Chapter 4
DISSUADE, to advise against; to turn from a purpose by reasons given.
ANTIQUATED, grown old; old-fashioned.
Tell what each contraction met with in the selection stands for.
Use _their_ or _there_ properly in place of the blanks in the following sentences: The girls were on -- way to the Park. -- was an old lady at the crossing. Our home is --. Katy and Mary said -- mother lived --.
Memory Gems:
Count that day lost Whose low descending sun, Views from thy hands No worthy action done.
_Author unknown._
What I must do concerns me, not what people will think.
_Emerson_.
[Footnote 001: Copyrighted by Little, Brown & Company.]
* * * * *
_24_
WHAT HOUSE TO LIKE.
For Recitation:
Some love the glow of outward show, Some love mere wealth and try to win it; The house to me may lowly be If I but like the people in it.
What's all the gold that glitters cold, When linked to hard or haughty feeling? Whate'er we're told, the noble gold Is truth of heart and manly dealing.
A lowly roof may give us proof That lowly flowers are often fairest; And trees whose bark is hard and dark May yield us fruit and bloom the rarest.
There's worth as sure 'neath garments poor As e'er adorned a loftier station; And minds as just as those, we trust, Whose claim is but of wealth's creation.
Then let them seek, whose minds are weak, Mere fashion's smile, and try to win it; The house to me may lowly be If I but like the people in it.
_Anon_.
* * * * *
What is meant by "haughty feeling"?
What does the author say "the noble gold" is?
Is "bloom" in the third stanza an action-word or a name-word? Why?
Give in your own words the thought of the fourth stanza.
Use _to, too, two,_ properly before each of the following words:
hard, win, people, minds, dark, yield.
What virtues does the poem recommend?
What "lowly flowers are often fairest"?
What "lowly" virtue does the following stanza suggest?
The bird that sings on highest wing, Builds on the ground her lowly nest; And she that doth most sweetly sing, Sings in the shade when all things rest.
_Montgomery_.
Name the two birds referred to.
* * * * *
_25_
sears flecked de signed' strait'ened il lu'mined
A SONG OF DUTY.
Sorrow comes and sorrow goes; Life is flecked with shine and shower; Now the tear of grieving flows, Now we smile in happy hour; Death awaits us, every one-- Toiler, dreamer, preacher, writer-- Let us then, ere life be done, Make the world a little brighter!
Burdens that our neighbors bear, Easier let us try to make them; Chains perhaps our neighbors wear, Let us do our best to break them. From the straitened hand and mind, Let us loose the binding fetter, Let us, as the Lord designed, Make the world a little better!
Selfish brooding sears the soul, Fills the mind with clouds of sorrow, Darkens all the shining goal Of the sun-illumined morrow; Wherefore should our lives be spent Daily growing blind and blinder-- Let us, as the Master meant, Make the world a little kinder!
_Denis A. McCarthy._
From "Voices from Erin."
Angel Guardian Press, Boston, Mass.
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_26_
Sod' om spright' ly the o lo' gi an his' to ry To bi' as cre at' ed pro ceed' ed sep' a ra ted min' is ter Au gus' tine crit' i cise cat' e ehism de ter' mined As cen' sion Res ur rec' tion
AN EVENING WITH THE ANGELS.
"Well, James," said a kind-voiced mother, "you promised to tell Maggie all about the Catechism you heard this afternoon at school."
"All right, mother," answered sprightly James, "anything at all to make Maggie happy. Let's begin right away."
"Maggie, you said," continued James, "that you never could find out _when_ the angels were created. Neither could our teacher tell me. And I'm told St. Augustine could only make a guess when they were created.
"He thought the angels were created when God separated the light from the darkness. But that's no matter, anyhow. We're sure there are angels; that's the chief point."
"Are you quite certain?" asked Maggie.
"To be sure I am," said James. "If I met a man in the street I would know he must have a father and a mother, although I had never heard when he was born."
"That's so," chimed in the proud mother.
"Well, then, mother, many angels have been seen on earth, and they must have been created some time. Let me tell you some of the places where it is said in the Bible that angels have been seen, and where they spoke, too."
"Now, James," said the father, "let Maggie see if _she_ can find out some of those places herself. Here is the Bible."
With the help of mother and James, Maggie soon found the history of Adam and Eve, where it is recorded that an angel with a flaming sword was placed at the gate of Paradise.
"Poor Adam and Eve," said Maggie, "they must have felt very sad."
"Yes," answered Father Kennedy, who dropped in just then, and beheld his young theologians with the holy Book before them. "They felt very sorry, indeed, but they were consoled when told that a Savior would come to redeem them."
"So you told us last Sunday," chimed in James. "Then you spoke about the angels at Bethlehem who sang glory to God in the highest."
"And there was an angel in the desert when our Lord was tempted," proceeded the father.
"Oh! did you hear papa say the devil was an angel?" exclaimed James.
"Of course the devil is an angel," said Maggie, glad to trip up her big brother, "but he is a bad one."
"I say yet that there were angels with our Lord after His forty days' fast," insisted James.
"So I say, too," retorted Maggie; "but while only one _bad angel_ tempted our Lord, many good angels came to minister unto Him."
"Very well, indeed," said Father Kennedy. "But let's hurry over some other points about the angels. Your turn; Master James, and give only the place and person in each case."
"Well, let me see; there were Abraham and the three angels who went to Sodom, and the angels who beat the man that wanted to steal money from the temple, and the angel who took Tobias on a long journey."
"Please, Father Kennedy, wasn't it an _Archangel?_" inquired Maggie, still determined to surpass her brother.
"Never mind that," said the priest. "Go on, James; 'twill be Maggie's turn soon."
"Well, there was an angel in the Garden of Olives, and angels at the Resurrection of our Lord, and angels at His Ascension."
Here Maggie exclaimed, "Please, Father Kennedy, may I have till next Sunday to search out some angels? James has taken all mine."
"No," mildly said the delighted clergyman, "_your _angel is always with you, and James has his, too."
"Father Kennedy, there's a man dying in the block behind the church," said the servant from the half-open parlor door. "Excuse my coming in without knocking. They're in a great hurry."
"Good night, children," said the devoted priest, "till next Sunday. May your angels watch over you in the meantime."
* * * * *
ARCHANGEL ([:a]rk [=a]n' j[)e]l), a chief angel.
ARCHBISHOP ([:a]rch bish' [)u]p), a chief bishop.
ARCH, as a prefix, means _chief_, and in nearly every case the _ch_ is soft, as in archbishop. In archangel, architect, and in one or two other words, the _ch = k._
ARCH, as a suffix, is pronounced _[:a]rk_, and means _ruler; _ as monarch, a _sole ruler;_ one who _rules alone._
Make a list of all the words of the Lesson that are contractions. Write after each what it is a contraction of.
EARTHWARD = earth + ward (w[~e]rd). _ward_ is here a suffix meaning _course, direction to, motion towards._ Add this SUFFIX to the end of each of the following words, and tell the meaning of each new word formed:
up, sea, back, down, east, west, land, earth.
WHAT word is the opposite in meaning of each of these new words?
Memory Gem:
The generous heart Should scorn a pleasure which gives others pain.
_Tennyson_.
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_27_
ebb' ing spon' sor judg' ments el' e ments tu' te lage
MY GUARDIAN ANGEL.
My oldest friend, mine from the hour When first I drew my breath; My faithful friend, that shall be mine, Unfailing, till my death.
Thou hast been ever at my side; My Maker to thy trust Consign'd my soul, what time He framed The infant child of dust.
No beating heart in holy prayer, No faith, inform'd aright, Gave me to Joseph's tutelage, Or Michael's conquering might.
Nor patron saint, nor Mary's love,-- The dearest and the best,-- Has known my being as thou hast known, And blest as thou hast blest.
Thou wast my sponsor at the font; And thou, each budding year, Didst whisper elements of truth Into my childish ear.
And when, ere boyhood yet was gone, My rebel spirit fell, Ah! thou didst see, and shudder too, Yet bear each deed of Hell.
And then in turn, when judgments came. And scared me back again, Thy quick soft breath was near to soothe And hallow every pain.
Oh! who of all thy toils and cares Can tell the tale complete, To place me under Mary's smile, And Peter's royal feet!
And thou wilt hang above my bed, When life is ebbing low; Of doubt, impatience, and of gloom, The jealous, sleepless foe.
Mine, when I stand before my Judge; And mine, if spared to stay Within the golden furnace till My sin is burn'd away.
And mine, O Brother of my soul, When my release shall come; Thy gentle arms shall lift me then, Thy wings shall waft me home.
_Cardinal Newman._
* * * * *
Explain the following expressions:
Joseph's tutelage; Michael's conquering might; my sponsor at the font; each budding year; my rebel spirit fell; Peter's royal feet. Describe the picture.
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_28_
quoth crooned frisked beech'-wood twain se'rene frol'icked wan'dering
LITTLE BELL.
Piped the blackbird on the beech-wood spray: "Pretty maid, slow wandering this way, What's your name?" quoth he,-- "What's your name? Oh, stop, and straight unfold, Pretty maid, with showery curls of gold!" "Little Bell," said she.
Little Bell sat down beneath the rocks, Tossed aside her gleaming, golden locks. "Bonny bird," quoth she, "Sing me your best song before I go," "Here's the very finest song I know, Little Bell," said he.
And the blackbird piped: you never heard Half so gay a song from any bird,-- Full of quips and wiles, Now so round and rich, now soft and slow, All for love of that sweet face below, Dimpled o'er with smiles.
And the while the bonny bird did pour His full heart out freely, o'er and o'er, 'Neath the morning skies, In the little childish heart below All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, And shine forth in happy overflow From the blue, bright eyes.
Down the dell she tripped; and through the glade Peeped the squirrel from the hazel shade, And from out the tree Swung, and leaped, and frolicked, void of fear, While bold blackbird piped, that all might hear: "Little Bell!" piped he.
Little Bell sat down amid the fern: "Squirrel, squirrel, to your task return; Bring me nuts," quoth she. Up, away, the frisky squirrel hies,-- Golden woodlights glancing in his eyes,-- And adown the tree Great ripe nuts, kissed brown by July sun, In the little lap dropped, one by one. Hark! how blackbird pipes to see the fun! "Happy Bell!" pipes he.
Little Bell looked up and down the glade: "Squirrel, squirrel, if you're not afraid, Come and share with me!" Down came squirrel, eager for his fare, Down came bonny blackbird, I declare! Little Bell gave each his honest share; Ah! the merry three!
And the while these woodland playmates twain Piped and frisked from bough to bough again, 'Neath the morning skies, In the little childish heart below All the sweetness seemed to grow and grow, And shine out in happy overflow From her blue, bright eyes.
By her snow-white cot at close of day Knelt sweet Bell, with folded palms, to pray: Very calm and clear Rose the praying voice to where, unseen, In blue heaven, an angel shape serene Paused awhile to hear.
"What good child is this," the angel said, "That, with happy heart, beside her bed Prays so lovingly?" Low and soft, oh! very low and soft, Crooned the blackbird in the orchard croft, "Bell, _dear_ Bell!" crooned he.
"Whom God's creatures love," the angel fair Whispered, "God doth bless with angels' care; Child, thy bed shall be Folded safe from harm. Love, deep and kind, Shall watch around, and leave good gifts behind, Little Bell, for thee."
_Thomas Westwood_.
A STUDY OF LITTLE BELL
croft, a small inclosed field, near a house.
croon, to sing in a low tone.
quips, quick, smart turns.
piping, making a shrill sound like that of a pipe or flute.
In the first stanza what are the marks called that enclose _Little Bell?_ Why are these marks used here?
Name the words of the poem in which the apostrophe is used. Tell what it denotes in each case.
Where does the poem first take us? What do we see there?
In what words does the blackbird address the "pretty maid, slowly wandering" his way? Who is she?
Seated beneath the rocks, what does Little Bell ask the blackbird to do?
Read the lines that describe the blackbird's song. Why did the bird sing so sweetly? What were the effects of his song on "the little childish heart below?"
Seated amid the fern, what did Little Bell ask the squirrel to do? Read the lines that tell what the squirrel did. What invitation did the squirrel receive from Little Bell?
Where does the poem bring us "at the close of day?" Tell what you see there.
Read the lines that tell what the angel asked.
Read the angel's words in the first two lines of the last stanza. What is their meaning?
What promises did the angel make to this good child? Why did he make such beautiful promises?
Tell what the following words and expressions of the poem mean: quoth he; straight unfold; dell; glade; hies; showery curls of gold; bonny bird; hazel shade; void of fear; golden woodlights; adown the tree; playmates twain; with folded palms; an angel shape; with angels' care; the bird did pour his full heart out freely; the sweetness did shine forth in happy overflow.
Select a stanza of the poem, and express in your own words the thought it contains.
Describe some of the pictures the poem brings to mind.
What is the lesson the poet wishes us to learn from this poem?
Show how the couplet of the English poet, Coleridge,--
"He prayeth best who loveth best, All things both great and small,"--
is illustrated in the story of Little Bell.
Write a composition on the story from the following hints: Where did Little Bell go? In what season of the year? At what time of day? How old was she? How did she look? What companions did she meet? What did the three friends do? How did the little girl close the day?
In your composition, use as many words and phrases of the poem as you can.
* * * * *
Memorize:
Prayer is the dew of faith, Its raindrop, night and day, That guards its vital power from death When cherished hopes decay, And keeps it mid this changeful scene, A bright, perennial evergreen.
Good works, of faith the fruit, Should ripen year by year, Of health and soundness at the root And evidence sincere. Dear Savior, grant thy blessing free And make our faith no barren tree.
_Lydia H. Sigourney._
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_29_
na'bob ap plaud'ed un as sum'ing sad' dler dif' fi dence sec' re ta ry ob scured' live' li hood su per cil' i ous
A MODEST WIT.
For Recitation:
A supercilious nabob of the East-- Haughty, being great--purse-proud, being rich-- A governor, or general, at the least, I have forgotten which-- Had in his family a humble youth, Who went from England in his patron's suit, An unassuming boy, in truth A lad of decent parts, and good repute.
This youth had sense and spirit; But yet with all his sense, Excessive diffidence Obscured his merit.
One day, at table, flushed with pride and wine, His honor, proudly free, severely merry, Conceived it would be vastly fine To crack a joke upon his secretary.
"Young man," said he, "by what art, craft, or trade, Did your good father gain a livelihood?"-- "He was a saddler, sir," Modestus said, "And in his line was reckoned good."
"A saddler, eh? and taught you Greek, Instead of teaching you to sew! Pray, why did not your father make A saddler, sir, of you?"
Each flatterer, then, as in duty bound, The joke applauded, and the laugh went round. At length, Modestus, bowing low, Said (craving pardon, if too free he made), "Sir, by your leave, I fain would know _Your_ father's trade!"
"_My_ father's _trade?_ Heavens! that's too bad! My father's trade! Why, blockhead, are you mad? My father, sir, did never stoop so low. He was a gentleman, I'd have you know."
"Excuse the liberty I take," Modestus said, with archness on his brow, "Pray, why did not your father make A gentleman of you?"
_Selleck Osborne._
* * * * *
fain, gladly.
archness, sly humor free from malice.
suit (s[=u]t), the people who attend upon a person of distinction; often written _suite_ (_sw[=e]t_).
Write the plural forms of _boy, man, duty, youth, family, secretary._
Copy these sentences, using other words instead of those in italics:
He was an _unassuming_ boy, of decent _parts_ and good _repute_. His _diffidence obscured_ his merit. _Excuse_ the _liberty_ I take.
Memory Gems:
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,-- The man's the gold for a' that!
_Burns._
One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.
_Goethe_ (_g[^u]' t[=e]_).
* * * * *
_30_
WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE.[002]
For Recitation:
Woodman, spare that tree! Touch not a single bough! In youth it sheltered me, And I'll protect it now. 'Twas my forefather's hand That placed it near his cot; There, woodman, let it stand, Thy ax shall harm it not!
That old familiar tree, Whose glory and renown Are spread o'er land and sea-- And wouldst thou hew it down? Woodman, forbear thy stroke! Cut not its earth-bound ties; Oh! spare that aged oak, Now towering to the skies.
When but an idle boy, I sought its grateful shade; In all their gushing joy Here, too, my sisters played. My mother kissed me here; My father pressed my hand;-- Forgive this foolish tear, But let that old oak stand.
My heartstrings round thee cling, Close as thy bark, old friend! Here shall the wild bird sing, And still thy branches bend. Old tree! the storm still brave! And, Woodman, leave the spot! While I've a hand to save, Thy ax shall harm it not.
_George P. Morris,_
[Footnote 002: NOTE.--Many trees in our country are landmarks, and are valued highly. The early settlers were accustomed to plant trees and dedicate them to liberty. One of these was planted at Cambridge, Mass., and it was under the shade of this venerable Elm that George Washington took command of the Continental army, July 3rd, 1775.
There are other trees around whose trunks and under whose boughs whole families of children passed much of their childhood. When one of these falls or is destroyed, it is like the death of some honored citizen.
Judge Harris of Georgia, a scholar, and a gentleman of extensive literary culture, regarded "Woodman, Spare that Tree" as one of the truest lyrics of the age. He never heard it sung or recited without being deeply moved.]
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_31_
car' goes em bar' go im mor' tal ized prin' ci ple col' o nists rep re sen ta' tion de ri' sion pa' tri ot ism Phil a del' phi a
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY.
Shortly before the War of the Revolution broke out, George III, King of England, claimed the right to tax the people of this country, though he did not permit them to take any part in framing the laws under which they lived.
He placed a light tax on tea, just to teach Americans that they could not escape taxation altogether. But the colonists were fighting for a principle,--that of no taxation without representation, and would not buy the tea. In New York and Philadelphia the people would not allow the vessels to land their cargoes.
The women of America held meetings in many towns, and declared they would drink no tea until the hated tax was removed. The ladies had a hard time of it without their consoling cup of tea, but they stood out nobly.
Three shiploads of tea were sent to Boston. On the night of December 16, 1773, a party of young Americans, painted and dressed like Indians, boarded the three vessels lying in the harbor, opened the chests, and emptied all the tea into the water. They then slipped away to their homes, and were never found out by the British. One of the leaders of these daring young men was Paul Revere, whose famous midnight ride has been immortalized by Longfellow.
When the news of the Boston Tea Party was carried across the ocean, the anger of the King was aroused, and he sent a strong force of soldiers to Boston to bring the rebels to terms. This act only increased the spirit of patriotism that burned in the breasts of all Americans.
George P. Morris, the poet, describes this Tea Party, and the origin of the tune "Yankee Doodle," in the following verses, which our American boys and girls of to-day will gladly read and sing:
Once on a time old Johnny Bull flew in a raging fury, And swore that Jonathan should have no trials, sir, by jury; That no elections should be held, across the briny waters; "And now," said he, "I'll tax the tea of all his sons and daughters." Then down he sate in burly state, and blustered like a grandee, And in derision made a tune called "Yankee doodle dandy." "Yankee doodle"--these are facts--"Yankee doodle dandy;" My son of wax, your tea I'll tax; you Yankee doodle dandy!"
John sent the tea from o'er the sea, with heavy duties rated; But whether hyson or bohea, I never heard it stated. Then Jonathan to pout began--he laid a strong embargo-- "I'll drink no tea, by Jove!" so he threw overboard the cargo. Then Johnny sent a regiment, big words and looks to bandy, Whose martial band, when near the land, played "Yankee doodle dandy." "Yankee doodle--keep it up--Yankee doodle dandy-- I'll poison with a tax your cup, you Yankee doodle dandy."