Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Part 58

THE DAPPLE MARE.

JOHN G. SAXE.

1. "Once on a time," as ancient tales declare, There lived a farmer in a quiet dell In Ma.s.sachusetts, but exactly where, Or when, is really more than I can tell,-- Except that quite above the public bounty, He lived within his means and Bristol county.

2. By patient labor and unceasing care, He earned, and so enjoyed, his daily bread; Contented always with his frugal fare, Ambition to be rich ne'er vexed his head; And thus unknown to envy, want, or wealth, He flourished long in comfort, peace, and health.

3. The gentle partner of his humble lot, The joy and jewel of his wedded life, Discharged the duties of his peaceful cot, Like a true woman and a faithful wife; Her mind improved by thought and useful reading, Kind words and gentle manners showed her breeding.

4. Grown old, at last, the farmer called his son, The youngest, (and the favorite I suppose,) And said,-- "I long have thought, my darling John, 'Tis time to bring my labors to a close; So now to toil I mean to bid adieu, And deed, my son, the homestead-farm to you."

5. The boy embraced the boon with vast delight, And promised, while their precious lives remained, He'd till and tend the farm from morn till night, And see his parents handsomely maintained; G.o.d help him, he would never fail to love, nor Do aught to grieve his gen'rous old gov'nor.

6. The farmer said,--"Well, let us now proceed, (You know there's always danger in delay,) And get 'Squire Robinson to write the deed; Come,--where's my staff?--we'll soon be on the way."

But John replied, with tender, filial care, "You're old and weak--I'll catch the Dapple Mare."

7. The mare was saddled, and the old man got on, The boy on foot trudged cheerfully along, The while, to cheer his sire, the duteous son Beguiled the weary way with talk and song.

Arrived, at length, they found the 'Squire at home, And quickly told him wherefore they had come.

8. The deed was writ in proper form of law, With many a "foresaid," "therefore," and "the same,"

And made throughout without mistake or flaw, To show that John had now a legal claim To all his father's land--conveyed, given, sold, Quit-claimed, et cetera,[Footnote 1]--to have and hold.

9. Their business done, they left the lawyer's door, Happier, perhaps, than when they entered there; And started off as they had done before,-- The son on foot, the father on the mare.

But ere the twain a single mile had gone, A brilliant thought occurred to Master John.

10. Alas for truth!--alas for filial duty!-- Alas that Satan in the shape of pride, (His most bewitching form save that of beauty,) Whispered the lad--"My boy, you ought to ride!"

"Get off!" exclaimed the younker--"'t isn't fair That you should always ride the Dapple Mare!"

11. The son was l.u.s.ty, and the sire was old, And so, with many an oath and many a frown, The hapless father did as he was told; The man got off the steed, the boy got on, And rode away as fast as she could trot, And left his sire to trudge it home on foot!

12. That night, while seated round the kitchen fire The household sat, cheerful as if no word Or deed, provoked the injured father's ire, Or aught to make him sad had e'er occurred,-- Thus spoke he to his son: "We quite forgot, I think, t'include that little turnip lot!"

13. "I'm very sure, my son, it wouldn't hurt it,"

Calmly observed the meditative sire, "To take the deed, my lad, and just insert it;"

Here the old man inserts it--_in the fire!_ Then cries aloud with most triumphant air, "Who now, my son, shall ride the Dapple Mare?"

[Footnote 1: And so forth.]

QUESTIONS.--1. What proposition did the father make to his son? 2. What did the son promise to do? 3. How did the son treat his father after he got the deed? 4. What did the old gentleman do?

LESSON Lx.x.x.

HARD' I HOOD, bravery.

MAIN TRUCK, small cap at the top of a flagstaff or masthead.

A GHAST', horrified.

GROUPS, cl.u.s.ters; crowds.

PAL' LID, pale.

LU' RID, dismal; gloomy.

HUE, color.

RIV' ET TED, firmly fixed.

FOLD' ED, embraced; clasped.

A LEAP FOR LIFE.

GEORGE P. MORRIS.

1. Old Ironsides at anchor lay, (sl.) In the harbor of Mahon [Footnote 1]; A dead calm rested on the bay,-- The waves to sleep had gone,-- When little Jack,[Footnote 2] the captain's son, With gallant hardihood, Climbed shroud and spar,--and then upon The main-truck rose and stood!

2. A shudder ran through every vein,-- All eyes were turned on high!

There stood the boy, with dizzy brain, Between the sea and sky!

No hold had he above,--below, Alone he stood in air!

At that far hight none dared to go,-- No aid could reach him there.

3. We gazed,--but not a man could speak; With horror all aghast, In groups, with pallid brow and cheek, We watched the quivering mast!

The atmosphere grew thick and hot, And of a lurid hue, As, riveted unto the spot, Stood officers and crew.

4. The father came on deck. He gasped, "O G.o.d, Thy will be done!"

Then suddenly a rifle grasped, And aimed it at his son!

"Jump far out, boy, into the wave!

Jump, or I fire!" he said.

"That only chance your life can save: ('') Jump! jump, boy!" He obeyed.

5. He sank,--he rose,--he lived,--he moved,-- He for the s.h.i.+p struck out!

On board we hailed the lad beloved With many a manly shout.

His father drew, in silent joy, Those wet arms round his neck, Then folded to his heart the boy, And fainted on the deck!

[Footnote 1: MA HON', (_Ma hone_,) a sea-port town on the island of Minorca, in the Mediterranean Sea.]

[Footnote 2: A name commonly applied to a young sailor.]

QUESTIONS.--1. What did the captain's son do, on board the Ironsides? 2.

Describe his situation. 3. What is said of the officers and crew? 4.

What did the father say and do? 5. What did the boy do?

LESSON Lx.x.xI.

COM MIN' GLE, mix or unite.

PE DES' TRI AN, traveler on foot.

PROM' I NENT, important.

TRAG' lC, fatal; mournful.

NAR RATE', tell; relate.

YORE, olden time.

WI' LY, craft; cunning.