De La Salle Fifth Reader - Brothers of the Christian Schools
_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.
* * * * *
_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_.
* * * * *
_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._
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE GUARDIAN ANGEL]
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.
* * * * *
_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_.
[Illustration:]
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._
* * * * *
_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.]
* * * * *
_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.
[Illustration:]
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."
A long war then they had, in which John was at last defeated,
And "Yankee Doodle" was the march to which his troops retreated.
Cute Jonathan, to see them fly, could not restrain his laughter;
"That tune," said he, "suits to a T--I'll sing it ever after!"
Old Johnny's face, to his disgrace, was flushed with beer and brandy,
E'en while he swore to sing no more this Yankee doodle dandy.
Yankee doodle,--ho-ha-he--Yankee doodle dandy,
We kept the tune, but not the tea--Yankee doodle dandy.
I've told you now the origin of this most lively ditty,
Which Johnny Bull dislikes as "dull and stupid"--what a pity!
With "Hail Columbia" it is sung, in chorus full and hearty--
On land and main we breathe the strain John made for his tea party,
No matter how we rhyme the words, the music speaks them handy,
And where's the fair can't sing the air of Yankee doodle dandy?
Yankee doodle, firm and true--Yankee doodle dandy--
Yankee doodle, doodle do, Yankee doodle dandy!
* * * * *
The people of the thirteen original colonies adopted as a principle, "No
taxation without representation." What did they mean by this? Name the
thirteen original colonies.
Are the last syllables of the words _principle_ and
_principal_ pronounced alike? Use the two words in sentences of your own.
What does "with heavy duties rated" mean?
Pronounce distinctly the final consonants in the words _colonists,
insects, friend, friends, nests, priests, lifts, tempts._
Write the plural forms of the following words: solo, echo, negro, cargo,
piano, calico, potato, embargo.
How should a word be broken or divided when there is not room for all of
it at the end of a line? Illustrate by means of examples found in your
Reader.
* * * * *
_32_
scenes
source
seized
re ceive'
poised
nec' tar
re verts'
Ju' pi ter
cat' a ract
ex' qui site
in tru' sive ly
THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET.
How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents them to view!
The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wild-wood,
And every loved spot that my infancy knew;--
The wide-spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it;
The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell;
The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it,
And e'en the rude bucket which hung in the well:
The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket, which hung in the well.
That moss-covered vessel I hailed as a treasure;
For often, at noon, when returned from the field,
I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,
The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.
How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing,
And quick to the white-pebbled bottom it fell;
Then soon, with the emblem of truth overflowing,
And dripping with coolness, it rose from the well:
The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket,
The moss-covered bucket arose from the well.