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MINNESOT
CLASS 428.6
BOOK H 244

AF
V
Bolbert Sc
'Blessings on thee, little man-
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!"
("The Barefoot Boy," p. 80.)
THE MINNESOTA, TEXT-BOOK SERIES,
THE


FOURTH READER.
BY
WILLIAM T. HARRIS, A. M., LL. D.,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, ST. LOUIS, MO.
ANDREW J. RICKOFF, A. M.,
SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION, CLEVELAND, OHIO.
MARK BAILEY, A. M.,
INSTRUCTOR IN ELOCUTION, YALE COLLEGE.
ST. PAUL, MINN.:
D. D. MERRILL,
85 EAST THIRD STREET.
1881.
COPYRIGHT BY
Ď. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
1878.
428.6
Pamble's
1244
CONTENTS.
LESSON
SELECTION.
AUTHOR.
I. The Whistle. . . . . . . . . . . Adapted from Benjamin Franklin,
PAGE
7
II. The Kitten and the Falling Leaves..... William Wordsworth, 10
III. The Discontented Pendulum...
....Jane Taylor. 12
IV. Logical Analysis; or, What to Emphasize......Mark Bailey. 15
V. The Spider and the Fly.
VI. Stepping-Stones....
VII. The Voice of Spring.
VIII. Dan, the Firebrand..
IX. Dan's Bull-Fight...
Mary Howitt, 20
Louisa M. Alcott, 23
•
•
Felicia Hemans. 26
Louisa M. Alcott. 28
X. The Fox and the Cat...
Louisa M. Alcott. 31
J. Cunningham. 34
XI. The Lark....Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové. 35
XII. The Complaint of the Wild Flowers..
XIII. Alice Fell...
.Anonymous. 38
. William Wordsworth, 42
XIV. What Alice Said to the Kitten.
•
XV. The Spider... . . .
.Lewis Carroll. 44
F. A. Krummacher.
48
XVI. Alice's Dream of the Chess-Queens...
Lewis Carroll. 49
XVII. In the Forest... Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové. - 53
XVIII. Emphasis by Time.....
.Mark Bailey. 55
XIX. The Shipwreck of Robinson Crusoe..
Daniel De Foe. 56
·
XX. The Chase.
Walter Scott. 59
XXI. Driving Bees..
London Correspondent. 62
XXII. The Huntsman.
Walter Scott.
64
•
XXIII. Solon....
..Herodotus. 66
XXIV. The Razor-Seller.
..John Wolcott. 69
XXVI. A Psalm of Life...
XXV. Robinson Crusoe's Manufacture of Pottery...Daniel De Foe. 71
XXVII. An Elephant-Hunt.......Library of Entertaining Knowledge. 76
608000
Henry W. Lonfellow. 74
4
FOURTH READER.
XXXIII. The Rainy Day.
XXXIV. Ax-Grinding.
XXXV. March.
•
•
LESSON
SELECTION.
AUTHOR.
PAGE
XXVIII. The Barefoot Boy..
John G. Whittier. 80
XXIX. The Story of a Wavelet.
Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové. 83
XXX. Emphasis by Slides..
Mark Bailey.
86
XXXI. Beth's Sickness..
.Louisa M. Alcott.
90
XXXII. Beth's Sickness (Continued)..
Louisa M. Alcott.
93
Henry W. Longfellow.
95
.Benjamin Franklin.
96
William Wordsworth.
99
Colton. 100
William Dimond. 102
.Mark Bailey.
105
William Cullen Bryant. 107
•
.Charles and Mary Lamb.
109
•
. Charles and Mary Lamb.
114
Charles and Mary Lamb.
118
Felicia Hemans. 120
•
123
XXXVI. The Careful Observer..
XXXVII. The Mariner's Dream..
XXXVIII. How much Emphasis..
XXXIX. The Death of the Flowers..
XL. The Tempest.
XLI. The Tempest (Continued)..
XLII. The Tempest (Concluded)..
XLIII. The Adopted Child...
•
XLIV. The Hedgehog and the Hare..
XLV. The Village Blacksmith..
XLVI. On Stress..
XLVII. I remember, I remember.
XLVIII. The Prairie on Fire...
..Henry W. Longfellow. 127
.Mark Bailey.
129
Thomas Hood. 131
James Fenimore Cooper. 133
XLIX. The Mountain and the Squirrel....Ralph Waldo Emerson. 137
L. The Lilliputian War at Sca.
LI. Alexander Selkirk...
LII. Suspense of Voice..
•
LIII. Lilliputian Tailors and Cooks.
LIV. Country Scenes in Old Times.
LV. Perseverance of a Spider..
LVI. The Old Clock on the Stairs..
LVII. Gulliver among the Giants...
LVIII. The Compound Siides..
LIX. Summer Wind..
LX. Daniel Boone..
•
•
•
·
.Dean Swift. 138
William Cowper. 142
.Mark Bailey. 145
.Dean Swift. 146
.J. Fletcher.
148
Oliver Goldsmith. 151
Henry W. Longfellow. 154
.Dean Swift. 157
.Mark Bailey. 160
William Cullen Bryant. 162
.S. G. Goodrich. 165
FOURTH READER.
5
LESSON
SELECTION.
LXI. Afternoon in February.
AUTHOR.
PAGE
Henry W. Longfellow. 168
LXII. The Soldier's Reprieve.
•
LXIII. The Talents..
(Mrs. Robbins.) Mark Bailey. 169
.Matthew, Chapter XXV. 174
LXIV. Soldier, rest!.
•
.... Walter Scott. 176
LXV. Benjamin Franklin.. . . ...Thomas Wentworth Higginson. 178
LXVI. The Three Black Crows...
.John Byrom. 180
LXVII. The Birthday of Washington.
LXIX. The Sermon on the Mount .
LXVIII. The Brook....
(Rufus Choate.) Mark Bailey. 183
.Alfred Tennyson. 184
.Matthew, Chapter V. 186
LXX. The Sermon on the Mount (Continued)..Matthew, Chap. VI. 189
LXXI. The Fight of Paso del Mar..
LXXII. Robert Bruce and the Spider..
.Bayard Taylor. 192
Waller Scott. 195
LXXIII. The Swiftest Runners.
(Hans Christian Andersen.) Mark Bailey.
198
LXXIV. Oft in the Stilly Night.
LXXV. Harvey Birch.
►
...Thomas Moore. 200
James Fenimore Cooper. 201
LXXVI. Burial of Sir John Moore.
LXXVII. The Castle by the Sea.
Charles Wolfe. 206
(Uhland, translated by H. W. Longfellow.) Mark Bailey. 207
LXXVIII. Hohenlinden..
LXXIX. Over the River..
LXXX. A Letter of Dr. Franklin.
LXXXII. Goody Blake and Harry Gill..
LXXXI. Little Hal....
•
•
..Thomas Campbell. 209
Nancy Priest Wakefield. 211
.Benjamin Franklin. 213
.(Colton.) Mark Bailey.
William Wordsworth.
LXXXIII. Two Views of Christmas. (Charles Dickens.) Mark Bailey.
214
216
221
•
Charles Kingsley. 222
..(Shakespeare.) Mark Bailey. 223
LXXXIV. The Three Fishers.
• •
LXXXV. Julius Cæsar..
LXXXVI. Robin Hood...
Walter Scott.
225
LXXXVII. Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard... Thomas Gray.
230
Spelling-Lessons...
237
THE PREPARATORY NOTES.
The work to be done by the pupil is included under:
I. Biographical, historical, geographical, scientific, and literary allusions
or references. The notes under this head are intended to suggest topics for
discussion in the recitation, and the pupil is not required to study these,
although he may read them with some profit.
II. Spelling and pronunciation. In the Appendix to this volume will be
found suggested a method of teaching spelling by analysis. If preferred,
the old method of oral or written spelling will suffice.
III. Language-lesson on the technicalities of written or printed language
as found in the lesson. If carefully learned, the pupil will acquire a prac-
tical knowledge of grammatical forms, without the usual technicalities. He
will learn to write and speak correctly. But the logic of language as given
in technical grammar is not attempted here.
IV. Definitions, synonyms, and paraphrases, to be given by the pupil in
his own language, i. c., in such words as he uses in every-day life, and not
in words borrowed from the dictionary. He must find the words in the
piece and study their connection with the rest, and give the special sense
of the words as there used, not the general definition. This method will
secure the most rapid mastery of a good vocabulary on the part of the
pupil.
(Numbers II., III., and IV., are to be studied by the pupil, and he may
be held responsible for the work required.)
V. Style and thought of the piece. The notes under this head should
be read and discussed in the recitation, and they will answer a useful pur-
pose in sharpening the pupil's faculty of criticism, even if the thoughts
advanced are condemned and refuted.
It is evident that each selection from classic literature furnishes work
enough for three, four, or five recitations. First, the pupil should learn
the spelling, pronunciation, peculiarities of form, and meaning of the words
in the lesson (II., III., IV.); second, the references and allusions made in
the piece (I.); third, the thought and the style of expression (V.); fourth,
the proper rendering of it as taught in the lessons on elocution.
The work here suggested is intended only as an auxiliary, and may be
omitted for other topics presented by the teacher. Only a few hints are
risked on the more important phases of each piece, and no attempt is made
to exhaust the proper field of inquiry. It is safe to say that a thorough
study of each literary piece in the higher Readers will be of more benefit
to the pupil in giving him an insight into human life, and directive power
and influence among his fellow-men, than all that he will or can learn from
the other branches taught in the schools.
FOURTH READER.
I. THE WHISTLE.
1. When I was a child, seven years old, my friends,
on a holiday, filled my pockets 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 him all my money for one.
2. I then came home, and went whistling all over the
house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all
the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, un-
derstanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given
four times as much for it as it was worth.
3. This put me in mind what good things I might
have bought with the rest of the money; and they
laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with
vexation.
4. This, however, was afterward 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
so I saved my money.
FOURTH READER.
:
5. 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.
6. When I saw any one too ambitious of the favor
of the great, wasting his time in attendance on public
dinners, sacrificing 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."
7. When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly
employing himself in politics, neglecting his own affairs,
and ruining them by that neglect, "He pays, indeed,"
said I, "too much for this whistle.'
""
8. 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 do indeed pay too
much for your whistle.”
9. When I met a man of pleasure, sacrificing the
improvement of his mind, or of his fortune, to mere
bodily comfort, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are pro-
viding pain for yourself, instead of pleasure: you give too
much for your whistle."
10. If I saw one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture,
fine horses, all above his fortune, for which he contracted
debts, and ended his career in prison, "Alas!" said I,
"he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."
11. In short, I believed that a great part of the mis-
eries of mankind were brought upon them by the false
estimates they had made of the value of things, and by
their giving too much for their whistles.
Adapted from Benjamin Franklin.
FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Allusions, historical, geographical, and literary.
II. Spelling and pronunciation; words to be copied, and marked with dia-
critical marks, hyphens, and accents. III. Language-lesson. IV. Words
and phrases to be explained in the pupil's own words, giving the meaning
as used in the lesson (not the general definition). V. Style and thought.
Numbers I. and V. to suggest topics of conversation on the reading-lesson;
Numbers II., III., and IV., to be prepared by the pupil. There may be
some points in Numbers I. and V. that are too difficult for many of the
pupils for whom this Reader is intended. The teacher will use his discre-
tion in selecting topics from these numbers for explanation to his class.
I. Benjamin Franklin, an eminent American philosopher and states-
man, born at Boston, Mass., January 17, 1706. His father was a soap and
candle maker. Benjamin learned the printer's trade, and removed to Phila-
delphia. He discovered the identity of lightning and electricity. His
efforts secured the alliance of the French with America in the Revolution.
He also assisted in making important treaties, and in forming the Consti-
tution of the United States. (See Lesson LXV.)
II. Write out and mark the pronunciation of friends, filled,
whis'-tle, läughed, un-něç'-es-sary, neg-leet'-ing. (See Webster's
diacritical marks, in the introduction to the spelling-lessons of the
Appendix.)
III. “Children ”—what change is necessary to make this word refer to
only one? What meaning does ing give to the word whistling? Find
other words in which it makes the word refer to continued action. Dr.
Franklin wrote "says I" (7, 8, 9, 10) for "said I;" why incorrect?
IV. "Coppers "what coin does this mean? What does "charmed”
mean (1)? “Voluntarily"? (willingly, of his own accord.) "Disturbing
means what? Who is a cousin? What is a bargain? What is folly?
Vexation? "Impression continuing on my mind "? (i. e., I remembered it.)
"Ambitious of the favor of the great"? 'Fond of popularity"? (in this
case, desiring the people's votes.) Who is a miser? What is the mean-
ing of esteem? Benevolent? "Accumulating wealth"? Comfortable ?
“Contracted debts"? (ran in debt.) Ended his career," means what?
"False estimates they had made of the value of things"? (i. e., made mis.
takes about the worth of things.)
V. Do you think of any other examples to add to these of Dr. Franklin,
in which people have “given too much for the whistle"? Write out such
a case in your own words. What is meant by "the great"? How can
they bestow "favor"?
+
10
FOURTH READER.
II. THE KITTEN AND THE FALLING LEAVES.
1. See the kitten on the wall,
Sporting with the leaves that fall,
Withered leaves-one, two, and three-
From the lofty elder-tree!
2. Through the calm and frosty air
Of this morning bright and fair,
Eddying round and round, they sink
Softly, slowly:
3.
One might think,
From the motions that are made,
Every little leaf conveyed
Sylph or fairy hither tending,
To this lower world descending,
Each invisible and mute,
In his wavering parachute.
4. But the kitten, how she starts,
Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts!
First at one, and then its fellow,
Just as light and just as yellow:
There are many now-now one—-
Now they stop, and there are none.
5. What intenseness of desire
In her upward eye of fire!
With a tiger-leap half-way
Now she meets the coming prey,
Lets it go as fast, and then
Has it in her power again:

"See the kitten on the wall,
Sporting with the leaves that fall."
("The Kitten and the Falling Leaves," p. 10.)
FOURTH READER.
11.
6. Now she works with three or four,
Like an Indian conjurer;
Quick as he in feats of art,
Far beyond in joy of heart.
7. Were her antics played in the eye
Of a thousand standers-by,
Clapping hands with shout and stare,
What would little Tabby care
For the plaudits of the crowd?
Over-happy to be proud,
Over-wealthy in the treasure
Of her cwn exceeding pleasure!
William Wordsworth.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Like an "Indian conjurer" (i. e., possessing great
skill in tossing up balls and catching them, keeping several in the air at a
time).
II. Păr'-a-chute (pur'a-shoot), a-gain' (-gon'), prey (distinguish from
· pray), trĕaş-ūre (trčzh'ur), còn'-ju-rer (kŭn'-), erouch'-eş, played, ex-
çeed'-ing.
III. Tell some differences that you have noticed between a poem and a
piece in prose. (Lines of regular length? Capitals, where placed? Accented
syllables occur how often? Difference in the order of words in the sen-
tence? etc.) Change the second paragraph to prose, beginning, "They
sink softly and slowly through the calm," etc.
IV. Give the meaning as used in the poem in your own words: “With-
ered leaves,” “eddying round and round," "conveyed (carried) sylph or
fairy hither tending " (i. e., riding down from the sky on the falling leaf),
invisible (not to be seen), mute (making no sound), "wavering parachute"
(like a large umbrella, used to descend with, in safety, from a balloon),
crouches, its fellow (leaf), "intenseness of desire" (very desirous), prey,
"feats of art" (quickness of hand, and ability to do difficult things), antics
(funny actions), plaudits (clapping of hands, etc.).
V. "Upward eye of fire”—real fire, or only a shining in her eyes
that looks like fire? What is referred to by "clapping hands," etc.?
by "little Tabby"? Give some other names used in naming kittens,
Where is the kitten represented as standing, in this poem?
•
12
FOURTH READER.
+
III THE DISCONTENTED PENDULUM.
1. An old Clock, that had stood for fifty years in a
farmer's kitchen without giving its owner any cause of
complaint, early one summer's morning, before the fam-
ily was stirring, suddenly stopped. Upon this the Dial-
plate (if we may credit the fable) changed countenance
with alarm; the Hands made an ineffectual effort to con-
tinue their course; the Wheels remained motionless with
surprise; the Weights hung speechless. Each member
felt disposed to lay the blame on the others.
2. At length the Dial instituted a formal inquiry into
the cause of the stop, when Hands, Wheels, Weights, with
one voice protested their innocence. But now a faint
tick was heard from the Pendulum, who thus spoke :
3. "I confess myself to be the sole cause of the pres-
ent stoppage, and am willing, for the general satisfaction,
to assign my reasons. The truth is, that I am tired of
ticking." Upon hearing this, the old Clock became so
enraged that it was on the point of striking.
4. "Lazy Wire!" exclaimed the Dial-plate." As to
that," replied the Pendulum, "it is vastly easy for you,
Mistress Dial, who have always, as everybody knows,
set yourself up above me-it is vastly easy for you, I say,
to accuse other people of laziness-you who have noth-
ing to do all your life but to stare people in the face, and
to amuse yourself with watching all that goes on in the
kitchen.
5. "Think, I beseech you, how you would like to be
shut up for life in this dark closet, and wag backward and
forward year after year, as I do."-" As to that," said
the Dial, " is there not a window in your house on pur-
pose for you to look through?"
FOURTH READER.
13
•
6. "But what of that?" resumed the Pendulum.
66 Although there is a window, I dare not stop, even for
an instant, to look out. Besides, I am really weary of
my way of life; and, if you please, I'll tell you how I
took this disgust at my employment.
7. "This morning I happened to be calculating how
many times I should have to tick in the course only of
the next twenty-four hours-perhaps some of you above
there can tell me the exact sum?"-The Minute-hand,
being quick at figures, instantly replied, "Eighty-six
thousand four hundred times."-"Exactly so," replied
the Pendulum.
8. "Well, I appeal to you all if the thought of this
was not enough to fatigue one? And when I began to
multiply the strokes of one day by those of months and
years, really it is no wonder if I felt discouraged at the
prospect; so, after a great deal of reasoning and hesita-
tion, thought I to myself, 'I'll stop!''
9. The Dial could scarcely keep its countenance during
this harangue; but, resuming its gravity, thus replied:
“Dear Mr. Pendulum, I am really astonished that such
a useful, industrious person as yourself should have been
overcome by this suggestion.
10. "It is true, you have done a great deal of work in
your time; so have we all, and are likely to do; and
though this may fatigue us to think of, the question is,
Will it fatigue us to do? Would you now do me the
favor to give about half a dozen strokes, to illustrate my
argument?"—The Pendulum complied, and ticked six
times at its usual pace.
11. "Now," resumed the Dial, "was that exertion
fatiguing to you?”____"Not in the least," replied the Pen-
:
14
FOURTH READER.
dulum; "it is not of six strokes that I complain, nor of
sixty, but of millions."
12. "Very good," replied the Dial; "but recollect
that, although you may think of a million strokes in an
instant, you are required to execute but one; and that,
however often you may hereafter have to swing, a mo-
ment will always be given you to swing in."
13. "That consideration staggers me, I confess," said
the Pendulum.-"Then I hope," added the Dial-plate,
"we shall all immediately return to our duty, for the
people will lie in bed till noon if we stand idling
thus."
14. Upon this, the Weights, who had never been ac-
cused of light conduct, used all their influence in urging
him to proceed; when, as with one consent, the Wheels
began to turn, the Hands began to move, the Pendulum
began to swing, and, to its credit, ticked as loud as ever;
while a beam of the rising sun, that streamed through a
hole in the kitchen-shutter, shining full upon the Dial-
plate, made it brighten up as if nothing had been the
matter.
15. When the farmer came down to breakfast, he
declared, upon looking at the Clock, that his watch had
gained half an hour in the night.
Jane Taylor.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. The use of each one of the parts of the clock
here named should be explained in the recitation.
II. Pěnd'-ū-lŭm, stop'-page, săt-is-făe-tion, as-sign' (-sin'), fa-
tigue' (-teeg').
III. Little, less, least: explain the difference in meaning of these words.
Also of much, more, most, and of quick, quicker, quickest.
IV. Give the meaning of the following expressions, as used in the
piece, in your own words: Dial-plate, "credit the fable," "ineffectual
FOURTH READER.
15
effort," "formal inquiry" (i. e., as a court examines witnesses and takes
testimony from those who are supposed to know anything about the case),
"protested their innocence," disgust, calculating, fatigue, “quick at fig-
ures," discouraged, harangue, "resuming its gravity," half a dozen, illus-
trate, complied, pace, resumed, instant, execute.
V. What happens to the face of a person when he "changes coun-
tenance with alarm"? The author describes the parts of the clock as
acting like persons: does she make their actions correspond also to their
nature as parts of the clock? (For example: "The Wheels remained mo-
tionless from surprise "—would they not have remained motionless without
surprise? Would not the Weights have hung speechless?) "Point of strik-
ing' "-how does a clock strike? "Set yourself up above "-what two
meanings? What "dark closet" is meant? "Keep its countenance" (keep
from laughing?). "Overcome by this suggestion"-what suggestion?
What difference between thinking of something to do and executing it?
"That consideration staggers me"-state this thought in other words.
What two meanings to the word "light"? ("light conduct" and light
weight). What would happen to a clock if the weights should become
light?
IV.—LOGICAL ANALYSIS; OR, WHAT TO EMPHASIZE.
PART I.
READING should be like talking. In conversation we
do not speak words for their own sake, but for the higher
purpose of saying something-that is, of expressing ideas.
And the meaning of what is said we understand read-
ily by the way the words are spoken-by the louder
tones given to words of special meaning.
Now, these more important words are called "EM
PHATIC.'
""
And the louder force they are spoken or read with is
called "EMPHASIS.”
Emphasizing, then, in reading, is merely giving the
sense with the voice. If, then, we would learn to read
with the same intelligent emphasis and natural tones
that we use in talking, we must study out the meaning
3
16
FOURTH READER.
of what we are to read, until we understand it as well as
what we say in conversation.
Suppose a school-visitor came in here, and, after hear-
ing a few lessons, said, "That little boy reads well," we
would know just what he meant by the word he spoke
loudest.
If he said, "That little boy reads well"-emphasizing
the last word only-then he meant to tell us how he read.
He made that idea stand out distinctly, above all the
rest. He reads, not badly or indifferently, but "well."
Suppose he said, "That little boy reads well," then our
attention is specially called to the reading.
That emphasis makes the reading itself stand out dis-
tinct from any other lesson. Whatever else he may do
poorly, he "reads" well. If he said, "That little boy
reads well," he means that the boy, instead of the girl,
or others, reads well.
By "That little boy reads well," that the little, in-
stead of the larger, boy, reads well. "That little boy
reads well," means that that one little boy, as distinct
from some other little boy, or boys, reads well, etc., etc.
Now, give the emphasis so as to make us think—
1. Of the "boy" instead of the girl.
2. Of the "little" instead of the larger boy.
3. Of some “one" particular little boy.
4. Of the "reading" exercise.
5. "How" he reads.
Thus, by changing the emphasis, five different mean-
ings and readings have been given to that line of five
words; and we learn that the emphasis depends on the
sense, and the sense on the emphasis.
Observe, also, that, in each reading, the important
word is that which expresses the distinctive idea; and
FOURTH READER.
17
when the idea in any given word is not distinctive, the
word is not emphatic; and, when trying to think out the
meaning of your reading-lessons, keep in mind, to aid
you, this first principle of "Logical Analysis":
THE DISTINCTIVE IDEAS ARE EMPHATIC.
PART II.
First, there must be some distinct "thing" we are
to read about, and attention should be called to it by em-
phasis, as "winter," or "summer"; then, there must be
something "said" about it, distinct from all other say-
ings, which needs emphasis: as, "winter has gone," and
"summer has come"; or, "winter is often too cold,"
and "summer too warm;" and, so, "spring and autumn
are pleasanter seasons of the year."
The last words, "seasons of the year," should not be
emphasized; for winter and summer are "seasons of
the year," too.
""
That idea, then, is not a distinctive part of "spring
and "autumn,” and is not emphatic. The writer did not
intend to tell us that they were "seasons of the year"
(he supposed we knew that), but merely that they are
"pleasanter."
Hence the second principle of "Logical Analysis”:
WHAT IS WELL KNOWN, OR UNDERSTOOD, NEEDS NO
EMPHASIS.
!
Emphasis is too valuable to be wasted. Its great
use is to INTRODUCE to hearers the NEW important ideas.
And so, when an idea has just been introduced once, it
does not need to be emphasized right over again, any
more than a man needs to be introduced to the same
person over and over again. Nor do persons well ac-
quainted with each other need any introduction. No
B
&
18
FOURTH READER.
more do ideas, familiar and well understood, need em-
phasis.
If we add to the thought above, that spring is
pleasanter than winter, too, "because the birds and
flowers come then," the ideas of "spring" and "win-
ter," and that the one is "pleasanter" than the other,
having all been given with emphasis once, only the new
reason that the "birds and flowers come then "-re-
quires the "extra force."
"The light shines."
Both "light" and "shines" are new, and need em-
phasis.
""
"The moon shines.' "The stars shine."
"Shines" was emphasized before, and only "moon"
and "stars" are new.
“The stars shine dimly to-night."
Now, both "stars" and "shine" are understood, and
only how they shine, viz., "dimly," needs emphasis.
“The stars shine dimly to-night, because the moon is
so bright."
All is understood now, and unemphatic, except the
reason why they shine so dimly, "because the moon is so
bright."
PART III.
Read this verse from the story of the "Prodigal Son,"
in the New Testament:
"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the
best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand,
and shoes on his feet.'
""
What did the father order his servants to bring forth?
The "best robe," and a "ring," and "shoes."
These, then, are emphatic, because they are all dis-
FOURTH READER.
19
tinctive points; for the poor prodigal was ragged, and
his hands and feet were bare. But if we try to make
"hands" and "feet" distinctive (reading, "And put a
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet," as we too often
hear it), we put, in the place of the gracious command,
a most absurd and foolish one: as if the servants needed
to be told just where to put the ring, lest they put it in
one ear, or in his nose; or just where to put the shoes,
lest they put them on his hands! Often we cannot tell
how to read a line until we look at what is before and
after it.
"You have done that you should be sorry for,"
would be the right reading of Brutus's words to Cassius
in the quarrel-scene from "Julius Cæsar," if these words
stood thus alone. But when we read, just before these,
the words of Cassius,
"Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for,"
we learn that the words "that" and "sorry" are not
distinctive at all, but common to both sayings; while
"have" and "should" stand out in sharp contrast to
"may" and "shall;" and that the true reading of this
reply must therefore be,
"You have done that you should be sorry for."
Read these few lines from the "Pickwick Papers":
"What's your name, sir?' inquired the judge. 'Sam
Weller, my lord,' replied that gentleman. 'Do you
spell it with a "V," or a "W"?" inquired the judge.
'That depends upon the taste and fancy of the speller,
my lord,' replied Sam; 'I never had occasion to spell it
more than once or twice in my life, but I spells it with a
20
FOURTH READER.
"V" Here a voice in the gallery exclaimed aloud,
"Quite right, too, Samivel-quite right!-Put it down
a "we," my lord; put it down a "we.""
Thus, we see that anything, from a single letter to a
thought in Shakespeare, or in the Bible, may be the dis-
tinctive idea requiring emphasis.
A general rule has been given that a word once read
with "extra force" needs it no more. But sometimes
a word or phrase is repeated for the very purpose of more
emphasis; then, of course, the word is spoken more and
more earnestly as it is repeated.
"You must not, you
MUST not go so near the edge of the steep bank!" "Oh,
how beautiful, how BEAUTIFUL the rainbow is!" "Come
over, come OVER the river to me!" Oh, dear mamma!
oh, DEAR MAMMA!" So, too, words like "himself,"
"itself," "yourself," etc., are used for the sole purpose
of emphasizing another word, as, "He did it himself."
"You yourselves are to blame." "It is an attribute to
God himself."
(6
V. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.
1. "Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to
the Fly;
66
'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did
spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you
are there."
"Oh no, no,” said the little Fly; "to ask me is in
vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come
down again."
FOURTH READER.
21
2. "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up
so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider
to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets
are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you
in !"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard
it said,
They never, never wake again who sleep upon your
bed!"
3. Said the cunning Spider to the Fly: "Dear friend,
what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store. of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to
take a slice ?"
"Oh no, no,” said the little Fly; "kind sir, that can-
not be:
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish
to see!"
4. "Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty
and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings! how brilliant
are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold
yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're
pleased to say,
And, bidding you good-morning now, I'll call another
day."
؟
22
FOURTH READER.
5. The Spider turned him round about, and went into
his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back
again :
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly;
Then came out to his door again, and merrily did
sing:
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and
silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple; there's a crest upon
your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are
dull as lead!”
6. Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting
by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and
nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and pur-
ple hue,
Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing!
at last
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her
fast;
7. He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal
den-
Within his little parlor-but she ne'er came out again!
And now, dear little children, who may this story
read,
To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne'er give
heed;
FOURTH READER.
23
Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the
Fly.
Mary Howitt.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Is the spider a "cunning" animal? Is the fly a
vain animal, pleased with the attentions of others, or only a greedy animal,
that likes sweet things to eat?
II. Walk, pär'-lor, pret'-ti-est (prit'-), stâir, eû'-ri-oŭs, wīnd'-ing,
wea'-ry, sōar'-ing, eûr'-taing, a-while', heard, friend, prove, erēat'-
üre (yr), gauz'-y, brill'-iant, new (nu), pleased, suhtle (sut'l), pearl,
pûr'-ple, di'-a-mond, buzz'-ing, fierçe'-ly, eoun'-sel-or.
III. What letters are omitted in ne³er, I'm, I'll, I've, that's, you're,
what's, you'll, there's?
IV. Winding stair, curious, soaring, snugly, cunning, prove, pantry,
welcome, "gauzy wings," behold, "wove a subtle web," crest, wily, flitting,
dismal, counselor, flattering.
V. Note what the Spider said to persuade the Fly, in the first stanza (a
beautiful parlor; then, curious things to see up the winding stair). Second
stanza (a bed, with pretty curtains and fine sheets; kind attentions prom-
ised by the Spider, who tries to show how anxious he is for the Fly's com-
fort). Third stanza (fine things to eat in his pantry: sugar and molasses,
so tempting to flies, doubtless; but the Fly knows better). Fourth stanza
(praises the wit and wisdom of the Fly; then her personal beauty, gauzy
wings, brilliant eyes; has a looking-glass for her use. The Fly, who knew
so well what was in the pantry, now concludes to believe that he has a look-
ing-glass, and promises to call; thinks that it will be too sudden a change
of mind to go in at once). Fifth stanza (the Spider has found the weak side
of the vain Fly, and now sings about her beauty and his own plainness).
Sixth stanza (flattery of her wings and eyes secures the Spider's victim).
VI. STEPPING-STONES.
1. When Nat went into school on Monday morning,
he quaked inwardly, for now he thought he should have
to display his ignorance before them all. But Mr. Bhaer
24
FOURTH READER.
gave him a seat in the deep window, where he could turn
his back on the others, and Franz heard him say his les-
sons there, so that no one could hear his blunders, or see
how he blotted his copy-book. He was truly grateful for
this, and toiled away so diligently that Mr. Bhaer said,
smiling, when he saw his hot face and inky fingers:
2. "Don't work so hard, my boy; you will tire your-
self out, and there is time enough."
"But I must work hard, or I can't catch up with the
others. They know heaps, and I don't know anything,"
said Nat, who had been reduced to a state of despair by
hearing the boys recite their grammar, history, and geog-
raphy, with what he thought amazing ease and accuracy.
3. “You know a good many things which they don't,"
said Mr. Bhaer, sitting down beside him, while Franz
led a class of small students through the intricacies of
the multiplication-table.
"Do I?" and Nat looked utterly incredulous.
"Yes. For one thing, you can keep your temper, and
Jack, who is quick at numbers, cannot; that is an excel-
lent lesson, and I think you have learned it well. Then,
you can play the violin, and not one of the lads can,
though they want to do it very much. But, best of all,
Nat, you really care to learn something, and that is half
the battle. It seems hard at first, and you will feel dis-
couraged; but plod away, and things will get easier and
easier as you go on.”
4. Nat's face had brightened more and more as he
listened, for, small as the list of his learning was, it
cheered him immensely to feel that he had anything to
fall back upon. "Yes, I can keep my temper-father's
beating taught me that; and I can fiddle, though I don't
know where the bay of Biscay is," he thought, with a
FOURTH READER.
25
sense of comfort impossible to express. Then he said
aloud, and so earnestly that Demi heard him:
5. "I do want to learn, and I will try. I never went
to school, but I couldn't help it; and, if the fellows
don't laugh at me, I guess I'll get on first-rate-you and
the lady are so good to me."
"They sha'n't laugh at you. If they do, I'll-I’ll—
tell them not to," cried Demi, quite forgetting where
he was.
The class stopped in the middle of 7 times 9, and
every one looked up to see what was going on.
6. Thinking that a lesson in learning to help one
another was better than arithmetic just then, Mr. Bhaer
told them about Nat, making such an interesting and
touching little story out of it, that the good-hearted lads
all promised to lend him a hand, and felt quite honored
to be called upon to impart their stores of wisdom to
the chap who fiddled so capitally. This appeal estab-
lished the right feeling among them, and Nat had few
hinderances to struggle against, for every one was glad to
give him a
"boost" up the ladder of learning.
Louisa M. Alcott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Have you read Miss Alcott's "Little Men"?
This extract from "Little Men" describes the kind manner in which a poor
homeless boy was received into the private school at Plumfield. Nat
Blake had been found in a damp cellar, sick and friendless, mourning for
his dead father and his lost violin, with which he had earned his scanty
living as a street musician.
II. Eaş'-i-er, bright'-ened (brï'tnd), list'-ened (lis'nd), touch'-ing,
hŏn'-ored (önʼurd), Bhaer (pronounce it like the word “bâre”).
III. Nat is a nickname (for Nathaniel). Easy, easier, easiest: what
change in the meaning does the addition of er and est make? "Father's
beating "what does 's express? What is omitted in can't? sha'n't
(ll and o)?
26
FOURTH READER.
2
IV. Ignorance, diligently, reduced, despair, accuracy, students, intrica
cies, incredulous, discouraged, plod, immensely, established, appeal, hin-
derances.
("
((
V. "Quaked inwardly" (i. e., his heart beat hard with fear)? Notice
the acts of kindness: having him say his lessons where the others could
not hear his blunders (such an act shows what is called a "delicate con-
sideration" for Nat's feelings; it is not sufficient to be kindly disposed
toward others, but we should delicately consider their feelings); then, the
gentle manner of encouraging the boy to self-respect, by giving him credit
for what he already knew, such as playing the violin. Notice the expres-
sions: "They know heaps," get on first-rate," fiddle," sha'n't,"
"boost." (These expressions do not shock us when we hear them spoken
by boys and uneducated people, but when we see them in print we mark
them as slang, or "vulgarisms," because they are only "colloquial" expres-
sions, avoided by refined people. The writer of a story is obliged to use
these expressions in order to paint the characters of the persons of the
story. But we should learn to avoid such expressions in writing, and even
in conversation.)
VII. THE VOICE OF SPRING.
1. I come, I come! ye have called me long;
I come o'er the mountains, with light and song.
Ye may trace my step o'er the waking earth
By the winds which tell of the violet's birth,
By the primrose stars in the shadowy grass,
By the green leaves opening as I
pass.
2. I have breathed on the South, and the chestnut-flowers
By thousands have burst from the forest bowers,
And the ancient graves and the fallen fanes
Are veiled with wreaths on Italian plains;
But it is not for me, in my hour of bloom,
To speak of the ruin or the tomb!
3. I have looked o'er the hills of the stormy North,
And the larch has hung all his tassels forth;
FOURTH READER.
27
*
The fisher is out on the sunny sea,
And the reindeer bounds o'er the pastures free,
And the pine has a fringe of softer green,
And the moss looks bright, where my step has been.
4. I have sent through the wood-paths a glowing sigh,
And called out each voice of the deep blue sky,
From the night-bird's lay through the starry time,
In the groves of the soft Hesperian clime,
To the swan's wild note by the Iceland lakes,
When the dark fir-branch into verdure breaks.
5. From the streams and founts I have loosed the chain;
They are sweeping on to the silvery main,
They are flashing down from the mountain brows,
They are flinging spray o'er the forest boughs,
They are bursting fresh from their sparry caves,
And the earth resounds with the joy of waves.
Felicia Hemans.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. (Eight of the thirteen verses of this piece are
omitted.) Can you describe the plants mentioned?—Violet, primrose, chest-
nut, larch, pine, moss. "Hesperian clime" (refers to the western countries
of Europe, which have a mild climate, through the influence of the ocean-
winds that blow from the west in the temperate zones).
II. An'-cient (in'shent), veiled (väld), wreathes (reethz), rein'-deer,
sigh (si), bough (bou), voiçe, bright (brīt), mount'-aing (-inz).
III. Make a list of the name-words in the first and second stanzas (words
used as names of objects; e. g., mountains, light, song, step, earth, winds,
violet's, birth, stars, grass, leaves, etc.).
IV. Trace, bowers, glowing, clime, verdure, "silvery main," "loosed the
chain," resounds, "fallen fanes " (ruined temples).
V. How is the approach of spring to be known? ("Trace my steps by
soft winds, primroses, green leaves.") Is the reindeer referred to (3) the
one used in Lapland instead of the horse or the cow, or one kept in a park
as a curiosity? (Mrs. Hemans lived in the north of Wales. Reference to
the "Iceland lakes" shows that she thought of the effect of spring on the
northern, winter-bound countries.)
28
FOURTH READER.
VIII.-DAN, THE FIREBRAND.
1. "Please, ma'am, could I speak to you? It is some-
thing very important," said Nat, popping his head in at
the door of Mrs. Bhaer's room.
It was the fifth head which had popped in during the
last half-hour but Mrs. Jo was used to it, so she looked
up, and said, briskly:
"What is it, my lad?"
2. Nat came in, shut the door carefully behind him,
and said, in an eager, anxious tone:
“Dan has come!”
"Who is Dan ?"
"He's a boy I used to know when I fiddled 'round the
streets. He sold papers, and was kind to me.
I saw
him the other day in town, and told him how nice it was
here, and he's come."
3. "But, my dear boy, that is rather a sudden way to
pay a visit."
"Oh, it isn't a visit; he wants to stay, if you will let
him!" said Nat, innocently.
"Well, but I don't know about that," began Mrs.
Bhaer, rather startled by the coolness of the proposi-
tion.
4. "Why, I thought you liked to have poor boys
come and live with you, and be kind to them, as you were
to me," said Nat, looking surprised and alarmed.
"So I do; but I like to know something about them
first. I have to choose them, because there are so many.
I have not room for all. I wish I had."
"I told him to come because I thought you'd like it ;
but if there isn't room, he can go away again," said Nat,
sorrowfully.
FOURTH READER.
29
5. The boy's confidence in her hospitality touched
Mrs. Bhaer, and she could not find the heart to disappoint
his hope and spoil his kind little plan, so she said:
"Tell me about this Dan."
"I don't know anything, only he hasn't got any folks,
and he's poor, and he was good to me; so I'd like to be
good to him, if I could.”
""
6. "Excellent reasons, every one. But really, Nat, the
house is full, and I don't know where I could put him,'
said Mrs. Bhaer, more and more inclined to prove herself
the haven of refuge he seemed to think her.
"He could have my bed, and I could sleep in the barn.
It isn't cold now, and I don't mind. I used to sleep any-
where with father," said Nat, eagerly.
7. Something in his speech and face made Mrs. Jo
put her hand on his shoulder, and say, in her kindest tone:
Bring in your friend, Nat; I think we must find
room for him without giving him your place."
66
Nat joyfully ran off, and soon returned, followed
by a most unprepossessing boy, who slouched in and
stood looking about him, with a half-bold, half-sullen
look, which made Mrs. Bhaer say to herself, after one
glance:
"A bad specimen, I am afraid."
8. "This is Dan," said Nat, presenting him as if sure
of his welcome.
"Nat tells me you would like to come and stay with
us," began Mrs. Jo, in a friendly tone.
"Yes," was the gruff reply.
"Have you no friends to take care of you?"
"No."
Say, 'No, ma'am,'" whispered Nat.
"Sha'n't, neither!" muttered Dan.
30
FOURTH READER.
9. "How old are you?"
"About fourteen."
"You look older. What can you do?"
""Most anything."
"If you stay here, we shall want you to do as the
others do work and study, as well as play. Are you
willing to agree to that?”
“Don't mind trying."
10. "Well, you can stay a few days, and we will see
how we get on together.-Take him out, Nat, and amuse
him till Mr. Bhaer comes home, when we will settle about
the matter," said Mrs. Jo, finding it rather difficult to get
on with this cool young person, who fixed his big black
eyes on her with a hard, suspicious expression, sorrow-
fully unboyish.
Louisa M. Alcott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. A short time after Nat had been received into
the school at Plumfield, the events described in this and the next piece took
place.
II. Please, dur'-ing, anx'-ious (ink'shus), in'-no-çent-ly, touched
(tŭcht), rẽa'-şonş (rē'zns), ea'-ğer (~'-), shōul'-der, friend'-ly, whis'-
pered.
III. Make a list of ten of the name-words of this piece, and change
them so as to make each of them express more than one. (Need, needs;
door, doors; room, rooms; lad, lads, etc.)
IV. Lad, choose, folks, bold, presenting, reply, muttered, agree, amuse,
difficult, important, briskly, alarmed, surprised, confidence, hospitality, dis.
appoint, excellent, inclined, "haven of refuge," returned, unprepossessing:
slouched, sullen, specimen, welcome, gruff, suspicious.
V. Notice the language that the boys use: "Hasn't got any folks,"
"Sha'n't, neither,” "'Most anything," "Don't mind trying,"
" "Get on."
Point out the expressions which you consider improper, and suggest the
proper ones.
FOURTH READER.
31
IX.-DAN'S BULL-FIGHT.
1. One Saturday afternoon, as a party of the boys
went out to play, Tommy said:
"Let's go down to the river and cut a lot of new fish-
poles."
PoTake Toby to drag them back, and one of us can
ride him down," proposed Stuffy, who hated to walk.
"That means you, I suppose. Well, hurry up, lazy-
bones!" said Dan.
2. Away they went, and, having got the poles, were
about to go home, when Demi unluckily said to Tommy,
who was on Toby, with a long rod in his hand:
"You look like the picture of the man in the bull-
fight, only you haven't got a red cloth, or pretty clothes
on."
"I'd like to see one; wouldn't you?" said Tommy,
shaking his lance.
3. "Let's have one. There's old Buttercup, in the big
meadow: ride at her, Tom, and see her run," proposed
Dan, bent on mischief.
"No, you mustn't," began Demi, who was learning to
distrust Dan's propositions.
"Why not, little fuss-button?" demanded Dan.
"I don't think Uncle Fritz would like it.”
"Did he ever say we must not have a bull-fight?"
"No, I don't think he ever did," admitted Demi.
4. "Then hold your tongue.-Drive on, Tom, and
here's a red rag to flap at the old thing. I'll help you to
stir her up;" and over the wall went Dan, full of the new
game, and the rest followed like a flock of sheep-even
Demi, who sat upon the bars, and watched the fun with
interest.
32
FOURTH READER.
5. Poor Buttercup was not in a very good mood, for
she had lately been bereft of her calf, and mourned for
the little thing most dismally. Just now she regarded
all mankind as her enemies (and I do not blame her) so,
when the matadore came prancing toward her with the
red handkerchief flying at the end of his lance, she threw
up her head and gave a most appropriate "Moo!”
6. Tommy rode gallantly at her, and Toby, recogniz-
ing an old friend, was quite willing to approach; but,
when the lance came down on her back with a loud
whack, both cow and donkey were surprised and dis-
gusted. Toby backed with a bray of remonstrance, and
Buttercup lowered her horns angrily.
"At her again, Tom! She's jolly cross, and will
do it capitally!" called Dan, coming up behind with
another rod, while Jack and Ned followed his ex-
ample.
7. Seeing herself thus beset, and treated with such
disrespect, Buttercup trotted around the field, getting
more and more bewildered and excited every moment;
for, whichever way she turned, there was a dreadful boy
yelling, and brandishing a new and very disagreeable sort
of whip. It was great fun for them, but real misery for
her; but she soon lost patience, and turned the tables in
a most unexpected manner.
8. All at once she wheeled short around and charged
full at her old friend Toby, whose conduct cut her to the
heart. Poor, slow Toby backed so precipitately, that he
tripped over a stone, and down went horse, matadore,
and all, in one ignominious heap; whi distracted But-
tercup took a surprising leap over the wall, and galloped
wildly out of sight down the road.
FOURTH READER.
33
9. "Catch her!-stop her!-head her off! Run, boys,
run!" shouted Dan, tearing after her at his best pace;
for she was Mr. Bhaer's pet Alderney, and, if anything
happened to her, Dan feared it would be all over with
him. Such a running, and racing, and bawling, and
puffing, as there was before she was caught! The fish-
poles were left behind. Toby was trotted nearly off his
legs in the chase; and every boy was red, breathless, and
scared.
10. They found poor Buttercup, at last, in a flower-
garden, where she had taken refuge, worn out with the
long run. Borrowing a rope for a halter, Dan led her
home, followed by a party of very sober young gentle-
men; for the cow was in a sad state, having strained her
shoulder in jumping, so that she limped, her eyes looked
wild, and her glossy coat was wet and muddy.
Louisa M. Alcott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Continuation of the story of Dan. "Alderney
(fine breed of cows). "Măt'-a-dōre" (the man who kills the bull in the
- bull-fight).
II. Mead'-ōw, mis'-chief (-chif), tongue (tung), eaught (kawt),
seâred, fŏl'-lowed, dŏn'-key.
III. Make a list of ten name-words in this piece that express more than
one object each, and change them so as to express only one (poles, pole,
etc.).
IV. Lance, proposed, distrust, admitted, flap, interest, mood, bereft,
mourned, dismally, regarded, enemies, blame, prancing, appropriate, gal-
lantly, recognizing, willing, approach, whack, bray, remonstrance, capitally,
beset, bewildered, disagreeable, misery, patience, unexpected, charged, con-
duct, precipitately, ignominious, distracted, galloped, pace, refuge, halter,
limped.
""
V. "Lot of fish-poles -use a better expression for "lot," and also for
"lazy-bones," "haven't got," " fuss-button," "old thing," "jolly cross."
C
t
34
FOURTH READER.
X.-THE FOX AND THE CAT.
1. The Fox and the Cat, as they traveled one day,
With moral discourses cut shorter the way:
"Tis great," says the Fox, "to make justice our guide.”
"How Godlike is mercy!" Grimalkin replied.
2. While thus they proceeded, a Wolf from the wood,
Impatient of hunger, and thirsting for blood,
Rushed forth-as he saw the dull shepherd asleep-
And seized for his supper an innocent sheep.
"In vain, wretched victim, for mercy you bleat;
When mutton's at hand," says the Wolf, "I must eat."
3. The Cat is astonished; the Fox stood aghast,
To see the fell beast at his bloody repast.
"What a wretch!" says the Cat. "Tis the vilest of
brutes;
Does he feed upon flesh, when there's herbage and
roots?"
Cries the Fox: "While our oaks give us acorns so good,
What a tyrant is this, to spill innocent blood!
""
4. Well, onward they marched, and they moralized still,
Till they came where some poultry picked chaff by a
mill;
Sly Reynard surveyed them with gluttonous eyes,
And made, spite of morals, a pullet his prize;
A mouse, too, that chanced from her covert to stray,
The greedy Grimalkin secured as her prey.
5. A Spider, that sat in her web on the wall,
Perceived the poor victims, and pitied their fall:
She cried, "Of such murders how guiltless am I!"
Then ran to regale on a new-taken fly.
J. Cunningham.

Eagerly he looked upward after the unwearied bird."
("The Lark." p. 35.)
FOURTH READER.
33
FOR PREPARATION.-I. You have read the story of "The Discontented
Pendulum," "The Spider and the Fly," and now you come to "The Fox
and the Cat." These stories are called fables, not because they tell merely
what did not happen, but because they tell what never could happen.
Franklin's story of "The Whistle," Wordsworth's "Kitten and the Falling
Leaves," Miss Alcott's story of "Nat," etc., all may have happened-and
similar things will happen. But a fable relates what could not possibly
have happened. Its object is to bring out a moral.
II. Trav'-eled, guide (gid, thirst'-ing, shěp'-herd (-erd), seized,
wretch'-ed, a-ghäst', herb'-age (erb'ej), pōul'-try, sur-veyed, per-
çēived', brutes. (How is u pronounced after r?)
III. Make a list of five name-words which express more than one object
by the addition of s or es, or by some other change (discourses, brutes, etc.).
Change ten name-words that express one object each, so as to make them
express more than one (foxes, cats, days, ways, etc.).
IV. Proceeded, impatient, hunger, victim, bleat, mutton, astonished,
repast, "fell beast," brutes, tyrant, moralized, "spite of morals," pullet,
covert, secured, prey, regale.
V. Do we laugh at the idea of a cat and a fox making "moral dis-
courses" (like a preacher)? Why? What names are given to the cat
besides Grimalkin? (see Lesson II.) Who is called Reynard? Difference
between sheep and mutton ?-between hens and poultry? Do the cat and the
fox really like "herbage and roots and acorns" themselves? Were the
poultry eating the chaff, or picking it over for the grain left in it? Differ-
ence between greedy and gluttonous? What is absurd in the words and
actions of the spider? Are we not all more apt to see the evil deeds
of others, than we are to correct our own?
XI. THE LARK.
1. A little child went into the meadow just sprinkled
with dew, and a thousand little suns glanced up at him,.
and a Lark arose, warbling her morning lay.
2. This Lark announced the joys of the coming sea-
son, and awakened endless hopes; while she herself soared
36
FOURTH READER.
circling higher and higher, till her song was at last like
the voice of an angel far up in the clear, blue sky.
3. The child had seen the earth-colored bird soar on
high, and it seemed to him as if the earth had sent her
forth to announce her joy and her gratitude to the sun
above, because he had in friendliness and love turned his
beaming face again toward her.
4. The Lark warbled her joyous and exultant lay
above the hopeful fields; she sang of the loveliness of
the morning, and of the earliest sunbeams playing in
youthful freshness; of the gladsome springing of the
flowers, and of the joyful sprouting of the fruit-stalks ;
and the song pleased the child beyond measure.
V
5. But the Lark soared still higher in her circlings,
and her song grew softer and fainter still; and she sang
of pleasure-trips with a friend to free and sunny hill-tops,
and of pleasing expectations that rise out of the blue and
fragrant distance.
6. The child did not exactly understand what he
heard, but would have been glad to understand it; for he
was now in expectation of wonderfully glorious things.
Eagerly he looked upward after the unwearied bird; but
she was lost in the fragrance of spring.
7. Then the child bent his head, turning one ear to
the sky, to learn whether the little messenger of spring
was no longer singing. In her vanishing tones he heard
how she sang of her longings after the pure and all-pres-
ent light.
8. Much longer did he listen; for the notes of the song
bore him away to regions which his thoughts had never
before reached, and he felt himself happier than ever in
that blissful, upward flight.
FOURTH READER.
37
9. But now the Lark came quickly down again, be-
cause its little body was too heavy for the high air, and
its wings were not strong nor large enough for the pure
element.
10. Then the red Corn-Poppies laughed at the plain
little bird, and cried out with a shrill voice to one another,
and to the surrounding stalks of corn: "Now you see
that nothing comes of flying so high, and striving for
empty air, since one loses his time, and brings back noth-
ing but weary limbs and an empty stomach.
11. "That ugly, ill-dressed little creature wished to
exalt herself above us all, and kept up a mighty noise.
It lies there now on the ground, and can scarcely breathe
any longer. But we have kept our places at the feast,
and have prudently stuck to the solid ground, and have
grown a great deal fatter and stronger."
12. The other little Poppies loudly clapped applause,
so that the child's ears tingled, and he was about to 'pun-
ish them for their malicious delight, when a sky-blue
Flower, just in blossom, took the word, and with gentle
voice thus addressed her younger companions: "Do not
suffer yourselves, my dears, to be led astray by appear-
ances, nor by talk based on outward show.
13. "True, the Lark is tired out, and it is but empty
space into which she has soared; but it is not empty
space that the Lark has sought, nor has she come empty
home. She strove for freedom and light, and light and
freedom has she praised in her song.
14. “Earth and its joys she left behind, but she drank
instead the pure air of life, and learned that it is not the
earth but the sun that is abiding. Her desire to sing and
to soar to the sun will make men praise her name long
38
FOURTH READER.
after these silly boasters shall have gone down into and
been buried in the ground."
15. The Lark heard this kind-hearted speech, and,
with strength renewed, she sprang again into the cheer-
ful sky. The child clapped its little hands for joy that
the bird had flown up again, and the Corn-Poppies were
mute, and their red faces grew pale with shame.
Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. In what country is the lark found? What
"little suns" glanced up at him? (shining dew-drops.)
II. Mead'-ōw, sea'-şon (so'zn), a-wak'-ened (-nd), ear'-li-est, list'-en,
(lis'n), rē'-gionş (-juns), vŏl'-a-tile, stôm'-aeb, erēat'-ūre (yur), ex-tŏlled'.
III. Write out ten of the name-words in this piece, and change them
so as to express possession: Child's, meadow's, sun's, lark's, etc.
IV. Warbling, lay, announced, soared, converse, gratitude, exultant,
vanishing, presentiments, ether, exalt, prudently, applause, malicious, void,
abiding, demanded, retain, mute.
V. Study out the meaning of the words in this piece, and then make
short sentences, in your own words, describing what the Lark did: 1. The
Lark warbled her morning song. 2. The Lark told of the joys of the coming
summer. 3. The Lark made all who heard her, hopeful. 4. The Lark
soared higher and higher, in circles; etc.
+
XII. THE COMPLAINT OF THE WILD-FLOWERS.
XII.—THE
1. In the corner of a large field, and close to a swift-
running brook, grew a great many wild-flowers. The
farmer had not driven his plow near them; and, as it
was not a meadow, the cows and sheep had not cropped
them off. They had a very pleasant time of it. The sun
shone on them all day long, the soft wind played with
them. Many, by reaching over a little, could see them-
selves in the water, and they could all hear the sweet
FOURTH READER.
39
songs of the birds, who had built their nests in a tree
close by.
"How gay we look, in our snug little corner!" said
the Daisy one day; "that last shower has made us all ɛo
fresh!"
2. “It is all very well," said a Dandelion who grew
close by, "but this place is too dull for me. I want to
go and see the world."
"That is very foolish!" said a piece of Ivy, who had
been busy for the last three years covering up some large
stones that were lying in a heap beside the brook; "wan-
dering about is not the way to get on."
66
Well," said the Daisy, "I should be quite content if
only the little children would come and see us, and clap
their hands, and say how pretty we are!"
3. A Lark, whose nest was close by, heard what the
Daisy said, and loved her for it; so he flew up in the air,
and sang as he went:
"The Daisy has a gold eye set round with silver.
She looks always up into the sky like a little star; but she
does not shine at night. When the dew begins to fall
the Daisy shuts her eye and sleeps. But the birds sing
on, for they love the little flower, she is so meek and fair.”
The Daisy heard what the Lark said, and blushed
quite red. If you look well among the daisies, you will
find some of them always blushing.
4. "It is quite true," said the Buttercup, when the
Lark had flown so high they could no longer hear him.
"Little children once loved us very much, but now they go
by to school, and do not even look at us!. I ain as bright
a yellow as any flower can be-so bright that they used
to put me under their chins to see who loved butter.
I made a little chin a bright yellow, and they laughed,
40
FOURTH READER.
and said, 'See how he loves butter!' I was merry to
hear how they laughed. They called me Buttercup, be-
cause I was as yellow as butter."
5. "I hope I am yellow, too," said the Dandelion,
"and larger than Buttercup. The Lark called the Daisy a
star; but I am like a small sun. I am not a single flower,
like Buttercup, but a great many little flowers made into
one large one. When I go to seed I shall have a round,
white head; then my head will blow to pieces, and I shall
set out on my travels. Wherever I stop I shall plant one
of my seeds. There will be more dandelions than ever
next year."
""
6. "Wait till you see if we leave you any room!
said a gruff voice, and they all knew that it was a Thistle
who spoke. "My seeds fly about, Cousin Dandelion, like
yours, and my prickly leaves take up so much room, I
am not sure you will have space to grow."
That was true enough, for the thistle is larger than
the dandelion, and, though its flower is pretty and red,
no one can gather it without pricking himself.
7. "I am glad I have no prickles," said a sweet voice,
that filled the air with scent. "I like to be plucked by
the little children. I send out a sweet smell to meet
them, and they cry, 'There is a Violet!' They lift up
my green leaves gently one by one; they find me hidden
there, and their eyes sparkle with pleasure as they carry
me off."
66
Every one loves you, dear Violet!" said the Daisy,
"and your sweet scent attracts more even than your beau-
tiful color and thick, green leaves."
8. "Yes, it must be the scent," said a Dog-Violet, who
was growing where every one could see him,, " for my
FOURTH READER.
41
leaves are just like my sister's, and I have a larger blos
som; yet no one cares to gather me. It surely cannot be
because I am a few shades lighter in color."
"No, no!" said a Cowslip, shaking his long, yellow
bells, "it is scent you lack. But even we who have it
are not loved by little children as we should be.
9. "When they named me Cowslip, because my breath
is like that of the cow, so sweet and pure, they used al-
ways to gather me. The mothers made wine and tea of
me, but the little children made me into cowslip-balls-
round balls-bright-yellow balls. They threw me in the
air, and I filled it with scent, and dropped down into their
little hands again, giddy with my pleasant flight. But
now," said the Cowslip, in a sad voice, "the little children
do not know how to make cowslip-balls." All the flow-
ers sighed, they were so sorry the little children did not
love them.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Dandelion (dent tooth: tooth of the lion).
Daisy (day's-eye). Cowslip (cow's-lip).
II. Field' (feld), grew (grōō), plow, could (kood), réach'-ing, měad'-
ōw, built (bilt), dãi'-şy, läughed, piēç'-es,“coŭs̟'-in (kŭz'n), sighed (sid),
show'-er, dăn'-de-li-on, this'-tle (this'sl), eyes (iz), beaŭ'-ti-fụl (bū'-),
scent (cent, sent).
III. Certain words are used for the speaker, or the person spoken to or·
spoken of, to avoid repetition of name-words (these are: I, thou, you, he,
she, it); they are called pronouns. Find eight pronouns in this piece.
IV. Gruff, scent, plucked, gently, sparkle, attracts, complaint, merry,
blushed, giddy, flight, wandering, content, "the way to get on."
V. In what way does ivy cover up stones? Is the song of the Lark
about the Daisy true? Do you know any other wild-flowers besides those
mentioned here? Was there anything envious in the speech of the Dog-
Violet? What is envy? Was the Cowslip envious, too?
42
FOURTH READER.
XIII. ALICE FELL.
1. The post-boy drove with fierce career,
For threatening clouds the moon had drowned,
When suddenly I seemed to hear
A moan, a lamentable sound.
2. As if the wind blew many ways,
I heard the sound, and more and more;
It seemed to follow with the chaise,
And still I heard it as before.
3. At length I to the boy called out;
He stopped his horses at the word;
But neither cry, nor voice, nor shout,
Nor aught else like it, could be heard.
4. The boy then smacked his whip, and fast
The horses scampered through the rain;
And soon I heard upon the blast
The voice, and bade them halt again.
5. Said I, alighting on the ground,
"What can it be, this hideous moan?"
And there a little girl I found,
Sitting behind the chaise alone.
6. "My cloak!"--no other word she spoke,
But loud and bitterly she wept,
As if her little heart would burst;
And down from off her scat she leapt.
7. "What ails you, child?"-She sobbed, "Look here!"
I saw it in the wheel entangled,
A weather-beaten rag, as e'er
From any garden scarecrow dangled.
FOURTH READER.
43
8. 'Twas twisted between nave and spoke;
Her help she lent, and, with good heed,
Together we released the cloak-
A miserable rag indeed!
9. "And whither are you going, child,
To-night, along these lonesome ways?”
"To Durham," answered she, half-wild.
"Then come with me into the chaise."
10. She sat like one past all relief;
Sob after sob she forth did send
In wretchedness, as if her grief
Could never, never have an end.
11. "My child, in Durham do you dwell?"
She checked herself in her distress,
And said: "My name is Alice Fell;
I'm fatherless and motherless;
12. " And I to Durham, sir, belong!"
Again, as if the thought would choke
Her very heart, her grief grew strong,
And all was for her tattered cloak!
13. The chaise drove on; our journey's end
Was nigh; and, sitting by my side,
As if she had lost her only friend
She wept, nor would be pacified.
14. Up to the tavern-door we post;
Of Alice and her grief I told,
And I gave money to the host,
To buy a new cloak for the old.
44
FOURTH READER.
15. "And let it be of duffel gray,
As warm a cloak as man can sell!
Proud creature was she the next day,
The little orphan, Alice Fell.
William Wordsworth.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. The story of a poor little orphan girl who tries
to ride behind the chaise to Durham on a rainy night. Her miserable cloak
gets entangled in the wheels, and her moans attract the attention of a kind
old gentleman inside the coach. Wordsworth loved to write poems de-
scribing kind acts done to the poor and suffering. Find, on the map, Dur-
ham in England.
II. Fierce, nei'-ther, re-lief', creat'-ūre, blew (bla) (and blue),
chaişe (shaz), nāve (and knave).
III. Make a list of ten action-words in this piece (words which tell what
the objects expressed by the " name-words" do; as, drove, had drowned,
seemed, hear, blew, heard, follow).
IV. "Fierce career," threatening, suddenly, halt, alighting, hideous, bit-
terly, entangled, scarecrow, dangled, ails, spoke, heed, released, lonesome,
dwell, checked, nigh, pacified, tavern, host, "duffel gray" (coarse woolen
cloth having a thick nap).
V. "A moan, a lamentable sound" (he says "moan," and then adds a
description of it). "As if the wind blew many ways" (carrying the sound
with different degrees of clearness).
XIV.-WHAT ALICE SAID TO THE KITTEN.
•
1. One thing was certain: that the white kitten had
had nothing to do with it; it was the black kitten's fault
entirely. For the white kitten had been having its face
washed by the old cat for the last quarter of an hour,
(and bore it pretty well, considering): so you see that it
couldn't have had any hand in the mischief.
2. The way Dinah washed her child's face was this:
first she held the poor thing down by its ear with one
FOURTH READER.
45
paw, and then with the other paw she rubbed its face all
over, the wrong way, beginning at the nose; and just
now, as I said, she was hard at work on the white kitten,
which was lying quite still and trying to purr-no doubt
feeling that it was all meant for its good.
3. But the black kitten had been finished with earlier
in the afternoon; and so, while Alice was sitting curled up
in a corner of the great arm-chair, half talking to herself
and half asleep, the kitten had been having a grand game
of romps with the ball of worsted that Alice had been
trying to wind up, and had been rolling it up and down
till it had all come undone again; and there it was,
spread over the hearth-rug, all kinds of tangles, with the
kitten running after its own tail in the middle.
4. "Oh, you wicked, wicked little thing!" cried Alice,
catching up the kitten, and giving it a kiss to make it
understand that it was in disgrace. "Really, Dinah
ought to have taught you better manners!-You ought,
Dinah; you know you ought!" she added, looking re-
proachfully at the old cat, and speaking in as cross a
voice as she could manage; and then she scrambled back
into the arm-chair, taking the kitten and the worsted
with her, and began winding up the ball again.
5. But she didn't get on very fast, as she was talking
all the time, sometimes to the kitten and sometimes to
herself. Kitty sat very demurely on her knee, pretend-
ing to watch the progress of the winding, and now and
then putting out one paw and gently touching the ball,
as if it would be glad to help, if it might.
6. "Do you know what to-morrow is, kitty?" Alice
began. "You'd have guessed if you'd been up in the
window with me; only Dinah was making you tidy, so
46
FOURTH READER.
you couldn't. I was watching the boys getting in sticks
for the bonfire; and it takes plenty of sticks, kitty! But
it got so cold, and it snowed so, they had to leave off.
7. "Never mind, kitty; we'll go and see the bonfire
to-morrow." Here Alice wound two or three turns of
the worsted round the kitten's neck, just to see how it
would look: this led to a scramble, in which the ball
rolled down upon the floor, and yards and yards of it got
unwound again.
8. "Do you know, I was so angry, kitty," Alice
went on, as soon as they were comfortably settled again,
"when I saw all the mischief you had been doing, I was
very nearly opening the window and putting you out into
the snow? And you'd have deserved it, you little, mis-
chievous darling! What have you got to say for your-
self? Now, don't interrupt me!" she went on, holding
up one finger. "I'm going to tell you all your faults.
Number One: You squeaked twice while Dinah was
washing your face this morning.
9. "Now, you can't deny it, kitty; I heard you!
What's that you say?"-pretending that the kitten was
speaking." Her paw went into your eye? Well, that's
your fault, for keeping your eyes open. If you'd shut
them tight up, it wouldn't have happened. Now, don't
make any more excuses, but listen. Number Two: You
pulled Snowdrop away by the tail, just as I had put down
the saucer of milk before her.-What? you were thirsty,
were you?-How do you know she wasn't thirsty, too?
Now for Number Three: You unwound every bit of the
worsted while I wasn't looking!
10. "That's three faults, kitty, and you've not been
punished for any of them yet. You know, I'm saving up
FOURTH READER.
47
all your punishments for Wednesday week.-Suppose
they had saved up all my punishments," she went on,
talking more to herself than to the kitten, "what would
they do at the end of a year? I should be sent to prison,
I suppose, when the day came. Or let me see-sup-
pose each punishment was to be going without a dinner?
Then, when the miserable day came, I should have to go
without fifty dinners at once. Well, I shouldn't mind
that much. I'd far rather go without them than cat
them."
Lewis Carroll.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From " Through the Looking-Glass." "One
thing was certain: that the white kitten had had, nothing to do with it"
(tangling up Alice's worsted). Snowdrop" is the name of the white kit-
ten. "Dinah" is the old cat.
((
II. Mis'-chief (-chif), éar'-li-er, talk'-ing (tawk'-), worst'-ed (woust'),
a-gain' (-ğčn´), heärth (härth), wick'-ed, eŭtch'-ing, knee (nee), toŭch'-
ing (tǎch'-), faults, thirst'-y.
III. When an action-word is used it tells something that an object does.
Make a list of ten of the action-words in this piece, and write before each
the name of the object which it tells about (Dinah-washed, held, etc.).
IV. Certain, considering, tangle, disgrace, reproachfully, manage, de-
murely, pretending, progress, bonfire, deserved, interrupt, excuses, punished,
miserable, "Wednesday week” (i. e., a week from next Wednesday).
V. "Wicked little thing." Is wicked a word that can be applied to ani-
mals? Why not? Is it laughable to apply it to animals? Is it laughable
to speak of a kitten as the cat's "child ?"—of a "kitten thinking that it was
all meant for its good"?—as if the kitten were human, and could think?
Find the other laughable expressions which speak of the animals as though
they had human thoughts and feelings ("Dinah ought to have taught you
better manners,” etc.). It sometimes makes us laugh to see a person say
or think one thing, and do another: was it laughable for Alice to call the
kitten "wicked," and then kiss it? Find other absurd things like this
("mischievous darling," etc.).
}
48
FOURTH READER.
XV. THE SPIDER.
1. A child went with his father into the vineyard,
and there saw a bee in the web of an ugly spider. The
spider was just opening his fangs to attack the bee, when
the child took his stick, broke the web, and set the little
prisoner free. ·
2. When his father saw this, he asked the boy how he
could be so regardless of the toilsome and beautiful web
which the spider had prepared with so much ingenuity.
3. The child replied, "Has the spider not directed all
his ingenuity to blood and malice, while the bee collects
honey and wax, from which man derives much pleasure
and benefit?
""
4. "But," said the father, "perhaps you have done
the spider injustice; for, see how his web protects the
grapes from flies and wasps, that otherwise would do
much mischief!"
5. "Ah!" said the boy, "it is not with the intent to
shield the grapes, but to satisfy his thirst for blood, that
the spider labors with so much dexterity."
"True," said the father; "probably the spider has
little reason to be concerned about the grapes."
6. "Then," said the boy, "the good the spider does is
of no avail to his spiteful character; for a good intention
is certainly the only merit in a good deed."
7. "True," said the father; "but Nature, you see,
knows how to apply even malicious things for the preser-
vation of the good and useful.”
8. "And why," asked the boy, "does the spider
not work his web in social union, like the bees, that live
together with so much comfort and happiness?”
FOURTH READER.
49
9. "Dear child," said the father, "only for good ends
can multitudes associate. The bond of malice and selfish-
ness carries the seed of destruction within itself; but
Nature has placed the hostile and the friendly, the ma-
licious and the good, side by side, so that the contrast
might be the greater, and thus convey a lesson to those
who are willing to learn."
F. A. Krummacher.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Is this story a fable, or could the event here de-
scribed have actually happened? (see Lesson X.)
II. Víne'-yard (vin'-), beau'-ti-ful (bū'-), un'-ion, ǎs-sõ'-ci-ate
(-shi-āt), hỏn-ey, mis-chief (-chif).
III. "Action-words " express the time in which the action is per-
formed. To express past time, some add ed; some make other changes.
Make a list of ten action-words in this piece that express past time, and
write opposite each the word expressing present time (went-go; saw—see,
was—is; took—take; broke-break; set-set; asked-ask, etc.).
IV. Ugly, fangs, attack, regardless, toilsome, web, replied, directed,
malice, derives, benefit, avail, spiteful, intention, merit, apply, malicious,
social, multitudes, destruction, hostile. (The stiff, pompous language into
which this fable is translated should all be paraphrased into such words as
the pupil uses. It will make a good language-lesson.)
V. The spider's labors are spoken of as showing "ingenuity,"
ingenuity," "dex-
terity," and what else? Illustrate the meaning of these words by telling
what the spider does that shows dexterity, etc. What do you think of
the reason which the father gives for the fact that spiders do not work
together in company? ("social union.") Do not wolves hunt in droves,
and robbers and burglars work together? But, on the other hand, are evil
men likely to be faithful and kind toward each other?
XVI.-ALICE'S DREAM OF THE CHESS-QUEENS.
1. "I didn't know I was to have a party at all," said
Alice; "but if there is to be one, I think I ought to
invite the guests."
D
50
FOURTH READER.
"We gave you the opportunity of doing it," the Red
Queen remarked; "but I dare say you've not had many
lessons in manners yet."
2. "Manners are not taught in lessons," said Alice.
"Lessons teach you to do sums, and things of that sort."
"Can you do addition?" the White Queen asked.
"What's one and one, and one and one, and one and
one, and one and one, and one and one?"
3. "I don't know," said Alice. "I lost count."
"She can't do addition," the Red Queen interrupted.
-"Can you do subtraction? Take nine from eight.”
"Nine from eight! I can't, you know," Alice re-
plied, very readily; "but-"
4. "She can't do subtraction," said the White Queen.
"Can you do division? Divide a loaf by a knife-
what's the answer to that?""I suppose" Alice was
beginning; but the Red Queen answered for her: "Bread
and butter, of course. Try another subtraction sum:
Take a bone from a dog, what remains?”
5. Alice considered. "The bone wouldn't remain,
of course, if I took it; and the dog wouldn't remain—it
would come to bite me; and I'm sure I shouldn't re-
main !"
"Then you think nothing would remain ?" said the
Red Queen.
"I think that's the answer."
6. "Wrong, as usual," said the Red Queen;
dog's temper would remain.'
"But I don't see how—”
22
"Why, look here!" the Red Queen cried.
dog would lose his temper, wouldn't he?"____
"Perhaps he would," Alice replied, cautiously.
"the
"The
FOURTH READER.
51
7. "Then, if the dog went away, his temper would
remain!" the Red Queen exclaimed, triumphantly.
Alice said, as gravely as she could, "They might go
different ways." But she couldn't help thinking to her-
self, "What dreadful nonsense we're talking!"
"She can't do sums a bit!" the queens said to-
gether, with great emphasis.
8. "Can you do sums?" Alice said, turning sudden-
ly on the White Queen, for she didn't like being found
fault with so much.
The queen gasped, and shut her eyes. "I can do ad-
dition,” she said, "if you give me time; but I can't do
subtraction under any circumstances."
9. "Of course you know your 'A, B, C'?" said the
Red Queen.
"To-be-sure I do!" said Alice.
"So do I," the White Queen whispered; "we'll often
say it over together, dear. And I'll tell you a secret: I
can read words of one letter! Isn't that grand? How-
ever, don't be discouraged; you'll come to it in time."
10. Here the Red Queen began again. "Can you an-
swer useful questions?" she said. "How is bread made?"
"I know that!" Alice cried, quickly. "You take
some flour__",
"Where do you pick the flower? the White Queen
asked—“ in a garden, or in the hedges?"
"Well, it isn't picked at all," Alice explained; "it's
ground—”
"How many acres of ground?" said the White
Queen. "You mustn't leave out so many things."
11. "Fan her head!" the Red Queen anxiously in-
terrupted. "She'll be feverish after so much thinking."
52
FOURTH READER.
So they set to work, and fanned her with branches of
leaves, till she had to beg them to leave off, it blew her
hair about so.
"She's all right again now," said the Red Queen.
"Do you know languages? What's the French for 'fid-
dle-de-dee'?"
"Fiddle-de-dee' is not English," Alice replied,
gravely.
"Who ever said it was?" asked the Red Queen.
12. Alice thought she saw a way out of the diffi-
culty this time. "If you'll tell me what language 'fid-
dle-de-dee' is, I'll tell you the French for it!" she ex-
claimed, triumphantly.
But the Red Queen drew herself up rather stiffly, and
said, "Queens never make bargains."
"I wish queens never asked questions," Alice thought
to herself.
13. "Don't let us quarrel," the White Queen said, in
an anxious tone. "What is the cause of lightning?"
"The cause of lightning," Alice said, very decidedly,
for she felt quite certain about this, "is the thunder-no,
no!" she hastily corrected herself; "I meant the other
way."
"It's too late to correct it," said the Red Queen;
"when you've once said a thing, that fixes it, and you
must take the consequences."
Lewis Carroll.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From "Through the Looking-Glass," or Alice's
dream of what she saw when she walked through the looking-glass into the
room on the other side.
II. Guests, quick'-ly, ex-plained', a'-ereş (a'kerz), lăn'-gua-ġeş,
eon'-se-quen-çes.
III. Make a list of five action-words in this piece that express past time
with ed; of five expressing past time in other ways.
FOURTH READER.
53
IV. Invite, opportunity, addition, interrupted, subtraction, replied, read-
ily, division, remains, considered, usual, temper, cautiously, triumphantly,
gravely, nonsense, fault, gasped, circumstances, secret, grand, discouraged,
hedges, difficulty, bargains, quarrel, correct, fixes.
V. The opportunity for absurd and laughable situations is found in this
story, in the fact that everything seen in a looking-glass is changed from
right to left. There is a change of this sort even in the methods of think
ing of the chess-queens that Alice meets.
XVII. IN THE FOREST.
1. In the cottage it was dull and close and quiet,
while out-of-doors everything seemed to smile and exult
in the clear air and boundless world. So the child went
out into the green wood, of which the dragon-fly had told
him so many pleasant things.
2. There he found everything even more beautiful
and lovely than he had been told. For, wherever he
went, the tender mosses kissed his feet, the grasses
clasped his knees, the flowers caressed his hands, the
bushes stroked his cheeks kindly and coolingly, and the
tall trees welcomed him to their fragrant shadow.
3. There was no end to his delight. The little birds
of the forest piped and sang as well as they could, and
skipped and flitted gayly about, and the little wood-flow-
ers vied with each other in beauty and fragrance, and
every sweet sound took a sweet odor by the hand, and so
went down into the heart of the child and had a merry
wedding-dance.
4. The nightingale and the lily-of-the-valley led the
dance. Each lived so entirely-single and alone—in the
54
FOURTH READER.
heart of the other, that one could not tell whether the
notes of the nightingale were winged lilies, or the lilies
nightingale-notes visible like dew-drops.
5. The child was filled with joy. He sat down, and
almost thought he must take root and dwell among the
little plant-people, that he might take part more inti-
mately in their tender joys.
6. For he had an inward satisfaction in the secret,
quiet, obscure life of the moss and heather, which knew
nothing of storm, nor of frost, nor of the burning heat of
the sun; but were well content with their many neigh-
bors and friends, refreshing themselves, in peace and good-
fellowship, with the dew and the shadow bestowed upon
them by the lofty trees.
7. For them indeed it was always a high festival when
a sunbeam sought them out; while the tops of the tall
trees above them found great delight only in the glowing
red of morning and evening.
Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. In the "Story without an End," from which also
the piece about "The Lark." (Lesson XI.) was taken, the child goes out
into the forest to see for himself the wonderful things which the dragon-
fly has described to him.
II. Cŏt'-tage, pleas'-aut, beau'-ti-ful, whêr-ěv'-er, de-light' (-lit'),
eọuld (kõod), night'-in-gāle, lil'-y, văl'-ley, breathed, naught (nawt),
bowed (boud), lil'-ies, thought (thawt), pēo'-ple (pe'pl), heath'-er, neigh'-
bors (nā'burz), growths, sôught (sawt).
III. Change the following so as to express present time: was, secmed,
went, told, kissed, clasped. Find other action-words expressing past time,
in the third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs.
IV. Exult, boundless, dragon-fly, clasped, "birds piped," vied, fra.
grance, visible, intimately, obscure.
FOURTH READER.
55
V. In this story of the child's visit to the forest, and of his communion
with the flowers and birds, the birds and flowers are represented as having
human feelings and habits. The child is like a poet, and fancies animals
and things to be alive, to possess souls, and to act like human beings.
XVIII.—EMPHASIS BY TIME.
We observed, in our first lesson, that we know the
meaning of what is said to us by the louder tones given
to the important words that is, by the emphasis of
"force." Listen to another way by which a word is
made emphatic "Y-o-u did that; I k-n-o-w you did.”
Observe that "you" and "know" are spoken slower
than the other words that we give more time to
them.
size.
"Time," then, as well as "force," helps us empha-
As louder force is represented to the eye by printing
the emphatic words in italics and CAPITALS, so longer
time may be represented to the eye by spacing the words
to which it can be given, thus: "Y-o-u are the very
s-o-u-1 of mischief, and, if you don't behave better, I shall
send you a-w-a-y." We cannot stretch out the long
time on the syllables "mis" in mischief, or "bet" in
better.
And the reason is, that these syllables are short (by
nature and good usage), and time long enough for good
emphasis can be given only to the longer sounds. But,
when the accented syllables are open and long, remem-
ber that the emphasis of time is much more thoughtful
and graceful than that of force.
"Thanks!' said the judge, 'a s-w-e-e-t-er draught
From a f-a-i-r-er hand was never quaffed.'
56
FOURTH READER.
“I had a brother once, a g-r-a-cious boy,
A summer b-1-0-0-m on his f-a-i-r cheeks, a s-m-i-l-e
Parting his innocent lips. In one short hour,
The pretty, h-a-r-m-less boy was s-l-a-i-n."
"Oh! you h-a-r-d hearts, you c-r-u-e-l men of Rome!"
“D-e-a-r, gentle, p-a-tient, n-o-b-l-e Nell was dead
n-o s-l-e-e-p so b-e-a-u-tiful and c-a-l-m."
"Gentle" and "dead" are short, and cannot take
long time; so they, like all other short syllables, must be
emphasized by force and slide.
1
XIX. THE SHIPWRECK OF ROBINSON CRUSOE.
1. Nothing can describe the confusion of thought
which I felt when I sank into the water; for though I
swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the
waves so as to draw breath, till that wave, having driven
me,jor rather carried me, a vast way on toward the shore,
and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the
land almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in.
2. I had so much presence of mind as well as breath
left, that, seeing myself nearer the mainland than I ex-
pected, I got upon my feet, and endeavored to make on
toward the land as fast as I could, before another wave
should return and take me up again. But I soon found
it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after
me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy
which I had no means or strength to contend with.
3. My business was to hold my breath, and raise my-
self upon the water, if I could; and so, by swimming, to
FOURTH READER.
57
preserve my breathing and pilot myself toward the shore,
if possible: my greatest concern now being, that the wave,
as it would carry me a great way toward the shore when
it came on, might not carry me back again with it when
it gave back toward the sea.
4. The wave that came upon me again buried me at
once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own body, and I
could feel myself carried with a mighty force and swift-
ness toward the shore, a very great way; but I held my
breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all
my might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath,
when, as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate
relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the
surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds
of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me
greatly, and gave me breath and new courage.
1
of
5. I was covered again with water a good while, but
not so long but I held it out; and, finding the water had
spent itself, and began to return, I struck forward against
the return of the wave, and felt ground again with my
feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath, and
till the water went from me, and then took to my
heels and ran, with what strength I had, farther toward
the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the
fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again;
and twice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried
forward as before, the shore being very flat.
6. The last time of these two had well-nigh been fatal
to me; for the sea, having hurried me along, as before,
landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of a rock,
and that with such force that it left me senseless, and
indeed helpless as to my own deliverance; for the blow,
taking my side and breast, beat the breath, as it were, quite
58
FOURTH READER.
out of my body; and, had it returned again immediately,
I must have been strangled in the water: but I recovered
a little before the return of the wave, and, seeing I should
again be covered with the water, I resolved to hold fast
by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if pos-
sible, till the wave went back.
7. Now, as the waves were not so high as the first,
being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated,
and then fetched another run, which brought me so near
the shore, that the next wave, though it went over me, yet
did not so swallow me up as to carry me away; and, the
next run I took, I got to the mainland, where, to my
great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and
sat me down upon the grass, free from danger, and quite
out of the reach of the water.
Daniel De Foc.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Have you read the "Adventures of Robinson
Crusoe " ?
II. En-děav'-ored, bus'-i-ness (biz'-ness), re-lieved', coŭr'-age (kur'ej),
eon-fü’-şion (-füʼzhun), rãişe (rāz), breath, tō'-ward (tō'ard), bur'-ied
(běr'-), might'-y.(mit'-y), a-gain' (-gen').
III. Change, so as to express present time, these words: sunk, swam,
carried, driven, went, left, took, had, got, found, was, saw, came, gave. Past
forms of stand, walk, run?
IV. Confusion, deliver, presence of mind, furious, concern, surface, fatal,
abated, fetched, contend, pilot, recover, resolved, clambered.
V. How many waves did Crusoe encounter before he reached the land?
What was the nature of the shore of the island upon which Crusoe was
wrecked? (steep and precipitous, or flat? See § 7.) Can you explain what
causes waves? Notice old-fashioned expressions and uses of words in this
piece, and change them to such expressions as we use in ordinary life;
e. g., "water I took in; ""make on toward the land;" "held it out;"
"the blow taking my side and breast;
gave back;"
(C
run;" sat me down."
"fetched another

"The antlered monarch of the waste
Sprang from his heathery couch in haste."
("The Chase," p. 59.)
FOURTH READER.
59
XX. THE CHASE.
1. The stag at eve had drunk his fill,
Where danced the moon on Monan's rill,
And deep his midnight lair had made
In lone Glenartney's hazel shade;
But when the sun his beacon red
Had kindled on Ben Voirlich's head,,
The deep-mouthed bloodhound's heavy bay
Resounded up the rocky way,
And faint, from farther distance borne,
Were heard the clanging hoof and horn.
2. As chief who hears his warder call,
"To arms! the foemen storm the wall!"
The antlered monarch of the waste
Sprang from his heathery couch in haste.
But, ere his fleet career he took,
The dew-drops from his flanks he shook;
Like crested leader proud and high,
Tossed his beamed frontlet to the sky;
A moment gazed adown the dale,
A moment snuffed the tainted gale,
A moment listened to the cry,
That thickened as the chase drew nigh;
Then, as the headmost foes appeared,
With one brave bound the copse he cleared,
And, stretching forward free and far,
Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var.
3. Yelled on the view the opening pack,
Rock, glen, and cavern paid thein back;
To many a mingled sound at once
The awakened mountain gave response.
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FOURTH READER.
A hundred dogs bayed deep and strong,
Clattered a hundred steeds along;
Their peal the merry horns rung out,
A hundred voices joined the shout;
With bark, and whoop, and wild halloo,
No rest Ben Voirlich's echoes knew.
4. Far from the tumult fled the roe,
Close in her covert cowered the doe;
The falcon, from her cairn on high,
Cast on the rout a wondering eye,
Till, far beyond her piercing ken,
The hurricane had swept the glen.
Faint, and more faint, its failing din
Returned from cavern, cliff, and linn;
And silence settled, wide and still,
On the lone wood and mighty hill.
5. Less loud the sounds of sylvan war
Disturbed the heights of Uam-Var,
And roused the cavern where, 'tis told,
A giant made his den of old:
For ere that steep ascent was won,
High in his pathway hung the sun,
And many a gallant, stayed perforce,
Was fain to breathe his faltering horse;
And of the trackers of a deer
Scarce half the lessening pack was near;
So shrewdly, on the mountain-side,
Had the bold chase their mettle tried.
6. The noble stag was pausing now
Upon the mountain's southern brow,
Where broad extended, far beneath,
The varied realms of fair Menteith.
FOURTH READER.
61
With anxious eye he wandered o'er
Mountain and meadow, moss and moor,
And pondered refuge from his toil
By far Lochard or Aberfoyle.
7. But nearer was the copse-wood gray
That waved and wept on Loch Achray,
And mingled with the pine-trees blue
On the bold cliffs of Ben Venue.
Fresh vigor with the hope returned;
With flying foot the heath he spurned,
Held westward with unwearied race,
And left behind the panting chase.
Walter Scott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From the beginning of "The Lady of the Lake."
"Monan's rill" (branch of the Teith, which empties into the Firth of
Forth), Glenart'ney, Uam-Vär', Ben Voirlich (võr'lik), Menteith', Lochard',
Aberfoyle (ä-ber-foil'), Loch Achray, Ben Venue' (places among the Scottish
Highlands, sixty miles northwest of Edinburgh).
II. Fōe'-men, fal'-eon (faw'kn), eâirn, pierç'-ing, ănx'-ious (ǎnk'-
shus), bēa'-eon (bē’kn), kin'-dled (-dld), heaths (a word used much in
Scotland, a flowering shrub), e'er.
III. Number of poetic feet in each line? "The stag at eve | had
drunk | his fill.” Accent on the first or second syllable of each foot?
Distinction between roe and doe?
IV. Lair, "hoof and horn," warder, "antlered monarch," waste, crested,
dale, glen, cavern, response, covert, rout (clamorous throng of huntsmen),
ken (view), din, linn (mountain brook), sylvan, gallant, perforce, shrewdly,
mettled, realms, varied, copse. Meaning of Ben (a mountain) and Loch (a
lake).
(C
V. What time is meant by the "Sun kindling his beacon red," etc.? (1.)
Opening pack"? (of hounds.) "Less loud the sounds," etc.? (5.) What
explanation given of this in the last eight lines of the stanza?
62
FOURTH READER.
XXI.-DRIVING BEES.
1. In former times all the bees in a hive had to be
destroyed before the honey could be got. This cruel
method has now been abandoned, and the honey is se-
cured without killing a single bee. The new mode was
publicly exhibited at a bee-show in the Crystal Palace,
near London, in September, 1874, and is thus described:
2. A few puffs from a pipe caused the bees to retreat
among the combs, and the hive was gently turned upside
down. A new and empty hive was then placed above
the other so as to cover it completely; then the chief
bee-master drummed with his fist upon the lower hive,
and waited for the rush of the bees to the upper hive.
3. At the first disturbance of their hive, the bees had
all run to fill their bags with honey. Thus they were
heavy and good-tempered, and even those who escaped
through the gap between the two hives did not sting
the bee-master, although his face and hands were unpro-
tected.
4. After the lapse of a few minutes a rushing sound
was heard. This proved that the bees had begun to
move upward. Whenever the queen-bee passed up, the
others immediately followed. It was now safe to lift up
the edge of the top hive, so that what was going on in-
side could be distinctly scen.
5. Like soldiers swarming up the walls of a city
which they were about to take by storm, the bees were
seen hurrying upward in thousands, climbing over each
other's bodies several deep, without ever regarding the
open space between the two hives, by which they might
easily have escaped into the open air,
FOURTH READER.
63
6. The combs were then taken out of the old and de-
serted hive, and put into frames and placed in a machine
for extracting the honey. This machine is turned rapidly
round by a handle, and the speed with which it makes
the combs revolve drives all the honey out of the cells.
As the honey flies out of the combs it is dashed against
the inside of the vessel, and falls down to the bottom,
whence it drops into the jar placed below to collect it.
7. The next thing is to tie up with tape the old
combs, some emptied of their honey, and some still full,
in new frames, and to place them in the new hive. In
twenty-four hours, or, at most, forty-eight, the tape will
be no longer needed, for the bees, with cement and wax,
will have built the combs into the new frames, and will
quickly proceed to fill thein anew with honey.
8. By thus making use a second time of the old
combs the time of the bees is saved, and they give to
honey-making the precious days of summer, which
would otherwise require to be devoted to the building
up of fresh waxen cells. The whole process of driving
the bees from the old to the new hive occupied less than
an hour's time.
London Correspondent.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. "Crystal Palace, near London "-what was this
building erected for? Why called "Crystal"?
II. Hỏn-ey, pub-lie-ly, ex-hibited, comby (köm2), ěmp-ty,
chief, wait'-ed, heav'-y, gặp, ědge (j), elimb'-ing (klim'-), ma-chine'
(-sheen'), a-gainst' (-gĕnst'), cěm'-ent, quick'-ly.
III. For the following action-words write corresponding name-words of
which the actions are told: Could be got (honey), has been abandoned
(method), was exhibited (mode), caused (puffs), turned, placed, drummed,
waited, passed, were seen.
IV. Method, abandoned, retreat, hive, completely, disturbance, escaped,
unprotected, lapse, proved, immediately, distinctly, swarming, deserted,
extracting, revolve, precious, require, devoted, process, occupied,
64
FOURTH READER.
What
V. "A few puffs "-of what? (tobacco-smoke.) "Fill their bags with
honey" (what bags do bees have?) What is a "queen-bee "?
is gained by the process of saving the honey-comb and using it over again?
XXII. THE HUNTSMAN.
1. Alone, but with unbated zeal,
The horseman plied the scourge and steel;
For, jaded now and spent with toil,
Embossed with foam and dark with soil,
While every gasp with sobs he drew,
The laboring stag strained full in view.
2. Two dogs of black Saint Hubert's breed,
Unmatched for courage, breath, and speed,
Fast on his flying traces came,
And all but won that desperate game:
For, scarce a spear's length from his haunch.
Vindictive toiled the bloodhounds stanch;
3. Nor nearer might the dogs attain,
Nor farther might the quarry strain.
Thus up the margin of the lake,
Between the precipice and brake,
O'er stock and rock their race they take.
4. The hunter marked that mountain high,
The lone lake's western boundary,
And deemed the stag must turn to bay,
Where that huge rampart barred the way;
Already glorying in the prize,
Measured his antlers with his eyes;
5. For the death-wound, and death-halloo,
Mustered his breath, his whinyard drew;
FOURTH READER.
65
But, thundering as he came prepared,
With ready arm and weapon bared,
The wily quarry shunned the shock,
And turned him from th' opposing rock;
6. Then, dashing down a darksome glen,
Soon lost to hound and hunter's ken,
In the deep Trossach's wildest nook
His solitary refuge took.
7. There, while, close couched, the thicket shed
Cold dews and wild-flowers on his head,
He heard the baffled dogs in vain
Rave through the hollow pass amain,
Chiding the rocks that yelled again.
8. Close on the hounds the hunter came,
To cheer them on the vanished game;
But, stumbling in the rugged dell,
The gallant horse exhausted fell.
9. The impatient rider strove in vain
To rouse him with the spur and rein;
For the good steed, his labors o'er,
Stretched his stiff limbs to rise no more.
Then, touched with pity and remorse,
He sorrowed o'er the expiring horse:
10. "I little thought, when first thy rein
I slacked upon the banks of Seine,
That Highland eagle e'er should feed
On thy fleet limbs, my matchless steed!
Woe worth the chase, woe worth the day,
That costs thy life, my gallant gray!"
Walter Scott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This is another extract from "The Lady of the
Lake," continuing "The Chase" (Lesson XX.). The King of Scotland is
E
66
FOURTH READER.
hunting among the IIighlands of Scotland, and gets lost in the wilds; his
steed dies of over-exertion. Where is the Seine River?
II. Courage (kür'ěj), häunch, rein (ran), fleet, exhaust'-ed (egz-
hawat'ed).
III. Explain what time is denoted in the following action-words, and tell
how you know it by the spelling: Plied, spent, drew, strained, came, won,
toiled, might, take, fell, strove, costs, thought.
IV. Unbated, zeal, jaded, embossed, desperate, brake,, stanch, bay,
quarry, wily, shunned, ken, solitary,, refuge, couched, thicket, baffled,
amain, chiding, rugged dell, spur, remorse, slacked, steed, gallant.
V. "Plied the scourge and steel" (scourge the whip, and steel the
spurs). All but won "-express this in other words. "The hunter marked"
-what meaning has marked here? Huge rampart" (the mountain is
called a "rampart," as though it "barred the way," like a wall of a fort).
"Measured his antlers" (the hunters saved the antlers, or branching horns,
of their game as trophies of their success). "Whinyard" (he drew his
sword and rode up to strike the deer, but the deer turned in a different
direction from the "rampart," and escaped down a dark, narrow valley).
"Woe worth the chase!" (worth means betide, or be to: Woe be to the
chase!)
XXIII.-SOLON.
1. Solon was one of the wise men of Greece. He it
was who gave that clever answer to Croesus, King of
Lydia. Croesus was so rich, that even now it is common
to say,
"As rich as Croesus. This king showed his
wealth to Solon, and then asked "if he did not think
the possessor of so much gold the happiest of men."
"No," replied the philosopher; "I know a happier man :
an honest laborer who has just enough to live on.”
""
2. "And who the next happiest?" said the king, ex-
pecting himself to be named. "The next happiest,'
answered Solon, "are two virtuous sons who were re-
markable for their duty and kindness to their mother."
"And think you not that I am happy?" exclaimed the
FOURTH READER.
67
disappointed monarch.-"No man can be deemed happy
till his death," said the sage; meaning, I suppose, that
according as his life was spent could his state be
judged.
3. When Croesus afterward was taken prisoner by
Cyrus, and was about to be burnt, he recollected this
conversation, and cried out, "O Solon, Solon!" Cyrus
inquired the meaning of this exclamation; and when the
cause of it was explained, he set Croesus at liberty, and
owned himself instructed by the hint of Solon. So the
philosopher saved the life of one king and improved
another.
4. Thespis was the first poet who performed comedies
at Athens. They had no play-houses, but used to act
upon an open cart, somewhat as our Merry-Andrews do
now. Solon did not disapprove of these shows, but went
himself to see them. When the play was over, he called
Thespis, who had been acting various characters, and
asked him if he was not ashamed to speak so many lies.
Thespis replied, "It was all in jest."
5. Admire, I beseech you, the answer of Solon. Strik-
ing his staff on the ground violently, he cried, "If we
encourage ourselves to speak falsely in jest, we shall run
the chance of acquiring a habit of speaking falsely in
serious matters." Had he never spoken any other words.
than these, he would have deserved the character of a
wise man.
6. Æsop, who wrote so many ingenious fables, was
much caressed by King Croesus; while Solon, for his
bluntness, was little noticed. Esop therefore said: “A
man should not converse with kings, if he does not choose
to say what is agreeable to them."
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FOURTH READER.
But Solon nobly answered this flatterer: "He should
not speak, unless he says what is useful."
7. You will observe that all wise and good persons
are equally remarkable for truth. Indeed, there can be
no virtue where there is no truth; and as for falsehood
and cunning, none but fools and knaves condescend to
adopt them.
Adapted from Herodotus.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Lydia, made by Croesus an empire occupying
most of Asia Minor. Find Athens on the map of Greece.
II. Mŏn'-areh, Єræ'-sus (kree'sus), a-grēē'-a-ble, false’-ly.
III. There are describing-words which are used with name-words to
describe the objects. Make a list of ten of these describing-words, and the
name-words to which they belong (wise men, clever answer, much gold, hap-
pier man, etc.).
IV. Clever, laborer, remarkable, duty, disappointed, conversation, in-
quired, exclamation, explained, instructed, hint, improved, performed come-
dies, disapprove, jest, encourage, serious, deserved, ingenious, caressed,
bluntness, converse, flattered, condescend, adopt. (The use of a dictionary
to find these definitions should not be approved. The exact shade of
meaning that the word has in the place where it is used in the reading-
lesson should be given, rather than the general definition. Definitions can
be given and discussed best in the recitation.)
V. Do you think that Solon was right in calling what Thespis, the actor,
said, "lies"? Could not Solon have called all fables lies? All poems and
stories, and all pictures of events that did not occur—are these lies? Are
the stories of "Robinson Crusoe," "The Spider and the Fly," "The Fox
and the Cat," lies? (No; because they are not intended as histories, or
as narrations of facts. Thespis did not intend to be taken as the real per-
son whose part he was acting; nor was he so taken by the spectators.)
Was there not wisdom in Æsop's fables as well as in Solon's bitter remarks?
Do we see Merry-Andrews in this country (as they do in England)?
}
69.
FOURTH READER.
XXIV. THE RAZOR-SELLER.
1. A fellow in a market-town,
"
Most musical, cried “Razors ! up
and down,
And offered twelve for eighteen pence;
Which, certainly, seemed wondrous cheap,
And, for the money, quite a heap,
As every man would buy, with cash and sense.
2. A country bumpkin the great offer heard-
Poor Hodge, who suffered by a broad black beard,
That seemed a shoe-brush stuck beneath his nose;
With cheerfulness the eighteen pence he paid,
And proudly to himself, in whispers, said,
"This rascal stole the razors, I suppose.
3. "No matter if the fellow be a knave,
Provided that the razors shave—
It certainly will be a most enormous prize."
So home the clown with his good fortune went,
Smiling, in heart and soul content,
And quickly soaped himself to ears and eyes.
4. Being well lathered from a dish or tub,
Hodge now began, with grinning pain, to grub,
Just like a hedger cutting furze.
'Twas a vile razor!
All were impostors.
Then the rest he tried:
"Ah!" Hodge sighed,
"I wish my eighteen pence were in my purse.
5. Hodge sought the fellow, found him, and begun :
"P'rhaps, Master Razor-rogue, to you 'tis fun,
That people flay themselves out of their lives.
""
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FOURTH READER.
You rascal! for an hour have I been grubbing,
Giving my crying whiskers here a scrubbing
With razors just like oyster-knives.
Sirrah! I tell you, you're a knave,
To cry up razors that can't shave!”
6. "Friend," quoth the razor-man, "I'm not a knave.
As for the razors you have bought,
Upon my word, I never thought
That they would shave.”
"Not think they'd shave!" quoth Hodge, with won-
dering eyes,
And voice not much unlike an Indian yell:
"What were they made for, then?-you scamp!" he
cries.
"Made?" quoth the fellow, with a smile-“To
SELL!"
John Wolcott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. John Wolcott (called "Peter Pindar "). “Eigh-
teen pence" English money (about thirty-six cents of our money. Razors
at three cents apiece-" wondrous cheap," indeed!).
II. Mu'-şie-al, ra'-zorg, broad (brawd), be-neath', päid, sīghed (sid),
friend, bôught (bawt), would (wood).
III. What do quotation-marks (" ") inclose? Tell whose words are
included between them in the first place where they are used ;-in the second
place, etc.
IV. Fellow, offered, "eighteen pence," certainly, cheap,, bumpkin
(blockhead), rascal, knave, provided, enormous, prize, lathered, grinning,
grub, “hedger cutting furze," impostors, rogue, scamp, quoth.
V. Was it quite honest in Hodge to buy the razors if he thought they
were stolen? Is there any need of "most" before " enormous"? Why is
the bumpkin called a "clown"? "Flay themselves" (i. e., the razor
scratched the skin off, but would not cut the beard).
FOURTH READER.
71
XXV. ROBINSON CRUSOE'S MANUFACTURE OF
POTTERY.
1. I had long studied, by some means or other, to
make myself some earthen vessels-which, indeed, I
wanted much, but knew not where to come at them.
However, considering the heat of the climate, I did not
doubt but, if I could find out any clay, I might botch up
some such pot as might, being dried in the sun, be hard
and strong enough to bear handling, and to hold anything
that was dry, and required to be kept so; and as this
was necessary in the preparing corn-meal, etc., which
was the thing I was upon, I resolved to make some as
large as I could, and fit only to stand like jars, to hold
what should be put into them.
2. It would make the reader pity me, or rather laugh
at me, to tell how many awkward ways I took to shape
this jar; what odd, misshapen, ugly things, I made;
how many of them fell in, and how many fell out-
the clay not being stiff enough to bear its own weight;
how many cracked by the over-violent heat of the sun,
being set out too hastily; and how many fell in pieces
with only removing, as well before as after they were
dried; and, in a word, how, after having labored hard to
find the clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring it home,
and work it, I could not make above two large earthen,
ugly things (I cannot call them jars), in about two
months' labor.
3. However, as the sun baked these two very dry
and hard, I lifted them very gently, and set them down
again in two great wicker baskets, which I had made on
purpose for them, that they might not break; and, as be-
tween the pot and the basket there was a little room to
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FOURTH READER.
spare, I stuffed it full of the rice and barley straw; and
these two pots, being to stand always dry, I thought would
hold my dry corn, and perhaps the meal, when the corn
was bruised.
4. Though I succeeded so poorly in my design for
large pots, yet I made several smaller things with better
success, such as little round pots, flat dishes, pitchers,
and pipkins, and anything my hand turned to; and the
heat of the sun baked them very hard.
5. But all this would not answer my end, which was
to get an earthen pot to hold liquids and bear the fire,
which none of these could do. It happened some time
after, making a pretty large fire for cooking my meat,
when I went to put it out after I had done with it, I
found a broken piece of one of my earthenware vessels
in the fire, burnt as hard as a stone, and red as a tile. I
was agreeably surprised to see it, and said to myself that
certainly they might be made to burn when whole, if
they would burn when broken.
6. This set me to study how to order my fire so as to
make it burn some pots. I had no notion of a kiln, such
as the potters burn in, or of glazing them with lead,
though I had some lead to do it with; but I placed three
large pipkins and two or three pots in a pile, one upon
another, and placed my fire-wood all round it, with a
great heap of embers under them.
7. I plied the fire with fresh fuel round the outside
and upon the top, till I saw the pots in the inside red-
hot quite through, and observed that they did not crack
at all. When I saw them clear red, I let them stand in
that heat about five or six hours, till I found one of them,
though it did not crack, did melt or run; for the sand
FOURTH READER.
73
which was mixed with the clay melted by the violence of
the heat, and would have run into glass, if I had gone on.
So I slacked my fire gradually, till the pots began
to abate of the red color; and watching them all night,
that I might not let the fire abate too fast, in the morning
I had three very good-I will not say handsome—pip-
kins, and two other earthen pots, as hard burnt as could
be desired; and one of them perfectly glazed with the
running of the sand.
9. After this experiment, I need not say that I wanted
no sort of earthenware for my use; but as to the shapes
of them, they were very indifferent (as any one may sup-
pose), as I had no way of making them but as the chil-
dren make dirt-pies, or as a woman would make pies who
had never learned to raise paste.
10. No joy at a thing of so mean a nature was ever
equal to mine, when I found I had made an earthen pot
that would bear the fire; and I had hardly patience to
stay till they were cold, before I set one on the fire again
with some water in it, to boil me some meat, which it did
admirably well; and with a piece of a kid I made some
very good broth, though I wanted oatmeal, and several
other ingredients requisite to make it as good as I would
have had it.
Daniel De Foe.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. After Crusoe had escaped from the sea (Lesson
XIX.), he tried to make himself comfortable. He made a house out of a
cave; planted some seeds that he recovered from the wreck; tamed some
goats, etc. This extract tells us how he learned to make crockery from clay.
II. Něç'-es-sa-ry, pre-pâr'-ing, awk'-ward, weight (wät), lā′-bored,
liq'-uid, pieçe, kiln (kil).
III. In the following, which word is the name of the object, and which
one the description of it?—some means, earthen vessels, any clay, awkward
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FOURTH READER.
ways, ugly things, little room. Notice the old-fashioned expressions and
uses of words: "Come at them" and "I was upon" (1); "answer my end
(purpose) (5); "wanted" for needed (10). (All sentences containing unusual
modes of expression should be paraphrased by the pupil in his own words.)
IV. Considering, climate, botch, required, temper, bruised, design, tile,
notion, glazing, pipkins, embers, fuel, violence, slacked, gradually, abate,
experiment, indifferent, patience, admirably, ingredients, requisite.
V. Write, in your own words, the sixth, seventh, and eighth paragraphs,
and try to tell the particulars in fewer words.
XXVI.-A PSALM OF LIFE.
1. Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
}
2. Life is real! life is earnest !
?
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
3. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
4. Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating.
Funeral marches to the grave.
5. In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle-
Be a hero in the strife!
FOURTH READER.
75
6. Trust no future, howe'er pleasant;
Let the dead past bury its dead ;
Act, act in the living present,
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
7. Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time:
8. Footprints that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
9. Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
Henry W. Longfellow."
FOR PREPARATION.-I. “Dust thou art" (Eccl. iii. 20: "All go to one
place; all are of dust, and all turn to dust again ”). '
II. Bív'-ouǎe (biv'wǎk), dumb (dům), eǎt'-tle, a-chiev'-ing.
III. What words are used to describe "numbers," "dream," "life,"
"marches," "field," "cattle," "brother"?
*
IV. Slumbers, goal, returnest, destined, fleeting, muffled, stout, funeral,
hero, strife, present, remind, sublime, departing, "sands of time," solemn
main, forlorn, pursuing.
V. "Mournful numbers" (poetry is divided into feet, of which there are
a certain number in each line; hence poetry is sometimes called "num-
bers"). The thought of the first stanza is: Do not say, Life is a dream,
for a dream occurs in sleep, and the sleep of the soul is death, in which
there are no dreams. Then, again, in a dream things only seem-they do
not exist. But such things are not; hence life, which is a real thing, is
not a dream. "The grave is not its goal" (i. e., the soul does not find
its end in the grave-does not return to dust).
"Like muffled drums are
:
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FOURTH READER.
beating," etc. ("Brave hearts" would seem to refer to the soul, but
"beating" must refer to the heart in the body; otherwise the soul would
be here described as marching to the grave. It is the idea of the muffled
drum that suggests "brave and stout" as a soldierly contrast.) In the
battle and in the bivouac (in action and in rest).
"Sands of time" (as,
on the sands of the sea-shore, whatever marks are made are soon effaced
by the waves, so time soon effaces the memory of events, especially if they
are of little account. But the lives of great men show us that we may, by
heroic action, leave footprints which will remain to be seen by others, and
so encourage them).
XXVII. AN ELEPHANT-HUNT.
1. On the 2d of September, 1832, intelligence was
brought to the Collector of Tinnevelly that some wild
elephants had appeared in the neighborhood. A hunt
ing-party was immediately formed, and a large number
of native hunters were engaged. We left the tents, on
horseback, at half-past seven o'clock in the morning, and
rode three miles to an open spot, flanked on one side by
rice-fields, and on the other by a jungle.
2. After waiting some time, Captain B— and my-
self walked across the rice-fields to the shade of a tree.
There we heard the trumpet of an elephant; we rushed
across the rice-fields up to our knees in mud, but all
in vain, though we came upon the track of one of the
animals, and then ran five or six hundred yards into the
jungle.
3. After various false alarms, and vain endeavors to
discover the objects of our chase, the collector went into
the jungle, and Captain B and myself into the bed of
B——
the stream, where we had seen the tracks; and here it
was evident the elephants had passed to and fro. Dis-
appointed and impatient, we almost determined to give
FOURTH READER.
77
up the chase and go home; but shots fired just before us
reanimated us, and we proceeded, and found that the col-
lector had just fired twice.
4. Off we went through forest, over ravine, and
through streams, till at last, at the top of the ravine, the
elephants were seen. This was a moment of excitement!
We were all scattered. The collector had taken the mid-
dle path; Captain B
,
some huntsmen, and myself, the
left; and other hunters scrambled down that to the right.
At this moment I did not see anything but what I took
to be a native hut roofed with leaves; but, after ad-
vancing a few yards, the huge head of an elephant shak-
ing above the jungle, within ten yards of us, burst sud-
denly upon my view.
5. Captain B and a hunter were just before me;
we all fired at the same moment, and in so direct a line
that the percussion-cap of my gun hit the hunter, whom I
thought at first I had shot. This accident, though it
proved slight, troubled me a little. The great excitement
occasioned by seeing, for the first time, a wild beast at
liberty, and in a state of nature, produced a sensation of
hope and fear that was intense.
6. The startling appearance of such a huge creature,
and our being scattered and separated, created for an in-
stant a slight dismay, which may be better understood
than described. The beast gave one of his horrid trumps,
and charged somebody, whom I could not see; but I fol-
lowed him, and the next instant beheld the collector run-
ning, without hat or gun, and the elephant after him. I
fired instantly, intending to hit a vital part, which is
under the ear; the shot struck, but, unfortunately, with-
out taking proper effect.,
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FOURTH READER.
7. My servant-boy, with a reserve gun, was ten or
twelve yards off-a long way at such a moment-but no
more time was lost than could be avoided in exchanging
guns with him. I turned back as quickly as possible, and
at this instant the elephant seized the collector and lifted
him off the ground. I instantly leveled my gun, in the
hope that a chance of saving him might offer.
8. The beast turned partly round the tree, still hold-
ing the collector in the grasp of his trunk, and I saw
that I had a clear shot at his head. I fired, and struck
him, the ball entering his left eye. He staggered, stum-
bled, let the collector fall, and made off without tram-
pling on him. I then rushed forward, intending to dis-
charge my second barrel; but, some objects coming
between the elephant and me, he escaped, and I lost
sight of him entirely.
9. The collector now lay apparently lifeless on the
ground. A painful sensation of dizziness nearly over-
powered me. I went toward him: he moved, and as-
sisted himself by taking hold of a tree. I then hastened,
and found him like one risen from the grave, pale as
death. I saw blood-but it was that of the elephant-
dropping from his brow.
10. Never shall I forget my feelings when I saw the
monster rushing on him, still less those when I saw the
brute's huge trunk twine round and take him up. All
this occurred in less than a minute. The collector was,
of course, very faint. We gave up the pursuit, and got
some brandy-and-water, which revived him. He told
us that he had advanced till within six yards of the
elephant, and then fired, thinking that, as usual, it would
retreat, instead of which it charged him.
FOURTH READER.
79
11. He then fired a second time, within three yards
of the beast, and fled; but the animal gained upon him:
he threw his gun at it, and tried to run round a tree; but
it was too cunning, and ran round the tree also, seized
him by the neck, and threw him down. It then at-
tempted to gore him. Luckily, the tusks stuck into
the ground on each side of him, and thus he was pre-
served.
12. The collector then felt the brute take him up in
his trunk; he heard my shot, and immediately found
himself on the ground. He quietly lay there a second
or two, then inclined himself slightly, and perceived that
the elephant's back was toward him. The animal must
have carried away at least twenty balls. Perhaps he was
led to select the collector on account of his being dressed
in bright white jean.
13. Four days after our exploit, a report reached us
that some hunters had killed the elephant, which had
continued to wander about the place where he had been
wounded. It was fourteen feet long from the root of the
tail to the joining of the trunk to the head, and eleven
feet high. My balls had struck in the neck and left eye,
and the head was terribly marked with shots.
Library of Entertaining Knowledge,
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Find, on your map, Tinnevelly, in the southern
part of Hindostan. What European nation governs this part of India ?
(English.)
II. Neigh'-bor-hood (na'-), pro-çeed'-ed, sěp'-a-rat-ed, has'-tened
(hās'nd), pur-sữit' (-sūt').
III. Arrange a list of the action-words in the first three paragraphs, writ-
ing out their several forms in parallel columns: in the first column, write
the form denoting present time and a single person spoken of; in the
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FOURTH READER:
second column, present time and more than one person spoken of; in the
third column, past time; e. g.:
is
brings
has
are
bring
have
was
brought
had
IV. Intelligence, flanked, jungle, reanimated, collector, ravine, excite-
ment, slight, accident, occasioned, sensation, intense, percussion-cap, dis-
may, trumps, vital, reserve, avoided, leveled, revived, gore, tusks, inclined,
jean, report, mangled.
V. Write an analysis of this piece (merely naming the several items,
thus: September 2, 1832, wild elephants appear near Tinnevelly; hunting-
party formed; ride to the place-rice-fields and jungle; delay; elephants
heard, tracks seen,.but no elephant; false alarms; impatience; shots fired
by the collector; elephants seen up the ravine, etc.).
XXVIII. THE BAREFOOT BOY.
1. Blessings on thee, little man—
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan !
With thy turned-up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistled tunes ;
With thy red lip, redder still,
Kissed by strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face,
Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace;
From my heart I give thee joy!
I was once a barefoot boy!
2. Oh, for boyhood's painless play,
Sleep that wakes in laughing day,
Health that mocks the doctor's rules;
Knowledge, never learned of schools,
Of the wild-bee's morning chase,
Of the wild-flower's time and place,
FOURTH READER.
81
Flight of fowl, and habitude
Of the tenants of the wood;
How the tortoise bears his shell,
How the woodchuck digs his cell,
And the ground mole sinks his well;
3. How the robin feeds her young,
How the oriole's nest is hung;
Where the whitest lilies blow,
Where the freshest berries grow,
Where the ground-nut trails its vine,
Where the wood-grape's clusters shine;
Of the black wasp's cunning way,
Mason of his walls of clay.
4. Oh, for boyhood's time of June,
Crowding years in one brief moon,
When all things I heard or saw
Me, their master, waited for!
I was rich in flowers and trees,
Humming-birds and honey-bees;
For my sport the squirrel played,
Plied the snouted mole his spade.
5. Laughed the brook for my delight,
Through the day and through the night,
Whispering at the garden-wall,
Talked with me from fall to fall;
Mine the sand-rimmed pickerel-pond,
Mine the walnut slopes beyond.
6. Oh, for festal dainties spread,
Like my bowl of milk and bread—
F
*
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FOURTH READER.
Pewter spoon and bowl of wood,
On the door-stone, gray and rude!
O'er me, like a regal tent,
Cloudy-ribbed, the sunset bent,
Purple-curtained, fringed with gold,
Looped in many a wind-swung fold;
While for music came the play
Of the pied frogs' orchestra ;
And, to light the noisy choir,
Lit the fly his lamp of fire.
I was monarch: pomp and joy
Waited on the barefoot boy!
7. Cheerily, then, my little man,
Live and laugh, as boyhood can!
Though the flinty slopes be hard,
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward,
Every morn shall lead thee through
Fresh baptisms of the dew;
Every evening from thy feet
Shall the cool wind kiss the heat.
8. All too soon these feet must hide
In the prison-cells of pride,
Lose the freedom of the sod,
Like a colt's for work be shod,
Made to tread the mills of toil,
Up and down in ceaseless moil :
Happy, if their track be found
Never on forbidden ground;
Happy, if they sink not in
Quick and treacherous sands of sin.
Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy,
Ere it passes, barefoot boy!
John G. Whittier,
FOURTH READER.
83
แ
FOR PREPARATION.-I. A part only of this poem is given in this place.
Why is the black wasp called a mason"? What spade does the mole
use? Why called "pickerel-pond"? What fly "lights his lamp"?
II. Tôr'-toise (tis), wood'-chuck, ō'-ri-õle's něst, ehoir (kwir) (and
quire).
III. What meaning is given by 's in brim's, boyhood's, bee's? Explain
est in whitest; ies in berries. Explain the abbreviations i. e., e. g.
((
IV. "From fall to fall," "frogs' orchestra," "ceaseless moil."
V. "Cheek of tan" (made out of tan, or only check of tan-color ?).
"Redder still" (because he had stained his lips with strawberry-juice).
"Mocks the doctor's rules" (neglects his rules, or has no need of them—
which ?). What does he mean by all things waiting for him, their master?
Oh, for festal dainties" (that he could enjoy with such a relish as he did
his bowl of bread and milk). The sky at sunset (6) was like a royal tent
with beautiful curtains. Flinty slopes" and "stubble-speared" (the
trials of the boy with bare feet are to walk over a field of stubble or
over flinty stones). Explain how shoes may be called "prison-cells of
pride."
"
XXIX. THE STORY OF A WAVELET.
1. The child had sunk into a dream of delight, and
was thinking how gladly he would be a sunbeam or a
moonbeam. He would have liked to hear more from the
dragon-fly. When all grew still, and remained so, he
opened his eyes and looked around for his dear guest;
but she had flown away into the wide world.
2. As the child did not care to sit alone any longer,
he arose and went down to the purling brook. This
was flowing along right joyously, and bustling on in a
comical way to plunge into the river, just as if the huge
mountain were following close upon its heels-the moun-
tain from which it had run away but a little while be-
fore, escaping only by a perilous leap.
J
3. Then the child talked to the little waves, and asked
them whence they came. For a long time they would
84
FOURTH READER.
give him no answer, but rolled away, one over another,
until at last one tiny wave, clear as crystal, dropped
down, and stopped behind a stone so as not to grieve
the friendly child. From her he heard very strange
stories, some of which he did not understand; for she
told him of her earlier adventures, and of the inside of
the mountain.
4. "A long time ago," she said, "I dwelt with count-
less sisters, in a great sea, in peace and unity. We en-
joyed many a pastime: now we mounted as high as a
house, and peeped at the stars. We saw how the coral-
builders worked themselves tired, in order to come at
length to the sweet light of day.
5. "But I was proud, and thought myself much bet-
ter than my sisters. So, once, when the sun had sunk
down into the sea, I clung to one of his warm rays, and
thought I should now mount even to the stars, and be
like one of them. But I had not risen far, when the
sunbeam shook me off, and, not caring what might be
come of me, let me fall into a dark cloud.
6. "Soon there was a flash of fire through the cloud,
and I was in great peril; but the whole cloud settled
down upon a mountain, and I escaped, after much anxiety.
Now I hoped to be out of danger, when all of a sudden
I slipped upon a pebble, and fell from one stone to an-
other, deeper and deeper down into the mountain, till at
last it grew dark as night about me, and I could hear and
see nothing more.
7. 66 Then I found, indeed, that 'pride goeth before a
fall.' I resigned myself to my fate; and as I had already,
while in the cloud, laid aside all pride, so here, now, hu-
mility came to be my portion. At length, after many
FOURTH READER.
85
purifications by means of the mysterious virtues of met-
als and minerals, I was allowed to come again into the
open and pleasant air. I wish now to return to my sis-
ters in the ocean, and there patiently wait till I am called
to something better."
8. She had scarcely done speaking, when the roots
of a forget-me-not caught her, and drew her in, that she
might become a flower, and sweetly shine, a little blue
star in the green firmament of earth.
Translated by J. C. Pickard from F. W. Carové.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From the "Story without an End." Lesson XI.,
the story of "The Lark," is the thirteenth; Lesson XVII., "In the Forest,"
is the fifth; and this one, "The Story of a Wavelet," is the second chapter
of the same book. The dragon-fly has finished his account of the world,
and now the child hears the wavelet's story.
II. De-light' (-it'), ti'-ny, erys'-tal, eor'-al, re-signed' (-zind').
A
III. Arrange the three forms of the action-words that you find in the
fourth and fifth paragraphs, in columns. Arrange "said" and "dwelt,"
for example, thus:
now
(he)
says
dwells
пош
(they)
say
dwell
then
(he or they)
said
dwelt
IV. Purling, bustling, comical, huge, perilous, adventures, unity, anxi-
ety, austere, humility, purifications, mysterious.
V. “Coral-builders" (little animals, incorrectly called "insects," that
secrete a bony substance in such quantities as to build the coral formations
from the bottom of the sea up toward the surface). The wavelet “clung
fast to a ray." Have you seen water "dry up "-i. e., be taken up or ab-
sorbed by the air when exposed to the warm sun? What was the “flash
of fire through the cloud"? (6). "Purifications by means,” etc.—i. e.,
water is filtered through sand and other substances. Read Longfellow's
poem, "Flowers," and note the allusion to this story: "When he called
the flowers, so blue and golden, stars that in earth's firmament do shine.”
86
FOURTH READER.
XXX.-EMPHASIS BY SLIDES.
PART I.
Listen again, and notice still another way by which
words are emphasized. "Are you coming'?" "Yes",
in a moment.' "Shall we read' together, or talk?"
"Let us read`." "Will you' read to me'? or shall I
""
read to you?"
Observe how the voice slides up on some emphatic
words, and down on others.
When I say, "Will you' read to me?" my voice
slides upward on "you" and on "me"; and when I say,
"Or shall I read to you?" my voice slides downward on
“I” and on “you.”
""
These emphatic tones, which we use in asking and
answering direct questions, are called "THE SLIDES.'
On the simple question, the "rising slide" is heard
[marked thus (')], as, "Do you hear'?" On the answer,
the "falling slide" is heard [marked thus (')], as, “Yes',
I hear you."
For the right use of these rising and falling slides in
reading, we must divide emphatic ideas into two classes,
which we will call positive and negative ideas. The most
important ideas are positive statements, as,
"Life is real', life is earnest`.”
"Art is long', and Time is fleeting`."
The less important ideas are negative statements,
often in contrast with positive ideas, as,
"Be not like dumb, driven cattle-
Be a hero' in the strife."
The last line is a positive statement.
"Do right, and you will be happy'," are both positive.
FOURTH READER.
*
87
"If you do right', you will be happy." Here the
first idea of doing right is not a command-is not cer-
tain, but doubtful-is not positive, but negative, and
must be read with the rising slide. Hence the general
principle for the slides:
POSITIVE IDEAS SHOULD BE READ WITH THE FALLING
SLIDES.
NEGATIVE IDEAS SHOULD BE READ WITH THE RISING
SLIDES.
"Will you take tea' or coffee' ?" "No, I thank you;
I will take water' or milk', if you please.
""
The rising slide is given to tea and to coffee because
both are negative. The person asking the question is in
doubt on both points. But suppose it were certain that
one of the two would be taken; then one idea is (in the
mind of the person asking the question) positive, and
one of the slides must fall.
"Will you take tea', or coffee?" "I will take cof-
fee." "Shall we go to the mountains', or to the sea-
side'?" This gives us, also, one positive idea. We are
going to one place or the other. But, "Shall we go to
the mountains', or sea'-side, this summer?" makes both
"mountains" and "sea-side" negative. The person ask-
ing is in doubt on each point, and so each has the rising
slide. But the answer, "We are going to the mount-
ains'," or, "We are going to the sea'-side," or,
"We
shall stay at home'," is positive, and therefore requires
the falling slide.
"Will you', or you', or you', do me this favor?"
These are all negative ideas. The person asking is not
sure that any one will favor him, and so the rising slide
must be given to each and all. But if it is positively be-
lieved that one of the three will do the favor, then the
88
FOURTH READER.
last one appealed to will take the falling slide: "Will
you', or you', or you', do me this favor?”
"Is your brother' at home?" "No', sir; he has sailed
for Europe. "Has he gone for pleasure', or for study'?"
"He has gone for both';" or, "He has gone for his
health', rather than for pleasure' or study'."
1
"The GOLDEN RULE is the very life and soul' of
politeness."
"Come, read to me some poem-
Some simple and heart'-felt lay,
Not from the grand old masters',
Not from the bards sublime'.
Read from some humbler' poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart',
As showers from the clouds of summer',
Or tears' from the eyelids' start."
A fine example of the positive and negative slides is
seen in these beautiful words of Dickens, after the death
of little Nell:
"She seemed a creature fresh' from the hand of God,
and waiting for the breath of life; not one who had'
lived, and suffered death'."
PART II.
SIMPLE AND COMPOUND QUESTIONS.
The simple question is, from its very nature, a nega-
tive idea. It asserts nothing; it only asks something,
¹ The rule, so commonly given, that "the voice must fall when the sense
is completed," fails here, and often elsewhere, because the sense is com-
pleted with the negative idea, which must have the rising slide, even at the
end of the sentence.
FOURTH READER.
89
and is therefore to be read with the rising slide, as, "Do
you understand' me?" "Is it clear' ?" But if this usual
interrogative sense changes to a positive appeal, the ques-
tion must be read, like any other positive idea, with the
falling slide: "That is not right, is it?" "I would not
do that, would you?" The question is not asked in
doubt, but with the certainty in the speaker's mind that
the one appealed to will agree with him.
"I said an elder' soldier, not a better';
\
Did I say better?"
"Isn't that a splendid' story you are reading?".
Thus we see that the sense, and not the form, of the
sentence, must determine the right reading.
Compound questions, such as, "Where are you
going?" "What are you doing?" take the falling
slide. Why? Because every such question has one
positive idea, which comes last, and is emphasized.
"You are going' somewhere," is positive. "Will you
tell me where'?" "Where" only is interrogative, and
this is not emphasized when the question is read with
the falling slide. "Where are you going? Where are
you GOING?"-it is generally given as a rule, that,
when such questions as these are repeated, they take
the rising slide. This is not true in fact or principle;
for, when such a question is not heard the first time,
it is repeated in the very same way, with more positive
emphasis, until the person spoken to is forced to hear it.
Then only, if his answer is not distinctly heard, the ques-
tion may be given with the rising slide; but not until
the emphasis is taken from the positive, and put on the
negative the interrogative-idea; as, "Where are you
going?'
""
90
FOURTH READER.
Thus any such double-idea'd question-beginning
with when, where, who, what, why, which, etc.-may be
analyzed and read.
XXXI.-BETH'S SICKNESS.
1. Beth had the scarlet fever, and was much sicker
than any one, except Hannah and the doctor, suspected.
The girls knew nothing about illness, and Mr. Lawrence
was not allowed to see her; so Hannah had everything
her own way and busy Dr. Bangs did his best, but left
a good deal to the excellent nurse.
2. Meg staid at home, lest she should infect the
Kings, and kept house, feeling very anxious and a little
guilty, when she wrote letters in which no mention was
inade of Beth's illness. She could not think it right to
deceive her mother; but she had been bidden to mind
Hannah, and Hannah would not hear of "Mrs. Márch
bein' told, and worried just for sech a trifle." Jo devoted
herself to Beth day and night-not a härd task, for
Beth was very patient, and bore her pain uncomplain-
ingly as long as she could control herself.
3. But there came a time when, during the fever-fits,
she began to talk in a hoarse, broken voice, to play on the
coverlet as if on her beloved little piano, and try to sing
with a throat so swollen that there was no music left;
a time when she did not know the familiar faces round
her, but addressed them by wrong names, and called im-
ploringly for her mother. Then Jo grew frightened,
Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, and even
Hannah said she "would think of it, though there was
no danger yet." A letter from Washington added to
FOURTH READER.
91
their trouble, for Mr. March had had a relapse, and
could not think of coming home for a long while.
4. How dark the days seemed now! how sad and
lonely the house! and how heavy were the hearts of the
sisters as they worked and waited, while the shadow of
death hovered over the once happy home! Then it was
that Margaret, sitting alone, with tears dropping often
on her work, felt how rich she had been in things more
precious than any luxuries money could buy-in love,
protection, peace, and health, the real blessings of life.
5. Then it was that Jo, living in the darkened room,
with that suffering little sister always before her eyes,
and that pathetic voice sounding in her ears, learned to
see the beauty and sweetness of Beth's nature, to feel
how deep and tender a place she filled in all hearts, and
to acknowledge the worth of Beth's unselfish ambition
to live for others, and make home happy by the exercise
of those simple virtues which all may possess, and which
all should love and value more than talent, wealth, or
beauty.
6. And Amy, in her exile, longed eagerly to be at
home, that she might work for Beth, feeling now that
no service would be hard or irksome, and remembering,
with regretful grief, how many neglected tasks those
willing hands had done for her Laurie haunted the
house like a restless ghost, and Mr. Lawrence locked the
grand piano, because he could not bear to be reminded of
the young neighbor who used to make the twilight pleas-
ant for him.
7. Every one missed Beth. The milkman, baker,
grocer, and butcher, inquired how she did; poor Mrs.
Hummel came to beg pardon for her thoughtlessness,
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READER.
FOURTH ·
and to get a shroud for Minna; the neighbors sent all
sorts of comforts and good wishes; and even those who
knew her best were surprised to find how many friends
shy little Beth had made.
8. Meanwhile she lay on her bed, with old Joanna
at her side, for even in her wanderings she did not for-
get her forlorn protégée. She longed for her cats, but
would not have them brought, lest they should get sick;
and, in her quiet hours, she was full of anxiety about
Jo. She sent loving messages to Amy, bade them tell
her mother that she would write soon, and often begged
for pencil and paper to try to say a word, that her father
might not think she had neglected him.
شتر
9. But soon even these intervals of consciousness
ended, and she lay hour after hour tossing to and fro,
with incoherent words on her lips, or sank into a heavy
sleep which brought her no refreshment. Dr. Bangs
came twice a day. Hannah sat up at night.
telegram in her desk, all ready to send off at
and Jo never stirred from Beth's side.
Meg kept a
any minute,
10. The 1st of December was a wintry day indeed
to them, for a bitter wind blew, snow fell fast, and the
year seemed getting ready for its death. When Dr.
Bangs came that morning, he looked long at Beth, held
the hot hand in both his own a minute, and laid it
gently down, saying in a low tone to Hannah, "If Mrs.
March can leave her husband, she'd better be sent for."
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This extract is from "Little Women" (Chap-
ter XVIII.). While the mother, Mrs. March, is away nursing the father in
a hospital in Washington, Beth is taken sick with the scarlet fever. At
first they hesitate to inform the absent parents of the state of the case:
Mrs. Hummel's baby, "Minna," had died of the scarlet fever, and Beth had
been exposed to the disease while at Mrs. Hummel's.
FOURTH READER.
98
II. Noth'-ing (nüth'-), bus'-y (biz'y), guilt'-y, pa'-tient (-shont), dür'-ing,
throat (thrōt), fa-mil'-iar, fright'-ened (frit'nd) heav'-y, wait'-ed,,virt'-
ūeş, văl'-üe, éa'-ger-ly, häunt'-ed, ghōst (gōst), neigh'-bor (nã'-), should
(shood), eôm'-forts (kŭm'furts), read'-y.
III. Describing-words are frequently changed to express comparison
("sicker" compares with another one; sickest would compare with more
than one).
IV. Suspected, allowed, excellent, infect, anxious, mention, deceive,
trifle, devoted, uncomplainingly, control, hoarse, addressed, imploringly,
relapse, pathetic, tender, acknowledge, ambition, possess, exile, service,
irksome, regretful, neglected, tasks, reminded, twilight, inquired, shy, pro-
tégée (prō-tā-zhā'-one under the care of another), forlorn, intervals, in-
coherent, consciousness.
V. Notice the stages in the progress of the disease, as described here:
the gradual increase in the interest of all as the case grows critical; the
pathetical mention of Beth's thoughtfulness of her parents, sisters, and
even of her cats; the traits of character exhibited by the nurse and the
doctor.
XXXII.-BETH'S SICKNESS (Continued).
1. It was past two o'clock when Jo, who stood at the
window thinking how dreary the world looked in its
winding-sheet of snow, heard a movement by the bed,
and, turning quickly, saw Meg kneeling before their
mother's easy-chair, with her face hidden. A dreadful
fear passed coldly over Jo as she thought, "Beth is
dead, and Meg is afraid to tell me!"
2. She was at her post in an instant, and to her ex-
cited eyes a great change seemed to have taken place.
The fever-flush and the look of pain were gone, and the
beloved little face looked so pale and peaceful in its ut-
ter repose, that Jo felt no desire to weep or to lament.
Leaning low over this dearest of her sisters, she kissed
the damp forehead with her heart on her lips, and softly
whispered, "Good-by, my Beth-good-by!
""
с
94
FOURTH READER.
3. As if waked by the stir, Hannah started out of
her sleep, hurried to the bed, looked at Beth, felt her
hands, listened at her lips, and then, throwing her apron
over her head, sat down to rock to and fro, exclaim-
ing, under her breath: "The fever's turned! She's
sleepin' natʼral! Her skin's damp, and she breathes
easy! Praise be given! O my goodness me!"
4. Before the girls could believe the happy truth, the
doctor came to confirm it. He was a homely man, but
they thought his face quite heavenly when he smiled,
and said, with a fatherly look at them: "Yes, my dears,
I think the little girl will pull through this time. Keep
the house quiet. Let her sleep; and, when she wakes,
give her
5. What they were to give, neither heard; for both
crept into the dark hall, and, sitting on the stairs, held
each other close, rejoicing with hearts too full for words.
When they went back to be kissed and cuddled by faith-
ful Hannah, they found Beth lying, as she used to do,
with her cheek pillowed on her hand, the dreadful pal-
lor gone, and breathing quietly, as if just fallen asleep.
"If mother would only come now!" said Jo, as the
winter night began to wane.
"See!" said Meg, coming up with a white, half-
opened rose, "I thought this would hardly be ready to
lay in Beth's hand to-morrow, if she went away from us.
But it has blossomed in the night, and now I mean to put
it in my vase here, so, when the darling wakes, the first
thing she sees will be the little rose and mother's face."
7. Never had the sun risen so beautifully, and never
had the world seemed so lovely, as it did to the heavy
eyes of Meg and Jo as they looked out in the early
morning, when their long, sad vigil was done.
FOURTH READER.
95
8. "It looks like a fairy world," said Meg, smiling to
herself, as she stood behind the curtain, watching the
dazzling sight.
"Hark!” cried Jo, starting to her feet.
Yes, there was a sound of bells at the door below, a
cry from Hannah, and then Laurie's voice, saying, in a
joyful whisper: "Girls, she's come-she's come!"
Louisa M. Alcott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Meanwhile Laurie has telegraphed for the moth-
er, and brings word that Mr. March is better. Mrs. March is expected to
arrive at two in the morning. The doctor says that a change for better or
worse will take place at midnight. Midnight has passed, but the sisters
are still in doubt.
II. Drear'-y, kneel'-ing (neel'-), a-fraid', list'-ened (lis'nd), a'-pron
(ā'purn), vāse, heav'-y, watch'-ing, sight (sīt).
III. Explain the 's in "the feyer's turned"; in "skin's damp"; in
"she's come"; in "mother's face."
IV.
ic
Winding-sheet," instant, utter repose, desire, lament, homely,
pallor, dazzling, vigil.
V. Correct, "She's sleepin' nat'ral." Use a better expression for "pull
through." What does "O my goodness me!" express? (Anything more
than joyful surprise and relief?)
XXXIII.—THE RAINY DAY.
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary ;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary ;
It rains, and the wind is never weary ;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
96
FOURTH READER.
Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all;
Into each life some rain must fall:
Some days must be dark and dreary.
H. W. Longfellow.
FOR PREPARATION.—I. Have you read this author's poem, "Afternoon
in February"? (See Lesson LXI.) Note the resemblances and differ-
ences. The day, cold, dark, dreary, rainy, with dead leaves falling, corre-
sponds to the life within, the thoughts, hopes, etc. In the poem referred
to (LXI.) there is a similar correspondence.
II. Drear'-y, wea'-ry.
III. Correct: It rain; the vine cling.
IV. "Mouldering past," repining.
V. What is the consolation which the poem mentions? What, in the
second stanza, corresponds to the day, the vine, the dead leaves, in the first
stanza?
XXXIV.—AX-GRINDING.
1. When I was a little boy, I remember, one cold
winter's 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.
let me grind my ax on it?"
" Will you
2. Pleased with the compliment of "fine little fel-
low," "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.
FOURTH READER.
97
1
3. "How old are you?-and what's your name?" con-
tinued 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?"
4. 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.
5. At length, however, it was sharpened, and the
man turned to me with, "Now, you little rascal, you've
played truant! Scud to the 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.”
6. It sank deep into my mind, and often have I
thought of it since. When I see a merchant over-polite
to his customers, begging them to take a little brandy,
and throwing his goods on the counter, thinks I, “That
man has an ax to grind.”
7. When I see a man flattering the people, making
great professions of attachment to liberty, who is in
private life a tyrant, methinks: "Look out, good
people!
That fellow would set you turning grind-
stones!
8. When I see a man hoisted into office by party
spirit, without a single qualification to render him either
respectable or useful, "Alas!" methinks, "deluded
people, you are doomed for a season to turn the grind
stone for a booby."
G
Benjamin Franklin.
98
FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Who wrote this piece? (see the signature at
the end.) Supposing that the event described actually occurred in the life
of the author of the piece, about what year was it? (See Lessons I. and
LXV. for the date of his birth.)
II. Write, with diacritical marks (as here indicated), dividing
into syllables, marking the accent, and the pronunciation of the
important vowels, the following words: Shōul'-der, pret'-ty (prit'-),
said (sed), ăn'-swered (-serd), brôught (brawt), pēo'-ple (pë'pl), min'-utes
(-its), ǎx.
Write these words in a column, and explain in each case
the difficulties of spelling and pronunciation, as in the following
model. (See spelling-lessons in the Appendix for fuller directions.)
WORDS.
Shōul'-der...
EXPLANATION OF DIFFICULTIES OF SPELLING, ETC.
uses the combination ou to represent the sound ō. It
is more common to use o, oa, or ow; less common
to use oe, oo, eau, ew, eo, or au.
Pret'-ty (prit'ty)....uses e for ĭ; more common to use i, y, ui, or u; less
common, ee, ie, or o.
said.
ǎn'-swered....
brought..
• •
•
uses ai for ě; more common, e or ea; less common, æ,
a, ei, eo, ie, u, or ue.
w is silent; also an e in the final syllable.
.uses ou for a; more common, aw, au, or o; less com-
mon, oa. The gh also is silent.
min'-utes (min'its)..uses u for Ĭ (see above, "pretty"); also e silent.
pēo'-ple...
.uses eo for ē; more common, e, ea, ee, ie, ei, i, ey, and
æ; less common, uay.
.spelled by English authorities, and by Worcester, axc.
WEBSTER'S DIACRITICAL MARKS: ā, ē, ī, ō, ū, ỹ, long; ă, ě, Ĭ, 8,
ŭ, ỹ, short; câre, fär, låst, fall, what; thêre, veil, term; pïque,
firm; done, fôr, do, wolf, food, foot; fûrl, rude, push; silent let-
ters in italics; ç as s; çh as sh; e, eh, as k; g as j; g as in get;
§ as z; x as gz; n as in linger, link; th as in thine.
III. Explain the use of the apostrophe in winter's, what's, you've ;-the
use of the hyphen in over-polite, and its omission in grindstone. What
is the use of s in minutes? "Look out, good people!"-why is capital L
used, and why the ! at the end?
CC
IV. Defiue compliment, accosted, scud, rue, flattery, blistered, booby;
use synonyms for these in the sentences where they occur, if possible.
V. Why
a smiling man"? (i. e., why did he smile ?) Explain the
motive for the use of the words, "fine little fellow," "my man," "how
old are you?" etc. Why did he pat the boy on the head? (Dr. Frank-
FOURTH READER.
99
lin's style is regarded as a model of purity and simplicity. It contains
many colloquial expressions, however, that should not be approved in
writing; e. g., he frequently uses such phrases as, "says I," "thinks I.")
Point out some sentence in this piece which you think particularly clear and
strong in style. What is the thought of the piece, stated in your own
words? Compare the style and thought of this piece with that of Lesson
I., on The Whistle." Each conveys a moral.
XXXV. MARCH.
1. The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter,
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!
2. Like an army defeated,
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The plowboy is whooping anon, anon.
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!
William Wordsworth.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Have you read any other selection from Words-
worth? (Lesson II., "The Kitten and the Falling Leaves"; Lesson XIII.,
"Alice Fell.") He is famed for deep thought, but sometimes wrote child.
ish and whimsical pieces,
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FOURTH READER.
II. Plow'-boy, whoop'-ing (hoop'-), pre-väil'-ing, small.
III. Explain the th in doth (expresses present time and person ad-
dressed); s in sleeps (present time and person spoken of); est in oldest
(what form of the describing word would you use, if only two things were
compared ?); ing in grazing; ed in defeated; ne in gone (past time); dif
ference in meaning between is and are. When do you use is, and wher
are?
IV. "Twitter"-does this word indicate its meaning by its sound!
What does "anon" mean? ("anon, anon "—again and again.)
anon”—again
V. Notice the rhymes, fare ill and bare hill. Do the English pronounce
the has strongly as we do? Anon rhymes with gone: this is the way the
English pronounce gone. We ought to say gon, and not gôn.
"Forty
feeding like one"-what effect does this sentence have in painting the
picture? Can you see, in imagination, how the scene looked? Why were
the cattle so intent on eating? Was it the taste of the new grass growing
after the shower, and the fact that the cattle had had no fresh grass all
winter?
XXXVI. THE CAREFUL OBSERVER.
XXXVI.—THE
1. A dervise was journeying alone in a desert, when
two merchants suddenly met him, "You have lost a
camel," said he to the merchants. "Indeed we have,'
they replied.
५
""
2. "Was he not blind in his right eye, and lame in
his left leg?" said the dervise. "He was," replied the
merchants. "And was he not loaded with honey on one
side, and with wheat on the other?" "Most certainly
he was," they replied; "and, as you have seen him so
lately, and marked him so particularly, you can, in all
probability, conduct us to him."
3. "My friends," said the dervise, "I have never
seen your camel, nor ever heard of him, but from you!'
"A pretty story, truly," said the merchants; "but where
are the jewels which formed a part of his burden?"
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FOURTH READER.
101
have seen neither your camel nor your jewels," repeated
the dervise.
4. On this, they seized his person, and forthwith hur-
ried him before the cadi; but, on the strictest search,
nothing could be found upon him, nor could any evidence
whatever be adduced to convict him either of falsehood
or of theft.
5. They were about to proceed against him as a sor-
cerer, when the dervise, with great calmness, thus ad-
dressed the court: "I have been much amused with your
surprise, and own that there has been some ground
for your suspicions; but I have lived long and alone,
and I can find ample scope for observation even in a
desert.
6. "I knew that I had crossed the track of a camel
that had strayed from its owner, because I saw no mark
of any human footstep on the same route. I knew that
the animal was blind of one eye, because it had cropped
the herbage only on one side of its path; and that it was
lame in one leg, from the faint impression which that
particular foot had produced upon the sand.
7. "I concluded that the animal had lost one tooth,
because, wherever it had grazed, a small tuft of herbage
had been left uninjured in the centre of its bite. As to
that which formed the burden of the beast, the busy ants
informed me that it was corn on the one side; and the
clustering flies, that it was honey on the other."
Colton.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Who is a dervise? (spelled also dervis and der-
vish-a Turkish or Persian monk.) What country does he inhabit?
(Western Asia.) What deserts are found there? For what purposes are
camels used on deserts, and why used instead of horses or oxen? Who
is a cadi? (A Turkish "justice of the peace.")
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FOURTH READER.
:
:
II. Copy spelling and pronunciation, and give explanations
(according to form in Lesson XXXIV.) of joûr'-ney-ing (jûr'-ny-) (ey
before i), hỏn'-ey (hûn'y) (o as ŭ and ey as ĭ), friends̟ (frèndz), sus-
pi'-cious (-pish'us), eropped (pped pronounced pt), strayed, seized,
route (ou as ōō), buş'-y (biz'y), eã'-dî, dēr'-vise.
*
III. Explain the modification in meaning produced by the addition of ed
in loaded, ly in lately, s in jewels, n in seen, r in your, est in strictest, ness
in calmness, er in owner.
IV. Define sorcerer, ample, scope.
V. What people, from their mode of life and the business that they
are engaged in, are likely to become careful observers of the traces left by
wild animals?—of the signs of change in the weather ?-of the obstructions
on railway-tracks ?—of the signs of disease in men ?—of errors in print-
ing?—of signs of dishonesty among people on the street?-of the indica-
tions of strength and speed in horses?
XXXVII.—THE MARINER'S DREAM.
1. In slumbers of midnight the sailor-boy lay;
His hammock swung loose at the sport of the
wind,
But, watchworn and weary, his cares flew away,
And visions of happiness danced o'er his mind.
2. He dreamed of his home; of his dear native bowers,
And pleasures that waited on life's merry morn;
While Memory stood sidewise, half-covered with
flowers,
And restored every rose, but secreted its thorn.
3. Then Fancy her magical pinions spread wide,
And bade the young dreamer in ecstasy rise:
Now far, far behind him the green waters glide,
And the cot of his forefathers blesses his eyes.
FOURTH READER.
103
4. The jessamine clambers in flowers o'er the thatch,
And the swallow chirps sweet from her nest in the
wall;
All trembling with transport, he raises the latch,
And the voices of loved ones reply to his call.
5. A father bends o'er him with looks of delight;
His cheek is impearled with a mother's warm tear;
And the lips of the boy in a love-kiss unite
With the lips of the maid whom his bosom holds
dear.
6. The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast;
Joy quickens his pulses-all hardships seem o'er,
And a murmur of happiness steals through his rest :
"O God! thou hast blessed me; I ask for no more."
7. Ah, what is that flame which now bursts on his eye?
Ah, what is that sound which now 'larms on his
ear?
'Tis the lightning's red gleam, painting hell on the
sky!
'Tis the crashing of thunders, the groan of the
sphere!
8. He springs from his hammock-he flies to the deck!
Amazement confronts him with images dire;
Wild winds and mad waves drive the vessel a wreck-
The masts fly in splinters-the shrouds are on fire!
9. Like mountains the billows tremendously swell;
In vain the lost wretch calls on Mercy to save;
Unseen hands of spirits are ringing his knell,
And the Death-angel flaps his broad wings o'er the
wave!
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FOURTH READER.
10. O sailor-boy, woe to thy dream of delight!
In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of bliss.
Where, now, is the picture that Fancy touched
bright-
Thy parents' fond pressure, and Love's honeyed
kiss?
11. O sailor-boy, sailor-boy, never again
Shall home, love, or kindred, thy wishes repay !
Unblessed and unhonored, down deep in the main
Full many a fathom, thy frame shall decay.
12. No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee,
Or redeem form or frame from the merciless surge;
But the white foam of waves shall thy winding-sheet
be,
And winds, in the midnight of winter, thy dirge!
13. On a bed of green sea-flowers thy limbs shall be
laid;
Around thy white bones the red coral shall grow;
Of thy fair yellow locks, threads of amber be made;
And every part suit to thy mansion below.
14. Days, months, years, and ages, shall circle away,
And still the vast waters above thee shall roll ;
Earth loses thy pattern for ever and aye:
O sailor-boy, sailor-boy, peace to thy soul!
AWilliam Dimond.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. For what people would this poem possess the
most interest? (For a people living on an island-Great Britain-and fur-
nishing multitudes of sailors? How many friends and relatives on that
island have occasion every year to mourn those lost by shipwreck !) Do
you think that the author of this poem was an American, or an Englishman?
FOURTH READER.
105
II. Ěe'-sta-sy, hỏn’-eyed (hůn'id), mẽr'-çi-less, mèm'-o-ry.
III. Of what two words is midnight composed, and what does each
mean? "O God! thou hast blessed me," etc.-whose words do the quo-
tation-marks here indicate? "Larms "what is omitted? ("'larums his
ear," is another reading of this passage.) "Parents' fond pressure "--what
does the s' indicate? What effect on the meaning, if it were changed to
's? Many a fathom"-what does a mean after many? (It makes us
think of each one of the number, and therefore makes it seem larger.)
"Shall e'er plead "what is omitted in c'er?
(C
IV. Hammock, watchworn, jessamine, clambers (how can a plant be
said to clamber ?), transport, fathom, amber-threads, thy pattern, for ever
and aye, red coral.
V. Do you pronounce wind so as to rhyme with mind? (see first stanza.)
Memory stood sidewise." (Memory is personified here, or described as a
person.) How could she stand so as to conceal the thorns, and show only
the roses? Do all roses grow on thorny bushes? How is Fancy personified
(as an angel) in the third stanza? What is meant by groan of the
sphere"? "Unblessed" (i. e., by parents, or by the clergyman) “ and un-
honored" (i. e., without the usual ceremonies in honor of the dead-without
tombstone, etc.). Is this not a dreary poem-without any consolation?
((
XXXVIII.-HOW MUCH EMPHASIS.
The degree of emphasis of all kinds varies with the
relative worth and spirit of the ideas. Mere facts call
only for force, time, and slide enough to distinguish the
more important words from the others.
"How many were with you on your excursion ?”
"Twenty'."
"Where did you go?" "Where'?"
mountains."
"To the
Here the distinctive force and time, and slide, are all
moderate. But when earnest feeling is added to the facts,
the degree of emphasis increases accordingly. "Did you
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FOURTH READER.
enjoy' the mountain-scenery?" "Oh, EVER' so much!
It was so w-I-L-D' and G-R-A-N-D'! I never saw anything
SO MAGNIFICENT'."
Here the "force" grows louder with the earnest-
ness, the “slides" are longer, and the "time" (when
applicable) is longer. But gentle ideas, tenderness, and
sadness require subdued force-softer than that given
to matter-of-fact ideas. The slides, also, are a half-tone
shorter. But the time is longer, and fills more s-p-a-c-e,
in emphasizing sacred or sad parts.
EXAMPLE.
}
Paul had never risen' from his little bed'. ...
66
Floy! what is that?”
وو
"Where', dearest?" "There', at the bottom of the
bed" "There's nothing there, except papa'. The
figure lifted up its head, and rose, and, coming to the
bedside, said: "My-own-boy! Don't you know'
me?"
"Don't be so sorry' for me', dear papa. Indeed, I
am quite happy. Now, lay me down. And, Floy',
come close' to me, and let me see you':
وو
"How fast the river' runs, between its green banks
and the rushes, Floy! But it's very near-the-sea',
now. I hear the waves! They always' said so"!"
Presently, he told her that the motion of the boat
upon the stream was lulling him to rest'. Now, the boat
was out at sea'; and now, there was a shore' before him.
Who' stood on the bank? He put his hands together, as
he had been used to do at his prayers'. He did not re-
move his arms' to do it, but they saw him fold them so
FOURTH READER.
107
behind his sister's neck'. "Mamma is like y-o-u',
Floy; I know her by the face! The light about the
head is shining - on¯ - me as I go`!”
From "Dombey and Son," by Dickens.
XXXIX. THE DEATH OF THE FLOWERS.
1. The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the
year,
Of wailing winds, and naked woods, and meadows
brown and sear.
Heaped in the hollows of the grove, the autumn
leaves lie dead;
They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the rabbit's
tread.
The robin and the wren are flown, and from the shrubs
the jay,
And from the wood-top calls the crow through all the
gloomy day.
2. Where are the flowers, the fair young flowers, that
lately sprang and stood
In brighter light and softer airs, a beauteous sister-
hood?
Alas! they all are in their graves-the gentle race of
flowers
Are lying in their lowly beds, with the fair and good
of ours.
The rain is falling where they lie; but the cold No-
vember rain
Calls not from out the gloomy earth the lovely ones
again.
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FOURTH READER.
3. The windflower and the violet, they perished long
ago,
And the brier-rose and the orchis died amid the sum-
mer glow;
But on the hill the golden-rod, and the aster in the
wood,
And the yellow sunflower by the brook in autumn
beauty stood,
Till fell the frost from the clear cold heaven, as falls
the plague on men,
And the brightness of their smile was gone from up-
land, glade, and glen.
4. And now, when comes the calm, mild day, as still
such days will come,
To call the squirrel and the bee from out their winter
home;
When the sound of dropping nuts is heard, though
all the trees are still,
And twinkle in the smoky light the waters of the
rill ;
The South-wind searches for the flowers whose fra-
grance late he bore,
And sighs to find them in the wood and by the
stream no more.
5. And then I think of one who in her youthful beauty
died,
The fair, meek blossom that grew up and faded by
my side:
In the cold, moist earth we laid her, when the forests
cast the leaf,
And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so
brief;
FOURTH READER.
109
Yet not unmeet it was that one, like that young friend
of ours,
So gentle and so beautiful, should perish with the
flowers.
William Cullen Bryant.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. What month is here described? Collect the
assertions relating to plants and to animals which indicate the season.
II. Měl'-an-ehŏl-y, săd'-dest, sear (sere), beau'-te-oŭs (bū'-), plague
(plag), squir'-rel (pronounced in England squirrel, or squerrel; in this
country we generally hear it pronounced skwur'rel.)
III. Turn into prose the fourth stanza, using words of your own if re-
quired to make the expression clear and complete.
IV. Eddying, brier-rose, orchis, windflower, golden-rod, aster, brief,
glade and glen."
V. "The mel-an-chol-y days are come, the sad-dest of the year” (~— |
~~|~~|~~||~~|~~|~~). Contrast the regularity of the rhythm
in this piece with that in XLIII. and LVI. Note the personification of
South-wind in the fourth stanza, the description of melancholy external
conditions affecting Nature, and of the corresponding inward melancholy
at the decease of a person-a young friend. (See XXXIII. and LXI. for a
similar transition.)
XL-THE TEMPEST.
1. There was a certain island in the sea, the only in-
habitants of which were an old man, whose name was
Prospero, and his daughter Miranda, a very beautiful.
young lady. She came to this island so young, that she
had no memory of having seen any other human face
than her father's.
2. They lived in a cave, or cell, made out of a rock.
It was divided into several apartments, one of which
Prospero called his study; there he kept his books, which
chiefly treated of magic-a study at that time much affect-
ed by all learned men: and the knowledge of this art he
found very useful to him; for, being thrown by a strange
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FOURTH READER.
chance upon this island, which had been enchanted by a
witch called Sycorax, who died there a short time before
his arrival, Prospero, by virtue of his art, released many
good spirits that Sycorax had imprisoned in the bodies
of large trees, because they had refused to execute her
wicked commands. These gentle spirits were ever after
obedient to the will of Prospero. Of these, Ariel was
the chief.
§. The lively little sprite Ariel had nothing mischiev-
ous in his nature, except that he rather took too much
pleasure in tormenting an ugly monster called Caliban ;
for he owed him a grudge because he was the son of his
old enemy Sycorax. This Caliban Prospero found in the
woods, a strange, misshapen thing, far less human in form
than an ape. He took him home to his cell, and taught
him to speak; and Prospero would have been very kind
to him, but the bad nature which Caliban inherited from
his mother Sycorax would not let him learn anything
good or useful; therefore, he was employed like a slave,
to fetch wood, and do the most laborious offices: and
Ariel had the charge of compelling him to do these ser-
vices.
4. When Caliban was lazy and neglected his work,
Ariel, who was invisible to all eyes but Prospero's, would
come slyly and pinch him, and sometimes tumble him
down in the mire; and then Ariel, in the likeness of an
ape, would make mouths at him; then, swiftly changing
his shape, in the likeness of a hedgehog, he would lie
tumbling in Caliban's way, who feared the hedgehog's
sharp quills would prick his bare feet. With a variety
of such like vexatious tricks Ariel would often torment
him, whenever Caliban neglected the work which Pros-
pero commanded him to do.
FOURTH READER.
111
5. Having these powerful spirits obedient to his will,
Prospero could, by their means, command the winds and
the waves of the sea. By his orders they raised a violent
storm, in the midst of which, and struggling with the
wild sea-waves, that every moment threatened to swallow
it up, he showed his daughter a fine large ship, which, he
told her, was full of living beings like themselves. "Oh,
my dear father," said she, "if by your art you have raised
this dreadful storm, have pity on their sad distress. See!
the vessel will be dashed to pieces! Poor souls! they
will all perish. If I had power, I would sink the sea
beneath the earth, rather than that the good ship should
be destroyed, with all the precious souls within her!"
6. "Be not so amazed, Daughter Miranda," said Pros-
pero; "there is no harm done. I have so ordered it that
no person in the ship shall receive any hurt. What I
have done has been in care of you, my dear child. You
are ignorant who you are, or where you came from; and
you know no more of me, but that I am your father, and
live in this poor cave.
Can you remember a time before
you came to this cell? I think you cannot, for you were
then not three years of age."
7. "Certainly I can, sir," replied Miranda.
"By what?" asked Prospero; "by any other house,
or person? Tell me what you can remember, my child?"
Miranda said: "It seems to me like the recollection
of a dream but had I not once four or five women who
attended upon me?"
.
Prospero answered: "You had, and more. How is
it that this still lives in your mind? Do you remember
how
you came here?
""
"No, sir," said Miranda; "I remember nothing
more.”
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FOURTH READER.
8. "Twelve years ago, Miranda," continued Prospero,
"I was Duke of Milan, and you were a princess, and my
only heir. I had a younger brother, whose name was An-
tonio, to whom I trusted everything and, as I was fond
of retirement and deep study, commonly left the man-
agement of my state affairs to your uncle, my false broth-
er (for so, indeed, he proved). I, neglecting all worldly
ends, buried among my books, did dedicate my whole
time to the bettering of my mind.
9. "My brother Antonio, being thus in possession of
my power, began to think himself the duke indeed. The
opportunity I gave him of making himself popular among
my subjects awakened in his bad nature a proud ambition
to deprive me of my dukedom This he soon effected
with the aid of the King of Naples, a powerful prince,
who was my enemy."
"Wherefore," said Miranda, "did they not that hour
destroy us?"
10. "My child," answered her father, "they durst
not, so dear was the love that my people bore me. An-
tonio carried us on board a ship, and, when we were some
leagues out at sea, forced us into a small boat, without
either tackle, sail, or mast. There he left us, as he thought,
to perish; but a kind lord of my court, one Gonzalo, who
loved me, had privately placed in the boat water, pro-
visions, apparel, and some books, which I prize above my
dukedom."
"Oh, my father," said Miranda, "what a trouble I
must have been to you, then!"
11. "No, my love," said Prospero; "you were a little
cherub that did preserve me. Your innocent smiles made
me bear up against my misfortunes. Our food lasted
FOURTH READER.
113
till we landed on this desert island, since which time my
chief delight has been in teaching you, Miranda, and
well have you profited by my instructions."
66
Heaven thank you, my dear father!" said Miranda.
"Now, pray tell me, sir, your reason for raising this sea-
storm."
"Know, then," said her father, "that by means of
this storm my enemies, the King of Naples and my cruel
brother, are cast ashore upon this island."
12. Having so said, Prospero gently touched his
daughter with his magic wand, and she fell fast asleep;
for the spirit Ariel just then presented himself before his
master to give an account of the tempest, and how he
had disposed of the ship's company and, though the
spirits were always invisible to Miranda, Prospero did
not choose she should hear him holding converse, as would
seem to her, with the empty air.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This, and the following selections from the
"Tales from Shakespeare," written by Charles Lamb and his sister Mary,
give the greater part of the story forming the plot of Shakespeare's "Tem-
pest." There are difficult passages in the piece, but the study necessary
to master them will be rewarded. Some pupils, perhaps, will be induced to
read at a future time the great drama of Shakespeare itself.
II. Isl'-and (-), chief'-ly, mis'-chiev-ous (-che-vus), eom-pěl'-ling,
dread'-ful, heir (ar), bur'-ied (ber'-), leagues (lēgz), troŭ'-ble, a-gainst'
(-genst'), wand, Pros'-pe-ro, Sye'-o-răx, A'-ri-el, Mil'-an, Gon-zä'-lo.
III. Make a list of the action-words in the first two paragraphs, and
write out four forms of each (e. g., is, are, was, being; comes, come, came,
coming; has, have, had, having; lives, live, lived, living; makes, make,
made, making).
IV. Apartments, chance, enchanted, witch, obedient, sprite, torment-
ing, "owed grudge," misshapen, ape, inherited, invisible, threatened, perish,
precious, amazed, harm, recollection, "state affairs," dedicate, possession,
popular, subjects, ambition, apparel, prize, cherub, preserve, converse.
H
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FOURTH READER.
V. "Treated of magic" (treated of an art which pretended to control
the forces of Nature). "A study much affected" (then much in fashion).
"Four or five women who attended upon me" (7). Note the statement
above (1), "had no memory of having seen," etc.
XLI.—THE TEMPEST (Continued).
1. “Well, my brave spirit," said Prospero to Ariel,
"how have you performed your task?"
Ariel gave a lively description of the storm, and of
the terrors of the mariners; and how the king's son,
Ferdinand, was the first who leaped into the sea, and his
father thought he saw this dear son swallowed up by the
waves and lost. "But he is safe," said Ariel, "in a cor-
ner of the isle, sitting with his arms folded sadly, lament-
ing the loss of the king, his father, whom he concludes
drowned. Not a hair of his head is injured; and hist
princely garments, though drenched in the sea-waves,
look fresher than before."
2. "That's my delicate Ariel!" said Prospero. "Bring
him hither: my daughter must see this young prince.
Where are the king and my brother?"
"I left them," answered Ariel, "searching for Ferdi-
nand, whom they have little hopes of finding, thinking
they saw him perish. Of the ship's crew, not one is
missing, though each one thinks himself the only one
saved; and the ship, though invisible to them, is safe in
the harbor."
3. "Ariel," said Prospero, "thy charge is faithfully
performed; but there is yet more work."
"Is there more work?" said Ariel. "Let me remind
you, master, you have promised me my liberty.
I
pray,

The Prince followed with amazement the sound of Ariel's voice,
till it led him to Prospero and Miranaa.
("The Tempest," p. 114.)
FOURTH READER.
115
remember I have done you worthy service, told you no
lies, made no mistakes, served you without grudge or
grumbling."
4. "How now?" said Prospero. "You do not recol-
lect what a torment I freed you from."
"Pardon me, dear master," said Ariel, ashamed to
seem ungrateful; "I will obey your commands.”
"Do so," said Prospero, "and I will set you free.”
He then gave orders what further he would have him
do; and away went Ariel, first to where he had left
Ferdinand, and found him still sitting on the grass in
the same melancholy posture.
5. "Oh, my young gentleman," said Ariel, when
he saw him, "I will soon move you. You must be
brought, I find, for the Lady Miranda to have a sight
of your pretty person. Come, sir, follow me.”
then began singing:
"Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
Hark! now I hear them-ding-dong bell.”
He
6. This strange news of his lost father soon roused
the prince from the stupor into which he had fallen.
He followed with amazement the sound of Ariel's voice,
till it led him to Prospero and Miranda, who were sitting
under the shade of a large tree. Now, Miranda had
never seen a man before, except her own father.
"Miranda," said Prospero, "tell me what you are
looking at yonder?"
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FOURTH READER.
7. O father," said Miranda, in strange surprise,
"surely that is a spirit! How it looks about! Believe
me, sir, it is a beautiful creature! Is it not a spirit?”
"No, girl," answered her father; "it eats, and sleeps,
and has senses such as we have. This young man, you
see, was in the ship. He is somewhat altered by grief, or
you might call him a handsome person; he has lost his
companions, and is wandering about to find them."
8. Miranda, who thought all men had grave faces and
gray beards like her father, was delighted with the ap-
pearance of this beautiful young prince; and Ferdinand,
seeing such a lovely lady in this desert place, and, from
the strange sounds he had heard, expecting nothing but
wonders, thought he was upon an enchanted island, and
that Miranda was the goddess of the place, and, as such,
began to address her. But she answered, timidly, that
she was no goddess, but a simple maid.
9. Prospero left them, and called his spirit Ariel, who
quickly appeared before him, eager to relate what he had
done with Prospero's brother and the King of Naples.
Ariel said he had left them almost out of their senses
with fear at the strange things he had caused them to
see and hear.
10. When fatigued with wandering about, and fam-
ished for want of food, he had suddenly set before them
a delicious banquet, and then, just as they were going to
eat, he appeared visible before them in the shape of a
harpy, a voracious monster with wings, and the feast
vanished away.
11. Then, to their utter amazement, this seeming
harpy spoke to them, reminding them of their cruelty in
driving Prospero from his dukedom, and leaving him
FOURTH READER.
117
and his infant daughter to perish in the sea; saying
that for this cause these terrors were suffered to afflict
them.
12. The King of Naples, and Antonio, the false broth-
er, repented the injustice they had done to Prospero;
and Ariel told his master he was certain their penitence
was sincere, and that he, though a spirit, could not but
pity them.
"Then bring them hither, Ariel," said Prospero.
"If you, who are but a spirit, feel for their distress,
shall not I, who am a human being like themselves, have
compassion on them? Bring them quickly, my dainty
Ariel."
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Where are Milan and Naples?
II. Měl'-an-ehŏl-y, eğr'-al, pearls, knell (nel), wan'-der-ing, de-
light'-ed (-lit-), won'-ders."
III. Make a list of the name-words in the first paragraph, and write
the four forms of each (e. g., spirit, spirit's, spirits, spirits'; task, task's,
tasks, tasks').
IV. Description, lamenting, remind, grudge, grumbling, recollect, un-
grateful, posture, sea-nymphs, handsome, grave, desert, relate, delicious,
famished, banquet, voracious, afflict, repented, sincere, compassion, dainty.
V. Are mariners more apt to be superstitious than other people? What
reason for this? (Because they deal with an element-the ocean-which
is easily stirred up by the winds and made frightfully dangerous. The wind
cannot be calculated upon; its causes and effects are not readily foreseen.
Such uncertainty has a tendency to undermine the faith of sailors in natu-
ral causes.) “Full fathom five thy father lies" (the song in Shakespeare's
"Tempest," Act II., Scene 2).
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FOURTH READER.
XLII.—THE TEMPEST (Concluded).
V
1. Ariel soon returned with the king, Antonio, old
Gonzalo, and their train, who had followed him, won-
dering at the wild music he played in the air to draw
them on to his master's presence. This Gonzalo was the
same who formerly had so kindly provided Prospero with
books and provisions, when his wicked brother left him,
as he thought, to perish in an open boat in the sea.
2. Grief and terror had so stupefied their senses that
they did not know Prospero. He first discovered him-
self to the good old Gonzalo, calling him the preserver
of his life; and then his brother and the king knew that
he was the injured Prospero.
3. Antonio, with tears and sad words of sorrow and
true repentance, implored his brother's forgiveness; and
the king expressed his sincere remorse for having assisted
Antonio to depose him. Prospero forgave them; and,
upon their engaging to restore his dukedom, he said to
the King of Naples, "I have a gift in store for you,
too;" and, opening a door, showed him his son Ferdinand,
playing at chess with Miranda.
1
4. Nothing could exceed the joy of the father and
the son at this unexpected meeting, for each thought
the other drowned in the storm. "O wonder!" said
Miranda; "what noble creatures these are! It must
surely be a brave world that has such people in it."
5. The King of Naples was almost as much aston-
ished at the beauty and excellent graces of the young
Miranda as his son had been. "Who is this maid?"
said he; "she seems the goddess that has parted us, and
brought us thus together."
FOURTH READER.
119
"She is the daughter to this Prospero who is the
famous Duke of Milan, of whose renown and evil fortune
I have heard so much, but whom I never saw till now."
6. Prospero spoke kind words, meaning to comfort
his brother, which so filled Antonio with shame and re-
morse, that he wept, and was unable to speak. The
kind old Gonzalo wept to see this joyful reconciliation,
and prayed for blessings on the young couple.
7. Prospero now told them that their ship was safe
in the harbor, and the sailors all on board her, and that
he and his daughter would accompany them home the
next morning.
8. Before Prospero left the island, he dismissed Ariel
from his service, to the great joy of that lively little
spirit; who, though he had been a faithful servant to his
master, was always longing to enjoy his liberty, to wander
uncontrolled in the air, like a wild bird, under green
trees, among pleasant fruits and sweet-smelling flowers.
"My quaint Ariel," said Prospero to the little sprite
when he made him free, "I shall miss you; yet you shall
have your freedom."
9. "Thank you, my dear master," said Aricl; "but
give me leave to attend your ship home with prosperous
gales, before you bid farewell to the assistance of your
faithful spirit; and then, master, when I am free, how
merrily I shall live!" Here Ariel sung this pretty song:
"Where the bee sucks, there suck I;
In a cowslip's bell I lie;
There I couch when owls do cry;
On the bat's back I do fly
After summer merrily:
Merrily, merrily shall I live now
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."
:
€
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FOURTH READER.
10. Prospero then buried deep in the earth his magi-
cal books and wand, for he was resolved never more to
make use of the magic art. Having thus overcome his.
enemies, and being reconciled to his brother and the
King of Naples, nothing now remained to complete his
happiness but to revisit his native land, to take pos-
session of his dukedom, and to witness the happy mar-
riage of his daughter Miranda and Prince Ferdinand,
which the king said should be instantly celebrated with
great splendor on their return to Naples; at which place,
under the safe convoy of the spirit Ariel, they, after a
pleasant voyage, soon arrived.
Charles and Mary Lamb.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. The scene of "The Tempest" is laid on an island
somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, but some of the incidents are taken
from descriptions of voyages in the West Indies.
II. Faith'-ful, lib'-er-ty, wan'-der, fruits (fruts), bur'-ied (ber'),
com-plēte'.
III. Make a list of the describing-words in the first two paragraphs,
and write the three forms of each one that admits of comparison (e. g., old,
older, oldest; wild, wilder, wildest).
IV. Train, provided, formerly, stupefied, discovered, implored, remorse,
depose, engaging, restore, unexpected, renown, reconciliation, uncontrolled,
quaint, gale, revisit, witress, convoy.
V. "Where the bee sucks," etc. (from "The Tempest," Act V., Scene 1).
XLIII. THE ADOPTED CHILD.
1. "Why wouldst thou leave me, O gentle child ?
Thy home on the mountain is bleak and wild-
A straw-roofed cabin, with lowly wall;
Mine is a fair and a pillared hall,
Where many an image of marble gleams,
And the sunshine of pictures forever streams."
FOURTH READER.
121
2. "Oh! green is the turf where my brothers play,
Through the long, bright hours of the summer day;
They find the red cup-moss where they climb,
And they chase the bee o'er the scented thyme,
And the rocks where the heath-flower blooms they
know--
Lady, kind lady, oh, let me go!"
3. "Content thee, boy, in my bower to dwell:
Here are sweet sounds which thou lovest well;
Flutes on the air in the stilly noon,
Harps which the wandering breezes tune,
And the silvery wood-note of many a bird,
Whose voice was ne'er in thy mountains heard."
4. "Oh! my mother sings, at the twilight's fall,
A song of the hills far more sweet than all;
She sings it under our own green tree,
To the babe half-slumbering on her knee;
I dreamed last night of that music low-
Lady, kind lady, oh, let me go!”
5. "Thy mother is gone from her cares to rest,
She hath taken the babe on her quiet breast;
Thou wouldst meet her footsteps, my boy, no more,
Nor hear her song at the cabin-door.
Come thou with me to the vineyards nigh,
And we'll pluck the grapes of the richest dye."
6. "Is my mother gone from her home away?—
But I know that my brothers are there at play-
I know they are gathering the foxglove's bell,
Or the long fern-leaves by the sparkling well;
Or they launch their boats where the bright streams
flow-
Lady, kind lady, oh, let me go!”
1
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FOURTH READER.
7. "Fair child, thy brothers are wanderers now:
They sport no more on the mountain's brow;
They have left the fern by the spring's green side,
And the stream where the fairy barks were tried.
Be thou at peace in thy brighter lot,
For thy cabin-home is a lonely spot.”
8. "Are they gone, all gone from the sunny hill?
But the bird and the blue-fly rove o'er it still;
And the red-deer bound in their gladness free,
And the heath is bent by the singing bee,
メ
​And the waters leap, and the fresh winds blow-
Lady, kind lady, oh, let me go!"
Felicia Hemans.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Mrs. Hemans lived for some time in the north of
Wales. Do you think that the orphan child here described came from the
mountainous districts of Wales, and that the poem is founded on some inci-
dent that took place there? Do you think that this poem is more pathetic
(affecting, causing pity) than "The Mariner's Dream"? (Lesson XXXVII.)
II. Thyme (tm), sçěnt'-ed, vine'-yard (vin'-), läunch.
III. Tell which lines in this poem included in quotation marks (" ").
are spoken by the lady who has adopted the child, and which are spoken by
the child. Why is the dash used after know, low, away, play, flow, blow?
(Denotes abrupt change. The child breaks off his description of the scenes
he loves so well, in order to beseech the lady to let him return to them.)
IV. Red cup-moss, scented thyme, heath-flower, foxglove's bell.
V. This poem is a most vivid picture of homesickness. Note how
the child calls up the images of home, and describes them until he can re-
strain himself no longer, and bursts out with his prayer to the lady. The
repetition of "Lady, kind lady, oh, let me go!" (in the second, fourth, sixth,
and eighth stanzas), is called a refrain. Notè the contrast in the pictures
drawn by the child and by the lady: straw-roofed cabin contrasted with a
fair and pillared hall; the bleak and wild home described by the lady, with
the green turf, bright summer hours, the red-deer so free, and, more than
all, the companionship of his brothers, and the voice of his mother, de-
scribed by the child,
FOURTH READER.
123
XLIV. THE HEDGEHOG AND THE HARE.
1. This story, in telling it, sounds very like a fable,
but nevertheless it is all perfectly true; for my grand-
father, from whom I had it, used always to say, as he told
it to me, chuckling with glee, " It must be true, my son;
otherwise how could one tell it?" The story ran thus:
2. It was a holiday morning in harvest-time, just as
the buckwheat was coming into blossom. The sun had
risen into the sky, clear and bright; the morning wind
swept over the stubble; the larks sang merrily as they
rose into the air; the bees hummed busily in the buck-
wheat, and the country-folks were going to church, all
dressed in their Sunday clothes. All creatures were
merry-minded, and the Hedgehog too.
3. The Hedgehog stood before his door with his arms.
folded, looked up into the morning breeze, and hummed
a little tune to himself, neither better nor worse than
a Hedgehog is used to sing on a fine sunny morning;
and, as he was thus singing to himself, it all at once
came into his head that, while his wife was washing and
dressing the children, he might as well take a ramble in
the fields, and look after his crop of turnips. Now, the
turnips were close by his house, and he used to eat them
with his family; therefore he looked upon them as his
own.
4. No sooner said than done. The Hedgehog fastened
the door after him, and went his way into the field. He
had not gone far from home, and was just waddling round
a little copse-wood which lay before the turnip-field, when
his neighbor, the Hare, crossed his path, who had come
out on a like errand, to look after his cabbages. When
the Hedgehog spied the Hare, he wished him a friendly
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FOURTH READER.
"good-morning." But the Hare, who was a great man
in his way, and vastly proud, did not deign to return the
Hedgehog's greeting, but, turning up his nose in a scorn-
ful manner, merely said to the Hedgehog, "How comes it
that you are running about the fields so early in the morn-
ing?" "I am going to take a little walk," said the Hedge-
hog. "A walk, forsooth!" said the Hare, laughing;
"methinks you might put your legs to some better use."
. This answer disgusted the Hedgehog greatly. Any-
thing else he could have borne, but of his legs he would
not hear a word in disparagement, just because they were
by nature short. "Do you flatter yourself," said he to the
Hare, "that you can do more with your legs?" "I fancy
so, indeed,” said the Hare. "That remains to be seen,” an-
swered the Hedgehog; "I'll lay you a wager that I would
beat you in a race." "Ha! ha! ha!" said the Hare, hold-
ing his sides with laughter; "you are a funny fellow,
with your short legs! But, with all my heart, so let it be,
if you are so anxious to be beaten. What shall the wager
be?"
"Three artichokes and three onions," said the
Hedgehog. Agreed!" said the Hare; "let us start at
once.' ""
Nay," said the Hedgehog, "not quite so fast,
if you please. I have not tasted any food this morning,
and will first go home and eat a bit of breakfast. In half
an hour I will be here again."
(6
6. So saying, the Hedgehog went his way home, as
the Hare was content; and on his way he thought to him-
self: "The Hare trusts to his long legs, but I will be up
with him nevertheless. He gives himself the airs of a
fine gentleman, truly, yet he is but a sorry fellow, after
all. We shall see who will win the wager!"
7. Now, when the Hedgehog reached home he called
to his wife, and said: "Wife, dress yourself quickly; you
FOURTH READER.
125
must go with me into the field hard by." "What's in
the wind now?" said his wife. The Hedgehog answered:
"I have wagered with the Hare three artichokes and
three onions, that I will run a race with him, and you
must stand by and see us run." "Mercy upon us, man!"
cried his wife, "are you stark mad? How could you think
for a minute of running a race with a Hare?" "Hold
your tongue, wife!" said the Hedgehog; "that is my
affair. Do not meddle and make in a man's business."
What could the Hedgehog's wife do? She was obliged
to follow, whether she would or no.
8. As they were jogging along together, the Hedge-
hog said to his wife: "Listen, now, to what I say.
Look!—we shall run our race up yonder long field.
The Hare will run in one furrow, and I in another, and
we shall start from the top of the field. Now, you have
only to sit quietly in the furrow at the farther end, and,
when the Hare comes up on the other side, call out to
him, Here I am!"
199
The
9. By this time they had reached the spot.
Hedgehog placed his wife in the furrow, and then went
up to the end of the field. When he came there, the
Hare was already on the ground. "Shall we start?"
said the Hare. "With all my heart!" said the Hedge-
hog. "Make ready, then!" So each one took up his
place in the furrow. The Hare counted, "One! two!
three!" and away he went, like a flash of lightning,
down the field. But the Hedgehog only ran about three
steps, then squatted down in the furrow, and sat as still
as a mouse.
10. Now, when the Hare, at full speed, reached the
end of the field, the Hedgehog's wife called out, "Here
I am, waiting for you!" The Hare started, and was not
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FOURTH READER.
a little amazed, fully believing that it was the Hedgehog
himself who called to him; for, as every one knows, the
Hedgehog's wife is for all the world like her husband.
11. But the Hare thought to himself, "There must
be some mistake here." So he cried, "Turn about and
run again!" and away he went, like an arrow from a
bow, till his ears whistled in the wind. But the Hedge-
hog's wife staid quietly in her place.
12. Now, when the Hare came to the top of the field,
the Hedgehog cried out, "Hallo! here I am. Where
have you been all this while?" But the Hare was out
of his wits, and cried out, "Once more-turn about, and
away!" "By all means," answered the Hedgehog; "for
my part, as often as you please."
13. So the Hare went on, running backward and for-
ward three-and-seventy times. The seventy-fourth time,
however, he did not reach the end of the field; in the
middle of the furrow he dropped down dead. But the
Hedgehog took the three artichokes and the three onions.
he had won, called his wife out of the furrow, and away
they jogged merrily home together; and, if they are not
dead, they are living still.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. (This is a good specimen of the popular stories,
half fable, half fairy-tale, that are told to children from one generation
to another. They resemble the fable in that they all have a moral-some-
times a very deep one-though it is not distinctly told at the end.) In what
country is this scene laid? Where are found turnips, larks, buckwheat,
hedgehogs, hares, etc.? Have you read Grimm's collection of fairy tales?
(These stories are sometimes fragments of old pagan religious myths.)
II. Chuck'-ling, deign (dan), guin'-ea (gin'c), min'-ute (-it), tỏngue
(tăng).
III. Buckwheat (beech-wheat, i. e., resembling the beech-nut); neverthe-
less (what three words compose it?-never-the-less).
FOURTH READER.
127
IV. Waddling, copse-wood, disparagement, wagered, "gives himself the
airs of a fine gentleman, sorry fellow."
)) ((
•
V. "For my grandfather used to say," etc.—is this a good reason, or a
ridiculous one? Why? "Like a flash of lightning "-this is exaggeration,
lightning"-this
and is called hyperbole. Of course, no animal could run as fast as a flash of
lightning. "Like an arrow from a bow. ears whistled "-this, too,
is hyperbole, but not so strong as before. Is it not absurd to compare this
second race of the hare, which must have been swifter than the first, to an
arrow, when the first was already compared to the lightning-flash? The
moral of this story teaches how the cunning of mind is superior to brute
force. Which is the more admirable: the swiftness of the hare, or the
cunning of the hedgehog? Do you admire either very much?
XLV. THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH.
1. Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms.
Are strong as iron bands.
1
2. His hair is crisp, and black, and long;
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat;
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
3. Week in, week out, from morn to night,
You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell
When the evening sun is low,
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FOURTH READER.
4. And children, coming home from school,
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.
ff from
5. He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach;
He hears his daughter's voice
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.
6. It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise !
He needs must think of her once more-
How in the grave she lies;
And, with his hard, rough hand, he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.
7. Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.
8. Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus, at the flaming forge of life,
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus, on its sounding anvil, shaped
Each burning deed and thought!
Henry W. Longfellow.
1
ماجد
129
FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. "The Old Clock on the Stairs" (Lesson LVI.) may
stand in the present residence of the poet Longfellow, at Cambridge, which
is the house once used by Washington as his headquarters. Across the
street, and further in, on the road to Cambridge, stood the "village smithy"
and "the spreading chestnut-tree."
II. Vil'-lage, sin'-ew-y (sin’yu-y), můs'-çleş (mŭs'sls), i'-ron (î'urn),
owes (oz), forge, earned (ernd), ăn vil.
III. What meaning does the syllable ren give to children ?-ing to
toiling? (present time and continued action.) Find other words in this
lesson in which ing gives the same meaning.
IV. Smithy, brawny, "like the tan," sledge, chaff.
""
with what goes
V. What connection has "For he owes not any man
before? What figures of speech-what metaphors-in the eighth stanza?
("Flaming forge of life," etc. A metaphor is a "figure of speech," in
which one object is likened to another or compared with another directly,
the words as or like being omitted. He does not use a "simile," and say,
"Life is like a flaming forge, upon which we hammer out our fortunes, just
as a blacksmith hammers out his iron," but he means it. He uses a meta-
phor instead of a comparison or simile.) Note the irregularity of meter in
this piece, as compared with Bryant's poetry (XXXIX.) or Mrs. Hemans's
(VII. and XLIII.).
XLVI. ON STRESS.
Stress is the quality, rather than the quantity, of em-
phatic force. It is of two general kinds, viz., smooth and
-abrupt.
Smooth, swelling tones are pleasing to the ear.
Abrupt, harsh tones are displeasing to the ear; and
what is agreeable to the ear, naturally expresses what is
agreeable to the mind; and what is disagreeable to the
ear, expresses what is disagreeable to the mind.
Hence, for the right use of stress in reading, we have
this simple general principle:
PLEASING IDEAS REQUIRE THE SMOOTH STRESS.
DISPLEASING IDEAS REQUIRE THE ABRUPT STRESS.
I
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FOURTH READER.
EXAMPLES.
(Smooth Stress.)
"Maud Muller, on a summer's day,
Raked the meadow sweet with hay.
"Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
Of simple beauty and rustic health.
"Singing, she wrought, and her merry glee
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.
"The judge looked back as he climbed the hill,
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
"A form more fair, a face more sweet,
Ne'er hath it been my lot to meet.
“And her modest answer, and graceful air,
Show her wise and good as she is fair.
"Would she were mine, and I to-day,
Like her, a harvester of hay!
(Abrupt Stress.)
"No doubtful balance of rights and wrongs,
Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues,
(Smooth Stress.)
"But low of cattle, and song of birds,
And health, and quiet, and loving words.'
FOURTH READER.
131
ན
(Abrupt Stress.)
"But he thought of his sisters, proud and cold,
And his mother, vain of her rank and gold.
"So, closing his heart, the judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the field alone."
From "Maud Muller," by Whittier.
EXAMPLE.
(Very Abrupt Stress.)
"Curse on him!' quoth false Sextus;
'Will not the villain drown?
But for this stay, ere close of day,
We should have sacked the town!'
(Smooth Stress.)
"Heaven help him!' quoth Lars Porsena,
'And bring him safe to shore;
For such a gallant feat of arms
Was never seen before.'
999
From "Horatius at the Bridge," by Macaulay.
XLVII.—I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER.
1. I remember, I remember
The house where I was born-
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day;
But now I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
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FOURTH READER.
2. I remember, I remember
The roses, red and white,
The violets and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday--
The tree is living yet!
3. I remember, I remember
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing.
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now;
And summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow!
4. I remember, I remember
The fir-trees, dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky.
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.
Thomas Hood.
ness.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This poem, like "The Adopted Child" of Mrs.
Hemans (Lesson XLIII.), is an expression of the longing called homesick-
Note its expression in the closing lines of the first stanza (and where
else ?). This is a lyric poem, intended to be sung rather than read. The
pupil should, however, learn to read properly even this species of poetry.
He will find it necessary to use chiefly the "emphasis of time" in this
poem. (See Lesson XVIII.)

The trapper setting fire to the prairie-grass.
("The Prairie on Fire," p. 133.)
FOURTH READER.
133
II. Bōrne, peep'-ing, brought (brawt), night, breath, vi'-o-lěts,
lil'-y, flow'-erg, built (bilt), la-bûr'-num, thôught (thawt), feath'-ers.
III. Mark the feet of the first stanza, and the accented syllables, noting
the difference between the first and other lines:
"I re-mem-ber, I re-mem-ber
The house where I was born,” etc.
IV. Lily-cups; on the wing.
V. Why "made of light"? (lily-cups.)
"Set the laburnum "-what
is meant ? Comparison hinted at between "spirit flew in feathers"
("feathers" of hope; "flew," like a bird) and "swallows on the wing,"
and contrast with its "heavy" present.
heavy" present. What pun is implied in the
fourth stanza, in using heaven as a synonym of sky? (When a child, I
thought the sky so near that the tops of the fir-trees touched it. Sky is a
synonym of heaven; but heaven means not only the sky, but also the future
abode of the blessed. Such a confusion of two different applications of a
word is a pun.)
XLVIII. THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE.
1. "You have come to your recollections too late,
miserable old man!" cried Middleton. "The flames
are within a quarter of a mile of us, and the wind is
bringing them down in this direction with dreadful
rapidity."
2. "The flames! I care little for the flames. If I
only knew how to circumvent the cunning of the Te-
tons, as I know how to cheat the fire of its prey, there
would be nothing needed but thanks to the Lord for our
deliverance. Do you call this a fire? If you had seen
what I have witnessed in the Eastern hills, when mighty
mountains were like the furnace of a smith, you would
have known what it was to fear the flames, and to be
thankful that you were spared!"
C
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3. "Come, lads, come! it is time to be doing, now,
and to cease talking, for yonder curling flame is truly
coming on like a trotting moose. Put hands upon this
short and withered grass where we stand, and lay bare
the earth." "Would you think to deprive the fire of its
victims in this childish manner?" exclaimed Middleton.
A faint but solemn smile passed over the features of the
old man as he answered, "Your grandfather would have
said that, when the enemy was nigh, a soldier could do
no better than to obey."
4. The captain felt the reproof, and instantly began to
imitate the industry of Paul, who was tearing the decayed
herbage from the ground in a sort of desperate compli-
ance with the trapper's direction. Even Ellen lent her
hands to the labor; nor was it long before Inez was seen
similarly employed, though none anong them knew why
or wherefore.
5. When life is thought to be the reward of labor,
men are wont to be industrious. A very few moments
sufficed to lay bare a spot of some twenty feet in diameter.
Into one edge of this little area the trapper brought the
females, directing Middleton and Paul to cover their
light and inflammable dresses with the blankets of the
party.
6. So soon as this precaution was observed, the old
man approached the opposite margin of the grass, which
still environed them in a tall and dangerous circle, and,
selecting a handful of the driest of the herbage, he placed
it over the pan of his rifle. The light combustible kindled
at the flash. Then he placed the little flame into a bed
of the standing grass, and, withdrawing from the spot to
the centre of the ring, patiently awaited the result.
b
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135
7. The subtle element seized with avidity upon its
new fuel, and in a moment forked flames were gliding
among the grass, as the tongues of ruminating animals
are seen rolling among their food, apparently in quest of
its sweetest portions. "Now," said the old man, hold-
ing up a finger, and laughing in his peculiarly silent
manner, “you shall see fire fight fire! Ah me! many a
time I have burned a smooth path from wanton laziness
to pick my way across a tangled plain."
L
8. "But is this not fatal?" cried the amazed Mid-
dleton; “are you not bringing the enemy nigher to us,
instead of avoiding it?" "Do you scorch so easily?
Your grandfather had a tougher skin. But we shall live
to see; we shall all live to see." The experience of the
trapper was in the right.
9. As the fire gained strength and heat, it began to
spread on three sides, dying of itself on the fourth for
want of aliment. As it increased, and the sullen roaring
announced its power, it cleared everything before it, leav-
ing the black and smoking soil far more naked than if the
scythe had swept the place.
10. The situation of the fugitives would have still
been hazardous had not the area enlarged as the flame
encircled them. But by advancing to the spot where the
trapper had kindled the grass, they avoided the heat, and
in a very few moments the flames began to recede in
every quarter, leaving them enveloped in a cloud of
smoke, but perfectly safe from the torrent of fire that
was still furiously rolling onward.
11. The spectators regarded the simple expedient of
the trapper with that species of wonder with which the
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FOURTH READER.
courtiers of Ferdinand are said to have viewed the man-
ner in which Columbus made his egg to stand on its end
though with feelings that were filled with gratitude in-
stead of envy.
12. "Most wonderful!" said Middleton, when he
saw the complete success of the means by which they
had been rescued from a danger that he had conceived to
be unavoidable. "The thought was a gift from Heaven,
and the hand that executed it should be immortal."
13. "Old trapper," cried Paul, thrusting his fingers
through his shaggy locks, "I have lined many a loaded
bee into his hole, and know something of the nature of
the woods; but this is robbing a hornet of his sting with-
out touching the insect!"
14. "It will do-it will do !" returned the old man,
who after the first moment of his success seemed to think
no more of the exploit. "Let the flames do their work
for a short half-hour, and then we will mount. That
time is needed to cool the meadow, for these unshod
beasts are as tender on the hoof as a barefooted girl.”
15. The veteran, on whose experience they all so
implicitly relied for protection, employed himself in
reconnoitering objects in the distance, through the open-
ings which the air occasionally made in the immense
bodies of smoke, that by this time lay in enormous
piles on every part of the plain.
James Fenimore Cooper.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This extract is taken from Cooper's novel, "The
Prairie." Have you read "The Prairie " ?—" The Spy"?-"Lionel Lin-
coln"? In what region is the scene laid? How do you know? (by the
prairie.) The Tetons were a tribe of Indians.
FOURTH READER.
137
II. Sŏl'-emn (-em), nigh, o-bey', de-cayed', suf-ficed' (-fized'),
scythe, con-ceived', sub'-tle (sut'l), herb'-age (erb'ej).
III. Un-avoid-able (a syllable placed before a word, to change its mean-
ing, is called a prefix-pre meaning before: hence prefix = fixed before.
So un is a prefix, meaning not: hence, unavoidable means not avoidable. · A
syllable, or syllables, placed after a word for the same purpose is called a
suffix. Thus able is a suffix, meaning "possible to be": avoidable means
possible to be avoided), un-shod (prefix un), circumvent (circum = around;
circumvent = come round, hence to gain advantage over), recede (re=
back; recede =go back), diameter (dia = through; meter = measure).
IV. Aliment, area, expedient, rescued, withered, inflammable, environed,
combustible, "pan of his rifle," avidity, ruminating, "wanton laziness,'
reconnoitering.
V. "Lined a loaded bee." (When loaded with honey, the wild bee pur-
sues a straight line for its hive, which is generally in a hollow tree. The
bee-hunter watches its course, and finds the hive.)
XLIX. THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.
1. The Mountain and the Squirrel
Had a quarrel,
And the former called the latter "Little Prig.”
2. Bun replied:
"You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together
To make up a year,
And a sphere;
3. And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I'm not so large as you,
You're not so small as I,
And not half so spry;
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FOURTH READER.
4. I'll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel-track.
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put:
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. What fables have you had before in this
Do you remember any difference between the fable and
"Reader"?
other stories ?
II. Squir'-rel (note the English pronunciation; see Lesson
XXXIX.), mount'-ain (-in), quar'-rel, doubt'-less (dout'-), weath'-er,
oc'-cu-py, dif'-fer, nei'-ther.
III. Explain the omissions in I'm, you're, I'll. Give the other forms of
the pronouns I (my, mine, me, we, our, ours, us), yoų, it, my.
IV. Prig (conceited fellow), sphere, occupy, spry, “squirrel-track.”
V. Who is called "Bun" in this fable? "All sorts of things and
weather must be taken in together, to make up a year (of time), and a
sphere" (of space, i. e., the world). If largeness has its advantages, so
has smallness, too. Does the squirrel express contempt by saying, "I'll not
deny you make a very pretty squirrel-track " ?
L.-THE LILLIPUTIAN WAR AT SEA.
1. The empire of Blefuscu is an island situated to the
northeast of Lilliput, from which it is parted only by a
channel eight hundred yards wide.
2. I had not yet seen it, and, upon this notice of an
intended invasion, I avoided appearing on that side of
the coast, for fear of being discovered by some of the
enemy's ships, who had received no intelligence of me;
all intercourse between the two empires having been
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139
strictly forbidden during the war, upon pain of death,
and an embargo laid by our emperor upon all vessels
whatsoever.
3. I communicated to His Majesty a project I had
formed of seizing the enemy's whole fleet; which, as
our scouts assured us, lay at anchor in the harbor,
ready to sail with the first fair wind. I consulted the
most experienced seamen upon the depth of the channel,
which they had often plumbed; who told me that in
the middle, at high water, it was seventy glumgluffs deep,
which is about six feet of European measure; and the
rest of it fifty glumgluffs at most.
4. I walked toward the northeast coast, over against
Blefuscu, where, lying down behind a hillock, I took out
my small perspective glass and viewed the enemy's fleet
at anchor, consisting of about fifty men-of-war and a
great number of transports. I then came back to my
house, and gave orders (for which I had a warrant) for a
great quantity of the strongest cable and bars of iron.
The cable was about as thick as pack-thread, and the
bars of the length and size of a knitting-needle.
5. I trebled the cable to make it stronger, and for
the same reason I twisted three of the iron bars together,
bending the extremities into a hook. Having thus fixed
fifty books to as many cables, I went back to the north-
east coast, and, putting off my coat, shoes, and stockings,
walked into the sea in my leathern jerkin, about half an
hour before high water. I waded with what haste I
could, and swam in the middle about thirty yards, till I
felt ground.
6. I arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour.
The enemy were so frightened when they saw me, that
ร
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FOURTH READER.
they leaped out of their ships and swam to shore, where
there could not be fewer than thirty thousand souls. I
then took my tackling and, fastening a hook to the hole
at the prow of each, I tied all the cords together at the
end.
7. While I was thus employed, the enemy discharged
several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my
hands and face, and, besides the excessive smart, gave
me much disturbance in my work. My greatest appre-
hension was for my eyes, which I should have infallibly
lost, if I had not suddenly thought of an expedient.
8. I kept, among other little necessaries, a pair of
spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed be-
fore, had escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took
out and fastened as strongly as I could upon my nose,
and, thus armed, went on boldly with my work in spite
of the enemy's arrows, many of which struck against the
glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect
further than a little to discompose them.
9. I had now fastened all the hooks, and, taking the
knot in my hand, began to pull; but not a ship would
stir, for they were all too fast held by their anchors, so
that the boldest part of my enterprise remained. I there-
fore let go the cord, and, leaving the hooks fixed to the
ships, I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that fast-
ened the anchors, receiving about two hundred arrows in
my face and hands; then I took up the knotted end of
the cables, to which my hooks were tied, and with great
ease drew fifty of the enemy's largest men-of-war after
me.
10. The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imagi-
nation of what I intended, were at first confounded with
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141
astonishment. They had seen me cut the cables, and
thought my design was only to let the ships run adrift,
or fall foul on each other; but when they perceived the
whole fleet moving in order, and saw me pulling at the
end, they set up such a scream of grief and despair as it
is almost impossible to describe or conceive.
11. When I had got out of danger, I stopped awhile
to pick out the arrows that stuck in my hands and face,
and rubbed on some of the same ointment that was given
me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I
then took off my spectacles, and, waiting about an hour,
till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through the mid-
dle with my cargo, and arrived safe at the royal port of
Lilliput.
12. The emperor and his whole court stood on the
shore, expecting the issue of this great adventure.
They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon,
but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in
water. When I advanced to the middle of the channel,
they were yet more in pain, because I was under water
to my neck. The emperor concluded me to be drowned,
and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in a hostile
manner.
13. But he was soon eased of his fears; for, the chan-
nel growing shallower every step I made, I came in a
short time within hearing, and, holding up the end of the
cable by which the fleet was fastened, I cried in a loud
voice, "Long live the most puissant King of Lilliput!
This great prince received me at my landing with all pos-
sible encomiums, and created me a nardac upon the spot,
which is the highest title of honor among them.
Dean Swift.
""
*
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FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Have you read Swift's "Gulliver's Travels"? It
is a narrative, somewhat after the manner of "Robinson Crusoe " (pub-
lished eight years before), of a shipwrecked sailor who comes to a land in-
habited by people not six inches high. The ludicrous incidents which would
happen to men, if a giant (“" man-mountain ") twelve times their height and
nearly two thousand times their weight should suddenly appear among
them, are told with a quiet humor. This race of little men are called
Lilliputians. Being at war with the neighboring nation of Blefuscu,
Gulliver engages to wade across the channel and capture their whole navy.
II. Ble-fùs'-cũ, sit'-u-at-ed, for-bid'-den, seiz'-ing, plumbed
(plumd), knit'-ting-nee'-dle.
III. Correct: "They seen the ships move forward; "-" They was yet
more in pain because I were under water;"-"The empire are an island,
but I had not yet saw it;"
"-"The fleet laid at anchor; "_" They telled
me."
IV. Embargo (forbidding all vessels to sail from the port), at anchor,
plumbed (measured with a lead and line), perspective glass (spy-glass),
pack-thread, men-of-war (vessels for fighting), transports (to carry the land-
army and war material), cable, trebled, jerkin, excessive, smart, apprehen-
sion, expedient, infallibly (without fail), discompose, “confounded with as-
tonishment," adrift, cargo, expecting the issue (or result), growing shal-
lower, puissant (powerful), encomiums (praises).
V. Does it help us to see our own foibles (frailties, or weak points) to
see other people manifest them? (By attributing the habits of his own
countrymen to the little people, 'Swift helped them to see what was absurd
in those habits.) The effect of reading about the habits of people widely
different from ourselves is to make us tolerant and liberal (i. e., generous
toward others, and willing that they should have their own views and ways
of acting, even though very much unlike our own).
LI. ALEXANDER SELKIRK.
1. I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the center all round to the sea,
I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
FOURTH READER.
143
O Solitude! where are the charms
That sages have seen in thy face?
Better dwell in the midst of alarms,
Than reign in this horrible place!
2. I am out of humanity's reach,
I must finish my journey alone;
Never hear the sweet music of speech-
I start at the sound of my own!
The beasts that roam over the plain
My form with indifference see;
They are so unacquainted with man,
Their tameness is shocking to me.
3. Society, friendship, and love,
Divinely bestowed upon man,
Oh, had I the wings of a dove,
How soon would I taste you again !
My sorrows I then might assuage
In the ways of religion and truth;
Might learn from the wisdom of age,
And be cheered by the sallies of youth.
4. Religion what treasure untold
Resides in that heavenly word,
More precious than silver and gold,
Or all that this earth can afford!
But the sound of the church-going bell
These valleys and rocks never heard—
Never sighed at the sound of a knell,
Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared!
5. Ye winds, that have made me your sport.
Convey to this desolate shore.
Some cordial, endearing report
Of a land I shall visit no more.
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FOURTH READER.
My friends-do they now and then send
A wish or a thought after me?
Oh, tell me I yet have a friend,
Though a friend I am never to see!
6. How fleet is a glance of the mind!
Compared with the speed of its flight,
The tempest itself lags behind,
And the swift-wingéd arrows of light!
When I think of my own native land,
In a moment I seem to be there;
But alas! recollection at hand
Soon hurries me back to despair!
7. But the sea-fowl has gone to her nest,
The beast is laid down in his lair;
Even here is a season of rest,
And I to my cabin repair.
There's mercy in every place;
And mercy—encouraging thought !—
Gives even affliction a grace,
And reconciles man to his lot.
William Cowper.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Have you read "Robinson Crusoe"? The story
is said to be founded on the adventures which Selkirk met with in the
island of Juan Fernandez. Find this island on the map.
II. Mŏn'-areh, sur-vey', çèn’-ter, reign (rān), joûr'-ney, kněll (ně¹),
văl'-leyş, eôr'-dí-al (or côrd'-ial).
III. Divide the first verse into feet, and mark the accented syllables.
Which feet have three syllables?
IV. Solitude, alarms, humanity's, unacquainted, divinely, bestowed, sal-
lies, report, glance, encouraging, assuage.
V. "Sages have seen in thy face." (Solitude is here personified. Wise
men have found solitude charming, because it has aided their meditations.)
What journey must he finish alone? Why is the "tameness" shocking to
FOURTH READER.
145
him? (2.) Whither would he have flown if he had had the wings of a
dove? Why is the bell called "church-going"? Does a glance of the
mind really travel through space, or only call up images or pictures of it?
LII. SUSPENSE OF VOICE.
The subordinate ideas of a sentence are often neither
negative nor positive, but merely circumstantial or in-
troductory to the principal idea. They require, there-
fore, neither the rising nor the falling slide, but the hold-
ing, or continuance, of the given pitch on which the em-
phatic sound begins-that is, the suspense of the voice—
marked thus (~).
EXAMPLE.
"When the hours of day are numbered,
And the voices of the night
Wake the better soul, that slumbered,
To a holy, calm delight;
"Ere the evening lamps are lighted,
And, like phantoms grim and tall,
Shadows from the fitful fire-light
Dance upon the parlor-wall":
"Then the forms of the departed`
Enter at the open door-
The beloved, the true-hearted`,
Come to visit me once more`.”
From "Footsteps of Angels," by Longfellow.
"Well, the delightful day will come."
"Friends, I come not here to talk." The address,
when marked by deep, tender emotion, takes the suspense.
J
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FOURTH READER.
Luke xv. 31: "And he said unto him, Son, thou art
ever with me; and all that I have is thine."
To close this verse with the suspense of voice, thus
leaving the appeal unfinished, is much more suggestive
reading than to give it the falling slide of completed
sense. The sacred address takes the suspense also: "Our
Father which art in heaven"."
"Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself' in Thee'."
LIII. LILLIPUTIAN TAILORS AND COOKS.
1. It may perhaps divert the curious reader, to give
some account of my domestics, and my manner of living
in this country during a residence of nine months and
thirteen days.
2. Having a head mechanically turned and being
likewise forced by necessity, I had made for myself a
table and chair convenient enough, out of the largest
trees in the royal park.
3. Two hundred seamstresses were employed to make
me shirts, and linen for my bed and table, all of the strong-
est and coarsest kind they could get; which, however,
they were forced to quilt together in several folds, for the
thickest was some degrees finer than lawn.
4. Their linen is usually three inches wide, and three
feet make a piece. The seamstresses took my measure
as I lay on the ground, one standing at my neck, and
another at my knee, with a strong cord extended, that
FOURTH READER.
147
each held by the end, while a third measured the length
of the cord with a rule an inch long.
5. Then they measured my right thumb, and desired
no more; for, by a mathematical computation that twice
round the thumb is once round the wrist, and so on to
the neck and the waist, and by the help of my old shirt
which I displayed on the ground before them for a pat-
tern, they fitted me exactly.
6. Three hundred tailors were employed in the samo
manner to make me clothes; but they had another con-
trivance for taking my measure. I kneeled down, and
they raised a ladder from the ground to my neck; upon
this ladder one of them mounted, and let fall a plumb-line
from my collar to the floor, which just answered the length
of my coat; but my waist and arms I measured myself.
7. When my clothes were finished, which was done
in my house (for the largest of theirs would not have
been able to hold them), they looked like the patchwork
made by the ladies in England, only that mine were all
of a color.
8. I had three hundred cooks to dress my victuals, in
little convenient huts built about my house, where they
and their families lived, and prepared me two dishes
apiece. I took up twenty waiters in my hand and placed
them on the table; a hundred more attended below on
the ground, some with dishes of meat, and some with
barrels of wine and other liquors slung on their shoul-
ders, all which the waiters above drew up, as I wanted,
in a very ingenious manner by certain cords, as we draw
the bucket up a well in Europe.
9. A dish of their meat was a good mouthful, and a
barrel of their liquor a reasonable draught. Their mutton
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FOURTH READER.
yields to ours, but their beef is excellent. I have had a
sirloin so large that I have been forced to make three
bites of it; but this is rare. My servants were astonished
to see me eat it, bones and all, as in our country we do the
leg of a lark. Their geese and turkeys I usually ate at a
mouthful, and I confess they far exceed ours. Of their
smaller fowl, I could take up twenty or thirty at the end
of my knife.
1
Dean Swift.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Find, on the map, Van Diemen's Land (now
called Tasmania). It is northwest of this that Gulliver locates his island
of Lilliput.
II. Con-ven'-ient, e-nough' (-nuf), draught (drift), seam'-stress-es,
wrist (rist), liquors (lik'urs), shoul'-ders, wait'-ers.
III. Correct: "They made my coat out of the stronger and coarser
kind of linen they could get; "-"The thicker was some degrees finest than
lawn; ""The larger house of theirs would not hold my coat, for, of the
two, the coat was largest."
IV. Divert (amuse), curious (from the Latin curiosus, careful, inquisi-
tive, through cura, care, from quæro, I seek), residence, mechanically turned
(having a taste for inventing mechanical contrivances), lawn (what two
meanings ?), mathematical computation (i. e., by multiplication: twice round
the thumb once round the wrist; twice round the wrist once round
the neck, etc.).___
V. The Lilliputians are one-twelfth the height of a man; an inch with
us corresponds to a foot with them, and so their yard-stick measures about
three inches, and their cloth is three inches wide. Their mutton yields
to ours" (is inferior).
LIV. COUNTRY SCENES IN OLD TIMES.
MORNING.
1. See, the day begins to break,
And the light shoots like a streak
Of subtile fire; the wind blows cold
While the morning doth unfold.
FOURTH READER.
149
Now the birds begin to rouse,
And the squirrel from the boughs
Leaps, to get him nuts and fruit;
The early lark, that erst was mute,
Carols to the rising day
Many a note and many a lay.
2. Shepherds, rise, and shake off sleep!
See, the blushing morn doth peep
Through the windows; while the sun
To the mountain-tops is run,
Gilding all the vales below
With his rising flames, which grow
Greater by his climbing still.
3. Up, ye lazy swains! and fill
Bag and bottle for the field ;
Clasp your cloaks fast, lest they yield
To the bitter northeast wind.
Call the maidens up, and find
Who lies longest, that she may
Be chidden for untimed delay;
Feed your faithful dogs, and pray
Heaven to keep you from decay;
So unfold, and then away.
6
EVENING.
4. Shepherds all, and maidens fair,
Fold your flocks up, for the air
'Gins to thicken, and the sun
Already his great course hath run.
See the dew-drops, how they kiss
Every little flower that is
Hanging on their velvet heads
Like a rope of crystal beads!
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FOURTH READER.
5. See the heavy clouds low-falling,
And bright Hesperus down-calling
The dead night from underground;
At whose rising, mists unsound,
Damps and vapors, fly apace,
Hovering o'er the wanton face
Of these pastures, where they come
Striking dead both bud and bloom.
6. Therefore from such danger lock
Every one his loveď flock;
Let your dogs lie loose without,
Lest the wolf come, as a scout
From the mountain, and, ere day,
Bear a kid or lamb away;
Or the crafty, thievish fox
Break upon your simple flocks.
7. To secure yourself from these,
Be not too secure in ease;
So shall you good shepherds prove,
And deserve your master's love.
Now, good-night! may sweetest slumbers
And soft silence fall in numbers
On your eyelids! So, farewell!
Thus I end my evening knell.
J. Fletcher.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Hesperus (Venus, as evening star). In what
country and at what season of the year are these scenes laid? (note the
mountains, the lark, shepherds, bitter northeast wind, dogs, wolf, heavy
clouds, fox, etc.).
II. Coŭn'-try, break, streak, rouge, boughs (bouz), fruit (what
sound has u after r?), căr'-ols, shěp'-herds (-erds), through (thrōō),
climb'-ing (klim'-), yield, fãith'-fụl, thick'-en (thik'n), course, crys'-tal,
hỏv'-er-ing, pȧs'-türeş, thiev'-ish, knĕll (něl).
FOURTH READER.
151
III. Make a list of five action-words in this piece that end in ing (de-
noting present time and continued action), and write out the other forms
which they have (e. g., blushing, blushes, blush, blushed; gilding, gilds,
gild, gilded, etc.). In solemn style, there are forms in st and th (wast,
doth).
IV. Streak, "subtile fire," "morning doth unfold," erst, carols, lay,
gilding, swains, chidden, decay, "air 'gins to thicken," "Hesperus down-
calling the dead night" (called "dead" because it had been buried "under-
ground" while the day lasted), "mists unsound" (unhealthy), "fly apace,"
scout, secure, "fall in numbers," from underground (i. e., from beyond the
horizon in the east).
V. In the first stanza of the above, what scene is described? (the dawn.)
In the second and third stanzas? (sunrise.) Note the use of the word
“unfold” in the first and third stanzas. In shepherd-dialect, this means to
release the sheep from the pen In the fourth verse (scene, evening), “ fold
up" is used of flocks in contrast to "unfold your flocks" in the morning
scene.
LV. PERSEVERANCE OF A SPIDER.
1. I perceived, about four years ago, a large spider in
one corner of my room, making its web; and, though the
maid frequently leveled her fatal broom against the
labors of the little animal, I had the good fortune then
to prevent its destruction, and, I may say, it more than
paid me by the entertainment it afforded.
2. In three days the web was, with incredible dili-
gence, completed; nor could I avoid thinking that the
insect seemed to exult in its new abode. It often trav-
ersed it round, and examined the strength of every part
of it, retired into its hole, and came out very frequently.
The first enemy, however, it had to encounter, was an-
other and much larger spider, which, having no web of
its own, and having probably exhausted all its stock in
former labors of this kind, came to invade the property
of its neighbor.
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FOURTH READER.
3. Soon a terrible encounter ensued, in which the
invader seemed to have the victory; and the laborious
spider was obliged to take refuge in its hole. Upon
this I perceived the victor using every art to draw the
enemy from his stronghold. He seemed to go off, but
quickly returned, and, when he found all arts vain, began
to demolish the new web without mercy. This brought
on another battle, and, contrary to my expectations, the
laborious spider became conqueror, and fairly killed his
antagonist.
4. Now in peaceable possession of what was justly
its own, it awaited three days with the utmost impa-
tience, repairing the breaches of its web, and taking no
sustenance that I could perceive. At last, however, a
large blue fly fell into the snare, and struggled hard to
get loose. The spider gave it leave to entangle itself as
much as possible, but it seemed to be too strong for the
cobweb.
5. I must own I was greatly surprised when I saw the
spider immediately sally out, and in less than a minute
weave a new net around its captive, by which the motion
of its wings was stopped; and, when it was fairly ham-
pered in this manner, it was seized and dragged into the
hole.
6. In this manner it lived, in a precarious state; and
Nature seemed to have fitted it for such a life, for upon
a single fly it subsisted for more than a week. I once
put a wasp into the net; but when the spider came out
in order to seize it as usual, upon perceiving what kind
of an enemy it had to deal with, it instantly broke all
the bands that held it fast, and contributed all that
lay in its power to disengage so formidable an antago-
nist.
FOURTH READER.
153
7. I had now a mind to try how many cobwebs a sin-
gle spider could furnish; wherefore I destroyed this, and
the insect set about another; when I destroyed the other
also, its whole stock seemed entirely exhausted, and it
could spin no more.
8. The arts it made use of to support itself, now de-
prived of its great means of subsistence, were indeed
surprising. I have seen it roll up its legs like a ball, and
lie motionless for hours together, but cautiously watching
all the time; when a fly happened to approach sufficiently
near, it would dart out all at once, and often seize its prey.
9. Of this life, however, it soon began to grow weary,
and resolved to invade the possession of some other spider,
since it could not make a web of its own. It formed an
attack upon a neighboring fortification, with great vigor,
and at first was as vigorously repulsed. Not daunted,
however, with one defeat, in this manner it continued to
lay siege to another's web for three days, and, at length
having killed the defendant, actually took possession.
10. The insect I am now describing lived three years;
every year it changed its skin, and got a new set of legs.
At first it dreaded my approach to its web; but at last
it became so familiar as to take a fly out of my hand,
and, upon my touching any part of the web, would im-
mediately leave its hole, prepared either for a defense or
an attack.
Oliver Goldsmith.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. One of the many works that Goldsmith wrote
was a "History of the Earth and Animated Nature." What do you under-
stand by "animated nature"? (all animals.) Would you suppose that the
author of this piece was a poet, or only a man of science? Contrast the
style of this piece with that in Lesson XV.: how simple and natural the
words and expressions are in this one; how difficult and unnatural the
words in that!
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FOURTH READER.
II. Lev'-eled (or levelled), in-crěd'-i-ble, dil'-i-gençe, neigh'-bor
(nã'-), tĕr'-ri-ble, per-çeived', siege, seize, prey (difference from pray),
eon'-quer-or (konk'er-ur), peace'-a-ble (why e retained before able?
compare changeable), ap-proach', blue.
III. What does im mean in impatience ?-dis in disengage?
IV. Fatal broom, invade, demolish, antagonist, cobweb (cob, a word
meaning spider), precarious, subsisted, fortification, vigor, repulsed, daunted.
V. What style is best adapted to the science of Natural History? (De-
scription or narration; not a dramatic style, for that would distract atten-
tion from the details which ought to be observed.)
LVI. THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS.
Somewhat back from the village street
Stands the old-fashioned country-seat;
Across its antique portico
Tall poplar-trees their shadows throw;
And from its station in the hall,
An ancient time-piece says to all:
"Forever—never
Never-forever!"
Half-way up the stairs it stands,
And points and beckons with its hands;
From its case of massive oak,
Like a monk, who, under his cloak,
Crosses himself, and sighs, alas!
With sorrowful voice to all who pass:
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
By day its voice is low and light;
But in the silent dead of night,
Distinct as a passing footstep's fall,
It echoes along the vacant hall,
FOURTH READER.
155
Along the ceiling, along the floor,
And seems to say, at each chamber-door :
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
Through days of sorrow and of mirth,
Through days of death and days of birth,
Through every swift vicissitude
Of changeful time, unchanged it has stood,
And as if, like God, it all things saw,
It calmly repeats those words of awe:
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
In that mansion used to be
Free-hearted hospitality:
His great fires up the chimney roared;
The stranger feasted at his board;
But, like the skeleton at the feast,
That warning time-piece never ceased:
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
There, groups of merry childen played;
There, youths and maidens, dreaming, strayed.
O precious hours! O golden prime,
And affluence of love and time!
Even as a miser counts his gold,
Those hours the ancient time-piece told :
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
From that chamber, clothed in white,
The bride came forth on her wedding-night;
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FOURTH READER.
There, in that silent room below,
The dead lay in his shroud of snow;
And in the hush that followed the prayer,
Was heard that old clock on the stair:
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
All are scattered now, and fled;
Some are married, some are dead;
And when I ask, with throbs of pain,
"Ah! when shall they all meet again,
As in the days long since gone by?”
The ancient time-piece makes reply:
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
Never here-forever there,
Where all parting, pain, and care,
And death, and time, shall disappear-
Forever there, but never here!
The horologe of eternity.
Sayeth this incessantly":
"Forever-never!
Never-forever!"
FOR PREPARATION.-I. See Lesson XLV. (Does this perhaps refer to
Longfellow's residence?)
II. Stâirş, sighş (sīz), çēil'-ing, dōor, ěv'-er-y, vi-çis'-si-tüde,
change'-a-ble (why ge before able ?), eälm'-ly (käm'-), awe, ceased,
gone (gon), skěl'-e-ton, chim'-ney.
III. Why is a hyphen used in "poplar-trees"? Make a list of ten
name-words in this piece that end in s to denote more than one (e. g.,
trees, shadows, etc.). What do the marks "" before and after forever
indicate? What kind of a letter must be used at the beginning of the
word God? Name other words to which the same rule will apply. What
FOURTH READER.
157
does the s mean in sighs, beckons, stands, and es in crosses? Find other
words to illustrate the same thing (present action). From it's case: cor-
rect this phrase.
IV. Find synonyms for affluence (wealth, abundance), horologe, man-
sion, antique, ancient, vacant.
V. "Skeleton at the feast" (in Egypt, a skeleton was placed at the table
to remind all of death-death being the chief thought of the ancient Egyp-
tian). Notice the kind of clock implied: one with a long case; long pen-
dulum, and consequent slow ticking; room for the heavy weights to descend
for a week before "running down; "ancient time-piece." Find the ac-
cented syllables in the first stanza, and divide it into feet, marking it thus:
Some'what | back' from the | village | street',
Stands' the old- | fash'ioned | coun'try- | seat'," etc.
LVII. GULLIVER AMONG THE GIANTS.
1. It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought
in dinner. It was only one substantial dish of meat (fit
for the plain condition of a husbandman), in a dish of
about four-and-twenty feet diameter. The company con-
sisted of the farmer and his wife, three children, and an
old grandmother. When they were seated, the farmer
placed me at some distance from him on the table, which
was thirty feet high from the floor.
2. I was in a terrible fright, and kept as far as I could
from the edge, for fear of falling. The wife minced a
bit of meat, then crumbled some bread on a trencher,
and placed it before me. I made her a low bow, took
out my knife and fork, and fell to eating, which gave them
exceeding delight. The mistress sent her maid for a
small dram-cup, which held about two gallons, and filled
it with drink.
3. I took up the vessel with much difficulty in both
hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to her
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FOURTH READER.
•
ladyship's health, expressing the words as loudly as I
could in English; which made the company laugh so
heartily, that I was almost deafened with the noise.
This liquor tasted like a small cider, and was not un-
pleasant.
4. Then the master made me a sign to come to his
trencher-side; but, as I walked on the table, being in
great surprise all the time, as the indulgent reader will
easily conceive and excuse, I happened to stumble against
a crust, and fell flat on my face, but received no hurt.
5. I got up immediately, and, observing the good
people to be in much concern, I took my hat (which I
held under my arm, out of good manners), and, waving
it over my head, gave three huzzas, to show I had re-
ceived no mischief by my fall.
6. On advancing toward my master (as I shall hence-
forth call him), his youngest son, who sat next to him,
an arch boy of about ten years old, took me up by the
legs, and held me so high in the air that I trembled in
every limb; but his father snatched me from him, and
at the same time gave him such a box on the left ear
as would have felled a European troop of horse to the
earth, and ordered him to be taken from the table.
7. Being afraid the boy might owe me a spite, and
well remembering how mischievous all children among
us naturally are to sparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and
puppy-dogs, I fell on my knees, and, pointing to the boy,
made my master to understand as well as I could that I
desired his son might be pardoned. The father complied,
and the lad took his seat again; whereupon I went to him
and kissed his hand, which my master took, and made
him stroke me gently with it.
FOURTH READER.
159
8. In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favorite cat
leaped into her lap. I heard a noise behind me like that
of a dozen stocking-weavers at work; and, turning my
head, I found it proceeded from the purring of that ani-
mal, who seemed to be three times larger than an ox, as I
computed by the view of her head and one of her paws,
while her mistress was feeding and stroking her.
9. The fierceness of this creature's, countenance alto-
gether discomposed me, though I stood at the farther
end of the table, above fifty feet off, and though my
mistress held her fast, for fear she might give a spring and
seize me in her talons. But it happened that there was
no danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me
when my master placed me within three yards of her.
10. As I have been always told, and found true by
experience in my travels, that flying, or discovering fear
before a fierce animal, is a certain way to make it pursue
or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous juncture, to
show no manner of concern.
11. I walked with intrepidity five or six times before
the very head of the cat, and came within half a yard
of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she were
afraid of me. I had less apprehension concerning the
dogs, whereof three or four came into the room—as it
is usual in farmers' houses—one of which was a mastiff,
equal in bulk to four elephants, and a greyhound some-
what taller than the mastiff, but not so large.
Dean Swift.
Two
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From "The Voyage to Brobdingnag."
months after Gulliver escaped from Lilliput and reached home, he goes
to sea again, and, being driven by storm to the northeast of Asia, comes
to an island inhabited by giants, as much larger than men as men are
larger than Lilliputians. He is left on this island, and wanders into a field
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FOURTH READER.
:
of barley, the stalks of which are forty feet high. He is found by one of
the reapers, and is carried home by the farmer, who places him on the
table at dinner, as described in the piece.
II. Těr'-ri-ble, fright (frit), knife (nif), deaf'-ened (dof'nd), mis'-
chief (-chif).
III. Correct: "The company was the farmer and his wive, three childs,
and an old grandmothers; "—" Me keeped away from the edge of table; "
"I took two knifes; "-" His son set next to him." What is the difference
between "three times larger than an ox" and "three times as large as an
ox" ?
IV. Substantial, husbandman (farmer), trencher (wooden plate), small
cider (not strong), at great surprise (filled with wonder), indulgent, in much
concern (fearful that I was hurt), an arch boy, pardoned, complied, com-
puted (reckoned or estimated, judging of her entire size by what he could
see of her), discomposed (made me uneasy), talons (do we apply the name
talons to the claws of cats, or only to those of birds ?), discovering fear
(showing fear), juncture (occasion), intrepidity, apprehension.
V. Write out the last three paragraphs, using your own language. (If
you read the whole story, you will see how absurd some of man's political
arrangements seem, when you look at them from the point of view of a
giant-e. g., man's customs in regard to war, etc.).
LVIII. THE COMPOUND SLIDES.
The union of the simple rising and falling slide forms
the "compound slide." If the voice falls first and rises
last, it is called the "rising compound" slide, and is
marked thus (). If the voice rises first and falls last, it
is called the "falling compound" slide, and is marked
thus (^).
EXAMPLES.
If a friend says, "Do you like' this work?" you an-
swer, when you speak sincerely, with the straight slides,
"Yes', very much'; it is fine'!-charming'!"
But if you wish to make sport of it, or to be sarcastic,
you say,
"Oh! it is finer than I expectedˇ of you^.”
FOURTH READER.
161
"Now, haven't you made a nice^ piece of work of it!
You're a fine workman'! You deserve a prize^!"
Irony (saying one thing with the words, and another
quite opposite thing with the voice) is a kind of double
speaking, and therefore requires the double or compound
slides. So does punning, which plays on the double
meaning of words.
"To charm the fish he never spoke,
Although his voice was fine;
He found the most convenient way
Was just to drop - a - line^.”
"Truly, sir, all that I I "e by is with the awt."
Sir Peter Teazle-"Very well, ma'am, very well!
So a husband is to have no influence-no authority!"
Lady Teazle "Authority'? No^, to be sure! If
you wanted authority over me, you should have adopted^
me, and not married me; I am sure you were old^
enough."
In the last example Lady Teazle is ridiculing the
idea of authority. Hence the use of the compound
slides.
66
""
(6
SCORN AND SURPRISE."
66 I give you a hundred dollars." There are few per-
sons so dull of ear or sense as not to know the difference
between this positive assertion, which the simple falling
´slide gives—that they are to have a gift of a hundred dol-
lars; and the scornful surprise, which the rising com-
pound slide gives-that they are foolish enough to expect
it: "I give you a hundred dollars?" Thus we see
that the sense and spirit of what is read often depend
K
162
FOURTH READER.
more on the tones of the voice, for their expression, than
on the words.
If we now generalize this lesson, we have for the use
of simple or compound slides this suggestive principle:
SINCERE, HONEST, SIMPLE IDEAS SHOULD BE READ WITII
THE SIMPLE SLIDES."
(6
JESTING, SARCASM, RIDICULE, SCORN, IRONY, ETC., SHOULD
BE READ WITH THE COMPOUND SLIDES.'
66
LIX.-SUMMER WIND.
1. It is a sultry day; the an has drunk
The dew that lay upon the morning grass;
There is no rustling in the lofty elm
2.
3.
4.
That canopies my dwelling, and its shade
Scarce cools me.
All is silent, save the faint
And interrupted murmur of the bee,
Settling on the sick flowers, and then again
Instantly on the wing.
The plants around
Feel the too potent fervors; the tall maize
Rolls up its long, green leaves; the clover droops
Its tender foliage, and declines its blooms.
But far in the fierce sunshine tower the hills,
With all the growth of woods, silent and stern,
As if the scorching heat and dazzling light
Were but an element they loved.
Bright clouds,
Motionless pillars of the brazen heaven-
FOURTH READER.
163
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Their bases on the mountains, their white tops
Shining in the far ether-fire the air
With a reflected radiance, and make turn
The gazer's eyes away.
For me, I lie
Languidly in the shade, where the thick turf,
Yet virgin from the kisses of the sun,
Retains some freshness, and I woo the wind
That still delays its coming.
Why so slow,
Gentle and voluble spirit of the air?
Oh, come and breathe upon the fainting earth
Coolness and life!
Is it that in his caves
He hears me? See, on yonder woody ridge,
The pine is bending his proud top, and now,
Among the nearer groves, chestnut and oak
Are tossing their green boughs about. He comes!
Lo! where the grassy meadow runs in waves!
The deep, distressful silence of the scene
Breaks up with mingling of unnumbered sounds
And universal motion.
He is come,
Shaking a shower of blossoms from the shrubs,
And bearing on their fragrance; and he brings
Music of birds, and rustling of young boughs,
And sound of swaying branches, and the voice
Of distant waterfalls.
All the green herbs
Are stirring in his breath; a thousand flowers,
!
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FOURTH READER.
By the road-side and the borders of the brook,
Nod gayly to each other; glossy leaves
Are twinkling in the sun, as if the dew
Were on them yet; and silver waters break
Into small waves and sparkle as he comes.
William Cullen Bryant.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Who is the author of this piece? Did he not
live in the city? Who describe country scenery best: those who live in the
country constantly, or those who come from the city to visit the country?
Compare this with Lesson XXXIX. in regard to season described, tone
of sadness or of joy, and in regard to the images of Nature called up.
II. Copy, with diacritical marks, the following words, dividing
them into syllables, indicating the accent, and explaining peculiari-
ties of spelling, as in Lesson XXXIV.: Maize (ai for ã), dăz'-zling
(zz), heav'-en (hěv'n) (ea for ě), fiërçe (ie for ë), eye (1), breathe, chěst’-
nut (silent t), õak, boughs (bouz), mèad'-ōwş (ea for è and ow for ō),
sçène (sc for s), blös'-somş, gãy'-ly (written also gaily), sway'-ing
(ay before i).
III. Explain the change from canopy to canopies;—the 's in gazer's ;—
the s in waves ;—the hyphen in road-side, and not in waterfalls ;-the mean-
ing of un in unnumbered ;-of ful in distressful.
IV. Define or give synonyms for potent, fervors (too potent fervors:
too powerful heat), foliage, canopies, ether, radiance, languidly, voluble,
blooms (blossoms), as they are used in the poem.
V. How do you distinguish poetry from prose? (By its rhythm, or reg-
ular succession of feet, each foot being composed of accented and unac-
cented syllables: "It is a sul-try day'; the sun' has drunk'," etc.-here
there are five feet to each line, and each foot has two syllables, one
accented and one unaccented.) Point out the feet of the third and
fourth lines. (Besides the rhythm of a poem, there is also requisite a
peculiar style of expression. Inanimate or lifeless things are conceived
and described as living and acting like persons [personification]; and
persons, on the other hand, are compared with things and natural forces
[metaphor]; things are likewise compared with other things, as, in verse
4, "bright clouds" are called "motionless pillars." Thus, the poet finds
similarity or likeness of things to persons, and of things to things. He
looks upon the world as filled with resemblances--one thing reflecting

Daniel Boone and his brother in their winter cottage.
("Daniel Boone," p. 165.)
FOURTH READER.
165
another, somewhat as a mirror reflects the objects before it. But rhythm,
or meter, and personification and metaphor, are only the materials out of
which poetry is made, just as a temple is made of hewed stone. There is
a central thought in a poem, and these materials are used for its expres-
sion, just as the hewed stone is used to fill up and make solid the outlines
of the temple. The central thought or subject of this poem is the summer
wind-the suffering condition of animals and plants without it, and the
refreshment of all upon its arrival.) "The sun has drunk" (stanza 1)—
in what sense does the sun drink the dew? Point out the objects per-
sonified in stanzas 6 and 9, and name the words which indicate the per-
sonification (as "voice" of waterfalls, stanza 8; "his," of pine, stanza 7).
Why "sick" flowers? (stanza 3.) Why "brazen" heavens? (stanza 4.)
Bryant's poetry is noted for the freshness and reality of its treatment of
Nature. Select the passage which you think to be most true to Nature ;-
the passage which you think to be the best poetry.
LX.-DANIEL BOONE.
1. The most remarkable of all the attempts to people
the Western country, during the period just preceding
the Revolutionary War, was made by Colonel Daniel
Boone, of North Carolina. He was a great hunter, and
had rambled in the forests of the "mighty West" sev-
eral years before he ventured, in defiance of wild beasts
and still wilder men, to take up his residence there.
2. He first left home, in company with six other ad-
venturers, in 1769. Kentucky was found to be a fine
place for hunting the buffalo. At length he and a com-
panion by the name of Stuart were taken prisoners by
the Indians. They escaped, and found their way back
to their camp; but it had been plundered, and the rest of
the company were dispersed.
3. Soon after this his brother and one other man
joined him, so that the company was increased to four.
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FOURTH READER.
Stuart was soon after killed by the Indians, and the other
man by wolves, so that Boone and his brother alone re-
mained. They, however, built themselves a cottage of
poles and bark, and wintered there.
4. In May, 1770, the brother of Boone returned to
North Carolina, in order to procure a recruit of horses
and ammunition, leaving him entirely alone, and, as he
himself says, "without bread, salt, or sugar, or even à
horse or a dog." The preceding winter, in one of his
rambles, he narrowly escaped the savages. But he was
one of those men who, like Washington, seem spared for
special purposes.
5. His brother returned to him late in July, and they
spent the rest of the year and the following winter there.
During this time they discovered and gave names to the
principal rivers of the country. The whole region seemed
to them a paradise, and in March, 1771, they returned
home to bring their families with them.
6. In September, 1773, they set out for Kentucky.
Five other families had, by their representations, been
induced to join them. Forty men also joined them at
Powell's Ferry, on the road. Soon after this they were
attacked by the Indians, and six of the party slain, among
whom was Boone's eldest son. Their cattle also were
scattered.
7. They retreated forty miles to a settlement on Clinch
River, where they left their families. From this time,
for nearly two years, Boone was employed in surveying
the country, and in building roads and forts. Among the
rest, they built a fort at a place which they called Boones-
borough. He removed his family to the fort in June,
1775, about the time of the battle of Lexington.
FOURTH READER.
167
8. This is supposed to have been the first permanent
settlement in Kentucky-then a part of Virginia—though
two others were made not far from the same time. The
wife and daughter of Colonel Boone were, as he says, the
first white women that ever stood on the banks of Ken-
tucky River.
9. But this settlement was not made without great
peril. Several times did the Indians attack Boone's party
during the journey from Clinch River to Boonesborough.
Five of the company were killed, and as many wounded.
Others were slain after their arrival. The daughter of
Boone was even carried off by the savages in 1776, but
her father recovered her.
10. The whole life of this father of Kentucky is event-
ful and interesting. We can only add here, that he re-
mained in his favorite State, though often much exposed
and once taken prisoner, till 1798, when he removed,
with a large train of relatives and friends, to Missouri,
where he spent his days in hunting and trapping. He
died in 1822, at the age of eighty-five.
S. G. Goodrich.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Explain what is alluded to by "Revolutionary
War" (1);—" Battle of Lexington" (Bunker Hill is meant) (7). Daniei
Boone was born February 11, 1735, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of
Philadelphia. Locate on the map Boone's birthplace ;-the Yadkin River,
S. C. (whither he went in 1753);-Clinch, Powell's, and Kentucky Rivers
(and into what each flows);-Boonesborough (eighteen miles southeast of
Lexington, Ky.);-also Booneville and the Femme Osage River, Missouri
(whither he removed). Stuart (spelled Stewart elsewhere).
II. Indicate spelling and pronunciation (by diacritical marks,
as in Lesson XXXIV.) of the following words, and explain their
peculiarities: Re-eruit' (ui for y), whōle (hōl), at-tǎcked' (not at-
tackted), daugh'-ter (daw'-), pris'-on-er (priz'n-er), colonel (kür'-nel),
re-moved'. (Besides unusual combinations of vowels and consonants
to represent elementary sounds, e. g., eo for ē, in people, sc for 8, .
168
FOURTH READER.
in scene, or silent letters, there are short and obscure vowel-sounds
in unaccented syllables, which render it difficult to tell whether the
vowel should be ž, ě, or ů: ĭ is represented by y, ui, u, ei, e, ee, ic,
ia, o, ai, oi; ě by ea, ai, æ, a, ei, co, ie, u, ue; ŭ by o, ou, oo, oe.)
III. "Mighty West "-explain capital and quotation-marks; eldest—
explain est. In section 9, change the place of the word even, and notice the
effect on the meaning of the sentence (place it successively after daughter,
Boone, off, savages).
IV. Define and substitute synonyms or phrases of your own for defiance,
residence (1), ammunition (4), paradise (5), surveying (7), permanent (8),
favorite, trapping (9).
V. Why is the life of Boone said to be “eventful and interesting"? (10.)
Select the two most interesting events mentioned in the lesson. Contrast
these with others mentioned, and give reasons for your choice.
LXI.-AFTERNOON IN FEBRUARY.
1. The day is ending,
The night is descending;
The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
2. Through clouds like ashes,
The red sun flashes
On village windows
That glimmer red.
3. The snow recommences;
The buried fences
Mark no longer
The road o'er the plain;
4. While through the meadows,
Like fearful shadows,
Slowly passes
A funeral train.
FOURTH READER.
169.
A
5. The bell is pealing,
And every feeling
Within me responds
To the dismal knell.
6. Shadows are trailing,
My heart is bewailing
And tolling within
Like a funeral bell.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. What pieces of this author have you read be-
fore? (Lessons XXVI., XXXIII., XLV., LVI.)
II. De-scend'-ing, vil-lage, glim'-mer, mead'-owş, diş'-mal, knĕll
(nči).
III. What force has er in longer ?—es in ashes?-es in passes?—en in
trozen ?
IV. Trailing, responds, bewailing.
V. "The river dead"-why does it seem dead? (frozen.) Note the
description of outward nature (all wintry, gloomy, and forlorn), and the
correspondence of the world without to the internal feelings of the heart,
as stated in the last stanza. Compare the composition of the above piece,
in this respect, with that of Lesson XXXIII.
LXII. THE SOLDIER'S REPRIEVE.
EXAMPLE OF NOBLE PATHOS AND TENDERNESS.
PART I.
"I thought, Mr. Allan, when I gave my Bennie' to his
country, that not a father in all this broad land made so
precious' a gift-no, not one'. The dear boy only slept a
minute', just one little minute', at his post'. I know that
was all, for Bennie never dozed' over a duty'. How
prompt and reliable' he was! I know' he only slept
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FOURTH READER.
one little second';-he was so young', and not strong, that
boy of mine! Why, he was as tall' as I', and only eigh
teen'! And now they SHOOT' him-because he was found
asleep' when doing sentinel`-duty. Twenty-four hours',' .
the telegram said. Only twenty-four hours'! W-h-e-r-e
i-s' Bennie n-o-w`? ”
وو
"We will hope, with his HEAVENLY Father," said
Mr. Allan, soothingly.
"Yes, yes'; let us hope'. God is very merciful` !
'I should be ashamed', father,' Bennie said, 'when I am
a man, to think I never used this great right arm' (and
he held it out so proudly before me) 'for my country',
when it needed' it. P-A-L-SY' it, rather than keep it at
the plow'. 'Go', then-Go', my boy,' I said, 'and God
keep you!' God has kept him, I think, Mr. Allan."
"Like the apple of his eye', Mr. Owen; doubt it not`.”
Little Blossom' sat near them, listening, with blanched
cheek. She had not shed a tear. Her anxiety had been
so concealed that no one had noticed' it. Now she an-
swered a gentle tap at the kitchen door, opening it to
receive a letter' from a neighbor's hand. "It is from
him," was all she said.
It was like a message from the dead! Mr. Owen
took the letter, but could not break the envelope, on ac-
count of his trembling fingers, and held it toward Mr.
Allan', with the helplessness of a child`.
The minister opened it, and read as follows:-
"DEAR FATHER': When this reaches you—I —shall
-be in-eternity'. At first it seemed a-w-ful to me;
but I have thought about it so much now', that it has no
terror'. They say they will not bind me nor blind me,
but that I may meet my death like a MAN'. I thought,
FOURTH READER.
171
"
father, it might have been on the battle-field for my
country', and that, when I fell, it would be f-i-g-h-t-ing
g-l-o-r-i-ously`; but to be shot down like a dog' for nearly
betraying' it—to die for neglect-of-duty !—oh, father
I wonder the very thought does not kill me! But I
shall not disgrace you. I am going to write you all
about it; and, when I-am-gone, you may tell my com-
rades'. I cannot now. You know I promised Jimmie
Carr's mother I would look after her boy; and, when
he fell sick', I did all I could for him. He was not
strong when ordered back into the ranks, and the day
before that night I carried all HIS' luggage, besides my
own, on our march. Toward night we went in on double-
quick, and though the luggage began to feel very heavy',
everybody else' was tired too'. And as for Jimmie, if I
had not lent him an arm' now and then, he would have
dropped' by the way'. I was ALL-TIRED-OUT when we
went into camp, and then it was Jimmie's turn to be
sentry, and I'-would-take-his-place; but I was too
tired, father. I could not have kept awake' if a gun`
had been pointed at my head; but I did not know it
until—well—until¯-it-wɑs Too LATE`.”
GOD be THANKED!" said MR. OWEN. "I knew`
Bennie was not the boy to sleep' carelessly at his post'."
"They tell me, to-day, that I have a short reprieve —
'time to write to you, our good colonel says. Forgive
him, father; he only does his duty; he would gladly
save me if he could'. And do not lay my death up
against Jimmie'. The poor boy is broken-hearted`, and
does nothing but beg-and-entreat them to let 1-1-M die
in m-y stead.
"I can't bear to think of mother' and Blossom'. Com-
FORT' them, father!
Tell them I die as a brave boy
172
FOURTH READER.
should, and that, when the war is over, they will not be
ashamed`of me, as they must be now'. God help' me ;
it is`very hard` to bear! Good-by`, father! God` seems
near and dear to me, as if he felt sorry for his poor,
broken-hearted child, and would take me to be with him'
—in a better', BETTER` life.
"To-night I shall see the cows' all coming home from
pasture', and precious little Blossom' standing on the
back stoop, waiting for me; but-I-SHALL NEVER-
NEVER-COME! God BLESS you all! Forgive your
poor BENNIE."
PART II.
Late that night a little figure glided down the foot-
path toward the Mill Depot. The conductor, as he
reached down to lift her into the car, wondered at the
tear-stained face that was upturned toward the dim lan-
tern' he held in his hand.
A few questions and ready answers told him all; and
no father' could have cared more tenderly for his only
child, than he for our little Blossom. She was on her
way to Washington', to ask President Lincoln' for her
brother's life. She had brought Bennie's letter with
her; no good, kind heart, like the President's, could
refuse to be melted` by it.
The next morning they reached New York, and the
conductor hurried her on to Washington'. Every min-
ute', now, might be the means of saving her brother's life.
The President had but just seated himself to his
evening's task, when the door softly opened, and Blos-
som', with downcast eyes and folded hands, stood before
him.
FOURTH READER.
173
"Well', my child'," he said, in his pleasant, cheerful
tones, "what do you want?"
"Bennie's LIFE', p-l-e-a-s-e', sir," faltered Blossom.
"Bennie'! Who is Bennie?"
""
"My brother', sir. They are going to shoot him for
sleeping' at his post`.”
"Oh, yes'; I remember. It was a FATAL' sleep. You
see, child, it was a time of special danger. THOUSANDS
of lives might have been lost by HIS negligence."
"So my father' said,” replied Blossom, gravely. "But
poor - Bennie was 8-0 -T-I-R-E-D', sir, and Jimmie so weak`.
He did the work of two', sir, and it was Jimmie's' night,
not his'; but Jimmie was too tired', and Bennie never
thought about himself', that HE' was tired, too'."
"What is this you say', child? Come here'; I do
not understand`." And the kind man, as ever, caught
eagerly at what seemed to be a justification of an offense.
Blossom went to him. He put his hand tenderly on
her shoulder, and turned up the pale, anxious face toward
his'. How tall he seemed!
•
And he was President
of the United States, too! A dim thought of this kind
passed for a moment through Blossom's mind; but she
told her simple, straightforward story, and handed Ben-
nie's letter to Mr. Lincoln to read.
He read it carefully; then, taking up his pen, wrote
a few hasty lines and rang his bell. Blossom heard this
order given: "Send THIS dispatch at ONCE`.”
The President then turned to the girl, and said: “Go
home', my child, and tell that father' of yours, who could
approve his country's sentence, even when it took the life
of a child like THAT, that Abraham Lincoln thinks the life
}
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FOURTH READER.
far too PRECIOUS' to be lost. Go back', or-wait until to-
morrow'; Bennie' will need a change after he has so
bravely faced death; he shall go with you."
"God BLESS' you, sir!" said Blossom.
Two days after this interview, the young soldier' came
to the White House with his little sister. He was called
into the President's private room, and a strap fastened
upon his shoulder. Mr. Lincoln then said: "The soldier
that could carry a sick comrade's baggage, and die' for the
act so uncomplainingly, DESERVES WELL' of his country."
Then Bennie and Blossom took their way to their
Green - Mountain - home. A crowd gathered at the Mill
Depot to welcome them back; and, as Farmer Owen's
hand grasped that of his boy, TEARS' flowed down his
cheeks, and he was heard to say, fervently, "THE LORD'
BE PRAISED!"
Mrs. R. D. C. Robbins.
LXIII. THE TALENTS.
1. The kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into
a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered
unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents,
to another two, and to another one: to every man ac-
cording to his several ability; and straightway took his
journey.
ents.
2. Then he that had received the five talents went
and traded with the same, and made them other five tal-
And likewise he that had received two, he also
gained other two. But he that had received one went
and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
3. After a long time the lord of those servants com-
eth, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had re-
FOURTH READER.
175
ceived five talents came and brought other/five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: be-
hold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His
lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord.
4. He also that had received two talents came and
said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold,
I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord
said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of
thy lord.
5. Then he which had received the one talent came
and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man,
reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strewed: and I was afraid, and went and
hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast that is
thine.
}
6. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked
and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I
sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: thou
oughtest therefore to have put my money to the ex-
changers, and then at my coming I should have received
mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from
him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
7. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall
be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye
the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew, Chapter XXV,
176
FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. How much, in our money, is the value of the
talent as used in Judea in the time of Christ? ($1,645 to $1,916.) Our
word "talent," as meaning mental endowment, is derived from the figura-
tive application made in this parable. All words relating to the mind, or to
what is spiritual, are derived by the same process from words used first for
material things.
II. Gnǎsl'-ing (nash'-), straight'-way (strat'-), jour'-ney, brought
(brawt), a-fraid', ǎn'-swered (-serd).
III. Likewise (wise meaning manner, or guise, in this word, as also in
otherwise and lengthwise). "Sown" and "strewed"-what two ways of
indicating past time or completed action, illustrated in these words? Note
the use of "which" (5 and 6), referring to "him" and "he." What word
do we use to refer to persons? (who.) Note also the use of "that" ("thou
hast that is thine"). (The style of the Bible is that of good English of the
time of the settlement of this country by the English-1600 to 1630.) Make
a list of expressions that are no longer used-e. g.,
unto one,'
straight-
way took," "he that" for "he who," "other two," "cometh" (eth = s,
denoting present time and continued action), “thou deliveredst" (st to
agree with thou), "behold," "thee," "mine own," an hard," etc.
IV. Slothful, unprofitable. ¡
(C
V. What figure of speech is used in the parable? (The allegory is a con-
tinued metaphor, wherein imaginary events are told as though they were
realities, but with the unexpressed intention that a figurative application
shall be made of them. The parable is a continued simile, the figurative
application being expressly stated: "The kingdom of heaven is as [like] a
man traveling," etc.) Do faculties of the mind-memory, attention, power
of thought—all increase by frequent use? Does one's character improve
by repetition of good acts? Can we all increase the "talents" we have,
by making good use of them?
?
LXIV.—SOLDIER, REST!
1. Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking;
Dream of battled fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
FOURTH READER.
177
2. In our isle's enchanted hall,
Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains of music fall,
Every sense in slumber dewing.
3. Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.
4. No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Armor's clang, or war-steed champing;
Trump nor pibroch summon here
Mustering clan, or squadron tramping.
5. Yet the lark's shrill fife may come,
At the daybreak, from the fallow,
And the bittern sound his drum,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
6. Ruder sounds shall none be near;
Guards nor warders challenge here;
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
Shouting clans, or squadrons stamping.
$
Walter Scott.
FOR. PREPARATION.-I. This song is found in Scott's "Lady of the Lake,"
and is sung by the Lady of the Lake herself. What is a bittern ?—
-a lark?
In what country are they found? What is a pībroch, and where used?
(The scene of this piece is a beautiful island in Loch Katrine, a lake of
Scotland surrounded by woody hills; on the south are Ben Venue and Aber-
foyle, on the east Loch Achray, on the north the Trossachs, Ben Voirlich,
Uam-Var, etc. See Lessons XX. and XXII.: the lady sings for the hunts-
man there described, who is lost, and has wandered to this island.)
L
178
FOURTH READER.
II. War'-fâre, break'-ing, bit'-tern, squad'-ron, neigh/(na), chal'-
lenge.
III. When would you use thy, and when thou? (Note the use of
thy" and "thou," and words of this style, in modern poetry as well as in
old English prose.) What is omitted in o'er? Why not say, "Sleep who
knows not," etc., instead of "that knows not"? Explain 's in isle's;—in
armor's;-lark's ;-here's.
IV. "Battled fields," clang, fallow (uncultivated land), clan, sedgy,
champing.
V. Contrast the first and second stanzas: the allusion to battle-scenes
in the former, and the quiet, peaceful surroundings of the latter. Make the
same contrast between the third and fourth stanzas, and the fifth (the lark's
fife instead of the soldier's fife, and the bittern's drum instead of the
soldier's drum). Note the difference between squadrons (of the regular
Scotch army) and the "shouting clans" (of wild mountaineers, who strove
to be independent).
LXV.—BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
1. One of the Americans who rendered the greatest
services to the liberty of their country was Dr. Benjamin
Franklin. He was born in Boston, in 1706, and was the
son of a poor tallow-chandler. When a boy, he learned
the printer's trade; at seventeen he left home, and estab-
lished himself in Philadelphia.
2. He and a young partner began business with no
capital, and felt very grateful to a friend whom they met
in the street and who gave them a five-shilling job.
Afterward they set up a newspaper, and published an
almanac called "Poor Richard's Almanac," which had a
great circulation. They also dealt in all sorts of small
wares-rags, ink, soap, feathers, and coffee.
3. Franklin was a great reader, and a great student
of science, and especially of electricity. He formed the
FOURTH READER.
179
theory that lightning and the electrical fluid are the same
thing. This he said in a pamphlet, and some readers
thought it a very absurd view. Then he resolved to
prove it. He and his young son made a great kite of
a silk handkerchief, fastened a piece of sharpened wire
to the stick, and went out to fly the kite in a thunder-
storm.
4. As the low thunder-cloud passed, the electric fluid
came down the string of the kite. When Franklin
touched a key that he had fastened to the string, his
knuckles drew sparks from it, and proved that there was
electricity there. This led him to invent the lightning-
rod, which is now in almost universal use. This discov-
ery at once made him very famous in Europe, as well as
in America.
5. He was afterward sent to England on a public
mission, and remained there till the outbreak of the
Revolution. Returning to America, he was one of the
framers and signers of the Declaration of Independence.
He was sent to France as embassador, and aided in mak-
ing the treaty with France which secured the indepen-
dence of the American colonies.
6. He was a man of the greatest activity, public
spirit, and wit. He exercised great influence in all pub-
lic affairs, and founded more good institutions and be-
nevolent enterprises than any other American of his
time. His last public act was to sign a memorial to
Congress in behalf of the Philadelphia Antislavery
Society, of which he was president, asking the aboli-
tion of slavery.
7. He lived to the age of eighty-four, dying in 1790.
The whole nation mourned when he died. Mirabeau,
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FOURTH READER.
then the leader of the French Assembly, called him "the
sage whom two worlds claim as their own," and pro-
posed that the Assembly should wear mourning on the
arm for him during three days, which was done. It
was said of him after his death, by a celebrated French-
man (Turgot), that "he snatched the lightning from the
sky, and the scepter from tyrants!"
Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From Higginson's "Young Folks' History of the
United States." To whom is the word "Americans" applied? Why not
to Mexicans and Canadians? The literature relative to the Revolutionary
War fixed the word in a national meaning, partly from the difficulty of
forming a descriptive word from the name of our nation (United Statesians !).
II. Sçi'-ençe, knuckles (nük'lz), al'-ma-nie, out'-break, Mi-ra-beau'
‹(-bō'), Tūr-gōt' (-gō').
III. Make a list of ten abbreviations that you remember, and write
opposite each the full word, thus: Dr.-Doctor; N. A.-North America;
U. S.-United States; Mo.--Missouri; N. Y.-New York, etc..
IV. Rendered, universal, famous, sage, memorial, "electric fluid "(is it
really a "fluid" ?), partner, capital (money, and other means, to carry on
business), lightning-rod, "Declaration of Independence.”
V. The famous experiment of Franklin “drew electricity from the
clouds." Doubtless it can be drawn from the upper air on a cloudless
day. Had the lightning really descended his kite-string, it would have
killed Franklin, as it did the Russian who undertook to repeat the experi-
ment.
LXVI. THE THREE BLACK CROWS.
1. Two honest tradesmen, meeting in the Strand,
One took the other briskly by the hand.
"Hark ye," said he, "tis an odd story, this,
About the crows!" "I don't know what it is,”
FOURTH READER.
181
Replied his friend. "No! I'm surprised at that.
Where I come from, it is the common chat.
2. But you shall hear an odd affair, indeed!
And that it happened, they are all agreed.
Not to detain you from a thing so strange:
A gentleman, who lives not far from 'Change,
This week, in short, as all the Alley knows,
Taking a vomit, threw up three black crows!"
3. "Impossible!" "Nay, but 'tis really true;
I had it from good hands, and so may you."
"From whose, I pray?" So, having named the man,
Straight to inquire his curious comrade ran :
"Sir, did you tell—” (relating the affair).
"Yes, sir, I did; and, if 'tis worth your care,
'Twas Mr. Such-a-one who told it me;
But, by-the-by, 'twas two black crows-not three."
4. Resolved to trace so wondrous an event,
Quick to the third the virtuoso went:
"Sir-" (and so forth). "Why, yes-the thing is
fact,
Though, in regard to number, not exact:
It was not two black crows-'twas only one.
The truth of that you may depend upon:
The gentleman himself told me the case."
"Where may I find him?" "Why, in such a
place!"
5. Away he went; and, having found him out :
"Sir, be so good as to resolve a doubt."
Then to his last informant he referred,
And begged to know if true what he had heard:
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FOURTH READER.
"Did you, sir, throw up a black crow?"
"Bless me, how people propagate a lie!
"Not I!"
Black crows have been thrown up, three, two, and
one;
And here, I find, all comes at last to none!
6. Did you say anything of a crow at all?"
"Crow ?-crow? Perhaps I might, now I recall
The matter over." "And pray, sir, what was't?"
"Why, I was horrid sick, and, at last,
I did throw up-and told my neighbor so
Something that was as black, sir, as a crow!"
John Byrom.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. What locality is indicated by "the Strand " ?—
"'Change"? (Exchange)—“ Alley"? (Is it London ?)
II. Two (too), strāight (strāt), eŏm'-rade (köm'rād or kŭm'rād), běgged,
prop-a-gāte, nine (năn).
III. Supply omission in 'tis ;—meaning of im in impossible;—of se in
whose (like 's, it denotes possession). Of what is Mr. an abbreviation?
What punctuation-mark must always be placed after an abbreviation?
Meaning of n in thrown? (like ed, it denotes past or completed action.)
"Horrid sick❞—is this proper language to use? (Such expressions are
called vulgarisms, or slang.)
IV. "Curious comrade" (curious for anxious, or inquiring), by-the-by,
virtuoso, and so forth (stands for what remarks in the line where it occurs?),
"such a place" (stands for the name of the locality given by the speaker),
resolve a doubt.
V. Make a list of the different steps in reducing this street-rumor to its
foundation. Which party says, "Bless me, how people propagate a lie!"
"All the Alley "-what is meant?
FOURTH READER.
183
LXVII. THE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON.
MARKED FOR LOGICAL ANALYSIS AND EMPHASIS.
The birthday of the "FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY!"
May it ever be freshly remembered by AMERICAN
HEARTS! May it ever reawaken in them a filial VEN-
ERATION´ for his memory; ever rekindle the fires of
patriotic regard for the coUNTRY he loved so well; to
which he gave his youthful vigor and his youthful
energy during the perilous period of the early Indian
warfare; to which he devoted his life in the maturity
of his powers in the field; to which again he offered
the counsels of his wisdom and his experience as presi-
dent of the convention that framed our Constitution;
which he guided and directed while in the chair of State;
and for which the last prayer of his earthly supplica-
tion was offered up, when it came the moment for him
so well, and so grandly, and so calmly, TO DIE.
He was the FIRST man of the time in which he grew.
His memory is first and most SACRED in our LOVE; and
ever hereafter, till the last drop of blood shall freeze in
the last AMERICAN HEART, his name shall be a spell of
power and of might.
Yes, gentlemen, there is one personal, one VAST
FELICITY, which no man can share with him.
It was
the daily beauty and towering and matchless glory of
his life which enabled him to CREATE HIS COUNTRY, and
at the same time secure an undying love and regard
from the WHOLE American people. "The first in the
HEARTS of his countrymen!" Undoubtedly there were
brave and wise and good men, before his day, in every
colony. But the American nation, as a NATION, I do not
reckon to have begun before 1774. And the FIRST LOVE
of that YOUNG AMERICA was WASHINGTON. Rufus Choate,
184
FOURTH READER.
LXVIII.—THE BROOK.
1. I come from haunts of coot and hern ;
I make a sudden sally,
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.
2. By thirty hills I hurry down,
Or slip between the ridges,
By twenty thorps, a little town,
And half a hundred bridges.
3. I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles;
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.
4. I chatter, chatter, as I flow
To join the brimming river;
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
5. I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling,
6. And here and there a foamy flake
Upon me, as I travel,
With many a silvery water-break,
Above the golden gravel.
7. I steal by lawns and grassy plots,
I slide by hazel covers ;

"I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles."
("The Brook," p. 184.)
FOURTH READER.
185
I move the sweet forget-me-nots
That grow for happy lovers.
8. I murmur under moon and stars
In brambly wildernesses;
I linger by my shingly bars;
I loiter round my cresses.
9. And out again I curve and flow
To join the brimming river;
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.
Alfred Tennyson.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. "The Brook: An Idyl," is the name that Tenny-
son gives to the poem from which this is taken. The song of the brook
winds along through the poem like a silver thread, suggesting melancholy
memories to the poet, which he relates in longer and less musical lines
that interrupt the song of the brook at irregular intervals. (The "Scene
by the Brook," in Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony," is suggested.) Let
the pupil select the names of animals, and other things, that indicate the
country in which the scene is laid.
II. Häunts, loi'-ter, bridg'-eş, pèb'-ble.
III. Copy the first stanza, and mark the feet and accented syllables.
Change the order of the words in the second stanza, adding words where
needed to make good prose.
IV. Coot (a water-fowl), hern (heron), bicker (to quiver), thorps (small
villages), eddying, cresses.
V. What is (( sudden
a
sally"? "Little sharps and trebles" (it
describes the tones of the chattering—in high, shrill tones). River (4)—
why “brimming"? Is the brook represented as being gay and chattering
because it goes on forever, while men come and go, meet and part, and
are sad in consequence? What kind of a fish is a "grayling "? "Hazel
covers" (in England, the expression used by hunters to describe under-
brush that covers or conceals game). "Shingly bars" (shallow places, with
gravel-shingle-bottoms).
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FOURTH READER.
LXIX. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
1. And there followed him great multitudes of peo-
ple from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusa-
lem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. And
seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and
when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he
opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: Blessed are
the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after right-
eousness: for they shall be filled.
2. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mer-
cy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted
for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heav-
en. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and per-
secute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you.
3. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have
lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thence-
forth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trod-
den under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do
men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven.
FOURTH READER.
187
4. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he
shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto
you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in
no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
5. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old
time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall
be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause
shall be in danger of the judgment. . . . Therefore if
thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy
gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled
to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
•
6. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out,
and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right
hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into
hell.
7. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them
of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt
perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you,
Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's
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FOURTH READER.
throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither
by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst
not make one hair white or black. But let your com-
munication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is
more than these cometh of evil.
8. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an
eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye
resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man
will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee
to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that ask-
eth thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn
not thou away.
9. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt `
love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do
not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even
the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew, Chapter V.
For PreparatioN.-I. Point out, on the map, Decapolis, Jerusalem,
Judea, Jordan River. What mountain (near Capernaum) did Christ as-
cend? Point out the passages known as "The Beatitudes " (1 and 2).
FOURTH READER.
189
II. Єom-pěl, pēo'-ple (pë'pl), mount'-ain (-in), dis-çi'-ples, ō'-pened
(-pad), mōurn, right'-eous-ness (ri'chus-nes), taught (tawt), a-gainst'
(-gènst), false'-ly, pròph'-ets, noth'-ing, ful-filled'.
III. Do you find the word its used anywhere in the Bible? What word
was used instead in the time when the Bible was translated? (3: "if the
salt have lost his savor.") What is our use of "his"? Note the use of
"which" for "who" and "that" (Lesson LXIII.); "an" (" on an hill").
IV. Bushel, (reconciled, multitudes, comforted, meek, inherit, merciful,
obtain, persecuted, revile, reward, savor, trodden, glorify, destroy, jot, tittle,
except, exceed, scribes, Pharisees, danger, judgment, altar, offend, pluck,
profitable, perish, forswear, perform, oaths, communication, yea, nay, re-
sist, smite, twain, borrow, despitefully, salute, perfect.
V. Note, in the fifth paragraph, the distinction between legal and religious
views. The law (enforced by the state, or the courts of the land) takes
notice of a deed actually done, not of one merely wished to be done (hence
it is called an "overt act," i. e., an open, public act); but religion takes cog-
nizance of the frame of mind-the wish, or desire, or intention of the inmost
heart-rather than of the overt act. The same distinction exists between
sin and crime (crime-a breach of the law of the land; sin-a breach of
the law of God. Of course, some acts may be both sins and crimes, and
some may be one or the other only). Note, further, the expiation of the
two kinds of transgressions: crime being expiated by a definite limited
punishment; but sin being infinite in its nature, and not expiated by ex-
ternal acts, but only escaped by internal repentance, which is met by mercy
and pardon on the part of the lawgiver. So, in the ninth paragraph, thẻ
distinction between kindness, or love, which is good toward all men, and
(a) politeness, which merely treats all with the external show of good feel-
ing, or (b) justice, which returns upon each his own deed-love for love, or
hate for hate.
LXX. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Continued.)
1. Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,
to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your
Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest
thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that
they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you,
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FOURTH READER.
They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let
not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that
thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father, which seeth
in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.
2. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the
hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they
may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into
thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy
Father which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in
secret, shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use
not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that
they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye
therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of, before Xe ask him
3. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father
which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy king-
dom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men
their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
4. Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites,
of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that
they may appear unto men to fast, Verily I say unto
you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fast-
est, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; that thou appear
not unto mẹn to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
FOURTH READER.
191
secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall re-
ward thee openly.
5. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treas-
ures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The
light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be
single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if
thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of dark-
ness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,
how great is that darkness!
No man can serve two masters: for either he will
hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to
the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God
and mammon.
6. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life
more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold
the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father
feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto
his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they
toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these.
7. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall
he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
192
FOURTH READER.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?
or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be
clothed? . . . For your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no
thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof.
Matthew, Chapter VI.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Who was Solomon? People of what religion
meet in synagogues? "Mammon "what is meant?
II. Hyp'-o-crites, syn'-a-gogues (-gögz), älmş (ämz), prāy'-est,
ei'-ther, rai'-ment, sow, reap, ov'-en (uv'n), heav'-en (hev'n), děbts,
(děts), trĕaş'-üreş (trězh'urz).
III. What meaning is given by e in men ?—capital Fin Father ?-est in
doest?—ine in thine ?—ee in thee?
-ee in thee?-y in thy?-th in seeth?-ne in done?
-ily in daily ?—r in your ?-ies in lilies?
IV. Repetitions, hallowed, forgive, trespasses, reward, verily, secret,
"eye be single," else, despise, arrayed, temptation, deliver, fast, disfigure,
anoint, moth, rust, corrupt, morrow, sufficient.
V. What do moths attack? What things rust? What is the origi-
nal meaning of the word cubit, and what does it signify when used as a
measure of length?
LXXI.—THE FIGHT OF PASO DEL MAR.
1. Gusty and raw was the morning;
A fog hung over the seas,
And its gray skirts, rolling inland,
Were torn by the mountain-trees.
No sound was heard but the dashing
Of waves on the sandy bar,
When Pablo of San Diego
Rode down to the Paso del Mar.
FOURTH READER.
193
2. The pescador, out in his shallop,
Gathering his harvest so wide,
Sees the dim bulk of the headland
Loom over the waste of the tide;
He sees, like a white thread, the pathway
Wind round on the terrible wall,
Where the faint, moving speck of the rider
Seems hovering close to its fall!
3. Stout Pablo of San Diego
Rode down from the hills behind;
With the bells on his gray mule tinkling,
He sang through the fog and wind.
Under his thick, misted eyebrows,
Twinkled his eye like a star,
And fiercer he sang as the sea-winds
Drove cold on the Paso del Mar.
4. Now Bernal, the herdsman of Corral,
Had traveled the shore since dawn,
Leaving the ranches behind him—
Good reason had he to be gone!
The blood was still red on his dagger,
The fury was hot in his brain,
And the chill, driving scud of the breakers
Beat thick on his forehead in vain.
5. With his blanket wrapped gloomily round him,
He mounted the dizzying road,
And the chasms and steeps of the headland
Were slippery and wet as he trode.
Wild swept the wind of the ocean,
Rolling the fog from afar,
When near him a mule-bell came tinkling,
Midway on the Paso del Mar.
M
194
FOURTH READER.
6. "Back!" shouted Bernal full fiercely,
And "Back!" shouted Pablo in wrath,
As his mule halted, startled and shrinking,
On the perilous line of the path.
The roar of devouring surges
Came up from the breakers' hoarse war;
And "Back, or you perish!" cried Bernal,
"I turn not on Paso del Mar ! ""
7. The gray mule stood firm as the headland;
He clutched at the jingling rein,
When Pablo rose up in his saddle
And smote till he dropped it again.
A wild oath of passion swore Bernal,
And brandished his dagger still red;
While fiercely stout Pablo leaned forward,
And fought o'er his trusty mule's head.
8. They fought, till the black wall below them
Shone red through the misty blast;
Stout Pablo then struck, leaning farther,
The broad breast of Bernal at last.
And, frenzied with pain, the swart herdsman
Closed round him with terrible clasp,
·
And jerked him, despite of his struggles,
Down from the mule in his grasp.
9. They grappled with desperate madness
On the slippery edge of the wall;
They swayed on the brink, and together
Reeled out to the rush of the fall!
A cry of the wildest death-anguish
Rang faint through the mist afar,
And the riderless mule went homeward
From the fight of the Paso del Mar!
Bayard Taylor.
FOURTH READER.
195
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Find San Diego (de-a'go) (in California). "Pä'so
del Mar" (Spanish, Pass of the Sea); “pès-ca-dōr'” (fisherman); "ranches"
(rude huts of herdsmen, called "ranchos" by the Mexicans).
II. Pä'-blo, mount'-ain (-in), shal'-lop, těr'-ri-ble, hov-er-ing,
twink'-led (-ld), fŏre'-head (för’ed), díz'-zy-ing, de-vour'-ing, gråp'-pled
(-pld), slip'-per-y.
III. What is denoted by er in fiercer ?—ther in farther? (Ther, ter, der,
and similar forms, occur often in English and Latin, to denote that the
word expresses something that stands in contrast to something else, or
depends on it, as father is related to child, or under to over; e. g., father,
mother, brother, sister, under, sunder, further, hither, yonder; Latin: ma-
ter, pater, frater, contra, intra, etc. The syllable er is not so ancient a
termination to denote comparison as ter and its kindred forms.)
IV. Gusty, shallop, loom, "misted eyebrows," "scud of the breakers,"
swayed, death-anguish, swart.
V. The figure of speech by which the fog has its gray skirts torn by
the trees, is called what? (Personification.) Why are the fisherman's
gainings called so wide a harvest ?
LXXII. ROBERT BRUCE AND THE SPIDER.
1. It was about the time when King Robert Bruce
was in his greatest difficulties, that an incident took place
which, although it rests only on tradition in families of
the name of Bruce, is rendered probable by the manners.
of the time. After receiving the last unpleasing intelli-
gence from Scotland, Bruce was one morning lying on
his wretched bed, and deliberating with himself whether
he had not better resign all thoughts of again attempting
to make good his right to the Scottish crown, and, dis-
missing his followers, transport himself and his brothers
to the Holy Land, and spend the rest of his life in fight-
ing against the Saracens.
2. But, then, on the other hand, he thought it would
be both criminal and cowardly to give up his attempts to
196
FOURTH READER.
restore freedom to Scotland, while there yet remained
the least chance of his being successful in an undertaking
which, rightly considered, was much more his duty than
to drive the infidels out of Palestine, though the super-
stition of his age might think otherwise. While he was
divided between these reflections, and doubtful of what
he should do, Bruce was looking upward to the roof of
the cabin in which he lay, and his attention was attracted
by a spider, which, hanging at the end of a long thread
of its own spinning, was endeavoring, as is the fashion of
that creature, to swing itself from one beam in the roof
to another, for the purpose of fixing the line on which
it meant to stretch its web.
3. The insect made the attempt again and again, with-
out success; and at length Bruce counted that it had tried
to carry its point six times, and been as often unable to
do so.
It came into his head that he had himself fought
just six battles against the English and their allies, and
that the poor, persevering spider was exactly in the same
situation with himself, having made as many trials and
been as often disappointed in what it aimed at.
4. "Now," thought Bruce, "as I have no means of
knowing what is best to be done, I will be guided by
the luck which shall attend this spider. If the insect
shall make another effort to fix its thread, and shall be
successful, I will venture a seventh time to try my for-
tune in Scotland; but, if the spider shall fail, I will go
to the wars in Palestine, and never return to my native
country more."
5. While Bruce was forming this resolution, the spider
made another exertion with all the force it could muster,
and fairly succeeded in fastening its thread to the beam
which it had so often in vain attempted to reach. Bruce,
FOURTH READER.
197
seeing the success of the spider, resolved to try his own
fortune; and as he had never before gained a victory, so
he never afterward sustained any considerable or decisive
check or defeat. I have often met with people of the
name of Bruce so completely persuaded of the truth of
this story that they would not on any account kill a
spider, because it was that insect which had shown the
example of perseverance, and given a signal of good luck,
to their great namesake.
6. Having determined to renew his efforts to obtain
possession of Scotland, notwithstanding the smallness of
the means which he had for accomplishing so great a pur-
pose, the Bruce removed himself and his followers from
Rachlin to the island of Arran,, which lies in the Firth
of Clyde. The king landed, and inquired of the first
woman he met what armed men were on the island. She
returned for answer that there had arrived there very
lately a body of armed strangers, who had defeated an
English officer-the governor of the castle of Brodick
had killed him and most of his men, and were now
amusing themselves with hunting about the island.
7. The king, having caused himself to be guided to
the woods which these strangers most frequented, there
blew his horn repeatedly. Now, the chief of the stran-
gers who had taken the castle was James Douglas, one
of the best of Bruce's friends, and he was accompanied
by some of the bravest of that patriotic band.
8. When he heard Robert Bruce's horn, he knew the
sound well, and cried out that yonder was the king—he
knew by his manner of blowing. So he and his com-
panions hastened to meet King Robert, and there was
great joy on both sides; while, at the same time, they
could not help weeping when they considered their own
198
FOURTH. READER.
forlorn condition, and the great loss that had taken place
among their friends since they had last parted. But they
were stout-hearted men, and looked forward to freeing
their country, in spite of all that had yet happened.
Walter Scott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. From "Tales of a Grandfather," First Series.
"Holy Land" (this was a short time after the eighth Crusade). Who were
the Saracens ? Palestine-where? Location of Rachlin (Rathlin) (on the
northcastern coast of Ireland) and Arran ?
II. Dif'-fi-eul-ties, re-çeiv'-ing, wretch'-ed (retch'-), re-sign' (-zin'),
of'-ten (öfn), fre-quěnt'-ed.
III. Why is which (2) used, instead of who, to relate to the spider?
"Best to be done" (4)-what word for best, when no comparison is in-
tended?—when comparison between two objects? Of what use is the
word "more
more" after return? (end of 4.)
IV. Incident, tradition, intelligence, deliberating, transport, infidels,
cabin,. exertion, considerable, decisive, defeat, patriotic, yonder. "While
he was divided" (body or mind?).
V. “Superstition of his age" (2). Was not the act of Bruce, in casting
his fate upon luck, also a superstitious act? Is not a superstitious habit
also mentioned of people of his name? (5.)
•
LXXIII. THE SWIFTEST RUNNERS.
EXAMPLE OF RIDICULE" FOR THE COMPOUND SLIDES.
There was a prize` offered-or rather two prizes, a
large' and a small one-for the greatest speed', not in a
single' race, but to such as had raced the whole year".
"I took the first^ prize," said the Hare'. "One had
a right to expect justice when one's own family and
best friends were in the council; but that the Snail
should have got the second prize, I consider as almost
an insult to me."
FOURTH READER.
199
66
"No," observed the Fence-rail', who had been a wit-
ness to the distribution of the prizes; "you must take
diligence and good-will into consideration. The Snail',
to-be-sure, took half a year to cross the threshold^;
but he broke his thigh-bone in the haste he made. He
devoted himself entirely to this race^; and, moreover,
he ran with his house on his back. And so he took the
second prize."
"I think my claims might also have been taken into
account," said the Swallow'. "More speedy than I', in
flight and motion, I believe no one has shown' himself.
And where have I not been? Far, far away'!"
"And that is just your misfortune^," said the Fence-
rail. "You gad about too much. You are always^ on
the wing."
"I can declare upon my honor that each prize-at
least, as far as my voice in the matter went—was accorded
with strict justice," said the old Sign-post in the wood.
"My plan was to give the first prize to one of the first
letters^ in the alphabet, and the second prize to one of the
last letters. If you will be so good as to grant me your
attention, I will explain it to you. The eighth letter in
the alphabet from Aˇ is II^; that stands for Hare^, and
therefore I awarded the greatest prize to the Hare^; and
the eighth letter from the end is S^, therefore the Snail"
obtained the second prize. Everything should go by
rule. RULE must precede merit."
“Iˇ should certainly have voted for myself^, had I
not been among the judges," said the Mule'. "There is
one thing which ought never to be disregarded': it is
called THE BEAUTIFUL'. I saw that^ in the Hare's charm-
*
200
FOURTH READER.
ing, well-grown ears^; it is quite a pleasure to see how
long they are. I fancied that I beheld myself^ when I
was little, and so I voted for him^. I must say, I expect
great things from the future—we have made so good a
beginning"."
Hans Christian Andersen.
!
LXXIV. OFT IN THE STILLY NIGHT.
1. Oft in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Fond Memory brings the light
Of other days around me;
The smiles, the tears
Of boyhood's years,
The words of love then spoken ;
The eyes that shone,
Now dimmed and gone,
The cheerful hearts now broken!
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
2. When I remember all
The friends, so linked together,
I've seen around me fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather,
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but he departed!
FOURTH READER.
201
Thus, in the stilly night,
Ere Slumber's chain has bound me,
Sad Memory brings the light
Of other days around me.
Thomas Moore.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Compare the sad feeling of this poem with that
of Hood's "I Remember," or of Longfellow's “Rainy Day." (In this one,
and in Hood's, memory of the past brings sadness, because of its contrast
with the present, which has lost the charming personal relations that were
enjoyed in the past. The present condition is empty-only a shell-the
delightful social meetings of other days being only suggested, but no longer
contained in it.) (This poem, like Lesson XLVII., is intended to be sung
rather than read. It is inserted here to afford practice in reading this diffi-
cult species of poetry.)
II. Měm'-o-ry, linked, băn'-quet-hall, de-pärt'-ed, de-şẽrt'-ed,
shone (shon), gone (gòn).
III. Mark the feet, underscoring the accented syllables in the first four
lines. Why are "Slumber" and "Memory" printed with capitals?
IV. Dimmed, banquet-hall, garlands.
V. Point out the similes in this piece (i. e., comparisons, or figures of
speech, expressed by like or as); also the personifications (inanimate things
made to act as persons (Slumber, Memory).
LXXV.—HARVEY BIRCH.
1. “What animal is moving through the field on our
right?"
"Tis a man," said Mason, looking intently at the
suspicious object.
"By his hump, 'tis a dromedary!" added the cap-
tain, eying it keenly. Wheeling his horse suddenly
from the highway, he exclaimed, "Harvey Birch! Take
him, dead or alive!"
Mason, and a few of the leading dragoons only, under-
stood the sudden cry, but it was heard throughout the
C
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line. A dozen of the men, with the lieutenant at their
head, followed the impetuous Lawton, and their speed
threatened the pursued with a sudden termination of the
race.
2. Birch prudently kept his position on the rock,
where he had been seen by Henry Wharton, until even-
ing had begun to shroud the surrounding objects in
darkness. From this height he had observed all the
events of the day as they occurred. He had watched
with a beating heart the departure of the troops under
Dunwoodie, and with difficulty had curbed his impa-
tience until the obscurity of night should render his
moving free from danger.
3. He had not, however, completed a fourth of his
way to his own residence, when his quick ear distinguished
the tread of the approaching horse. Trusting to the
increasing darkness, he determined to persevere. By
crouching, and moving quickly along the surface of the
ground, he hoped yet to escape unseen.
4. Captain Lawton was too much engrossed with the
foregoing conversation to suffer his eyes to indulge in
their usual wanderings; and the peddler, perceiving by
the voices that the enemy he most feared had passed,
yielded to his impatience, and stood crect, in order to
make greater progress. The moment his body rose above
the shadow of the ground it was seen, and the chase com-
menced.
5. For a single instant Birch was helpless, his blood.
curdling in his veins at the imminence of the danger, and
his legs refusing their natural and necessary office. But
it was only for a moment. Casting down his pack where
he stood, and instinctively tightening the belt he wore,
FOURTH READER.
203
the peddler betook himself to flight. He knew that,
while bringing himself on a line with his pursuers and
the wood, his form would be lost to sight.
6. This he soon effected, and was straining every
nerve to gain the wood itself, when several horsemen rode
by him a short distance on his left, and cut him off
from this place of refuge. The peddler threw himself on
the ground as they came near him, and was passed un-
seen.
7. But delay now became too dangerous for him to
remain in that position. He accordingly arose, and, still
keeping in the shadow of the wood, along the skirts of
which he heard voices crying to each other to be watch-
ful, he ran with incredible speed in a parallel line, but
in an opposite direction, to the march of the dragoons.
8. The confusion of the chase had been heard by the
whole of the men, though none distinctly understood the
order of Lawton but those who followed. The remain-
der were lost in doubt as to the duty that was required
of them; and the cornet was making eager inquiries.
of the trooper near him on the subject, when a man,
at a short distance in his rear, crossed the road at a sin-
gle bound.
9. At the same instant the stentorian voice of Law-
ton rang through the valley, shouting: "Harvey Birch!
Take him, dead or alive!" Fifty pistols lighted the
scene, and the bullets whistled in every direction round
the head of the devoted peddler. A feeling of despair
seized his heart, and in the bitterness of that moment he
exclaimed: "Hunted like a beast of the forest!"
10. He felt life and its accompaniments to be a bur-
den, and was about to yield himself to his enemies. Na-
܀
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ture, however, prevailed. If taken, there was great rea-
son to apprehend that he would not be honored with the
forins of a trial, but that, most probably, the morning's
sun would witness his ignominious execution; for he had
already been condemned to death, and had only escaped
that fate by stratagem.
11. These considerations, with the approaching foot-
steps of his pursuers, aroused him to new exertions. He
again fled before them. A fragment of a wall, that had
withstood the ravages made by war in the adjoining fences
of the wood, fortunately crossed his path. He hardly
had time to throw his exhausted limbs over this barrier,
before twenty of his enemies reached its opposite side.
12. Their horses refused to take the leap in the dark,
and amid the confusion of the rearing chargers, and the
execrations of their riders, Birch was enabled to gain a
sight of the base of a hill, on whose summit was a place
of perfect security. The heart of the peddler now beat
high with hope, when the voice of Captain Lawton again
rang in his ears, shouting to his men to make room.
13. The order was obeyed, and the fearless trooper
rode at the wall at the top of his horse's speed, plunged
the rowels in his charger, and flew over the obstacle in
safety. The triumphant hurrahs of the men, and the
thundering tread of the horse, too plainly assured the
peddler of the imminence of his danger. He was nearly
exhausted, and his fate no longer seemed doubtful.
14. "Stop, or die!" was uttered above his head, and
in fearful proximity to his ears.
Harvey stole a glance over his shoulder, and saw,
within a bound of him, the man he most dreaded. By
the light of the stars he beheld the uplifted arm and the
FOURTH READER.
205.
threatening saber. Fear, exhaustion, and despair seized
his heart, and the intended victim fell at the feet of the
dragoon. The horse of Lawton struck the prostrate ped-
dler, and both steed and rider came violently to the earth.
15. As quick as thought, Birch was on his feet again,
with the sword of the discomfited dragoon in his hand.
Vengeance seems but too natural to human passions.
There are few who have not felt the seductive pleasure
of making our injuries recoil on their authors; and yet
there are some who know how much sweeter it is to
return good for evil.
16. All the wrongs of the peddler shone on his brain
with a dazzling brightness. For a moment the demon
within him prevailed, and Birch brandished the powerful
weapon in the air; in the next, it fell harmless on the
reviving but helpless trooper. The peddler vanished up
the side of the friendly rock.
James Fenimore Cooper.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. In "The Spy," Cooper makes Harvey Birch to
be a secret spy, through whom Washington gets intelligence of the plans and
movements of the British. He is obliged to play a part that makes him
suspected by the American troops, and they constantly endeavor to capture
him. Captain Lawton, of Dunwoodie's Virginia cavalry, has succeeded in
this twice, but Harvey has escaped both times, although condemned to
death on the second occasion. He was allowed by the American com-
mander to enter into the service of the British general, and this circum-
stance heightened the difficulty and danger of his delicate position in the
greatest degree. In the extract given here, we have a vivid account of
one of his narrow escapes from Lawton's troops.
II. Sus-pĭ'-cious (-pish'us), yield'-ed, veins, văl'-ley, strǎt'-a-gem,
pěd'-dler, ex-haust'-ed, ey'-ing, lieu-těn'-ant, height (bit), nerve, pår'.
al-lel, ea'-ğer, in-quir'-ies, seized, rea'-son (-zn), rear'-ing, pre-väiled'.
III. Change the following so as to indicate more than one: Man, woman
child, ox, thou, he, it, son-in-law.
IV. Intently, dromedary, dragoons, impetuous, termination, prudently,
obscurity, persevere, crouching, engrossed, indulge, erect, curdling, immi-
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FOURTH READER.
nence (and eminence), instinctively, incredible, stentorian, apprehend, igno
minious, execution, condemned, stratagem, ravages, exhausted, barrier,
rowels, charger, triumphant, proximity, saber, prostrate, discomfited, bran-
dished, recoil.
V. "Curbed his impatience" (as an impatient horse is curbed by the
rein and bit).
LXXVI.-BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE.
1. Not a drum was heard, nor a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero we buried.
2. We buried him darkly, at dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning
By the struggling moonbeams' misty light,
And the lantern dimly burning.
3. No useless coffin inclosed his breast,
Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him;
But he lay, like a warrior taking his rest,
With his martial cloak around him.
4. Few and short were the prayers we said,
And we spoke not a word of sorrow;
But we steadfastly gazed on the face of the dead,
And we bitterly thought of the morrow.
5. We thought, as we hollowed his narrow bed,
And smoothed down his lonely pillow,
That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his
head,
And we far away on the billow!
FOURTH READER.
207
6. Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone,
And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him;
But little he'll reck, if they let him sleep on,
In the grave where a Briton has laid him!
7. But half of our heavy task was done,
When the clock tolled the hour for retiring;
And we heard the distant and random gun
That the foe was sullenly firing.
8. Slowly and sadly we laid him down
From the field of his fame, fresh and gory!
We carved not a line, we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone in his glory.
Charles Wolfe.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Lord Byron pronounced this poem the most per-
fect in the language. Sir John Moore was killed by a cannon-ball at Co-
runna, Spain, in 1809. His army repulsed Marshal Soult, one of Napoleon's
generals, but embarked for England immediately afterward.
II. Bay'-o-nets, warrior (wor'yur), strug'-gling, bur'-ied (běr'-).
III. Explain the use of the apostrophe in o'er, they'll, he'll, that's.
IV. Corse, rampart, random, sullenly, upbraid, reck.
V. Make a list of rhymes used in this poem, and mark the imperfect
ones (note, shot; hurried, buried; down, stone). Divide the lines of the
first stanza into feet, marking the accented syllables ("Not a drum was
heard, | nor a fu- | neral note"). Do you pronounce gone so as to rhyme
with on, or with lawn? (see Lesson LXXIV.)
LXXVII. THE CASTLE BY THE SEA.
EXAMPLE OF JOYOUS AND SAD EXPRESSION FOR THE SIMPLE
RISING AND FALLING SLIDES.
[The happy spirit of the questions requires faster time,
and louder and smoother force, and longer slides, and
clearer, happier tones, to express the cumulating, eager
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FOURTH READER.
joy; while the sad spirit of the answers requires slow
and slower time, with softer force, and shorter slides, and
a slightly abrupt stress, to give the cumulating sorrow so
vividly suggested.]
1
"Hast thou seen' that lordly' castle',
That castle by the sea'?
Golden and red' above it *
The clouds' float gorgeously.
"And fain it would stoop downward
To the mirrored wave' below;
And fain it would soar upward`
In the evening's crimson glow."
"Well have I seen that castle',
That castle by the sea,
And the moon' above it standing,
And the mist rise solemnly."
"The winds and the waves' of ocean,
Had they a merry' chime?
Didst thou hear, from those lofty chambers,
The harp' and the minstrel's' rhyme?"
"The winds and the waves of ocean,
They rested` quietly`;
But I heard on the gale a sound of WAIL',
And tears came to mine eye."
"And sawest thou on the turrets
The king' and his royal bride' ?·
And the wave of their crimson mantles' ?-
And the golden crown of pride'? ·
FOURTH READER.
209
"Led they not forth, in rapture,
A beauteous MAIDEN' there,
Resplendent as the morning sun',
Beaming with golden hair' ? "
"Well` saw I the ancient parents“,
WITHOUT the crown of pride';
They were moving slow, in weeds of woe';
No maiden' was by their side!"
Uhland (translated by H. W. Longfellow).
LXXVIII.-HOHENLINDEN.
1. On Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay th' untrodden snow;
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.
2. But Linden saw another sight,
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.
3. By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each horseman drew his battle-blade,
And furious every charger neighed,
To join the dreadful revelry.
4. Then shook the hills, with thunder riven;
Then rushed the steed, to battle driven;
And, louder than the bolts of heaven,
Far flashed the red artillery.
5. But redder yet that light shall glow
On Linden's hills of stainéd snow,
N
·
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FOURTH READER.
And bloodier yet the torrent flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.
6. 'Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun
Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun,
Where furious Frank and fiery Hun
Shout in their sulph'rous canopy.
7. The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
Who rush to glory, or the grave!
Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave,
. And charge with all thy chivalry!
8. Few, few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding-sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet
Shall be a soldier's sepulcher.
Thomas Campbell.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Campbell, at the age of twenty-three, on a visit to
Germany to study its literature, witnessed, from a safe position, this battle
between the French ("furious Frank "), under Moreau, and the Austrians
("fiery Hun," named from the Huns, who settled in Austria, or Hungary,
after overrunning Europe in the fifth century), under Archduke John.
(Hohenlinden means linden [kind of tree] heights.) Find, on the map, the
Ï'şer, and trace its waters to the sea. Mu'nich is the capital of Bavaria ;
find it on the map.
II. Sçen'-er-y, neighed (nãd), piërçe, sōl'-dier (-jer), sep-ul-eher
(-kur), rōll'-ing, sight (sit), tor'-rent.
III. "Sulph'rous "-why u omitted? Explain the meaning of the pre-
fix un and the suffix en in untrodden. Note the alliteration in this poem
(recurrence of 7 (1), d (2), b, battle-blade (3), ƒ, far flashed (4), etc.).
IV. "Dead of night," arrayed, charger, revelry, riven, "bolts of
heaven," artillery, dun, canopy, combat, banners, chivalry, winding-sheet,
"fires of death."
V. Note the succession of scenes and their contrasts: (1) Snow un-
trodden; bloodless; near sunset; dark and rapid river. (2) The night fol-
FOURTH READER.
211
lows; drums beat the alarm; torches light up the troops arrayed for battle.
The charging of squadrons, and the flashing and thundering of artillery.
(4) Morning; but the sun is lurid as seen through the smoke rising from
the field. (5) Munich (the Bavarians were allies of the French in this battle)
troops are distinguished in the fierce charges. (6) On the hills of blood-
stained snow lie seven thousand Austrian and five thousand French soldiers,
dead or wounded.
LXXIX.-OVER THE RIVER.
1. Over the river they beckon to me,
Loved ones who've crossed to the farther side;
The gleam of their snowy robes I see,
But their voices are lost in the dashing tide.
There's one, with ringlets of sunny gold,
And eyes the reflection of heaven's own blue;
He crossed in the twilight gray and cold,
And the pale mist hid him from mortal view.
We saw not the angels who met him there;
The gates of the city we could not sce:
Over the river, over the river,
My brother stands, waiting to welcome me.
2. Over the river the boatman pale
Carried another, the household pet;
Her brown curls waved in the gentle gale-
Darling Minnie! I see her yet.
She crossed on her bosom her dimpled hands,
And fearlessly entered the phantom-bark;
We felt it glide from the silver sands,
And all our sunshine grew strangely dark.
We know she is safe on the farther side,
Where all the ransomed and angels be:
Over the river, the mystic river,
My childhood's idol is waiting for me.
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FOURTH READER.
3. For none return from those quiet shores,
Who cross with the boatman cold and pale;
We hear the dip of the golden oars,
And catch a gleam of the snowy sail,
And lo! they have passed from our yearning heart;
They cross the stream and are gone for aye.
We may not sunder the veil apart
That hides from our vision the gates of day;
We only know that their barks no more
May sail with us o'er life's stormy sea;
Yet somewhere, I know, on the unseen shore,
They watch, and beckon, and wait for me.
4. And I sit and think, when the sunset's gold
Is flushing rivér, and hill, and shore,
I shall one day stand by the water cold,
And list for the sound of the boatman's oar;
I shall watch for a gleam of the flapping sail,
I shall hear the boat as it gains the strand;
I shall pass from sight with the boatman pale,
To the better shore of the spirit-land;
I shall know the loved who have gone before,
And joyfully sweet will the meeting be,
When over the river, the peaceful river,
The angel of death shall carry me.
2
Nancy Priest Wakefield.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. The authoress lived on the banks of the Con.
necticut River. Do you think there may be something in this fact that
suggested the imagery of the piece (see fourth stanza), or was it, rather, the
allegory in the "Pilgrim's Progress"?
II. Běck'-on (běk'n), re-flĕe'-tion (-shun), view (vū), ring'-lets, wěl'-
eome, boat'-man, veil.
III. Why is ha omitted in who've ?-i in there's? Difference in mean-
ing caused by adding let to ring?
FOURTH READER.
213
IV. Gleam, phantom, ransomed, mystic, dimpled, "childhood's idol."
V. Is the metaphor, "Their barks no more may sail with us o'er life's
stormy sea" (3), in keeping with the fundamental metaphor of the poem,
in which we stand on the bank of a river? (If they had had barks of
their own, and were used to the terrors of the "stormy sea," a mere river
would scarcely be the gulf of separation that it is. This is called "mixed
metaphor.")
LXXX.-A LETTER OF DR. FRANKLIN.
Easton, Pa., Saturday Morning, November 13, 1756.
MY DEAR CHILD:
I wrote to you a few days since by a special messen-
ger, and inclosed letters for all our wives and sweet-
hearts: expecting to hear from you by his return, and to
have the Northern newspapers and English letters, per the
packet; but he is just now returned, without a scrap for
poor us.
So I had a good mind not to write you by this
opportunity; but I can never be ill-natured enough, even
when there is the most occasion. The messenger says
he left the letters at your house, and saw you afterward
at Mr. Dentic's, and told you when he would go, and
that he lodged at Honey's, next door to you, and yet you
did not write; so let Goody Smith give one more just
judgment, and say what should be done to you. I think
I won't tell you that we are well, nor that we expect to
return about the middle of the week, nor will send you
a word of news: that's poz. My duty to mother, love
to the children and to Miss Betsey and Gracey, etc., etc.
I am your loving husband,
>
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
P. S.-I have scratched out the loving words, being
written in haste by mistake, when I forgot I was angry.
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FOURTH READER.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. A letter of Dr. Franklin to his wife (he married
Deborah Read).
II. Spě'-cial (sposh'al), judg'-ment, done, scratched,
III. In the above letter, point out what is called the date. What items
does it include? (Name of post-office, town, or city, and State [and, if the
place is small, the county], day of month, and year.) Point out the address;
Where should the superscription be? (On the envelope
-the subscription.
of the letter, thus:
Mrs. DEBORAH FRANKLIN,
What does "P. S." mean?
Philadelphia, Pa.)
IV. Inclosed, return, packet, scrap, opportunity, occasion, lodged.
V. Notice the humor of the style. (He pretends to be angry, and to
forget that he is angry; then to remember it, and scratch out the loving
words; calls himself "we," and "poor us;" calls his wife "all our wives
and sweethearts; " playfully says that he won't tell her that he is well, etc.,
and tells it all.) "That's poz" (positively so). Write a letter to some
friend, and give an account of your visit to the country, or of some other
event that you may select, taking care to have the date, address, subscrip-
tion, and superscription, right.
LXXXI.—LITTLE HAL.
EXAMPLE FOR VARIED AND IMPASSIONED EXPRESSION.
"Old Ironsides' at anchor lay,
In the harbor of Mahon`;
A dead c-a-l-m' rested on the bay-
The w-a-v-e-s to s-l-e-e-p' had gone-
When little Hal`, the captain's' son,
A lad both b-r-a-v-e and g-o-o-d
In sport, up shroud and rigging ran,
And on the m-a-i-n`-truck stood!
“A shudder' shot through every vein';
All eyes were turned on high';
There stood the boy, with dizzy' brain,
Between the s-e-a' and s-k-y`.
เ
FOURTH READER.
215
No h-o-l-d' had he above', below';
A-l-o-n-e' he stood in a-i-r':
To that f-a-r' height none d-a-r-e-d' to go—
No a-i-d' could r-e-a-c-h' him there."
[The word "shudder" is very abrupt in emphasis; it
expresses sudden pain and fear. The first syllable is
short, and time cannot be given to it. Sound sharply the
“sh,” with a little prolongation, to aspirate it, and bring
out thus the shock and terror.]
"We g-a-z-e-d, but not a man could speak'!
With horror' a-l-l aghast,
In groups, with pallid brow and cheek,
1
We watched the quivering mast`.
The atmosphere grew thick' and hot',
And of a l-u-rid' hue,
As, riveted unto the spot,
Stood officers and crew'."
[Half-whisper the word "horror," to suit the quality
of voice to the spirit-on the general principle that all
painful, disagreeable ideas demand the disagreeable aspi-
ration; all pure and pleasing ideas require a clear, pure
tone, to suit the sound to the sense.]
"The f-a-ther' came on deck. He gasped,
‘O God'! t-h-y' will be done!'
Then suddenly a rifle' grasped,
And aimed it at his son':
'Jump-f-a-r-out, boy, into the w-a-v-e'!
Jump', or I f-i-r-e'!' he said;
'That o-n-l-y chance your l-i-f-e' can s-a-v-e'!
Jump'! JUMP', boy!' He obeyed'.
"He sank-he r-o-s-e-he lived '—he m-o-v-e-d`,
And for the ship' struck out:
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FOURTH READER.
On board we h-a-l-e-d' the lad beloved,
With many a manly shout`.
His f-a-ther drew, in s-i-lent` j-o-y,
Those wet a-r-m-s round his neck`,
And folded to his h-e-a-r-t` his b-o-y-
Then f-a-i-n-t-ed' on the deck."
Colton.
"Jump" should be shouted louder and louder as it is
repeated. "He sank-he rose-he lived he moved,"
should be read with very long pauses between the ideas,
and with very long quantity on "rose" and "moved,"
so as to give time enough for all this to take place. You
must see it all, imagine it, and speak it very earnestly.
In the third and fourth lines, smooth, loud, and pure
tones should shout with joy that Little Hal is safe. But
the father is too deeply moved to shout, or even to speak;
his silent joy we should read with subdued tenderness.
LXXXII.-GOODY BLAKE AND HARRY GILL.
1. Oh! what's the matter?-what's the matter?
What is't that ails young Harry Gill,
That evermore his teeth they chatter?—
Chatter, chatter, chatter still!
Of waistcoats Harry has no lack,
Good duffel gray, and flannel fine;.
He has a blanket on his back,
And coats enough to smother nine.
2. In March, December, and in July,
'Tis all the same with Harry Gill;
The neighbors tell, and tell you truly,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
FOURTH READER.
217
At night, at morning, and at noon,
'Tis all the same with Harry Gill;
Beneath the sun, beneath the moon,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still!
3. Young Harry was a lusty drover-
And who so stout of limb as he?
His cheeks were red as ruddy clover;
His voice was like the voice of three.
Old Goody Blake was old and poor;
Ill-fed she was, and thinly clad;
And any man who passed her door
Might see how poor a hut she had.
4. All day she spun in her poor dwelling,
And then her three hours' work at night—
Alas! 'twas hardly worth the telling—
It would not pay for candle-light.
Remote from sheltering village green,
On a hill's northern side she dwelt,
Where from sea-blasts the hawthorns lean,
And hoary dews are slow to melt.
5. By the same fire to boil their pottage,
Two poor old dames, as I have known,
Will often live in one small cottage;
But she-poor woman!-housed alone.
'Twas well enough when summer came,
The long, warm, lightsome, summer-day;
Then at her door the canty dame
Would sit, as any linnet gay.
6. But when the ice our streams did fetter,
Oh, then how her old bones would shake!
You would have said, if you had met her,
'Twas a hard time for Goody Blake.
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FOURTH READER.
Her evenings then were dull and dead;
Sad case it was, as you may think,
For very cold to go to bed,
And then for cold not sleep a wink!
7. Oh, joy for her! whene'er in winter
The winds at night had made a rout,
And scattered many a lusty splinter
And many a rotten bough about.
Yet never had she, well or sick,
As every man who knew her says,
A pile beforehand, turf or stick,
Enough to warm her for three days.
8. Now, when the frost was past enduring,
And made her poor old bones to ache,
Could anything be more alluring
Than an old hedge to Goody Blake?
And now and then, it must be said,
When her old bones were cold and chill,
She left her fire, or left her bed,
To seek the hedge of Harry Gill.
9. Now, Harry he had long suspected
This trespass of old Goody Blake,
And vowed that she should be detected,
And he on her would vengeance take.
And oft from his warm fire he'd go,
And to the fields his road would take;
And there at night, in frost and snow,
He watched to seize old Goody Blake.
10. And once, behind a rick of barley,
Thus looking out did Harry stand;
The moon was full, and shining clearly,
And crisp with frost the stubble-land.
FOURTH READER.
219
He hears a noise!-he's all awake!-
Again!-on tiptoe down the hill
He softly creeps. 'Tis Goody Blake!
She's at the hedge of Harry Gill!
11. Right glad was he when he beheld her!
Stick after stick did Goody pull ;
He stood behind a bush of elder,
Till she had filled her apron full.
When with her load she turned about,
The by-way back again to take,
He started forward with a shout,
And sprang upon poor Goody Blake;
12. And fiercely by the arm he took her,
And by the arm he held her fast ;
And fiercely by the arm he shook her,
And cried, "I've caught you, then, at last!"
Then Goody, who had nothing said,
Her bundle from her lap let fall;
And, kneeling on the sticks, she prayed
To God, who is the Judge of all.
13. She prayed, her withered hand uprearing,
While Harry held her by the arm-
"God, who art never out of hearing,
Oh, may he never more be warm!”
The cold, cold moon above her head,
Thus on her knees did Goody pray.
Young Harry heard what she had said,
And, icy cold, he turned away.
14. He went complaining all the morrow
That he was cold and very chill:
His face was gloom, his heart was sorrow-
Alas! that day for Harry Gill!
Q
220
FOURTH READER.
That day he wore a riding-coat,
But not a whit the warmer he;
Another was on Thursday brought,
And ere the Sabbath he had three.
15. 'Twas all in vain-a useless matter—
And blankets were about him pinned;
Yet still his jaws and teeth they clatter,
Like a loose casement in the wind.
And Harry's flesh it fell away;
And all who see him say, ""Tis plain
That, live as long as live he may,
He never will be warm again."
•
16. No word to any man he utters,
Abed or up, to young or old;
But ever to himself he mutters,
"Poor Harry Gill is very cold!"
Abed or up, by night or day,
His teeth they chatter, chatter still.
Now, think, ye farmers all, I pray,
Of Goody Blake and Harry Gill !
William Wordsworth.
/
FOR PREPARATION.-I. What pieces of Wordsworth have you read be-
fore? (Lessons II., XIII., XXXV.) Mention some of the qualities of his
poems (kindness to animals and to poor children, simplicity, etc.). He
calls this piece "A True Story."
II. Waist-eōats, flăn'-nel, neigh'-borş (na'-), north'-ern, hōar'-y,
light'-some (lit'sum), lin'-net, al-lür'-ing, trěs'-pass, věn'-geançe, fields,
sēize, fiërçe'-ly, up-rear'-ing.
III. Correct: "Three hour's work;
What is omitted in "he'd"?
IV.
""
"-" t'was; -"on a hills' side."
Hoary dews," canty, "fetter streams," rout, "lusty splinter,"
alluring, casement.
V. "Good duffel gray"-do you remember what Alice Fell's warm
cloak was to be made of? (Lesson XIII.) ("Duffel"-a coarse woolen,
FOURTH READER.
221
with a thick nap left on it, so that it is very warm.) "March, December,
and July "-why select these three months? (whether in cold, or warm, or
moderate weather.) "From sea-blasts the hawthorns lean" (i. e., owing to
the incessant wind, they have grown in a leaning position).
"For very
cold to go to bed” (i. e., to be obliged to go to bed for reason of the cold;
very = actual). "Right glad was he when he beheld her" (11)—what
kind of a spirit did this show? What kind of a spirit did Goody Blake
show when she prayed that Harry Gill might never be warm again ?
LXXXIII.-TWO VIEWS OF CHRISTMAS.
[The following is a good example for the very smooth
and the very abrupt stress, from the "Christmas Carol,"
by Dickens. The part of the nephew is good and pleas-
ing in spirit, and calls for the smooth, happy stress. The
part of old Scrooge is hateful in spirit, and should have
the most abrupt stress, to suit the sound to the sense.]
Nephew-A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!
Scrooge-Bah! humbug!
Neph.-Christmas a humbug, uncle! You don't
mean that, I am sure.
Scrooge-I do. Out upon "Merry Christmas"! If
I had my will, every idiot who goes about with "Merry
Christmas" on his lips should be boiled with his own
pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his
heart. He should!
Neph.-Uncle!
Scrooge-Nephew, keep Christmas-time in your own
way, and let me keep it in mine.
Neph.-Keep it? But you don't keep it!
Scrooge-Let me leave it alone, then! Much good
may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!
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FOURTH READER.
Neph.-I am sure I have always thought of Christ-
mas as a good time-a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant
time; and therefore, uncle, though it has never put a
scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done
me good, and will do me good, and I say, God bless it!
LXXXIV. THE THREE FISHERS.
1. Three fishers went sailing out into the west—
Out into the west, as the sun went down;
Each thought on the woman who loved him the best,
And the children stood watching them out of the
town:
For men must work, and women must weep,
And there's little to earn, and many to keep,
Though the harbor-bar be moaning.
2. Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower,
And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down ;
They looked at the squall, and they looked at the
shower,
And the night-rack came rolling up ragged and
brown:
But men must work, and women must weep,
Though storms be sudden, and waters deep,
And the harbor-bar be moaning.
3. Three corpses lie out on the shining sands,
In the morning gleam, as the tide goes down,
And the women are weeping, and wringing their
hands,
For those who will never come home to the town.
FOURTH READER.
223
For men must work, and women must weep,
And the sooner it's over, the sooner to sleep,
And good-by to the bar and its moaning.
Charles Kingsley.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. IIarbor-bar. (At the entrance of a harbor where
the shores approach, the water is often very shallow, and the shoal thus
formed is called a bar." When the high waves break over it, a
(C moan-
ing" sound is caused.)
II. Mōan'-ing, thought, wom'-en (wim'-), răg'-ged, wring'-ing.
III. What change, in pronunciation and spelling, in the word "woman,"
to make it mean more than one?
IV. Gleam, tide, night-rack, corpses.
V. What state of the waves is indicated by the "moaning" on the
bar? By the fact of the three wives sitting up in the tower and trimming
the lamps, do you infer that the men were lighthouse-keepers? Write out,
or tell, the story implied in the last stanza.
LXXXV. JULIUS CAESAR.
EXAMPLE OF ANGRY EARNESTNESS AND JESTING.
[The anger of Flavius and Marullus requires the very
abrupt force, and their direct questions and earnestness
demand the simple slides. The second citizen is jesting
and fooling, and his part, therefore, should be read with
the compound slides. The last answer alone is spoken
directly, with straightforward honesty, and this only
should have the straight or simple slides.]
Act I
Flavius-Hence'! home', you idle' creatures—get
you home'!
Is this a holiday'? What! know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk,
▸
224
FOURTH READER.
Upon a laboring day, without the sign'
Of your profession'? Speak-what trade' art thou?
Citizen-Why, sir, a carpenter'.
Marullus-Where is thy leather apron', and thy rule'?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?-
1
You', sir-what trade are you`?
2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am
but, as you would say, a cobbler.
Mar.-But what trade' art thou? Answer me directly'.
2 Cit.-A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a
safe con science; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of
bad soles^.
Mar.-What trade', thou knave?-thou naughty
knave, what trade'?
2 Cit.-Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me:
yet, if you be out, sir, I can mendˇ you.
Mar.-What mean'st thou by that'? Mend' me?—
thou saucy fellow!
2 Cit.-Why, sir, cob^ble you.
Flavius-Thou art a cobbler', art' thou?
2 Cit.—Truly, sir, all that I live by is, with the awlˇ.
I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's mat-
ters: but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old
shoes^; when they are in great danger, I recov^er them.
As proper men as ever trod upon neat's leather, have
gone upon my handiwork.
Flavius-But wherefore art not in thy shop' to-day?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets'?
2 Cit.—Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes^, to get my-
self into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holi-
day to see Cæsar', and to rejoice' in his triumph.
!
Shakespeare.
FOURTH READER.
225
LXXXVI. ROBIN HOOD.
1. A target was placed at the upper end of the south-
ern avenue which led to the lists. The contending arch-
ers took their station in turn, at the bottom of the south-
ern access; the distance between that station and the
mark allowing full distance for what was called a "shot
at rovers." The archers, having previously determined
by lot their order of precedence, were to shoot each
three shafts in succession. The sports were regulated
by an officer of inferior rank, termed the provost of the
games; for the high rank of the marshals of the lists
would have been held degraded had they condescended
to superintend the sports of the yeomanry.
2. One by one the archers, stepping forward, delivered
their shafts yeomanlike and bravely. Of twenty-four ar-
rows, shot in succession, ten were fixed in the target, and
the others ranged so near it that, considering the distance
of the mark, it was accounted good archery. Of the ten
shafts which hit the target, two within the inner ring
were shot by Hubert, a forester, in the service of Malvoi-
sin, who was accordingly pronounced victorious.
3. "Now, Locksley," said Prince John to the bold
yeoman, with a bitter smile, "wilt thou try conclusions.
with Hubert, or wilt thou yield up bow, baldric, and
quiver, to the provost of the sports?"
"Sith it be no better," said Locksley, "I am content
to try my fortune; on condition that, when I have shot
two shafts at yonder mark of Hubert's, he shall be
bound to shoot one at that which I shall propose."
"That is but fair," answered Prince John, "and it
shall not be refused thee. If thou dost beat this braggart,
Hubert, I will fill the bugle with silver pennies for thee.”
Q
226
FOURTH READER.
"A man can but do his best," answered Hubert; "but
my grandsire drew a good long-bow at Hastings, and I
trust not to dishonor his memory."
4. The former target was now removed, and a fresh
one of the same size placed in its room. Hubert, who,
as victor in the first trial of skill, had the right to shoot
first, took his aim with great deliberation, long measuring
the distance with his eye, while he held in his hand his
bended bow, with the arrow placed on the string. At
length he made a step forward, and, raising the bow at
the full stretch of his left arm, till the center or grasping-
place was nigh level with his face, he drew his bowstring
to his ear. The arrow whistled through the air, and
lighted within the inner ring of the target, but not exact-
ly in the center.
"You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert," said
his antagonist, bending his bow, "or that had been a bet-
ter shot."
5. So saying, and without showing the least anxiety
to pause upon his aim, Locksley stepped to the appointed
station, and shot his arrow as carelessly in appearance as
if he had not even looked at the mark. He was speak-
ing almost at the instant that the shaft left the bowstring,
yet it alighted in the target two inches nearer to the
white spot which marked the center than that of Hubert.
'By the light of heaven!" said Prince John to Hu-
bert, "an thou suffer that runagate knave to overcome
thee, thou art worthy of the gallows!"
(6
6. Hubert had but one set speech for all occasions:
"An your highness were to hang me," he said, "a man
can but do his best. Nevertheless, my grandsire drew a
good bow-"
FOURTH READER.
227
"The foul fiend on thy grandsire and all his genera-
tion!" interrupted John. "Shoot, knave, and shoot thy
best, or it shall be the worse for thee!"
Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and, not
neglecting the caution which he had received from his
adversary, he made the necessary allowance for a very
light breath of wind which had just arisen, and shot so
successfully that his arrow alighted in the very center of
the target.
"A Hubert! a Hubert!" shouted the populace, more
interested in a known person than in a stranger. "In the
clout!—in the clout! A Hubert forever!"
7. "Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley," said
the prince, with an insulting smile.
"I will notch his shaft for him, however," replied
Locksley. And, letting fly his arrow with a little more
precaution than before, it lighted right upon that of his
competitor, which it split to shivers. The people who
stood around were so astonished at his wonderful dexter-
ity, that they could not even give vent to their surprise
in their usual clamor.
•
"This must be the devil, and no man of flesh and
blood," whispered the yeomen to each other; "such arch-
ery was never seen since a bow was first bent in Brit-
ain!"
8. "And now," said Locksley, "I will crave your
grace's permission to plant such a mark as is used in the
north country, and welcome every brave yeoman to try a
shot at it."
He then turned to leave the lists. "Let your guards
attend me,” he said, "if you please. I go but to cut a rod
from the next willow-bush."
Prince John made a signal that some attendants
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FOURTH READER.
should follow him, in case of his escape; but the cry of
"Shame! shame!" which burst from the multitude, in-
duced him to alter his ungenerous purpose.
9. Locksley returned almost instantly, with a willow
wand about six feet in length, perfectly straight, and rath-
er thicker than a man's thumb. He began to peel this
with great composure, observing, at the same time, that
to ask a good woodsman to shoot at a target so broad as
had hitherto been used was to put shame upon his skill.
"For my own part," said he, "in the land where I was
bred, men would as soon take for their mark King Ar-
thur's round table, which held sixty knights around it.
A child of seven years old might hit yonder target with
a headless shaft; but," he added, walking deliberately to
the other end of the lists and sticking the willow wand
upright in the ground, "he that hits that rod at five-
score yards, I call him an archer fit to bear both bow and
quiver before a king, an it were the stout King Richard
himself!"
10. "My grandsire," said Hubert, "drew a good bow
at the battle of Hastings, and never shot at such a mark
in his life; and neither will I. If this yeoman can cleave
that rod, I give him the bucklers-or, rather, I yield to
the devil that is in his jerkin, and not to any human skill.
A man can but do his best, and I will not shoot where
I am sure to miss. I might as well shoot at the edge of
our parson's whittle, or at a wheat-straw, or at a sunbeam,
as at a twinkling white streak which I can hardly see."
Cowardly dog!" exclaimed Prince John.-" Sirrah
Locksley, do thou shoot; but if thou hittest such a mark,
I will say thou art the first man ever did so. Howe'er
it be, thou shalt not crow over us with a mere show of
superior skill."
66
FOURTH READER.
229
"A man can but do his best!' as Hubert says,"
answered Locksley.
11. So saying, he again bent his bow, but, on the pres-
ent occasion, looked with attention to his weapon, and
changed the string, which he thought was no longer truly
round, having been a little frayed by the two former
shots. He then took his aim with some deliberation,
and the multitude awaited the event in breathless silence.
The archer vindicated their opinion of his skill: his ar
row split the willow rod against which it was aimed. A
jubilee of acclamations followed; and even Prince John,
in admiration of Locksley's skill, lost for an instant his
dislike to his person.
12. “These twenty nobles," he said, "which with the
bugle thou hast fairly won, are thine own; we will make
them fifty, if thou wilt take livery and service with us as
a yeoman of our body-guard, and be near to our person:
for never did so strong a hand bend a bow, or so true
an eye direct a shaft.”
"Pardon me, noble prince," said Locksley; "but I
have vowed that, if ever I take service, it should be with
your royal brother King Richard. These twenty nobles
I leave to Hubert, who has this day
bow as his grandsire did at Hastings.
not refused the trial, he would have
well as I."
drawn as brave a
Had his modesty
hit the wand as
Hubert shook his head as he received with reluctance
the bounty of the stranger; and Locksley, anxious to
escape further observation, mixed with the crowd and
was seen no more.
Walter Scott.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. This piece is taken from Scott's greatest novel,
"Ivanhoe." The scene is laid in England, in the time of John, who
had usurped the place of Richard I., the Lion-hearted, while the latter was
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FOURTH READER.
away on a crusade. Richard has returned incognito, and is looking on at
the various tournaments held by his brother John, and now and then ex-
hibiting his prodigious strength and skill in behalf of those oppressed by
the tyranny of John or his minions. Robin Hood, the ideal of perfection
in English archery, makes his appearance at the trial of archers here de-
scribed, under the name of Locksley. He has been chief of the highway.
men in Sherwood Forest, and desires to attach himself to Richard's service,
Malvoisin (mål-vwä-zăng') is one of the favorites of Prince John, who
finally succeeded Richard as king.
II. South'-ern (suth'-), al-low'-ing, pre-çēd'-ence, pròv'-ỏst (pròv'ust),
yeō'-man-like, for'-est-er, ăn'-swered (serd), whis'-tled (hwis'ld), in-
ter-růpt'-ed, ex-hôrt'-ed, guärds (gärdz), strāight (strāt).
was the
III. “Sith” (old form for since); "it be no better” (“ be”
correct form in old English; we should now say, "Since it is no bet
ter ").
((
IV. Target, lists, "contending archers," access, previously,
"order of
precedence," shafts, inferior, provost, "held degraded," ranged, "try con-
clusions," baldric, jerkin, braggart, deliberation, runagate, set specchi"
resumed, competitor, antagonist, adversary, dexterity, composure, “head-
less shaft," bucklers, whittle, vindicated, "jubilee of acclamations," livery,
reluctance.
V. "Sports of the yeomanry." (Archery belonged to the common pcò-
ple; to fight, or "joust," with spears, and on horseback, belonged to the
nobles.) "In the clout " (piece of white cloth on the center of the target).
"An it were the stout King Richard himself" ("an" was formerly much
used where we now use if). Is there any sarcasm in Locksley's allusion
to Hubert's grandsire at Hastings, as he gives him the twenty nobles?
LXXXVII. ELEGY. WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY
CHURCHYARD.
1. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day;
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea';
The plowman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
FOURTH READER.
231
2. Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,
And all the air a solemn stillness holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,
And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds;
3. Save that, from yonder ivy-mantled tower,
The moping owl does to the moon complain
Of such as, wand'ring near her secret bower,
Molest her ancient, solitary reign.
4. Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a moldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.
5. The breezy call of incense-breathing morn,
The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed,
The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn,
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.
6. For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn,
Or busy housewife ply her evening care;
No children run to lisp their sire's return,
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share.
7. Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield,
Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke;
How jocund did they drive their team a-field!
How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!
8. Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,
Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;
Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
The short and simple annals of the poor.
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FOURTH READER.
9. The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour:
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
10. Nor you, ye proud, impute to these the fault,
If Memory o'er their tomb no trophies raise,
Where, through the long-drawn aisle and fretted
vault,
The pealing anthem swells the note of praise.
11. Can storied urn, or animated bust,
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
Can Honor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or Flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of Death?
12. Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire-
Hands that the rod of empire might have swayed,
Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre:
13. But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,
Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll;
Chill Penury repressed their noble rage,
And froze the genial current of the soul.
14. Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
15. Some village Hampden, that, with dauntless breast,
The little tyrant of his fields withstood;
FOURTH READER.
233
L
Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest-
Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.
16. The applause of listening senates to command,
The threats of pain and ruin to despise,
To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land,
And read their history in a nation's eyes, .
17. Their lot forbade; nor circumscribed alone
Their growing virtues, but their crimes con-
fined;
Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne,
And shut the gates of mercy on mankind;
18. The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide,
To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame,
Or heap the shrine of Luxury and Pride
With incense kindled at the Muse's flame.
19. Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Their sober wishes never learned to stray;
Along the cool, sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.
20. Yet e'en these bones from insult to protect,
Some frail memorial still erected nigh,
O
With uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture decked,
Implores the passing tribute of a sigh.
21. Their name, their years, spelt by the unlettered Muse,
The place of fame and elegy supply ;
And many a holy text around she strews,
That teach the rustic moralist to die.
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FOURTH READER.
22. For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,
This pleasing, anxious being e'er resigned,
Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,
Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind?
23. On some fond breast the parting soul relies,
Some pious drops the closing eye requires;
E'en from the tomb the voice of Nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.
24. For thee, who, mindful of the unhonored dead,
Dost in these lines their artless tale relate,
If chance, by lonely contemplation led,
Some kindred spirit shall inquire thy fate-
25. Haply some hoary-headed swain may say:
"Oft have we seen him, at the peep of dawn,
Brushing with hasty steps the dews away,
To meet the sun upon the upland lawn.
26. "There, at the foot of yonder nodding beech,
That wreathes its old, fantastic roots so high,
His listless length at noontide would he stretch,
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.
27. "Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn,
Muttering his wayward fancies, he would rove;
Now drooping, woful-wan, like one forlorn,
Or crazed with care, or crossed in hopeless love.
28. "One morn I missed him on the customed hill,
Along the heath, and near his fav'rite tree;
Another came, nor yet beside the rill,
Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood, was he;
FOURTH READER.
235
29. "The next, with dirges due, in sad array,
Slow through the church-way path we saw him
borne:
Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay
Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn."
THE EPITAPH.
30. Here rests his head, upon the lap of earth,
A youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown;
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy marked him for her own.
31. Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere ;
Heaven did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to misery-all he had—a tear;
He gained from Heaven-'twas all he wished-a
friend.
32. No further seek his merits to disclose,
Or draw his frailties from their dread abode-
There they alike in trembling hope repose-
The bosom of his Father and his God.
Thomas Gray.
FOR PREPARATION.-I. Of this elegy General Wolfe said, as he repeated
it on the evening before Quebec: "I would rather have written that poem
than beat the French to-morrow." Hampden, Milton, Cromwell-threo
great names connected with the English Revolution that overthrew Charles I.
II. Kněll (nči), čeh'-o-ing, house'-wife, grund'-eur (-yur), trō'-phies,
ĕe'-sta-sy, däunt'-less, sçi'-ençe, měl'-an-eholy, jõe'-und.
III. Transpose stanzas 16 and 17 into prose.
İV. Solitary, folds, moping, rugged, hamlet, incense-breathing, envied,
glebe, jocund, sturdy, ambition, destiny, obscure, annals, disdainful, her-
aldry, pomp, inevitable, impute, long-drawn aisle, fretted vault, anthem,
storied urn, animated bust, celestial fire, ample page, penury, genial, se-
rene, unfathomed, "little tyrant of his fields," müte applause, senate, cirs
#
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FOURTH READER.
cumscribed, ingenuous, shrine, ignoble, sequestered, tenor, memorial,
erected, uncouth, sculpture, "passing tribute," "unlettered Muse," elegy,
"rustic moralist," pleasing, anxious, resigned, precincts, pious, wonted, art-
less, contemplation, kindred, haply, swain, fantastic, heath, dirges, bounty,
recompense, merits, disclose.
(C
V. "Curfew" (cover fire. On the ringing of the curfew at 8 P. M., the
English people were required to extinguish their fires and candles. The
law was enacted by William the Conqueror in 1068, and abolished by Henry
I. in 1100.) What "ivy-mantled tower" is referred to here? (of the
church in this " country churchyard.") What is meant by "heaves the
turf”?—“ narrow cell"?-"shrill clarion"?" echoing horn"? Why
are these mentioned as sounds that will rouse the sleeper?-(the first
sounds heard in the morning.) Lowly bed" (lowly means low in the
grave, or poor and humble—such beds as they slept on in their cottages).
Evening care," means what? (Is care used for the sake of rhyme with
share? If so, why not let the rhymes be task—ask?) "Their furrow oft,"
etc. (the effect is used for the cause: the furrow for the plow. This
figure of speech is called metonomy, which means name-changing). “Nor
grandeur" ("grandeur" used for "grand people"). "If Memory o'er
their tomb," etc. (referring to the memorials erected by the rich and
powerful within the churches). Repressed their noble rage" (i. e., the
celestial fire of poetry). "Guiltless of his country's blood" (i. e., was not
at the head of armies, as Cromwell was). "For thee," etc. (24)—(i. e., the
poet describes himself in the speech of the hoary-headed swain and in the
epitaph. The description tells us how much like an idiot a poet seems to
an uneducated "swain"; while absorbed in his reveries and constructing
his rhymes (i. e., "Muttering his wayward fancies"), his behavior could not
be accounted for on the hoary-headed swain's theory of life). "Another
came (i. e., another morn). "The next (morn). "Large was his
bounty"—what is meant? (he was very generous, for he gave to people
in misery all he had.) Heaven, as "recompense" for his "bounty," be-
came his "friend."
>>
:
FOURTH READER.
237
APPENDIX.
WORDS DIFFICULT TO SPELL.
THE difficulty of spelling English words arises from uncertainty
in regard to the combinations used to represent elementary sounds.
For instance, the sound ĕ is represented in eleven different ways in
the words ebb, dead, again, æsthetics, many, nonpareil, jeopardy,
friend, bury, guest, says. Again, the words bead, head, great, heart,
wear, ocean, earth, present ea with seven sounds.
The pupil will readily learn to spell all words in which the
sounds are represented by the usual combinations of letters, by
seeing them in print whenever he reads a book or newspaper.
A list of words to spell should not be cumbered by the intro-
duction of easy words, such as contain only the usual combinations,
but should have only those that are difficult because of the excep-
tional combinations of letters used.
The spelling-book, then, may be a very small book, containing
about fifteen hundred words. This small list of words should be
so thoroughly learned that the pupil can spell orally or write every
word in it without hesitation. This can be accomplished by the
pupil of twelve years of age in six months' time, having one lesson
of twenty words a day to write from dictation, and using every
fifth day for an oral review of all words from the beginning.
This thorough drill on a few words will train the child's faculty
of observing unusual combinations of letters, and his memory thus
trained will make him a good speller without spending any further
time over the spelling-book. His memory will absorb and retain
hard words wherever he sees them, just as a sponge absorbs and
retains water.
238
FOURTH READER.
The words are arranged in the following list so as not to bring
together a number of words of the same combination, and thereby
paralyze the memory, as is too frequently the case in the lists given
in spelling-books, which, for example, collect in one lesson the
words ending in tion, or tain, or ture, or cious, etc., thus giving to
the pupil by the first word that is spelled a key to all that follow.
Correct pronunciation is as important as correct spelling, and
the rare combinations of letters are the ones most likely to be mis-
pronounced. The following list contains the words liable to be
mispronounced as well as misspelled, and even some words easy to
spell that are often mispronounced. The following mode of analy-
sis is recommended as an excellent auxiliary to the oral and writ-
ten spelling-lesson. It should always be practiced in connection
with the reading-lesson, and with the book open before the pupil, in
preference to the usual plan.
Spelling Analysis.-The pupils and teacher have reading-books.
or spelling-books open at the lesson. The pupils, in the order of
recitation, analyze the list of difficult words one after the other,
as follows:
First Pupil-Groat, g-r-o-a-t (pronounces and reads its spelling
from the book). It is a difficult word, because the sound aw is rep-
resented by the rare combination oa; it is usually represented by
aw or au (awl, fraud), and by o before r (born). This sound may
be represented in nine ways.
Second Pupil-Police, p-o-l-i-c-e. It is a difficult word, because
the sound è is represented by i, and not by one of the more fre-
quent modes, e, ea, ee, ie, and ei. There are twelve ways of repre-
senting this sound. The word is also more difficult to spell, because
it represents the sound of 8 by ce.
Third Pupil-Sacrifice, s-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e. It is difficult, because
the sound (before f) is obscure, and may be represented by any
one of twelve ways. The letter e in fice has here the sound of z, a
very rare use of that letter. The word is liable to be mispronounced
sa'-kri-fis or săk'-ri-fis for săk'-ri-fiz.
C
A.-Table of Equivalents representing Elementary Sounds.
I. The sound à is represented in eleven ways: 1. In many words
by ã (āle), ãi (ãid), and āy (bāy); 2. In a few words by ey (they),
ei (veil), eā (breāk), āu (gāuge), ão (gãol, for jail), e and ge
(mêlée), aye (meaning ever).
FOURTH READER.
239
II.—The sound ǎ is represented in three ways: 1. In many words
by ǎ (ǎt); 2. In a few words by ǎi (plăid), uă (guărantee).
III.—The sound ä is represented in six ways: 1. In many words by
ä (father); 2. In a few words by äu (täunt), eä (heärt), uä
(guärd), e (sergeant), äa (bazäar).
IV. The sound â is represented in seven ways: 1. In many words
by â (câre); 2. In a few words by âi (fâir), eâ (pear), ây (prayer),
ê (thêre), êi (thêir), aâ (Aâron). â is the sound å (åsk) followed
by the guttural vowel-sound which clings to the smooth r (see
below, No. XV.).
ર
V. The sound à is represented only by à (åsk) in a few words.
VI. The sound a is represented in nine ways: 1. In many words
by a (all), aw (awl), au (fraud), ô (bôrn); 2. In a few words by
ôu (bôught), ôa (brôad), eô (Geôrge), aô (extraordinary), awe.
VII. The sound é is represented in twelve ways: 1. In many
words by é (éve), ēa (bēat), če (beef), ie (chief); 2. In a few
words by ĉi (deceive), ï (marine), ey (key), čo (people), uay
(quay), uë (Portuguese), a (Cæsar); œ (Phoebus).
VIII. The sound ĕ is represented in twelve ways: 1. In many
words by ě (mět), ča (brěad); 2. In a few words by ai (said),
æ (diæresis), a (any), či (hčifer), čo (leopard), iě (friend), u
(bury), uě (guěst), ay (says), œ (Edipus).
IX. The sound i (a diphthong composed of the sounds -ē, pro-
כי
nounced so briefly as to reduce them nearly to e-I [her, it]) is rep-
resented in ten ways: 1. In many words by i (ice), ỹ (bỹ), ie
(die); 2. In a few words by ui (guide), ei (height), uỹ (buỹ), ai
(aisle), ÿe (rye), eÿe, aỹ (or aỹe, meaning yes).
X.—The sound ĭ is represented in twelve ways: 1. In many words
by í (it), ỹ (lỹnx), ie (duties); 2. In a few words by ui (build),
ai (certain), u (busy), e (pretty), ee (been), o (women), eĬ (for-
eign), ia (carriage), of (tortoise).
XI.—The sound ō is represented in ten ways: 1. In many words by
ō (nōte), ōa (boat), ōw (blōw); 2. In a few words by ōu (fōur),
ōe (fōe), ōɔ (dōor), au (hautboy), ew (sew), eau (beau), eō (yeō-
man).
XII.—The sound Ŏ is represented in four ways: 1. In many words
by Ŏ (not), a (was); 2. In a few words by Ŏu (lŏugh), ŏw (knowl-
edge).
XIII.-The sound ù (a diphthong composed of 1-00; the accent
placed on the ĭ gives the prevalent American pronunciation,
240
FOURTH READER.
placed on the oo converts the ĭ into a y-sound, and gives the cur-
rent English sound) is represented in nine ways: 1. In many
words by u (tube), ew (few); 2. In a few words by ue (hue), ùi
(jūice), eū (neuter), ieū (lieū), iew (view), eaŭ (beaūty), ũa (man-
tua-maker).
XIV. The sound u is represented in eight ways: 1. In many words
by ŭ (bŭt), ỏ (són, and terminations in ion), où (toŭch, and ter-
minations in ous); 2. In a few words by oo (blood), ỏe (dões),
ôi (porpoise), io (cushion), eo (dungeon).
XV. The sound & is represented in nine ways: 1. In many words
by û (bûrn),ẽ (her), I (first); 2. In a few words by ẽa (hẽard),
õ (wõrk), où (scoûrge), ỹ (mỹrtle), a (liar), uẽ (guerdon). This
sound, like â in âir (à in ȧsk, and the guttural uh), is diphthongal,
occasioned by the transmutation of the rough or trilled r to the
smooth or palatal r, the effort expended in trilling the tongue
having weakened into a guttural vowel-sound ŭh, heard as a
glide from the previous vowel-sound to the r. Very careful
speakers preserve enough of the original sounds of e, i, and y to
distinguish them from o or u, although the common usage, here
and in England, is to pronounce them all alike, except before a
trilled r.
Smart says: "Even in the refined classes of society
in England sur, durt, burd, etc., are the current pronunciation
of sir, dirt, bird; and, indeed, in all very common words it
would be somewhat affected to insist on the delicate shade of
difference." The careful teacher will, however, practice his
pupils in this delicate distinction enough to make them well
acquainted with it. The same guttural vowel-sound ůh occurs
as a vanish after ē (mere), ī (fire), ō (more), ū (pure), etc.
XVI.-The sound u is represented in nine ways: 1. In many words
by do (blōʊm); 2. In a few words by ou (group), o (do), u (rule),
ew (grew), ewe (yu), ue (true), ui (fruit), oe (shoe), œụ (manœu̟-
vre). This is the general sound of u after an r or sh sound,
because the first part of the diphthong (i-00) is lost (after r) or
absorbed (in sh).
XVII.—The sound u is represented in four ways: 1. In many words
by oo (brook); 2. In a few by ụ (bụsh), oụ (would), ọ (wolf).
XVIII. The diphthong oi (= a-i or aw-e), as in coil, is represented
also by oy (boy).
XIX. The diphthong ou (= ä-00), as in bound, is represented also
by ow (crowd).
FOURTH READER.
241
XX.-The sounds of g in gem, of g in get, of s in so, of § in was,
of ç in çell, of e in eat, of ch in child, of eh in chorus, of çh in
machine, of x in ox, of x in exact (gz), of n in no, of n in con-
cord (kongkord), of th in thing, of th in the, are marked, when
marked, as here indicated.
XXI. The sound of f is represented by ph (philosopher) in many
words, and by gh (cough) in a few words. The sound of v is
represented by f in of, and ph (Stephen) in a few words. The
sound of sh is represented by c (oceanic), s (nauseate), t (nego-
tiation), ce (ocean), ci (social), se (nauseous), si (tension), ti
(captious), ch (chaise), sc (conscientious), sch (schorl), sci (con-
science). xi = ksh in noxious, xu = kshu in luxury, su = shu in
sure; zh is represented by si (fusion), zi (grazier), s (symposium),
ti (transition), ssi (abscission), g (rouge); zu zhu in azure.
B.—Table of Sounds represented by Letters and Combinations.
1. a-eight sounds: ale, ăt, älms, åsk, câre, all, was, any (ě).
2. e-five sounds: ēve, mět, thêre, her, pretty (1).
3. i-four sounds: ice, it, fatigue, fir.
4. 0-eight sounds: note, nôr, not, move, wolf, wõrk, són, wom-
en (i).
5. u-eight sounds: use (yu), cùbe, but, rude, pull, fûr, busy (1),
bury (ě).
6. y-three sounds: by, lyric, mỹrrh.
7. aa â, ; aeē, ě; ai
ä
a, ō ; aw a; awe a;
8. caâ, â, â, ē, č, ŭ, ûi;
ē, Ĭ; eo =
eo = é, ě, Ô, Ô, Ũ ;
=
ā, â, ă, ě, I, Ĭ; ao= ā, a; au= ā, ä,
ay = a, â, ě, i; aye= a.
ee = ẽ, Ĭ, à; ei = ã, â, ẽ, č, ī, Ĭ; ey = â,
eu = ū, y!, yũ; ew = ū, Ô, ụ, vụ; eau
=ō, ũ; ewe = yu; eye=i; eou=yŭ.
9. ia =Ĭ, yă; ie = ē, ě, î, Ĭ, yč, yŭ; io=yō, yù, ù; iu=yụ; ieu
=ū; iew; iou
Ū; ion=yi.
10. oa = ō, a
ō, a; oe=ē, ě, ō, ụ, ŭ; oi oy, Ĭ, ù, wi, wą; œu= y; 00
= 0, ụ, ụ ũ; ou= ow, 2, Õ, 0, 0, ũ; ow = ou, ô, 8; oy
a,
= oi.
11. ua
:ă, ä, ũ, wã, wă, wa, wa, wa; ue = ẽ, ě, wẽ, wě, ũ, đ, ụ,
yụ; ui=1, Ĭ, ū, u̟, wi, wi, wĩ, wẽ;
uayē; uea =
uea — =
wē; uee = wē; uoy woi; uay = wā, ē,
uo= wõ, wŏ; uy =ẽ,
ē, ï;
I'
242
FOURTH READER.
1.
fos'sil
gămut
seǎb'bard
D.-Less Common Words.
II.
di-ær'e-sis
Ŏs'si-fy
ML
de-cop'tion
fa-çē'-tious (-shus)
ma-nou'vre (-nū-)
vi'ti-āte (-shi-)
stue'eo
myrrh (mēr)
in-i'tial (-ish'-)
vie'ar
nā'dir
in-si'tion (-sish'un)
vis'çid
phalanx
se-di'tious
ter'raçe
phoenix (fʊ'-)
tu-ĭ'tion
sor'tiē
si'phon
eðn’sciençe (-shens)
tŎn-tine'
nā'şal
au-da'cious
pæ'an
sen'ti-ent (-shĭ-)
pre-eō'cious
IV.
V.
VI.
pug-nā'cious (-shus)
sūt'ūre (-yur)
ǎv-a-lǎnçhe'
stǎt'ue
nau'se-āte (-she-)
stǎt'ute
ex-chĕq'uer (-chěk´er)
mos-quï'to (mus-kē´-)
ăn-tique (-teek)
tran-si'tion (-sizhʼun)
gen'ū-ine
gro-těsque' (-těsk')
āl'ien
strěn'u-oùs
mosque
pon'iard
ǎq'ue-duet (-we-)
o-paque'
çi-vil'ian
ĕq'ui-page (-pej)
ehyme (kim)
eŏll'ier-y (-yer-)
ĕq'ui-ty
bur-lèsque'
pa-vil'ion (-yun)
req'ui-şite
eri-tïque'
stǎt'ūre (-yur)
eo-quette' (-kět')
ehi-mē'rá
VII
VIII
IX.
•
ehro-nŏl'o-gy
dŏç'île
stryeh'nine
mis'sile
ĕl'i-ġi-ble
in-děl'i-ble
ür'ehe-type
erys'tal-line
re-şist'i-ble
lǎeh'ry-mal
tûr'pen-tine
çy'ele
měch'a-nışm
eŎr'al-line
pin'na-ele
Pěn'ta-teuch (-tūk)
sǎt'el-lite
re-çěp'ta-ele
gǎn'grene
grănite
griz'zle
triph-thon'gal
dis-bûrse'
In'çense
sue-çes'sive
ǎr'a-ble
riş'i-ble
mas'sa-ere (-ker)
drĭv'el (v'l)
wee'vil (v'l)
FOURTH READER.
243
X.
bea'eon (-kn)
de-qui-ěsce
ob-lique' (-leek')
gnärl (närl)
XI.
XII.
ǎp-ro-pos' (-pʊ')
très'tle (8'l)
děe'a-logue
phlegm (flem)
schişm (sizm)
syn'a-gogue
di'a-phragm (-frăm)
môrt'gage (môr'ğěj)
bai'liff
ǎsth'ma (ăst'-)
hăr'ass
năphíthả (năp-)
subt'le (sŭt'l)
hals'er (haws'-)
Czär (zär)
ǎb'sçess
Ġi-bral'tar
pneū-mõ’ni-ȧ (nū-)
psal'ter-y (sawl'-)
miş'tle-tõe (miz’l-)
in-făl'li-ble
fíl'a-ment
mǎn'age-a-ble
lin'i-ment
pěr'emp-to-ry
nü'tri-ment
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
sĕd'i-ment
re-çip'ro-eal
de-lüde'
ea-tärrh' (-tär')
lås'si-tūde
de-lin'e-āte
fǎs'çi-nāte
a-tròç'i-ty
di-měnʼsion
sup'pli-eate
ea-pǎç'i-ty
e-lü'çi-däte
ē-qui-lib'ri-um
ê-las-tiç'i-ty
im-měn'si-ty
eo-mě'di-an
ǎl-le'gŏr'ie-al
in-Ŏe'ū-lāte
gram-ma'ri-an
ăn-te-ced’ent
fer-men-ta'tion
ea-lum'ni-ous
ănti-dote
fir'ma-ment
de-lir'-i-um
niç'e-ty
sus'te-nançe
ǎe-a-děm'ie-al
ăn-ti-christian
eon-eur'rençe
XVI.
de-çease'
ae-çĕpt'ançe
XVII.
XVIII.
sū-per-in-těnd'ent
pro-bos'çis
cyl'in-der
chȧn'çel-lor
ǎt'mos-phĕre
sur-vey'or (-vā'-)
fin-an-çier' (-seer')
eon-tā'ģious
mär'çhion-ess (-shun-)
vo-ra'cious
ae-equ'ter (-kōo'-)
eo-ĕrçe'
dis-perse'
ăm-phi-the/a-ter
as-pĕrse'
fie-ti'tious
eon-çen'ter
rē-im-bûrse'
In-ter-çēde'
ǎv'a-riçe
sū-per-sēde'
Ŏr'i-fiçe
su-per-sti'tious
ge-Ŏm-e-tri'cian (-trishʼan)
eon-de-sçen'sion
gǎz-et-teer
trēa'tiṣẹ
în-ter-miş'sion (-mish'un)
244
FOURTH READER.
ae-çěl-er-a'tion
big'ot
ex-hil-a-ra'tion (ğz…)
eǎl'um-ny
sçin-til-la'tion
ěm'bas-sy
eŎm'ie -
court'e-sy (kûrt'-)
flag'on
fǎl'la-cy
frig'ate
mil-lěn'ni-um
XIX.
XX.
€ǎt'e-chişe
Ŏb'e-lisk
XXI.
pǎn'ie
eom-mŏd'i-ty
de-věl'op
e-lăb'o-rate
en-ǎm'el
ĕp-i-dém'ie
e-vǎp'o-rāte
blithe'some.
pěl'i-can
ex-pèr'i-ment
mälm'şey (mäm'-)
těn'or
ǎm'e-thyst
vig'or
pi-rǎt'i-eal
re-tǎl'i-āte
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
ǎg'gre-gate
flip'pant
ǎe-a-děm'ie
fŏp'pish
wit'ti-çişm
ae-eom'mo-date
ba-rom'e-ter
mot'to
am-bas'sa-dor
băr-ri-eāde'
mům'my
ban-dit/ti
bắt ter-y
pål'lid
bri-tǎn'ni-å
brag'gart
pěn'nant
co-los'sus
erăb'bed
pŏl'len
eom-mit'tee
dis'si-päte
sĕn'na
dít'ty
stěl'lar
eǎv-a-liĕr'
tråf'fie
em-băr'rass
ex-ǎg'ger-āte
suf'fo-eate
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
in-flăm'ma-to-ry
a-non'y-mous
burg'la-ry
ty-run'nie-al
ȧ-poe'ry-phȧ
ear-touch' (tootch')
a-chieve'ment
as-çènd'en-cy
chir'rup
pi-ǎz'zȧ
ǎt'tri-būte
ehor'is-ter
ae-knowledg-ment
aux-il'ia-ry
çit'a-del
ǎd'mi-ra-ble
be-něf'i-çençe
brill'ian-cy
ǎd-van-ta'geous
a-poth'e-ea-ry
çěl'er-y
am-phib'i-ous
blås'phe-my
găm/e-těr-y
a-nǎl'y-sis
bo-hea'
ăn-ni-versa-ry
bom-ba-zine'
çĕr'e-mo-ny
eon-fee'tion-er-y
FOURTH READER.
245
XXX.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
crĕv'içe
ĕr-y-sip'e-las
hy-dro-phō'bi-ȧ
dim-i-nu'tion
ět-y-mŏl'o-gy
dis-pon'sa-ry
păr'a-chute
il-lit'er-ate
in-die'a-tive
drăm’a-tist
ex-erès'çençe
în-stan-ta'nė-oŭs
e-eon'o-my
dys'en-tĕr-y
ĕf-fer-věs'çençe
en-dĕav'or
în-těl'li-ġi-ble
îrk'some
e-lee-triç'i-ty
er-rō'ne-ous
e-lix'ir
em-běd'ded
jǎg-u-är'
jǎve'lin (jǎv'-)
en-çy-elo-pæ'di-å
fu-nē're-al
joûr'ney-man
e-thē're-al
gym-năs'ties
ker'şey-mère
XXXI.
lǎt'tiçe
lit'er-a-tūre
XXXII.
XXXIII.
pěn-i-těn'tia-ry (-sha-) săp'phire (săf'ir)
ve-neer'
prŏd'i-ġy
liq'ue-fy (-we-)
pha'e-ton
pyr'a-mid
lū'era-tive
phyş-i-ŏl'o-ġy
ma-lā'ri-å
păr'al-lel
dís-a-gree'ing
skir'mish
păl'pa-ble
prom'i-nent
so-liç'i-tūde
pămphlet
ree'om-pense
sŏl'i-ta-ry
pa-rǎl'y-sis
re-pŏş'i-to-ry
star'di-ly
pär'lia-ment
reş-ur-rĕe'tion
sûr'ger-y
fis'süre (fish'ur)
ri-die'u-loŭs
sym'me-try
XXXIV.
XXXV.
syn-Ŏn'y-mous
vănquish
syr'inge
Raleigh
tǎn'ta-lize
Sa-vănnah
tămía-rind
těl'e-seõpe
Du-buque'
těn'e-ment
tyr'an-nize
ve-loç'i-pēde
vict'ual-ler (vĭt'l-)
vo-lū'mi-notis
XXXVI.
An-nup'o-lis
Hãy ti
Cleveland
Băton Rouge (Roozh) Mil-waukee
Des Moines' (de moin')
Pōugh-keep'sie (-kip'-) In-di-an-ap'o-lis
Prairie du Chien (sheen) Pitts'burg
Worces'ter (woos'-)
Terre Haute (hōt)
Ra-çïne'
Ja-mãi’ea
Oǎr-ib-be'an
Schuylkill (skool'-)
246
FOURTH READER.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
Ab-ys-sin'i-a
Shang-hai'
Hä'vre
Çe'çil (or Çe'çil)
sheik
Ab'i-gail
Ăd'e-laide
Pǎr'e-neeş
Ha-văna
Ri'-o Ja-nei'ro
Si nãi
Єa'naan (-nan)
Mär-seilles' (-sülz')
Es'qui-maux (-ko-mōz)
monsieur (mōs-yûr')
mademoiselle (măd-mwa-zěl')
al-lop'a-thy
messieurs (měsh'yerz)
sǎe'ri-lege
dys-pěp'si-å
ğey'ser (gî'-)
hy-drop'a-thy
da-guerre'o-type (-ger'-)
pôrte'mon-naie (-nā)
Єăl'ais (-is)
an-tiq'ui-ty
Dnie'per (nee'-)
ĕp'au-lět
Єay-enne' (ki-on')
eǎ'liph
XL.
bay'ou (bloo)
XLI.
XLII.
bay'o-net
for-både' (-băd')
hō-mo-op'a thy
·
eŏm'rado
gui-tär (gi-)
Hu'gue-not (-ge-)
eon'çen-träte
lunch'eón (un)
glyç'er-ine
eon'eord
měaş'üre (zh')
a-byss'
diş-hŎn'est (-Ŏn'-)
men-ǎg'e-rie (-azh'-)
sçi'on
ex-haust'
mer'ean-tile
en-ăm'el-ing
ex-hib'it
mu-şe'um
eälın (kām)
fast'en (fås'n)
ō'a-sis
eŭp'board (kŭb'burd) flŏr'id
före'head (för-ed)
fōlks (fōks)
op-pō'nent
skěl'e-ton
XLIII.
XLIV.
XLV.
squirrel (skwir- or eom-pog'íte
ho-ri'zon
wrist band [skwur'-) eŎm'pro-mişe
house'wife
ǎg'gran-dize
děf'i-çit
il-lus'trāte
ǎl-tér'nate
děs'pi-eable
îm'be-çile
ap-pa-ra'tus
ĕp'och
ĭm'po-tent
a-rō'ma
fi-nănçe'
in-çi'síve
ar-tif'i-çer
fōrge
in-eŏm'pa-ra-ble
är'ti-şan
frånt'iēr
în-de-făt'i-ga-ble
as-pīr'ant
gib'ber
in-dis'pu-ta-ble
eom-pō'nent
gōōşe'běr-ry
in'dus-try
FOURTH READER.
247
XLVIII.
XLVI.
XLVII.
in-ĕx'o-ra-ble
mon’as-těr-y
tǎp'es-try
in-sěp'a-ra-ble
Ŏb'li-ga-to-ry
tär'get
în'te-gral
Pan-the'on
těp'id
în'ter-ěst-ed
pä'tent
ti'ny
lăment-a-ble
rē-lax-a'tion
ti-rāde'
lē'ni-ent
re-vōlt'
trē'mor
lĕv'ee
route
lē'ver
söl'der
trib'une
vǎe'çi-nāte
lū'di-erous
squve-nïr'
mā'ni-ǎ-e
sphinx
va-ga'ry
wräth
XLIX.*
L.*
LI.*
(4) heir
(2) bough
(2) dun ·
(4) e'er
(2) brake
(2) dost
(2) altar
(2) cell
(2) dire
(2) bait
(2) seller
(2) dyeing
(2) bade
(2) climb
(3) ewe
(2) beau
(2) course
(3) yew
(2) been
(2) corps
(2) fawn
(2) bier
(2) creak
(2) fare
(2) belle
(2) due
(2) feat
(2) bury
(2) dough
(2) flue
LII.*
LIII.*
LIV.*
(2) fourth
(2) whoop
(2) knead
(2) gait
(2) inn
(2) knight
(2) guilt
(2) lessen
(3) o'er
(2) gored
(2) led
(2) won
(2) grown
(2) lye
(2) pale
(2) hale
(2) maid
(3) pear
(2) haul
(2) mail
(2) paws
(2) hart
(2) mane
(2) piece
(2) hew
(2) mown
(2) peal
(2) hire
(2) neigh
(2) purl
248
FOURTH READER.
#
LV.*
(2) plain
(2) wring
(2) plait
(3) road
(2) plumb
(2) roar
LVI.*
LVII.*
(2) tier
(2) through
(2) thrown
(2) prey
(2) rood
(2) thyme
(3) praise
(2) sail
(2) toe
(3) rein
(2) scene
(2) tun
(2) wrap
(2) seam
(2) vein
(2) red
(2) seize
(2) veil
(2) reed
(2) sleigh
(3) viol
(2) rice
(3) so
(2) waist
LVIII.*
LIX.t
LX.t
(2) week
(2) wood
(2) abuse
(2) bow
(2) slough
(2) wind
(2) throe
(2) cleanly
(2) mall
(2) rime
(2) hinder
(2) gallant
(2) moat
(2) meed
(2) grieves
(2) cygnet
(2) lead
(2) grease
•
(2) live
(2) lower
(2) gill
(2) close
(2) corol
(2) bruit
(2) minute
(2) mow
(2) row
(2) rise
(2) irony
(2) wound
* When the teacher pronounces a word from these lessons (XLIX.-LVIII.), the pupil
should spell and define the two or more words having the same pronunciation.
+ When the teacher pronounces a word from these lessons (LIX.-LX.), the pupil
should give its two pronunciations and the definition in each case; e. g., bow (bou), to
incline the head; bow (bō), a weapon for propelling arrows, or the doubling of a string in
a knot, etc.
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UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
428.6 H244
Harris, William Torrey, 1835-1909.
The first fourth reader.
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MESH HALFTONE WEDGES
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133
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A4 Page 6543210
A4 Page 6543210
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MEMORIAL DRIVE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14623
RIT ALPHANUMERIC RESOLUTION TEST OBJECT, RT-1-71
0123460
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ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ONE LOMB
PRODUCED BY GRAPHIC ARTS RESEARCH CENTER