walked on. "I always wanted a bird, and this one will be such a pretty
pet for me."
12. "He'll fly away the first chance he gets, and die anyhow; so you'd
better not waste your time over him," said Bessy.
"He can't pay you for taking care of him, and my mother says it isn't
worth while to help folks that can't help us," added Kate.
13. "My mother says, 'Do as you'd be done by;' and I'm sure I'd
like any one to help me if I was dying of cold and hunger. 'Love
your neighbor as yourself,' is another of her sayings. This bird is
my little neighbor, and I'll love him and care for him, as I often
wish our rich neighbor would love and care for us," answered Tilly,
breathing her warm breath over the benumbed bird, who looked up at her
with confiding eyes, quick to feel and know a friend.
14. "What a funny girl you are," said Kate; "caring for that silly
bird, and talking about loving your neighbor in that sober way. Mr.
King doesn't care a bit for you, and never will, though he knows how
poor you are; so I don't think your plan amounts to much."
15. "I believe it, though; and shall do my part, anyway. Good night.
I hope you'll have a merry Christmas, and lots of pretty things,"
answered Tilly, as they parted.
II
16. Her eyes were full, and she felt so poor as she went on alone
toward the little, old house where she lived. It would have been so
pleasant to know that she was going to have some of the pretty things
all children love to find in their full stockings on Christmas
morning. And pleasanter still to have been able to give her mother
something nice. So many comforts were needed, and there was no hope of
getting them; for they could barely get food and fire.
17. "Never mind, birdie; we'll make the best of what we have and be
merry in spite of everything. You shall have a happy Christmas, anyway;
and I know God won't forget us, if every one else does."
She stopped a minute to wipe her eyes and lean her cheek against the
bird's soft breast, finding great comfort in the little creature,
though it could only love her, nothing more.
18. "See, mother, what a nice present I've found," she cried, going in
with a cheery face that was like sunshine in a dark room.
"I'm glad of that, dearie; for I haven't been able to get my little
girl anything but a rosy apple. Poor bird! Give it some of your warm
bread and milk."
19. "Why, mother, what a big bowlful! I'm afraid you gave me all the
milk," said Tilly, smiling over the nice, steaming supper that stood
ready for her.
"I've had plenty, dear. Sit down and dry your wet feet, and put the
bird in my basket on this warm flannel."
20. Tilly peeped into the closet and saw nothing there but dry bread.
"Mother's given me all the milk, and is going without her tea 'cause
she knows I'm hungry. Now I'll surprise her, and she shall have a good
supper, too. She is going to split wood, and I'll fix it while she's
gone."
21. So Tilly put down the old teapot, carefully poured out a part of
the milk, and from her pocket produced a great, plummy bun that one of
the school children had given her and she had saved for her mother. A
slice of the dry bread was nicely toasted, and the bit of butter set
by for her put on it. When her mother came in, there was the table
drawn up in a warm place, a hot cup of tea ready, and Tilly and birdie
waiting for her.
22. Such a poor little supper, and yet such a happy one; for love,
charity, and contentment were guests there, and that Christmas eve was
a blither one than that up at the great house, where lights shone,
fires blazed, a great tree glittered, and music sounded, as the
children danced and played.
23. "We must go to bed early, for we've only wood enough to last over
to-morrow. I shall be paid for my work the day after, and then we can
get some," said Tilly's mother, as they sat by the fire.
24. "If my bird was only a fairy bird, and would give us three wishes,
how nice it would be! Poor dear, he can't give me anything; but it's no
matter," answered Tilly, looking at the robin, which lay in the basket
with his head under his wing, a mere little feathery bunch.
25. "He can give you one thing, Tilly--the pleasure of doing good. That
is one of the sweetest things in life; and the poor can enjoy it as
well as the rich."
26. As her mother spoke, with her tired hand softly stroking her little
daughter's hair, Tilly suddenly started and pointed to the window,
saying in a frightened whisper:
"I saw a face--a man's face, looking in! It's gone now; but I truly saw
it."
27. "Some traveler attracted by the light, perhaps. I'll go and see."
And Tilly's mother went to the door.
No one was there. The wind blew cold, the stars shone, the snow lay
white on field and wood, and the Christmas moon was glittering in the
sky.
28. "What sort of face was it?" asked Tilly's mother, coming back.
"A pleasant sort of face, I think; but I was so startled I don't quite
know what it was like. I wish we had a curtain there," said Tilly.
29. "I like to have our light shine out in the evening, for the road
is dark and lonely just here, and the twinkle of our lamp is pleasant
to people's eyes as they go by. We can do so little for our neighbors,
I am glad to cheer the way for them. Now put these poor old shoes to
dry, and go to bed, dearie; I'll come soon."
30. Tilly went, taking her bird with her to sleep in his basket near
by, lest he should be lonely in the night.
Soon the little house was dark and still, and no one saw the Christmas
spirits at their work that night.
31. When Tilly opened the door next morning, she gave a loud cry,
clapped her hands, and then stood still, quite speechless with wonder
and delight. There, before the door, lay a great pile of wood all ready
to burn, a big bundle, and a basket, with a lovely nosegay of winter
roses, holly, and evergreen tied to the handle.
32. "Oh, mother! did the fairies do it?" cried Tilly, pale with her
happiness, as she seized the basket, while her mother took in the
bundle.
33. "Yes, dear, the best and dearest fairy in the world, called
'Charity.' She walks abroad at Christmas time, does beautiful deeds
like this, and does not stay to be thanked," answered her mother with
full eyes, as she undid the parcel.
34. There they were--the warm, thick blankets, the comfortable shawl,
the new shoes, and, best of all, a pretty winter hat for Bessy. The
basket was full of good things to eat, and on the flowers lay a paper
saying:
"For the little girl who loves her neighbor as herself."
35. "Mother, I really think my bird is a fairy bird, and all these
splendid things come from him," said Tilly, laughing and crying with
joy.
36. It really did seem so, for, as she spoke, the robin flew to the
table, hopped to the nosegay, and, perching among the roses, began to
chirp with all his little might. The sun streamed in on flowers, bird,
and happy child, and no one saw a shadow glide away from the window;
no one ever knew that Mr. King had seen and heard the little girls the
night before, or dreamed that the rich neighbor had learned a lesson
from the poor neighbor.
37. And Tilly's bird was a fairy bird; for by her love and tenderness
to the helpless thing she brought good gifts to herself, happiness to
the unknown giver of them, and a faithful little friend who did not fly
away, but stayed with her till the snow was gone, making summer for her
in the winter time.
* * * * *
I. =Bē̍ nŭm_be_d´=: deprived of feeling, as by cold.
=Cŏn fīd´ĭng=: trusting.
II. =Plŭm´my̆=: full of plums. =Chăr´ĭ ty̆=: kindness to the poor.
* * * * *
Honor and shame from no condition rise.
Act well your part; there all the honor lies.
POPE
[Illustration]
Under the Greenwood Tree
BY WILLIAM SHAKSPERE
William Shakspere (1564-1616): An English dramatic poet. His name
is the greatest in English literature, and one of the greatest in
the world's literature. The plays usually considered his best are
"Hamlet," "King Lear," "Othello," "Macbeth," "Julius Cæsar," "The
Merchant of Venice," and "The Tempest." "Under the Greenwood Tree"
is the song of the banished lords in "As You Like It."
1. Under the greenwood tree,
Who loves to lie with me,
And turn his merry note
Unto the sweet bird's throat,
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
2. Who doth ambition shun,
And loves to live i' the sun,
Seeking the food he eats,
And pleased with what he gets,
Come hither, come hither, come hither!
Here shall he see
No enemy
But winter and rough weather.
Our First Naval Hero
1. Much has been said about the gallant deeds of the brave sailors who
won the victories of Manila and Santiago in the war with Spain.
The great steel war ships of to-day are very different from the small
wooden vessels with which the naval battles of the Revolution were
fought.
2. But we had brave sailors in those early days, also, as you can learn
from the following stories of our first great naval hero. This hero's
name was John Paul Jones.
3. At the beginning of the Revolution, Jones offered his services to
Congress, and was given a position in the navy. He showed such skill
and courage that he was soon put in command of a ship.
When a ship was being fitted out for him, he asked for a good one.
"For," said he, "I intend to go in harm's way."
4. Paul Jones was the first to raise the stars and stripes on the seas,
and he soon made his flag feared by the enemies of his country.
[Illustration: Jones rowed to his own vessel.]
5. Not long after he raised his flag, he went to Whitehaven, on the
coast of England. There hundreds of English vessels lay at anchor.
At midnight, Jones, with two small boats, rowed noiselessly into
the harbor. Leaving the others to set fire to the English ships, he
hastened forward, with only one man, to take the fort which defended
the harbor.
6. He spiked every gun and then hurried back to his men. What was his
rage to find that they had not set fire to the ships as he had ordered.
7. By this time day was beginning to break, and the people of the town
were gathering at the water-side. But Paul Jones was unwilling to see
his plan fail entirely. All alone he entered a large ship, and set fire
to it with his own hands.
8. As the flames rose high, the people rushed forward to put them out.
But Paul Jones, pistol in hand, threatened to shoot down the first man
who should approach. When the ship was fairly on fire, he rowed to his
own vessel and sailed out of the harbor.
9. Through the help of Franklin, Jones obtained command of a vessel
which he called the "Poor Richard." As it and three other small
American ships were sailing along the English coast, they saw a fleet
of merchant vessels accompanied by two large war ships.
10. Jones at once gave chase. The merchant vessels scattered like wild
pigeons, and ran for shore, but the two war ships advanced to fight.
Paul Jones, in his old, half worn-out ship, fearlessly approached the
Serapis, a new vessel with an excellent crew. Both vessels opened fire,
and two of Jones's guns burst at once.
11. Soon the vessels drew close together, and Jones gave orders to
board the Serapis. His men were driven back, and Captain Pearson of the
Serapis called to know, if he had yielded.
"I have not yet begun to fight," replied Jones.
12. The ships parted, and the size and strength of the enemy told
against the Poor Richard, so Jones determined to try again to board the
Serapis. As the two vessels came close to each other, Jones ordered
them to be fastened together.
13. Captain Pearson did not like this close fighting, for it took away
all the advantage his better ship and heavier guns had given him. Paul
Jones's guns now touched those of the Serapis. As the gunners loaded,
they had to thrust their ramrods into the enemy's ports. Never before
had an English commander met such a foe or fought such a battle.
[Illustration: Jones himself helped work the guns.]
14. With his heaviest guns useless, and part of his deck blown up,
Jones still kept up the unequal fight. He himself helped work the
guns. In this hour of need one of the American vessels, the Alliance,
commanded by a Frenchman, came up, and instead of attacking the
Serapis, fired on the Poor Richard.
15. Just then the gunners and carpenter ran up, saying that the ship
was sinking. Captain Pearson called again to know if the ship had
yielded. Paul Jones replied that if he could do no better he would go
down with his colors flying.
16. In the confusion the English prisoners had been set free. One of
them, who passed through the fire to his own ship, told Captain Pearson
that the Poor Richard was sinking; if he could hold out but a few
minutes longer she must go down.
17. Imagine the condition of Paul Jones at this moment! Every gun
was silenced, except the one at which he himself stood; his ship was
gradually settling beneath him, a hundred prisoners swarmed on his
decks, and the Alliance was firing on his ship. Still he would not
yield. He ordered the prisoners to the pumps, declaring that if they
would not work they should sink with him.
18. The condition of the Serapis was little better than that of the
Poor Richard. Both vessels looked like wrecks, and both were on fire.
The Serapis was at last forced to surrender. Nothing but Paul Jones's
courage and his resolve never to give up had saved him from defeat.
19. The captain of the Alliance had intended to destroy Jones's ship,
and then take the English vessel and claim the honor of the victory. He
was disgraced for his conduct, and Jones was honored, as he deserved to
be.
[Illustration:
From the painting by J. M. W. Turner
The Fighting Téméraire Tugged to her Last Berth
A warship of a hundred years ago]
20. Captain Pearson was made a knight for the courage with which he
defended his ship.
When Jones heard this, he said: "Well, he deserved it; and if I have
the good fortune to fall in with him again, I will make him a lord."
* * * * *
I. =Găl´lant=: brave. =Spīk_e_d=: made the guns useless by stopping
the vent or touchhole with a nail or spike.
II. =Sē̍ rā´ pĭs.= =Bō_a_rd=: to go on deck of. _K_=nī_gh_t=: a
man who receives a rank which entitles him to be called Sir, as
"Sir Walter Scott."
* * * * *
In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves
For a bright manhood, there's no such word as fail.
BULWER
Hiawatha's Sailing
BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882): One of the most popular
of American poets. "Evangeline" and "Hiawatha" are the best known
of his longer poems. Among his shorter poems are many household
favorites, such as "The Village Blacksmith," "Excelsior," and
"The Psalm of Life." Longfellow was also the author of two prose
volumes, "Outre Mer" and "Hyperion," descriptive of his European
travels.
[Illustration]
"Give me of your bark, O Birch Tree!
Of your yellow bark, O Birch Tree!
Growing by the rushing river,
Tall and stately in the valley!
I a light canoe will build me,
Build a swift Cheemaun for sailing,
That shall float upon the river,
Like a yellow leaf in autumn,
Like a yellow water lily!"
"Lay aside your cloak, O Birch Tree!
Lay aside your white skin wrapper,
For the summer time is coming,
And the sun is warm in heaven,
And you need no white skin wrapper!"
Thus aloud cried Hiawatha
In the solitary forest,
By the rushing Taquamenaw,
When the birds were singing gaily,
In the Moon of Leaves were singing,
And the Sun, from sleep awaking,
Started up and said, "Behold me!
Geezis, the great Sun, behold me!"
And the tree with all its branches
Rustled in the breeze of morning,
Saying, with a sigh of patience,
"Take my cloak, O Hiawatha!"
With his knife the tree he girdled;
Just beneath its lowest branches,
Just above the roots, he cut it,
Till the sap came oozing outward;
Down the trunk, from top to bottom,
Sheer he cleft the bark asunder,
With a wooden wedge he raised it,
Stripped it from the trunk unbroken.
"Give me of your boughs, O Cedar!
Of your strong and pliant branches,
My canoe to make more steady,
Make more strong and firm beneath me!"
Through the summit of the Cedar
Went a sound, a cry of horror,
Went a murmur of resistance;
But it whimpered, bending downward,
"Take my boughs, O Hiawatha!"
Down he hewed boughs of cedar,
Shaped them straightway to a framework,
Like two bows he formed and shaped them,
Like two bended bows together.
"Give me of your roots, O Tamarack!
Of your fibrous roots, O Larch Tree!
My canoe to bind together,
So to bind the ends together
That the water may not enter,
That the river may not wet me!"
And the Larch with all its fibers,
Shivered in the air of morning,
Touched his forehead with its tassels,
Said, with one long sigh of sorrow,
"Take them all, O Hiawatha!"
From the earth he tore the fibers,
Tore the tough roots of the Larch Tree,
Closely sewed the bark together,
Bound it closely to the framework.
"Give me of your balm, O Fir Tree!
Of your balsam and your resin,
So to close the seams together
That the water may not enter,
That the river may not wet me!"
And the Fir Tree, tall and somber,
Sobbed through all its robes of darkness,
Battled like a shore with pebbles,
Answered wailing, answered weeping,
"Take my balm, O Hiawatha!"
And he took the tears of balsam,
Took the resin of the Fir Tree,
Smeared therewith each seam and fissure,
Made each crevice safe from water.
"Give me of your quills, O Hedgehog!
All your quills, O Kagh, the Hedgehog!
I will make a necklace of them,
Make a girdle for my beauty,
And two stars to deck her bosom!"
From a hollow tree the Hedgehog
With his sleepy eyes looked at him,
Shot his shining quills, like arrows,
Saying, with a drowsy murmur,
Through the tangle of his whiskers,
"Take my quills, O Hiawatha!"
From the ground the quills he gathered,
All the little shining arrows,
Stained them red and blue and yellow,
With the juice of roots and berries;
Into his canoe he wrought them,
Round its waist a shining girdle,
Round its bows a gleaming necklace,
On its breast two stars resplendent.
Thus the Birch Canoe was builded,
In the valley, by the river,
In the bosom of the forest;
And the forest's life was in it,
All its mystery and its magic,
All the lightness of the birch tree,
All the toughness of the cedar,
All the larch's supple sinews;
And it floated on the river
Like a yellow leaf in autumn,
Like a yellow water lily.
Paddles none had Hiawatha,
Paddles none he had or needed,
For his thoughts as paddles served him,
And his wishes served to guide him;
Swift or slow at will he glided,
Veered to right or left at pleasure.
[Illustration: His thoughts as paddles served him.]
* * * * *
=Chēema̤_u_n´=: a birch canoe. =Sŏl´ĭ tā̍ ry̆=: lonely.
=Tȧ qua mē´na̤=_w_: a river of northern Michigan which flows
into Lake Superior. =Moon of Leaves=: May. =Gē_e´_zĭs=: the sun.
=Shē_e_r=: straight up and down. =Ȧ sŭn´dẽr=: apart; in two.
=Plī´ant=: bending easily without breaking. =Strā_igh_t´ wā_y_=: at
once. =Tăm´ȧ ră_c_k=: the American larch. =Fī´br_o_ŭs=: composed of
fibers or threads; tough. =Bä_l_m=, =ba̤l´sam=, =rĕs̝´ĭn=: gummy
substances which flow from the fir tree. =Sŏm´bẽr=: dark; gloomy.
=Fis´sure=: a narrow opening. =Kä=_gh_: the hedgehog. =Drow´s̝y̆=:
sleepy. =Rē̍ splĕn´dent=: very bright; shining. =My̆s´tẽr y̆=:
something kept secret. =Sŭp´pl_e_=: easily bent. =Vē_e_r_e_d=:
turned; changed direction.
Shun Delay
I
1. One day an old farmer went into the nearest market town with some of
the produce of his farm. When he had attended to all his business, he
stabled his horse at the inn and went to see the great lawyer who lived
in one of the grandest houses in the town.
[Illustration: "What is the matter?"]
2. He rang the bell and sent in word that he wished to see the lawyer
on important business.
On being shown into the room, he said: "Now, sir, I have come to get
your advice."
"Yes," answered the lawyer; "what is the matter?"
"That is for you to find out," said the old man. "I have come to you to
get advice, not to give it."
3. The lawyer had never before met so queer a client. No one was in the
habit of speaking so bluntly to him. He was rather amused than angry,
and made up his mind to find out what the old man really wanted with
him.
So he asked: "Have you a complaint to make against any one?"
"No," said the farmer; "I live at peace with all my neighbors."
4. "Perhaps you wish to recover a debt?"
"No!" shouted the old man; "I owe no man; and, if any one owes me
anything, he gets time to pay it. There are honest people in the part I
come from."
5. The lawyer asked several other questions, but without being able to
discover why his strange client had called upon him. At length he said
that he was unable to give him any advice, as he did not seem to be in
any difficulty or trouble.
6. "Difficulty or trouble!" said the old man; "that's exactly what I
am in. I come to ask you for advice--you, the greatest lawyer in the
country--and you can do nothing to help me. That's difficulty and
trouble enough, I think.
7. "Many of my friends and neighbors have been to see lawyers from time
to time, and taken their advice about the conduct of their affairs.
They say they have done well ever since. So when I came to market
to-day, I made up my mind to come to you and get advice; but, as you
have none to give me, I must go to some other man who understands my
case."
8. "You need not do that," said the lawyer. "Now that you have
explained, I understand your case thoroughly. Your neighbors have been
receiving legal advice, and you do not wish to be considered less
important than they."
9. "That's it," shouted the man, delighted that he was understood at
last.
The lawyer gravely took a sheet of paper and a pen. Then he asked the
man his name.
10. "John Brown," was the answer.
"Occupation?"
"What's that?" he asked, in amazement.
"What do you do for a living?"
"Oh! is that what occupation means?" he said. "I'm a farmer."
11. The great lawyer wrote it all down, and added something which the
farmer could not make out. Then, folding the paper, he gave it to the
old man, who paid his fee, and went out delighted that he was now every
bit as clever as his neighbors.
II
12. When he arrived home, he found a number of his work people at his
door, talking to his wife.
"Ah, here comes John," she cried; "he will tell us what to do."
13. Then she explained to her husband that the hay was all cut and
ready for carrying in, and the men wanted to know whether they should
stop for the night, or work till the fields were clear. The weather had
been fine for many days, and the sky had a settled appearance, so that
there seemed no need of haste for fear of rain.
[Illustration: He found a number of his work people.]
14. The farmer thought a moment without coming to any decision.
Suddenly he remembered the lawyer's advice which he had in his pocket.
"This will decide it in a minute," he cried, as he unfolded the paper.
"I have here an opinion from one of our famous lawyers, and we will
follow whatever advice he gives. Read it," he said to his wife. "You
are a better scholar than I."
15. His wife took the paper and read aloud: "John Brown, farmer. Do not
put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day."
"A famous opinion," cried the farmer with delight. "Away to the fields,
lads, and get the hay in."
[Illustration: His wife read aloud.]
16. The men went back and worked with a will. In the moonlight they
kept busy loading the carts, till, at length, all the fields were
cleared. As the last load was driven in, a few drops of rain began to
fall, but there was no sign of a storm.
17. During the night, however, a tempest of wind and rain burst over
the valley, and when the farmer got up in the morning, several of his
fields were flooded. We can well imagine how thankful he was that he
had not put off his work till to-morrow. Had he done so, he would have
found, as so many have found, that to-morrow is too late.
18. "A famous piece of advice that was," he remarked, as he walked
back to the house. "'Do not put off till to-morrow what you can do
to-day.' If everybody acted on that plan, what a world of misery and
disappointment would be saved. I will always do so for the future."
19. The farmer kept his word, and he found, as you wall also find if
you try it, that his work was lighter, and that the world went more
smoothly than it had ever done before.
* * * * *
I. =Prŏd´ūç_e_=: that which is brought forth from the ground.
=Clī´ent=: One who asks advice of a lawyer. =Lē´gal=: relating
to law; governed by the rules of law. =Ȧ māz_e_´ment=: surprise.
=Fē_e_=: charge.
II. =De cis´ion=: fixed purpose.
Select from this story five words which express action.