on the ship's side, so we got +into it. + +There we were, all of us, on the wild sea. The heart of s each now +grew faint, our cheeks were pale, and our eyes were dim, for there was +but one hope, and that was to find some bay, and so get in the lee of +the land. + +The sea grew more and more rough, and its white foam would curl and +boil till at last the waves in their wild sport burst on the boat's +side, and we were all thrown out. + +I could swim well, but the force of the waves made me lose my breath +too much to do so. At length one large wave took me to the shore and +left me high and dry, though half dead with fear. I got on my feet and +made the best of my way for the land; but just then the curve of a +huge wave rose up as high as a hill, and this I had no strength to +keep from, so it took me back to the sea. I did my best to float on +the top, and held my breath to do so. The next wave was quite as high, +and shut me up in its bulk. I held my hands down tight to my sides, +and then my head shot out at the top of the waves. This gave me +breath, and soon my feet felt the ground. + +I stood quite still for a short time, to let the sea run back from me, +and then I set off with all my might to the shore, but yet the waves +caught me, and twice more did they take me back, and twice more land +me on the shore. I thought the last wave would have been the death +of me, for it drove me on a piece of rock, and with such force as to +leave me in a kind of swoon. I soon regained my senses and got up to +the cliffs close to the shore, where I found some grass out of the +reach of the sea. There I sat down, safe on land at last. + +I felt so wrapped in joy that all I could do was to walk up and down +the coast, now lift up my hands, now fold them on my breast and thank +God for all that he had done for me, when the rest of the men were +lost. I now cast my eyes round me, to find out what kind of place it +was that I had been thus thrown in, like a bird in a storm. Then all +the glee I felt at first left me; for I was wet and cold, and had no +dry clothes to put on, no food to eat, and not a friend to help me. + +I feared that there might be wild beasts here, and I had no gun to +shoot them with, or to keep me from their jaws. I had but a knife and +a pipe. + +It now grew dark; and where was I to go for the night? I thought the +top of some high tree would be a good place to keep me out of harm's +way; and that there I might sit and think of death, for, as yet, I had +no hope of life. + +Well, I went to my tree and made a kind of nest to sleep in. Then I +cut a stick to keep off beasts of prey, in case any should come, and +-fell asleep just as if the branch I lay on had been a bed of down. + +When I woke up, it was broad day; the sky too was clear and the sea +calm. But I saw from the top of the tree that in the night the ship +had left the bank of sand, and lay but a mile from me. I soon threw +off my clothes, took to the sea, and swam up to the wreck. But how was +I to get on deck? I had gone twice around the ship, when a piece of +rope caught my eye, which hung down from her side so low that at first +the waves hid it. By the help of this rope I got on board. + + +HOW I MADE AND USED A RAFT + +I found that there was a bulge in the ship, and that she had sprung +a leak. You may be sure that my first thought was to look around for +some food, and I soon made my way to the bin where the bread was kept, +and ate some of it as I went to and fro, for there was no time to +lose. What I stood most in need of was a boat to take the goods to +shore. But it was vain to wish for that which could not be had; and as +there were some spare yards in the ship, two or three large planks, +and a mast or two; I fell to work with these to make a raft. + +I put four spars side by side, and laid short bits of plank on them, +crossways, to make my raft strong. Though these planks would bear my +own weight, they were too slight to bear much of my freight. So I took +a saw, which was on board, and cut a mast in three lengths, and these +gave great strength to the raft. I found some bread and rice, a Dutch +cheese, and some dry goat's flesh. + +My next task was to screen my goods from the spray of the sea; and +this did not take long, for there were three large chests on board +which held all, and these I put on the raft. + +"See, here is a prize!" said I, out loud (though there was none to +hear me); "now I shall not starve." For I found four large guns. But +how was my raft to be got to land? I had no sail, no oars; and a gust +of wind would make all my store slide off. Yet there were three things +which I was glad of a calm sea, a tide which set in to the shore, and +a slight breeze to blow me there. + +I had the good luck to find some oars in a part of the ship in which I +had made no search till now. With these I put to sea, and for half a +mile my raft went well; but soon I found it driven to one side. At +length I saw a creek, up which, with some toil, I took my raft. + +I saw that there were birds on the isle, and I shot one of them. Mine +must have been the first gun that had been heard there since the world +was made; for, at the sound of it, whole flocks of birds flew up, with +loud cries, from all parts of the wood. The shape of the beak of the +one I shot was like that of a hawk, but the claws were not so large. + +I now went back to my raft to land my stores, and this took up the +rest of the day: What to do at night I knew not, nor where to find a +safe place to land my stores on. I did not like to lie down on the +ground, for fear of beasts of prey, as well as snakes; but there was +no cause for these fears, as I have since found. I put the chests and +boards round me as well as I could, and made a kind of hut for the +night. + +As there was still a great store of things left in the ship which +would be of use to me, I thought that I ought to bring them to land at +once; for I knew that the first storm would break up the ship. So I +went on board, and took good care this time not to load my raft too +much. + +The first thing sought for was the tool chest; and in it were some +bags of nails, spikes, saws, knives, and such things; but best of all, +I found a stone to grind my tools on. There were two or three flasks, +some large bags of shot, and a roll of lead; but this last I had not +the strength to hoist up to the ship's side, so as to get it on my +raft. There were some spare sails too, which I brought to shore. + +Now that I had two freights of goods on hand, I made a tent with the +ship's sails, to stow them in, and cut the poles for it from the wood. +I now took all the things out of the casks and chests and put the +casks in piles round the tent to give it strength; and when this was +done, I shut up the door with the boards, spread on the ground one of +the beds which I had brought from the ship, laid two guns close to my +head and went to bed for the first time. I slept all night, for I was +much in need of rest. + +The next day I was sad and sick at heart, for I felt how dull it was +to be thus cut off from all the rest of the world! I had no great wish +for work; but there was too much to be done for me to dwell long on my +sad lot. Each day, as it came, I went off to the wreck to fetch more +things; and I brought back as much as the raft would hold. + +The last time I went to the wreck the wind blew so hard that I made +up my mind to go on board next time at low tide. I found some tea and +some gold coin; but as to the gold, it made me laugh to look at it. +"O drug!" said I, "thou art of no use to me! I care not to save thee. +Stay where thou art till the ship goes down; then go thou with it!" +Still, I thought I might just as well take it; so I put it in a piece +of the sail and threw it on deck, that I might place it on the raft. +By-and-by the wind blew from the shore, so I had to hurry back with +all speed; for I knew that at the turn of the tide I should find it +hard work to get to land at all. But in spite of the high wind I came +to my home all safe. At dawn I put my head out and cast my eyes on the +sea, when lo! no ship was there!. This great change in the face of +things, and the loss of such a friend, quite struck me down. Yet I was +glad to think that I had brought to shore all that could be of use to +me. I had now to look out for some spot where I could make my home. +Halfway up the hill there was a small plain, four or five score feet +long and twice as broad; and as it had a full view of the sea, I +thought that it would be a good place for my house. + + +HOW I MADE MYSELF A HOME ON THE ISLAND + +I first dug a trench round a space which took in twelve yards; and in +this I drove two rows of stakes, till they stood firm like piles, five +and a half feet from the ground. I made the stakes close and tight +with bits of rope and put small sticks on the top of them in the shape +of spikes. This made so strong a fence that no man or beast could get +in. The door of my house was on top, and I had to climb up to it by +steps, which I took in with me, so that no one else might come up by +the same way. Close to the back of the house stood a sand rock, in +which I made a cave, and laid all the earth that I had dug out of it +round my house, to the height of a foot and a half. I had to go out +once a day in search of food. The first time, I saw some, goats, but +they were too shy to let me get near them. At first I thought that for +the lack of pen and ink I should lose all note of time; so I made a +large post, in the shape of a cross, on which I cut these words: "I +came on shore here on the thirtieth of September, 1659." On the side +of this post I made a notch each day, and this I kept up till the +last. I have not yet said a word of my four pets, which were two cats, +a dog, and a parrot. You may guess how fond I was of them, for they +were all the friends left to me. I brought the dog and two cats from +the ship. The dog would fetch things for me at all times, and by his +bark, his whine, his growl, and his tricks, he would all but talk to +me; yet he could not give me thought for thought. If I could but have +had someone near me to find fault with, or to find fault with me, what +a treat it would have been! + +I was a long way out of the course of ships; and oh! how dull it was +to be cast on this lone spot with no one to love, no one to make me +laugh, no one to make me weep, no one to make me think.. It was dull +to roam day by day from the wood to the shore, and from the shore back +to the wood, and feed on my own thoughts all the while. + +So much for the sad view of my case; but like most things, it had a +bright side as well as a dark one. For here was I safe on land, while +all the rest of the ship's crew were lost. True, I was cast on a rough +and rude part of the globe, but there were no beasts of prey on it to +kill or hurt me. God had sent the ship so near to me that I had got +from it all things to meet my wants for the rest of my days. Let life +be what it might, there was surely much to thank God for. And I soon +gave up all dull thoughts, and did not so much as look out for a sail. + +My goods from the wreck remained in the cave for more than ten months; +I decided then that it was time to put them right, as they took up all +the space and left me no room to turn in; so I made my small cave a +large one, and dug it out a long way back in the sand rock. + +Then I brought the mouth of the cave up to my fence, and so made a +back way to my house. This done, I put shelves on each side to hold my +goods, which made the cave look like a shop full of stores. To make +these shelves was a very difficult task and took a long time; for to +make a board I was forced to cut down a whole tree, chop away with my +ax till one side was flat, and then cut at the other side till the +board was thin enough, when I smoothed it with my adz. But, in this +way, out of each tree I would get only one plank. I made for myself +also a table and a chair, and finally got my castle, as I called it, +in good order. + +I usually rose early and worked till noon, when I ate my meal; then I +went out with my gun, after which I worked once more till the sun had +set; and then to bed. It took me more than a week to change the shape +and size of my cave. Unfortunately, I made it far too large, for, +later on, the earth fell in from the roof; and had I been in it when +this took place, I should have lost my life. I had now to set up posts +in my cave, with planks on the top of them, so as to make a roof of +wood. + + + +HOW I SUPPLIED MY NEEDS + + +I had to go to bed at dusk, till I made a lamp of goat's fat, which I +put in a clay dish; and this, with a piece of hemp for a wick, made +a good light. As I had found a, use for the bag which had held the +fowls' food on board ship, I shook out from it the husks of grain. +This was just at the time when the great rains fell, and in the course +of a month, blades of rice and barley sprang up. As time went by, and +the grain was ripe, I kept it, and took care to sow it each year; but +I could not boast of a crop of grain for three years. + +I knew that tools would be my first want and that I should have to +grind mine on the stone, as they were blunt and worn with use. But as +it took both hands to hold the tool, I could not turn the stone; so I +made a wheel by which I could move it with my foot. This was no small +task, but I took great pains with it, and at length it was done. + +I had now been in the isle twelve months, and I thought it was time to +go all round it in search of its woods, springs, and creeks. So I set +off, and brought back with me limes and grapes in their prime, large +and ripe. I had hung the grapes in the sun to dry, and in a few days' +time went to fetch them, that I might lay up a store. The vale on the +banks of which they grew was fresh and green, and a clear, bright +stream ran through it, which gave so great a charm to the spot as to +make me wish to live there. + +But there was no view of the sea from this vale, while from my house +no ships could come on my side of the isle and not be seen by me; yet +the cool, soft banks were so sweet and new to me that much of my time +was spent there. + +In the first of the three years in which I had grown barley, I had +sown it too late; in the next it was spoiled by the drought; but the +third year's crop had sprung up well. + +Few of us think of the cost at which a loaf of bread is made. Of +course, there was no plow here to turn up the earth, and no spade to +dig it with, so I made one with wood; but this was soon worn out, and +for want of a rake I made use of the bough of a tree. When I had got +the grain home, I had to thresh it, part the grain from the chaff, and +store it up. Then came the want of sieves to clean it, of a mill to +grind it, and of yeast to make bread of it. + +If I could have found a large stone, slightly hollow on top, I might, +by pounding the grain on it with another round stone, have made very +good meal. But all the stones I could find were too soft; and in the +end I had to make a sort of mill of hard wood, in which I burned a +hollow place, and in that pounded the grain into' meal with a heavy +stick. + +Baking I did by building a big fire, raking away the ashes, and +putting the dough on the hot place, covered with a kind of basin made +of clay, over which 'I had heaped the red ashes. + +Thus my bread was made, though I had no tools; and no one could say +that I did not earn it by the sweat of my brow. When the rain kept me +indoors, it was good fun to teach my pet bird Poll to talk; but so +mute were all things round me that the sound of my own voice made me +start. + +My chief wants now were jars, pots, cups, and plates, but I knew not +how I could make them. At last I went in search of clay, and found a +bank of it a mile from my house; but it was quite a joke to see the +queer shapes and forms that I made out of it. For some of my pots and +jars were too weak to bear their own weight; and they would fall out +here, and in there, in all sorts of ways; while some, when they were +put in the sun to bake, would crack with the heat of its rays. You may +guess what my joy was when at last a pot was made which would stand +the fire, so that I could boil the meat for broth! + +The next thing to turn my thoughts to was the ship's boat, which lay +on the high ridge of sand, where it had been thrust by the storm which +had cast me on these shores. But it lay with the keel to the sky, so +I had to dig the sand from it and turn it up with the help of a pole. +When I had done this, I found it was all in vain, for I had not the +strength to launch it. So all I could do now was to make a boat of +less size out of a tree; and I found one that was just fit for it, +which grew not far from the shore, but I could no more stir this than +I could the ship's boat. + +"Well," thought I, "I must give up the boat, and with it all my hopes +of leaving the isle. But I have this to think of: I am lord of the +whole isle; in fact, a king. I have wood with which I might build a +fleet, and grapes, if not grain, to freight it with, though all my +wealth is but a few gold coins." For these I had no sort of use, and +could have found it in my heart to give them all for a peck of peas +and some ink, which last I stood much in need of. But it was best to +dwell more on what I had than on what I had not. + +I now must needs try once more to build a boat, but this time it was +to have a mast, for which the ship's sails would be of great use. I +made a deck at each end to keep out the spray of the sea, a bin for my +food, and a rest for my gun, with a flap to screen it from the wet. +More than all, the boat was one of such a size that I could launch it. + +My first cruise was up and down the creek, but soon I got bold, and +made the whole round of my isle. I took with me bread, cakes, a pot of +rice, half a goat, and two greatcoats, one of which was to lie on, and +one to put on at night. I set sail in the sixth year of my reign. On +the east side of the isle there was a large ridge of rocks which lay +two miles from the shore, and a shoal of sand lay for half a mile from +the rocks to the beach. To get round this point I had to sail a great +way out to sea; and here I all but lost my life. + +But I got back to my home at last. On my way there, quite worn out +with the toils of the boat, I lay down in the shade to rest my limbs, +and slept. But judge, if you can what a start I gave when a voice woke +me out of my sleep, and spoke my name three times! A voice in this +wild place!, To call me by name, too! Then the voice said, "Robin! +Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How came you here?" +But now I saw it all; for at the top of the hedge sat Poll, who did +but say the words she had been taught by me. + +I now went in search of some goats, and laid snares for them, with +rice for a bait. I had set the traps in the night, and found they had +stood, though the bait was all gone. So I thought of a new way to take +them, which was to make a pit and lay sticks and grass on it so as to +hide it; and in this way I caught an old goat and some kids. But the +old goat was much too fierce for me, soy I let him go. + +I brought all the young ones home, and let them fast a long time, till +at last they fed from my hand and were quite tame. I kept them in a +kind of park, in which there were trees to screen them from the sun. +At first my park was half a mile round; but it struck me that, in so +great a space, the kids would soon get as wild as if they had the +range of the whole vale, and that it would be as well to give them +less room; so I had to make a hedge, which took me three months to +plant. My park held a flock of twelve goats, and in two years time +there were more than two score. + +My dog sat at meals with me, and one cat on each side of me, on +stools, and we had Poll to talk to us. Now for a word or two as to the +dress in which I made a tour round the isle. I could but think how +droll it would look in the streets of the town in which I was born. + +I usually wore a high cap of goatskin, with a long flap that hung down +to keep the sun and rain from my neck, a coat made from the skin of a +goat, too, the skirts of which came down to my hips, and the same on +my legs, with no shoes, but flaps of the fur round my shins. I had a +broad belt of the same around my waist, which drew on with two thongs; +and from it, on my right side; hung a saw and an ax; and on my left +side a pouch for the shot. My beard had not been cut since I came +here. But no more need be said of my looks, for there were few to see +me. + + +HOW I DISCOVERED A FOOTPRINT AND SAVED FRIDAY + +A strange sight was now in store for me, which was to change the whole +course of my life in the isle. + +One day at noon, while on a stroll down to a part of the shore that +was new to me, what should I see on the sand but the print of a man's +foot! I felt as if I were bound by a spell, and could not stir from +the spot. + +By-and-by I stole a look around me, but no one was in sight. What +could this mean? I went three or four times to look at it. There it +was-the print of a man's foot: toes, heel, and all the parts of a +foot. How could it have come there? + +My head swam with fear; and as I left the spot, I made two or three +steps, and then took a look around me; then two steps more, and did +the same thing. I took fright at the stump of an old tree, and ran to +my house, as if for my life. How could aught in the shape of a man +come to that shore, and I not know it? Where was the ship that brought +him? Then a vague dread took hold of my mind, that some man, or set of +men, had found me out; and it might be that they meant to kill me, or +rob me of all I had. + +Fear kept me indoors for three days, till the want of food drove me +out. At last I was so bold as to go down to the coast to look once +more at the print of the foot, to see if it was the same shape as my +own. I found it was not so large by a great deal; so it was clear that +it was not one of my own footprints and that there were men in the +isle. + +One day as I went from the hill to the coast, a scene lay in front of +me which made me sick at heart. The spot was spread with the bones of +men. There was a round place dug in the earth, where a fire had been +made, and here some men had come to feast. Now that I had seen this +sight, I knew not how to act; I kept close to my home, and would +scarce stir from it save to milk my flock of goats. + +A few days later I was struck by the sight of some smoke, which came +from a fire no more than two miles off. From this time I lost all my +peace of mind. Day and night a dread would haunt me that the men who +had made this fire would find me out. I went home and drew up my +steps, but first I made all things round me look wild and rude. To +load my gun was the next thing to do; and I thought it would be best +to stay at home and hide. + +But this was not to be borne long. I had no spy to send out, and all I +could do was to get to the top of the hill and keep a good lookout. +At last, through my glass, I could see a group of wild men join in a +dance round their fire. As soon as they stopped, I took two guns and +slung a sword on my side; then with all speed I set off to the top of +the hill, once more to have a good view. + +This time I made up my mind to go up to the men, but not with a view +to kill them, for I felt that it would be wrong to do so. With a heavy +load of arms it took me two hours to reach the spot where the fire +was; and by the time I got there the men had all gone; but I saw them +in four boats out at sea. + +Down on the shore there was a proof of what the work of these men had +been. The signs of their feast made me sick at heart, and I shut my +eyes. I durst not fire my gun when I went out for food on that side of +the isle, lest there should be some of the men left, who might hear +it, and so find me out. + +From this time all went well with me for two years; but it was not to +last. One day, as I stood on the hill, I saw six boats on the shore. +What could this mean? Where were the men who had brought them? And +what had they come for? I saw through my glass that there were a score +and a half at least on the east side of the isle. They had meat on the +fire, round which I could see them dance. They then took a man from +one of the boats, who was bound hand and foot; but when they loosed +his bonds, he set off as fast as his feet would take him, and in a +straight line to my house. + +To tell the truth, when I saw all the rest of the men run to catch +him, my hair stood on end with fright. In the creek he swam like a +fish, and the plunge which he took brought him through it in a few +strokes. All the men now gave up the chase but two, and they swam +through the creek, but by no means so fast as the slave had done. + +Now, I thought, was the time to help the poor man, and my heart told +me it would be right to do so. I ran down my steps with my two guns, +and went with all speed up the hill, and then down by a short cut to +meet them. + +I gave a sign to the poor slave to come to me, and at the same time +went up to meet the two men who were in chase of him. I made a rush at +the first of these, to knock him down with the stock of my gun, and he +fell. I saw the one who was left aim at me with his bow; so, to save +my life, I aimed carefully and shot him dead. + +The smoke and noise from my gun gave the poor slave who had been bound +such a shock that he stood still on the spot, as if he had been in a +trance. I gave a loud shout for him to come to me, and I took care to +show him that I was a friend, and made all the signs I could think +of to coax him up to me. At length he came, knelt down to kiss the +ground, and then took hold of my foot and set it on his head. All this +meant that he was my slave; and I bade him rise and made much of him. + +I did not like to take my slave to my house, or to my cave; so I threw +down some straw from the rice plant for him to sleep on, and gave him +some bread and a bunch of dry grapes to eat. He was a fine man, with +straight, strong limbs, tall and young. His hair was thick, like wool, +and black. His head was large and high, and he had bright black eyes. +He was of a dark-brown hue; his face was round and his nose small, but +not flat; he had a good mouth with thin lips, with which he could give +a soft smile; and his teeth were as white as snow. + +Toward evening I had been out to milk my goats, and when he saw me, he +ran to me and lay down-on the ground to show me his thanks. He then +put his head on the ground and set my foot on his head, as he had done +at first. He took all the means he could think of to let me know +that he would serve me all his life; and I gave a sign to make him +understand that I thought well of him. + +The next thing was to think of some name to call him by. I chose that +of the sixth day of the week, Friday, as he came to me on that day. I +took care not to lose sight of him all that night. When the sun rose, +we event up to the top of the hill to look out for the men; but as we +could not see them or their boats, it was clear that they had left the +isle. + +I now set to work to make my man a cap of hare's skin, and gave him a +goat's skin to wear round his waist. It was a great source of pride to +him to find that his clothes were as good as my own. + +At night I kept my guns, swords, and bow close to my side; but there +was no need for this, as my slave was, in sooth, most true to me. He +did all that he was set to do, with his whole heart in the work; and I +knew that he would lay down his life to save mine. What could a man do +more than that? And oh, the joy to have him here to cheer me in this +lone isle! + + + +HOW FRIDAY LEARNED MY WAYS + + +I did my best to teach him, so like a child he was, to do and feel all +that was right. I found him apt and full of fun; and he took great +pains to understand and learn all that I could tell him. + +One day I sent him to beat out and sift some grain. I let him see me +make the bread, and he soon did all the work. I felt quite a love for +his true, warm heart, and he soon learned to talk to me. One day I +said, "Do the men of your tribe win in fight?" He told me, with a +smile, that they did. "Well, then," said I, "how came they to let +their foes take you?" + +"They run one, two, three, and make go in the boat that time." + +"Well, and what do the men do with those they take?" + +"Eat them all up." + +This was not good news for me, but I went on, and said, "Where do they +take them?" + +"Go to next place where they think." + +"Do they come here?" + +"Yes, yes, they come here, come else place, too." + +"Have you been here with them twice?" + +"Yes, come there." + +He meant the northwest side of the isle, so to this spot I took him +the next day. He knew the place, and told me he was there once, and +with him twelve men. To let me know this, he placed twelve stones all +in a row, and made me count them. + +"Are not the boats lost on your shore now and then?" + +He said that there was no fear, and that no boats were lost. He told +me that up a great way by the moon--that is, where the moon then came +up--there dwelt a tribe of white men like me, with beards. I felt sure +that they must have come from Spain, to work the gold mines. I put +this to him: "Could I go from this isle and join those men?" + +"Yes, yes, you may go in two boats." + +It was hard to see how one man could go in two boats, but what he +meant was a boat twice as large as my own. + +To please my poor slave, I gave him a sketch of my whole life; I told +him where I was born and where I spent my days when a child. He was +glad to hear tales of the land of my birth, and of the trade which we +kept up, in ships, with all parts of the known world. I gave him a +knife and a belt, which made him dance with joy. + +One day as we stood on the top of the hill at the east side of the +isle, I saw him fix his eyes on the mainland, and stand for a long +time gazing at it; then jump and sing, and call out to me. + +"What do you see?" said I. + +"O joy!" said he, with a fierce glee in his eyes, "O glad! There see +my land!" + +Why did he strain his eyes to stare at this land as if he had a wish +to be there? It put fears in my mind which made me feel far less at my +ease with him. Thought I, if he should go back to his home, he will +think no more of what I have taught him and done for him. He will be +sure to tell the rest of his tribe all my ways, and come back with, it +may be, scores of them, and kill me, and then dance round me, as they +did round the men, the last time they came on my isle. + +But these were all false fears, though they found a place in my mind +for a long while; and I was not so kind to him now as I had been. From +this time I made it a rule, day by day, to find out if there were +grounds for my fears or not. I said, "Do you wish to be once more in +your own land?" + +"Yes! I be much O glad to be at my own land." + +"What would you do there? Would you turn wild, and be as you were?" + +"No, no, I would tell them to be good, tell them eat bread, grain, +milk, no eat man more!" + +"Why, they would kill you!" + +"No, no, they no kill; they love learn." + +He then told me that some white men who had come on their shores in a +boat had taught them a great deal. + +"Then will you go back to your land with me?" + +He said he could not swim so far, so I told him he should help me to +build a boat to go in. Then he said, "If you go, I go." + +"I go? Why, they would eat me!" + +"No, me make them much love you." + +Then he told me, as well as he could, how kind they had been to some +white men. I brought out the large boat to hear what he thought of it, +but he said it was too small. We then went to look at the old ship's +boat, which, as it had been in the sun for years, was not at all in a +sound state. The poor man made sure that it would do. But how were we +to know this? I told him we should build a boat as large as that, and +that he should go home in it. He spoke not a word, but was grave and +sad. + +"What ails you?" said I. + +"Why you grieve mad with your man?" + +"What do you mean? I am not cross with you." + +"No cross? No cross with me? Why send your man home to his own land, +then?" + +"Did you not tell me you would like to go back?" + +"Yes, yes, we both there; no wish self there, if you not there!" + +"And what should I do there?" + +"You do great deal much good! You teach wild men be good men." + +We soon set to work to make a boat that would take us both. The first +thing was to look out for some large tree that grew near the shore, so +that we could launch our boat when it was made. My slave's plan was to +burn the wood to make it the right shape; but as mine was to hew it, I +set him to work with my tools, and in two months' time we had made a +good, strong boat; but it took a long while to get her down to the +shore and float her. + +Friday had the whole charge of her; and, large as she was, he made her +move with ease, and said, "Me think she go there well, though great +blow wind!" He did not know that I meant to make a mast and sail. I +cut down a young fir tree for the mast, and then I set to work at the +sail. It made me laugh to see my man stand and stare, when he came to +watch me sail the boat. But he soon gave a jump, a laugh, and a clap +of the hands when for the first time he saw the sail jib and fall, now +on this side, now on that. + +The next thing to do was to stow our boat up in the creek, where we +dug a small dock; and when the tide was low, we made a dam to keep out +the sea. The time of year had now come for us to set sail, so we got +out all our stores to put them into the boat. + + +THE ENGLISH SHIP AND HOW I SAILED FOR HOME + +I was fast asleep in my hutch one morning, when my man Friday came +running in to me and called aloud, "Master, master, they are come, +they are come!" I jumped up and went out, as soon as I could get my +clothes on, through my little grove, which, by the way, was by this +time grown to be a very thick wood. I went without my arms, which was +not my custom; but I was surprised when, turning my eyes to the sea, I +saw a boat at about a league and a half distance, standing in for the +shore, with a shoulder-of-mutton sail, as they call it, and the wind +blowing pretty fair to bring them in; also I saw that they did not +come from that side which the shore lay on, but from the south end of +the island. + +Upon this I hastily called Friday in, and bade him lie close, for we +did not know yet whether they were friends or enemies. In the next +place, I went in to fetch my glass, to see what I could make of them; +and, having climbed up to the top of the hill, I saw a ship lying at +anchor, at about two leagues from me, but not above a league and a +half from the shore. It seemed to be an English ship, and the boat +looked like an English longboat. + +They ran their boat on shore upon the beach, at about half a mile from +me; which was very happy for me, else they would have landed just at +my door, as I may say, and would soon have beaten me out of my caste, +and perhaps have plundered me of all I had. When they were on shore, +I saw they were Englishmen; there were, in all, eleven men, whereof +three of them I found were unarmed, and, as I thought, bound; and when +the first four or five of them had jumped on shore, they took those +three out of the boat as prisoners; one of the three I could see using +the gestures of entreaty and despair; the other two, I could see, +lifted up their hands and appeared concerned, but not to such a degree +as the first. + +I was shocked and terrified at the sight of all this and knew not what +the meaning of it could be. Friday called out to me in English, as +well as he could, "O master! you see English mans eat prisoner as well +as savage mans." "Why, Friday," said I, "do you think they are going +to eat them, then?" "Yes," said Friday, "they will eat them." "No, +no," said I, "Friday, I am afraid they will murder them indeed; but +you may be sure they will not eat them." + +I expected every minute to see the three prisoners killed, so I fitted +myself up for a battle, though with much caution, knowing that I had +to do with another kind of enemy than if I were fighting savages. +I ordered Friday also to load himself with arms. I took myself two +fowling pieces, and I gave him two muskets. My figure was very fierce; +I had my goatskin coat on, with the great cap, a naked sword, two +pistols in my belt, and a gun upon each shoulder. + +It was my design not to make any attempt till it was dark; but about +two o'clock, being the heat of the day, I found, in short, they had +all gone straggling into the woods, and, as I thought, had all lain +down to sleep. The three poor, distressed men, too anxious for their +condition to get any sleep, had, however, sat down under the shelter +of a great tree. + +I resolved to discover myself to them, and learn something of their +condition; immediately I marched toward them, my man Friday at a good +distance behind me, as formidable for his arms as I, but not making +quite so staring a specter-like figure as I did. I came as near them +undiscovered as I could, and then, before any of them saw me, I called +aloud to them in Spanish, "Who are ye, sirs?" + +They gave a start at my voice and at my strange dress, and made a move +as if they would flee from me. I said, ``Do not fear me, for it may be +that you have a friend at hand, though you do not think it." "He must +be sent from the sky, then," said one of them with a grave look; and +he took off his hat to me at the same time. "All help is from thence, +sir," I said. "But what can I do to aid you? You look as if you had +some load of grief on your breast. A moment ago I saw one of the men +lift his sword as if to kill you." + +The tears ran down the poor man's face as he said, "Is this a god, or +is it but a man?" "Have no doubt on that score, sir," said I, "for a +god would not have come with a dress like this. No, do not fear-nor +raise your hopes too high; for you see but a man, yet one who will do +all he can to help you. Your speech shows me that you come from the +same land as I do. I will do all I can to serve you. Tell me your +case." + +"Our case, sir, is too long to tell you while they who would kill us +are so near. My name is Paul. To be short, sir, my crew have thrust me +out of my ship, which you see out there, and have left me here to die. +It was as much as I could do to make them sheathe their swords, which +you saw were drawn to slay me. They have set me down in this isle with +these two men, my friend here, and the ship's mate." + +"Where have they gone?" said I. + +"There, in the wood close by. I fear they may have seen and heard us. +If they have, they will be sure to kill us all." + +"Have they firearms?" + +"They have four guns, one of which is in the boat." + +"Well, then, leave all to me!" + +"There are two of the men," said he, "who are worse than the rest. All +but these I feel sure would go back to work the ship." + +I thought it was best to speak out to Paul at once, and + +I said, "Now if I save your life, there are two things which you must +do." + +But he read my thoughts, and said, "If you save my life, you shall do +as you like with me and my ship, and take her where you please." + +I saw that the two men, in whose charge the boat had been left, had +come on shore; so the first thing I did was to send Friday to fetch +from it the oars, the sail, and the gun. And now the ship might be +said to be in our hands. When the time came for the men to go back to +the ship, they were in a great rage; for, as the boat had now no sail +or oars, they knew not how to get out to their ship. + +We heard them say that it was a strange sort of isle, for sprites had +come to the boat, to take off the sails and oars. W e could see them +run to and fro, with great rage; then go and sit in the boat to rest, +and then come on shore once more. When they drew near to us, Paul and +Friday would fain have had me fall on them at once. But my wish was to +spare them, and kill as few as possible. I told two of my men to creep +on their hands and knees close to the ground so that they might not be +seen, and when they got 'up to the men, not to fire till I gave the +word. + +They had not stood thus long when three of the crew came up to us. +Till now we had but heard their voices, but when they came so near as +to be seen, Paul and Friday shot at them. Two of the men fell dead, +and they were the worst of the crew, and the third ran off. At the +sound of the guns I came up, but it was so dark that the men could not +tell if there were three of us or three score. + +It fell out just as I wished, for I heard the men ask: "To whom must +we yield, and where are they?" Friday told them that Paul was there +with the king of the isle, who had brought with him a crowd of men! +At this, one of the crew said: "If Paul will spare our lives, we will +yield." "Then," said Friday, "you shall know the king's will." Then +Paul said to them: "You know my voice; if you lay down your arms, the +king will spare your lives." + +They fell on their knees to beg the same of me. I took good care that +they did not see me, but I gave them my word that they should all +live, that I should take four of them to work the ship, and that the +rest would be bound hand and foot for the good faith of the four. This +was to show them what a stern king I was. + +Of course I soon set them free, and I put them in a way to take my +place on the isle. I told them of all my ways, taught them how to mind +the goats, how to work the farm, and how to make the bread. I gave +them a house to live in, firearms, tools and my two tame cats-in fact, +all that I owned but Poll and my gold. + +As I sat on the top of the hill, Paul came up to me. He held out his +hand to point to the ship, and with much warmth took me to his arms +and said: "My dear friend, there is your ship! For this vessel is all +yours, and all that is in her, and so are all of us." + +I made ready to go on board the ship, but told the captain I would +stay that night to get my things in shape, and asked him to go on +board in the meantime and keep things right on the ship. + +I cast my eyes to the ship, which rode half a mile off the shore, at +the mouth of the creek, and near the place where I had brought my raft +to the land. Yes, there she stood, the ship that was to set me free +and to take hie where I might choose to go. She set her sails to the +wind, and her flags threw out their gay stripes in the breeze. Such a +sight was too much for me, and I fell down faint with joy. + +Friday and Paul then went on board the ship, and Paul took charge of +her once more. We did not start that night, but at noon the next day I +left the isle-that lone isle, where I had spent so great a part of my +life. + +When I took leave of this island, I carried on board a great goatskin +cap I had made, and my parrot; also the money which had lain by me so +long useless that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly +pass for gold till it had been a little rubbed and handled. And thus I +left the island, the nineteenth of December, as I found by the ship's +account, in the year 1686, after I had been upon it seven-and-twenty +years, two months, and nineteen days. In this vessel, after a long +voyage, I arrived in England the eleventh of June, in the year 1687. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Biography. Daniel Defoe (1659-1731), an English author, was born in +London. He was well educated and devoted himself chiefly to writing. +He was active in political life, and many of his early pamphlets were +attacks upon the government. Robinson Crusoe, his greatest story, is +a world classic. It is founded mainly on the adventures of Alexander +Selkirk, who told Defoe about his own experiences as a castaway on +an island. Defoe tells his story in simple, direct language, with +frequent use of details and illustrations. + +Discussion. 1. Why was an ocean voyage so difficult and dangerous at +the time when Robinson Crusoe was written? 2. Find the lines that +describe what you think was the most difficult work undertaken by +Robinson Crusoe. 3. What under king required the most perseverance? +Find lines that show this. 4. At what time did Crusoe show the +greatest courage? Find lines that seem to yore to prove your answer is +correct. 5. What was the greatest disappointment that he had to bear +while on the island? 6. What do you think was the greatest happiness +he had? 7. Find lines that tell how Robinson Crusoe studied to make +something which was very necessary to him. 8. Mention something he +made that you have tried to make. 9. How did your result compare with +his? What reason can you give for this? 10. This story shows how +dependent we are upon the tools, the inventions, and the means of +protection that men have devised for making life happy. Crusoe had to +make for himself under great difficulties things that we think nothing +of. Show from the story how dependent we are upon the cooperation and +assistance of others. Imagine the cooperation that has been necessary +to give you milk, oranges or bananas, sugar for your dessert, meat for +your dinner. What has been done to give you the stove on which your +dinner is cooked, the fuel that it burns, the light that you use at +night, the telephone that you use? Crusoe had to get along without +such assistance. Do you owe anything, any return service, for what +you receive and use? If Crusoe's hut had taken fire, what would have +happened? What would happen if your home should catch fire? Who would +pay for the help given you? If Crusoe had been attacked by robbers, +what would have happened? What keeps you safe at night? If Crusoe had +wished to go on a long journey, what would have been necessary? Who +would help you if you had to take such a journey? 12. Tell a story +about your debt to someone for an invention or discovery that makes +your life pleasanter or safer. Tell a story about your debt for the +sugar you use for your desert. Tell a story to illustrate what the +government does for you. 13. Class readings: Select passages to be +read aloud in class. 14. Outline for testing silent reading. Tell the +story briefly in your own words, using the topic headings given in +the book. 15. You will enjoy seeing the pictures in the edition of +Robinson Crusoe that is illustrated by N. C. Wyeth. 16. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: stern; bulge; spikes; adz; limes; mute; +league; thong; fowling; piece. 17. Pronounce: pursuit; swoon; +spars; drought;; sieve; launch; cruise; shoal; tour; jib; gesture; +formidable; sheathe; sprites. + +Phrases for Study lee of the land, in sooth, spare yards, I found him +apt, O drug, standing in for the shore, give me thought for thought, +appeared concerned, whole round of my isle, discover myself to them, +bound by a spell, specter-like figure. + + + +STORIES OF ADVENTURE + +A BACKWARD LOOK + +Now that you have read all of these tales of adventure, perhaps some +evening you will curl up in that big chair in a cozy place and will +close your eyes and dream a dream. And in that dream you will see-who +knows? Ali Baba and Aladdin in their queer dress, and Sindbad, the +rich old sailor, and Captain Lemuel Gulliver, and Robin Hood in his +Lincoln green, and Robinson Crusoe with his man Friday. All of them +will sit down near you, between you and the fire perhaps, and they +will talk to each other about the meaning of all the perils and +successes that life brought them. And you will doubtless get the +idea from them all that every man, rich or poor, ought to feel some +responsibility to others. Ali Baba and Aladdin and Sindbad will tell +the company, there in the firelight before your very eyes, how they +felt that they owed something to' others because of the wealth they +had, gained. Aladdin became a serious and public-spirited man, though +as a boy he had been of little worth. Ali Baba and Sindbad helped +others and did many good deeds. + +Then Robin Hood will join in the conversation. He lived in a time, as +you can see from his story, when the poor not only had no chance but +were oppressed. Robin tried to do away with some of this injustice. +He was an outlaw; he did many things that it would not be right to +do today; but he did these things in order to help people who were +wretched and who had no chance. + +And next, Robinson Crusoe has a word to say. His experience, he tells +us, showed him how much we depend on each other. If a man is suddenly +cut off from his fellows, has to get his own food or starve, build his +own house with his own rude tools or freeze, he finds out how much he +owes to the cooperation of thousands of other people. + +And finally, Captain Gulliver, who has been listening quietly for a +long time, knocks the ashes from his pipe as he gets up to go, and +says: "You know, it all comes down to this: can a man or a nation +stand being rich and strong? You know those Lilliputians, when they +conquered the people of Blefuscu, wanted right away to annex the lands +of their enemies. They had no right to the lands; they had enough of +their own; if I had let them do what they planned, they would have +made many people very miserable, But the moment they saw a chance to +grab something, they wanted to go right after it.. And it makes me +wonder about this America that is so much discussed just now. In my +day we scarcely knew there was such a country, but you know how strong +and prosperous the Americans are, and what a war they can fight, and +how many rich men they have. They seem to me to have found that lamp +and ring that friend Aladdin once had; everything they touch seems to +turn to gold, and they can build a city over night. I just wonder what +they will do with all this power?" + +And they all shake their heads, as if to say that they wonder, too. +And the fire has grown lower and lower, so that you can hardly see the +strange forms.--And then father calls to you to wake up and get your +lesson or go to bed, and they all vanish at the sound of that voice. + +How would you answer Captain Gulliver's question about America? What +did America do with its power in the World War? What good American +citizens that you know of have used their wealth to found libraries, +hospitals, parks, and other public benefits? Show that boys and girls +join together in teamwork for the good of all by organizing clubs, +Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Junior Red Cross, etc. Mention kinds of +service these organizations give for the good of all. Show that each +of the six stories in Part II has the two values mentioned in the +first paragraph on page 146. Which story did you enjoy most? Which +gave you the most worth-while ideas? What gains have you made in your +ability to read silently with speed and understanding? + + + + + +PART III + + +GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORS + +A man lives in the last half of life on the memory of things read in +the first half of life. + +SAMUEL JOHNSON. + + + +GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORS + +A FORWARD LOOK + +When Mother used to tell you a story about when she was a little girl, +you were interested only in the story and in the pictures her words +called up in your mind. Suppose some older person had been listening +while she told one of these tales, and had been interested not alone +in the adventure that she was telling about, as you were, but in the +way in which she told it. This person, your uncle, let's say, would +notice how Mother planned her story so as to keep the very most +exciting thing to the last, and how you grew more and more excited +about it, and how your eyes shone, and her eyes too, and how without +knowing it she was letting him see what kind of people they were +in her story, and what kind of little girl she was-very brave, +you know-and when at the end you drew a long breath and had that +delightful little thrill that you always have at the end of a +perfectly wonderful story-after all this, suppose your uncle should +look at Mother in a funny kind of way and should say, "Bless me, Sis, +I had no idea you were an author." + +What would you say? Mother an author? Why, an author is a person who +writes big books in words that no one can understand, but Mother, +she-why, she is Mother! + +Yet your uncle is right. Mother is an author when she thinks back over +her life and picks out something that is interesting, and then tells +it in her very most interesting way to please you. If she would only +write out that story, and a printer would print it in a book, and in +the front of the book you should read "When I Was a Little Girl." By +Mother"-that would be a Book, and Mother would be a real author. + +Now long, long ago, there weren't any books. When Mother told you a +story, if you had lived then, you would remember it and would tell +it to other people, and after you grew up you would tell it to your +children, and when they had grown up, they would tell it to your +grandchildren, and so on and on. Who wrote Cinderella, or Sleeping +Beauty, or the Three Bears? You don't know. Nobody knows. They just +happened. They were told by mothers to their children and so on and +so on, and after centuries, perhaps, when printing had been invented, +some printer man thought, like your uncle, that here was a story that +ought to be printed and so he made a book of it. But he didn't claim +to be the author of it, for he was not. + +So, some of the stories you have read in this book do not have any +author's name attached to them. And even if they did, you were not +thinking, while you were reading, about the man who wrote them. You +just thought of the story and whether you liked it or not. Yet no +small part of the advantage that you enjoy because you live now, +instead of in the days when there were no books, lies in the fact that +you can become acquainted with the men and women who have written the +stories and poems that you read. + +Let's put it this way. In those old days that we have been speaking +about, you would have had to depend upon your Mother, or some other +mother, or some village weaver of tales, for your stories. But they +were busy, and you couldn't get enough stories to satisfy your +appetite. Then one-time, let's say, a strange, wandering fellow came +to your village. And he had yards and yards of the most wonderful +stories to tell. And he went home with you, let's say, and stayed +there, and did nothing but tell you stories whenever you wanted them, +first thing in the morning, and after school, and bedtime, and all. +And he was never too busy. And you learned to know him, what an +interesting man he was, and what fine eyes he had, and what a smile +that made you smile back before he said a word, and how he loved Truth +and hated lies, and loved Honor and hated shameful things. He was your +author, your book, your book of books. And he was as dear to you, in +himself, as his stories were. + +Now you can have just such a friend, no, you can have a whole company +of just such friends, for yourself. How? In books, of course. Only +they won't be merely books; they will be friends. Washington Irving, +teller of wonderful stories, and Robert Louis Stevenson are there, +in those books, and you can learn them as well as their stories. And +Henry W. Longfellow, writer of stories in verse; and John G. Whittier, +writer of poems about barefoot boys and corn huskings; and Benjamin +Franklin, a kindly philosopher-there, that word is too hard for you, +but it just slipped out, and so you will have to be told that a +philosopher is a person who thinks about life and its meaning. + +That's what all authors are, in a way. That's what makes them authors. +They don't just eat and sleep and do their work, whatever it is-they +think about life. And what they see and think they set down for you. +To know them is to know delightful friends who will tell you what +everything means and will answer all your questions. + +There they are, on your bookshelf. They won't speak to you unless you +speak first. If you want to do something else and don't wish to be +bothered, they won't bother you. But when you want to talk with them, +they are ready. Call upon them often, and you will learn one of the +blessedest things about life, the companionship of boobs. + +Some of them, men of our own America, are to be introduced to you in +the following pages. From now on you are to do three things. First, +you are to listen and enjoy when they tell you what they have to say. +Next, you are to begin to do just what your uncle was doing when he +listened to Mother telling you that story-you are to see that there is +a way to tell something that is good, and that if one has learned this +way, like Mother, he is an author. And last, you are to find that +these authors are real persons whom you can learn to know. Then you +will love them, just as you love Mother, not alone for what they say, +but for what they are. + + + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN + +Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was born in Boston in the early colonial +days. While still a boy, he learned the printer's trade, but, +having difficulty with his brother, for whom he worked, he went +to Philadelphia,-where later he became owner and editor of the +Philadelphia Gazette, the city's leading newspaper. Later he +established another periodical, called Poor Richard's Almanac. + +Franklin was greatly interested in the study of science. He "snatched +lightning from the skies" by the use of a key and a kite with a silk +string. This experiment led to his invention of the lightning rod, +which was soon placed on public and private buildings not only in +America but also in England and France. He invented the "Franklin +Stove," which is still in use in some places. This is an open stove +made in such a way as to economize heat and save fuel. Franklin +invented a street lamp which was used for lighting the streets of +Philadelphia. + +Franklin was big-hearted and wished to be of real service to his +fellow-citizens. He organized a debating club, a night watch, a +volunteer fire company, a street-cleaning department, and a public +library-the first of its kind in America. + +His-services to the new government that the Americans were just +setting up were equally noteworthy. He went to England to represent +the colonies and did all that he could to patch up the quarrel between +the colonies and the mother country. When all these attempts failed, +he gave himself heart and soul to the business of making a new +government. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of +Independence. Later, as a special minister to France he delighted +Frenchmen by his humor and his common sense, and he even succeeded +in securing the promise of the French government to acknowledge the +independence of the colonies and to send ships and men to their +assistance. + +In a letter to a friend in 1779, Franklin tells the story, "The +Whistle." "An Ax to Grind" is from his autobiography. + + + +THE WHISTLE + +When I was a child seven years old, my friends on a holiday filled my +pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys +for children, and, being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I +met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and +gave all my money for one. I then ran home and went whistling all +over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the +family. + +My brothers and sisters and cousins, understanding the bargain I had +made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; +put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of +the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with +vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle +gave me pleasure. + +This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing +on my mind; so that often when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary +thing, I said to myself, "Don't give too much for the whistle";' and I +saved my money. + +As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I +thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle. + +When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time in +attendance on levees-his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps +his friends, to attain it-I have said to myself, "This man gives too +much for his whistle." + +When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself +in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by +that neglect, "He pays indeed," said I, "too much for his whistle." + +If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all +the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow +citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of +accumulating wealth, "Poor man," said I, "you pay too much for your +whistle." + +When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable +improvement of the mind or of his fortune to mere corporeal +sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, "Mistaken man," +said I, "you are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure; you +give too much for your whistle." + +If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine +furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he +contracts debts and ends his career in a prison, "Alas!" say I, "he +has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle." + +In short, I conceive that a great part of the miseries of mankind are +brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value +of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Why did Franklin say that lie paid too much for his +whistle' 2. How was this incident of use to him afterwards? 3. How +does it apply to a man too fond of popularity? To the miser? To the +man of pleasure? To the one who cares too much for appearance? 4. Can +you think of other incidents that illustrate what Franklin had in +mind? 5. Extravagance has been called the great fault of Americans. +During the World war what efforts were made by our people to. Correct +this fault? Why were the efforts successful? 6. Why is it necessary +to continue these efforts now? If all Americans would practice what +Franklin advises, what would be the effect on the cost of living, and +why? 7. In what ways can you save some of the pennies you might spend +foolishly? S. What do you know about Postal Savings deposits? 9. Write +a letter to your teacher, proposing that the children in your class +save as many pennies as possible for savings accounts, pointing out +some ways in which children may save their pennies; bring in a part of +Franklin's story in the most interesting way that you can. 10. Tell +what you can about the author. 11. Find in the Glossary the meaning +of: coppers; voluntarily; vexation; ambitious; esteem; contracts. +12. Pronounce: directly: chagrin; sacrificing; levee; accumulating; +laudable; equipage. + +Phrases for Study + +impression continuing, corporeal sensations, political bustles, above +his fortune. + + + +AN AX TO GRIND + +When I was a little boy, I remember, one cold winter morning, I was +accosted by a smiling man with an ax on his shoulder. "My pretty boy," +said he, "has your father a grindstone?" + +"Yes, sir," said I. + +"You are a fine little fellow!" said he. "Will you, let me grind my ax +on it?" + +Pleased with the compliment of "fine little fellow," "Oh, yes, sir," I +answered. "It is down in the shop." + +"And will you, my man," said he, patting me on the head, "get me a +little hot water?" + +How could I refuse? I ran, and soon brought a kettleful. + +"How old are you-and what's your name?" continued he, without waiting +for a reply. "I'm sure you are one of the finest lads that I have ever +seen. Will you just turn a few minutes for me?" + +Tickled with the flattery, like a little fool, I went to work, and +bitterly did I rue the day. It was a new ax, and I toiled and tugged +till I was almost tired to death. The school bell rang, and I could +not get away. My hands were blistered, and the ax was not half ground. + +At length, however, it was sharpened, and the man turned to me with, +"Now, you little rascal, you've played truant! Scud to school, or +you'll rue it!" + +"Alas!" thought I, "it was hard enough to turn a grindstone this cold +day, but now to be called a little rascal is too much." It sank deep +into my mind, and often have I thought of it since. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. In this story Franklin advises you to be on your guard +against flatterers who wish to make use of you in order to gain their +o"-n ends. What made Franklin do as the man wanted him to? What do you +think of the man? 2. How would you have sought the boy's help? 3. In +what way was this incident of use to Franklin afterwards? 4. What is +meant when we say of a person that he has "an ax to grind"? 5. How do +you think Franklin valued sincerity? 6. How do you value it? 7. Tell +the story as the man would have told it to a friend. 8. Pronounce: +accosted. + + + +WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT + +William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) was born in the rugged hill country +of western Massachusetts. From infancy he showed remarkable powers of +mind. He could read by the time he was two years old, wrote verses +at nine, and when scarcely eighteen wrote his most noted poem, +"Thanatopsis," now one of the world's classics. He had a wonderful +memory, and it is said he could repeat "by heart" every poem he had +written. + +Bryant removed to New York, where in 1825 he became editor of the +Evening Post. Through the remainder of--his long life he devoted his +energy and great gifts to building up one of the most forceful of +American newspapers, but he found time also to study Nature and to +write so many poems that we now think of him as a poet, not as an +editor. He was also a student, and we are indebted to him for some +excellent translations from old authors. And, finally, he was a +public-spirited American, interested in all matters that have to do +with the honor of our country. Imagine yourself in New York City +during the latter part of the last century. If you were walking up +Broadway almost any morning, your attention would be attracted to a +venerable looking man, with heavy, flowing, snow-white hair and beard, +whom you would be quite likely to meet swinging along at a vigorous +pace. You would not need to be told that this man is our first +American poet, with whose verses you are already familiar; and you +would probably know, too, that he is also the editor of the Evening +Post and that, although now past eighty, he is on his way to his +office, walking from his home some two miles away, as he has done, +rain or shine, for over half a century. + +This great man was not too busy with affairs, or too learned, to look +for the joy that comes from companionship with Nature. Like Irving he +chose American subjects taken from his own surroundings: the scenes +of his boyhood, the flowers, birds, and hills of his old New England +home. He found pleasure in the simplest things, and he wrote about +this pleasure in the simplest way. In this simplicity and the variety +of his interests his wealth consisted; a treasure that made rich not +only the poet who possessed it but all Americans, to whom he left his +life and works for an inheritance. + + + +THE YELLOW VIOLET + + When beechen buds begin to swell, + And woods the bluebird's warble know, + The yellow violet's modest bell + Peeps from the last year's leaves below. + + Ere russet fields their green resume, + Sweet flower, I love, in forest bare, + To meet thee, when thy faint perfume; + Alone is in the virgin air. + + Of all her train, the hands of Spring + First plant thee in the watery mold; + And I have seen thee blossoming + Beside the snow-bank's edges cold. + + Thy parent sun, who bade thee view + dale-skies, and chilling moisture sip, + Has bathed thee in his own bright hue, + And streaked with jet thy glowing lip. + + Yet slight thy form, and low thy seat, + And earthward bent thy gentle eye, + Unapt the passing view to meet, + When loftier flowers are flaunting nigh. + + Oft, in the sunless April day, + Thy early smile has stayed my walk, + But 'midst the gorgeous blooms of May + I passed thee on thy humble stalk. + +So they who climb to wealth forget The friends in darker fortunes +tried. I copied them--but I regret That I should ape the ways of +pride. + +And when again the genial hour Awakes the painted tribes of light, +I'll not o'erlook the modest flower That made the weds of April +bright. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. When does the poet say the violet makes its appearance? +2. Why is the violet called a "modest" flower? 3. Why does the violet +make glad the heart of the poet? When the woods and fields are full of +flowers, does he notice the violet? 4. What does "alone" add to the +meaning of line 8, page 298? 5. What is meant by "her train," line 9, +page 298? 6. What are "the hands of Spring"? 7. In what sense is the +sun the "parent" of the violet? 8. Why does Bryant say the violet's +seat is low? 9. What does the poet say the violet's "early smile" has +often done for him? 10. Point out the stanzas in which the poet tells +you where he finds the violet; the stanzas in which he tells you about +the appearance and character of the flower; the stanzas in which he +rebukes himself for passing it by, and makes a promise. 11. Why does +Bryant stop to view the violet in April and pass it by in May? 12. +With what does the poet compare this treatment of the violet? 13. What +does the poet say he regrets? 14. What other flowers come very early +in the spring? How do you feel when you see them? 15. Which stanza of +the poem do you like best? 16. What other poem on the violet have you +read? 17. Tell what you can about the author. 18. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: beechen; russet; train; jet; unapt. 19. Pronounce: +ere; parent; gorgeous; humble; genial. + +Phrases for Study + +modest bell, stayed my walk, their green resume, in darker fortunes +tried, virgin air, ape the ways of pride, pale skies, genial hour, +flaunting nigh, painted tribes of light. + + + +THE GLADNESS OF NATURE + + Is this a time to be cloudy and sad, + When our Mother Nature laughs around, + When even the deep blue heavens look glad, + And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground? + + There are notes of joy from the hangbird and wren, + And the gossip of swallows through all the sky; + The ground squirrel gayly chirps by his den, + And the wilding bee hums merrily by. + + The clouds are at play in the azure space, + And their shadows at play on the bright green vale, + And here they stretch to the frolic chase, + And there they roll on the easy gale. + + There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower; + There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree; + There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower, + And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea. + + And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles + On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray, + On the leaping waters and gay young isles, + Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What season is described here? 2. What are the signs +that Nature is glad? How do all these things affect the poet? How do +you sometimes feel on a cold, rainy day? 3. What signs of gladness are +mentioned in the first two stanzas? 4. Which of these have you seen +in springtime? 5. Have you ever seen clouds that seemed to chase one +another? 6. What is meant by "a laugh from the brook"? 7. What does +the poet say the sun will do for us? 8. Do you think spring is "a time +to be cloudy and sad"? Why? 9. Why do city boys and girls like to +visit the country? 10. Read again "A Forward Look," pages 19-20, and +then point out fancies that Bryant uses in this poem to help us see +the beauty and wonder of Nature. 11. Commit to memory the stanza that +you like best. 12. Pronounce: wilding; azure; isles; ay. + + +Phrases for Study + +gladness breathes, frolic chase, blossoming ground, aspen bower, +gossip of swallows, titter of winds, azure space, broad-faced sun. + + +JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER + +John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was born near the town of +Haverhill, Massachusetts, not far from Hawthorne's birthplace. He had +very little opportunity for education beyond what the district school +afforded, for his parents were too poor to send him away to school. +His two years' attendance at Haverhill Academy was paid for by his own +work at making ladies' slippers for twenty-five cents a pair. He began +writing verses almost as soon as he learned to write at all, but his +father discouraged this ambition as frivolous, saying it would never +give him bread. His family were Quakers, sturdy of stature as of +character. He is called "The Quaker Poet." + +Whittier led the life of a New England farm boy, used to hard work +and few pleasures. His library consisted of practically one book, the +family Bible. Later, a copy of Burns's poems was loaned to him by +the district schoolmaster. Like Burns he had great sympathy with the +humble and the poor. In his poems. Whittier described the scenes and +told the legends of his own locality. Home Ballads and Songs of Labor, +in which "The Huskers" and "The Corn-Song" appear, are among his most +widely read books. They picture country life and the scenes of the +simple occupations common in his part of the country. Whittier was +intensely patriotic and religious by nature. His happiness lay in his +association with his friends, with children, animals, and the outdoor +world. + +In these respects he was like Bryant, a man who found pleasure in +simple things. Like Bryant, also, he was interested in public affairs. +Any injustice to the poor he opposed passionately. He wrote many poems +in protest against slavery. He wrote, also, ballads of early New +England history, and some of our most beautiful religious poetry comes +from his pen. His life was less filled with business cares than that +of Bryant, but it was equally full of interests that made him happy +and source of help and joy to others. + + + +THE HUSKERS + +It was late in mild October, and the long autumnal rain Had left the +summer harvest-fields all green with grass again; The first sharp +frosts had fallen, leaving all the woodlands gay With the hues of +summer's rainbow or the meadow flowers of May. + +Through a thin, dry mist, that morning, the sun rose broad and red; At +first a rayless disk of fire, he brightened as he sped; Yet even his +noontide glory fell chastened and subdued On the cornfields and the +orchards and softly pictured wood. + +And all that quiet afternoon, slow sloping to the night, He wove with +golden shuttle the haze with yellow light; Slanting through the tented +beeches, he glorified the hill; And, beneath it, pond and meadow lay +brighter, greener still. + +And shouting boys in woodland haunts caught glimpses of that sky, +Flecked by the many-tinted leaves, and laughed, they knew not why; And +schoolgirls, gay with aster-flowers, beside the meadow brooks, Mingled +the glow of autumn with the sunshine of sweet looks. + +From spire and barn looked westerly the patient weathercocks; But even +the birches on the hill stood motionless as rocks. No sound was in the +woodlands save the squirrel's dropping shell, And the yellow leaves +among the boughs, low rustling as they fell. + +The summer grains were harvested; the stubble-fields lay dry, Where +June winds rolled, in light and shade, the pale green waves of rye; +But still, on gentle hill-slopes, in valleys fringed with wood, +ungathered, bleaching in the sun, the heavy corn crop stood. + +Bent low by autumn's wind and rain, through husks that, dry and sear, +Unfolded from their ripened charge, shone out the yellow ear; Beneath, +the turnip lay concealed in many a verdant fold, And glistened in the +slanting light the pumpkin's sphere of gold. + +There wrought the busy harvester, and many a creaking wain Bore slowly +to the long barn-floor its load of husk and grain; Till broad and red, +as when he rose, the sun sank down at last, And like a merry guest's +farewell the day in brightness passed. + +And lo! as through the western pines, on meadow, stream, and pond, +Flamed the red radiance of a sky set all afire beyond, Slowly o'er +the eastern sea-bluffs a milder glory shone, And the sunset and the +moonrise were mingled into one! + +As thus into the quiet night the twilight lapsed away, And deeper in +the brightening moon the tranquil shadows lay, From many a brown old +farmhouse and hamlet without name, Their milking and their home-tasks +done, the merry huskers came. + +Swung o'er the heaped-up harvest, from pitchforks in the mow, Shone +dimly down the lanterns on the pleasant scene below, The glowing pile +of husks behind, the golden ears before, And laughing eyes and busy +hands and brown cheeks glimmering o'er. + +Half hidden in a quiet nook, serene of look and heart, Talking their +old times over, the old men sat apart; While up and down the unhusked +pile, or nestling in its shade, At hide-and-seek, with laugh and +shout, the happy children played. + +Urged by the good host's daughter, a maiden young and fair, Lifting to +light her sweet blue eyes and pride of soft brown hair, The master of +the village school, sleek of hair and smooth of tongue, To the quaint +tune of some old psalm, a husking-ballad sung. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What is the difference between the sunshine of October +and that of May? 2. Why does it seem to the poet as if the sun wove +with golden shuttle the yellow haze? 3. What had the frost done that +made the woodlands gay? 4. What words in the second stanza make you +feel that the wood was some distance away? 5. To whom does "he" in the +third stanza refer? 6. What words in the second stanza explain +the word "haze" in the third stanza? 7. What gave the beeches the +appearance of being painted? 8. What are the colors of the woods +and sky in this poem? What colors are they in the poem "The Yellow +Violet"? Find the words and phrases that tell you. How many times, in +this poem, does the poet use the words golden and yellow, or speak of +things that suggest these colors? 9. What do you think was the reason +the boys laughed when they looked up to the sky? 10. What "summer +grain" is mentioned in line 11, page 304? 11. What crop was still +ungathered? 12. Where were the harvesters at work? 13. What was it +that set the sky "all afire beyond"? 14. Where did the husking take +place? What tells you this? 15.. How did the old men spend the +evening? 16. What things that we eat depend on the work of the +huskers? 17. Tell what you can about the author. 18. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: shuttle; spire; sear; verdant; wain; lapsed. +19. Pronounce: autumnal; chastened; beneath; sphere; wrought; +radiance; tranquil; mow; serene; psalm. + +Phrases for Study + +hues of summer's rainbow, patient weathercocks, rayless disk of fire, +ripened charge, brightened as he sped; sphere of gold, glory fell +chastened, milder glory shone, softly pictured wood, mingled into one, +slow sloping to the night, hamlet without name, glorified the hill, +golden ears before, sunshine of sweet looks, glimmering o'er, looked +westerly, serene of look and heart. + + + +THE CORN-SONG + + Heap high the farmer's wintry hoard! + Heap high the golden corn! + No richer gift has Autumn poured + From out her lavish horn! + + Let other lands, exulting, glean + The apple from the pine, + The orange from its glossy green, + The cluster from the vine; + + We better love the hardy gift + Our rugged vales bestow, + To cheer us when the storm shall drift + Our harvest-fields with snow. + + Through vales of grass and meads of flowers + Our plows their furrows made, + While on the hills the sun and showers + Of changeful April played. + + We dropped the seed o'er hill and plain, + Beneath the sun of May, + And frightened from our sprouting grain + The robber crows away. + + All through the long, bright days of June + Its leaves grew green and + fair, And waved in hot midsummer's noon + Its soft and yellow hair. + + And now, with Autumn's moonlit eves, + Its harvest-time has come; We + pluck away the frosted leaves, + And bear the treasure home. + + Then shame on all the proud and vain + Whose folly laughs to scorn + The blessing of our hardy grain, + Our wealth of golden corn! + + Let earth withhold her goodly root, + Let mildew blight the rye, + Give to the worm the orchard's fruit, + The wheat-field to the fly; + + But let the good old crop adorn + The hills our fathers trod; + Still let us, for his golden corn, + Send up our thanks to God! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. In "A Forward Look," you read that poets help you to +see beauty in things that might otherwise seem common. The yellow +violet is less showy than the chrysanthemum, but the poet writes +of the violet. The pineapple, the orange, the grape, seem more +interesting than the yellow corn of the fields, but here is a poem +about one of the commonest of farm crops. To whom is the poet speaking +in the first two stanzas? Point out some of the poet's fancies in this +poem. 2. Is all corn "golden"? What other kinds have you seen? 3. Name +other gifts autumn brings us. 4. Why is the corn a "hardy gift"? What +other words or phrases in the poem suggest the same idea? 5. What do +we call the "apple from the pine"? 6. What clusters are picked from +vines? 7. In what "other lands" do these fruits grow? 8. Where was +Whittier's home? 9. What do you know of the soil and climate of New +England? 10. Find the line that tells when we plant the corn. 11. Find +the lines that tell when we harvest the corn. 12. What is the "yellow +hair" the corn waves in summer? 13. What does the poet mean by +"frosted leaves"? 14. What does he think of those who scorn the +blessing of the corn? 15. What wish does the poet express in the last +stanza? 16. What service did our farmers and boys and girls on the +farms perform during the World War? 17. On page 291 you were asked to +notice the way in which these American authors have expressed their +thoughts; does Whittier's use of rime add to the beauty of his "song" +about corn? Point out some of the lines that rime. 18. Find in the +Glossary the meaning of: glean; hardy; meads; furrows; frosted; +mildew; adorn. + +Pronounce: hoard; lavish; glossy; root. + +Phrases for Study + +wintry hoard, rugged vales bestow, lavish horn, changeful April, +exulting, glean, folly laughs to scorn, hardy gift, goodly root. + + + + +WASHINGTON IRVING + + +Washington Irving (1783-1859) was a native of New York. He led a happy +life, rambling in his boyhood about every nook and corner of the city +and the adjacent woods, which at that time were not very far to seek. +New York, called New Amsterdam in early colonial times, was then the +capital of the country, and here the boy grew up happy, seeing many +sides of American life, both in the city and country. + +Manhattan Island and the region about it, with its commanding position +at the entrance to a great inland waterway, was from the first a +prize for which the nations from across the sea had contended. Such +a mingling of different people must give rise to interesting +experiences, and when someone appears who can put the story of those +events into a pleasing sketch, then we begin to have real literature: +Irving had not only the experience and observation, but the ability +'to express what he had seen and felt. Therefore, when he grew to +manhood and gave his sketches of this region to the world, we had our +first real American literature. + +Irving is best known as a humorist and a charming storyteller, but he +has also written serious and tender works. His life of Washington is a +tribute of loving reverence to the great American for whom he was named. +As a boy, Irving was of a rather mischievous turn, a trait which perhaps +helped to make him the "first American humorist." Indeed, it has been +said that "before Irving there was no laughter in the land." He is called +the "Father of American Literature," and also the "gentle humorist." +"Capturing the Wild Horse" is taken from A Tour of the Prairies, and +"The Adventure of the Mason" from The Alhambra. + + +CAPTURING THE WILD HORSE + +We left the buffalo camp about eight o'clock and had a toilsome march +of two hours over ridges of hills covered with a ragged forest of +scrub-oaks and broken by deep gullies. Among the oaks I observed many +of the most diminutive size, some not above a foot high, yet bearing +abundance of small acorns. + +About ten o'clock in the morning we came to where this line of rugged +hills swept down into a valley, through which flowed the north fork of +the Red River. A beautiful meadow about half a mile wide, colored with +yellow autumnal flowers, stretched for two or three miles along the +foot of the hills, bordered on the opposite side by the river, whose +bank was fringed with cottonwood trees. + +The meadow was finely diversified by groves and clumps of trees, so +happily arranged that they seemed as if set out by the hand of art. As +we cast our eyes over this fresh and delightful valley, we saw a troop +of wild horses quietly grazing on a green lawn about a mile distant +to our right, while to our left, at nearly the same distance, were +several buffaloes--some feeding, others reposing and ruminating among +the high, rich herbage under the shade of a clump of cottonwood trees. +The whole had the appearance of a broad, beautiful tract of pasture +land on the estate of some gentleman farmer, with his cattle grazing +about the lawns and meadows. A council of war was now held, and it was +determined to profit by the present favorable opportunity and try our +hand at the grand hunting-maneuver which is called "ringing the wild +horse." This requires a large party of horsemen, well mounted. + +They extend themselves in each direction, singly, at certain +distances apart, and gradually form a ring of two or three miles in +circumference, so as to surround the game. This has to be done +with extreme care, for the wild horse is the most readily alarmed +inhabitant of the prairie, and can scent a hunter at a great distance, +if to windward. + +The ring being formed, two or three ride toward the horses, which +start off in an opposite direction. Whenever they approach the bounds +of the ring, however, a huntsman presents himself and turns them from +their course. In this way they are checked and driven back at every +point, and kept galloping round and round this magic circle, until, +being completely tired down, it is easy for the hunters to ride up +beside them and throw the lariat over their heads. The prime horses of +most speed and courage, however, are apt to break through and escape, +so that in general it is the second-rate horses that are taken. + +Preparations were now made for a hunt of this kind. The packhorses +were taken into the woods and firmly tied to trees, lest in a rush of +the wild horses they should break away with them. Twenty-five men were +then sent, under the command of a lieutenant, to steal along the edge +of the valley within the strip of wood that skirted the hills. They +were to station themselves about fifty yards apart, within the edge of +the woods, and not advance or show themselves until the horses dashed +in that direction. + +Twenty-five men were sent across the valley to steal in like manner +along the river bank that bordered the opposite side, and to station +themselves among the trees. A third party of about the same number was +to form a line stretching across the lower part of the valley, so as +to connect the two wings. Beatte and our other half-breed; Antoine, +together with the ever-officious Tonish, were to make a circuit +through the woods, so as to get to the upper part of the valley in the +rear of the horses, and to drive them forward into the kind of sack +that we had formed, while the two wings should join behind them and +make a complete circle. + +The flanking parties were quietly extending themselves, out of sight, +on each side of the valley, and the rest were stretching themselves +like the links of a chain across it, when the wild horses gave signs +that they scented an enemy--snuffing the air, snorting, and looking +about. + +At length they pranced off slowly toward the river and disappeared +behind a green bank. Here, had the rules of the chase been observed, +they would have been quietly checked and turned back by the advance of +a hunter from among the trees; unluckily, however, we had our wildfire +Jack-o'-lantern little Frenchman to deal with. + +Instead of keeping quietly up the right side of the valley to get +above the horses, the moment he saw them move toward the river he +broke out of the thicket of woods and dashed furiously across the +plain in pursuit of them, being, mounted on one of the led horses +belonging to the Count. This put an end to all system. The half-breeds +and half a score of rangers joined in the chase. + +Away they all went over the green bank; in a moment or two the wild +horses reappeared and came thundering down the valley, with Frenchman, +half-breeds, and rangers galloping and yelling like mad behind them. +It was in vain that the line drawn across the valley attempted to +check and turn back the fugitives. They were too hotly pressed by +their pursuers; in their panic they dashed through the line and +clattered down the plain. + +The whole troop joined in the headlong chase-some of the rangers +without hats or caps, their hair flying about their ears; others with +handkerchiefs tied round their heads. The buffaloes, which had been +calmly ruminating among the herbage, heaved up their huge forms, gazed +for a moment with astonishment at the tempest that came scouring down +the meadow, then turned and took to heavy-rolling flight. They were +soon overtaken; the mixed throng were pressed together by the sides of +the valley, and away they went, pell-mell, hurry-scurry, wild buffalo, +wild horse, wild huntsman, with clang and clatter, and whoop and +halloo, that made the forests ring. + +At length the buffaloes turned into a green brake on the river bank, +while the horses dashed up a narrow defile of the hills, with their +pursuers close at their heels. Beatte passed several of them, having +fixed his eye upon a fine Pawnee horse that had his ears slit, and +saddle marks upon his back. He pressed him gallantly, but lost him in +the woods. + +Among the wild horses was a fine black mare. In scrambling up the +defile she tripped and fell. A young ranger sprang from his horse and +seized her by the mane and muzzle. Another ranger dismounted and came +to his assistance. The mare struggled fiercely, kicking and biting, +and striking with her forefeet; but a noose was slipped over her head, +and her struggles were in vain. It was some time, however, before she +gave over rearing and plunging, and lashing out with her feet on +every side. The two rangers then led her along the valley by two long +lariats, which enabled them to keep at a sufficient distance on each +side to be out of the reach of her hoofs; and whenever she struck out +in one direction, she was jerked in the other. In this way her spirit +was gradually subdued. + +As to little Tonish, who had marred the whole scene by his rashness, +he had been more successful than he deserved, having managed to catch +a beautiful cream-colored colt about seven months old, which had not +strength to keep up with its companions. The little Frenchman was +beside himself with joy. It was amusing to see him with his prize. The +colt would rear and kick and struggle to get free, when Tonish would +take him about the neck, wrestle with him, jump on his back, and cut +as many antics as a monkey with a kitten. + +Nothing surprised me more, however, than to see how soon these poor +animals, thus taken from the unbounded freedom of the prairie, yielded +to the control of man. In the course of two or three days the mare and +colt went with the led horses and became quite docile. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Historical Note. In 1832 Irving made "a tour of the prairies"--that +is, of what was then the Far West, beyond the Mississippi, where, he +says, "there is neither to be seen the log house of the white man, nor +the wigwam of the Indian." Discussion. 1. What picture do the first +three paragraphs give you? 2. Tell how "ringing the wild horse" is +accomplished. 3. What preparations did Irving's party make for the +hunt? 4. Who broke the rules of the chase? 5. What was the effect of +this? 6. Tell all you can learn about Tonish, the little Frenchman. 7. +What does Irving say about the ease with which the wild horses were +tamed? 8. List the words that give ideas of thrilling action in the +paragraph beginning, "The whole troop joined in the headlong chase." +What words tell the difference between the buffaloes and the horses +in flight? 9. Tell what you can about the author. 10. Class readings: +Select the passages you like best. 11. Outline for testing silent +reading. Tell the story in your own words, using the following +topics: (a) the scene of action; (b) the method of approach; (c) the +preparations; (d) the mistake of Tonish; (e) the excitement of the +chase; (f) the two captures. 12. Find in the Glossary the meaning +of: toilsome; gullies; diversified; circumference; prime; skirted; +fugitives; brake; defile. 13. Pronounce: diminutive; ruminating; +herbage; maneuver; kept; lariat; circuit; reappeared; rangers; +handkerchiefs; rearing; marred. + +Phrases for Study + +swept down into a valley, wildfire Jack-o'-lantern, fringed with +trees, thundering down the valley, happily arranged, + +hand of art, hotly pressed, council of war, scouring down the meadow, +well mounted, heavy-rolling flight, if to windward, spirit was +gradually subdued, approach the bounds, + +ever-officious Tonish, marred the whole scene, flanking parties, +beside himself with joy, extending themselves, unbounded freedom, + + + + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE MASON + + +There was once upon a time a poor mason, or bricklayer, in Granada, +who kept all the saints' days and holidays, and Saint Monday into the +bargain, and yet with all his devotion he grew poorer and poorer and +could scarcely earn bread for his numerous family. One night he was +roused from his first sleep by a knocking at his door. He opened it +and beheld before him a tall stranger. + +"Hark ye, honest friend!" said the stranger; "I have observed that you +are a good Christian and one to be trusted. Will you undertake a job +this very night?" + +"With all my heart, Senor, on condition that I am paid accordingly." + +"That you shall be; but you must suffer yourself to be blindfolded." + +To this the mason made no objection. So, being hoodwinked, he was led +by the stranger through various rough lanes and winding passages until +they stopped before the portal of a house. The stranger then applied a +key, turned a creaking lock, and opened what sounded like a ponderous +door. They entered; the door was closed and bolted, and the mason +was conducted through an echoing corridor and a spacious hall to an +interior part of the building. Here the bandage was removed from his +eyes, and he found himself in a court dimly lighted by a single lamp. +In the center was the dry basin of an old fountain, under which the +stranger requested him to form a small vault, bricks and mortar being +at hand for the purpose. He worked all night, but without finishing +the job. Just before daybreak the stranger put a piece of gold into +his hand, and having again blindfolded him, conducted him back to his +dwelling. + +"Are you willing," said he, "to return and complete your work?" + +"Gladly, Senor, provided I am so well paid." + +"Well then, tomorrow at midnight I will call again." + +He did so, and the vault was completed. + +"Now," said the stranger, "you must help me to bring forth the bodies +that are to be buried in this vault." + +The poor mason's hair rose on his head at these words; he followed the +stranger with trembling steps into a retired chamber of the mansion, +expecting to behold some ghastly spectacle of death, but was relieved +on seeing three or four jars standing in one corner. They were full of +money, and it was with great labor that he and the stranger carried +them forth and consigned them to their tomb. + +The vault was then closed, the pavement replaced, and all traces of +the work were obliterated. The mason was again hoodwinked and led +forth by a route different from that by which he had come. After they +had wandered for a long time through a maze of lanes and alleys, they +halted. + +The stranger then put two pieces of gold into his hand. "Wait here," +said he, "until you hear the cathedral bell toll. If you uncover your +eyes before that time, evil will befall you." So saying, he departed. +The mason waited faithfully, amusing himself by weighing the gold +pieces in his hand and clinking them against each other. The moment +the cathedral bell rang its peals he uncovered his eyes and found +himself on the banks of the Xenil; whence he made the best of his way +home and reveled with his family for a whole fortnight on the profits +of his two nights' work; after which he was as poor as ever. + +He continued to work a little and pray a good deal and keep saints' +days and holidays from year to year, while his family grew up gaunt +and ragged as a crew of gypsies. As he was seated one evening at the +door of his hovel, he was accosted by a rich old curmudgeon who was +noted for owning many houses and being a griping landlord. The man of +money eyed him for a moment from beneath a pair of anxious, shaggy +eyes. + +"I am told, friend, that you are very poor." + +"There is no denying the fact, Senor--it speaks for itself." + +"I presume then that you will be glad of a job and will work cheap?" + +"As cheap, my master, as any mason in Granada." + +"That's what I want. I have an old house fallen into decay, which +costs me more money than it is worth to keep in repair, for nobody +will live in it. So I must patch it up and keep it together at as +small expense as possible." + +The mason was accordingly conducted to a large deserted house that +seemed going to ruin. Passing through several empty halls and +chambers, he entered an inner court, where his eye was caught by an +old fountain. He paused for a moment, for a dreamy recollection of +the place came over him. "Pray," said he, "who occupied this house +formerly?" + +"A pest upon him!" cried the landlord; "it was an old miserly fellow +who cared for nobody but himself. He was said to be immensely rich. +He died suddenly, and nothing could they find but a few ducats in a +leathern purse. The worst luck has fallen on me, for since his death +the old fellow continues to occupy my house without paying rent. The +people pretend to hear the clinking of gold all night in the chamber +where the old fellow slept, as if he were counting over his money, +and sometimes a groaning and moaning about the court. Whether true or +false, these stories have brought a bad name on my house, and not a +tenant will remain in it." + +"Enough," said the mason sturdily; "let me live in your house +rent-free until some better tenant appears, and I will put it in +repair and quiet the troubled spirit that disturbs it. I am a good +Christian and a poor man and am not to be daunted by the Devil +himself, even though he should come in the shape of a big bag of +money!" + +The offer of the mason was gladly accepted. He moved with his family +into the house, and fulfilled all of his engagements. By little and +little he restored it to its former state; the clinking of gold was no +more heard at night in the chamber of the defunct tenant, but began +to be heard by day in the pocket of the living mason. In a word, he +increased rapidly in wealth, to the admiration of all his neighbors, +and became one of the richest men in Granada. He gave large sums to +the Church--by way, no doubt, of satisfying his conscience--and never +revealed the secret of the vault until on his deathbed to his son and +heir. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What condition led the mason to undertake the +stranger's task? 2. Why was the mason blindfolded? 3. How long did it +take him to complete the vault? 4. What was buried in it? 5. How did +the mason find his way home? 6. Was the mason's poverty relieved by +the pay he received from the stranger? 7. What work did the grasping +landlord propose to the mason? 8. What stories had brought a bad name +upon the landlord's house? 9. What was the "dreamy recollection"? 10. +How did the mason show his quick wit? 11. Why did he say that he was +not afraid of the Devil in the shape of a bag of money? 12. What +differences do you notice between this story of how the mason came +upon great wealth and the stories of Aladdin and Ali Baba? 13. Read +again pages 289-291 and tell what makes Irving a real author. Can you +tell why you enjoyed this story? 14. Class reading: The second part +of the story, page 318, line 20, to the end. 15. Outline for testing +silent reading. Tell the story in your own words, using the following +topics: (a) how the mason built the vault in the mysterious house; +(b) how he unexpectedly came into possession of this vault many years +later. 16. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: hoodwinked; vault; +maze; cathedral; pest; ducat. 17. Pronounce: Granada; Senor; +ponderous; ghastly; obliterated; route; gaunt; hovel; curmudgeon; +daunted. + +Phrases for Study + +retired chamber, troubled spirit, ghastly spectacle, former state, +crew of gypsies, defunct tenant, griping landlord, by way of +satisfying. + + + + +HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW + + +Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was a native of Maine and +a graduate of Bowdoin College, in the same class with Nathaniel +Hawthorne. Longfellow came of early New England ancestry, his mother +being a daughter of General Wadsworth of the Revolutionary War. + +After his graduation from college he spent several years abroad and +upon his return to America held professorships first in Bowdoin and +later in Harvard College. When he moved to Cambridge and began his +active work at Harvard, he took up his residence in the historic +Craigie House, overlooking the Charles River-a house in which +Washington had been quartered for some months when in 1775 he took +command of the Continental army. + +Longfellow is the poet who has spoken most sincerely and +sympathetically to the hearts of the common people and to children. +His style is notable for its simplicity and grace. His Hiawatha is a +national poem that records the picturesque traditions of the American +Indian. Its charm and melody are the delight of all children, and +in years to come, when the race which it describes has utterly +disappeared, we shall value at even higher state; the clinking of gold +was no more heard at night in the chamber of the defunct tenant, but +began to be heard by day in the pocket of the living mason. In a +word, he increased rapidly in wealth, to the admiration of all his +neighbors, and became one of the richest men in Granada. He gave +large sums to the Church--by way, no doubt, of satisfying his +conscience--and never revealed the secret of the vault until on his +deathbed to his son and heir. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What condition led the mason to undertake the +stranger's task? 2. Why was the mason blindfolded? 3. How long did it +take him to complete the vault? 4. What was buried in it? 5. How did +the mason find his way home? 6. Was the mason's poverty relieved by +the pay he received from the stranger? 7. What work did the grasping +landlord propose to the mason? 8. What stories had brought a bad name +upon the landlord's house? 9. What was the "dreamy recollection"? 10. +How did the mason show his quick wit? 11. Why did he say that he was +not afraid of the Devil in the shape of a bag of money? 12. What +differences do you notice between this story of how the mason came +upon great wealth and the stories of Aladdin and Ali Baba? 13. Read +again pages 289-291 and tell what makes Irving a real author. Can you +tell why you enjoyed this story? 14. Class reading: The second part +of the story, page 318, line 20, to the end. 15. Outline for testing +silent reading. Tell the story in your own words, using the following +topics: (a) how the mason built the vault in the mysterious house; +(b) how he unexpectedly came into possession of this vault many years +later. 16. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: hoodwinked; vault; +maze; cathedral; pest; ducat. 17. Pronounce: Granada; Senor; +ponderous; ghastly; obliterated; route; gaunt; hovel; curmudgeon; +daunted. + +Phrases for Study + +retired chamber, troubled spirit, ghastly spectacle, former state, +crew of gypsies, defunct tenant, griping landlord, by way of +satisfying. + + + + +HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW + + +Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was a native of Maine and +a graduate of Bowdoin College, in the same class with Nathaniel +Hawthorne. Longfellow came of early New England ancestry, his mother +being a daughter of General Wadsworth of the Revolutionary War. + +After his graduation from college he spent several years abroad and +upon his return to America held professorships first in Bowdoin and +later in Harvard College. When he moved to Cambridge and began his +active work at Harvard, he took up his residence in the historic +Craigie House, overlooking the Charles River-a house in which +Washington had been quartered for some months when in 1775 he took +command of the Continental army. + +Longfellow is the poet who has spoken most sincerely and +sympathetically to the hearts of the common people and to children. +His style is notable for its simplicity and grace. His Hiawatha is a +national poem that records the picturesque traditions of the American +Indian. Its charm and melody are the delight of all children, and +in years to come, when the race which it describes has utterly +disappeared, we shall value at even higher worth these stories of the +romantic past of America and of the brave people who inhabited these +mountains and plains before the white man came. + +Besides Indian stories, Longfellow wrote many narratives in verse +dealing with old legends of America. "The Skeleton in Armor" is an +example of the legends about European explorers who came here before +the days of Columbus. Evangehne and The Courtship of Miles Standish +are longer poems which find their subjects in early colonial history. +He wrote also of legends of Europe, and was well acquainted with +stories and romances of older civilizations than ours. Equally +well-known poems, of a different type, are those in which household +joys and sorrows give the theme. Longfellow is the poet of the +home-life, of simple hopes, of true religious faith. His spirit was +the Spirit of a child, affectionate, loyal, eager for romance and +knightly adventure. He is the "Children's Poet," as the poem "The +Children's Hour" helps to show. There were sorrows as well as joys +in his life, and this is why we go to him in trouble and why so many +people know his poems by heart. Sorrow never took away his faith or +made him bitter. He is genial and kindly, the friend--of all Americans +everywhere. + +THE ARROW AND THE SONG + + I shot an arrow into the air; + It Fell to earth, I knew not where; + For, so swiftly it flew, the sight + Could not follow it in its flight. + + I breathed a Song into the air; + It fell to earth, I knew not where; + For who has sight so keen and strong + That it can follow the flight of Song? + + Long, long afterwards, in an oak + I found the arrow, still unbroke; + And the song, from beginning to end, + I found again in the heart of a friend. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion: 1. What became of the arrow? Of the song? 2. Where was the +arrow found? When? 3. Where was the Song found? 4. Point out lines +that rime. 5. What is Longfellow's purpose in this poem? 6. Why is the +poet's song compared to the flight of an arrow? 7. A poet once said, +"Let me make the Songs of a nation, and I care not who makes the +laws." What did he mean? 8. What was the Song doing "in the heart of a +friend"? + +Phrases for Study + +breathed a song, flight of Song. + + +THE CHILDREN'S HOUR + + Between the dark and the daylight, + When the night is beginning to lower, + Comes a pause in the day's occupations, + That is known as the Children's Hour. + + I hear in the chamber above me + The patter of little feet, + The Sound of a door that is opened, + And voices soft and sweet. + + From my study I See in the lamplight, + Descending the broad hall stair, + Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra. + And Edith with golden hair. + + A whisper, and then a silence; + Yet I know by their merry eyes + They are plotting and planning together + To take me by surprise. + + A sudden rush from the stairway, + A sudden raid from the hall! + By three doors left unguarded + They enter my castle wall! + + They climb up into my turret + O'er the arms and back of my chair; + If I try to escape, they surround me; + They seem to be everywhere. + + They almost devour me with kisses; + Their arms about me entwine; + Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen + In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! + + Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, + Because you have scaled the wall, + Such an old mustache as I am + Is not a match for you all? + + I have you fast in my fortress, + And will not let you depart, + gut put you down into the dungeon + in the round-tower of my heart. + + And there will I keep you forever, + Yes, forever and a day, + Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, + And molder in dust away! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What is the time "Between the dark and the daylight" +usually called? 2. What do you suppose Longfellow had been doing in +his study before the children came down to him? 3. What reasons can +you give for the "pause in the day's occupations"? 4. Who were the +children whom the poet saw "Descending the broad hall stair" to enter +his "castle wall"? 5. What were these children whispering about? 6. +What does Longfellow mean by his "turret"? 7. To what does he compare +the rush made by the children? 8. What wall did they scale in order to +reach him? 9. Where does Longfellow say he will put the children now +that he has captured them? 10. Which stanza of this poem do you like +best? 11. Tell what you know about the life of Longfellow. 12. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: raid; match. 13. Pronounce: lower; +banditti; dungeon. + +Phrases for Study + +Bishop of Bingen, round-tower of my heart, scaled the wall, forever +and a day, such an old mustache, molder in dust away, fast in my +fortress. + + +THE SONG OF HIAWATHA + +INTRODUCTION + + Should you ask me, whence these stories, + Whence these legends and traditions, + With the odors of the forest, + With the dew and damp of meadows, + With the curling smoke of wigwams, + With the rushing of great rivers, + With their frequent repetitions, + And their wild reverberations, + As of thunder in the mountains. + + I should answer, I should tell you: + "From the forests and the prairies, + From the great lakes of the Northland, + From the land of the Ojibways, + From the land of the Dacotahs, + From the mountains, moors, and fenlands, + Where the heron, the Shuh-shuh-gah, + Feeds among the reeds and rushes. + I repeat them as I heard them + From the lips Of Nawadaha + The musician, the sweet singer." + + Should you ask where Nawadaha + Found these songs, so wild and wayward, + Found these legends and traditions, + + I should answer, I should tell you: + "In the birds'-nests of the forests, + In the lodges of the beaver, + In the hoof-prints of the bison, + In the aerie of the eagle!" + If still further you should ask me, + Saying, "Who was Nawadaha? + Tell us of this Nawadaha," + I should answer your inquiries + Straightway in such words as follow: + + "In the Vale of Tawasentha, + In the green and silent valley, + By the pleasant water-courses. + Dwelt the singer Nawadaha. + Round about the Indian village + Spread the meadows and the cornfields, + And beyond them stood the forest, + Stood the groves of singing pine-trees, + Green in summer, white in winter, + Ever sighing, ever singing. + + "There he sang of Hiawatha, + Sang the Song of Hiawatha, + Sang his wondrous birth and being, + How he prayed and how he fasted, + How he lived, and toiled, and suffered, + That the tribes of men might prosper, + That he might advance his people!" + + Ye who love the haunts of Nature, + Love the sunshine of the meadow, + Love the shadow of the forest, + Love the wind among the branches, + And the rain-shower and the snowstorm, + And the rushing of great rivers + Through their palisades of pine-trees, + And the thunder in the mountains, + Listen to this Indian Legend, + To this Song of Hiawatha! + Ye whose hearts are fresh and simple, + Who have faith in God and Nature, + + Listen to this simple story, + To this Song of Hiawatha! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +You have now begun to read parts of a long poem about Indian life and +tradition. The Indians, like all other races of men, have such songs. +Longfellow studied the Indian legends and put them into English verse +so that all of us may enjoy them. Such a poem, which is really a +collection of ballads or songs about heroes and about the beliefs and +superstitions of a race, is often called an epic. Notice that the poet +tells you that these stories in verse have the odors of the forest, +the curling smoke of wigwams; the rushing of great rivers, and the +roar of mountain thunder. This means that such stories are very +closely connected with the simple life of a simple people--there is +much of their thought about Nature, much of their love of the land +where they live. Next, notice that he got his knowledge of these songs +from a "sweet singer," a minstrel. All simple tribes have had such +singers, who went about from place to place telling in verse what +the people wanted to hear. There were no books, both boys and girls +learned their stories from older people, or from wandering singers. +Next, you observe that the theme of the stories is the life of +Hiawatha, their great hero. So the Greeks had stories about their hero +Ulysses, the early English about Beowulf and King Arthur, the French +about Roland. Every great race honors the memory of a hero who lived +when the race was young. Many stories cluster about the name of this +hero, and poets and minstrels love to sing, and the people to hear, +about these great characters. Finally, notice at the end of the +poet's Introduction, two things: First, Hiawatha lived and toiled and +suffered that the tribes might prosper, that he might advance his +people-thus an epic poem deals with the founding of a people or race. +Second, you notice that there is much about God and Nature in the +poem-the simple religious faith of the people. The hero, his deeds +that helped his people, the religion of the tribes-these are the +subjects. Find illustrations of these things as you read. + +Discussion. 1. Where did these stories come from? Read lines which +tell. 2. Name the Great Lakes. 3. Who was Nawadaha? 4. What word tells +the sound of the pine-trees? 5. Read five lines that tell what the +singer sang of Hiawatha. 6. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +reverberations. 7. Pronounce: legends; wigwams; aerie. + +Phrases for Study + +singing pine-trees, advance his people, wondrous birth and being, +haunts of Nature, tribes of men might prosper, palisades of +pine-trees. + + +HIAWATHA'S CHILDHOOD + + By the shores of Gitche Gumee, + By the shining Big-Sea-Water, + Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, + Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis. + Dark behind it rose the forest, + Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees, + Rose the firs with cones upon them; + Bright before it beat the water, + Beat the clear and sunny water, + Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water. + + There the wrinkled, old Nokomis + Nursed the little Hiawatha; + Rocked him in his linden cradle, + Bedded soft in moss and rushes, + Safely bound with reindeer sinews; + Stilled his fretful wail by saying, + "Hush! The Naked Bear will get thee!" + Lulled him into slumber, singing, + "Ewa-yea! my little owlet! + Who is this that lights the wigwam, + With his great eyes lights the wigwam? + Ewa-yea! my little owlet!" + + Many things Nokomis taught him + Of the stars that shine in heaven; + Showed the broad, white road in heaven, + Pathway of the ghosts, the shadows, + Running straight across the heavens, + Crowded with the ghosts, the shadows. + + At the door on summer evenings + Sat the little Hiawatha; + Heard the whispering of the pine-trees, + Heard the lapping of the water, + Sounds of music, words of wonder; + "Minne-wawa!" said the pine-trees, + "Mudway-aushka! said the water. + + Saw the firefly, Wah-wah-taysee, + Flitting through the dusk of evening, + With the twinkle of its candle + Lighting up the brakes and bushes; + And he sang the song of children, + Sang the song Nokomis taught him: + + "Wah-wah-taysee, little firefly, + Little, flitting, white-fire insect, + Little, dancing, white-fire creature, + Light me with your little candle, + Ere upon my bed I lay me, + Ere in sleep I close my eyelids!" + + Saw the moon rise from the water + Rippling, rounding from the water; + Saw the flecks and shadows on it; + Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?" + And the good Nokomis answered + "Once a warrior, very angry, + Seized his grandmother, and threw her + Up into the sky at midnight; + Right against the moon he threw her; + Tis her body that you see there." + + Saw the rainbow in the heaven, + In the eastern sky, the rainbow; + Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?" + And the good Nokomis answered: + "'Tis the heaven of flowers you see there. + All the wild-flowers of the forest, + All the lilies of the prairie, + When on earth they fade and perish, + Blossom in that heaven above us." + + When he heard the owls at midnight, + Hooting, laughing in the forest, + "What is that?" he cried in terror; + "What is that," he said, "Nokomis?" + And the good Nokomis answered: + "That is but the owl and owlet, + Talking in their native language, + Talking, scolding at each other." + + Then the little Hiawatha + Learned of every bird its language, + Learned their names and all their secrets-- + How they built their nests in summer, + Where they hid themselves in winter-- + Talked with them whene'er he met them, + Called them "Hiawatha's Chickens." + + Of all beasts he learned the language, + Learned their names and all their secrets-- + How the beavers built their lodges, + Where the squirrels hid their acorns, + How the reindeer ran so swiftly, + Why the rabbit was so timid; + Talked with them whene'er he met then, + Called them "Hiawatha's Brothers." + + Then Iagoo, the great boaster, + He the marvelous story-teller, + He the traveler and the talker, + He the friend of old Nokomis, + Made a bow for Hiawatha; + From a branch of ash he made it, + From an oak-bough made the arrows. + Tipped with flint, and winged with feathers, + And the cord he made of deerskin. + + Then he said to Hiawatha: + "Go, my son, into the forest, + Where the red deer herd together; + Kill for us a famous roebuck, + Kill for us a deer with antlers!" + + Forth into the forest straightway + All alone walked Hiawatha + Proudly, with his bow and arrows; + And the birds sang round him, o'er him, + "Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!", + Sang the robin, the Opechee, + Sang the bluebird, the Owaissa, + "Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!" + + Up the oak-tree, close beside him, + Sprang the squirrel, Adjidaumo, + In and out among the branches, + Coughed and chattered from the oak-tree, + Laughed, and said between his laughing; + "Do not shoot-me, Hiawatha!" + + And the rabbit from his pathway + Leaped aside, and at a distance + Sat erect upon his haunches, + Half in fear and half in frolic, + Saying to the little hunter, + "Do not shoot me, Hiawatha!" + + But he heeded not, nor heard them, + For his thoughts were with the red deer; + On their tracks his eyes were fastened, + Leading downward to the river, + To the ford across the river; + And as one in slumber walked he. + + Hidden in the alder-bushes, + There he waited till the deer came, + Till he saw two antlers lifted, + Saw two eyes look from the thicket, + Saw two nostrils point to windward, + And a deer came down the pathway, + Flecked with leafy light and shadow. + His heart within him fluttered, + Trembled like the leaves above him, + Like the birch-leaf palpitated, + As the deer came down the pathway. + + Then, upon one knee uprising, + Hiawatha aimed an arrow; + Scarce a twig moved with his motion, + Scarce a leaf was stirred or rustled, + But the wary roebuck started, + Stamped with all his hoofs together, + Listened with one foot uplifted, + Leaped as if to meet the arrow, + Ah! the singing, fatal arrow; + Like a wasp it buzzed and stung him! + + Dead he lay there in the forest, + By the ford across the river; + Beat his timid heart no longer. + But the heart of Hiawatha + Throbbed and shouted and exulted, + As he bore the red deer homeward; + And WOO and Nokomis coming with applauses. + + From the red deer's hide Nokomis + Made a cloak for Hiawatha; + From the red deer's flesh Nokomis + Made a banquet in his honor. + All the village came and feasted; + All the guests praised Hiawatha, + Called him Strong-Heart, Soan-ge-taha! + Called him Loon-Heart, Mahn-go-taysee! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What body of water is called Gitche Gumee? 2. Where did +the wigwam of Nokomis stand? 3. What is meant by the "beat" of the +water? 4. Why does Longfellow call the pine trees "black and gloomy"? +5. Who was Nokomis? 6. Why did she call Hiawatha "my little owlet"? 7. +What do we call the "broad, white road in heaven"? 8. What word tells +the so sound of the water? 9. Read lines that tell what Hiawatha +learned of the birds and the beasts. 10. Of what was Hiawatha's bow +made? His arrows? The cord? 11. Why was a tip of flint used on the +arrows? 12. What is meant by "the ford across the river"? 13. Read +lines which tell that Hiawatha was excited when hunting. 14. Find in +the Glossary the meaning of linden; frolic; postrils. 15. Pronounce: +moss; sinews; warrior; haunches; alder; palpitated; exulted. + +Phrases for Study + +twinkle of its candle, famous roebuck, native language, point to +windward, tipped with flint, flecked with leafy light, winged with +feathers, hailed his coming. + + +HIAWATHA'S FRIENDS + + Two good friends had Hiawatha, + Singled out from all the others, + Bound to him in closest union, + And to whom he gave the right hand + Of his heart, in joy and sorrow: + Chibiabos, the musician, + And the very strong man, Kwasind. + + Most beloved by Hiawatha + Was the gentle Chibiabos, + We the best of all musicians, + He the sweetest of all singers. + Beautiful and childlike was he, + Brave as man is, soft as woman, + Pliant as a wand of willow, + Stately as a deer with antlers. + + When he sang, the village listened; + All the warriors gathered round him, + All the women came to hear him; + Now he stirred their souls to passion, + Now he melted them to pity. + + From the hollow reeds he fashioned + Flutes so musical and mellow + That the brook, the Sebowisha, + Ceased to murmur in the woodland, + That the wood-birds ceased from singing, + And the squirrel, Adjidaumo, + Ceased his chatter in the oak-tree, + Ceased his chatter in the oak-tree, + And the rabbit, the Wabasso, + Sat upright to look and listen. + + Yes, the brook, the Sebowisha, + Pausing, said, "O Chibiabos, + Teach my waves to flow in music, + Softly as your words in singing!" + + Yes, the bluebird, the Owaissa, + Envious, said, "O Chibiabos, + Teach me tones as wild and wayward, + Teach me songs as full of frenzy!" + + Yes, the robin, the Opechee, + Joyous, said, "O Chibiabos, + Teach me tunes as sweet and tender, + Teach me songs as full of gladness!" + + And the whippoorwill, Wawonaissa, + Sobbing, said, "O Chibiabos, + Teach me tones as melancholy, + Teach me songs as full of sadness!" + + All the many sounds of nature + Borrowed sweetness from his singing; + All the hearts of men were softened + By the pathos of his music; + For he sang of peace and freedom, + Sang of beauty, love, and longing; + Sang of death, and life undying + In the Islands of the Blessed, + In the kingdom of Pond, + In the land of the Hereafter. + + Very dear to Hiawatha + Was the gentle Chibiabos. + He the best of all musicians, + He the sweetest of all singers; + For his gentleness he loved him, + And the magic of his singing. + + Dear, too, unto Hiawatha + Was the very strong man, Kwasind, + He the strongest of all mortals, + He the mightiest among many; + For his very strength he loved him, + For his strength allied to goodness. + + Idle in his youth was Kwasind, + Very listless, dull, and dreamy, + Never played with other children, + Never fished and never hunted; + Not like other children was he. + + "Lazy Kwasind!" said his mother, + "In my work you never help me! + In the summer you are roaming + Idly in the fields and forests; + In the winter you are cowering + O'er the firebrands in the wigwam! + In the coldest days of winter + I must break the ice for fishing; + With my nets you never help me! + At the door--my nets are hanging, + Dripping, freezing with the water; + Go and wring them, Yenadizze! + Go and dry them in the sunshine!" + + Slowly, from the ashes, Kwasind + Rose, but made no angry answer; + From the lodge went forth in silence, + Took the nets, that hung together, + Dripping, freezing at the doorway; + Like a wisp of straw he wrung them, + Like a wisp of straw he broke them, + Could not wring them without breaking, + Such the strength was in his fingers. + + "Lazy Kwasind!" said his father, + "In the hunt you never help me; + Every bow you touch is broken, + Snapped asunder every arrow; + Yet come with me to the forest, + You shall bring the hunting homeward." + + Down a narrow pass they wandered, + Where a brooklet led them onward, + Where the trail of deer and bison + Marked the soft mud on the margin, + Till they found all further passage + Shut against them, barred securely + By the trunks of trees uprooted, + Lying lengthwise, lying crosswise, + And forbidding further passage. + + "We must go back," said the old man; + "O'er these logs we cannot clamber; + Not a woodchuck could get through them, + Not a squirrel clamber o'er them!" + And straightway his pipe he lighted, + And sat down to smoke and ponder. + But before his pipe was finished, + Lo! the path was cleared before him; + All the trunks had Kwasind lifted; + To the right hand, to the left hand, + Shot the pine-trees swift as arrows; + Hurled the cedars light as lances. + + "Lazy Kwasind!" said the young men, + As they sported in the meadow; + "Why stand idly looking at us, + Leaning on the rock behind you? + Come and wrestle with the others; + Let us pitch the quoit together!" + + Lazy Kwasind made no answer, + To their challenge made no answer, + Only rose, and, slowly turning, + Seized the huge rock in his fingers, + Tore it from its deep foundation, + Poised it in the air a moment, + Pitched it sheer into the river, + Sheer into the swift Pauwating, + Where it still is seen in summer. + + Once as down that foaming river, + Down the rapids of Pauwating, + Kwasind sailed with his companions, + In the stream he saw a beaver, + Saw Ahmeek, the King of Beavers, + Struggling with the rushing currents, + Rising, sinking in the water. + + Without speaking, without pausing, + Kwasind leaped into the river, + Plunged beneath the bubbling surface, + Through the whirlpools chased the beaver, + Followed him among the islands, + Stayed so long beneath the water + That his terrified companions + Cried, "Alas! good-by to Kwasind! + We shall never more see Kwasind!" + But he reappeared triumphant, + And upon his shining shoulders + Brought the beaver, dead and dripping, + Brought the King of all the Beavers. + + And these two, as I have told you, + Were the friends of Hiawatha, + Chibiabos, the musician, + And the very strong man, Kwasind; + Long they lived in peace together, + Spake with naked hearts together, + Pondering much and much contriving + How the tribes of men might prosper. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. What two friends had Hiawatha "Singled out from all the +others"? 2. What were they "contriving"? 3. Read lines that tell of +Chibiabos. 4. With what is he compared? Read lines that tell. 5. From +what did he make his flutes? 6. Read lines that tell how musical they +were. 7. What did the brook say to Chibiabos? The bluebird? The robin? +8. Of what did Chibiabos sing? 9. Why did Hiawatha love him more than +all others? 10. For what did Hiawatha love Kwasind? 11. What did +Kwasind's mother say to him? His father? 12. What is meant by the +line, "Every bow you touch is broken"? 13. Read lines that tell of +Kwasind and the beaver. 14. Which of Hiawatha's two friends do you +like the better? Why? 15. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: reeds; +frenzy; listless; cowering; clamber; ponder; sported. 16. Pronounce: +pliant; wand; pathos; allied; asunder; quoit; triumphant. + +Phrases for Study + +singled out, strength allied to goodness, bound to him, bring the +hunting homeward, pliant as a wand, stirred their souls to passion, +forbidding further passage, poised it in the air, melted them to pity, +sheer into the river, fashioned flutes, shining shoulders, flow in +music, spake with naked hearts, Islands of the Blessed, pondering +much, magic of his singing, much contriving. + + +HIAWATHA'S SAILING + + "Give me of your bark, O Birch-Tree! + Of your yellow bark, O Birch Tree! + Growing by the rushing river, + Tall and stately in the valley! + I a light canoe will build me, + Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing, + That shall float upon the river, + Like a yellow leaf in autumn, + Like a yellow water-lily! + + "Lay aside your cloak, O Birch-Tree! + Lay aside your white-skin wrapper, + For the summer-time is coming, + And the sun is warm in heaven, + And you need no white-skin wrapper!" + Thus aloud cried Hiawatha. + + And the tree with all its branches + Rustled in the breeze of morning, + Saying, with a sigh of patience, + "Take my cloak, O Hiawatha!" + + With his knife the tree he girdled, + Just beneath its lowest branches; + Just above the roots he cut it, + Till the sap came oozing outward; + Down the trunk, from top to bottom, + Sheer he cleft the bark asunder; + With a wooden wedge he raised it, + Stripped it from the trunk unbroken. + + "Give me of your boughs, O Cedar! + Of your strong and pliant branches, + My canoe to make more steady, + Make more strong and firm beneath me!" + Through the summit of the Cedar + Went a sound, a cry of horror, + Went a murmur of resistance; + But it whispered, bending downward, + "Take my boughs, O Hiawatha!" + + Down he hewed the boughs of cedar, + Shaped them straightway to a framework; + Like two bows he formed and shaped them, + Like two bended bows together. + + "Give me of your roots, O Tamarack! + Of your fibrous roots, O Larch-Tree! + My canoe to bind together, + So to bind the ends together + That the water may not enter, + That the river may not wet me!" + + And the Larch, with all its fibers, + Shivered in the air of morning, + Touched his forehead with its tassels, + Said, with one long sigh of sorrow, + "Take them all, O Hiawatha!" + + From the earth he tore the fibers, + Tore the tough roots of the Larch-Tree, + Closely sewed the bark together, + Bound it closely to the framework. + + "Give me of your balm, O Fir-Tree! + Of your balsam and your resin, + So to close the seams together + That the water may not enter, + That the river may not wet me!" + + And the Fir-Tree, tall and somber, + Sobbed through all its robes of darkness, + Rattled like a shore with pebbles, + Answered wailing, answered weeping, + "Take my balm, 0 Hiawatha!" + + And he took the tears of balsam, + Took the resin of the Fir-Tree, + Smeared therewith each seam and fissure, + Made each crevice safe from water. + + "Give me of your quills, O Hedgehog! + All your quills, O Kagh, the Hedgehog! + I will make a necklace of them, + Make a girdle for my beauty, + And two stars to deck her bosom!" + + From a hollow tree the hedgehog, + With his sleepy eyes looked at him, + Shot his shining quills, like arrows + Saying, with a drowsy murmur, + Through the tangle of his whiskers, + "Take my quills, O Hiawatha!" + + From the ground the quills he gathered, + All the little shining arrows; + Stained them red and blue and yellow, + With the juice of roots and berries; + Into his canoe he wrought them, + Round its waist a shining girdle, + Round its bows a gleaming necklace, + On its breast two stars resplendent. + + Thus the Birch-Canoe was builded + In the valley, by the river, + In the bosom of the forest; + And the forest's life was in it-- + All its mystery and its magic, + All the lightness of the birch-tree, + All the toughness of the cedar, + All the larch's supple sinews; + And it floated on the river + Like a yellow leaf in autumn, + Like a yellow water-lily. + + Paddles none had Hiawatha; + Paddles none he had or needed, + For his thoughts as paddles served him, + And his wishes served to guide him; + Swift or slow at will he glided, + Veered to right or left at pleasure. + + Then he called aloud to Kwasind, + To his friend, the strong man, Kwasind, + Saying, "Help me clear this river + Of its sunken logs and sandbars." + + Straight into the river Kwasind + Plunged as if he were an otter, + Dived as if he were a beaver, + Stood up to his waist in water, + To his armpits in the river, + Swam and shouted in the river, + Tugged at sunken logs and branches; + With his hands he scooped the sandbars, + With his feet the ooze and tangle. + + And thus sailed my Hiawatha + Down the rushing Taquamenaw, + Sailed through all its bends and windings, + Sailed through all its deeps and shallows, + While his friend, the strong man, Kwasind, + Swam the deeps, the shallows waded. + + Up and down the river went they, + In and out among its islands, + Cleared its bed of root and sandbar, + Dragged the dead trees from its channel, + Made its passage safe and certain, + Made a pathway for the people, + From its springs among the mountains + To the waters of Pauwating, + To the bay of Taquamenaw. + + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Of what did Hiawatha make his canoe? 2. Why does +Hiawatha call the bark of the birch-tree a cloak? 3. What other name +does he give the bark of the birch-tree? 4. What word tells the sound +made by the leaves of the birch-tree? 5. What word tells that Hiawatha +cut all around the birch-tree? 6. Why did Hiawatha ask the cedar tree +for its boughs? 7. Read lines that tell why he asked the larch-tree +for its roots. S. What other name does he give the larch tree? 9. Why +does Hiawatha call the drops of balsam "tears"? 10. Can the hedgehog +really shoot his quills "like arrows"? 11. What is meant by "my +beauty"? 12. Read lines that tell how Hiawatha decorated his canoe. +13. What did he use for paddles for the canoe? 14. What did Kwasind do +to aid the canoeing? 15. Why is the fir-tree spoken of as "somber"? +16. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: stately; larch; channel. 17. +Pronounce: horror; hewed; tamarack; fibrous; forehead; balm; balsam; +resin; fissure; crevice; bosom; resplendent; supple; veered; swam. + +Phrases for Study + +white-skin wrapper, robes of darkness, oozing outward, deck her bosom, +cleft the bark asunder, shot his shining quills, summit of the Cedar, +wrought them, shaped them to a framework, forest's life was in it, +ooze and tangle, close the seams together. + + +HIAWATHA'S WOOING + + "As unto the bow the cord is, + So unto the man is woman + Though she bends him, she obeys him, + Though she draws him, yet she follows-- + Useless each without the other!" + + Thus the youthful Hiawatha + Said within himself and pondered + Much perplexed by various feelings-- + Listless, longing, hoping, fearing, + Dreaming still of Minnehaha, + Of the lovely Laughing Water, + In the Land of the Dacotahs. + + "Wed a maiden of your people," + Warning said the old Nokomis; + "Go not eastward, go not westward, + For a stranger, whom we know not! + Like a fire upon the hearthstone + Is a neighbor's homely daughter; + Like the starlight or the moonlight + Is the handsomest of strangers!" + + Thus dissuading spake Nokomis, + And my Hiawatha answered + Only this: "Dear old Nokomis, + Very pleasant is the firelight, + But I like the starlight better, + Better do I like the moonlight!" + + Gravely then said old Nokomis: + "Bring not here an idle maiden, + Bring not here a useless woman, + Hands unskillful, feet unwilling; + Bring a wife with nimble fingers, + + Heart and hand that move together, + Feet that run on willing errands!" + + Smiling answered Hiawatha: + "In the Land of the Dacotahs + Lives the Arrow-maker's daughter, + Minnehaha, Laughing Water, + Handsomest of all the women. + I will bring her to your wigwam; + She shall run upon your errands, + Be your starlight, moonlight, firelight, + Be the sunlight of my people!" + + Still dissuading, said Nokomis: + "Bring not to my lodge a stranger + From the Land of the Dacotahs! + Very fierce are the Dacotahs. + Often is there war between us; + There are feuds yet unforgotten, + Wounds that ache and still may open!" + + Laughing answered Hiawatha: + "For that reason, if no other, + Would I wed the fair Dacotah, + That our tribes might be united, + That old feuds might be forgotten, + And old wounds be healed forever!" + + Thus departed Hiawatha + To the land of the Dacotahs, + To the land of handsome women, + Striding over moor and meadow, + Through interminable forests, + Through uninterrupted silence. + + With his moccasins of magic, + At each stride a mile he measured; + Yet the way seemed long before him, + And his heart outran his footsteps; + And he journeyed without resting, + Till he heard the cataract's laughter, + Heard the Falls of Minnehaha + Calling to him through the silence. + + "Pleasant is the sound!" he murmured, + "Pleasant is the voice that calls me!" + On the outskirts of the forest, + 'Twixt the shadow and the sunshine, + Herds of fallow deer were feeding, + But they saw not Hiawatha; + To his bow he whispered, "Fail not!" + To his arrow whispered, "Swerve not!" + Sent it singing on its errand, + To the red heart of the roebuck; + Threw the deer across his shoulder + And sped forward without pausing. + + At the doorway of his wigwam + Sat the ancient Arrow-maker, + In the land of the Dacotahs, + Making arrow-heads of jasper, + Arrow-heads of chalcedony. + At his side, in all her beauty, + Sat the lovely Minnehaha, + Sat his daughter, Laughing Water, + Plaiting mats of flags and rushes; + Of the past the old man's thoughts were, + And the maiden's of the future. + + He was thinking, as he sat there, + Of the days when with such arrows + He had struck the deer and bison, + On the Muskoday, the meadow; + Shot the wild goose, flying southward, + On the wing, the clamorous Wawa; + Thinking of the great war-parties, + How they came to buy his arrows, + Could not fight without his arrows. + + She was thinking of a hunter, + From another tribe and country, + Young and tall and very handsome, + Who one morning, in the springtime, + Came to buy her father's arrows, + Sat and rested in the wigwam, + Lingered long about the doorway, + Looking back as he departed. + She had heard her father praise him, + Praise his courage and his wisdom; + Would he come again for arrows + To the Falls of Minnehaha? + On the mat her hands lay idle, + And her eyes were very dreamy. + + Through their thoughts they heard a footstep, + Heard a rustling in the branches, + And with glowing cheek and forehead, + With the deer upon his shoulders, + Suddenly from out the woodlands + Hiawatha stood before them. + + Straight the ancient Arrow-maker + Looked up gravely from his labor, + Laid aside the unfinished arrow, + Bade him enter at the doorway, + Saying, as he rose to meet him, + "Hiawatha, you are welcome!" + + At the feet of Laughing Water + Hiawatha laid his burden, + Threw the red deer from his shoulders; + And the maiden looked up at him, + Looked up from her mat of rushes, + Said with gentle look and accent, + "You are welcome, Hiawatha!" + Very spacious was the wigwam, + Made of deerskin dressed and whitened, + With the gods of the Dacotahs + Drawn and painted on its curtains; + And so tall the doorway, hardly + Hiawatha stooped to enter, + Hardly touched his eagle-feathers + As he entered at the doorway. + + Then up rose the Laughing Water; + From the ground fair Minnehaha + Laid aside her mat unfinished, + Brought forth food and set before them, + Water brought them from the brooklet, + Gave them food in earthen vessels, + Gave them drink in bowls of basswood, + Listened while the guest was speaking, + Listened while her father answered. + But not once her lips she opened, + Not a single word she uttered. + + Yes, as in a dream she listened + To the words of Hiawatha, + As he talked of old Nokomis, + Who had nursed him in his childhood, + As he told of his companions, Chibiabos, + the musician, And the very strong man, + Kwasind, And of happiness and plenty In + the land of the Ojibways, + + In the pleasant land and peaceful. + "After many years of warfare, + Many years of strife and bloodshed, + There is peace between the Ojibways + And the tribe of the Dacotahs." + Thus continued Hiawatha, + And then added, speaking slowly, + "That this peace may last forever, + And our hands be clasped more closely, + And our hearts be more united, + Give me as my wife this maiden, + Minnehaha, Laughing Water, + Loveliest of Dacotah women!" + + And the ancient Arrow-maker + Paused a moment ere he answered, + Smoked a little while in silence, + Looked at Hiawatha proudly, + Fondly looked at Laughing Water, + And made answer very gravely: + "Yes, if Minnehaha wishes; + Let your heart speak, Minnehaha!" + + And the lovely Laughing Water + Seemed more lovely, as she stood there, + Neither willing nor reluctant, + As she went to Hiawatha, + Softly took the seat beside him, + While she said, and blushed to say it, + "I will follow you, my husband!" + + This was Hiawatha's wooing! + Thus it was he won the daughter + Of the ancient Arrow-maker, + In the land of the Dacotahs! + + From the wigwam he departed, + Leading with him Laughing Water; + Hand in hand they went together, + Through the woodland and the meadow, + Left the old man standing lonely + At the doorway of his wigwam, + Heard the Falls of Minnehaha + Calling to them from the distance, + Crying to them from afar off, + "Fare thee well, O Minnehaha!" + And the ancient Arrow-maker + Turned again unto his labor, + Sat down by his sunny doorway, + Murmuring to himself, and saying: + "Thus it is our daughters leave us, + Those we love, and those who love us! + Just when they have learned to help us, + When we are old and lean upon them, + Comes a youth with flaunting feathers, + With his flute of reeds, a stranger, + Wanders piping through the village, + Beckons to the fairest maiden, + And she follows where he leads her, + Leaving all things for the stranger!" + + Pleasant was the journey homeward, + Through interminable forests, + Over meadow, over mountain, + Over river, hill, and hollow. + Short it seemed to Hiawatha, + Though they journeyed very slowly, + Though his pace he checked and slackened + To the steps of Laughing Water. + Over wide and rushing rivers + In his arms he bore the maiden; + + Light he thought her as a feather, + As the plume upon his head-gear; + Cleared the tangled pathway for her, + Bent aside the swaying branches, + Made at night a lodge of branches, + And a bed with boughs of hemlock, + And a fire before the doorway + With the dry cones of the pine-tree. + + All the traveling winds went with them, + O'er the meadow, through the forest; + All the stars of night looked at them, + Watched with sleepless eyes their slumber; + From his ambush in the oak-tree + Peeped the squirrel, Adjidaumo, + Watched with eager eyes the lovers; + And the rabbit, the Wabasso, + Scampered from the path before them, + Peering, peeping from his burrow, + Sat erect upon his haunches, + Watched with curious eyes the lovers. + + Pleasant was the journey homeward! + All the birds sang loud and sweetly + Songs of happiness and heart's-ease; + Sang the bluebird, the Owaissa, + "Happy are you, Hiawatha, + Having such a wife to love you!" + Sang the robin, the Opechee, + "Happy are you; Laughing Water, + Having such a noble husband!" + + From the sky the sun benignant + Looked upon them through the branches, + Saying to them, "O my children, + Love is sunshine, hate is shadow; + Life is checkered shade and sunshine; + Rule by love, O Hiawatha!" + From the sky the moon looked at them, + Filled the lodge with mystic splendors, + Whispered to them, "O my children, + Day is restless, night is quiet, + Man imperious, woman feeble; + Half is mine, although I follow; + Rule by patience, Laughing Water!" + Thus it was they journeyed homeward; + Thus it was that Hiawatha + To the lodge of old Nokomis + Brought the moonlight, starlight, firelight, + Brought the sunshine of his people, + Minnehaha, Laughing Water, + Handsomest of all the women + In the land of the Dacotahs, + In the land of handsome women. + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Why did Nokomis wish Hiawatha to wed a maiden of his +own people? 2. Whom did Hiawatha say he would wed? 3. Find the Falls +of Minnehaha on your map. 4. Read lines that tell of Hiawatha's +journey "To the land of the Dacotahs." 5. Of what was the Arrow-maker +thinking when Hiawatha appeared? 6. Read lines that tell of what the +maiden was thinking. 7. Read the words of Hiawatha when he asked the +father for his daughter. 8. In what words did the Arrow-maker give his +consent? 9. What was Minnehaha's answer? 10. Read lines that tell of +the journey homeward. 11. Why did Hiawatha "check" his pace on this +journey? 12. What greeting did the bluebird give them? 13. What was +the greeting of the robin? The sun? The moon? 14. Read the lines that +you like best. 15. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: cord; nimble; +moor; fallow; swerve; jasper; flags; rushes; basswood; flaunting. 16. +Pronounce: dissuading; feuds; wounds; chalcedony; plaiting; bade; +spacious; benignant; mystic; imperious. + +Phrases for Study + +feet unwilling, neither willing nor reluctant, yet unforgotten, +interminable forests, wanders piping through the village, moccasins of +magic, heart outran his footsteps, heart's-ease, cataract's laughter, +sun benignant, deerskin dressed and whitened, hate is shadow, mystic +splendors. + + + +THE WHITE-MAN'S FOOT + + From his wanderings far to eastward, + From the regions of the morning, + From the shining land of Wabun, + Homeward now returned Iagoo, + The great traveler, the great boaster, + Full of new and strange adventures, + Marvels many and many wonders. + + And the people of the village + Listened to him as he told them + Of his marvelous adventures; + Laughing answered him in this wise: + "Ugh, it is indeed Iagoo! + No one else beholds such wonders!" + + He had seen, he said, a water + Bigger than the Big-Sea-Water, + Broader than the Gitche Gumee, + Bitter so that none could drink it! + At each other looked the warriors, + Looked the women at each other, + Smiled, and said, "it cannot be so! + Kaw!" they said, "it cannot be so!" + O'er it, said he, o'er this water + + Came a great canoe with pinions, + A canoe with wings came flying, + Bigger than a grove of pine-trees, + Taller than the tallest tree-tops! + And the old men and the women + Looked and tittered at each other; + "Kaw!" they said, "we don't believe it!" + + From its mouth, he said, to greet him, + Came Waywassimo, the lightning, + Came the thunder, Annemeekee! + And the warriors and the women + Laughed aloud at poor Iagoo; + "Kaw!" they said, "what tales you tell us!" + + In it, said he, came a people, + In the great canoe with pinions + Came, he said, a hundred warriors; + Painted white were all their faces, + And with hair their chins were covered! + And the warriors and the women + Laughed and shouted in derision, + Like the ravens on the tree-tops, + Like the crows upon the hemlocks. + "Kaw!" they said, "what lies you tell us. + Do not think that we believe them!" + + Only Hiawatha laughed not, + But he gravely spake and answered + To their jeering and their jesting: + "True is all Iagoo tells us; + I have seen it in a vision, + + Seen the great canoe with pinions, + Seen the people with white faces, + Seen the coming of this bearded + People of the wooden vessel + From the regions of the morning, + From the shining land of Wabun. + + Gitche Manito, the Mighty, + The Great Spirit, the Creator, + Sends them hither on his errand, + Sends them to us with his message. + Wheresoe'er they tread, beneath them + Swarms the stinging fly, the Ahmo, + Swarms the bee, the honey-maker;. + Wheresoe'er they tread, beneath them + Springs a flower unknown among us, + Springs the White-man's foot in blossom. + + "Let us welcome, then, the strangers, + Hail them as our friends and brothers, + And the heart's right hand of friendship + Give them when they come to see us. + Gitche Manito, the Mighty, + Said this to me in my vision. + + "I beheld, too, in that vision, + All the secrets of the future, + Of the distant days that shall be. + I beheld the westward marches + Of the unknown, crowded nations. + All the land was full of people, + Restless, struggling, toiling, striving, + Speaking many tongues, yet feeling + But one heart-beat in their bosoms. + In the woodlands rang their axes, + Smoked their towns in all the valleys, + Over all the lakes and rivers + Rushed their great canoes of thunder. + + "Then a darker, drearier vision + Passed before me, vague and cloud-like. + I beheld our nations scattered, + All forgetful of my counsels, + Weakened, warring with each other; + Saw the remnants of our people + Sweeping westward, wild and woeful, + Like the cloud-rack of a tempest, + Like the withered leaves of autumn!" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. Read lines that tell Iagoo's story of adventures. 2. +Where do you think he had seen these things? 3. What was the "bitter" +water Iagoo told about? 4. What were the "lightning" and the "thunder" +that came from the "canoe with pinions"? 5. Why was his story laughed +at as false by the Indians? 6. How did Hiawatha know it was all true? +7. How did Hiawatha say they should receive the White Man when he +came? 8. What secrets came to Hiawatha in the vision? 9. What "darker +vision" did he see? 10. Has Hiawatha's vision come true? 11. What do +you think of Hiawatha's character? 12. Which of all the stories in +this poem do you like best? 13. Give the reason for your answer. 14. +You no doubt enjoyed reading this poem; can you tell why? 15. Read "A +Forward Look," and tell why you think Longfellow was a real author. +16. You will enjoy reading Eastman's Indian Legends Retold. 17. Find +in the Glossary the meaning of: tittered; hither; counsels. 18. +Pronounce: pinions; derision; vision; regions; vague; warring. + +Phrases for Study + +regions of the morning, distant days that shall be, shining land of +Wabun, unknown, crowded nations, canoe with pinions, feeling but one +heart-beat, painted white, sweeping westward, heart's right hand of +friendship, cloud-rack of a tempest. + + + + +NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE + + +Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), a native of Salem, Massachusetts, had +the distinction of being born on the Fourth of July. He was graduated +from Bowdoin College in the class with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. + +When a mere boy, Nathaniel was crippled by an accident in playing +ball. This led him to a life of quiet and to the companionship of +books. His vivid imagination made him fond of inventing stories for +the entertainment of his friends. When he began to think of a career +it was quite natural that he should turn to literature, and that in +looking about him for material he should-choose his subjects-as Irving +did-from those stirring scenes of which he had an intimate, almost +personal, knowledge many of them of his native town, Salem. + +Hawthorne pictured New England as Irving did New Amsterdam. He +popularized New England history in the form of stories for children, +one of which, Grandfather's Chair, contains "The Boston Tea Party." He +wrote a book, The House of the Seven Gables, about the house in which +he lived for many years. Soon after he wrote this tale, he wrote The +Wonder-Book, a volume of stories about Greek gods and heroes, from +which "The Paradise of Children" and "The Golden Touch" are taken. +Perhaps the best known of all Hawthorne's works is the volume called +Twice-Told Tales. In this book he collected a large number of legends +about colonial life in New England and retold them in such a way as to +give us one of the best pictures of early American life that we have. +Some of them deal with actual events; others are based on legendary +matter. But all of them do for early New England life what +Longfellow's Hiawatha does for the Indian legends: they preserve the +stories and also the spirit of early times. Like Longfellow, Hawthorne +was a lover of romance and of the early history of our country. He w +wrote in prose, not verse, but is prose is as careful and artistic as +Longfellow's verse. + + + + +THE PARADISE OF CHILDREN + +PANDORA AND THE GREAT BOX + + +Long, long ago, when this old world was in its tender infancy, there +was a child named Epimetheus who never had either father or mother; +and that he might not be lonely, another child, fatherless and +motherless like himself, was sent from a far country to live with him +and be his playfellow and helpmate. Her name was Pandora. + +The first thing that Pandora saw when she entered the cottage where +Epimetheus dwelt was a great box. And almost the first question which +she put to him, after crossing the threshold, was this: + +"Epimetheus, what have you in that box?" + +"My dear little Pandora," answered Epimetheus, "that is a secret, and +you must be kind enough not to ask any questions about it. The box +was left here to be kept safely, and I do not myself know what it +contains." + +"But who gave it to you?" asked Pandora. "And where did it come from?" +"That is a secret, too," replied Epimetheus. + +"How provoking!" exclaimed Pandora, pouting her lip. "I wish the great +ugly box were out of the way!" + +"O come, don't think of it any more," cried Epimetheus. "Let us run +out of doors, and have some nice play with the other children." + +It is thousands of years since Epimetheus and Pandora were alive; and +the world nowadays is a very different sort of thing from what it was +in their time. Then, everybody was a child. They needed no fathers and +mothers to take care of the children; because there was no danger or +trouble of any kind, and there were no clothes to be mended, and there +was always plenty to eat and drink. + +Whenever a child wanted his dinner, he found it growing on a tree; and +if he looked at the tree in the morning, he could see the blossom +of that night's supper; or at eventide he saw the tender bud of +tomorrow's breakfast. It was a very pleasant life indeed. No labor to +be done, no tasks to s be studied; nothing but sports and dances and +sweet voices of children talking, or caroling like birds, or gushing +out in merry laughter, throughout the livelong day. + +What was most wonderful of all, the children never quarreled among +themselves; neither had they any crying fits; nor since time first +began had a single one of these little mortals ever gone apart into +a corner and sulked. O what a good time was that to be alive in! The +truth is, those ugly little winged monsters called Troubles, which are +now almost as numerous as mosquitoes, had never yet been seen on the +earth. It is probable that the very greatest disquietude which a child +had ever felt was Pandora's vexation at not being able to discover the +secret of the mysterious box. + +This was at first only the faint shadow of a Trouble; but every day +it grew more and-more real, until before a great while the cottage +of Epimetheus and Pandora was less sunshiny than those of the other +children. + +"Whence can the box have come?" Pandora continually kept saying to +herself and to Epimetheus. "And can be inside of it?" + +"Always talking about this box!" said Epimetheus at last; for he had +grown extremely tired of the subject. "I wish, dear Pandora, you would +try to talk of something else. Come, let us go and gather some ripe +figs, and eat them under the trees for our supper. And I know a vine +that has the sweetest and juiciest grapes you ever tasted." "Always +talking about grapes and figs!" cried Pandora, pettishly. + +"Well, then," said Epimetheus, who was a very good-tempered child, +like many children in those days, "let us run out and have a merry +time with our playmates." + +"I am tired of merry times, and don't care if I never have any more!" +answered our pettish little Pandora. "And, besides, I never do have +any. This ugly box! I am so taken up with thinking about it all the +time. I insist upon your telling me what is inside of it." + +"As I have already said fifty times over, I do not know!" replied +Epimetheus, getting a little vexed. "How, then, can I tell you what is +inside?" + +"You might open it," said Pandora, looking sideways at Epimetheus, +"and then we could see for ourselves!" + +"Pandora, what are you thinking of?" exclaimed Epimetheus. + +And his face expressed so much horror at the idea of looking into a +box which had been given to him on the condition of his never opening +it, that Pandora thought it best not to suggest it any more. Still, +however, she could not help thinking and talking about the box. + +"At least," said she, "you can tell me how it came here." + +"It was left at the door," replied Epimetheus, "just before you came, +by a person who looked very smiling and intelligent, and who could +hardly forbear laughing as he put it down. He was dressed in an odd +kind of cloak, and had on a cap that seemed to be made partly of +feathers, so that it looked almost as if it had wings." + +"What sort of staff had he?" asked Pandora. + +"Oh, the most curious staff you ever saw!" cried Epimetheus. "It was +like two serpents twisting around a stick, and was carved so naturally +that I at first thought the serpents were alive." + +"I know him," said Pandora thoughtfully. "Nobody else has such a +staff. It was Quicksilver; and he brought me hither, as well as the +box. No doubt he intended it for me; and most probably it contains +pretty dresses for me to wear, or toys for you and me to play with, or +something very 5 nice for us both to eat!" + +"Perhaps so," answered Epimetheus, turning away. "But, until +Quicksilver comes back and tells us so, we have neither of us any +right to lift the lid of the box." + +"What a dull boy he is!" muttered Pandora, as Epimetheus left the +cottage. "I do wish he had a little more enterprise!" + + +THE KNOT OF GOLDEN CORD + +For the first time since her arrival Epimetheus had gone out without +asking Pandora to accompany him. He went to gather figs and grapes for +himself, or to seek whatever amusement he could find in other society +than his little playfellow's. He was tired to death of hearing about +the box, and heartily wished that Quicksilver, or whatever was the +messenger's name, had left it at some other child's door where Pandora +would never have set eyes on it. + +So perseveringly as she did babble about this one thing! The box, the +box, and nothing but the box! It seemed as if the box were bewitched, +and as if the cottage were not big enough to hold it without Pandora's +continually stumbling over it and making Epimetheus stumble over it +likewise, and bruising all four of their shins. + +Well, it was really hard that poor Epimetheus should have a box in his +ears from morning till night; especially as the little people of the +earth were so unaccustomed to vexations in those happy days that they +knew not how to deal with them. Thus a small vexation made as much +disturbance then as a far bigger one would in our own times. + +After Epimetheus was gone, Pandora stood gazing at the box. She had +called it ugly above a hundred times; but in spite of all that she +had said against it, it was positively a very handsome article of +furniture, and would have been quite an ornament to any room in which +it should be placed. It was made of a beautiful kind of wood with +dark and rich veins spreading over its surface, which was so highly +polished that little Pandora could see her face in it. As the child +had no other looking-glass, it is odd that she did not value the box +merely on this account. + +The edges and corners of the box were carved with most wonderful +skill. Around the margin there were figures of graceful men and women, +and the prettiest children ever seen, reclining or sporting amid a +profusion of flowers and foliage; and these various objects were so +finely represented, and were wrought together in such harmony, that +flowers, foliage, and human beings seemed to combine into a wreath +of mingled beauty. But here and there, peeping forth from behind the +carved foliage, Pandora once or twice fancied she saw a face not so +lovely, or something or other that was disagreeable, and which stole +the beauty out of all, the rest. Nevertheless, on looking more closely +and touching the spot with her finger, she could discover nothing of +the kind. Some face that was really beautiful had been made to look +ugly by her catching a sideways glimpse at it. + +The most beautiful face of all was done in what is called high relief, +in the center of the lid. There was nothing else save the dark, smooth +richness of the polished wood, and this one face in the center, with a +garland of flowers about its brow. Pandora had looked at this face a +great many times, and imagined that the mouth could smile if it liked, +or be grave when it chose, the same as any living mouth. The features, +indeed, all wore a very lively and rather mischievous expression, +which looked almost as if it needs must burst out of the carved lips +and utter itself in words. + +Had the mouth spoken, it would probably have been something like this: + +"Do not be afraid, Pandora! What harm can there be in opening the box? +Never mind that poor, simple Epimetheus! You are wiser than he, and +have ten times as much spirit. Open the box, and see if you do not +find something very pretty!" The box, I had almost forgotten to say, +was fastened, not by a lock or by any other such contrivance, but by a +very fine knot of gold cord. There appeared to be no end to this knot, +and no beginning. Never was a knot so cunningly twisted, nor with so +many ins and outs, which roguishly defied the skillfulest fingers to +disentangle them. And yet, by the very difficulty that there was in +it, Pandora was the more tempted to examine the knot, and just see how +it was made. Two or three times already she had stooped over the box, +and taken the knot between her thumb and forefinger, but without +positively trying to undo it. + +"I really believe," said she to herself, that I begin to see how it +was done. Nay, perhaps I could tie it up again after undoing it. There +could be no harm in that, surely. Even Epimetheus would not blame me +for that. I need not open the box, and should not, of course, without +the foolish boy's consent, even if the knot were untied." It might +have been better for Pandora if she had had a little work to do, +or anything to employ her mind upon, so as not to be so constantly +thinking of this one subject. But children led so easy a life before +any Troubles came into the world that they find really a great deal +too much leisure. They could not be forever playing at hide-and-seek +among the flower-shrubs, or at blind-man's buff with garlands over +their eyes, or at whatever other games has been found out while Mother +Earth was in her babyhood. + +When life is all sport, toil is the real play. There was absolutely +nothing to do. A little sweeping and dusting about the cottage, I +suppose, and the gathering of fresh flowers (which were only too +abundant everywhere), and arranging them in vases--and poor little +Pandora's day's work was over. And then, for the rest of the day, +there was the box! + +After all, I am not quite sure that the box was not a blessing to her +in its way. It supplied her with so many ideas to think of, and to +talk about, whenever she had anybody to listen! When she was in good +humor, she could admire the bright polish of its sides and the rich +border of beautiful faces and foliage that ran all around it. Or, if +she chanced to be ill-tempered, she could give it a push, or kick it +with her naughty little foot. And many a kick did the box (but it was +a mischievous box, as we shall see, and deserved all it got) many a +kick did it receive. But certain it is, if it had not been for the +box, our active-minded little Pandora would not have known half so +well how to spend her time as she now did. + +GUESSING WHAT WAS IN THE BOX + +For it was really an endless employment to guess what was inside. What +could it be, indeed? Just imagine, my little hearers, how busy your +wits would be if there were a great box in the house, which, as you +might have reason to suppose, contained something new and pretty for +your Christmas or New Year's gifts. Do you think that you should be +less curious than Pandora? If you were left alone with the box, might +you not feel a little tempted to lift the lid? But you would not do +it. Oh, fie! No, no! Only, if you thought there were toys in it, it +would be so very hard to let slip an opportunity of taking just one +peep! + +I know not whether Pandora expected any toys; for none had yet begun +to be made, probably, in those days, when the world itself was one +great plaything for the children that dwelt upon it. But Pandora was +convinced that there was something very beautiful and valuable in the +box; and therefore she felt just as anxious to take a peep as any of +these little girls here around me would have felt. And, possibly, +a little more so; but of that I am not quite so certain. On this +particular day, however, which we have so long been talking about, her +curiosity grew so much greater than it usually was that at last she +approached the box. She was more than half determined to open, it, if +she could. Ah, naughty Pandora! First, however, she tried to lift it. +It was heavy; much too heavy for the slender strength of a child like +Pandora. She raised one end of the box a few inches from the floor, +and let it fall again with a pretty loud thump. A moment afterwards +she almost fancied that she heard something stir inside the box. She +applied her ear as closely as possible and listened. Positively, there +did seem to be a kind of stifled murmur within. Or was it merely the +singing in Pandora's ear's. Or could it be the beating of her heart? +The child could not quite satisfy herself whether she had heard +anything or no. But, at all events, her curiosity was stronger than +ever, As she drew back her head, her eyes fell upon the knot of gold +cord. + +"It must have been a very ingenious person who tied this knot," said +Pandora to herself. "But I think 1 could untie it, nevertheless. I am +resolved, at least, to find the two ends of the cord." + +So she took the golden knot in her fingers and pried into it as +sharply as she could. Almost without intending it, or quite knowing +what she was about, she was soon busily engaged in attempting to undo +it. Meanwhile, the bright sunshine came through the open window; as +did likewise the merry voices of the children, playing at a distance, +and perhaps the voice of Epimetheus among them. + +Pandora stopped to listen. What a beautiful day it was! Would it not +be wise if she were to let the trouble some knot alone and think no +more about the box, but run and join her little playfellows and be +happy? + +All this time, however, her fingers were busy with the knot; and +happening to glance at the face on the lid of the enchanted box, she +seemed to see it slyly grinning at her. + +"That face looks very mischievous," thought Pandora. "I wonder whether +it smiles because I am doing wrong! I have the greatest mind in the +world to run away!" + +But just then, by the merest accident, she gave the knot a kind of +twist, which produced a wonderful result. The gold cord united itself, +as if by magic, arid left the box without a fastening. + +"This is the strangest thing I ever knew!" said Pandora. "What will +Epimetheus say? And how can I possibly tie it up again?" She made one +or two attempts to restore the knot, but soon found it quite beyond +her skill. It had untied itself so suddenly that she could not in the +least remember how the strings had been doubled onto one another; and +when she tried to recollect the shape and appearance of the knot, it +seemed to have gone entirely out of her mind. Nothing was to be done +therefore, but to let the box remain as it was until Epimetheus should +come in. + +"But," said Pandora, "when he finds the knot untied, he will know that +I have done it. How shall I make him believe that I have not looked +into the box?" + +And then the thought came into her naughty little heart, that, since +she would be suspected of having looked into the box, she might just +as well do so at once. O very naughty and very foolish Pandora! You +should have thought only of doing what was right and of leaving undone +what was wrong, and not of what your playfellow Epimetheus would have +said or believed. And so perhaps she might if the enchanted face on +the lid of the box had not looked so bewitchingly persuasive at her, +and if she had not seemed to hear, more distinctly than before, the +murmur of small voices within. She could not tell whether it was fancy +or no; but there was quite a little tumult of whispers in her +ear--or else it was her curiosity that whispered: "Let us out, dear +Pandora--pray let us out! We will be such nice, pretty playfellows for +you! Only let us out!" + +"What can it be?" thought Pandora, "Is there something alive in the +box? Well!--yes!--I am resolved to take just one peep! Only one peep; +and then lid shall be shut down as safely as ever. There cannot +possibly be any harm in just one little peep!" + + + +HOW TROUBLES CAME INTO THE WORLD + +But it is now time for us to see what Epimetheus was doing. + +This was the first time since his little Playmate had come to dwell +with him that he had attempted to enjoy any pleasure in which she did +not partake. But nothing went right; nor was he nearly so happy as +on other days. He could not find a sweat grape or a ripe fig (if +Epimetheus had a fault, it was a little too much fondness for figs); +or, if ripe at all, they were overripe, and so sweet as to be +distasteful. There was no mirth in his heart, such as usually made +his voice gush out, of Its own accord, and swell the merriment of his +companions. In short, he grew so uneasy and discontented that other +children could not imagine what was the matter with Epimetheus. +Neither did he himself know what ailed him, any better then they did. + +For you must recollect that, at the time we are speaking of, it was +everybody's nature and common habit to be happy. The world had not +yet learned to be otherwise. Not a single soul or body, since these +children were first sent to enjoy it themselves on the beautiful +earth, had ever been sick or out-of-sorts. + +At length, discovering that, somehow or other, he put a stop to all +the play, Epimetheus judged it best to go back to Pandora, who was +in a humor better suited to his own. But, with a hope of giving her +pleasure, he gathered flowers and made them into a wreath, which he +meant to put upon her head. The flowers were very lovely--roses and +lilies and orange-blossoms, and a great many more, which left a trail +of fragrance behind, as Epimetheus carried them along, and wreath was +put together with as much skill as could be expected of a boy. The +fingers of little girls, it has always appeared to me, are the fittest +to twine flower-wreaths; but boys could de it in those days rather +better than they can now. + +And here I must mention that a great black cloud had been gathering +in the sky for some time past, although it had not yet overspread the +sun. But, just as Epimetheus reached the cottage-door, this cloud +began to cut off the sunshine, and thus to make a sudden and sad +darkness. + +He entered softly; for he meant, if possible, to steal behind Pandora +and fling a wreath of flowers over her head before she should be +aware of his approach. But, as it happened, there was no need of his +treading so very lightly. He might have trod as heavily as he pleased, +as heavily as a grown man--as heavily, I was going to say, as an +elephant--without much probability of Pandora's hearing his footsteps. +She was too intent upon her purpose. At the moment of this entering +the cottage the naughty box, I had almost forgotten to say, was +fastened, not by a lock or by any other such contrivance, but by a +very fine knot of gold cord. There appeared to be no end to this knot, +and no beginning. Never was a knot so cunningly twisted, nor with so +many ins and outs, which roguishly defied the skillfulest fingers to +disentangle them. And yet, by the very difficulty that there was in +it, Pandora was the more tempted to examine the knot, and just see how +it was made. Two or three times already she had stooped over the box, +and taken the knot between her thumb and forefinger, but without +positively trying to undo it. + +"I really believe," said she to herself, that I begin to see how it +was done. Nay, perhaps I could tie it up again after undoing it. There +could be no harm in that, surely. Even Epimetheus would not blame me +for that. I need not open the box, and should not, of course, without +the foolish boy's consent, even if the knot were untied." + +It might have been better for Pandora if she had had a little work to +do, or anything to employ her mind upon, so as not to be so constantly +thinking of this one subject. But children led so easy a life before +any Troubles came into the world that they find really a great deal +too much leisure. They could not be forever playing at hide-and-seek +among the flower-shrubs, or at blind-man's buff with garlands over +their eyes, or at whatever other games has been found out while Mother +Earth was in her babyhood. + +When life is all sport, toil is the real play. There was absolutely +nothing to do. A little sweeping and dusting about the cottage, I +suppose, and the gathering of fresh flowers (which were only too +abundant everywhere), and arranging them in vases--and poor little +Pandora's day's work was over. And then, for the rest of the day, +there was the box! + +After all. I am not quite sure that the box was not a blessing to her +in its way. It supplied her with so many ideas to think of, and to +talk about, whenever she had anybody to listen! When she was in good +humor, she could admire the bright polish of its sides and the rich +border of beautiful faces and foliage that ran all around it. Or, if +she chanced to be ill-tempered, she could give it a push, or kick it +with her naughty little foot. And many a kick did the box (but it was +a mischievous box, as we shall see, and deserved all it got) many a +kick did it receive. But certain it is, if it had not been for the +box, our active-minded little Pandora would not have known half so +well how to spend her time as she now did. + + +GUESSING WHAT WAS IN THE BOX + +For it was really an endless employment to guess what was inside. What +could it be, indeed? Just imagine, my little hearers, how busy your +wits would be if there were a great box in the house, which, as you +might have reason to suppose, contained something new and pretty for +your Christmas or New Year's gifts. Do you think that you should be +less curious than Pandora? If you were left alone with the box, might +you not feel a little tempted to lift the lid? But you would not do +it. Oh, fie! No, no! Only, if you thought there were toys in it, it +would be so very hard to let slip an opportunity of taking just one +peep! + +I know not whether Pandora expected any toys; for none had yet begun +to be made, probably, in those days, when the world itself was one +great plaything for the children that dwelt upon it. But Pandora was +convinced that there was something very beautiful and valuable in the +box; and therefore she felt just as anxious to take a peep as any +of these little girls here around me would have felt. For it was +impossible, as you will easily guess, that the two children should +keep the ugly swarm in their own little cottage. On the contrary, the +first thing that they did was to fling open the doors and windows in +hope of getting rid of them; and, sure enough, away flew the winged +Troubles all abroad, and so pestered and tormented the small people, +everywhere about, that none of them so much as smiled for many days +afterwards. + +And, what was very singular, all the flowers and dewy blossoms on +earth, not one of which had hitherto faded, now began to droop and +shed their leaves, after a day or two. The children, moreover, who +before seemed immortal in their childhood, now grew older, day by day, +and came soon to be youths and maidens, and men and women by-and-by, +and aged people, before they dreamed of such a thing. + + +WHAT HOPE DOES FOR US + +Meanwhile, the naughty Pandora and hardly less naughty Epimetheus +remained in their cottage. Both of them had been grievously stung, +and were in a good deal of pain, which, seemed the more adorable +intolerable to them, because it was the very first pain that had +ever been felt since the world began. Of course they were entirely +unaccustomed to it, and could have no idea what it meant. Besides all +this, they were in exceedingly bad humor, both with themselves and +with one another. In order to indulge it to the utmost, Epimetheus sat +down sullenly in a corner with his back toward Pandora; while Pandora +flung herself upon the floor and rested her head on the fatal box. She +was crying bitterly, and sobbing as if her heart would break. + +Suddenly there was gentle little tap on the inside of the lid. + +"What can that be?" cried Pandora, lifting her head. + +But either Epimetheus had not heard the tap, or was too much out of +humor to notice it. At any rate, he made no answer. + +"You are very unkind," said Pandora, sobbing anew, "not to speak to +me!" + +Again the tap! It sounded like the tiny knuckles of a fairy's hand, +knocking lightly and playfully on the inside of the box. + +"Who are you?" asked Pandora, with a little of her former curiosity. +"Who are you, inside of this naughty box?" + +A sweet little voice spoke from within: "Only lift the lid, and you +shall see." + +"No, no," answered Pandora, again beginning to sob, "I have had enough +of lifting the lid! You are inside of the box, naughty creature, and +there you shall stay! There are plenty of your ugly brothers and +sisters already flying about the world. You need never think that I +shall be so foolish as to let you out!" + +She looked toward Epimetheus as she spoke, perhaps expecting that he +would commend her for her wisdom. But the sullen boy only muttered +that she was wise a little too late. + +"Ah," said the sweet little voice again. "You had much better let me +out. I am not like those naughty creatures that have stings in their +tails. They are no brothers and sisters of mine, as you would see at +once, if you were only to get a glimpse of me. Come, come, my pretty +Pandora! I am sure you will let me out!" + +And, indeed, there was a kind of cheerful witchery in the tone that +made it almost impossible to refuse anything which this little voice +asked. Pandora's heart had grown lighter at every word that came from +within the box. Epimetheus, too, though still in the corner, had +turned half round, and seemed to be in rather better spirits than +before. + +"My dear Epimetheus," cried Pandora, "have you heard this little +voice?" + +"Yes, to be sure I have," answered he, but in no very good humor as +yes. "And what of it?" + +"Shall I lift the lid again?" asked Pandora. + +"Just as you please," said Epimetheus. "You have done so much mischief +already that perhaps you may as well do a little more. One other +Trouble, in such a swarm as you have set adrift about the world, can +make no very great difference." + +"You might speak a little more kindly!" murmured Pandora, wiping her +eyes. + +"Ah, naughty boy!" cried the little voice within the box, in an arch +and laughing tone. "He knows he is longing to see me. Come, my dear +Pandora, lift up the lid. I am in a great hurry to comfort you. Only +let me have some fresh air, and you shall soon see that matters are +not quite so dismal as you think them!" + +"Epimetheus," exclaimed Pandora, "come what may, I am resolved to open +the box!" + +"And, as the lid seems very heavy," cried Epimetheus, running across +the room, "I will help you!" + +So, with one consent, the children again lifted the lid. Out flew +a sunny and smiling little personage, and hovered about the room, +throwing a light wherever she went. Have you never made the sunshine +dance into dark corners by reflecting it from a bit of looking-glass? +Well, so looked the winged cheerfulness of this fairy-like stranger +amid the gloom of the cottage. She flew to Epimetheus and laid the +least touch of her finger on the inflamed spot where the Trouble had +stung him, and immediately the anguish of it was gone. Then she kissed +Pandora on the forehead, and her hurt was cured likewise. + +After performing these good offices, the bright stranger fluttered +sportively over the children's heads, and looked so sweetly at them +that they both began to think it not so very much amiss to have opened +the box, since, otherwise, their cheery guest must have been kept a +prisoner among those naughty imps with stings in their tails. + +"Pray, who are you, beautiful creature?" inquired Pandora. + +"I am to be called Hope!" answered the sunshiny figure. "And because +I am such a cheery little body, I was packed into the box, to make +amends to the human race for that swarm of ugly Troubles, which was +destined to be let loose among them. Never fear! We shall do pretty +well in spite of them all." + +"Your wings are colored like the rainbow!" exclaimed Pandora. "How +very beautiful!" + +"Yes, they are like the rainbow," said Hope, "because, glad as my +nature is, I am partly made of tears as well as smiles." + +"And will you stay with us," asked Epimetheus, "for ever and ever?" + +"As long as you need me," said Hope, with her pleasant smile, "and +that will be as long as you live in the world. I promise never to +leave you. There may be times and seasons, now and then, when you will +think that I have utterly vanished. But again, and again, and again, +when perhaps you least dream of it, you shall see the glimmer of my +wings on the ceiling of your cottage. Yes, my dear children, and +I know something very good and beautiful that is to be Given you +hereafter!" + +"Oh, tell us," they exclaimed; "tell us what it is!" + +"Do not ask me," replied Hope, patting her finger on her rosy mouth. +"But do not despair, even if it should never happen while you live on +this earth. Trust in my promise, for it is true." + +"We do trust you!" cried Epimetheus and Pandora, both in one breath. + +And so they did; and not only they, but so has everybody trusted Hope, +that has since been alive. And, to tell You the truth, I cannot help +being glad (though to be sure It was an uncommonly naughty thing for +her to do) but I Cannot help being glad that our foolish Pandora +peeped into the box. No doubt--no doubt--the Troubles are still flying +about the world, and have increased in numbers, rather than lessened, +and are a very ugly set of imps, and carry most venomous stings in +their tails. I have felt them already, and expect to feel them more +as I grow older. But then that lovely and lightsome little figure of +Hope! What in the world could we do without her? Hope spiritualizes +the earth; Hope makes it always new; and, even in the earth’s best and +brightest aspect, Hope shows it to be only the shadow of an infinite +bliss hereafter! + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. How long ago did Pandora and Epimetheus live? 2. Find +the lines that tell how different the world was then from what it is +now. 3. Where did the box come from? 4. On what conditions was it +given to Epimetheus? 5. Find lines that describe the box. 6. Why was +Pandora interested in it? 7. In what way was it a blessing to Pandora? +8. What led her to open the box? 9. Do you thing Epimetheus was at +fault? Why? 10. What happened when Pandora raised the lid of the box? +11. How did this affect the Paradise of Children? The flowers? The +children? 12. What happened when Pandora opened the box a second time? +13. Why was Hope put into the box with the Troubles? 14. Why are the +wings of Hope like the rainbows? 15. What does Hope do for us? 16. +What qualities in Epimetheus do you like? 17. What did Hope mean by +saying she was partly made of tears? 18. How does Hope "spiritualize" +the earth, i.e., make it purer? 19. Tell what you can about the +author. 20. On page 291 you were asked to notice the way in which +these authors tell their stories; you have no doubt noticed that +Hawthorne uses humor and fancy to add interest. 21. Point out examples +of his humor. 22. What quaint fancy has he about the way food was +provided when the world was young? 23. By what fancy does he increase +our interest in the mystery of the box? 24. Class readings: Select +passages to be read aloud in class. 25. Outline for testing silent +reading. Tell the story briefly in your own words, using the topic +headings given in the story. 26. You will enjoy seeing the pictures in +the edition of The Wonder-Book that is illustrated by the well known +artist, Maxfield Parrish. 27. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: +caroling; mysterious; whence; pettishly; intelligent; babble; combine; +pried; restore; constant; intent; pestered; witchery; personage; +glimmer; lightsome. 28 Pronounce: Epimetheus; either; Pandora; +threshold; livelong; disquietude; merry; forbear; accompany; +perseveringly; vexations; profusion; mischievous; contrivance; +ingenious; merest; lamentable; gigantic; molested; calamity; +grievously; intolerable; hovered; destined; venomous; spiritualizes; +aspect; infinite. + +Phrases for Study + +greatest disquietude, afflicted the souls, faint shadow of a Trouble, +obtained a foothold, more enterprise, immortal in their childhood, +unaccustomed to vexations, wrought together in such harmony, indulge +in to the utmost, with one consent, high relief, performing these good +offices, utter itself in words, roguishly defied, much amiss, toil is +the real play, make amends, bewitchingly persuasive, brightest aspect, +humor better suited, shadow of an infinite bliss. THE GOLDEN TOUCH + +KING MIDAS AND HIS LOVE FOR GOLD + +Once upon a time there lived a very rich man, and a King besides, +whose name was Midas; and he had a little daughter, whom nobody but +myself ever heard of, and whose name I either never knew, or have +entirely forgotten. So, because I love odd name for little girls, I +choose to call her Marygold. + +This King Midas was fonder of gold than of anything else in the world. +He valued his royal crown chiefly because it was composed of that +precious metal. If he loved anything better, or half so well, it +was the one little maiden who played so merrily around her father's +footstool. But the more Midas loved his daughter, the more did he +desire and seek for wealth. He thought, foolish man, that the best +thing he could possibly do for his dear child would be to give her the +immensest pile of yellow, glistening coin that had ever been heaped +together since the world was make. Thus, he gave all his thoughts and +all his time to this one Purpose. If ever he happened to gaze for an +instant at the gold-tinted clouds of sunset, he wished that they were +real gold and that they could be squeezed safely into his strong box. +When little Marygold ran to meet him, with a bunch of buttercups and +dandelions, he used to say, "Pooh, pooh, child! If these flowers were +a golden as they look, they would be worth the plucking!" + +And yet, in his earlier days, before he was so entirely possessed of +this insane desire for riches, King Midas had shown a great taste +for flowers. He had planted a garden, in which grew the biggest and +beautifulest and sweetest roses that any mortal ever saw or smelled. +These roses were still growing in the garden, as large, as lovely, and +as fragrant as when Midas used to pass whole hours in gazing at the +and inhaling their perfume. But now, if he looked at them at all, it +was only to calculate how much the garden would be worth if each of +the many rose-petals were a thin plate of gold. + +At length (as people always grow more and more foolish, unless they +take care to grow wiser and wiser) Midas had got to be so exceedingly +unreasonable that he could scarcely bear to see or touch any object +that was not gold. He made it his custom, therefore, to pass a large +portion of every day in a dark and dreary apartment, underground, at +the basement of the palace. It was here that he kept his wealth. To +this dismal hole "for it was little better than a dungeon" Midas betook +himself whenever he wanted to be particularly happy. Here, after +carefully locking the door, he would take a bag of gold coin, or +a gold cup as big as a washbowl, or a heavy golden bar, or a +peck-measure of gold-dust, and bring them from the obscure corners of +the room into the one bright and narrow sunbeam that fell from the +dungeon-like window. He valued the sunbeam for no other reason but +that his treasure would not shine without its help. And then would he +reckon over the coins in the bag; toss up the bar, and catch it as it +came down; sift the gold-dust through his fingers; look at the funny +image of his own face, as reflected in the polished surface of the +cup; and whisper to himself, "O Midas, rich King Midas, what a happy +man art thou!" + +Midas was enjoying himself in his treasure-room one Day as usual, when +he saw a shadow fall over the heaps of Gold; and, looking suddenly up, +what should he behold but The figure of a strange, standing in the +bright and narrow Sunbeam! It was a young man with a cheerful and +ruddy face. Whether it was that the imagination of King Midas threw a +yellow tinge over everything, or whatever the cause might be, he could +not help fancying that the smile with which the stranger regarded him +had a kind of golden radiance in it. + +As Midas knew that he had carefully turned the key in The lock, and +that no mortal strength could possibly break Into his treasure-room, +he of course concluded that his Visitor must be something more than +mortal. It is no matter about telling you who he was. In those days, +when the earth was comparatively a new affair, it was supposed to be +often the resort of beings who had extraordinary powers, and who used +to interest themselves in the joys and sorrows of men, women, and +children, half playfully and half seriously, Midas had met such +beings before now, and was not sorry to meet one of them again. The +stranger's manner, indeed, was so good-humored and kindly that it +would have been unreasonable to suspect him of intending any mischief. +It was far more probable that he came to do Midas a favor. And what +could that favor be, unless to multiply his heaps of treasure? + +The stranger gazed about the room; and when his bright smile had +glistened upon all the golden objects that were there, he turned again +to Midas. + +"You are a wealthy man, friend Midas!" he observed. "I doubt whether +any other four walls on earth contain so much gold as you have piled +up in this room." + +"I have done pretty well pretty well," answered Midas, in a +discontented tone. "But, after all, it is but a trifle, when you +consider that it has taken me my whole life to get it together. If one +could live a thousand years, he might have time to grow rich!" + +"What!" exclaimed the stranger. "Then you are not satisfied?" Midas +shook his head. + +"And pray what would satisfy you?" asked the stranger. "Merely for the +curiosity of the thing I should be glad to know." + +Midas paused and meditated. He had a feeling that his stranger, with +such a golden luster in his good-humored smile, had come hither with +both the power and the purpose of gratifying his utmost wishes. Now, +therefore, was the fortunate moment when he had but to speak and +obtain whatever possible, or seemingly impossible, thing it might +come into his head to ask. So he thought and thought and thought, +and heaped up one golden mountain upon another in this imagination, +without being able to imagine them big enough. At last, a bright idea +occurred to King Midas. It seemed really as bright as the glistening +metal which he loved so much. + +Raising his head, he looked the lustrous stranger in the face. + +"Well, Midas," observed his visitor. "I see that you have at length +hit upon something that will satisfy you. Tell me your wish." + +"It is only this," Replied Midas. "I am weary of collecting my +treasures with so much trouble, and beholding the heap so small after +I have done my best. I wish everything that I touch to be changed to +gold!" + +The stranger's smile grew so very broad that it seemed to fill the +room like an outburst of the sun gleaming into a shadowy dell where +the yellow autumnal leaves--for so looked the lumps and particles of +gold--lie strewn in the glow of light. + +"The Golden Touch!" exclaimed he. "You certainly deserve credit, +friend Midas, for striking out so brilliant an idea. But are you quite +sure that this will satisfy you?" + +"How could it fail?" said Midas. + +"And will you never regret the possession of it?" + +"What could induce me?" asked Midas. "I ask nothing else to render me +perfectly happy." + +"Be it as you wish, then," replied the stranger, waving his hand in +token of farewell. "Tomorrow, at sunrise, you will find yourself +gifted with the Golden touch." + +The figure of the stranger then became exceedingly bright, and Midas +was forced to close his eyes. On opening them again he beheld only one +yellow sunbeam in the room, and, all around him, the glistening of the +precious metal which he had spent his life in hoarding up. + +Whether Midas slept as usual that night, the story does not say. +Asleep or awake, however, his mind was probably in the state of a +child's to whom a beautiful new plaything has been promised in the +morning. At any rate, day had hardly peeped over the hills when King +Midas was broad awake, and stretching his arms out of bed, began to +touch the objects that were within reach. He was anxious to prove +whether the Golden Touch had really come, according to the stranger's +promise. So he laid his finger on a chair by the bedside, and on +various other things, but was grievously disappointed to perceive that +they remained of exactly the same substance as before. + + +THE GIFT OF THE GOLDEN TOUCH + +All this while, it was only the gray of the morning, with but a streak +of brightness along the edge of the sky, where Midas could not see it. +He lay in a very unhappy mood, regretting the downfall of his hopes, +and kept growing sadder and sadder, until the earliest sunbeam shone +through the window and gilded the ceiling over his head. It seemed +to Midas that this bright yellow sunbeam was reflected in rather a +singular way on the white covering of the bed. Looking more closely, +what was his astonishment and delight, when he found that this linen +fabric wad been changed to what seemed a woven texture of the purest +and brightest gold! The Golden Touch had come to him with the first +sunbeam! + +Midas started up, in a kind of joyful frenzy, and ran about the room +grasping at everything that happened to be in his way. He seized one +of the bed-posts, and it became immediately a fluted golden pillar. He +pulled aside a window-curtain in order to admit a clear spectacle of +the wonders which he was performing; and the tassel grew heavy in his +hand--a mass of gold. He took up a book from the table. At this first +touch, it assumed the appearance of such a splendidly-bound and +gilt-edged volume as one often meets with nowadays; but, on running +his fingers through the leaves, behold! It was a bundle of thin golden +plates, in which all the wisdom of the book had grown in distinct. +He hurriedly put on his clothes, and was delighted to ace himself in +magnificent suit of gold cloth, which retained its flexibility and +softness, although it burdened him a little with its weight. + +Wise King Midas was so excited by his good fortune that the palace +seemed not sufficiently spacious to contain him. He therefore went +downstairs and smiled on observing that the balustrade of the +staircase became a bar of burnished gold as his hand passed over it in +the descent. He lifted the door latch (it was brass only a moment ago, +but golden when his fingers quitted it) and went into the garden. +Here, as it happened, he found a great number of beautiful roses in +full bloom, and others in all the stages of lovely bud and blossom. +Very delicious was their fragrance in the morning breeze. Their +delicate blush was one of the fairest sights in the world--so gentle, +so modest, and so full of erect composure did these roses seem to be. + +But Midas knew a way to make them far more precious, according to his +way of thinking, than roses had ever been before. So he took great +pains in going from bush to bush, and exercised his magic touch most +freely; until every individual flower and bud, and even the worms at +the heart of some of them, were changed to gold. By the time this good +work was completed, King Midas was called to breakfast; and, as the +morning air had given him an excellent appetite, he made haste back to +the palace. + +What was usually a king's breakfast, in the days of Midas, I really do +not know, and cannot stop now to find out. To the best of my belief, +however, on this particular morning, the breakfast consisted of hot +cakes, some nice little brook-trout, roasted potatoes, fresh boiled +eggs, and coffee, for King Midas himself, and a bowl of bread and milk +for his daughter Marygold. At all events, this is a breakfast fit to +be set before a king; and, whether he had it or not, King Midas could +not have had a better. + +Little Marygold had not yet made her appearance. Her father ordered +her to be called, and, seating himself at table, awaited the child's +coming, in order to begin his own breakfast. To do Midas justice, he +really loved his daughter, and loved her so much the more this morning +on account of the good fortune which had befallen him. It was not +a great while before he heard her coming along the passage crying +bitterly. This circumstance surprised him, because Marygold was one of +the cheerfulest little people whom you would see in a summer day, and +hardly shed a thimbleful of tears in a twelvemonth. When Midas heard +her sobs, he determined to put little Marygold into better spirits by +an agreeable surprise; so, leaning across the table, he touched his +daughter's bowl (which was a china one, with pretty figures all around +it) and turned it to gleaming gold. + +Meanwhile, Marygold slowly and sadly opened the door, and showed +herself with her apron at her eyes, still sobbing as if her heart +would break. + +"How now, my little lady!" cried Midas. "Pray what is the matter with +you this bright morning?" + +Marygold, without taking the apron from her eyes, held out her hand, +in which was one of the roses which Midas had so recently changed. + +"Beautiful!" exclaimed her father. "And what is there in this +magnificent golden rose to make you cry?" + +"Ah, dear father!" answered the child, as well as her sobs would let +her, "it is not beautiful, but the ugliest flower that ever grew! As +soon as I was dressed, I ran into the garden to gather some roses +for you, because I know you like them, and like them the better when +gathered by your little daughter. But, O dear, dear me! What do you +think has happened? Such a misfortune! All the beautiful roses, that +smelled so sweet and had so many lovely blushes, are blighted and +spoiled! They are grown quite yellow, as you see this one, and have no +longer any fragrance! What can have been the matter?" + +"Pooh, my dear little girl, pray don't cry about it!" said Midas, who +was ashamed to confess that he himself had wrought the change which so +greatly afflicted her. "Sit down and eat your bread and milk! You will +find it easy enough to exchange a golden rose like that (which will +last hundreds of years) for an ordinary one, which would wither in a +day." + +"I don't care for such roses as this!" cried Marygold. "It has no +smell, and hard petals prick my nose!" + + +THE KING'S BREAKFAST OF GOLD + +The child now sat down to table, but was so occupied with her grief +for the blighted roses that she did not even notice the wonderful +change of her china bowl. Perhaps this was all the better; for +Marygold was accustomed to take pleasure in looking at the queer +figures and strange trees and houses that were painted on the outside +of the bowl; and those ornaments were now entirely lost in the yellow +hue of the metal. + +Midas, meanwhile, had poured out a cup of coffee; and, as a matter of +course, the coffee-pot, whatever metal it may have been when he took +it up, was gold when he set it down. He thought to himself that it +was rather an extravagant style of splendor, in a king of his simple +habits, to breakfast off a service of gold, and began to be puzzled +with the difficulty of keeping his treasures safe. The cupboard and +the kitchen would no longer be a safe place of deposit for articles so +valuable as golden bowls and coffee-pots. + +Amid these thoughts, he lifted a spoonful of coffee to his lips, and +sipping it, was astonished to perceive that, the instant his lips +touched the liquid, it became molten gold, and, the next moment, +hardened into a lump! + +"Ha!" exclaimed Midas, rather aghast. + +"What is the matter, father?" asked little Marygold, gazing at him, +with tears still standing in her eyes. + +"Nothing, child, nothing!" said Midas. "Eat your bread and milk before +it gets quite cold." + +He took one of the nice little trout on his plate, and, by way of +experiment, touched its tail with his finger. To his horror, it was +immediately changed from an admirably-fried brook-trout into a gold +fish, though not one of those goldfish which people often keep in +glass globes, as ornaments for the parlor. No; but it was really a +metallic fish, and looked as if it had been very cunningly made by the +nicest goldsmith in the world. Its little bones were now golden wires; +its fins and tail were thin plates of gold; and there were the marks +of the fork in it, and all the delicate, frothy appearance of a nicely +fried fish, exactly imitated in metal. A very pretty piece of work, as +you may suppose; only King Midas just at the that moment would much +rather have had a real trout in his dish than his elaborate and +valuable imitation of one. + +"I don't quite see," thought he to himself, "how I am to get any +breakfast!" + +He took one of the smoking hot cakes, and had scarcely broken it, +when, to his cruel mortification, though a moment before it had been +of the whitest wheat, it assumed the yellow hue of Indian meal. To say +the truth, if it had really been a hot Indian cake, Midas would have +prized it a good deal more than he now did, when its solidity and +increased weight made him know too well that it was old. Almost +in despair, he helped himself to a boiled egg, which immediately +underwent a change similar to that of the trout and the cake. The egg, +indeed, might have been mistaken for one of those which the famous +goose, in the story-book, was in the habit of laying; but King Midas +was the only goose that had had anything to do with the matter. + +"Well, this is a puzzle!" thought he, leaning back in his chair, and +looking quite enviously at little Marygold, who was now eating her +bread and milk with great satisfaction. "Such a costly breakfast, and +nothing that can be eaten!" + +Hoping that, by dint of great quickness, he might avoid what he now +felt to be a considerable inconvenience, King Midas next snatched a +hot potato, and attempted to cram It into his mouth and swallow it in +hurry. But the Golden Touch was too nimble for him. He found his mouth +full, not of mealy potato, but of solid metal, which so burned his tongue +that he roared aloud, and, jumping up from the table, began to dance +and stamp about the room, both with pain and affright. + +"Father, dear father!" cried little Marygold, who was a very +affectionate child, "pray, what is the matter? Have you burned your +mouth?" + +"Ah, dear child," groaned Midas, dolefully, "I don't know what is to +become of your poor father!" + +And, truly, my dear little folks, did you ever hear of such a pitiable +case in all your lives? Here was literally the richest breakfast that +could be set before a king, and its very richness made it absolutely +good for nothing. The poorest laborer, sitting down to his crust of +bread and cup of water, was far better off than King Midas, whose +delicate food was really worth its weight in gold. And what was to be +done? Already, at breakfast, Midas was very hungry. Would he be less +so by dinner-time? And how ravenous would be his appetite for supper, +which must undoubtedly consist of the same sort of indigestible dishes +as those now before him! How many days, think you, would he survive +the fate of this rich fare? + +These thoughts so troubled wise King Midas that he began to doubt +whether, after all, riches are the one desirable thing in the world; +or even the most desirable. But this was only a passing thought. So +pleased was Midas with the glitter of the yellow metal that he +would still have refused to give up the Golden Touch for so small a +consideration as a breakfast. Just imagine what a price for one meal's +victuals! It would have been the same as paying millions and millions +of money (and as many millions more as would take forever to reckon +up) for some fried trout, an egg, a potato, a hot cake, and a cup of +coffee! + +"It would be quite too dear," thought Midas. + +Nevertheless, so great was his hunger and perplexity of this +situation, that he again groaned aloud, and very grievously too. Our +pretty Marygold could endure it no longer. She sat a moment gazing at +her father, and trying, with all the might of her little wits, to find +out what was the matter with him. Then, with a sweet and sorrowful +impulse to comfort him, she started from the chair, and running to +Midas, threw her arms affectionately about his knees. He bent down +and kissed her. He felt that his little daughter's love was worth a +thousand times more than he had gained by the Golden Touch. + +"My precious, precious Marygold!" cried he. + +But Marygold made no answer. + +Alas, what had he done? How fatal was the gift which the stranger +gave! The moment the lips of Midas touched Marygold's forehead, a +change had taken place. Her sweet, rosy face, so full of affection as +it had been, assumed a glittering yellow color, with yellow tear-drops +hardening on her cheeks. Her beautiful brown ringlets took the same +tint. Her soft and tender little form grew hard and stiff within her +father's encircling arms. O terrible misfortune! The victim of his +great desire for wealth, little Marygold was human child no longer, +but a golden statue! + +Yes, there she was, with the questioning look of love, grief, and +pity, hardened into her face. It was the prettiest and most woeful +sight that ever mortal saw. All the features and tokens of Marygold +were there; even the beloved little dimple remained in her golden +chin. But, the more perfect was the resemblance, the greater was the +father's agony at beholding this golden image, which was all that +was left him of a daughter. It had been a favorite phrase of Midas, +whenever he felt particularly fond of the child, to say that she was +worth her weight in gold. And how the phrase had become literally true. +And now, at last, when it was too late, he felt how infinitely a warm +and tender heart that loved him exceeded in value all the wealth that +could be piled up betwixt the earth and sky! + +It would be too sad a story if I were to tell you how Midas, in the +fullness of all his gratified desires, began to Wring his hands and +bemoan himself; and how he could neither bear to look at Marygold, nor +yet to look away from her. + + +WHAT KING MIDAS LEARNED + +While he was in this despair, he suddenly beheld a stranger, standing +near the door. Midas bent down his head, without speaking; for he +recognized the same figure which had appeared to him the day before in +the treasure-room, and had bestowed on him this unlucky power of the +Golden Touch. The stranger's countenance still wore a smile, which +Seemed to shed a yellow luster all about the room, and Gleamed on +little Marygold's image, and on the other Objects that had been +changed by the touch of Midas. + +"Well, friend Midas," said the stranger, "pray how do you succeed with +the Golden Touch?" + +Midas shook his head. + +"I am very miserable," said he. + +"Very miserable, indeed!" exclaimed the stranger. "And how happens +that? Have I not faithfully kept my promise with you? Have you not +everything that your heart desired?" + +"Gold is not everything," answered Midas. "And I have lost all that my +heart really cared for." + +"Ah! So you have made a discovery since yesterday?" observed the +stranger. "Let us see, then. Which of these two things do you think +is really worth the more--the gift of the Golden Touch, or one cup of +clear cold water?" + +"O blessed water!" exclaimed Midas. "It will never moisten my parched +throat again!" + +"The Golden Touch," continued the stranger, "or a crust of bread?" + +"A piece of bread," answered Midas, "is worth all the gold on earth!" + +"The Golden Touch," asked the stranger, "or your own little Marygold, +warm, soft, and loving, as she was an hour ago?" + +"Oh, my child, my dear child, my dear child!" cried poor Midas, +wringing his hands. "I would not have given that one small dimple in +her chin for the power of changing his whole big earth into a solid +lump of gold!" + +"You are wiser than you were, King Midas!" said the stranger, looking +seriously at him. "Your own heart, I perceive, has not been entirely +changed from flesh to gold. Were it so, your ease would indeed be +desperate. But you appear to be still capable of understanding that +the commonest things, such as lie within everybody's grasp, are more +valuable than the riches which so many mortals sigh and struggle +after. Tell me, now, do you sincerely desire to rid yourself of this +Golden Touch?" + +"It is hateful to me!" replied Midas. + +A fly settled on his nose, but immediately fell to the Floor; for it, +to had become gold. Midas shuddered. + +"Go, then," said the stranger, "and plunge into the river that glides +past the bottom of the your garden. Take likewise a vase of the same +water, and sprinkle it over any object that you may desire to change +back again from gold into its former substance. If you do this in +earnestness and sincerity, it may possibly repair the mischief which +your avarice has occasioned." + +King Midas bowed low; and when he lifted his head, The lustrous +stranger had vanished. + +You will easily believe that Midas lost no time in snatching up a +great earthen pitcher (but, alas! It was no longer earthen after he +touched it) and hastening to the riverside. As he scampered along, and +forced his way through the shrubbery, it was positively marvelous to +see how the foliage turned yellow behind him, as if the autumn had +been there, and nowhere else. On reaching the river's brink, he +plunged headlong in, without waiting so much as to pull off his shoes. + +"Poof! Poof! Poof!" snorted King Midas, as his head emerged out of the +water. "Well, this is really a refreshing bath, and I think it must +have quite washed away the Golden Touch. And now for filling my +pitcher!" + +As he dipped the pitcher into the water, it gladdened his very heart +to see it change from gold into the same good, honest earthen vessel +which it had been before he touched it. He was conscious, also, of a +change within himself. A cold, hard, and heavy weight seemed to have +gone out of his bosom. No doubt his heart had been gradually losing +its human substance, and changing itself into dull metal, but had now +softened back again into flesh. Seeing a violet that grew on the bank +of the river, Midas touched it with his finger, and was overjoyed to +find that the delicate flower retained its purple hue, instead of +undergoing a yellow blight. The curse of the Golden Touch had, +therefore, really been removed from him. + +King Midas hastened back to the palace; and, I suppose, the servants +knew not what to make of it when they saw their royal master so +carefully bringing home an earthen pitcher of water. But that water, +which was to undo all the mischief that his folly had wrought, was +more precious to Midas than an ocean of molten gold could have been. +The first thing he did, as you nee hardly be told, was to sprinkle it +by handfuls over the golden figure of little Marygold. + +No sooner did it fall on her than you would have laughed to see how +the rosy color came back to the dear child's cheek!--and how she began +to sneeze and splutter!--and how astonished she was to find herself +dripping wet, and her father still throwing more water over her! + +"Pray, do not, dear father!" cried she. "See how you have wet my nice +frock, which I put on only this morning!" + +For Marygold did not know that she had been a little golden statue; +nor could she remember anything that had happened since the moment +when she ran, with outstretched arms, to comfort poor King Midas. + +Her father did not think it necessary to tell his beloved child how +very foolish he had been, but contented himself with showing how much +wiser he had now grown. For this purpose he led little Marygold into +the garden, where he sprinkled all the remainder of the water over +the rosebushes recovered their beautiful bloom. There were two +circumstances, however, which, as long as he lived, used to put King +Midas in mind of the Golden Touch. One was that the sands of the river +sparkled like gold; the other that little Marygold's hair had now a +golden tinge, which he had never observed in it before she had been +changed by the effect of his kiss. This change of hue was really an +improvement, and made Marygold's hair richer than in her babyhood. + +When King Midas had grown quite an old man, and used to trot +Marygold's children on his knee, he was fond of telling them this +marvelous story, pretty much as I have now told it to your. And then +would he stroke their glossy ringlets, and tell them that their hair, +likewise, had a rich shade of gold, which they had inherited from +their mother. + +"And to tell you the truth, my precious little folks," quoth King +Midas, diligently trotting the children all the while, "ever since +that morning I have hated the very sight of all other gold save +this!" + + +NOTES AND QUESTIONS + +Discussion. 1. How did Midas think he could best show his love for +this daughter? 2. What was his chief pleasure? 3. Describe the visitor +who appeared to Midas in his treasure-room. 4. What did the stranger +ask him? 5. Find the sentence that tells what Midas wished. 6. When +did he receive his new power? 7. What use did he make of it? 8. What +did Marygold think of the gold roses? 9. Why was not Midas's breakfast +a success? 10. When did Midas first doubt whether riches are the most +desirable thing in the world? 11. How did he drive this thought away? +12. What make him realize that his little daughter was dearer to him +than gold? 13. Find lines that tell what he realized when it was too +late. 14. What did the stranger ask when he came again? 15. What was +the discovery that Midas mad made since the stranger's first visit? +16. How was Midas cured of the Golden Touch? 17. What was he told to +do in order to restore Marygold to life? 18. What was the only gold +he cared about after he was saved from the Golden Touch? 19. Find +examples of human; of fanciful expressions, Such as "day had hardly +peeped over the hills," of descriptions that you like. 20. Close +readings: Select passages to be read aloud in class. 21. Outline for +testing silent reading. Tell the story briefly in your own words, +using the topic headings given in the story. 22. Find in the Glossary +the meaning of: purpose; mortal; inhaling; induce; flexibility; +balustrade; burnished; afflicted; affright; consideration; perplexity; +fatal; agony; infinitely; desperate; earthen; conscious; molten. +23. Pronounce: Midas; calculate; particularly; obscure; tinge; +extraordinary; mediate; composure; blighted; bath; cup; snarl; molten; +aghast; admirably; metallic; frothy; pitiable; ravenous; indigestible; +victuals; phrase; recognized; purebred; avarice. + +Phrases for Study + +comparatively a new affair, fairest goldsmith, woven texture, cruel +mortification, wisdom of the book, by dint of great quickness, +cunningly made, features and tokens. + + +GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORS + +A Backward Look + +A wonderful power lies in the Crystal Glass of Reading--the power to +increase your circle of friends and to know intimately people who have +lived in distant times and places. Through its power the great +heroes of all ages--Joseph, Beowulf, Sigurd, Robin Hood, and our own +Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt--become your companions. + +Someone has said that the pen is mightier than the sword, which is +another way of saying that great books have had more to do in shaping +the lives and fortunes of men than bloody battles. The group of +authors whose stories and poems you have just been reading is a +company of friends whose thoughts about Nature, or about life and its +meaning, have been a power in making America what it is today. + +Acquaintance with these friends has been made easy for you; you have +had placed before you their pictures and interesting facts about their +lives, and best of all, you have been able to hear them tell their own +thoughts. What authors are in this group? Which of them did you learn +to know in Book IV and which were new to you in this book? Close +your eyes and see whether your "inward eye" can picture the faces of +Franklin, Bryant, Whittier, Irving, Longfellow, Hawthorne. Make one +interesting statement concerning each author and his works. Quote +lines from poems by Bryant, Whittier, and Longfellow. Make from memory +a list of title of stories or poems you have read from each of these +six American authors. + +Benjamin Franklin founded the first public library in America; the +picture on page 18 shows you what a library must have been like in +the old Greek days, and page 288 pictures a view of the Congressional +Library at Washington, the home of the complete works of all our +American authors. The building is considered one of the most beautiful +in the world; report to the class some interesting facts about this +library that you have learned from someone who has seen it. + +In the last paragraph of the Forward Look, you are asked to notice the +way in which authors tell what they have to say. When Franklin was a +young boy he was not at all satisfied with his way of writing, so +he sat himself the task of noticing carefully how a certain English +writer, whom he admired very much, expressed himself, and tried to +pattern after him. Notice how Franklin made the story "An Ax to Grind" +seem very real by using direct quotations; where else has he used +direct quotations with the same result? + +Notice the way Hawthorne added interest to his stories: (a) by touches +of fancy; (b) by delicate humor; (c) by apt descriptions. Point out +examples of each of these qualities in "The Paradise of Children." +Make a similar showing for "The Golden Touch." Compare the two stories +in regard to each of These qualities. + +Turn to the pictures on pages 282, 297, 302, 321, and 309, and see +whether you are able to tell what selection each panel-picture +illustrates. You have read many stories in this book that show how +fine a thing it is to serve, and so it seems fitting to have on the +cover at your reader a picture of Hiawatha, who + +"Lived and toiled, so I suffered, That the tribes of men might +prosper, That he might advance his people!" + +Make a list of the stories you have read in this book that tell about +service. Read the lines in "The White-man's foot" that describe "the +great canoe with pinions," which you see in the picture on the outside +cover of this book. Since you began to use this book what progress +have you hade in gaining ability to read silently with speed and +understanding? + + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +GLOSSARY + +abashed (a-bashed'), ashamed + +abbey (ab'i), the home of monks + +abbot (ab'ut), head of an abbey + +above his fortune (for'toon), more than he can afford + +absolutely (ab'so-loot-ly), positively + +absurd inventions (ab-surd' in-ven'shuns), made-up stories not +believable + +abyes (a-bis'), a space so deep as not to be easily measured + +accompany (ac-com'pa-ny), go with + +accosted (ac-cost'ed), spoken to + +accoutered (ac-cout'ered), dressed + +accumulating (ac-cu'mu-lat-ing), piling up + +acquainted (ac-quaint'ed), friendly with each other + +adage (ad'age), a saying + +Adjidaumo (Ad-ji-dau'mo) + +admirably (ad'mi-ra-bly), well + +ado (a-do'), fuss + +adorn (a-dorn'), decorate + +advance (ad-vance') his people, help his tribe of Indians to be better + +advisers (ad-viz'ers), men with whom he talked + +adz (adz'), tool for trimming wood + +aerie (i'ry), high nest + +Aesop (Ae'sop), a Greek slave who wrote many little stories + +afflicted (af-flict'ed), distressed + +afflicted (af-flict'ed) the souls, made people do wrong + +affliction (af-flic'shun), trouble + +affright (af-fright'), alarm + +aftermath (aft'er-math), second crop + +against all comers, with anyone he meets + +age of doubt, time when people are not ready to believe + +aghast (a-ghast'), startled + +agility (a-gil'i-ty), quickness + +agony (ag'o-ny), grief + +Ahmeek (Ah-meek') + +Ahno (Ah'no) + +Aladdin (A-lad'din) + +alder (al'der), a kind of tree + +alert (a-lert'), watchful + +Ali Baba (A'li Bah'bah) + +allied (al-lied'), joined + +all in their best, dressed in their best clothes + +all its endearments (en-dear'mentz), everything that makes it dear + +allotted (al-lot'ted) time, time granted for doing anything + +almanacs (al'ma-naks), small books containing a yearly calendar with +little stories + +aloes (al'oes), a precious wood + +alternate (al-ter'nate), first one, then the other + +ambitious (am-bi'shus), eager for + +ambush in the oak-tree, hiding-place in the oak + +amethyst (am'e-thyst), a clear purple or bluish violet; a precious +stone + +ancient, old; of old time + +anecdote (an'ek-dote), a story + +anemones (a-nim'o-nez), wild flowers of pale, dainty colors + +anew (a-nu'), again + +animal spirits, loud, rough play + +Annemeekee (An-ne-mee'kee) + +Antoine (An-twan') + +anxious (ang'shus), troubled + +ape the ways of pride, try to copy the + +actions of proud people + +apothecary (a-poth'uh-ca-ry), druggist + +appeared concerned (ap-peared' con-surned'), seemed anxious + +apple from the pine, pineapple + +appointed (ap-point'ed), chosen beforehand for the feast + +approached (ap-proacht'), went near to + +approach (ap-proach') the bounds, come near the edge + +Arabic (Ar'a-bik), language of Arabs + +arch and laughing tone, merry, teasing voice + +archery, shooting with bow and arrow + +arching, curving + +arching blue, sky + +arch of the sunlit bow, curve of the rainbow + +archway of rock, meeting place overhead of two rock walls + +array (ar-ray',) order + +artificar (ar-tif'i-sur), skilled worker + +ash-cakes, unsweetened cakes baked on a hot shovel laid on the ashes + +aspect, outlook; state + +aspen (as'pen) bower, thicket of trees the leaves of which are easily +moved by the wind + +aspiring (as-pir'ing) genius, clever person who is trying to rise + +assembled (as-sem'bld), collected + +assumed (as-soomd') the ap-pear'ance of, looked like + +asters (as'ters) in the brook, reflection of the asters in the water + +astir (a-stur'), moving around + +astonished (as-ton'isht), surprised + +astride (a-stride') the traces, having one leg over one of the straps +which fastened the plow to the horses + +asunder (a-sun'der), apart + +attendance (at-ten'dans) on levees (lev- ees'), going to receptions + +attend his pleasure (plezh'ur), do his bidding + +at their glittering (glit'ter-ing) best, shining as bright as possible + +audible (au'di-b'l), that can be heard + +aught but tender, any way except kind + +autumnal (au-tum'nal), of autumn + +avarice (av'a-ris), greed + +averted (a-vurt'ed), turned aside + +awakening (a-wak'n-ing) of the woods, the budding of the forest trees + +awry (a-ri'), crooked + +ay (I), yes + +azure (azh'ur), sky-blue; the air + +azure space, blue air above + + +babble (bab'bl), chatter + +bade, told; told to + +balas (bal'as), a kind of ruby + +balked, (bal'kt) stopped + +balm (balm), sticky dried juice + +balsam (bal'sam), same as balm + +balustrade (bal'us-trad'), railing + +bandages (ban'daj-ez), strips of cloth + +banditti (ban-dit'ti), robbers + +barter (bar'ter) it all, trade all that I have gained + +basswood (bas'wood), wood of the linden tree + +battlements (bat'tl-ments), irregular top of the high walls of a castle + +bayou (bi'oo), inlet + +bazaars (ba-zars'), shops; marketplace + +beam, ray of light + +beaming, shining + +bear me ill-will, dislike me + +bear no malice (mal'is), have no ill-will + +beast of prey, flesh-eating animal + +Beatte (Be'ti) + +beat us holler, do things we cannot do + +beauteous (bu'te-us) summer glow, lovely + +brightness of summer time becalmed (be-kalmd'), prevented from sailing +because of lack of wind + +beechen (bech'en), of the beech tree + +befall (be-fol'), happen to + +beguile (be-gil'), charm + +beguiled (be-gild'), tricked + +beheld it aforetime (a-for'tim), see it before it arrived + +belated (be-lat'ed) thriftless vagrant (va'grant), tardy, lazy wanderer + +belfry (bel'fri), tower for a bell + +bemoan (be-mon') himself, groan softly + +beneath (be-neth') benevolent (be-nev'o-lent) friendship, kind and +generous acts of a friend + +benignant (be-nig'nant), kindly + +beseems (be-semz') his quality (kwol'i'ti), fits his rank + +beside himself with joy, so happy he did not know what to do + +besmeared (be-smerd'), covered + +best of cheer, things that make one most happy + +betrayed (be-trayd'; be_tra'ed), given me to my enemy by a trick + +bewinderment (be-wil'der-ment), perplexity + +bewitchingly persuasive (be-wich'ing-li per-swa'siv), charmingly +coaxing + +Big-Sea-Water, Lake Superior + +billowed like a russet ocean (bil'od; rus'et), reddish grass blew like +waves + +Bishop of Bingen (bish'up; bing'en), Hatto, who starved the poor and +was shut up in a tower, where mice devoured him + +bison (bi'sun), American buffalo + +blanc-mange (bla-mänzh'), a dessert of starchy substances and milk + +blare (blar), blow harshly + +blest (blast), hard wind; loud, long sound + +blazing in the sky, showing bright against the sky + +Blefuscu (ble-fus'ku) + +blended ranks (blend'ed), mixed lines + +blighted (blit'ed), withered + +blithe (blith), happy; joyous + +blossoming ground, earth covered with flowers + +blue day, day when the sky is clear + +blur in the eye, tear + +boar (bor), wild hog + +bonny (bon'ì), gay + +booming (boom'ing), hollow-sounding + +boon (boon), favor + +borne their part (born), done their share + +born to rule the storm, naturally able to do anything + +bosom (booz'um), front part + +boundary (boun'da-ri), marking a division; separating + +bound boy, boy hired out to work by the year for his board and a small +wage + +bound by a spell, charmed so that I could not move + +bound'less space, the endless extent of the regions of the air + +bound to him, made them love him + +bounties (boun'tiz), generous gifts + +bountiful traveler (boun'ti-foõl trav'el-er) generous traveler + +Bowdoin (bo'd'n) + +bowers (bou'erz), lovely rooms + +bowl'ders (bol'derz), large stones + +brake (brayk), valley enclosed by hills + +braves, Indian men ready to fight + +brawny (bra'ni), strong + +breakers (brayk'erz), big waves striking the shore + +break my fast, eat my meal + +breathed a song, sang a song softly + +breeches (brich'ez), short trousers + +bridled (bri'd'ld), put the headpiece on + +brig (brig), sailing ship with two masts + +brightened as he sped (brit'nd), grew brighter as he mounted up into +the sky + +brightest aspect (as'pekt), look that is most attractive + +brin'dled (brin'd'ld), having dark streaks or spots on a gray or +yellowish brown ground; streaked + +bring the hunting homeward, carry home what I shoot + +broadfaced sun, round, cheerful sun + +brocades (bro-kadz'), heavy silk woven with a raised figure or flower + +brooding (brood'ing), thinking sadly + +broom, a shrub with yellow flowers + +brought to bale (bal), made trouble for + +buffet (buf'et), slap + +bulge (bulj), place bent in + +bullies (bool'iz), teases + +bulwark (bool'wark), protection; defense + +bunting (bun'ting), cloth for flags + +buoy (boi) float + +burial (ber'i-al), act of placing in a grave + +burnished (bur'nisht), shining + +Bussorah (bus'o-ra) + +by dint of great quickness (dint), by acting very fast + +by way of satisfying (sat'is-fi'ing), in order to quiet the prickings +of + + +calamity (ka-lam'i-ti), misfortune + +calculate (kal'ku-lat), figure up + +Caliph (ka'lif), an Eastern title + +calked (kalkt), stopped up + +calls but the warders (wor'derz), only calls the watchmen + +calm (käm), a period of quiet + +came into the knowledge of, was told + +came into the world, took part in the business, political, social; etc., +activities of the world + +canoe with pinions (ka-noo'; pin'yunz), sailboat + +capital crime (kap'i-tal), a sin so bad that it is punished by death + +care is sowing, worry and work are making grow + +carnage (kar'naj), killing + +caroling (kar'ul-ing), singing + +carriages (kar'ij-ez), carts + +Casabianca (ka'za-byan'ka) + +cast yourself free, unroll + +cataract's laughter (kat'a-rakts laf'ter), laughing sound made by +water falling from a height + +catches the gleam, reflects the light + +cathedral (ka-the'dral), large church + +caution (kau'shun); carefulness + +ceased their calling (sest), stopped singing because they have migrated + +ceremony (ser'e-mo-nì), formal act + +chafe (chaf) rub, trying to get through + +chagrin (sha-grin'), annoyance + +chalcedony (ka1-sed'o-ni), a beautiful, very hard stone + +changeful April (chanj'fool), April has sudden changes of weather + +channel (chan'el), bed of the stream + +charger (char'jer), fine horse + +charm, something with magic power + +chastened (chas'nd), with a softer light + +Cheemaun (che-mon') + +cheering power of spring, how spring makes one glad + +cherished (cher'isht), lovingly cared for + +cherished possessions (cher'isht po-zesh'unz), dearest things he had + +Chibiabos (chib-i-a'bos) + +chieftain (chef'tin), one, who gave orders + +chimney (chim'ni) + +chore (chor), light task + +christening (kris'n-ing), naming + +ciphering (si'fér-ing), working examples + +curcuit (sur'kit), round-about trip + +circumference (ser-kum'fer-ens), distance around the edge of a circle + +clamber (klam'bér), climb + +clapboard (klap'bord), narrow board + +clatter, rattling noise + +clearings, ground where the trees have been cut + +cleft the bark asunder (a-sun'der), split the bark + +clogging (klog'ing), hindering + +close couching (kouch'ing), crouching so as to be hidden + +close the seams together, make the cracks tight + +cloud-rack of a tempest, flying, broken clouds after a storm + +coffers (kof'ers), treasure chests + +Cogia Houssam (ko'gya hoo'sam) + +collected (ko-lekt'ed), thoughtful + +collected her thoughts (ko-lekt'ed), thought quickly + +combine (kom-bin'), form themselves + +come what may, no matter what happens + +Commander of the Faithful (ko-man'der; fath'foõl), leader of those +true to the Mohammedan religion. The title is given to the Caliphs + +commanding lookout (ko-mand'ing look'out'), place from which the +surrounding neighborhood can be seen + +commission (ko-mish'un), thing to be done + +comparatively a new affair (kom-par'a-tiv-li; a-far'), a world that +had been made only a short time + +composure (kom-po'zhur), calmness + +comrades (kom'radz), mates + +concealed (kon-seld'), hidden + +confident mood (kon'fi-dent mood), feeling sure I could do it + +confounded with astonishment (kon-found'ed; as-ton'ish-ment), so +surprised that they could not think + +confused (kon-fuzd'), bothered + +conjoined of them all (kon-joind'), made of all together + +connected with himself (ko-nekt'ed), have reference to him + +conscious (kon'shus), aware + +consequence (kon'se-kwens), result + +consideration (kon-sid'er-a'shun), reason constant (kon'stant), regular + +constellation (kon'ste-la'shun), a group of stars + +constituting (kon'sti-tut'ing), making up + +consul (kon'sul), one who lives in a foreign country to look after the +business interests of his own country there + +contemptible (kon-temp'ti-b'1), mean + +contracts (kon-trakts'), makes + +contrivance (kon-triv'ans), device + +contrived (kon-trivd'), made + +contrive to bury (kon-triv'; ber'i), manage to bury + +conveyed (kon-vad'), given over + +coppers (kop'erz), pennies + +cord, string of the bow + +cornice (kor'nis), high molding around the walls + +corporeal sensations (kor-po're-al sen-sa'shunz), coarse pleasures + +corpse (korps), dead body + +corselet (kors'1et), armor for the body + +council of war (koun'sil), meeting to make plans + +counsels (koun'selz), advice + +count all your boasts, even though you present your many charms + +count like misers (mi'zerz), count as lovingly as do misers their money + +county town, town where the business of the county (holding court, +paying taxes, etc.), is carried on + +coursers (kor'serz), swift horses; here reindeer + +courteous (kur'te-us), polite + +court favor (kort fa'ver), good will of the ruler or other high +personage + +courtiers (kort'yerz), those in attendance at the court of a ruler + +cover (kuv'er), underbrush large enough to hide behind + +cowering (kou'er-ing), hovering + +creation (kre-a'shun), the world + +crestfallen (krest'fol'n), cast down + +cresting the billows (krest'ing; bi1'oz), adorning the top of the waves + +crevice (krev'is), crack + +crew of gypsies, band of ragamuffins + +cross-brace, the piece of wood between the plow handles + +crown of his desire, thing he wanted most + +cruel mortification (kroo'el mor'ti-fi-ka'shun), very great annoyance + +cruise (krooz), trip in a boat + +cunning (kun'ing), tricky + +cunningly made, skillfully made + +cupboard (kub'erd), a closet for dishes + +curmudgeon (kur-muj'un), miser + +curtsy (kurt'si), bow + +cymbals (sim'balz), pair of brass half globes clashed together to +produce a ringing sound + + +Dacotahs (da-ko'taz), Sioux (Soo) + +Daedalus of yore (ded'a-lus) Daedalus of olden time. The story is +that he escaped from prison by flying with wings he had made + +dames, married women + +Darius (da-ri'us) + +daunted (dant'ed), frightened + +dawn, daybreak + +daybeds, resting places in daytime + +deathless fame (deth'les), lasting glory + +deck her bosom (booz'um), trim the front of the canoe + +deems (demz), thinks + +deer-skin dressed and whitened, skins of deer, which had been cleaned, +smoothed, and bleached + +defile (de-fi1'), narrow pass + +defunct tenant (de-funkt' ten'ant), man who formerly lived there but +is dead + +dejected (de-jekt'ed), downhearted + +delicate crafts employ (del'i-kat), use your skill in cooking + +dell, small valley + +deposited (de-poz'it-ed), put away + +derision (de-rizh'un), mockery + +desert (dez'ert), uninhabited by man + +design (de-zin'), plan + +desolation (des'o-la'shun), ruin + +despair (de-spair'), hopelessness + +desperate (des'per-at), hopeless + +dessert (de-zurt'), fruit, pastry, etc., served at the close of a meal + +destined to be let loose (des'tind), fated to be free + +diamond (di'a-mund), precious stone + +diminished (di-min'isht); made less + +diminutive (di-min'u-tiv), tiny + +directly (di-rekt'li), at once + +disaster (diz-as'ter), great trouble + +discloses (dis-kloz'ez), lets be seen + +discover (dis-kuv'er), find out + +dismounted (dis-moun'ted), threw down off its mountings + +disputed (dis-put'id), argued; talked each against the others + +disquietude (dis-kwi'e-tud), uneasiness + +dissuading (di-swad'ing), advising away from + +distant days that shall be, time to come but still far-off + +diversified (di-vur'si-fid), made to have a look of variety + +docile (dos'il), gentle + +down of a thistle (this'l), lightest thing you can think of + +down timber (tim'ber), fallen trees + +dowry (dou'ri), gift of a man to his bride + +draft (draft), one drink + +dread silence reposes (dred si'lens re-poz'ez), sleeps quietly, so we +fear it + +dreamy recollection (rek'o'lek'shun), faint memory + +drink your health, wish you good health when beginning to drink, +usually at a meal + +driven (driv'en), blown before the wind + +droll (drol), laughable + +drooping (droop'ing), with hanging heads + +droop o'er the sod, hang over a grave + +drought (drout), lack of rain + +drowned (dround) + +dry and dumb (dum), dried up and still because there is no water to +ripple + +ducat (duk'at), old gold coin ($2.28) + +dungeon (dun'jun), underground prison + +Duquesne (doo-kan') + +dusk'y pods (dus'ki), dark-colored seed vessels + +duty holds him fast (du'ti), he knows he ought to stay + + +each in its turn the sway, one after the other ruled + +eager hand (e'ger), hand that could hardly wait + +earth-bound ties, roots which hold it in the ground + +ear'th'en (ur'th'n), earthenware + +earth was young, world had not long existed + +Eastern lands, Asia and Africa + +eaves (evz), edges of the roof which overhang the walls slightly + +echo (ßk'õ), say over again + +echoing corridor (ek'o-ing kor'i-dor), long, empty hall in which they +could hear their own footsteps + +ell (el), forty-five inches + +enchantment (en-chant'ment), magic + +en-circled (en-sur'kl'd), wound around + +en-counter (en-koun'ter), meeting + +engines (en'jinz), implements + +enterprise (en'ter-priz), undertaking; willingness to try different +things + +epidemic (ep'i-dem'ik), a disease which one person takes from another + +Epimetheus (ep'i-me'thus) + +equipage (ek'wi-paj), horses and carriage + +ere (ar), before + +esteem (Ls-tém'), good opinion + +evaporated (e-vap'o-rat-ed), passed away from me + +ever-officious Tonish (o-fish'us ton'ish), Tonish, who was always +doing too much + +every part has a voice (ev'er-i), each stripe and star means something + +evident intention (ev'i-dent in-ten'shun), plain purpose + +Ewayea (e-wa-ya'), a lullaby + +exaggerations (eg-zaj'er-a'shunz), overstatements + +excess (ek-ses'), too much + +exile (ek'sil), one away from home + +explore (eks-plor'), examine thoroughly + +expound (eks-pound'), explain + +express consent (eks-pres' kon-sent'), + +especial permission being given + +extending themselves (eks-tend'ing), spreading out so as to be at a +distance from each other + +extinguish (eks-ting'gwish), put out + +extraordinary (eks-tror'di-na-ri), surprising; unusual + +exulted (eg-zult'ed), was glad + +exulting, glean (eg-zult'ing glen), rejoicing, harvest + +eyeglass of dew (i'glas'; du), a dew-drop + + +fading, losing the original color + +fail of the fruits, have not the fruits + +faint shadow of a trouble, only a hint of unhappiness + +fair voyage (voi'aj), trip without severe storms or accidents + +fallow (fa1'o), pale yellow + +Falls of Minnehaha (min'e-ha'ha), a waterfall near Minneapolis + +false estimates (fols es'ti-mats), wrong judgment + +faltering (fol'ter-ing), stopping + +fame, being known everywhere + +fame so becoming to you (be-kum'ing), glory that suits you so well + +famous roebuck (ro'buk), fine, big deer + +fantastic forms (fan-tas'tik), strange shapes + +fashioned (fash'und), shaped; made + +fashioned flutes (fash'und), made pipes from which he blew music + +fast in my fortress (for'tres), held firmly by my love. + +fatal (fa'tal), destructive + +fatigue (fa-teg'), weariness + +favorable gale (fa'ver-a-b'l gal), wind blowing in the direction he +wished to sail + +feasting his eyes, enjoying looking at + +features and tokens (fe'turz; to'k'nz), parts of the face, and +expression + +feeling but one heart-beat, all having the same feelings and wishes + +feet unwilling, moving slowly without interest + +fenlands (fen'landz'), swamps + +fervently (fur'vent-li), warmly + +feuds (few-dz), quarrels + +fevered mart (fev'erd mart), market place full of excitement + +fib'rous (fi'brus), made of fibers; strong + +filled the night, made it all light + +fissure (fish'ur), narrow crack + +fitfully blows (fit'fool-li), blows and then stops + +fit to be made a tool of, suitable to be deceived by flattery to do +the work of others + +flags, long, narrow leaves of a plant + +flanking parties, riders who were going to stand at the sides + +flaunt (flant), make a great showing of + +flaunting (flant'ing), waving + +flaunting nigh (falnt'ing al), making a great show near them + +flecked with leafy light, spotted with sunlight shining through the +trees + +fleck its lonely spread (flek), show as a dark spot against the great +stretch of grass + +flesh creeps, shudder with horror + +flexibility (flek'si-bil'i-ti), ability to be bent + +flight of song, where a song goes + +flitting (flit'ing), flying about + +flow in music, glide along so as to make pleasant sounds + +flow'ry dells, little valleys with flowers in them + +flutter (flut'er), are in motion + +foliage (fo'li-aj), leafy plants + +folly laughs to scorn (fol'i lafs to skorn), one who is foolish makes +fun of + +fond, loving + +forbear (for-bear'), keep from + +forbear thy stroke (for-bear'), do not chop it down + +forbidding further passage (for-bid'ing fur'ther pas'aj), keeping them +from going on + +forbore (for-bor'), held back + +ford, a shallow place where the soldier could cross without a bridge + +forefather (for'fath'er), ancestor + +forehead (for'ed), upper part of the face + +forest-fighters (for-est-fit'erz), men used to fighting among trees + +forest's life was in it, it was made from the trees and seemed alive +like them + +forever and a day, for all time + +for-lore' (for-lorn'), poor and lonely + +former state, condition it had been in + +formidable (for'mi-da-b'l), dreadful + +fortnight (fort'nit), two weeks + +foul footsteps pollution (po-1u'shun), dishonor of the country, caused +by an enemy being in it + +fowling piece, gun for shooting birds + +fragments (frag'ments), scraps + +fragrant (fra'grant), sweet-smelling frame of mind, feeling this way + +franchise of this good people (fran'chiz), vote of the men of this +colony + +freight'ing (fra'ting), burden + +freight it with (frat), load the boat with + +frenzy (fren'zi), joyous madness + +frequented (fre-kwent'ed), visited + +fretted, tired; teased + +frigate (frig'at), light, sailing warship fringed with trees, with a +thin line of trees along it + +frol'ic (frol'ik), play + +frolic chase, game of running after each other + +frosted (frost'ed), frostbitten, and, as a result, loosened + +frothy (froth'i), having bubbles + +frowning pine forest (froun'ing pin for'est), dark evergreen forest + +fugitives (fu'ji-tivz), horses which were trying to escape + +full glory reflected (re-flekt'ed), with all its colors showing + +full of invention (in-ven'shun), good at thinking up plans + +furrows (fur'oz), shallow trenches made by the plow + +furze (furz), an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers + + +gainsaid (gan'sed'), changed + +gallantly (gal'ant-li), bravely + +gallantly streaming (gal'ant-li strem'ing), bravely flying + +gaunt (glint), thin from, hunger + +gauze (goz), thin, transparent stuff + +gave me a good character (kar'ak- said I was a reliable man + +gave myself up for lost, stopped having any hope of being saved + +genial (je'ni-al), favorable to growth + +genial hour (je'ni-al), pleasant spring time + +genius (jen'yus), a person who can do more or better than ordinary +people + +Genius (jen'yus), a powerful spirit + +gentian (jen'shan), a beautiful flowering plant, usually blue + +gesture (jes'tur), motion + +ghastly spectacle (gast'li spec'ta- horrible sight + +gigantic (ji-gan'tik), very large + +gilt, gold-plated metal + +gimlet (gim'let), tool which bores small holes as it is turned + +Gitche Gum'ee (gi'che OW), Lake Superior + +gitche Manito (gi'che man'i-to), Great Spirit + +give back the cry, answer + +give me thought for thought, tell me his ideas and listen to mine + +glade (glad), an open, grassy space in a wood + +gladness breathes, joy seems to come + +gleaming (glem'ing), light + +glean, gather + +glens, little valleys + +dimmer (glim'er), gleam + +glimmering o'er (glim'er-ing), shining brightly over corn and people + +glittering (glit'er-ing), shining + +glorified the hill (glo'ri-fid), sent beautiful rays of light upon the +hill + +glory fell chastened (chas'nd), his light at the height of its +brightness cast but a soft light + +glossy (glos'i), shining + +gold'en ears before (gol'd'n), yellow ears of corn taken from their +husks and piled in front of the huskers + +goodly root (good'li root), the much prized potato + +gophers (go'ferz), ground-squirrels + +gorgeous (gor'jus), magnificent; beautiful + +gossip of swallows, bird-notes that sound like chatter + +go the entire round, make the furrow around the field + +Governer (guv'er-ner), the chief man of the colony + +gracious-ly (gra'shus-li), with kind courtesy + +Granada (gra-na'da) + +granaried harvest (gran'a-rid), grain and vegetables stored for the +winter + +gratifying his utmost wishes (grat'i-fy-ing), giving him anything he +might wish for + +grave (grav), serious-looking + +gray of the morning, faint light before the sun is up + +greatest disquietude (dis-kwe'e-tood), worst trouble + +Great Spirit, God + +grievously (grev'us-li), painfully + +grim, stern; unyielding + +grimace (gri-mas'), made-up face + +griping landlord (grip'ing), stingy man who rents houses for high rent + +grope (grop), feel without seeing + +grow into tangles (tang'g'lz), grow wild as in the woods or fields + +guard thy repose (gard; re-poz'), protect you while you sleep + +guidance (gid'ans) showing him the right course to take + +guided of my counsel (gid'ed; koun'-sul), take my advice + +guiding lines (gid'ing), reins by which horses are driven + +guileless (gil'les), pure in heart + +guinea (gin'i), English coin ($5.11) + +gullies (gul'iz), small valleys dug out by water + +gushing (gush'ing), freely flowing + + +habitable (hab'it-a-b'l), fit to live in + +had occasion to go out (o-ka'zhun), needed to go somewhere in the town + +hailed his coming, called out gladly when they saw him + +half-faced camp, shack with three walls and one open side + +half-section of unfenced sod, 320 acres of unbroken ground with no +fence + +hallooed (ha-lood'), shouted halloo + +hallow us there (ha1'o), give us a feeling at home as of sacred things + +hamlet without name (ham'let), few houses near together, but not +called a town + +hampers (ham'perz), woven baskets + +handiwork (han'di-wurk'), what I make + +handkerchiefs (hang'ker-chifs) + +hand of art, tasteful plan + +happily arranged, growing in pretty clumps + +hardy gift (har'di), fruit of the sturdy plant which is given by the +earth + +harrowing additions (har'o-ing a-dish'unz), things added that are +painful to hear + +hart (hart), male red deer Harunal-Rashid' (ha-roon'-ar-ra-shed'), +Caliph of Bagdad + +harvest (har'vest), dry seeds + +has an ax to grind, wants someone to do some hard work without pay + +hate is shadow, feelings of dislike darken everything + +haughty (ho'ti), proud + +haunches (hanch'ez), hind legs + +haunt (hint), come back again and again + +haunts (hants), places where one loves to go often + +haunts of Nature (na'tur), out-of-doors + +havoc of war (hav'ok), ruin caused by fighting + +hawk-eyed eagerness (hok-id e'ger-nes), watching impatiently and with +the sharpness of a hawk + +hearken (har'ken), listen + +hearthrug (harth'rug), rug in front of the fireplace + +heart outran his footsteps, wanted to be there before he was + +hearts-ease, comfort in trouble + +hearts right hand of friendship, a greeting that shows we feel friendly + +heartstrings, love + +heath (heth), land covered with heather, which has a purple blossom + +heav'n-rescued land (hev'n-res'kud), country saved by God + +heavy-rolling flight, running with a rocking movement from side to side + +heir (ar), one who takes the property of another after he is through +with it + +helm (helm), helmet, a protection for the head; the machinery that +steers the ship + +he must be cold, he lacks feeling + +herb'age (ur'baj), grass and other plants eaten by grazing animals + +here, on earth + +heroic blood (he-ro'ik), descended from brave men + +hewed (hud), chopped + +Hiawatha (hi-a-wath'a) + +hidden silk has spun (hid'n), threads of down in the pod that resemble +those which the silkworm spins + +hideous (hid'e-us), horrible-looking + +hie (hi), go; take + +high relief (re-lef') carved so that the features stood up from the box + +hireling (hir'ling), paid soldier + +his proper sphere (prop'er sfer), his own place + +his reverence (rev'er-ens), the minister + +hither (hith'er), here + +hoard (hord), supply of provisions + +hoary (hor'i), old and gray + +hold (hold), lower part of a ship, where cargo is stored + +hollows that rustle between' (hol'oz; rus'l be-twen'), low, quiet +places between large, noisily-roiling waves + +home-brew served for wine, home-made drinks were used instead of wine + +homely old adage (hom'li; ad'aj), common saying + +hoodwinked, blindfolded + +horror (hor'er), great fear + +horror of my situation (hor'er; sit'u-a'shun), great danger of the +place I was in + +horseplay, rude play or jokes + +host (host), great number + +hotly pressed, closely followed + +hovel (hov'r1), small, poor house + +hovered (hub'erd), fluttered + +huddled (hud'ld), crowded + +hue (hu), color + +hues of summer's rainbow (huz), colors in the rainbow in summer + +human (hu'man), exactly like man + +Humber (hum'ber), a river in northeastern England + +humble (hum'b'l), lowly; not proud + +humor (hu'mer), temper + +humor better suited to his own (hu'-mer), more like his + +hurrah (hoo-ra'), a word used as a shout of joy + +hurricane (hur'i-kan), great storm + +hush of woods, quiet of the forest + + +Iagoo (e-a'goo) + +Icarus (ik'a-rus), the son of Daedalus--which *see* + +ideas (i-de'az) thoughts + +idle, golden freighting (fra'ting), burden of golden-colored autumn +leaves + +if to windward, if the hunter is in the direction from which the wind +blows + +imaginable (i-maj'i-na-b'l), I could think of; possible + +immortal in their childhood (i-mor'-tal), so placed that they would +never grow any older + +Imperial (im-pe'ri-al), royal + +imperious (im-pe'ri-us), demanding much + +implement (im'ple-ment), tool + +imply a share of reason (im-pli'; re'-z'n), suggest some power to think + +impression continuing (im-presh'-un kon-tin'u-ing), the effect +remaining + +inability (in-a-bil'i-ti), that you cannot + +incalculable (in-kal'ku-la-b'l), cannot be counted + +incapable (in-ka'pa-b'l), not able + +incline (in-klin'), slope + +in darker fortunes tried (for'tunz), they had when they were poor + +indifference (in-dif'er-ens), not caring + +indigestible (in'di-jes'ti-b'l), impossible to digest + +indignation (in'dig-na'shun), anger against what is wrong + +induce (in-dus'), cause + +indulge it to the utmost (in-dulj'; ut'most), be as cross as be could + +infinite (in'fi-nit), everlasting + +infinitely (in'fi-nit-li), much more + +ingenious (in-jan'yús), clever + +inhaling (in-hal'ing), smelling + +inheritance (in-har'i-tans), a gift from our ancestors + +initial mound (in-ish'al), first furrow around the field + +inquíries (in-kwir'iz), questioning + +in such wise, so fiercely + +intelligent (in-tel'i-jent), clever + +intent upon (in-tent'), interested in + +interminable forests (in-tur'mi-na-b'l), woods that seemed endless + +interrupt his lay (in'te-rupt'), stop his song + +in the largest sense, in the broadest meaning + +intimate association (in'ti-mat a-so'si-a'shun), close companionship + +intolerable (in-tol'er-a-b'l), unbearable + +intruder (in-troo'der), an uninvited guest + +invention (in-ven'shun), schemes + +Islands of the Blessed (i'landz; bles'-ed), in mythology, islands +where people lived happily, after death + +isles (ilz), islands + + +jasper (jas'per), a dark, hard stone + +jaunty (jan'ti), gay and easy + +jet, black + +jib (jib), swing around + +joined to such folly (fol'i), a partner in such foolishness + +joyance (joi'ans), happiness + +judgment (juj'ment), idea; opinion + +Justiciar (jus-tish'i-ar), chief judge + +justs/jousts (justs), mock fights between knights on horseback + + +Kagh (kag), the hedgehog + +keel (kel), bottom of a ship + +keep, support + +kept, made to go on + +khan (kan), an unfurnished building for the use of traveling traders + +King's Council (koun'sil), men who met with the King to advise him + +kissed into green (kist), changed to green when touched by the sun's +rays + +knight (nit), in Great Britain, a man with the title Sir + +knights of old (nits), men of olden times who went about doing brave +deeds + +knoll (nol), a little round hill + +knows full well, knows very well + +Kwansind (ksa'sind) + + +lady, the wife of a knight + +lamentable (lam'ín-táa-b'l), distressed + +lamentable tone, sad voice + +languidly (lang'gwid-li), carelessly + +lank (lank), thin + +lapsed (lapst), slipped + +larch (larch), tree which looks like an evergreen but sheds its needles + +lariat (lar'i-at), long rope with running noose + +laudable (lod'a-b'l), praiseworthy + +laughing (laf'ing) + +launch (lanch), get it afloat + +lavish horn (lav'ish), overflowing horn; from the mythological story +of the horn that could become filled with whatever its possessor +desired + +lea (le), ground covered with grass + +league (lee-g), about three miles + +learned (lur'ned), highly educated + +learning (lurn'ing), knowledge + +leave unmoved (un-moovd'), unharmed + +lee of the land, shelter of the shore + +legends (lef'endz), old stories only partly true + +lei'sure (le'zhur), time to do what he wished + +levee (lev-e'), reception given by a ruler or his representative + +liege (lej), having the right to claim service + +light and boon, bright and pleasant + +lightsome (lit'sum), cheery + +life a Turk, as people do in Turkey + +Lilliput (lil'i-put) + +Lilliputians (lil'i-pu'shanz) + +limes (limz), fruit like lemons, but smaller and more sour + +linden (lin'den), made from basswood + +listless (list'les), caring about nothing + +livelihood (liv'li-hood), living + +livelong (liv'long'), whole + +loam (lam), earth + +lone (lon), lonely + +lone post of death, place where he must die alone + +looked westerly (wes'ter-li), turned toward the west, the direction in +which the wind was blowing before it stopped + +loosed (loost), set free + +lost their labor, got no good from the work they had done + +lovely tokens (luv'li to'k'nz), beautiful signs + +lower (lo-ur), darken + +lowly thatched cottage, small one-story house with roof of straw + +lozenge (loz'enj), a tablet of medicine + +lust, strong wish + +luster of midday (lus'ter; mid'da), light bright as at noon + +lustrous (lus'trus), radiant + +lusty rogue (lus'ti rog), lively little rascal + + +magic arts (maj'ik), power over spirits + +magician (ma-jish'an), one who uses magic arts + +magic his singing (maj'ik), charming way he sang + +magnificence (mag'nif'i-sens), grandeur + +Maharaja (ma-ha-ra'ja), title of the principal Hindu chief + +Mahngotaysee (man-go'ta'se), brave + +maintain (man-tan'), keep + +make amends to the human race (a-mendz'), make up to people everywhere + +make a stand, hold out against; fight + +man-builded today, built by people now + +maneuver (ma-noo'var), planned movement of a large number + +man of might, strong, important man + +man's dominion (do-min'yun), for the use of people + +mansion (man'shun), large and handsome residence + +many a happy return, many more + +mariners (mar'i-nerz), sailors + +marred (mard), spoiled + +marred the whole scene (mard) spoiled the effect planned + +marvel (mar'vel), wonderful thing + +marveled (mar'veld), wondered + +Massasoit (mas'a-soit') match, able to win against + +matchless, having no equal + +matrons (ma'trunz), married women + +mayhap, maybe + +maze (maz), confusing number of paths which cross + +meads (medz), meadows + +measures (mezh'urz), melodies + +meditated (med'i-tat'ed), thought + +meeting-house, church + +melancholy (mel'an-kol-i), sad + +melted them to pity, softened their feelings so they were filled with +gentle thoughts + +merchandise (mur'chan-diz), goods + +merchant-man (mur'chant-man), a trading vessel + +merest (mer'est), simplest + +merry (mer'i), joyous + +metallic (me-tal'ik), of metal + +metal true, really good iron + +methinks (me-thinks'), it seems to me + +Midas (mi'das) + +milder glory shone (mil'der), a softer and paler glow cast its light + +mildew (mil'du), mold; rust + +mingled into one (ming'g'ld), so united that one could not be +distinguished from the other + +miniature (min'i-a-tur), very small + +Minnehaha (min'e-ha'ha) + +Minnewawa (min'e-wa'wa) + +mirthful to excess (murth'fool; ek-ses'), too gay + +mischievious (mis'chi-vus), fun-loving + +misdoings (mis-doo'ingz), wrong acts + +mission (mish'un), errand + +mists of the deep, fog over the water + +moccasins of magic (mok'a-sinz), charmed shoes + +moderation (mod'er-a'shun), fair way + +modest bell, bell-shaped flower that hangs over + +molder in dust away (mol'der), lose their form and become earth again + +molested (mo-lest'ed), troubled + +molten (mol't'n), melted + +monarch (mon'ark), ruler + +Monongahela (mo-non'ga-he'la), river in Pennsylvania + +Monsieur (me-syur'), French for Mr. + +moor sandy, wet ground + +more enterprise (en'ter-priz), willingness to try to do things + +Morgiana (mor'gi-a'na) + +mortal (mor'tal), human + +mortal enemy (mor'tal en'e-me), man who hates you so much he would +like to kill you + +mortal fear, greatest fear + +mortal-ly (mor'tal-i), so as to cause death + +mosques (mosks), places of worship in Mohammedan countries + +moss (mos), a tiny grasslike plant, very soft + +moss-green trees, trees with trunks covered by green moss + +mount to the sky, fly out of sight + +mow (mo; here, mo for rime) + +much amiss (a-mis'), very wrong + +much contriving (con-triv'ing), making great plans + +much frequented (fre-kwent'ed), often visited + +much inclined (in-klind'), having a great liking for + +Mudwayaushka (mud'way-oush'ka) + +multiply his heaps, make his piles many times greater + +mummies (mum'iz), dead bodies which have been preserved in a dried +state; here, persons whose minds are dry and not open to new ideas + +Munchausen (mun-cho'zen), a teller of extravagant tales + +Musketaquid (mus-ket'a-kwid) + +Muskoday (musk'o-day) + +mute (m-yut), voiceless; quiet + +muttering, saying in a low tone + +muzzle (muz'l), nose and,mouth + +my design (de-zin'), my plan + +mysterious (mis-te'ri-us), puzzling + +mystic splendors (mis'tik splen'-derz), magic brightness + + +naked sword (nay'kd sord), sword without a sheath + +narrow bound, thin wall keeping them out + +national constellation (nash'un-al kon'ste-la'shun), group of stars +belonging to the nation + +native language (na'tiv lang'gwaj), way that is natural to them + +natural death (nat'u-ral), died without being killed + +naught (not), nothing + +navigate the azure (nav'i-gay-t; az'-ur), sail through the sky + +Nawadaha (na'wa-da'ha) + +near his cot, not far from his cottage + +neither (ne'ther) + +neither willing nor reluctant (ne'-ther re-luk'tant), not showing +whether she wanted to go or stay + +nephew (nef'u), the son of a brother or sister + +nicest goldsmith, most skillful worker in gold + +niche (nich), small opening + +nimble (nim'b'l), quick to do things + +noble (no'b'l), coin worth about $1.60; man of high rank + +Nokomis (no-ko'mis) + +nostrils (nos'trilz), the openings in the nose for breathing + +note if harm were near, to see if there were any danger round about + + +obliterated (ob-lit'er-at'ed), taken away + +obscure (ob-skur'), dark + +obscured their passage (ob-skurd'; pas'aj), hid their line of movement + +observation (ob'zer-vay'shun), careful notice + +obstacle (ob'sta-k'l), something in the way + +obtained a foothold (ob-tand'), got a start + +occupied with her grief (ok'u-pi-d), full of sorrow + +o'cean's breast (o'shanz brest), calm surface of the sea + +O drug, useless thing + +o'er-shadowed Thanksgiving Day (or-shad'od), brought up sad thoughts +on the holiday + +o'er the combers (or; kom'erz), over the long rolling waves + +of all degrees, of all kinds, large and small + +of a serious nature (se'ri-us na'tur), of a dangerous kind + +officially recognized (o-fish'al-i rek'og-nizd), known and stated + +ointment (oint'ment), precious salve + +Ojibways (o-jib'waz), a tribe that lived just south of Lake Superior + +ooze and tangle (ooz), mud and roots + +oozing outward (ooz'ing), flowing from the tree + +Opechee (o-pech'e) + +open-handedness, generosity + +operations of the enemy (op'er-shunz; en'e-mi), doings of those +fighting against us + +oppression lifts its head (o-presh'-shun), people are treated unjustly + +original (o-rij'i-nal), first + +outlaw', one who breaks the laws and flees to escape punishment + +overcame this handicap (han'di-kap), got over this disadvantage + +Owaissa (o-was'a) + + +packet (pak'et), bundle + +pack train, a number of animals carrying the supplies of the party + +pagans (pa'ganz), not Christians + +painted pulpit (pool'pit), green and purple over-arching leaf of the +jack-in-the-pulpit flower + +painted tribes of light, gay, bright flowers of spring + +painted white, white-skinned, like an Indian's face covered with paint + +pale skies, gray skies of early spring + +palfreys (pol'friz), saddle-horses + +palisades pine-trees (pa1'i-say-dz'), tall pines, standing like a wall +on each bank + +palpitated (pal'pi-tat'ed), shook + +Pandora (pan-do'ra) + +parched (parcht), dry + +parent (par'ent), the giver of life + +partake (par-tak') share + +particularly (par-tik'u-lar'li), very + +partners (part'nerz), companions + +past will no longer be the past (past), things that happened long ago +will seem as real as though going on now + +pathos (pa'thos), sad sweetness + +patient weathercocks (pa' shent we'-ther-koks), patient, waiting for +the wind to blow + +Pauwating (pa-wa'ting) St. Mary's river, joining Lakes Superior and +Huron + +pay my court (kort), show my respect by visiting you + +peace of mind, calm thoughts with nothing to disturb them + +peasants (pez'ants), lowest class of people + +peer (per) peep cautiously + +pennon (pen'un), flag + +performing these good offices (per-for'ing), doing these kind acts + +perilous (per'i-lus), dangerous + +periodical (pe'ri-od'i-kal), printed matter, in the form of a magazine, +published regularly (not daily) + +perplexity (per-plek'si-ti), difficulty + +persevered (pur'se-verd') persisted + +perseveringly (pur'se-ver'ing-li), continually + +personage (pur'sun-aj), creature + +pest, disease which kills + +pestered (pes'terd), annoyed + +pettishly (pet'ish-li), crossly + +pheasants (fez'antz), wild birds of delicious flavor + +phoebe (fe'be), a kind of bird + +phrase (fray-z), expression + +physical and moral courage (fiz'i-kal; mor'al kur'aj), bravery of body +and mind + +physique (íf-zék'), build and health + +piece of cover (kuv'er), bit of underbrush large enough to hide behind + +pierce like a shaft (pers; shaft), fly through like an arrow + +pine-clad hills, hills covered with pine trees + +pinion (pin'yun), wing + +pitiable (pit'i-a-b'l), sad + +place of deposit (de-poz'it), keeping place + +plagued the realm (plagd; relm), made trouble in the country + +plague the Abbot (plag), annoy the Abbot + +plaiting (plat'ing), braiding + +Plantagenets (plan-taj-e-nets), the English Kings from 1154 to 1485 + +plenty, enough of everything + +pliant as a wand (pli'ant; wond), as easily moved as a willow twig is +bent + +plow had violated (vi'o-lat-ed), had been turned up by the plow, and +thus spoiled for the small owners + +plowshare' (plou'shar'), blade of the plow; part which turns up the +earth + +plundered store (plun'derd), goods he had taken by force + +Poet Laureate (lo're-at), poet chosen by the King to write on great +events of the nation + +point to windward (wind'werd), turn in the direction from which the +wind came + +poised it in the air (poizd), held it high + +political bustles (po-lit'i-kal bus'-lz), activities of politics + +pollution (po-lu'shun), soiling and making impure + +pomp (pomp), show + +ponder (pon'der), think + +pondering much, thinking things over + +ponderous (pon'der-us), heavy + +Ponemah (po-ne'ma) + +poniard (pon'yard), dagger + +porcelain (por'se-lan), fine white ware + +possessed authority (po-zest' o-thor'i-ti), knew how to control + +power of prophecy (prof'e-si), ability to foretell events + +practice decency (prak'tis de'sen-si), do the right thing every time + +prattle (prat'l), child's talk + +presence (prez'ens), being there + +presently (prez'ent-li), soon + +prevent (pre-vent'), keep from + +Prideaux (pre-do') + +pried into (prid), tried to pull apart + +prig, one who thinks himself good + +prime (pri-m), best + +princely (prins'li), like a prince + +proclaim (pro-klam'), show + +profusion of flowers (pro-fu'zhun), great many flowers + +projected (pro-jekt'ed), extended + +proudly we hailed, looked at with pride and joy + +province (prov'ins), one of the divisions of certain countries + +prudence (proo'dens), wisdom; sense + +psalm (salm), sacred song + +publican (pub'li-kan), tax gatherer + +pull fodder (fod'er), pull up cornstalks by the roots + +pulp, wet mixture of which paper is made + +pumpkin (pump'kin) + +purpose (pur'pus), object; work + +pursuit (pur-sut'), chase + +put me in mind, suggested to me + + +quail (kway'-l), the bobwhite + +quirk (kwurk), turn + +quoit (kwoit), ring + +quoth (kwoth), said + + +radiance (ra'di-ans), brilliance + +radiant (ra'di-ant), beaming + +raid (ray-d), attack made to get something + +ramparts (ram'parts), protecting walls for defense + +rangers (ran'jerz), men who live on the range or prairie + +rapturous (rap'tur-us), very happy + +rarities (rar'i-tiz), rare and precious things + +ravenous (rav'n-us), very great + +rayless disk of red, flat, burning circle, not seeming to throw off +any rays of light + +reappeared (re'a-perd'), came in sight again + +rear (rer), raise + +rearing (rer'ing), standing on her hind legs + +recalling (re-kol'ing), remembering + +received in trust (re-sevd'), taken, to protect honorably + +reckless (rek'les), careless + +recognized (rek'og-nizd), saw + +recoil (re-koil'), rebound + +recovering himself (re-kuv'er-ing), coming back to his natural state +of mind + +red-coats, British soldiers, so called because of their red uniforms + +redeem them (re-dem'), buy them back + +redoubled (re-dub'ld), repeated + +reeds, large tall swamp grasses + +reenforcing (re'en-fors'ing), covering again + +reflected (re-flekt'ed), thought + +regions of the morning (re'junz), place where the sun rises; the East + +regular order (reg'-u-lar or'der), in straight lines, one behind the +other + +related (re-lat'ed), told + +relaxed (re-lakst'), loosened; let go + +Reldresal (rel'dre-sal) + +remnant (rem'nant), few that are left + +remotest corner of Africa (re-mot'-est), part of Africa the farthest +away + +render (ren'der), give back + +renown (re-noun'), fame + +repaired to her house (re-pard'), went to her house + +repair the mischief (re-par'; mis'-chif), make up for the harm + +repast (re-past'), feast + +repelling (re-pel'ing), driving back + +repentance (re-pen'tans), regret + +resembles (re-zem'b'lz), is like + +resin (rez'in), dried sap + +resolutely (rez'o-lut-li), determinedly + +resoled (re-zolvd'), with his mind firmly made up + +resplendent (re-splend'ent), shining brightly + +restore (re-stor'), put back + +retired chamber (re-tird' cham'ber), room away from the main part of +the house + +retreat (re-tret'), hiding place + +revels (rev'els), wild enjoyment + +reverberations (re-ver'ber-a'-shunz), echoes + +reverence (rev'er-ens), great respect + +richly decked (dekt), wearing beautiful and costly blankets and other +decorations + +rich stuffs, costly cloth of different kinds + +ridges, raised lines of ground + +ridiculous (re-dik'u-lus), deserving to be laughed at + +rills, little streams + +ring of the same, sound of it + +ripened charge (rip'end charj), precious object in its keeping, now +ready for husking + +rippling (rip'ling), blowing in curves + +rival for one hour (ri'val), equal at the time of greatest beauty + +riveted (riv'et-ed), fastened by bending down the end + +riveted his at-ten'tion (riv'et-ed; a-ten'shún), put all his thought + +roam (rom), wander + +robes of darkness, blue-black foliage clothing it + +roc (rok), imaginary bird of great size + +roguishly defied (ro'gish-li de-fid'), resisted in a joking way + +Roha (ro'ha) + +root (root), the potato + +rosy morn (ro'zi morn), reddish tint of the sky at sunrise + +round-tower of my heart, safest place for a prisoner + +route (root), way + +ruefully (roo'fool-i), sadly + +rue the day (roo), regret what I had done that day + +rugged (rug'ed), uneven + +rugged vales be-stow' (rug'ed vay'lz be-sto'), rough valleys furnish + +ruined (roo'ind), destroyed + +ruminating (roo'mi-nat'ing), chewing their cuds + +run over with joy, be wildly happy + +rushes, coarse grasses + +russet (rus'et), reddish brown or reddish gray + + +Sachem (sa'chem), Indian chief + +sacrificing (sak'ri-fic'ing), giving up + +sad sea wave, ocean seeming sad because you are sad + +sage speeches (say'j), wise remarks + +saluted the company (sa-lut'ed; kum'pa-ni), greeted those assembled + +sandal-wood (san'dal-wood), a highly prized, fragrant Asiatic wood +from a tree of the same name + +sank deep into my mind, made a lasting impression on me + +sate (sat), old spelling of satin + +satin burs (sat'in), prickly husks of chestnuts with their smooth, +soft lining + +satisfy his mind (sat'is-fi), find out what he wanted to know + +save, except + +savory (sa'ver-i), pleasing to the smell + +scaled the wall (skald), got over the wall, as soldiers climbed by +ladders over the walls of an old-time city + +scars of all wars, marks left from injuries got in fighting + +scope (skop), reach + +scorched (skorcht), heated until burned + +scoured the seas (skourd), hunted over the seas + +scour for spoils (skour), hunt for dainty foods + +scour'ing down the meadow (skour'ing; med'o), sweeping over the +grassland + +sear (ser), withered + +seaward glide (se'werd glid), flow toward the ocean + +Sebowisha (seb'o-wish'a) + +secure him against evil (se-kur'; a-genst' e'v'l), protect him from +harm + +sedges (sej'ez), grasslike plants with tall heads of seeds + +señor (se'nyor), Spanish for sir + +sense of elation (e-la'shun), feeling of joy + +sequin (se'kwin), a coin, no longer in use, worth about 82.25 + +serene of look and heart (se-ren'), with a calm face and mind + +service liketh us, we like to serve + +sesame (ses'a-me), a kind of grain grown in the East and used for food + +severed (sev'erd), cut off + +Severn (sev'ern), a river in southwestern England + +shadow of an infinite bliss (in'fi-nit), hint of happiness that cannot +be measured + +shanty, small, unfinished house + +shaped them to a framework, bent and fastened them to form the +skeleton of the canoe + +share, see plowshare + +sheath (sheth), put into its case + +sheaves (shevz), bundles of grain + +sheer into the river, straight down into the water + +shiftless (shift'les), poorly kept + +shilling, coin worth $0.24 + +shining land of Wabun (wa'bun), bright light (Wabun is the East Wind) + +shining shoulders, bare, wet shoulders glistening in the sun + +shipping, passage on shipboard + +shirk (shurk), one who tries to get out of work + +shivering shock, force that breaks its timbers + +shoal (shol), sandbar + +shoot a main, have a match + +shot his shining quills, cast off some of his smooth spines + +shoulder your matchlocks, take your guns + +shroud, rope of a ship + +shuttle (shut'l), tool used in weaving + +sieve (siv), a utensil for separating the coarse particles from the +fine + +signify union (sig'ni-fi un'yun), mean joining + +sincerity (sin-ser'ity), honesty + +sinews (sin'uz), tough strips + +singing pine trees, pines through which the wind blew with a pleasant +sound + +singled out (sing'g'ld), chose + +sire (sir), father + +situation (sit'u-a'shun), state in which things were + +skillet (skil'et), frying pan + +skimming (skim'ing), flying so close as to brush the surface + +skirted (skurt'ed), walked along the edge of; grew along the edge of + +skyward cast (ski'werd), hung high + +slab (slab), thick slice + +slaughtered (slo'terd), killed for food + +sledge (slej), a heavy hammer + +sleep shall be broken, you will be awakened + +sleight-of-mouth tricks (slit), mysterious disappearanoes + +slow sloping to the night (slop'ing), sinking slowly in the West + +sluices (sloos'ez), gates to hold back the water + +smiling fields, patches of grain growing well + +smirk (smurk), put-on smile + +smite the ore (smit), hammer the iron into shape + +smoldered (smol'derd), slowly burned + +Soangetaha (son'ge-ta'ha) + +soaring (sor'ing), floating in the air + +sobered by his adventure (so'berd; ad-ven'tur), made wise by his +experience + +softly pictured wood (soft'li pik'turd), beautifully colored foliage +showing up in soft tints + +solace (soi'as), comfort + +somber (som'ber), gloomy + +soothe, comfort + +sore of heart, weary and discouraged + +sorry pass, sad state + +sound of their shock, noise when they struck + +sovereign (sov'er-in), ruler + +spacious (spa'shus), large + +spake with naked hearts, hid no secrets from each other + +spare yards, extra poles used to support the sails + +spars (sparz), masts + +speaks sublimely (sub-lym'li), has a noble meaning + +specter-like figure (spek'ter-lyk'), person looking like a ghost + +spelled down, beat in spelling + +sphere of gold (sfer), golden globe + +spikes, large nails + +spire, a slender rod, or tower, extend ins upward from the top of a +build ins; here, for the weathercock + +spiritualizes (spir'it-u-al-iz-ez), purifies + +spirit was gradually subdued (spir'it; grad'u-al-li sub-dud'), she was +tamed + +splendor dazzles in vain (splen'der), bright show of glory does not +tempt + +splendor wild (splen'der), light rising and falling + +spoils of forest free, things that come from trees + +sported, played + +spray (spra), twig + +sprites (sprits), fairies + +square heaven of blue, blue part of the flag + +stalwart (stol'wert), brave + +stanch (stanch), faithful + +stanched (stancht), checked the bleeding from + +standing in for the shore, coming toward the land + +stand you in yeoman's stead (yo' manz sted), be of help to you in your +adventures + +star spangled, sprinkled with stars + +state and person, country and the man himself + +stately (stat'li), standing proudly + +stature (stat'ur), height + +stayed my walk, stopped me + +stay surety (shoor'ti), be security + +stern, the back part of a boat + +steward (stu'erd), man in charge of the food + +stick to your sphere (sfer), do the things you can do; don't try to do +those you can't + +stiff, not to be bent or changed + +stifled murmur (sti'f'ld mur'mur), a low sound not easily heard + +stirred their souls to passion (pash'un), moved their deepest feelings + +store, large amount + +storm still brave, stand firm in a hard wind + +stoutest, bravest + +stout fellow, gay young man + +Straits of Gibraltar (strats; ji-brol'tar), narrow waterway between +Spain and Africa + +strength allied to goodness (a-lid'), bodily power added to virtues + +strewn (stroon), covered + +stricken (strik'en), frightened + +strife comes with manhood, men have to fight + +stroked in ripples (strokt; rip'lz), gently made into little folds + +stubble (stub'l), short stalks left in the ground after grain has been +cut + +studied the situation (stud'id; sit'u-a'shun), thought over the state +in which things were + +sturdy (stur'di), strong; firm + +sublimely (sub-lim'li), with great nobility and purity + +succeeded to the gloom (suk-sed'ed; gloom), followed the cloudiness + +such an old mustache (mus-tash'), so fierce a soldier + +suitable to that character (sut'a-b'l; kar'ak-ter), such as dancers +wore + +Sultan (sul'tan), title of the ruler in some Asiatic countries + +summit of the Cedar (sum'it), top of the tree + +summoned (sum'mund), called + +sun benignant (be-nig'nant), kindly sun + +sun is under the sea, sun has set + +sunshine of sweet looks, brightness of expression + +supple (sup'l), easily bent + +supported the dog's chances (su-port'ed; chans'ez), said that the dog +would succeed + +suppressed (su-prest'), kept down + +surety (shoor'ti), security + +surge's swell (surj'ez), waves of the rising sea + +surpassed (sur-past'), did better than + +swam (swim) sweeping westward, moving swiftly toward the west + +sweetmeats, candied fruits + +swell the merriment (mer'i-ment), make louder the sound of happy voices + +swept down into a valley, sloped gradually to low land + +swerve (swurv), go crooked + +swoon (swoon), faint + +symbol (sim'bol), sign + +symbolizes (sim'bol-iz-ez), means + + +tamarack (tam'a-rak), tree that looks like an evergreen but sheds its +needles in winter + +tang to the spirit (tang; spir'it), fancied taste + +Taquamenaw (ta'kwa-me'no), river in Michigan + +tarnished (tar'nisht), stained + +taught wisdom from the past, having learned better things from what +had happened before + +Tawasentha (ta'wa-sen'tha), name of a valley in New York + +tawny (ta'ni), yellowish-brown + +tax, a part of one's wealth given up by law to benefit the public + +tedious (te'di-us), tiresome + +terrace (ter'as), a raised level platform of earth + +text, the subject of a talk + +theater (the'a-ter), building in which plays are acted + +their green resume (re-zum'), are again covered with grass + +the night is behind us, night-time is almost here + +therefore (thar'for), for that reason + +thick zigzags (zig'zagz'), many paths running this way and that + +thinned to a thread, grew so narrow she could barely be seen + +thongs (thongz), narrow strips of leather + +threshold (thresh'old), piece of timber under the door + +thrilled (thrild), filled with joy + +thunder halls (thun'der holz), far up, where the thunder dwells + +thundering down the valley (thun'der-ing; val'i), running along level +ground with a noise like thunder + +thus accoutered (a-koo'terd), dressed in this way + +thus disposed (dis-pozd'), so arranged + +thwarted the wily savage (thwort'ed; wi'li), fought against the tricks +of the Indians + +tinge (tinj), color; tint + +tinkered (tink'erd), worked without knowing just how + +tiny (ti'ni), very small + +tipped with flint, having points of flint, the hardest kind of stone + +'tis meet, it is right + +tittered (tit'erd), laughed mockingly + +titter of winds, merry sound of the breeze + +toil is the real play, work is more fun than playing + +toil'some (toil'sum), hard + +tolerable (tol'er-a-b'l), bearable + +toll (tol), tax; money + +took no toll (tol), did not rob them + +took shipping, engaged passage on shipboard + +took to his revels (rev'elz), went on with his wild play + +tormentors (tor-men'toerz), flies which bit them + +tortured by their lances (tor'turd), in great pain from the sharp bites + +touchhole (tuch'hol'), the place where the powder was lighted + +tour (toor), trip + +tourneys (toor'niz), meetings where knights fought + +toward (to'erd), in the direction of + +towering steep (tou'er-ing), high slope + +towers (tou'erz), high parts of the castle + +tracker (trak'er), one who traces the path an animal has taken + +trade winds, winds which always blow in the same direction + +tradition (tra-dish'un), story handed down + +traffic (traf'ik), business + +train, those in a company + +tranquil (tran'kwil), motionless because there was no wind + +transparent (trans-par'ent), able to be seen through + +transport (trans'port), great excitement + +transport (trans-port'), to remove + +traveling schoolmaster (trav'el-ing), teacher who went from one place +to another + +treason (tre'z'n), attempt to injure the government + +tribes of men might prosper, all nations might live in better ways + +trickling (trik'ling), of water running in a small stream + +trims, smooths neatly + +triumph (tri'umf), victory + +triumphant (tri-um'fant), glad of success + +trophy (tro'fi), prize + +troubled spirit (trub'ld spir'it), soul of the dead man which cannot +rest + +tryst (tryst), meeting place + +turban (tur'ban), headdress worn in Mohammedan countries, a cap with a +sash or scarf wound about it + +turquoise (tur'koiz), a precious blue stone + +turret (tur'et), a small tower + +tusks (tusks), large, projecting teeth + +twining (twyn'ing), creeping up and winding about + +twinkle of its candle, little glow like that from a candle + +twinkling, moment + +tyrant would be lord (ti'rant), cruel master would rule everything + + +unaccustomed to vexations (un'a-kus'tumd; vek-sa'shunz), not used to +any sort of bothers + +unanimously elected (u-nan'i-mus-li), given every vote + +unapt (un-apt'), unlikely + +unbounded freedom (un-bound'ed), state where they did as they liked + +uncomfortable state of affairs (un-kom'fer-ta-b'l; a-farz'), hard way +of living + +unconscious (un-kon'shus), feeling and knowing nothing + +uneasiness (un-ez'i-nes), worry + +unequal fight, ill-matched struggle + +unfolded to your gaze, spread out before you + +unhoused (un-houzd'), turned out of their homes + +unknown, crowded nations, great masses of people of different races + +unwittingly, by accident + +upon their kind, against other men + +useless (us'les), without having been made good use of + +utmost (utmost), greatest + +utter itself in words (ut'er), speak its meaning + + +vagrant (va'grant), idle wanderer + +vague (vag), not clear + +vague lisps (vag), talk that could not be understood + +vales (valz), little valleys + +valor (val'er), bravery + +varied riches (va'rid), good foods of different kinds + +vault (volt), walled-up space under- ground + +vauntingly (vant'ing-li), boastingly + +veered (verd), turned + +venomous (ven'um-us), poisonous + +verdant (vur'dant), green + +vest that is bright, red breast + +vexation (vek-sa'shun), anger + +vexations (vek-sa'shunz), troubles + +victuals (vit'lz), food + +villain (vil'in), wicked man + +virgin air (vur'jin), clear, fresh air of spring. + +virtue of vested power (vur'tu), because of the office to which he had +been elected + +vision (vizh'un), dream + +visions of sugarplums (vizh'unz), dreams of candy + +vizier (vi-zer'), a high state officer in Mohammedan countries + +voluntarily (voi'un-ta-ri-li), willingly + + +Wabasso (wa-bas'o) + +Wabun (wa'bun), East wind + +Wahwahtaysee (wa'wa-ta'se) + +wain (wan), wagon + +waistcoat (wast'kot), vest + +walks of life, things they try to do + +wand (wand), slender stick + +wanders piping through the village, walks around the town, playing +sweet music + +wanted nothing, had everything he wanted + +warring (wor'ing), fighting + +warrior (wor'yer), fighting man + +wary (wa'ri), easily frightened + +was minded to try (min'ded), felt he would like to test + +wastes (wasts), wide stretches of land unfit for cultivation + +wayside blossom (wa'sid blos'um), flower growing by the roadside + +wayside things (wa'sid'), flowers that grow along the roadside + +Wawa (wa'wa) + +Wawonaissa (wa'won-a'sa) + +Waywassimo (wa-was'i-mo) + +weasel (we'z'l), a small animal noted for its quickness + +wedge (wej), a tool, thinner at one edge, used for splitting + +ween, know + +well mounted, riding on good horses + +wend (wend), go + +wheeling (hwel'ing), circling + +whence, from where + +where the last was bred, in the place in which the last sprang + +whereupon (hwar'u-pon'), after which + +wherever it listeth (hwar'ev'er; list'eth), wherever it wishes + +white-skin wrapper, covering of white bark + +Whitsunday (hwit's-n-day), the seventh Sunday after Easter + +whole round of my isle, trip all the way around the island + +whose joy is to slay, who like to kill + +wield (weld), use + +wigwams (wig'womz), huts of bark + +wilderness (sil'der-nes), wild country + +wildfire Jack-o'-lantern, gay little man dancing about + +willing lands, ground ready for plowing + +will not eat salt, in olden times eating salt with a man (that is, +being his guest) bound the guest to do his host no harm, then or +afterward + +wily (wíi'i), tricky + +winged (wing'ed), having wings + +winged with feathers (wingd), having feathers at one end, to help them +fly + +wintry hoard (win'tri hord), store of food for the winter + +wisdom of the book, words which made up the sense + +witchery (wich'er-i), fascination + +within his scope (with-in'; skop), where he could reach it + +with one accord (a-kord'), with the same idea + +with one consent (kon-sent'), agreeing + +without more ado (a-doo'), not making any objection + +wonder (wun'der), surprising thing + +wondrous (wun'drus), strange + +wondrous birth and being (wun'drus; be'ing), story of the wonderful +way he came into the world and lived in it + +words cannot paint, anything one might say could not describe + +work the book out, do enough work to pay for the book + +worship (wur'ship), devotion to God + +wounded (woond'ed), hurt + +wounds (woondz), old griefs + +woven texture (wo'v-n; teks'tur), cloth + +wrack (rak), ruin + +wreath (reth), garland + +wreathed (reth'ed), joyous + +wreathing fires reth'ing), flames twisting around + +wrought (rot), worked + +wrought together in such harmony (rot; har'mo-ni), so combined in the +carving + + +Xenil (ze'nil) + + +yearling (yer'ling), an animal one year old + +yellow hair, the silky threads growing out from the end of the corn ear + +Yenadizze (yen'a-diz'e), an idler + +yeoman (yo'man), free-born man + +yester (yes'ter), of the day before + +yet unforgotten, still remembered + +yore (yor), olden time + +young sun, early morning sun + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Elson Readers, Book 5 +by William H. Elson and Christine M. Keck + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ELSON READERS, BOOK 5 *** + +This file should be named 9106-8.txt or 9106-8.zip + +Produced by Mike Pullen. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. 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