De La Salle Fifth Reader Part 11

[Footnote: Copyright, Little, Brown & Co., Publishers.]

[Ill.u.s.tration:]

sedges, coa.r.s.e gra.s.ses which grow in marshy places.

Tell what the following expressions mean: dewy lanes; best of cheer; sedges flaunt their harvest.

How do "Asters by the brookside make asters in the brook"?

Give in your own words the tokens of September mentioned in the poem.

Can you name any others?

Memorize the poem. What do you know of the author?

_19_

tat'ter wreathed Ken tuck' y de scend'ed re cess'

home' stead en rap' tured Penn syl va' ni a

"MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME."

"My Old Kentucky Home" was written by Stephen Collins Foster, a resident of Pittsburg, Pa., while he and his sister were on a visit to his relative, Judge John Rowan, a short distance east of Bardstown, Ky. One beautiful morning while the slaves were at work in the cornfield and the sun was s.h.i.+ning with a mighty splendor on the waving gra.s.s, first giving it a light red, then changing it to a golden hue, there were seated upon a bench in front of the Rowan homestead two young people, a brother and a sister.

High up in the top of a tree was a mocking bird warbling its sweet notes. Over in a hidden recess of a small brush, the thrush's mellow song could be heard. A number of small negro children were playing not far away. When Foster had finished the first verse of the song his sister took it from his hand and sang in a sweet, mellow voice:

The sun s.h.i.+nes bright on the old Kentucky home; 'Tis summer, the darkies are gay; The corn top's ripe and the meadows in the bloom, While the birds make music all the day.

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor, All merry, all happy, all bright; By'n by hard times comes a-knockin' at the door-- Then, my old Kentucky home, good night.

On her finis.h.i.+ng the first verse the mocking bird descended to a lower branch. The feathery songster drew his head to one side and appeared to be completely enraptured at the wonderful voice of the young singer.

When the last note died away upon the air, her fond brother sang in deep ba.s.s voice:

Weep no more, my lady; oh, weep no more to-day, Well sing one song for the old Kentucky home, For our old Kentucky home far away.

A few more days for to tote the weary load, No matter, 'twill never be light; A few more days till we totter on the road-- Then, my old Kentucky home, good night.

The negroes had laid down their hoes and rakes; the little tots had placed themselves behind the large, sheltering trees, while the old black women were peeping around the corner of the house. The faithful old house dog never took his eyes off the young singers. Everything was still; not even the stirring of the leaves seemed to break the wonderful silence.

Again the brother and sister took hold of the remaining notes, and sang in sweet accents:

They hunt no more for the 'possum and the c.o.o.n On the meadow, the hill and the sh.o.r.e; They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon, On the bench by the old cabin door.

The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart, With sorrow where all was delight: The time has come when the darkies have to part-- Then, my old Kentucky home, good night.

The head must bow and the back will have to bend Wherever the darkies may go; A few more days and the trouble all will end In the fields where the sugar cane grow.

Then weep no more, my lady; oh, weep no more to-day, We'll sing one song for the old Kentucky home, For our old Kentucky home far away.

As the song was finished tears flowed down the old people's cheeks; the children crept from their hiding place behind the trees, their faces wreathed in smiles. The mocking bird and the thrush sought their home in the thicket, while the old house dog still lay basking in the sun.

_Mrs. T.A. Sherrard_

Louisville _Courier-Journal._

_20_

stew' ard se'quel Gal'i lee ab lu' tions in ter ces' sion

THE FIRST MIRACLE OF JESUS.

In the first year of our Lord's public life, St. John tells us in his gospel that "there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited to the marriage." Mary was invited to be one of the honored guests because she was, no doubt, an intimate friend of the family. She preceded her Son to the wedding in order to lend her aid in the necessary preparations.

Jesus also was asked, and He did not refuse the invitation. He went as freely to this house of feasting as He afterwards went pityingly to so many houses of mourning. Though worn and weary with his long fast and struggle in the desert, He was pleased to attend this merry wedding feast, and by this loving and kindly act to sanctify the bond of Marriage, which was to become in His Church one of the seven Sacraments.