CAUTIONS: The first three lines of each verse state the case of doubt and despair, to which the rest of the verse is the powerful reply. Those three lines must therefore be read as if the whole case were summed up and brought to a close. The rest of the verse must be read as if it proceeded from another person -who sees the other and brighter side of the question. a. Avoid the verse-accent on upon, and hasten on to bleak, etc. b. Take care not to strike the triple rhymes; let the rhymes take care of themselves, and attend to the sense. c. A short but scarcely perceptible pause after them will enable the reader to avoid the accent upon to. d. A very slight pause here. CAUTION: This coronach (or dirge for the dead) must be read with great slowness, and with a certain funeral march of intonation. MEANINGS: 1. Manhood in glory, the man who died in his prime-in the glory of his strength. 2. Serest, yellowed, most withered. 3. Flushing, full bloom. 4. Correi, raid for carrying off cattle, etc. 5. Sage counsel in cumber, able to give good advice in times of difficulty and danger. 6. Red hand in the foray, hand in the bloodiest part of the fight. HYMN OF THE HEBREW MAID. WHEN Israel, of the Lord beloved, 6 Forsaken Israel wanders lone : b Our fathers would not know Thy ways, SIR WALTER SCOTT. CAUTIONS: a. Avoid the verse-accent on from. b. Emphasis on no and now. c. Emphasis on Thy. MEANINGS: 1. God guided the children of Israel on their journey by means of a pillar of cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night. 2. Choral hymn of praise, hymn of praise sung by a choir of voices. 3. Keen, clearly. 4. Poured their lays, sang songs. 5. With priest's and warrior's voice between. This hymn of praise was sung by the priests and warriors; and at the end of each verse the Israelitish women sang a sort of refrain. 6. Portents, miracles. 0 HESTER.* WHEN maidens such as Hester die, A month or more hath she been dead, My sprightly neighbour, gone before *This and the three following poems, as well as those on 186-188, are not spaced; they will be useful for practice. BARBARA FRITCHIE. When from thy cheerful eyes a ray 173 THE THRUSH'S NEST. WITHIN a thick and spreading hawthorn bush, I watched her secret toils from day to day, J. CLARE. BARBARA FRITCHIE. Up from the meadows, rich with corn, Round about them orchards sweep, To the eyes of the famished rebel horde. On that pleasant morn of the early fall, When Lee marched over the mountain wall, Horse and foot, into Frederick town, Forty flags with their silver stars, Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then, She took up the flag the men hauled down; In her attic window the staff she set, Under his slouched hat, left and right, It shivered the window, pane and sash; She leaned far out on the window sill, A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, All day long the free flag tossed And through the hill-gaps sunset light And the rebel rides on his raid no more. Honour to her! and let a tear Flag of Freedom and Union, wave! THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS. Peace and order and beauty, draw 175 J. G. WHITTIER. THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS. SOMEWHAT back from the village street Tall poplar-trees their shadow throw, "For ever-never! Never-for ever!" Half-way up the stairs it stands, And points and beckons with its hands, With sorrowful voice to all who pass, "For ever-never! Never-for ever!" By day its voice is low and light; Through days of sorrow and of mirth, Of changeful time, unchanged it has stood, In that mansion used to be His great fires up the chimney roared; |