McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader Part 26

Ig-no-min'i-ous, infamous. 7. Weal, prosperity, happiness.

NOTES.--3. Emmanuel Grouchy was one of Napoleon's marshals at the battle of Waterloo, fought in 1815 between the French under Napoleon, and the English, Dutch, and German troops under Wellington.

Napoleon Bonaparte (b. 1769, d. 1821) was born on the island of Corsica.

At school he was "studious, well-behaved, and distinguished in mathematical studies." In 1785 he was commissioned as a sublieutenant in the army. From this obscure position he raised himself to the head of the army, and in 1804 was elected emperor of the French. He is almost universally acknowledged to have been the greatest general the world has known.

L. THE OLD SAMPLER.

1. Out of the way, in a corner Of our dear old attic room, Where bunches of herbs from the hillside Shake ever a faint perfume, An oaken chest is standing, With hasp and padlock and key, Strong as the hands that made it On the other side of the sea.

2. When the winter days are dreary, And we're out of heart with life, Of its crowding cares aweary, And sick of its restless strife, We take a lesson in patience From the attic corner dim, Where the chest still holds its treasures, A warder faithful and grim.

3. Robes of an antique fas.h.i.+on, Linen and lace and silk, That time has tinted with saffron, Though once they were white as milk; Wonderful baby garments, 'Boidered with loving care By fingers that felt the pleasure, As they wrought the ruffles fair;

4. A sword, with the red rust on it, That flashed in the battle tide, When from Lexington to Yorktown Sorely men's souls were tried; A plumed chapeau and a buckle, And many a relic fine, And, an by itself, the sampler, Framed in with berry and vine.

5. Faded the square of canvas, And dim is the silken thread, But I think of white hands dimpled, And a childish, sunny head; For here in cross and in tent st.i.tch, In a wreath of berry and vine, She worked it a hundred years ago, "Elizabeth, Aged Nine."

6. In and out in the suns.h.i.+ne, The little needle flashed, And in and out on the rainy day, When the merry drops down plashed, As close she sat by her mother, The little Puritan maid, And did her piece in the sampler, While the other children played.

7. You are safe in the beautiful heaven, "Elizabeth, aged nine;"

But before you went you had troubles Sharper than any of mine.

Oh, the gold hair turned with sorrow White as the drifted snow.

And your tears dropped here where I'm standing, On this very plumed chapeau.

8. When you put it away, its wearer Would need it nevermore, By a sword thrust learning the secrets G.o.d keeps on yonder sh.o.r.e; And you wore your grief like glory, You would not yield supine, Who wrought in your patient childhood, "Elizabeth, Aged Nine."

9. Out of the way, in a corner, With hasp and padlock and key, Stands the oaken chest of my fathers That came from over the sea; And the hillside herbs above it Shake odors fragrant and fine, And here on its lid is a garland To "Elizabeth, aged nine."

10. For love is of the immortal, And patience is sublime, And trouble a thing of every day, And touching every time; And childhood sweet and sunny, And womanly truth and grace, Ever call light life's darkness And bless earth's lowliest place.

--Mrs. M. E. Sangster.

DEFINITIONS.--2. Ward'er, a keeper, a guard. 3. An-tique', old, ancient.

Saf'fron, a deep yellow. 4. Cha-peau', a hat. 8. Su-pine', listless. 10.

Im-mort'al, undying.

NOTES.--6. Puritan. The Puritans were a religious sect who fled from persecution in England, and afterwards settled the most of New England.

A sampler is a needlework pattern; a species of fancywork formerly much in vogue.

LI. THE GOODNESS OF G.o.d.

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my G.o.d, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty: who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind; who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire; who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.

2. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound which they may not pa.s.s over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

3. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild a.s.ses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

4. He caused the gra.s.s to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to s.h.i.+ne, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

5. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted, where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies.

6. He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from G.o.d. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work, and to his labor until the evening.

7. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the s.h.i.+ps: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

8. That thou givest them they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth.

9. The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

10. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

11. O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous' works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength; seek his face evermore.

12. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. He is the Lord our G.o.d; his judgments are in all the earth. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my G.o.d while I have my being.

--Extracts from the Bible.

DEFINITIONS.--2. Found'ed, built, established. 3. Hab-i-ta' tion, place of abode. 5. Ref 'uge, shelter, protection. Co'ny, a kind of rabbit. 6.

Ap-point'ed, ordained.

NOTES.--5. Cedars of Lebanon. A species of cedar, of great magnificence, formerly abundant in Mt. Lebanon and the Taurus Range in Asia Minor, but now almost entirely destroyed. The wood is durable and fragrant, and was used in the construction of costly buildings, such as the palace of David and Solomon's Temple.

7. Leviathan. This name is applied in the Old Testament to some huge water animal. In some cases it appears to mean the crocodile, but in others the whale or a large sea serpent.

LII. MY MOTHER.

1. Often into folly straying, O, my mother! how I've grieved her!

Oft I've heard her for me praying, Till the gus.h.i.+ng tears relieved her; And she gently rose and smiled, Whispering, "G.o.d will keep my child."

2. She was youthful then, and sprightly, Fondly on my father leaning, Sweet she spoke, her eyes shone brightly, And her words were full of meaning; Now, an autumn leaf decayed; I, perhaps, have made it fade.

3. But, whatever ills betide thee, Mother, in them all I share; In thy sickness watch beside thee, And beside thee kneel in prayer.

Best of mothers! on my breast Lean thy head, and sink to rest.