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HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 
 
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 EVANGELINE 
 
 A TALE OF ACADIE 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 
 
 EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY 
 CLAUDE TOWNE BENJAMIN, M. A., INSTRUCTOR IN 
 ENGLISH, DEWITT CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL; HEAD 
 OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT. NEW YORK EVE- 
 NING HIGH SCHOOL FOR MEN, NEW YORK CITY 
 
 CHARLES E. MERRILL COMPANY 
 NEW YORK AND CHICAGO 
 
^^l 
 
 ^"^ 
 
 
 h 
 
 T^is series of books includes in complete editions those mas- 
 terpieces of English Literature that are best adapted for the use 
 of schools and colleges. The editors of the several volumes are 
 chosen for their special qualifications in connection with the 
 texts issued under their individual supervision, but familiarity 
 with the practical needs of the classroom, no less than sound 
 scholarship, characterizes the editing of every book in the series. 
 
 In connection with each text, the editor has provided a crit- 
 ical and historical introduction, including a sketch of the life 
 of the author and his relation to the thought of his time, critical 
 opinions of the work in question chosen from the great body of 
 English criticism, and, where possible, a portrait of the author. 
 Ample explanatory notes of such passages in the text as call for 
 special attention are supplied, but irrelevant annotation and 
 explanations of the obvious are rigidly exclilded. 
 
 CHARLES E. MERRILL COMPANY 
 
 Copyright, 1920 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES E. MERRILL CO. 
 
 0)CI.A601538 
 
 0CT'2I 1920 
 
 •n-\ ( 
 
^ CONTENTS 
 
 INTRODUCTION page 
 
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 5 
 
 The Writing of Evangeline 7 
 
 Critical Opinions 8 
 
 The Historical Basis of the Poem 10 
 
 Suggestions for Study 12 
 
 Map OF the "Evangeline" Country .... 16 
 
 EVANGELINE 17 
 
 ANALYSIS OF EVANGELINE 113 
 
 EXERCISES 116 
 
 NOTES 127 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW 
 
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, was born at Portland, 
 Maine, February 27th, 1807. Like Emerson and Hawthorne, he 
 was a quiet boy, fond of books, and averse to taking part in the sports 
 of his schoolfellows. His nerves shrank from all loud noises. There 
 is a tradition of his having begged a servant on a glorious Fourth of 
 July to put cotton in his ears to deaden the roar of the cannon, 
 and in later life one of his book-plates bore the motto "Non Clamor, 
 sed Amor." 
 
 At the age of fifteen this shy, studious lad was sent to Bowdoin 
 College at Brunswick, Maine, after Portland Academy had taught 
 him all it knew. He came prepared to make the most of his oppor- 
 tunities, and after four years of hard work graduated with distinction, 
 and with the promise of a professorship after a year of travel had 
 broadened his mental horizon. 
 
 The next summer found Longfellow at Paris with all Europe be- 
 fore him. He wandered through England, France, Germany, Italy, 
 Holland, and Spain, everywhere studying the languages, and absorb- 
 ing the rich associations of foreign places. Hjs impressions of what 
 he saw were in later years embodied in the prose works Outre-Mer 
 and Hyperion. On his return he at once assumed the duties of his 
 professorship, finding little time for literature. In 1831 he married 
 an acquaintance of former years, Mary Storer Poller, with whom 
 he lived most happily until her premature death in 1835. In 1834 
 a pleasant surprise came in the shape of an offer of the Chair of 
 Modern Languages at Harvard, an offer which Longfellow was only 
 too glad to accept. The new professor's official duties were light, 
 and he had leisure for the literary pursuits which had ever been his 
 delight. Hyperion, a romance in two volumes and The Voices of the 
 
 5 
 
6 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Night, a volume of poems containing "The Reaper and the Flowers," 
 and "The Psalm of Life," were published in 1839. Two years later 
 appeared Ballads and Other Poems, containing "The Wreck of the 
 Hesperus," "The Village Blacksmith," and "Excelsior"; and in the 
 following year Poems on Slavery. This quiet hfe of work was inter- 
 rupted in 1842 by a visit to Dickens in London, but speedily resumed. 
 In July, 1843, Longfellow married his second wife, Miss Appleton, 
 whose acquaintance he had made for the first time during his Swiss 
 tour. 
 
 Longfellow's ambition was to be the national poet of America. 
 His poems ha4 been criticized as having no trace of Americanism. 
 This criticism led to the writing of three long poems, distinctively 
 American in subject and treatment. These were Evangeline, Hia^ 
 watha, and The Courtship of Miles Standish. It is not to be under- 
 stood that Longfellow's fame rested on these American poems alone: 
 he had already written a quantity of poetry which had established 
 his reputation as a poet, but it was on these that he based his claim 
 to be considered the national poet of America. 
 
 In 1854, after about eighteen years of academic work, Longfellow 
 felt warranted in resigning his Harvard professorship, to be free for 
 purely Hterary pursuits. His home at Cambridge was the Craigie 
 House, which could boast of having once been the headquarters of 
 Washington. Here, surrounded by a brilliant circle of friends, he 
 lived in all the flush of a happy, successful life imtil 1861 — that 
 fatal year — when his peace was invaded by a frightful calamity: 
 Mrs. Longfellow, while playing with her children, set fire to her dress, 
 and was mortally injured by the flames. The poet never recovered 
 from the shock of this bereavement, although he continued his work 
 with unabated vigor until the time of his death in March, 1882. 
 
 After Tennyson, Longfellow has been the most popular poet of 
 his day. Some critics have said that had Tennyson never written 
 the Idylls, or In Memoriam, his inferiority to Longfellow would have 
 been manifest, but the power displayed in these high realms of poetry 
 was quite beyond Longfellow's reach. His range is domestic. He 
 lacks the power of depicting deep passion, or of robing purely imag- 
 inative subjects with ideal grace and color. The forces necessary 
 
THE WRITING OF EVANGELINE 7 
 
 to the execution of an heroic poem are not his, but on the other hand, 
 in such a description of quiet love and devoted patience as he gives 
 us in Evangeline, Longfellow may be ranked with the greatest of 
 poets. 
 
 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS 
 OF LONGFELLOW 
 
 Coplas de Manrique . . 1833 Flower-De-Luce . . . 1867 
 
 Outre-Mer 1835 Divine Comedy of Dante 
 
 Hyperion 1839 Alighieri .... 1867-70 
 
 Voices of the Night . . 1839 New England Tragedies . 1868 
 
 Ballads and other Poems . 1841 
 
 Poems on Slavery . . . 1842 
 
 Spanish Student . . . 1843 
 
 Poets and Poetry of Europe 1845 
 
 Belfry of Bruges . . . 1846 
 
 Evangeline 1847 
 
 Kavanagh 1849 
 
 Seaside and the Fireside . 1850 
 
 Golden Legend .... 1851 
 
 Hiawatha 1855 
 
 Miles Standish .... 1858 
 
 Tales of a Wayside Inn . 1863 
 
 THE WRITING OF EVANGELINE 
 
 At the time when Longfellow was looking for a subject for a poem 
 which should be truly American in spirit, his friend Nathaniel Haw- 
 thorne dined at Craigie House, bringing with him a clergyman. In 
 the course of conversation, the clergynaan repeated a story which he 
 said he had been vainly trying to persuade Hawthorne to use as a 
 subject for a romance. The story he told was the tale of a young 
 Acadian girl who had been exiled with the other Acadians in 1755. 
 In the embarkation she had been separated from her lover and after 
 coming to the American colonies, wandered from place to place in 
 
 Divine Tragedy 
 
 1871 
 
 Three Books of Song . 
 
 1872 
 
 Christus 
 
 1872 
 
 Aftermath .... 
 
 1873 
 
 Hanging of the Crane . 
 
 1874 
 
 Masque of Pandora 
 
 1875 
 
 Keramos .... 
 
 1878 
 
 Ultima Thule . . . 
 
 1880 
 
 In the Harbor [Ultims 
 
 I 
 
 Thule, Pt. II] . . 
 
 1882 
 
 Michael Angelo 
 
 1884 
 
8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 a hopeless search for him. At last, weary and old, she found him 
 dying in a hospital. 
 
 Hawthorne still insisted that he could not use the subject. Long- 
 fellow, however, was interested at once. To him the story appealed 
 strongly as a subject for a poem. Hawthorne and the clergyman 
 gladly gave him permission to use the tale, and he set to work to col- 
 lect material. 
 
 The story in its original form was very slight. Longfellow gath- 
 ered historical material from Haliburton's Nova Scotia and many 
 other books. After all the facts had been collected, he again offered 
 the subject to Hawthorne, but Hawthorne refused to be interested, 
 and Longfellow felt free to develop the story as he chose. 
 
 To the meagre details of the original story, Longfellow added 
 the description of the little village of Grand Pre. The picture which 
 he draws of the peace and beauty of the tiny village and the simple 
 happiness of the people, makes the tragedy of exile and separation 
 more bitter. The contrast between this quiet contentment and the 
 wild forests and vast plains over which Evangeline wandered is as 
 great as the contrast between her early happiness and her years of 
 anxious searching. 
 
 The description of the great rivers, forests, and prairies of the 
 new continent gave Longfellow an opportunity to make the poem 
 more truly American than any of his previous work. Always, how- 
 ever, the descriptions are only a background for the simplicity, 
 beauty, and tragedy of the love story. 
 
 CRITICAL OPINIONS 
 
 The sweetness, the gentleness, the grace, the purity, the humanity 
 of his verse were the image of his own soul. — Charles Eliot 
 Norton. 
 
 Longfellow is the poet of the household, of the fireside, of the uni- 
 versal home feeling. The infinite tenderness and patience, the pathos 
 and the beauty of daily life, of familiar emotion, and the common 
 scene — these are the significance of that verse whose beautiful and 
 simple melody, softly murmuring for more than forty years, made 
 
CRITICAL OPINIONS 9 
 
 the singer the most widely beloved of living men. — George William 
 Curtis. 
 
 In sentiment, in perception, in culture, in selection, in utterance, he 
 represents, with adequate and even influential but not overwhelm- 
 ing force, the tendencies and adaptabilities of the time; he is a good 
 type of the "bettermost," not the exceptionally very best, minds of 
 the central or later-central period of the nineteenth century; and, hav- 
 ing the gift of persuasive speech and accomplished art, he can enlist 
 the sympathies of readers who approach his own level of intelU- 
 gence, and can dominate a numberless multitude of those who belong 
 to lower planes, but who share none the less his own general concep- 
 tions and aspirations. 
 
 Evangeline, whatever may be its shortcomings and blemishes, 
 takes so powerful a hold of the feelings that the fate which would 
 at last merge it in oblivion could only be a very hard and even a 
 perverse one. Who that has read it has forgotten it? Or in whose 
 memory does it rest as other than a long-drawn sweetness and sad- 
 ness that has become a portion, and a purifying portion, of the ex- 
 periences of the heart? — William Michael Rossettt. 
 
 That he could be and generally was much the reverse of common- 
 place, will hardly be denied by any one who has made a real study 
 of his work. ^He had a keen observation, a vivid fancy, a scholarlike 
 touch, and a seemingly easy command of rhyme and rhythm, and 
 it may be said as a general rule, that when Longfellow was common- 
 place in sentiment he was far from commonplace in expression. His 
 verse was full of grace, and, if one may use the word in this connec- 
 tion, of tact. Nor, perhaps, is it fair to leave out of account that 
 Longfellow began his poetic career as the poet — the poet par ex- 
 cellence — of a country which had its literature to make. . . . His 
 position as the spokesman in poetry of a young country had its ad- 
 vantages and its drawbacks. He was more free from the disad- 
 vantages of critical severity and opposition than an English writer 
 could well have been; but such a freedom has its dangers, and to this 
 it might not be too fanciful to trace the lapses of which some mention 
 has been made. — London Saturday Review. 
 
 Longfellow has a perfect command of that expression which results 
 
10 INTRODUCTION 
 
 from restraining rather than cultivating fluency; and his manner is 
 adapted to his theme. His words are often pictures of his thought. 
 He selects with great delicacy and precision the exact phrase which 
 best expresses or suggests his idea. He colors his style with the skill 
 of a painter. His imagination, in the sphere of its activity, is al- 
 most perfect in its power to shape in visible forms, or to suggest, 
 by cunning verbal combinations, the feeling or thought he desires 
 to express; but it lacks the strength and daring, and the wide sweep, 
 which characterize the imagination of such poets as Shelley. — E. P. 
 Whipple. 
 
 Longfellow's poetry expresses the finer life of common humanity. 
 No poet of English speech has so endeared himself to the general 
 heart; he is the people's poet, voicing universal sentiments. Beauty, 
 grace and tenderness are the marks of his power; he is never passion- 
 ate, Byronic, or Browningesque. He was as sensitive to beauty as 
 Keats, and his workmanship, directed by unerring taste and a deli- 
 cate perception of harmonies, is uniformly excellent. The style is 
 as clear as crystal, and the melody never marred by discords. There 
 is none of Whittier's impetuous rush, or of Lowell's pungent humor. 
 The limitations of his poetry are obvious; but so to treat the common- 
 place as to make it eternally interesting and beautiful, to immortal- 
 ize a "village blacksmith" in song, requires a high, if not the highest, 
 
 order of genius. — Julian W. Abernethy. 
 
 « 
 
 THE HISTORICAL BASIS OF THE POEM 
 
 In 1755 Novia Scotia — or Acadia — which for more than thirty 
 years had been nominally a British province, was inhabited by some 
 thousands of French colonists, who were exempt from military ser- 
 vice under France, and were termed "French Neutrals." Their 
 real sympathies lay with the land of their birth, not with the Govern- 
 ment under whose half-contemptuous protection they lived. In 
 Europe, commissioners had for some time been trying to settle a 
 satisfactory boundary between New France and Nova Scotia, when 
 matters were brought to a crisis by the French in America, who 
 erected two forts on a neck of land at the head of the Bay of Fundy. 
 
THE HISTORICAL BASIS OP THE POEM 11 
 
 Massachusetts — thi^ was before the Revolution, be it remembered — • 
 sent out three thousand men to capture these forts, and the thing 
 was done. In the garrisons were found three hundred of the Neutrals, 
 and therefore the Acadians were held condemned as rebels against 
 the English Crown. What was to be done with them? The gov- 
 ernor of Novia Scotia, the Chief Justice of the province, and two Brit- 
 ish admirals, met in council in July, and resolved that the entire 
 population must be cleared out of that part of the country, and 
 this deportation was to be' carried out in such a way as to disperse 
 the captives among the English of the other provinces. Of course 
 it was not easy to execute an edict like this upon a widely-scattered 
 population; but stratagem prevailed with these simple people, who 
 had lived peacefully for two hundred years in this land, feeding sheep 
 and tilling the soil rudely. Governor Lawrence issued a proclama- 
 tion ordering all the males of the colony, "both old and young men, 
 as well as all lads of ten years of age," to assemble at the church of 
 Grand Pre on a certain Friday, to learn His Majesty's pleasure, 
 "on pain of forfeiting goods and chattels in default of real estate." 
 On the Friday appointed, September 5, 1755, four hundred and eight- 
 een unarmed men met within the church. The doors were closed 
 upon them and guarded by soldiers; and then this mandate was 
 read to the snared farmers: "It is His Majesty's orders, and they 
 are peremptory, that the whole French inhabitants of these dis- 
 tricts be removed. Your lands and tenements, cattle of all kinds, 
 and live-stock of all sorts, are forfeited to the Crown, with all your 
 other effects, saving your money and household goods; and you 
 yourselves are to be removed from this province. I shall do every- 
 thing in my power that your goods be secured to you, and that 
 you are not molested in carrying them off; also, that whole families 
 shall go in the same vessel, and that this removal be made as easy 
 as His Majesty's service will admit. And I hope that, in whatever 
 part of the world you may fall, y&j may be faithful subjects, a 
 peaceful and happy people. Meanwhile you are the king's prisoners, 
 and will remain in security under the inspection and direction of 
 the troops I have the honor to command." 
 
 Unbroken silence greeted this cruel edict, until after the lapse 
 
12 INTRODUCTION 
 
 of a few minutes a moan broke from the stunned Acadians, and 
 their cry of grief was echoed in bewilderment by the anxious women 
 waiting with their children outside. On the 10th of September the 
 inhabitants of Grand Pre — ^nineteen hundred and twenty in num- 
 ber — were marched to the water's side at the point of the bayonet, 
 and embarked in government ships. In spite of some show of care 
 on the part of the authorities, many parents were separated from 
 their families and driven into different vessels; husbands and wives 
 lost each other, and maidens parted from their lovers forever. The 
 vessels were not able to accommodate all the emigrants, so some of 
 these remained till fresh transports carried them away from their 
 homes in cheerless December; and then Acadia was left desolate, 
 and the Acadians never gathered together again. Small knots of 
 the wanderers settled, and have left descendants, at Clare, at 
 Minudie, in parts of Prince Edward's Island, and on the north 
 coast of New Brunswick. — From Robertson's Life oj Longfellow. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY 
 
 In studying Evangeline for the first time, the- pupils should read 
 it aloud, trying to observe the metrical accent^ yet not emphasizing 
 it so much as to produce a disagreeable sing-song effect. The teacher 
 will find it helpful to her class if she will write out the scansion of a 
 few verses of the poem upon the blackboard, and have the class 
 repeat them with her. In doing this, she should see that each 
 pupil reads in a good conversational tone. The first reading of the 
 poem should be done in the class. After a portion of it has been read, 
 the teacher may call on some pupil to repeat the thought in his own 
 words; this wiU aid in getting a good understanding and appreci- 
 ation of the story. 
 
 The second reading of the poem is to be done by the pupils them- 
 selves. At this time the analysis on pages 113-115 may be studied, 
 the topics and subtopics verified, and the outline completed. Now 
 the pupil is prepared for a critical study of the poem and for practice 
 in both written and oral composition work based upon its subject- 
 matter. 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY 13 
 
 The best results may be obtained by frequent practice in writing 
 during a period of from fifteen to twenty minutes, allowing the pupils 
 five minutes in which to review and correct their own themes. Be- 
 fore the final corrections are made by the teacher, some of the essays 
 may be copied upon the blackboard for revision by the class. When 
 rightly conducted, this is a most valuable exercise. 
 
 In all their writing, pupils should observe the following directions: 
 (1) They should not use the same word continuously in the same 
 paragraph unless a synonym for it cannot be found, or no other ex- 
 pression can be put in its place. (2) They should exercise the greatest 
 care in observing the rules for punctuation. Equal diligence 
 should be shown in the use of capital letters. (3) In all their writing 
 they should be original. They should not copy the poem, but use 
 their own words and expressions. To copy the poem is to spoil both 
 the poem and their own productions. 
 
 Each pupil should have a blank-book in which to copy all of his 
 corrected themes. The pages of the book should be numbered, and 
 a table of contents made so that any story may be turned to readily. 
 Pupils should be frequently called upon to read aloud from this book 
 and from the poem, and while doing so should be required to take 
 a position in front of the class. 
 
 Equal care should be exercised in conducting the oral composition 
 work. Pupils should be taught to use complete sentences, and to 
 express their thoughts in a logical manner. 
 
EVANGELINE 
 A TALE OF ACADIE 
 
EVANGELINE 
 
 PRELUDE 
 
 This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines 
 
 and the hemlocks, 
 Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct 
 
 in the twilight. 
 Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and pro- 
 phetic. 
 Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on 
 
 their bosoms. 
 Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neigh- s 
 
 boring ocean 
 Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail 
 
 of the forest. 
 This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts 
 
 that beneath it 
 Leaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland 
 
 the voice of the huntsman? 
 Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of 
 
 Acadian farmers — 
 Men whose lives glided on like, rivers that water the lo 
 
 woodlands, 
 Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an 
 
 image of heaven? 
 Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers 
 
 forever departed ! 
 
 17 
 
18 EVANGELINE 
 
 Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty 
 
 blasts of October 
 Seize them, and whirl them aloft, and sprinkle them 
 
 far o'er the ocean. 
 15 Naught but tradition remains of the beautiful village 
 
 of Grand-Pre. 
 
 Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, 
 
 and is patient. 
 Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of 
 
 woman's devotion. 
 List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines 
 
 of the forest; 
 List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy. 
 
 PART THE FIRST 
 I 
 
 20 In the Acadian land, on the shores of the Basin of 
 Minas, 
 
 Distant, secluded, still, the little village of Grand- 
 Pre 
 
 Lay in the fruitful valley. Vast meadows stretched 
 to the eastward. 
 
 Giving the village its name, and pasture to flocks 
 without number. 
 
 Dikes, that the hands of the farmers had raised with 
 labor incessant, 
 25 Shut out the turbulent tides; but at stated seasons 
 the flood-gates 
 
PART THE FIRST 19 
 
 Opened, and welcomed the sea to wander at will o'er 
 
 the meadows. 
 West and south there were fields of flax, and orchards 
 
 and corn-fields 
 Spreading afar and unfenced o'er the plain; and 
 
 away to the northward 
 Blomidon rose, and the forests old, and aloft on the 
 
 mountains 
 Sea-fogs pitched their tents, and mists from the so 
 
 mighty Atlantic 
 Looked on the happy valley, but ne'er from their 
 
 station descended. 
 There, in the midst of its farms, reposed the Acadian 
 
 village. 
 Strongly built were the houses, with frames of oak 
 
 and of chestnut. 
 Such as the peasants of Normandy built in the reign 
 
 of the Henries. 
 Thatched were the roofs, with dormer-windows; and 35 
 
 gables projecting 
 Over the basement below protected and shaded the 
 
 doorway. 
 There in the tranquil evenings of summer, when 
 
 brightly the sunset 
 Lighted the village street, and gilded the vanes on 
 
 the chimneys. 
 Matrons and maidens sat in snow-white caps and in 
 
 kirtles 
 Scarlet and blue and green, with distaffs spinning 40 
 
 the golden . 
 
20 EVANGELINE 
 
 Flax for the gossiping looms, whose noisy shuttles 
 
 within doors 
 Mingled their sound with the whir of the wheels and 
 
 the songs of the maidens. 
 Solemnly down the street came the parish priest, 
 
 and the children 
 Paused in their play to kiss the hand he extended to 
 
 bless them. 
 45 Reverend walked he among them; and up rose ma- 
 trons and maidens. 
 Hailing his slow approach with words of affectionate 
 
 welcome. 
 Then came the laborers home from the field, and 
 
 serenely the sun sank 
 Down to his rest, and twilight prevailed. Anon from 
 
 the belfry 
 Softly the Angelus sounded, and over the roofs of the 
 
 village 
 so Columns of pale blue smoke, like clouds of incense 
 
 ascending, 
 Rose from a hundred hearths, the home of peace 
 
 and contentment. 
 Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian 
 
 farmers — 
 Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were 
 
 they free from 
 Fear, that reigns with the tyrant, and envy, the vice 
 
 of republics. 
 55 Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars to 
 
 their windows; 
 
PART THE FIRST 21 
 
 But their dwellings were open as day and the hearts 
 
 of the owners; 
 There the richest was poor, and the poorest lived ki 
 
 abundance. 
 
 Somewhat apart from the village, and nearer the 
 Basin of Minas, ;, 
 
 ■-Benedict Belief ontaine, theV wealthiest farmer of 
 Grand-Pre, 
 
 Dwelt on his goodly acres; and with him, directing 6o 
 
 his household, 
 Gentle Evangeline lived, his child, and the pride of 
 
 the village. 
 Stalworth and stately in form was the man of seventy 
 
 winters; 
 Hearty and hale was he, an oak that is covered with 
 
 snow-flakes; >^ 
 
 White as the snow were his locks, and his cheeks as 
 
 brown as the oak-leaves. 
 Fair was she to behold, that maiden of seventeen 6S 
 
 summers. 
 Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the 
 
 thorn by the wayside, 
 Black, yet how softly they gleamed beneath the 
 
 brown shade of her tresses! 
 Sweet was her breath as the breath of kine that feed 
 
 in the meadows. 
 When in the harvest heat she bore to the reapers at 
 
 noontide 
 
22 EVANGELINE 
 
 70 Flagons of home-brewed ale, ah ! fair in sooth was 
 
 the maiden. 
 Fairer was she when, on Sunday morn, while the bell 
 
 from its turret 
 Sprinkled with holy sounds the air, as the priest with 
 
 his hyssop 
 Sprinkles the congregation, and scatters blessings 
 
 upon them, 
 Down the long street she passed, with her chaplet of 
 
 beads and her missal, 
 75 Wearing her Norman cap, and her kirtle of blue, and 
 
 the ear-rings, 
 . Brought in the olden time from France, and since, 
 
 as an heirloom, 
 Handed down from mother to child, through long 
 
 generations. 
 But a celestial brightness — a more ethereal 
 
 beauty — 
 Shone on her face and encircled her form, when, 
 
 after confession, 
 80 Homeward serenely she walked with God's benedic- 
 tion upon her. 
 When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of 
 
 exquisite music. 
 Firmly builded with rafters of oak, the house of the 
 
 farmer 
 Stood on the side of a hill commanding the sea; and 
 
 a shady 
 Sycamore grew by the door, with a woodbine wreath- 
 ing around it. 
 
PART THE FIRST 23 
 
 Rudely carved was the porch, with seats beneath; ss 
 
 and a footpath , 
 Led through an orchard wide, and disappeared in the 
 
 meadow. 
 Under the sycamore-tree were hives overhung by a 
 
 pent-house, 
 Such as the traveler sees in regions remote by the 
 
 roadside, 
 Built o'er a box for the poor, or the blessed image of 
 
 Mary. 
 Farther down, on the slope of the hill, was the well 90 
 
 with its moss-grown 
 Bucket, fastened with iron, and near it a trough for 
 
 the horses. 
 Shielding the house from storms, on the north, were 
 
 the barns and the farm-yard. 
 There stood the broad-wheeled wains and the an- 
 tique plows and the harrows; 
 There were the folds for the sheep; and there, in his 
 
 feathered seraglio, 
 Strutted the lordly turkey, and crowed the cock, with 9S 
 
 the selfsame 
 Voice that in ages of old had startled the penitent 
 
 Peter. 
 Bursting with hay were the bams, themselves a vil- 
 lage. In each one 
 Far o'er the gable projected a roof of thatch; and a 
 
 staircase. 
 Under the sheltering eaves, led up to the odorous 
 ' corn-loft. 
 
24 EVANGELINE 
 
 100 There too the dove-cot stood, with its meek and in- 
 nocent inmates 
 
 Murmuring ever of love; while above in the variant 
 breezes 
 
 Numberless noisy weathercocks rattled and sang of 
 mutation. 
 
 Thus, at peace with God and the world, the farmer 
 
 of Grand-Pre 
 Lived on his sunny farm, and Evangeline governed 
 
 his household. 
 105 Many a youth, as he knelt in the church and opened 
 
 his missal, 
 Fixed his eyes upon her as the saint of his deepest 
 
 devotion; 
 Happy was he who might touch her hand or the 
 
 hem of her garment ! 
 Many a suitor came to her door, by the darkness be- 
 friended, 
 And as he knocked and waited to hear the sound of 
 
 her footsteps, 
 110 Knew not which beat the louder, his heart or the 
 
 knocker of iron; 
 Or at the joyous feast of the Patron Saint of the vil- 
 ^ lage. 
 
 Bolder grew, and pressed her hand in the dance as 
 
 he whispered 
 Hurried words of love, that seemed a part of the music. 
 But, among all who came, young Gabriel only was 
 
 welcome; 
 
PART THE FIRST 25 
 
 Gabriel Lajeunesse, the son of Basil the black- iis 
 
 smith, 
 Who was a mighty man in the village, and honoured 
 
 of all men; 
 For, since the birth of time, throughout all ages and 
 
 nations. 
 Has the craft of the smith been held in repute by the 
 
 people. 
 Basil was Benedict's friend. Their children from 
 
 earliest childhood 
 Grew up together as brother and sister, and Father 120 
 
 Felician, 
 Priest and pedagogue both in the village, had taught 
 
 them their letters 
 Out of the selfsame book, with the hymns of the 
 
 church and the plain-song. 
 But when the hymn was sung, and the daily lesson 
 
 completed, 
 Swiftly they hurried away to the forge of Basil the 
 
 blacksmith. 
 There at the door they stood, with wondering eyes 12s 
 
 to behold him 
 Take in his leathern lap the hoof of the horse as a 
 
 plaything. 
 Nailing the shoe in its place; while near him the 
 
 tire of the cart-wheel 
 Lay like a fiery snake, coiled round in a circle of cin- 
 ders. 
 Oft on autumnal eves, when without in the gather- 
 ing darkness 
 
26 EVANGELINE 
 
 130 Bursting with light seemed the smithy, through 
 
 every cranny and crevice, 
 Warm by the forge within they watched the laboring 
 
 bellows. 
 And as its panting ceased, and the sparks expired in 
 
 the ashes. 
 Merrily laughed, and said they were nuns going 
 
 into the chapel. 
 Oft on sledges in winter, as swift as the swoop of the 
 
 eagle, 
 135 Down the hill-side bounding, they glided away o'er 
 
 the meadow. 
 Oft in the barns they climbed to the populous nests 
 
 on the rafters. 
 Seeking with eager eyes that wondrous stone, which 
 
 the swallow 
 Brings from the shore of the sea to restore the sight 
 
 of its fledglings. 
 Lucky was he who found that stone in the nest of the 
 
 swallow ! 
 140 Thus passed a few swift years, and they no longer 
 
 were children. 
 He was a valiant youth, and his face, like the face 
 
 of the morning, 
 Gladdened the earth with its light and ripened 
 
 thought into action. 
 She was a woman now, with the heart and hopes of 
 
 a woman. 
 "Sunshine of Saint Eulalie" was she called; for 
 
 that was the sunshine 
 
PART THE FIRST 27 
 
 Which, as the farmers believed, would load their us 
 
 orchards with apples; 
 She, too, would bring to her husband's house de- 
 
 light and abundance, 
 Filling it full of love and the ruddy faces of children. 
 
 II 
 
 Now had the season returned, when the nights grow 
 
 colder and longer. 
 And the retreating sun the sign of the Scorpion en- 
 ters. 
 Birds of passage sailed through the leaden air, from iso 
 
 the ice-bound. 
 Desolate northern bays to the shores of tropical 
 
 islands. 
 Harvests were gathered in; and wild with the winds 
 
 of September 
 Wrestled the trees of the forests, as Jacob of 'old 
 
 with the angel. 
 All the signs foretold a winter long and inclement. 
 Bees, with prophetic instinct of want, had hoarded i5S 
 
 their honey 
 Till the hives overflowed; and the Indian hunters 
 
 asserted 
 Cold would the winter be, for thick was the fur of the 
 
 foxes. 
 Such was the advent of autumn. Then followed that 
 
 beautiful season, 
 Called by the pious Acadian peasants the Summer 
 
 of All-Saints! 
 
28 EVANGELINE 
 
 160 Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; 
 
 and the landscape 
 Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood. 
 Peace seemed to reign upon earth, and the restless 
 
 heart of the ocean 
 Was for a moment consoled. All sounds were in 
 
 harmony blended. 
 Voices of children at play, the crowing of cocks in 
 
 the farmyards, 
 165 Whir of wings in the drowsy air, and the cooing of 
 
 pigeons. 
 All were subdued and low as the murmurs of love, 
 
 and the great sun 
 Looked with the eye of love through the golden va- 
 pors around him; 
 While arrayed in its robes of russet and scarlet and 
 
 yellow. 
 Bright with the sheen of the dew, each glittering 
 
 tree of the forest 
 170 Flashed like the plane-trees the Persian adorned with 
 
 mantles and jewels. 
 
 Now recommenced the reign of rest and affection and 
 
 stillness. 
 Day with its burden and heat had departed, and 
 
 twilight descending 
 Brought back the evening star to the sky, and the 
 
 herds to the homestead. 
 Pawing the ground they came, and resting their 
 
 necks on each other, 
 
PART THE FIRST 29 
 
 And with their nostrils distended inhaHng the fresh- i7s 
 
 ness of evening. 
 Foremost, bearing the bell, Evangeline^s beautiful 
 
 heifer, 
 Proud of her snow-white hide, and the ribbon that 
 
 waved from her collar, 
 Quietly paced and slow, as if conscious of human 
 
 affection. 
 Then came the shepherd back with his bleating 
 
 flocks from the seaside, 
 Where was their favorite pasture. Behind them fol- iso 
 
 lowed the watch-dog. 
 Patient, full of importance, and grand in the pride 
 
 of his instinct, 
 Walking from side to side with a lordly air, and 
 
 superbly 
 Waving his bushy tail, and urging forward the strag- 
 glers; 
 Regent of flocks was he when the shepherd slept; 
 
 their protector. 
 When from the forest at night, through the starry iss 
 
 silence, the wolves howled. 
 Late, with the rising moon, returned the wains 
 
 from the marshes. 
 Laden with briny hay, that fiUed the air with its 
 
 odor. 
 Cheerily neighed the steeds, with dew on their manes 
 
 and their fetlocks. 
 While aloft on their shoulders the wooden and pon- 
 derous saddles, 
 
30 EVANGELINE 
 
 190 Painted with brilliant dyes, and adorned with tassels 
 of crimson, 
 
 Nodded in bright array, like hollyhocks heavy with 
 blossoms. 
 
 Patiently stood the cows meanwhile, and yielded 
 their udders 
 
 Unto the milkmaid's hand; whilst loud and in regu- 
 lar cadence 
 
 Into the sounding pails the foaming streamlets de- 
 scended. 
 195 Lowing of cattle and peals of laughter were heard in 
 the farmyard, 
 
 Echoed back by the barns. Anon they sank into 
 stillness; 
 
 Heavily closed, with a jarring sound, the valves of 
 the barn doors, 
 
 Rattled the wooden bars, and all for a season was 
 silent. 
 
 Indoors, warm by the wide-mouthed fireplace, idly 
 the farmer , 
 
 200 Sat in his elbow-chair; and watched how the flames 
 and the smoke-wreaths 
 
 Struggled together like foes in a burning city. Be- 
 hind him, 
 
 Nodding and mocking along the wall, with gestures 
 fantastic, 
 
 Darted his own huge shadow, and vanished away 
 into darkness. 
 
 Faces, clumsily carved in oak, on the back of his 
 arm chair. 
 
PART THE FIRST 31 
 
 Laughed in the flickering Ught, and the pewter plates 20s 
 
 on the dresser 
 Caught and reflected the flame, as shields of armies 
 
 the sunshine. 
 Fragments of song the old man sang, and carols of 
 
 Christmas, 
 Such as at home, in the olden time, his fathers before 
 
 him 
 Sang in their Norman orchards and bright Burgun- 
 
 dian vineyards. 
 Close at her father's side was the gentle Evangeline 210 
 
 seated. 
 Spinning flax for the loom, that stood in the comer 
 
 behind her. 
 Silent awhile were its treadles, at rest was its diligent 
 
 shuttle. 
 While the monotonous drone of the wheel, like the 
 
 drone of a bagpipe. 
 Followed the old man's song, and united the frag- 
 ments together. 
 As in a church, when the chant of the choir at inter- 215 
 
 vals ceases. 
 Footfalls are heard in the aisles, or words of the 
 
 priest at the altar. 
 So, in each pause of the song, with measured motion 
 
 the clock clicked. 
 
 Thus as they sat, there were footsteps heard, and, 
 
 suddenly lifted. 
 Sounded the wooden latch, and the door swung back 
 
 on its hinges. 
 
32 EVANGELINE 
 
 220 Benedict knew by the hob-nailed shoes it was Basil 
 
 the blacksmith, 
 And by her beating heart Evangeline knew who was 
 
 with him. 
 " Welcome ! " the farmer exclaimed, as their footsteps 
 
 paused on the threshold, 
 "Welcome, Basil, my friend! Come, take thy place 
 
 on the settle 
 Close by the chimney-side, which is always empty 
 
 without thee; 
 225 Take from the shelf overhead thy pipe and the box 
 
 of tobacco ; 
 Never so much thyself art thou as when through the 
 
 curling 
 Smoke of the pipe or the forge thy friendly and jovial 
 
 face gleams 
 Round and red as the harvest moon through the mist 
 
 of the marshes." 
 Then, with a smile of content, thus answered Basil 
 
 the blacksmith, a 
 
 230 Taking with easy air the accustomed seat by the fire- 
 side: — 
 '^Benedict Belief ontaine, thou hast ever thy jest and 
 
 thy ballad ! 
 Ever in cheerfulest mood art thou, when others are 
 
 filled with 
 Gloomy forebodings of ill, and see only ruin before 
 
 them. 
 Happy art thou, as if every day thou hadst picked 
 
 up a horseshoe." 
 
PART THE FIRST 33 
 
 Pausing a moment, to take the pipe that Evangeline 235 
 
 brought him, 
 And with a coal from the embers had lighted, he 
 
 slowly continued : — 
 "Four days now are passed since the English ships 
 
 at their anchors 
 Ride in the Gaspereau's mouth, with their cannon 
 
 pointed against us. 
 What their design may be is unknown; but all are 
 
 commanded 
 On the morrow to meet in the church, where his 240 
 
 Majesty's mandate 
 Will be proclaimed as law in the land. Alas! in the 
 
 mean time 
 Many surmises of evil alarm the hearts of the 
 
 people." 
 Then made answer the farmer: — ''Perhaps some 
 
 friendly purpose 
 Brings these ships to our shores. Perhaps the har- 
 vests in England 
 By the untimely rains or untimelier heat have been 245 
 
 blighted, 
 And from our bursting barns they would feed their 
 
 cattle and children." 
 ''Not so thinketh the folk in the village," said, 
 
 warmly, the blacksmith. 
 Shaking his head, as in doubt; then, heaving a sigh, 
 
 he continued : — 
 "Louisburg is not forgotten, nor Beau Sejour, nor 
 
 Port Royal. 
 
34 EVANGELINE 
 
 250 Many already have fled to the forest, and lurk on 
 
 its outskirts, 
 Waiting with anxious hearts the dubious fate of to- 
 morrow. 
 Arms have been taken from us, and warlike weapons 
 
 of all kinds; 
 Nothing is left but the blacksmith's sledge and the 
 
 scythe of the mower." 
 Then with a pleasant smile made answer the jovial 
 
 farmer: — 
 255 "Safer are we unarmed, in the midst of our flocks 
 
 and our cornfields. 
 Safer within these peaceful dikes, besieged by the 
 
 ocean. 
 Than were our fathers in forts, besieged by the 
 
 enemy's cannon. 
 Fear no evil, my friend, and to-night may no shadow 
 
 of sorrow 
 Fall on this house and hearth; for this is the night 
 
 of the contract. 
 260 Built are the house and the barn. The merry lads 
 
 of the village 
 Strongly have built them and well; and, breaking 
 
 the glebe round about them, 
 Filled the barn with hay, and the house with food 
 
 for a twelvemonth. 
 Rene Leblanc will be here anon, with his papers and 
 
 inkhorn. 
 Shall we not then be glad, and rejoice in the joy of 
 
 our children? " 
 
PART THE FIRST 35 
 
 As apart by the window she stood, with her hand 265 
 in her lover's, 
 
 Blushing Evangeline heard the words that her father 
 had spoken, 
 
 And as they died on his lips the worthy notary en- 
 tered. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Bent like a laboring oar, that toils in the surf of the 
 ocean. 
 
 Bent, but not broken, by age was the form of the 
 notary public; 
 
 Shocks of yellow hair, like the silken floss of the 270 
 maize, hung 
 
 Over his shoulders; his forehead was high; and 
 glasses with horn bows 
 
 Sat astride on his nose, with a look of wisdom super- 
 nal. 
 
 Father of twenty children was he, and more than a 
 hundred 
 
 Children's children rode on his knee, and heard his 
 great watch tick. 
 
 Four long years in the times of the war had he Ian- 275 
 guished a captive. 
 
 Suffering much in an old French fort as the friend 
 of the English. 
 
 Now, though warier grown, without all guile or sus- 
 picion, 
 
 Ripe in wisdom was he, but patient, and simple and 
 childlike. 
 
36 EVANGELINE 
 
 He was beloved by all, and most of all by the chil- 
 dren; 
 280 For he told them tales of the Loup-garou in the 
 forest, 
 
 And of the goblin that came in the night to water the 
 horses. 
 
 And of the white Letiche, the ghost of a child who 
 unchristened 
 
 Died, and was doomed to haunt unseen the chambers 
 of children; 
 
 And how on Christmas eve the oxen talked in the 
 stable, 
 285 And how the fever was cured by a spider shut up in 
 a nutshell. 
 
 And of the marvelous powers of four-leaved clover 
 and horseshoes, 
 
 With whatsoever else was writ in the lore of the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 Then up rose from his seat by the fireside Basil the 
 blacksmith. 
 
 Knocked from his pipe the ashes, and slowly extend- 
 ing his right hand, 
 290 ''Father Leblanc," he exclaimed, "thou hast heard 
 the talk in the village. 
 
 And, perchance, canst tell us some news of these 
 ships and their errand." 
 
 Then with modest demeanor made answer the notary 
 public, — 
 
 "Gossip enough have I heard, in sooth, yet am never 
 the wiser; 
 
PART THE FIRST 37 
 
 And what their errand may be I know not better 
 
 than others. 
 Yet am I not of those who imagine some evil inten- 295 
 
 tion 
 Brings them here, for we are at peace; and why- 
 then molest us? '' 
 "God's name!" shouted the hasty and somewhat 
 
 irascible blacksmith; 
 "Must we in all things look for the how, and the 
 
 why, and the wherefore? 
 Daily injustice is done, and might is the right of the 
 
 strongest!" 
 But, without heeding his warmth, continued the 300 
 
 notary public, — 
 "Man is unjust, but God is just; and finally justice 
 Triumphs; and well I remember a story, that often 
 
 consoled me, 
 When as a captive I lay in the old French fort at Port 
 
 Royal." 
 This was the old man's favorite tale, and he loved to 
 
 repeat it 
 When his neighbors complained that any injustice 30s 
 
 was done them. 
 "Once in an ancient city, whose name I no longer 
 
 remember, 
 Raised aloft on a column, a brazen statue of Justice 
 Stood in the public square, upholding the scales in 
 
 its left hand. 
 And in its right a sword, as an emblem that justice 
 
 presided 
 
38 EVANGELINE 
 
 310 Over the laws of the land, and the hearts and homes 
 of the people. 
 
 Even the birds had built their nests in the scales of 
 the balance, 
 
 Having no fear of the sword that flashed in the sun- 
 shine above them. 
 
 But in the course of time the laws of the land were 
 corrupted; 
 
 Might took the place of right, and the weak were 
 oppressed, and the mighty 
 315 Ruled with an iron rod. Then it chanced in a noble- 
 man's palace 
 
 That a necklace of pearls was lost, and ere long a 
 suspicion 
 
 Fell on an orphan girl who lived as maid in the 
 household. 
 
 She, after form of trial condemned to die on the 
 scaffold. 
 
 Patiently met her doom at the foot of the statue of 
 Justice. 
 320 As to her Father in heaven her innocent spirit as- 
 cended, 
 
 Lo! o'er the city a tempest rose; and the bolts of 
 the thunder 
 
 Smote the statute of bronze, and hurled in wrath 
 from its left hand 
 
 Down on the pavement below the clattering scales of 
 the balance, 
 
 And in the hollow thereof was found the nest of a 
 magpie, 
 
PART THE FIRST 39 
 
 Into whose clay-built walls the necklace of pearls was 32s " 
 
 inwoven." 
 Silenced, but not convinced, when the story was 
 
 ended, the blacksmith 
 Stood like a man who fain would speak, but findeth 
 
 no language; 
 All his thoughts were congealed into lines on his 
 
 face, as the vapors 
 Freeze in fantastic shapes on the window-panes in 
 
 the winter. 
 Then Evangeline lighted the brazen lamp on the 330 
 
 table. 
 Filled, till it overflowed, the pewter tankard with 
 
 home-brewed 
 Nut-brown ale, that was famed for its strength in 
 
 the village of Grand-Pre; 
 While from his pocket the notary drew his papers 
 
 and inkhorn. 
 Wrote with a steady hand the date and the age of 
 
 the parties. 
 Naming the dower of the bride in flocks of sheep and 335 
 
 in cattle. 
 Orderly all things proceeded, and duly aild well were 
 
 completed, 
 And the great seal of the law was set like a sun on 
 
 the margin. 
 Then from his leathern pouch the farmer threw on 
 
 the table 
 Three times the old man's fee in solid pieces of 
 
 silver; 
 
40 EVANGELINE 
 
 340 And the notary rising, and blessing the bride and 
 the bridegroom, 
 
 Lifted aloft the tankard of ale and drank to their 
 welfare. 
 
 Wiping the foam from his lip, he solemnly bowed 
 and departed, 
 
 While in silence the others sat and mused by the fire- 
 side. 
 
 Till Evangeline brought the draught-board out of its 
 corner. 
 345 Soon was the game begun. In friendly contention 
 the old men 
 
 Laughed at each lucky hit, or unsuccessful ma- 
 noeuver. 
 
 Laughed when a man was crowned, or a breach was 
 made in the king-row. 
 
 Meanwhile apart, iii the twilight gloom of a win- 
 dow's embrasure. 
 
 Sat the lovers and whispered together, beholding 
 the moon rise 
 350 Over the pallid sea and the silvery mist of the 
 meadows. 
 
 Silently one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven. 
 
 Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the 
 angels. 
 
 Thus was the evening passed. Anon the bell from 
 
 the belfry 
 Rang out the hour of nine, the village curfew, and 
 
 straightway 
 
PART THE FIRST 41 
 
 Rose the guests and departed; and silence reigned in 355 
 
 the household. 
 Many a farewell word and sweet good-night on the 
 
 door-step 
 Lingered long in Evangeline's heart, and filled it with 
 
 gladness. 
 Carefully then were covered the embers that glowed 
 
 on the hearth-stone, 
 And on the oaken stairs resounded the tread of the 
 
 farmer. 
 Soon with a soundless step the foot of Evangeline 36o 
 
 followed. 
 Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the dark- 
 ness, 
 Lighted less by the lamp than the shining face of the 
 
 maiden. 
 Silent she passed through the hall, and entered the 
 
 door of her chamber. 
 Simple that chamber was, with its curtains of white, 
 
 and its clothes-press 
 Ample and high, on whose spacious shelves were 36s 
 
 carefully folded 
 Linen and woolen stuffs, by the hand of Evangeline 
 
 woven. 
 This was the precious dower she would bring to her 
 
 husband in marriage, 
 Better than flocks and herds, being proofs of her skill 
 
 as a housewife. 
 Soon she extinguished her lamp, for the mellow and 
 
 radiant moonlight 
 
■^'S^ 
 
 42 EVANGELINE 
 
 370 Streamed through the windows, and lighted the 
 
 room, till the heart of the maiden 
 Swelled and obeyed its power, like the tremulous 
 
 tides of the ocean. 
 Ah! she was fair, exceeding fair to behold, as she 
 
 stood with 
 Naked snow-white feet on the gleaming floor of her 
 
 chamber! 
 Little she dreamed that below, among the trees of 
 
 the orchard, 
 375 Waited her lover and watched for the gleam of her 
 
 lamp and her shadow. 
 Yet were her thoughts of him, and at times a feeling 
 
 of sadness 
 Passed o'er her soul, as the sailing shade of clouds in 
 
 the moonlight 
 Flitted across the floor and darkened the room for a 
 
 moment. 
 And, as she gazed from the window, she saw serenely 
 
 the moon pass 
 380 Forth from the folds of a cloud, and one star follow 
 
 her footsteps. 
 As out of Abraham's tent young Ishmael wandered 
 
 with Hagar. 
 
 IV 
 
 Pleasantly rose next morn the sun on the village of 
 
 Grand-Pre. 
 Pleasantly gleamed in the soft, sweet air the Basin 
 
 of Minas, 
 
PART THE FIRST 43 
 
 Where the ships, with their wavering shadows, were 
 
 riding at anchor. 
 Life had long been astir in the village, and clamor- sss 
 
 ous labor 
 Knocked with its hundred hands at the golden gates 
 
 of the morning. 
 Now from the country around, from the farms and 
 
 the neighboring hamlets, 
 Came in their holiday dresses the blithe Acadian 
 
 peasants. 
 Many a glad good-morrow and jocund laugh from 
 
 the young folk 
 Made the bright air brighter, as up from the numer- 390 
 
 ous meadows. 
 Where no path could be seen but the track of wheels 
 
 in the greensward. 
 Group after group appeared, and joined, or passed 
 
 on the highway. 
 Long ere noon, in the village all sounds of labor were 
 
 silenced. 
 Thronged were the streets with people; and noisy 
 
 groups at the house-doors 
 Sat in the cheerful sun, and rejoiced and gossiped 395 
 
 together. 
 Every house was an inn, where all were welcomed 
 
 and feasted; 
 For with this simple people, who lived like brothers 
 
 together, 
 All things were held in common, and what one had 
 
 was another's. 
 
44 EVANGELINE 
 
 Yet under Benedict's roof hospitality seemed more 
 
 abundant : 
 400 For Evangeline stood among the guests of her father; 
 Bright was her face with smiles, and words of wel- 
 come and gladness 
 Fell from her beautiful lips, and blessed the cup as 
 
 she gave it. 
 Under the open sky, in the odorous air of the orchard, 
 Stript of its golden fruit, was spread the feast of 
 
 betrothal. 
 405 There in the shade of the porch were the priest and 
 
 the notary seated ; 
 There good Benedict sat, and sturdy Basil the black- 
 smith. 
 Not far withdrawn from these, by the cider-press 
 
 and the beehives, 
 Michael the fiddler was placed, with the gayest of 
 
 hearts and of waistcoats. 
 Shadow and light from the leaves alternately played 
 
 on his snow-white 
 410 Hair, as it waved in the wind; and the jolly face of 
 
 the fiddler 
 Glowed like a living coal when the ashes are blown 
 
 from the embers. 
 Gayly the old man sang to the vibrant sound of his 
 
 fiddle, 
 Tous les Bourgeois de Chartres, and Le Carillon de 
 
 Dunkerque, 
 And anon with his wooden shoes beat time to the 
 
 music. 
 
PART THE FIRST 45 
 
 Merrily, merrily whirled the wheels of the dizzying 4is 
 
 dances 
 Under the orchard-trees and down the path to the 
 
 meadows; 
 Old folk and young together, and children mingled 
 
 among them. 
 Fairest of all the maids was Evangeline, Benedict's 
 
 daughter! 
 Noblest of all the youths was Gabriel, son of the 
 
 blacksmith! 
 
 So passed the morning away. And lo! with a sum- 420 
 mons sonorous 
 
 Sounded the bell from its tower, and over the mead- 
 ows a drum beat. 
 
 Thronged ere long was the church with men. With- 
 out, in the churchyard, 
 
 Waited the women. They stood by the graves, and 
 hung on the headstones 
 
 Garlands of autumn leaves and evergreens fresh from 
 the forest. 
 
 Then came the guard from the ships, and marching 42s 
 proudly among them 
 
 Entered the sacred portal. With loud and dissonant 
 clangor 
 
 Echoed the sound of their brazen drums from ceil- 
 ing and casement, — 
 
 Echoed a moment only, and slowly the ponderous 
 portal 
 
46 EVANGELINE 
 
 Closed, and in silence the crowd awaited the will of 
 
 the soldiers. 
 430 Then uprose their commander, and spake from the 
 
 steps of the altar, 
 Holding aloft in his hands, with its seals, the royal 
 
 commission. 
 "You are convened this day," he said, "by his 
 
 Majesty's orders. 
 Clement and kind has he been; but how you have 
 
 answered his kindness 
 Let your own hearts reply! To my natural make 
 "■*""" and my temper 
 435 Painful the task is I do, which to you I know must 
 
 be grievous. 
 Yet must I bow and obey, and deliver the will of our 
 
 monarch : 
 Namely, that all your lands, and dwellings, and 
 
 cattle of all kinds 
 Forfeited be to the crown; and that you yourselves 
 
 from this province 
 Be transported to other lands. God grant you may 
 
 dwell there 
 440 Ever as faithful subjects, a happy and peaceable 
 
 people! 
 Prisoners now I declare you, for such is his Majesty's 
 
 pleasure!" 
 ls, when the air is serene in the sultry solstice of 
 
 summer. 
 Suddenly gathers a storm, and the deadly sling of 
 
 the hailstones 
 
PART THE FIRST 47 
 
 Beats down the farmer's corn in the field, and shat- 
 ters his windows, 
 Hiding the sun, and strewing the ground with thatch as 
 
 from the house-roofs, 
 Bellowing fly the herds, and seek to break their in- 
 
 closures; 
 So on the hearts of the people descended the words 
 
 of the speaker. 
 Silent a moment they stood in speechless wonder, 
 
 and then rose 
 Louder and ever louder a wail of sorrow and anger, 
 And, by one impulse moved, they madly rushed to 4so 
 
 the door-way. 
 Vain was the hope of escape; and cries » and fierce 
 
 imprecations 
 Rang through the house of prayer; and high o'er the 
 
 heads of the others 
 Rose, with his arms uplifted, the figure of Basil the 
 
 blacksmith. 
 As, on a stormy sea, a spar is tossed by the billows. ' 
 Flushed was his face and distorted with passion ; and 4S5 
 
 wildly he shouted, — 
 ''Down with the tyrants of England! we never have 
 
 sworn them allegiance! 
 Death to these foreign soldiers, who seize on our 
 
 homes and our harvests!" 
 More he fain would have said, but the merciless hand 
 
 of a soldier 
 Smote him upon the mouth, and dragged him down 
 
 to the pavement. 
 
48 EVANGELINE 
 
 460 In the midst of the strife and tumult of angry conten- 
 tion, 
 
 Lo! the door of the chancel opened, and Father Fe- 
 lician 
 
 Entered, with serious mien, and ascended the steps 
 of the altar. 
 
 Raising his reverend hand, with a gesture he awed 
 into silence 
 
 All that clamorous throng; and thus he spake to his 
 people; 
 465 Deep were his tones and solemn; in accents measured 
 and mournful 
 
 Spake he, as, after the tocsin's alarum, distinctly the 
 clock strikes. 
 
 "What is this that ye do, my children? what mad- 
 ness has seized you? 
 
 Forty years of my life have I labored among you, 
 and taught you, 
 
 Not in word alone, but in deed, to love one an- 
 other! 
 470 Is this the fruit of my toils, of my vigils and prayers 
 and privations? 
 
 Have you so soon forgotten all lessons of love and 
 forgiveness? 
 
 This is the house of the Prince of Peace, and would 
 you profane it 
 
 Thus with violent deeds and hearts overflowing with 
 hatred? 
 
 Lo! where the crucified Christ from His cross is 
 gazing upon you! 
 
PART THE FIRST 49 
 
 See ! in those sorrowful eyes what meekness and holy 475 
 
 compassion ! 
 Hark! how those lips still repeat the prayer, 'O 
 
 Father, forgive them ! ' 
 Let us repeat that prayer in the hour when the 
 
 wicked assail us, 
 Let us repeat it now, and say, 'O Father, forgive 
 
 them!"' 
 Few were his words of rebuke, but deep in the hearts 
 
 of his people 
 Sank they, and sobs of contrition succeeded that 480 
 
 passionate outbreak. 
 While they repeated his prayer, and said,''0 Father, 
 
 forgive them!" 
 
 Then came the evening service. The tapers gleamed 
 
 from the altar. 
 Fervent and deep was the voice of the priest, and the 
 
 people responded. 
 Not with their lips alone, but their hearts; and the 
 
 Ave Maria 
 Sang they, and fell on their knees, and their souls, 48S 
 
 with devotion translated, 
 Rose on the ardor of prayer, like Elijah ascending to 
 
 heaven. 
 
 Meanwhile had spread in the village the tidings of 
 
 ill, and on all sides 
 Wandered, wailing, from house to house the women 
 
 and children. 
 
50 EVANGELINE 
 
 Long at her father's door Evangeline stood, with her 
 right hand 
 490 Shielding her eyes from the level rays of the sun, 
 that, descending, 
 
 Lighted the village street with mysterious splendor, 
 and roofed each 
 
 Peasant's cottage with golden thatch, and emblaz- 
 oned its windows. 
 
 Long within had been spread the snow-white cloth 
 oil the table; 
 
 There stood the wheaten loaf, and the honey fra- 
 grant with wild-flowers; 
 495 There stood the tankard of ale, and the cheese fresh 
 brought from the dairy; 
 
 And at the head of the board the great armchair of 
 the farmer. 
 
 Thus did Evangeline wait at her father's door, as the 
 sunset 
 
 Threw the long shadows of trees o'er the broad am- 
 brosial meadows. ' 
 
 Ah! on her spirit within a deeper shadow had 
 fallen, 
 500 And from the fields of her soul a fragrance celestial 
 ascended — 
 
 Charity, meekness, love, and hope, and forgiveness, 
 and patience! 
 
 Then, all-forgetful of self, she wandered into the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 Cheering with looks and words the disconsolate 
 hearts of the women, 
 
PART THE FIRST 51 
 
 As o'er the darkening fields with lingering steps they 
 departed, 
 
 Urged by their household cares, and the weary feet sos 
 of their children. 
 
 Down sank the great red sun, and in golden, glim- 
 mering vapors 
 
 Veiled the light of his face, like the Prophet descend- 
 ing from Sinai. 
 
 Sweetly over the village the bell of the Angelus 
 sounded. 
 
 Meanwhile, amid the gloom, by the church Evange- 
 line lingered. 
 All was silent within; and in vain at the door and sio 
 
 the windows 
 Stood she, and listened and looked, till, overcome by 
 
 emotion, 
 "Gabriel!" cried she aloud with tremulous voice; 
 
 but no answer 
 Came from the graves of the dead, nor the gloomier 
 
 grave of the living. 
 Slowly at length she returned to the tenantless house 
 
 of her father. 
 Smouldered the fire on the hearth, on the board sis 
 
 stood the supper untasted, 
 Empty and drear was each room, and haunted with 
 
 phantoms of terror. 
 Sadly echoed her step on the stair and the floor of 
 
 her chamber. 
 
62 EVANGELINE 
 
 In the dead of the night she heard the whispering 
 
 rain fall 
 Loud on the withered leaves of the sycamore-tree by 
 
 the window. 
 520 Keenly the lightning flashed ; and the voice of the 
 
 echoing thunder 
 Told her that God was in heaven, and governed the 
 
 world he created ! 
 Then she remembered the tale she had heard of the 
 
 justice of Heaven; 
 Soothed was her troubled soul, and she peacefully 
 
 slumbered till morning. 
 
 Four times the sun had risen and set; and now on 
 
 the fifth day 
 525 Cheerily called the cock to the sleepiAg maids of the 
 
 farmhouse. 
 Soon o'er the yellow fields, in silent and mournful 
 
 procession, 
 Came from the neighbouring hamlets and farms the 
 
 Acadian women, 
 Driving in ponderous wains their household goods to 
 
 the seashore, 
 Pausing and looking back to gaze once more on their 
 
 dwellings, 
 530 Ere they were shut from sight by the winding road 
 
 and the woodland. 
 
PART THE FIRST 53 
 
 Close at their sides their children ran, and urged on 
 the oxen, 
 
 While in their little hands they clasped soriie- frag- 
 ments of playthings. 
 
 Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth they hurried; and 
 
 there on the sea-beach 
 Piled in confusion lay the household goods of the 
 
 peasants. 
 All day long between the shore and the ships did the szs 
 
 boats ply; 
 All day long the wains came laboring down from the 
 
 village. 
 Late in the afternoon, when the sun was near to his 
 
 setting. 
 Echoing far o'er the fields came the roll of drums 
 
 from the churchyard. 
 Thither the women and children thronged. On a 
 
 sudden the church-doors 
 Opened, and forth came the guard, and marching in 540 
 
 gloomy procession 
 Followed the long-imprisoned, but patient, Acadian 
 
 farmers. 
 Even as pilgrims, who journey afar from their homes 
 
 and their country. 
 Sing as they go, and in singing forget they are weary 
 
 and wayworn, 
 So with songs on their lips the Acadian peasants de- 
 scended 
 
54 EVANGELINE 
 
 545 Down from the church to the shore, amid their wives 
 and their daughters. 
 Foremost the young men came; and, raising to- 
 gether their voices. 
 Sang with tremulous lips a chant of the Catholic 
 
 Missions : — 
 '* Sacred heart of the Saviour! inexhaustible 
 
 , fountain! 
 Fill our hearts this day with strength and submission 
 and patience!" 
 550 Then the old men, as they marched, and the women 
 that stood by the wayside 
 Joined in the sacred psalm, and the birds in the sun- 
 shine above them 
 Mingled their notes therewith, like voices of spirits 
 departed. 
 
 Half-way down to the shore Evangeline waited in 
 silence, 
 
 Not overcome with grief, but strong in the hour of 
 affliction, — 
 555 Calmly and sadly she waited, until the procession 
 approached her, 
 
 And she beheld the face of Gabriel pale with emotion. 
 
 Tears then filled her eyes, and, eagerly running to 
 meet him, 
 
 Clasped she his hands, and laid her head on his 
 shoulder and whispered — 
 
 "Gabriel! be of good cheer! for if we love one an- 
 other, 
 
PART THE FIRST 55 
 
 Nothing, in truth, can harm us, whatever mischances seo 
 
 may happen!" 
 Smiling she spake these words; then suddenly " 
 
 paused, for her father 
 Saw she slowly advancing. Alas! how changed was 
 
 his aspect! 
 Gone was the glow from his cheek, and the fire from^ 
 
 his eye, and his footstep 
 Heavier seemed with the weight of the heavy heart 
 
 in his bosom. 
 But with a smile and a sigh she clasped his neck and 565 
 
 embraced him, 
 Speaking words of endearment where words of com- 
 fort availed not. 
 Thus to the Gaspereau's mouth moved on that 
 
 mournful procession. 
 
 y y 
 
 There disorder prevailed, and the tumult and stir of 
 embarking. 
 
 Busily plied the freighted boats; and in the confu- 
 sion 
 
 Wives were torn from their husbands, and mothers, 570 
 too late, saw their children 
 
 Left on the land, extending their arms, with wildest 
 entreaties. 
 
 So unto separate ships were Basil and Gabriel carried, 
 
 While in despair on the shore Evangeline stood with 
 her father. 
 
 Half the task was not done when the sun went down, 
 and the twilight 
 
56 EVANGELINE 
 
 575 Deepened and darkened around; and in haste the 
 
 refluent ocean 
 Fled away from the shore, and left the line of the 
 
 sand-beach 
 Covered with waifs of the tide, with kelp and the 
 
 slippery seaweed. 
 Farther back in the midst of the household goods and 
 
 the wagons. 
 Like to a gypsy camp, or a leaguer after a 
 
 battle, 
 580 All escape cut off by the sea, and the sentinels near 
 
 them, 
 Lay encamped for the night the houseless Acadian 
 
 farmers. 
 Back to its nethermost caves retreated the bellowing 
 
 ocean, 
 Dragging adown the beach the rattling pebbles, and 
 
 leaving 
 Inland and far up the shore the stranded boats of 
 
 the sailors. 
 585 Then, as the night descended, the herds returned 
 
 from their pastures; 
 Sweet was the moist still air with the odor of milk 
 
 from their udders; 
 Lowing they waited, and long, at the well-known 
 
 bars of the farmyard, — 
 Waited and looked in vain for the voice and the hand 
 
 of the milkmaid. 
 Silence reigned in the streets; from the church no 
 
 Angelus sounded, 
 
PART THE FIRST 57 
 
 Rose no smoke from the roofs, and gleamed no lights 590 
 
 from the windows. 
 But on the shores meanwhile the evening fires had 
 
 been kindled, 
 Built of the driftwood thrown on the sands from. 
 
 wrecks in the tempest. 
 Round them shapes of gloom and sorrowful faces 
 
 were gathered. 
 Voices of women were heard, and of men, and the 
 
 crying of children. 
 Onward from fire. to fire, as from hearth to hearth in 59s 
 
 his parish, 
 Wandered the faithful priest, consoling and blessing 
 
 and cheering. 
 Like unto shipwrecked Paul on Melita's desolate 
 
 seashore. 
 Thus he approached the place where Evangeline sat 
 
 with her father, 
 And in the flickering light beheld the face of the old 
 
 man, 
 Haggard and hollow and wan and without either 600 
 
 thought or emotion. 
 E'en as the face of a clock from which the hands have 
 
 been taken. 
 Vainly Evangeline strove with words and caresses to 
 
 cheer him. 
 Vainly offered him food; yet he moved not, he 
 
 looked not, he spake not. 
 But, with a vacant stare, ever gazed at the flickering 
 
 firelight. 
 
68 EVANGELINE 
 
 605 '^Benedicite!^^ murmured the priest, in tones of 
 
 compassion. 
 More he fain would have said, but his heart was full, 
 
 and his accents 
 Faltered and paused on his lips, as the feet of a child 
 
 on a threshold. 
 Hushed by the scene he beholds, and the awful pres- 
 ence of sorrow. 
 Silently, therefore, he laid his hand on the head of 
 
 the maiden, 
 ^^^ Raising his eyes, full of tears, to the silent stars that 
 
 above them 
 Moved on their way, unperturbed by the wrongs and 
 
 sorrows of mortals. 
 Then sat he down at her side, and they wept together 
 
 in silence. 
 
 Suddenly rose from the south a light, as in autumn 
 the blood-red 
 
 Moon climbs the crystal walls of heaven, and o'er 
 the horizon 
 615 Titan-like stretches its hundred hands upon moun- 
 tain and meadow. 
 
 Seizing the rocks and the rivers, and piling huge 
 shadows together. 
 
 Broader and ever broader it gleamed on the roofs of 
 the village. 
 
 Gleamed on the sky and the sea, and the ships that 
 lay in the roadstead. 
 
PART THE FIRST 59 
 
 Columns of shining smoke uprose, and flashes of 
 flame were 
 
 Thrust through their folds and withdrawn, like the 620 
 quivering hands of a martyr. 
 
 Then as the wind seized the gleeds and the burning 
 thatch, and, uplifting, 
 
 Whirled them aloft through the air, at once from a 
 hundred housetops 
 
 Started the sheeted smoke with flashes of flame in- 
 termingled. 
 
 These things beheld in dismay the crowd on the 
 
 shore and on shipboard. 
 Speechless at first they stood, then cried aloud in 62s 
 
 their anguish, 
 *'We shall behold no more our homes in the village 
 
 ofGrand-Pre!" 
 Loud on a sudden the cocks began to crow in the 
 
 farmyards. 
 Thinking the day had dawned; and anon the lowing 
 
 of cattle 
 Came on the evening breeze, by the barking of dogs 
 
 interrupted. 
 Then rose a sound of dread, such as startles the 63o 
 
 sleeping encampments 
 Far in the western prairies or forests that skirt the 
 
 Nebraska, 
 When the wild horses affrighted sweep by with the 
 
 speed of the whirlwind, 
 
60 , EVANGELINE 
 
 Or the loud bellowing herds of buffaloes rush to the 
 
 river. 
 Such was the sound that arose on the night, as the 
 
 herds and the horses 
 635 Broke through their folds and fences, and madly 
 
 rushed o'er the meadows. 
 Overwhelmed with the sight, yet speechless, the 
 
 priest and the maiden 
 Gazed on the scene of terror that reddened and 
 
 widened before them; 
 And as they turned at length to speak to their silent 
 
 companion, 
 Lo! from his seat he had fallen, and stretched abroad 
 
 on the seashore 
 640 Motionless lay his form, from which the soul had 
 
 departed. 
 Slowly the priest uplifted the lifeless head, and the 
 
 maiden 
 Knelt at her father's side, and wailed aloud in her 
 
 terror. 
 Then in a swoon she sank, and lay with her head on 
 
 his bosom. 
 Through the long night she lay in deep, oblivious 
 
 slumber; 
 645 And when she awoke from the trance, she beheld a 
 
 multitude near her. 
 Faces of friends she beheld, that were mournfully 
 
 gazing upon her. 
 Pallid, with tearful eyes, and looks of saddest com- 
 passion. 
 
PART THE FIRST 61 
 
 Still the blaze of the burning village illumined the 
 
 landscape, 
 Reddened the sky overhead, and gleamed on the 
 
 faces around her, 
 And like the day of doom it seemed to her wavering 65o 
 
 senses. 
 Then a familiar voice she heard, as it said to the 
 
 people^— 
 "Let us bury him here by the sea. When a happier 
 
 season 
 Brings us again to our homes from the unknown 
 
 land of our exile. 
 Then shall his sacred dust be piously laid in the 
 
 churchyard." 
 Such were the words of the priest. And there in 6ss 
 
 haste by the seaside. 
 Having the glare of the burning village for funeral 
 
 torches. 
 But without bell or book, they buried the farmer of 
 
 Grand-Pre. 
 And as the voice of the priest repeated the service of 
 
 sorrow, 
 Lo! with a mournful sound, like the voice of a vast 
 
 congregation. 
 Solemnly answered the sea, and mingled its roar with 66o 
 
 the dirges. 
 'Twas the returning tide, that afar from the waste of 
 
 the ocean, 
 With the first dawn of the day, came heaving and 
 
 hurrying landward. 
 
62 EVANGELINE 
 
 Then recommenced once more the stir and noise of 
 
 embarking; 
 And with the ebb of that tide the ships sailed out of 
 
 the harbor, 
 665 Leaving behind them the dead on the shore, and the 
 
 village in ruins. 
 
 PART THE SECOND 
 
 I 
 
 Many a weary year had passed since the burning of 
 
 Grand-Pre, 
 When on the falling tide the freighted vessels de- 
 parted, 
 Bearing a nation, with all its household gods, into 
 
 exile. 
 Exile without an end, and without an example in 
 
 story. 
 670 Far asunder, on separate coasts, the Acadians 
 
 landed; 
 Scattered were they, like flakes of snow when the 
 
 wind from the northeast 
 Strikes aslant through the fogs that darken the 
 
 Banks of Newfoundland. 
 Friendless, homeless, hopeless, they wandered from 
 
 city to city, 
 From the cold lakes of the North to sultry Southern 
 
 savannas— 
 67S From the bleak shores of the sea to the lands where 
 
 the Father of Waters 
 
PART THE SECOND 63 
 
 Seizes the hills in his hands, and drags them down to 
 the ocean, 
 
 Deep in their sands to bury the scattered bones of the 
 mammoth. 
 
 Friends they sought and homes; and many, de- 
 spairing, heartbroken, 
 
 Asked of the earth but a grave, and no longer a 
 friend nor a fireside. 
 
 Written their history stands on tablets of stone in 680 
 the churchyards. 
 
 Long among them was seen a maiden who waited 
 and wandered, 
 
 Lowly and meek in spirit, and patiently suffering all 
 things. 
 
 Fair was she and young; but, alas! before her ex- 
 tended. 
 
 Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life, with 
 its pathway 
 
 Marked by the graves of those who had sorrowed 685 
 and suffered before her. 
 
 Passions long extinguished, and hopes dead and 
 abandoned, 
 
 As the emigrant's way o'er the Western desert is 
 marked by 
 
 Camp-fires long consumed, and bones that bleach in 
 the sunshine. 
 
 Something there was in her life incomplete, imper- 
 fect, unfinished; 
 
 As if a morning of June, with all its music and sun- 69c 
 shine, 
 
64 EVANGELINE 
 
 Suddenly paused in the sky, and, fading, slowly de- 
 scended 
 
 Into the east again, from whence it late had 
 arisen. 
 
 Sometimes she lingered in towns, till, urged by the 
 fever within her, 
 
 Urged by a restless longing, the hunger and thirst of 
 the spirit, 
 695 She would commence again her endless search and 
 endeavor; 
 
 Sometimes in churchyards strayed, and gazed on the 
 crosses arid tombstones. 
 
 Sat by some nameless grave, and thought that per- 
 haps in its bosom 
 
 He was already at rest, and she longed to slumber 
 beside him. 
 
 Sometimes a rumor, a hearsay, an inarticulate whis- 
 per, 
 700 Came with its airy hand to point and beckon her for- 
 ward. 
 
 Sometimes she spake with those who had seen her 
 beloved and known him. 
 
 But it was long ago, in some far-off place or for- 
 gotten. 
 
 "Gabriel Lajeunesse!" they said; "O, yes! we have 
 seen him. 
 
 He was with Basil the blacksmith, and both have 
 gone to the prairies; 
 705 Coureurs-des-Bois are they, and famous hunters and 
 trappers.'' 
 
PART THE SECOND 65 
 
 '^Gabriel Lajeunesse!" said others; '^O, yes! we 
 
 have seen him. 
 He is a Voyageur in the lowlands of Louisiana." 
 Then would they say: ''Dear child! why dream and 
 
 wait for him longer? 
 Are there not other youths as fair as Gabriel? others 
 Who have hearts as tender and. true, and spirits as 7io 
 
 loyal? 
 Here is Baptiste Leblanc, the notary's son, who has 
 
 loved thee 
 Many a tedious year; come, give him thy hand and 
 
 be happy! 
 Thou art too fair to be left to braid St. Catherine's 
 
 tresses." 
 Then would Evangeline answer, serenely but sadly — 
 
 "I cannot! 
 Whither my heart has gone, there follows my hand, ns 
 
 and not elsewhere. 
 For when the heart goes before, like a lamp, and 
 
 illumines the pathway. 
 Many things are made clear, that else lie hidden in 
 
 darkness." 
 And thereupon the priest, her friend and father-con- 
 fessor, 
 Said, with a smile, ''O daughter! thy God thus 
 
 speaketh within thee! 
 Talk not of wasted affection, affection never was 720 
 
 wasted ; 
 If it enrich not the heart of another, its waters, re- 
 turning 
 
66 EVANGELINE 
 
 Back to their springs, like the rain, shall fill them 
 full of refreshment; 
 
 That which the fountain sends forth returns again to 
 the fountain. 
 
 Patience; accomplish thy labor; accomplish thy work 
 of affection ! 
 725 Sorrow and silence are strong, and patient endurance 
 is godlike. 
 
 Therefore accomplish thy labor of love, till the heart 
 4s made godlike. 
 
 Purified, strengthened, perfected, and rendered more 
 worthy of heaven! " 
 
 Cheered by the good man's words, Evangeline la- 
 bored and waited. 
 
 Still in her heart she heard the funeral dirge of the 
 ocean, 
 730 But with its sound there was mingled a voice that 
 whispered, ''Despair not!" 
 
 Thus did that poor soul wander in want and cheer- 
 less discomfort. 
 
 Bleeding, barefooted, over the shards and thorns of 
 existence. 
 
 Let me essay, O Muse ! to follow the wanderer's foot- 
 steps; 
 
 Not through each devious path, each changeful year 
 of existence; 
 735 But as a traveler follows a streamlet's course through 
 the valley; 
 
 Far from its margin at times, and seeing the gleam 
 of its water 
 
PART THE SECOND 67 
 
 Here and there, in some open space, and at intervals 
 
 only: 
 Then drawing nearer its banks, through sylvan 
 
 glooms that conceal it. 
 Though he behold it not, he can hear its continuous 
 
 murmur; 
 Happy, at length, if he find the spot where it reaches 740 
 
 an outlet. 
 
 II. 
 
 It was the month of May. Far down the Beautiful 
 River, 
 
 Past the Ohio shore and past the mouth of the 
 Wabash, 
 
 Into the golden stream of the broad and swift Mis- 
 sissippi, 
 
 Floated a cumbrous boat, that was rowed by Acadian 
 boatmen. 
 
 It was a band of exiles; a raft, as it were, from the 745 
 shipwrecked 
 
 Nation, scattered along the coast, now floating to- 
 gether. 
 
 Bound by the bonds of a common belief and a com- 
 mon misfortune; 
 
 Men and women and children, who, guided by hope 
 or by hearsay. 
 
 Sought for their kith and their kin among the few- 
 acred farmers 
 
 On the Acadian coast, and the prairies of fair Ope- 7so 
 lousas. 
 
68 EVANGELINE 
 
 With them Evangeline went, and her guide, the 
 
 Father Felician. 
 Onward, o'er sunken sands, through a wilderness 
 
 somber with forests. 
 Day after day they glided adown the turbulent 
 
 river; 
 Night after night, by their blazing fires, encamped on 
 
 its borders, 
 755 Now through rushing chutes, among green islands, 
 
 where plumelike 
 Cotton-trees nodded their shadowy crests, they 
 
 swept with the current, 
 Then emerged into broad lagoons, where silvery sand 
 
 bars 
 Lay in the stream, and along the wimpling waves of 
 
 their margin. 
 Shining with snow-white plumes, large flocks of peli- 
 cans waded. 
 760 Level the landscape grew, and along the shores of 
 
 the river. 
 Shaded by china-trees, in the midst of luxuriant 
 
 gardens. 
 Stood the houses of planters, with negro-cabins and 
 
 dove-cotes. 
 They were approaching the region where reigns per- 
 petual summer. 
 Where through the Golden Coast, and groves of 
 
 orange and citron, 
 765 Sweeps with majestic curve the river away to the 
 
 eastward. 
 
PART THE SECOND 69 
 
 They, too, swerved from their course; and, entering 
 
 the Bayou of Plaquemine, 
 Soon were lost in a maze of sluggish and devious 
 
 waters, 
 Which, like a network of steel, extended in every 
 
 direction. 
 Over their heads the towering and tenebrous boughs 
 
 of the cypress 
 Met in a dusky arch, and trailing mosses in mid- 770 
 
 air 
 Waved like banners that hang on the walls of an- 
 cient cathedrals. 
 Death like the silence seemed, and unbroken, save by 
 
 the herons 
 Home to their roosts in the cedar-trees returning at 
 
 sunset. 
 Or by the owl, as he greeted the moon with demoniac 
 
 laughter. 
 Lovely the moonlight was as it glanced and gleamed 775 
 
 on the water, 
 Gleamed on the columns of cypress and cedar sus- 
 taining the arches, 
 Down through whose broken vaults it fell as through 
 
 chinks in a ruin. 
 Dreamlike, and indistict, and strange were all things 
 
 around them; 
 And o'er their spirits there came a feeling of wonder 
 
 and sadness — 
 Strange forebodings of ill, unseen and that cannot be 78o 
 
 compassed. 
 
70 EVANGELINE 
 
 As, at the tramp of a horse's hoof on the turf of the 
 
 prairies, 
 Far in advance are closed the leaves of the shrinking 
 
 mimosa, 
 So, at the hoof-beats of fate, with sad forebodings of 
 
 evil, 
 Shrinks and closes the heart, ere the stroke of doom 
 
 has attained it. 
 785 But Evangeline's heart was sustained by a vision, 
 
 that faintly 
 Floated before her eyes, and beckoned her on through 
 
 the moonlight. 
 It was the thought of her brain that assumed the 
 
 shape of a phantom. 
 Through those shadowy aisles had Gabriel wandered 
 
 before her. 
 And every stroke of the oar now brought him nearer 
 
 and nearer. 
 790 Then in his place, at the prow of the boat, rose one 
 
 of the oarsman. 
 And, as a signal sound, if others like them per- 
 
 adventure 
 Sailed on those gloomy and midnight streams, blew a 
 
 blast on his bugle. 
 Wild through the dark colonnades and corridors 
 
 leafy the blast rang. 
 Breaking the seal of silence, and giving tongues to 
 
 the forest. 
 795 Soundless above them the banners of moss just 
 
 stirred to the music. 
 
PART THE SECOND 71 
 
 Multitudinous echoes awoke and died in the distance, 
 
 Over the watery floor, and beneath the reverberant 
 branches; 
 
 But not a voice replied; no answer came from the 
 darkness; 
 
 And when the echoes had ceased, like a sense of pain 
 was the silence. 
 
 Then . Evangeline slept; but the boatmen rowed soo 
 through the midnight, 
 
 Silent at times, then singing familiar Canadian boat- 
 songs, 
 
 Such as they sang of old on their own Acadian rivers. 
 
 And through the night were heard the mysterious 
 sounds of the desert, 
 
 Far off, indistinct, as of wave or wind in the forest, 
 
 Mixed with the whoop of the crane and the roar of sos 
 the grim alligator. 
 
 Thus ere another noon they emerged from the 
 shades; and before them 
 
 Lay, in the golden sun, the lakes of the Atchafalaya. 
 
 Water-lilies in myriads rocked on the slight undula- 
 tions 
 
 Made by the passing oars, and, resplendent in beauty 
 the lotus 
 
 Lifted her golden crown above the heads of the boat- 8iq 
 men. 
 
 Faint was the air with the odorous breath of mag- 
 nolia blossoms. 
 
 And with the heat of noon; and. numberles^s sylvan 
 islandsj 
 
72 EVANGELINE 
 
 Fragrant and thickly embowered with blossoming 
 
 hedges of roses, 
 Near to whose shores they glided along, invited to 
 
 slumber. 
 815 Soon by the fairest of these their weary oars were 
 
 suspended. 
 Under the boughs of Wachita willows, that grew by 
 jk the margin, 
 
 Safely their boat was moored; and scattered Joout 
 
 on the greensward, 
 Tired with their midnight toil, the weary travelers 
 
 slumbered. 
 Over them vast and high extended the cope of a 
 
 cedar. 
 820 Swinging from its great arms, the trumpet-flower 
 
 and the grape-vine 
 Hung their ladder of ropes aloft like the ladder of 
 
 Jacob, 
 On whose pendulous stairs the angels ascending, de- 
 scending. 
 Were the swift humming-birds, that flitted from 
 
 blossom to blossom. 
 Such was the vision Evangeline saw as she slumbered 
 
 beneath it. 
 825 Filled was her heart with love, and the dawn of an 
 
 opening heaven 
 Lighted her soul in sleep with the glory of regions 
 
 celestial. 
 Nearer and ever nearer, among the numberless 
 
 islands, 
 
PART THE SECOND 73 
 
 Darted a light, swift boat, that sped away o'er the 
 
 water. 
 Urged on its course by the sinewy arms of hunters 
 
 and trappers. 
 Northward its prow was turned, to the land of the 830 
 
 bison and beaver. 
 At the helm sat a youth, with countenance thought- 
 ful and careworn. 
 Dark and neglected locks overshadowed his brow, 
 
 and a sadness 
 Somewhat beyond his years on his face was legibly 
 
 written. 
 Gabriel was it, who, weary with waiting, unhappy 
 
 and restless. 
 Sought in the Western wilds oblivion of self and of 835 
 
 sorrow. 
 Swiftly they glided along, close under the lee of the 
 
 island. 
 But by the opposite bank, and behind a screen of 
 
 palmettos. 
 So that they saw not the boat, where it lay concealed 
 
 in the willows, 
 All undisturbed by the dash of their oars, and un- 
 seen, were the sleepers; 
 Angel of God was there none to awaken the slumber- 840 
 
 ing maiden. 
 Swiftly they glided away, like the shade of a cloud 
 
 on the prairie. 
 After the sound of their oars on the tholes had died 
 
 in the distance, «, 
 
74 EVANGELINE 
 
 As from a magic trance the sleepers awoke, and the 
 
 maiden 
 Said with a sigh to the friendly priest — "0 Father 
 
 Felician! 
 845 Something says in my heart that near me Gabriel 
 
 wanders. 
 Is it a foolish dream, an idle and vague supersti- 
 tion? 
 Or has an angel passed, and revealed the truth to my 
 
 spirit? '^ 
 Then, with a blush, she added — ''Alas for my credu- 
 lous fancy! 
 Unto ears like thine such words as these have no 
 
 meaning. " 
 850 But made answer the reverend man, and he smiled 
 
 as he answered, — 
 "Daughter, thy words are not idle; nor are they to 
 
 me without meaning. 
 Feeling is deep and still; and the word that floats 
 
 on the surface 
 Is as the tossing buoy, that betrays where the anchor 
 
 is hidden. 
 Therefore trust to thy heart, and to what the world 
 
 calls illusions. 
 855 Gabriel truly is near thee; for not far away to the 
 
 southward, 
 On the banks of the Teche are the towns of St. Maur 
 
 and St. Martin. 
 There the long-wandering bride shall be given again 
 
 to her bridegroom, 
 
PART THE SECOND 75 
 
 There the long-absent pastor regain his flock and his ^ 
 sheepfold. / 
 
 Beautiful is the land, with its prairies and forests of 
 fruit-trees; 
 
 Under the feet a garden of flowers, and the bluest of 860 ! 
 heavens 
 
 Bending above, and resting its dome on the walls of 
 
 the forest. f 
 
 They who dwell there have named it the Eden of 
 Louisiana." 
 
 And with these words of cheer they arose and con- 
 tinued their journey. 
 
 Softly the evening came. The sun from the western 
 horizon 
 
 Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the 865 
 landscape; 
 
 Twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and 
 forest 
 
 Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and 
 mingled together. 
 
 Hanging between two skies, a cloud with edges of 
 silver, 
 
 Floated the boat, with its dripping oars, on the mo- 
 tionless water. 
 
 Filled was Evangeline's heart with inexpressible 87o 
 sweetness. 
 
 Touched by the magic spell, the sacred fountains of 
 feeling 
 
 Glowed with the light of love, as the skies and waters 
 around her. 
 
76 EVANGELINE 
 
 Then from a neighboring thicket the mocking-bird, 
 
 wildest of singers, 
 Swinging aloft on a willow spray that hung o'er the 
 
 water, 
 875 Shook from his little throat floods of delirious 
 
 music. 
 That the whole air and the woods and the waves 
 
 seemed silent to listen. 
 Plaintive at first were the tones and sad; then soar- 
 ing to madness 
 Seemed they to follow or guide the revel of frenzied 
 
 Bacchantes. 
 Single notes were then heard, in sorrowful, low 
 
 lamentation; 
 880 Till, having gathered them all, he flung them abroad 
 
 in derision. 
 As when, after a storm, a gust of wind through the 
 
 tree-tops 
 Shakes down the rattling rain in a crystal shower on 
 
 the branches. 
 With such a prelude as this, and hearts that throbbed 
 
 with emotion. 
 Slowly they entered the Teche, where it flows 
 
 through the green Opelousas, 
 885 And through the amber air, above the crest of the 
 
 woodland, 
 Saw the column of smoke that arose from a neighbor- 
 ing dwelling; 
 Sounds of a horn they heard, and the distant lowing 
 
 of cattle. 
 
PART THE SECOND 77 
 
 III 
 
 • 
 
 Near to the bank of the river, o'ershadowed by oaks 
 
 from whose branches 
 Garlands of Spanish moss and of mystic mistletoe 
 
 flaunted, 
 Such as the Druids cut down with golden hatchets at sqo 
 
 Yule-tide, 
 Stood, secluded and still, the house of the herdsman. 
 
 A garden 
 Girded it round with a belt of luxuriant blos- 
 soms, 
 Filling the air with fragrance. The house itself was 
 
 of timbers 
 Hewn from the cypress-tree, and carefully fitted to- 
 gether. 
 Large and low was the roof; and on slender columns 895 
 
 supported, 
 Rose-wreathed, vine-encircled, a broad and spacious 
 
 veranda. 
 Haunt of the humming-bird, and the bee, extended 
 
 around it. 
 At each end of the house, amid the flowers of the 
 
 garden. 
 Stationed the dove-cotes were, as love's perpetual 
 
 symbol. 
 Scenes of endless wooing, and endless contentions of 90o 
 
 rivals. 
 Silence reigned o'er the place. The line of shadow 
 
 and sunshine 
 
78 EVANGELINE 
 
 Ran near the tops of the trees; but the house itself 
 ^ was in shadow, 
 
 And from its chimney-top, ascending and slowly ex- 
 panding 
 
 Into the evening air, a thin blue column of smoke rose. 
 905 In the rear of the house, from the garden gate, ran a 
 pathway 
 
 Through the great groves of oak to the skirts of the 
 limitless prairie. 
 
 Into whose sea of flowers the sun was slowly descend- 
 ing. 
 
 Full in his track of light, like ships with shadowy 
 canvas 
 
 Hanging loose from their spars in a motionless calm 
 in the tropics, 
 910 Stood a cluster of trees, with a tangled cordage of 
 grape-vines. 
 
 Just where the woodlands met the flowery surf of the 
 
 prairie, 
 Mounted upon his horse, with Spanish saddle and 
 
 stirrups. 
 Sat a herdsman, arrayed in gaiters and doublet of 
 
 deerskin. 
 Broad and brown was the face that from under the 
 
 Spanish sombrero 
 915 Gazed on the peaceful scene, with the lordly look of 
 
 its master. 
 Round about him were numberless herds of kine, 
 
 that were grazing 
 
PART THE SECOND 79 
 
 Quietly in the meadows, and breathing the vapory 
 
 freshness 
 That uprose from the river, and spread itself over 
 
 the landscape. 
 Slowly lifting the horn that hung at his side, and 
 
 expanding 
 Fully his broad, deep chest, he blew a blast, that 920 
 
 resounded 
 Wildly and sweet and far, through the still damp air 
 
 of the evening. 
 Suddenly out of the grass the long white horns of the 
 
 cattle 
 Rose like flakes of foam on the adverse currents of 
 
 ocean. 
 Silent a moment they gazed, then bellowing rushed 
 
 o'er the prairie, 
 And the whole mass became a cloud, a shade in the 92s 
 
 distance. 
 Then, as the herdsman turned to the house, through 
 
 the gate of the garden 
 Saw he the forms of the priest and the maiden ad- 
 vancing to meet him. 
 Suddenly down from his horse he sprang in amaze- 
 ment, and forward 
 Rushed with extended arms and exclamations of 
 
 wonder; 
 When they beheld his face, they recognized Basil the 930 
 
 Blacksmith. 
 Hearty his welcome was, as he led his guests to the 
 
 garden. 
 
80 EVANGELINE 
 
 There in an arbor of roses with endless question and 
 
 answer 
 Gave they vent to their hearts, and renewed their 
 
 friendly embraces, 
 Laughing and weeping by turns, or sitting silent and 
 
 thoughtful. 
 935 Thoughtful, for Gabriel came not, and now dark 
 
 doubts and misgivings 
 Stole o'er the maiden's heart; and Basil, somewhat 
 
 embarrassed. 
 Broke the silence and said — ''If you come by the 
 
 Atchafalaya, 
 How have you nowhere encountered my Gabriel's 
 
 boat on the bayous? " 
 Over Evangeline's face at the words of Basil a shade 
 
 passed. 
 940 Tears came into her eyes, and she said, with a trem- 
 ulous accent — 
 "Gone? is Gabriel gone?" and, concealing her face 
 
 on his shoulder. 
 All her o'erburdened heart gave way, and she wept 
 
 and lamented. 
 Then the good Basil said — and his voice grew blithe 
 
 as he said it — 
 "Be of good cheer, my child; it is only to-day he 
 
 departed. 
 94S Foolish boy! he has left me alone with my herds and 
 
 my horses. 
 Moody and restless grown, and tried and troubled, 
 
 his spirit 
 
PART THE SECOND 81 
 
 Could no longer endure the calm of this quiet existence. 
 Thinking ever of thee, uncertain and sorrowful ever, 
 Ever silent, or speaking only of thee and his troubles, 
 He at length had become so tedious to men and to 9so 
 
 maidens, 
 Tedious even to me, that at length I bethought me 
 
 and sent him 
 Unto the town of Adayes to trade for mules with 
 
 the Spaniards. 
 Thence he will follow the Indian trails to the Ozark 
 
 Mountains, 
 Hunting for furs in the forests, on rivers trapping 
 
 the beaver. 
 Therefore be of good cheer; we will follow the fugi- 95s 
 
 tive lover; 
 He is not far on his way, and the Fates and the 
 
 streams are against him. 
 Up and away to-morrow, and through the red dew 
 
 of the morning 
 We will follow him fast and bring him back to his 
 
 prison." 
 
 Then glad voices were heard, and up from the banks 
 
 of the river, 
 Borne aloft on his comrades' arms, came Michael the 960 
 
 fiddler. 
 Long under Basil's roof had he lived like a god on 
 
 Olympus, 
 Having no other care than dispensing music to 
 
 mortals, 
 
82 EVANGELINE 
 
 Far renowned was he for his silver locks and his 
 
 fiddle. 
 "Long live Michael," they cried, "our brave Aca- 
 dian minstrel ! " 
 965 As they bore him aloft in triumphal procession; and 
 
 straightway 
 Father Felician advanced with Evangeline, greeting 
 
 the old man 
 Kindly and oft, and recalling the past, while Basil, 
 
 enraptured, 
 Hailed with hilarious joy his old companions and 
 
 gossips, 
 Laughing loud and long, and embracing mothers and 
 
 daughters. 
 970 Much they marvelled to see the wealth of the ci- 
 devant blacksmith, 
 All his domains and his herds, and his patriarchal 
 
 demeanor; 
 Much they marveled to hear his tales of the soil and 
 
 the climate, 
 And of the prairies, whose numberless herds were his 
 
 who would take them; 
 Each one thought in his heart that he, too, would 
 
 go and do likewise. 
 975 Thus they ascended the steps, and, crossing the 
 
 breezy veranda, 
 Entered the hall of the house, where already the 
 
 supper of Basil 
 Waited his late return; and they rested and feasted 
 
 together. 
 
PART THE SECOND 83 
 
 Over the joyous feast the sudden darkness de- 
 scended. 
 
 All was silent without, and, illuming the landscape 
 with silver, 
 
 Fair rose the dewy moon and the myriad stars; but 98o 
 within doors, 
 
 Brighter than these, shone the faces of friends in the 
 glimmering lamplight. 
 
 Then from his station aloft, at the head of the table, 
 the herdsman 
 
 Poured forth his heart and his wine together in end- 
 less profusion. 
 
 Lighting his pipe, that was filled with sweet Natchi- 
 toches tobacco. 
 
 Thus he spake to his guests, who listened, and smiled 985 
 as they listened : 
 
 "Welcome once more, my friends, who long have 
 been friendless and homeless. 
 
 Welcome once more to a home, that is better per- 
 chance than the old one! N 
 
 Here no hungry winter congeals our blood like the 
 rivers; 
 
 Here no stony ground provokes the wrath of the 
 farmer. 
 
 Smoothly the plowshare runs through the soil as a 990 
 keel through the water. 
 
 All the year round the orange-groves are in blossom; 
 and grass grows 
 
 More in a single night than a whole Canadian sum- 
 mer. 
 
84 EVANGELINE 
 
 Here, too, numberless herd run wild and unclaimed 
 in the prairies; 
 
 Here, too, land may be had for the asking, and for- 
 ests of timber 
 995 With a few blows of the axe are hewn and framed 
 into houses. 
 
 After your houses are built, and your fields are yel- 
 low with harvests. 
 
 No King George of England shall drive you away 
 from your homesteads, 
 
 Burning your dwellings and barns, and stealing your 
 farms and your cattle." 
 
 Speaking these words, he blew a wrathful cloud from 
 his nostrils, 
 1000 While hi^ huge, brown hand came thundering down 
 on the table. 
 
 So that the guests all started; and Father Felician, 
 astounded, 
 
 Suddenly paused, with a pinch of snuff half-way to 
 his nostrils. 
 
 But the brave Basil resumed, and his words were 
 milder and gayer : — 
 
 "Only beware of the fever, my friends, beware of the 
 fever! 
 1005 For it is not like that of our cold Acadian 
 climate. 
 
 Cured by wearing a spider hung round one's neck in 
 a nutshell!" 
 
 Then there were voices heard at the door, and foot- 
 steps approaching 
 
PART THE SECOND 85 
 
 Sounded upon the stairs and the floor of the breezy 
 
 veranda. 
 It was the neighboring Creoles and small Acadian 
 
 planters, 
 Who had been summoned all to the house of Basil loio 
 
 the Herdsman. 
 Merry the meeting was of ancient comrades and 
 
 neighbors; 
 Friend clasped friend in his arms; and they who 
 
 before were as strangers, 
 Meeting in exile, became straightway as friends to 
 
 each other, 
 Drawn by the gentle bond of a common country to- 
 gether. 
 But in the neighboring hall a strain of music, pro- lois 
 
 ceeding 
 From the accordant strings of Michael's melodious 
 
 fiddle. 
 Broke up all further speech. Away, like children de- 
 lighted, 
 All things forgotten beside, they gave themselves to 
 
 the maddening 
 Whirl of the dizzy dance, as it swept and swayed to 
 
 the music, 
 Dreamlike, with beaming eyes and the rush of flut- 1020 
 
 tering garments. 
 
 Meanwhile, apart, at the head of the hall, the priest 
 
 and the herdsman 
 Sat, conversing together of past and present and 
 
 future; 
 
86 EVANGELINE 
 
 While Evangeline stood like one entranced, for with- 
 in her 
 
 Olden memories rose, and loud in the midst of the 
 music 
 1025 Heard she the sound of the sea, and an irrepressible 
 sadness 
 
 Came o'er her heart, and unseen she stole forth into 
 the garden 
 
 Beautiful was the night. Behind the black wall of 
 the forest, 
 
 Tipping its summit with silver, arose the moon. On 
 the river 
 
 Fell here and there through the branches a tremulous 
 gleam of the moonlight, 
 1030 Like the sweet thoughts of love on a darkened and 
 devious spirit. 
 
 Nearer and round about her, the manifold flowers of 
 the garden 
 
 Poured out their souls in odors, that were their 
 prayers and confessions 
 
 Unto the night, as it went its way, like a silent Car- 
 thusian. 
 
 Fuller of fragrance than they, and as heavy with 
 shadows and night-dews, 
 1035 Hung the heart of the maiden. The calm and the 
 magical moonlight 
 
 Seemed to inundate her soul with indefinable long- 
 ings. 
 
 As, through the garden gate, beneath the brown 
 shade of the oak-trees, 
 
PART THE SECOND 87 
 
 Passed she along the path to the edge of the measur- 
 
 less prairie. 
 Silent it lay, with a silvery haze upon it, and the 
 
 fire-flies 
 Gleaming and floating away in mingled and infinite 1040 
 
 numbers. 
 Over her head the stars, the thoughts of God in the 
 
 heavens. 
 Shone on the eyes of man, who had ceased to marvel 
 
 and worship. 
 Save when a blazing comet was seen on the walls of 
 
 that temple, 
 As if a hand had appeared and written upon them, 
 
 ^'Upharsin." 
 And the soul of the maiden, between the stars and 1045 
 
 the fire-flies, 
 Wandered alone, and she cried — ^'O Gabriel! O my 
 
 beloved ! 
 Art thou so near unto me, and yet I cannot behold 
 
 thee? 
 Art thou so near unto me, and yet thy voice does 
 
 not reach me? 
 Ah! how often thy feet have trod this path to the 
 
 prairie! 
 Ah! how often thine eyes have looked on the wood- 1050 
 
 lands around me! 
 Ah! how often beneath this oak, returning from 
 
 labor, 
 Thou hast lain down to rest, and to dream of me in 
 
 thy slumbers* 
 
88 EVANGELINE 
 
 When shall these eyes behold, these arms be folded 
 
 about thee?" 
 Loud and sudden and near the note of a whippoor- 
 
 will sounded 
 loss Like a flute in the woods; and anon, through the 
 
 neighboring thickets, 
 Farther and farther away it floated and dropped into 
 
 silence. 
 "Patience!" whispered the oaks from oracular 
 
 caverns of darkness; 
 And, from the moonlit meadow, a sigh responded, 
 
 "To-morrow!" 
 
 Bright rose the sun next day; and all the flowers of 
 
 the garden 
 1060 Bathed his shining feet with their tears, and anointed 
 
 his tresses 
 With the delicious balm that they bore in their vases 
 
 of crystal. 
 "Farewell!" said the priest, as he stood at the 
 
 shadowy threshold ; 
 "See, that you bring us the Prodigal Son from his 
 
 fasting and famine. 
 And, too, the Foolish Virgin, who slept when the 
 
 bridegroom was coming." 
 1065 "Farewell!" answered the maiden, and, smiling, with 
 
 Basil descended 
 Down to the river's brink, where the boatmen al- 
 ready were waiting. 
 
PART THE SECOND 89 
 
 Thus beginning their journey with morning, and sun- 
 shine and gladness, 
 Swiftly they followed the flight of him who was 
 
 speeding before them, 
 Blown by the blast of fate like a dead leaf over the 
 
 desert. 
 Not that day, nor the next, nor yet that day that io7o 
 
 succeeded, 
 Found they trace of his course, in lake or forest or 
 
 river. 
 Nor, after many days, had they found him; but 
 
 vague and uncertain 
 Rumors alone were their guides through a wild and 
 
 desolate country, 
 Till, at the little inn of the Spanish town of 
 
 Adayes, 
 Weary and worn, they alighted, and learned from 1075 
 
 the garrulous landlord. 
 That on the day before, with horses and guides and 
 
 companions. 
 Gabriel left the village, and took the road of the 
 
 prairies. 
 
 Far in the West there lies a desert land, where the 
 mountains 
 
 Lift, through perpetual snows, their lofty and lumi- 
 nous summits. 
 
 Down from their jagged deep ravines, where the loso 
 gorge, like a gateway, 
 
90 EVANGELINE 
 
 Opens a passage rude to the wheels of the emigrant's 
 
 wagon, 
 Westward the Oregon flows and the Walleway and 
 
 Owyhee. 
 Eastward, with devious course, among the Wind- 
 river Mountains, 
 Through the Sweetwater Valley precipitate leaps the 
 
 Nebraska; 
 1085 And to the south, from Fontaine-qui-bout and the 
 
 Spanish sierras. 
 Fretted with sands and rocks, and swept by the wind 
 
 of the desert, 
 Numberless torrents, with ceaseless sound, descend 
 
 to the ocean. 
 Like the great chords of a harp, in loud and solemn 
 
 vibrations. 
 Spreading between these streams are the wondrous, 
 
 beautiful prairies, 
 1090 Billowy bays of grass ever rolling in shadow and sun- 
 shine, 
 Bright wth luxuriant clusters of roses and purple 
 
 amorphas. 
 Over them wander the buffalo herds, and the elk and 
 
 the roebuck; 
 Over them wander the wolves, and herds of riderless 
 
 horses; 
 Fires that blast and blight and winds that are weary 
 
 with travel; 
 1095 Over them wander the scattered tribes of Ishmael's 
 
 children, 
 
PART THE SECOND 91 
 
 Staining the desert with blood ; and above their ter- 
 rible war-trails 
 
 Circles and sails aloft, on pinions majestic, the vul- 
 ture, 
 
 Like the implacable soul of a chieftain slaughtered in 
 battle, 
 
 By invisible stairs ascending and scaling the heavens. 
 
 Here and there rise smokes from the camps of these noo 
 savage marauders; 
 
 Here and there rise groves from the margins of swift- 
 running rivers; 
 
 And the grim, taciturn bear, the anchorite monk of 
 the desert, 
 
 Climbs down their dark ravines to dig for roots by 
 the brookside, 
 
 And over all is the sky, the clear and crystalline 
 heaven, 
 
 Like the protecting hand of God inverted above iios 
 them. 
 
 Into this wonderful land, at the base of the Ozark 
 
 Mountains, 
 Gabriel far had entered, with hunters and trappers 
 
 behind him. 
 Day after day, with their Indian guides, the maiden 
 
 and Basil 
 Followed his flying steps, and thought each day to 
 
 o'ertake him. 
 Sometimes they saw, or thought they saw, the smoke iiio 
 
 of his camp-fire 
 
92 EVANGELINE 
 
 Rise in the morning air from the distant plain; but 
 at nightfall, 
 
 When they had reached the place, they found only 
 embers and ashes. 
 
 And, though their hearts were sad at times and their 
 bodies were weary, 
 
 Hope still guided them on, as the Magic Fata Mor- 
 gana 
 1115 Showed them her lakes of light, that retreated and 
 ^vanished before them. 
 
 Once, as they sat by their evening fire, there silently 
 
 entered 
 Into the little camp an Indian woman, whose features 
 Wore deep traces of sorrow, and patience as great as 
 
 her sorrow. 
 She was a Shawnee woman returning home to her 
 
 people, 
 1120 From the far-off hunting-grounds of the cruel Co- 
 
 manches. 
 Where her Canadian husband, a Coureur-des-Bois, 
 
 had been murdered. 
 Touched were their hearts at her story, and warmest 
 
 and friendliest welcome 
 Gave they, with words of cheer, and she sat and 
 
 feasted among them 
 On the buffalo meat and the venison cooked on the 
 
 embers. 
 1125 But when their meal was done, and Basil and all his 
 
 companions, 
 
PART THE SECOND 93 
 
 Worn with the long day's march and the chase of the 
 
 deer and the bison, 
 Stretched themselves on the ground, and slept where 
 
 the quivering firelight 
 Flashed on their swarthy cheeks, and their forms 
 
 wrapped up in their blankets, 
 Then at the door of Evangeline's tent she sat and re- 
 peated 
 Slowly, with soft, low voice, and the charm of her ii3o 
 
 Indian accent. 
 All the tale of her love, with its pleasures, and pains, 
 
 and reverses. 
 Much Evangeline wept at the tale, and to know that 
 
 another 
 Hapless heart like her own had loved and had been 
 
 disappointed. 
 Moved to the depths of her soul by pity and woman's 
 
 compassion. 
 Yet in her sorrow pleased that one who had suffered lus 
 
 was near her, 
 She in turn related her love and all its disas- 
 ters. 
 Mute with wonder the Shawnee sat, and when she 
 
 had ended 
 Still was mute; but at length, as if a mysterious 
 
 horror 
 Passed through her brain, she spake, and repeated 
 
 the tale of the Mowis; 
 Mowis, the bridegroom of snow, who won and wed- iho 
 
 ded a maiden, 
 
94 EVANGELINE 
 
 But, when the morning came, arose and passed from 
 
 the wigwam. 
 Fading and melting away and dissolving into the 
 
 sunshine, 
 Till she beheld him no more, though she followed far 
 
 into the forest. 
 Then, in those sweet, low tones, that seemed like a 
 
 weird incanation, 
 1145 Told she the tale of the fair Lilinau, who was wooed 
 
 by a phantom. 
 That, through the pines o'er her father's lodge, in 
 
 the hush of the twilight. 
 Breathed like the evening wind, and whispered love 
 
 to the maiden. 
 Till she followed his green and waving plume through 
 
 the forest. 
 And never more returned, nor was seen again by her 
 
 people. 
 1150 Silent with wonder and strange surprise, Evangeline 
 
 listened 
 To the soft flow of her magical words, till the region 
 
 around her 
 Seemed like enchanted ground, and her swarthy 
 
 guest the enchantress. 
 Slowly over the tops of the Ozark Mountains the 
 
 moon rose. 
 Lighting the little tent, and with a mysterious splen- 
 dor 
 1155 Touching the somber leaves, and embracing and fill- 
 ing the woodland. 
 
PART THE SECOND 95 
 
 With a delicious sound the brook rushed by, and the 
 
 branches 
 Swayed and sighed overhead in scarcely audible 
 
 whispers. 
 Filled with the thoughts of love was Evangeline's 
 
 heart, but a secret. 
 Subtile sense crept in of pain and indefinite terror, 
 As the cold, poisonous snake creeps into the nest of neo 
 
 the swallow. 
 It was no earthly fear. A breath from the region of 
 
 spirits 
 Seemed to float in the air of night; and she felt for a 
 
 moment 
 That, like the Indian maid, she, too, was pursuing a 
 
 phantom. 
 And with this thought she slept, and the fear and 
 
 the phantom had vanished. 
 
 Early upon the morrow the march was resumed; and ii65 
 
 the Shawnee 
 Said, as they journeyed along — "On the western 
 
 slope of these mountains 
 Dwells in his little village the Black Robe chief of 
 
 the Mission. 
 Much he teaches the people, and tells them of Mary 
 
 and Jesus; 
 Loud laugh their hearts with joy, and weep with pain 
 
 as they hear him." 
 Then, with a sudden and secret emotion, Evangeline ino 
 
 answered — 
 
96 EVANGELINE 
 
 "Let US go to the Mission, for there good tidings 
 await us!" 
 
 Thither they turned their steeds; and behind a spur 
 of the mountains, 
 
 Just as the sun went down, they heard a murmur of 
 voices, 
 
 And in a meadow green and broad, by the bank of a 
 river, 
 1175 Saw the tents of the Christians, the tents of the Je- 
 - suit Mission. 
 
 Under a towering oak, that stood in the midst of the 
 village, 
 
 Knelt the Black Robe chief with his children. A cru- 
 cifix fastened 
 
 High on the trunk of the tree, and overshadowed by 
 grape-vines. 
 
 Looked with its agonized face on the multitude kneel- 
 ing beneath it. 
 1180 This was their rural chapel. Aloft, through the in- 
 tricate arches 
 
 Of its aerial roof, arose the chant of their 
 vespers. 
 
 Mingling its notes with the soft susurrus and sighs of 
 the branches. 
 
 Silent, with heads uncovered, the travelers, nearer 
 approaching. 
 
 Knelt on the swarded floor, and joined in the even- 
 ing devotions. 
 1185 But when the service was done, and the benediction 
 had fallen 
 
PART THE SECOND 97 
 
 Forth from the hands of the priest, like seed from the 
 hands of the sower, 
 
 Slowly the reverend man advanced to the strangers, 
 and bade them 
 
 Welcome; and when they replied, he smiled with be- 
 nignant expression. 
 
 Hearing the homelike sounds of his mother tongue in 
 the forest, 
 
 And with words of kindness conducted them into 1190 
 his wigwam. 
 
 There upon mats and skins they reposed, and on 
 cakes of the maize-ear 
 
 Feasted, and slaked their thirst from the water- 
 gourd of the teacher. 
 
 Soon was their story told ; and the priest with solem- 
 nity answered : 
 
 *'Not six suns have risen and set since Gabriel, 
 seated 
 
 On this mat by my side, where now the maiden re- 1195 
 poses, 
 
 Told me this same sad tale; then arose and continued 
 his journey!" 
 
 Soft was the voice of the priest, and he spake with 
 an accent of kindness; 
 
 But on Evangeline's heart fell his words as in winter 
 the snowflakes 
 
 Fall into some lone nest from which the birds have 
 departed. 
 
 "Far to the north he has gone," continued the priest; 1200 
 "but in autumn, 
 
98 EVANGELINE 
 
 When the chase is done, will return again to the Mis- 
 sion.'* 
 
 Then Evangeline said, and her voice was meek and 
 submissive — 
 
 "Let me remain with thee, for my soul is sad and 
 afflicted." 
 
 So seemed it wise and well unto all; and betimes on 
 the morrow, 
 1205 Mounting his Mexican steed, with his Indian guides 
 and companions, 
 
 Homeward Basil returned, and Evangeline stayed at 
 the Mission. 
 
 Slowly, slowly, slowly the days succeeded each other — " 
 Days and weeks and months; and the fields of maize 
 
 that were springing 
 Green from the ground when a stranger she came, 
 
 now waving above her, 
 1210 Lifted their slender shafts, with leaves interlacing 
 
 and forming 
 Cloisters for mendicant crows and granaries pillaged 
 
 by squirrels. 
 Then in the golden weather the maize was husked, 
 
 and the maidens 
 Blushed at each blood-red ear, for that betokened a 
 
 lover. 
 But at the crooked laughed, and called it a thief in 
 
 the corn-field. 
 1215 Even the blood-red ear to Evangeline brought not 
 
 her lover. 
 
PART THE SECOND 99 
 
 "Patience!" the priest would say; ''have faith, and 
 
 thy prayer will be answered ! 
 Look at this vigorous plant that lifts its head from 
 
 the meadow, 
 See how its leaves all point to the north, as true as 
 
 the magnet; 
 It is the compass-flower, that the finger of God has 
 
 suspended 
 Here in the houseless wild, to direct the traveler's 1220 
 
 journey 
 Over the sea-like, pathless, limitless waste of the 
 
 desert. 
 Such in the soul of man is faith. The blossoms of 
 
 passion. 
 Gay and luxuriant flowers, are brighter and fuller of . 
 
 fragrance. 
 But they beguile us, and lead us astray, and their 
 
 odor is deadly. 
 Only this humble plant can guide us here, and here- 122s 
 
 after 
 Crown us with asphodel flowers, that are wet with 
 
 the dews of nepenthe." 
 
 So came the autumn, and passed, and the winter — 
 
 yet Gabriel came not; 
 Blossomed the opening spring, and the notes of the 
 
 robin and bluebird 
 Sounded sweet upon wold and in wood, yet Gabriel 
 
 came not. 
 
100 ' EVANGELINE 
 
 1230 But on the breath of the summer winds a rumor 
 was wafted 
 
 Sweeter than song of bird, or hue or odor of blossom. 
 
 Far to the north and east, it said, in the Michigan 
 forests, 
 
 Gabriel had his lodge by the banks of the Saginaw 
 river. 
 
 And, with returning guides, that sought the lakes of 
 St. Lawrence, 
 1235 Saying a sad farewell, Evangeline went from the Mis- 
 sion. 
 
 When over weary ways, by long and perilous mar- 
 ches, 
 
 She had attained at length the depths of the Michi- 
 gan forests. 
 
 Found she the hunter's lodge deserted and fallen to 
 ruin! 
 
 Thus did the long sad years glide on, and in seasons 
 and places 
 1240 Divers and distant far was seen the wandering 
 maiden; 
 
 Now in the tents of grace of the meek Moravian Mis- 
 sions, 
 
 Now in the noisy camps and the battle-fields of the 
 army, 
 
 Now in secluded hamlets, in towns and populous 
 cities, 
 
 Like a phantom she came, and passed away unre- 
 memberedi 
 
PART THE SECOND 101 
 
 Fair was she and young, when in hope began the long 124s 
 
 journey; 
 Faded was she and old, when in disappointment it 
 
 ended. 
 Each succeeding year stole something away from her 
 
 beauty, 
 Leaving behind it, broader and deeper, the gloom 
 
 and the shadow. 
 Then there appeared and spread faint streaks of 
 
 gray o'er her forehead, 
 Dawn of another life, that broke o'er her earthly 125^ 
 
 horizon. 
 As in the eastern sky the first faint streaks of the 
 
 morning. 
 
 In that delightful land which is washed by the Dela- 
 ware's waters, 
 Guarding in sylvan shades the name of Penn the 
 
 apostle. 
 Stands on the banks of its beautiful stream the city 
 
 he founded. 
 There all the air is balm, and the peach is the emblem 125s 
 
 of beauty. 
 And the streets still re-echo the names of the trees of 
 
 the forest. 
 As if they fain would appease the Dryads whose 
 
 haunts they molested. 
 There from the troubled sea had Evangeline landed, 
 
 an exile, 
 
102 EVANGELINE 
 
 Finding among the children of Penn a home and a 
 country. 
 1260 There old Rene Leblanc had died; and when he de- 
 parted, 
 
 Saw at his side only one of all his hundred descend- 
 ants. 
 
 Something at least there was in the friendly streets 
 of the city, 
 
 Something that spake to her heart, and made her no 
 longer a stranger: 
 
 And her ear was pleased with the Thee and Thou of 
 the Quakers, 
 1265 For it recalled the past, the old Acadian 
 country. 
 
 Where all men were equal, and all were brothers and 
 sisters. 
 
 So, when the fruitless search, the disappointed en- 
 deavor. 
 
 Ended, to recommence no more upon earth, uncom- 
 plaining, 
 
 Thither, as leaves to the light, were turned her 
 thoughts and her footsteps. 
 1270 As from a mountain's top the rainy mists of the 
 morning 
 
 Roll away, and far we behold the landscape below 
 us, 
 
 Sun-illumined, with shining rivers and cities and 
 hamlets, 
 . So fell the mists from her mind, and she saw the 
 world far below her, 
 
PART THE SECOND , 103 
 
 Dark no longer, but all illumined with love; and the 
 
 pathway 
 Which she had climbed so far, lying smooth and fair 1275 
 
 in the distance. 
 Gabriel was not forgotten. Within her heart was 
 
 his image. 
 Clothed in the beauty of love and youth, as last she 
 
 beheld him, 
 Only more beautiful made by his deathlike silence 
 
 and absence. 
 Into her thoughts of him time entered not, for it was 
 
 not. 
 Over him years had no power; he had not changed, 1280 
 
 but transfigured ; 
 He had become to her heart as one who is dead, and 
 
 not absent; 
 Patience and abnegation of self, and devotion to 
 
 others. 
 This was the lesson a life of trial and sorrow had 
 
 taught her. 
 So was her love diffused, but, like to some odorous 
 
 spices. 
 Suffered no waste nor loss, though filling the air with i28S 
 
 aroma. 
 Other hope had she none, nor wish in life, but to 
 
 follow 
 Meekly, with reverent steps, the sacred feet of her 
 
 Saviour. 
 Thus many years she lived as a Sister of Mercy; fre- 
 quenting 
 
104 EVANGELINE 
 
 Lonely and wretched roofs in the crowded lanes of 
 
 the city, 
 1290 Where distress and want concealed themselves from 
 
 the sunlight, 
 Where disease and sorrow in garrets languished ne- 
 glected. 
 Night after night, when the world was asleep, as the 
 
 watchman repeated 
 Loud, through the gusty streets, that all was well in 
 
 the city. 
 High at some lonely window he saw the light of her 
 
 taper. 
 1295 Day after day, in the gray of the dawn, as slow 
 
 through the suburbs 
 Plodded the German farmer, with flowers and fruits 
 
 for the market. 
 Met he that meek, pale face, returning home from 
 
 its watchings. 
 
 Then it came to pass that a pestilence fell on the 
 
 city. 
 Presaged by wondrous signs, and mostly by flocks of 
 
 wild pigeons, 
 1300 Darkening the sun in their flight, with naught in 
 
 their craws but an acorn. 
 And, as the tides of the sea arise in the month of 
 
 September, 
 Flooding some silver stream, till it spreads to a lake 
 
 in a meadow, 
 
PART THE SECOND 105 
 
 So death flooded life, and o'erflowing its natural 
 margin, 
 
 Spread to a brackish lake, the silver stream of exist- 
 ence. 
 
 Wealth had no power to bribe, nor beauty to charm, i3os 
 the oppressor; 
 
 But all perished alike beneath the scourge of his 
 anger; — 
 
 Only, alas! the poor, who had neither friends nor 
 attendants. 
 
 Crept away to die in the almshouse, home of the 
 homeless; 
 
 Then in the suburbs it stood, in the midst of 
 meadows and woodlands; — 
 
 Now the city surrounds it; but still with its gateway uio 
 and wicket 
 
 Meek, in the midst of splendor, its humble walls 
 seem to echo 
 
 Softly the words of the Lord : — '' The poor ye always 
 have with you." 
 
 Thither, by night and by day, came the Sister of 
 Mercy. The dying 
 
 Looked up into her face, and thought, indeed, to be- 
 hold there 
 
 Gleams of celestial light encircle her forehead with 1315 
 splendor, 
 
 Such as the artist paints o'er the brows of saints and 
 apostles. 
 
 Or such as hangs by night o'er a city seen at a dis- 
 tance. 
 
106 EVANGELINE 
 
 Unto their eyes it seemed the lamps of the city celes- 
 tial, 
 
 Into whose shining gates ere long their spirits would 
 enter. 
 
 1320 Thus, on a Sabbath morn, through the streets, de- 
 serted and silent, 
 
 Wending her quiet way, she entered the door of the 
 almshouse. 
 
 Sweet on the summer air was the odor of flowers in 
 the garden; 
 
 And she paused on her way to gather the fairest 
 among them, 
 
 That the dying once more might rejoice in their fra- 
 grance and beauty. 
 1325 Then, as she mounted the stairs to the corridors, 
 cooled by the east wind. 
 
 Distant and soft on her ear fell the chimes from the 
 belfry of Christ Church, 
 
 While, intermingled with these, across the meadows 
 were wafted 
 
 Sounds of psalms, that were sung by the Swedes in 
 their church at Wicaco. 
 
 Soft as descending wings fell the calm of the hour on 
 her spirit; 
 1330 Something within her said, ''At length thy trials 
 are ended;" 
 
 And, with a light in her looks, she entered the cham- 
 bers of sickness, 
 
PART THE SECOND 107 
 
 Noiselessly moved about the assiduous, careful at- 
 tendants, 
 
 Moistening the feverish lip, and the aching brow, 
 and in silence 
 
 Closing the sightless eyes of the dead, and concealing 
 their faces. 
 
 Where on their pallets they lay, like drifts of snow by 1335 
 the roadside. 
 
 Many a languid head, upraised as Evangeline 
 entered, 
 
 Turned on its pillow of pain to gaze while she passed, 
 for her presence 
 
 Fell on their hearts like a ray of the sun on the walls 
 of a prison. 
 
 And, as she looked around, she saw how Death, the 
 consoler, 
 
 Laying his hand upon many a heart had healed it i34o 
 forever. 
 
 Many familiar forms had disappeared in the night- 
 time; 
 
 Vacant their places were, or filled already by stran- 
 ^ _gers. 
 
 Suddenly, as if arrested by fear or a feeling of won- 
 der. 
 
 Still she stood, with her colorless lips apart, while a 
 
 shudder 
 Ran through her frame, and, forgotten, the flowerets i34S 
 
 dropped from her fingers, 
 And from her eyes and cheeks the light and bloom of 
 the morning. 
 
108 EVANGELINE 
 
 Then there escaped from her lips a cry of such terri- 
 ble anguish, 
 That the dying heard it, and started up from their 
 
 pillows. 
 On the pallet before her was stretched the form of an 
 
 old man. 
 1350 Long, and thin, and gray were the locks that shaded 
 
 his temples; 
 But, as he lay in the morning light, his face for a 
 
 moment 
 Seemed to assume once more the forms of its earlier 
 
 manhood; 
 So are wont to be changed the faces of those who are 
 
 dying. 
 Hot and red on his lips still burned the flush of the 
 
 fever, 
 1355 As if life, like the Hebrew, with blood had besprink- 
 led its portals. 
 That the Angel of Death might see the sign, and 
 
 pass over, 
 Motionless, senseless, dying, he lay, and his spirit 
 
 exhausted 
 Seemed to be sinking dowii through infinite depths in 
 
 the darkness, 
 Darkness of slumber and death, forever sinking and 
 
 sinking. 
 1360 Then through those realms of shade, in multiplied 
 
 reverberations, 
 Heard he that cry of pain, and through the hush that 
 
 succeeded 
 
PART THE SECOND 109 
 
 Whispered a gentle voice, in accents tender and saint- 
 like, 
 "Gabriel! O my beloved!" and died away into 
 
 silence. 
 Then he beheld, in a dream, once more the home of 
 
 his childhood; 
 Green Acadian meadows, with sylvan rivers among i365 
 
 them, 
 Village, and mountain, and woodlands; and, walk- 
 ing under their shadow, 
 As in the days of her youth, Evangeline rose in his 
 
 vision. 
 Tears came into his eyes; and as slowly he lifted his 
 
 eyelids, 
 Vanished the vision away, but Evangeline knelt by 
 
 his bedside. 
 Vainly he strove to whisper her name, for the accents 1^70 
 
 unuttered 
 Died on his lips, and their motion revealed what his 
 
 tongue would have spoken. 
 Vainly he strove to rise; and Evangeline, kneeling 
 
 beside him. 
 Kissed his dying lips, and laid his head on her 
 
 bosom. 
 Sweet was the light of his eyes; but it suddenly sank 
 
 into darkness, 
 As when a lamp is blown out by a gust of wind at a 1375 
 
 casement. 
 All was ended now, the hope, and the fear, and the 
 
 sorrow, 
 
110 EVANGELINE 
 
 All the aching of heart, the restless, unsatisfied long- 
 ing, 
 
 All the dull, deep pain, and constant anguish of pa- 
 tience ! 
 
 And, as she pressed once more the lifeless head to her 
 bosom, 
 1380 Meekly she bowed her own, and murmured, ''Father 
 I thank thee!" 
 
 Still stands the forest primeval; but far away from 
 its shadow. 
 
 Side by side, in their nameless graves, the lovers are 
 sleeping. 
 
 Under the humble walls of the little Catholic church- 
 yard. 
 
 In the heart of the city, they lie, unknown and un- 
 noticed ; 
 1385 Daily the tides of life go ebbing and flowing beside 
 them. 
 
 Thousands of throbbing hearts, where theirs are at 
 rest and forever. 
 
 Thousands of aching brains, where theirs no longer 
 are busy. 
 
 Thousands of toiling hands, where theirs have ceased 
 from their labors, 
 
 Thousands of weary feet, where theirs have com- 
 pleted their journey! 
 1390 Still stands the forest primeval; but under the shade 
 of its branches 
 
PART THE SECOND 111 
 
 Dwells another race, with other customs and lan- 
 guage. 
 
 Only along the shore of the mournful and misty At- 
 lantic 
 
 Linger a few Acadian peasants, whose fathers from 
 exile 
 
 Wandered back to their native land to die in its 
 bosom; 
 
 In the fisherman's cot the wheel and the loom are I39s 
 still busy; 
 
 Maidens still wear their Norman caps and their kir- 
 ties of homespun. 
 
 And by the evening fire repeat Evangehne's story, 
 
 While from its rocky caverns the deep-voiced, neigh- 
 boring ocean 
 
 Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail 
 of the forest. 
 
 <ir 
 
ANALYSIS OF EVANGELINE 
 
 PART I 
 
 Introduction 
 
 LINES 
 
 (a) The primeval forest 1-8 
 
 (6) Traditions of Grand Pre 9-15 
 
 (c) The poet introduces his theme 16-19 
 
 I. The Acadian Land 
 
 (a) The description of Grand Pre 20-57 
 
 (b) Benedict Bellefontaine 58-64 
 
 (c) Evangeline • • • • 65-81 
 
 (d) Evangeline's home 82-102 
 
 (e) Evangeline's suitors 103-118 
 
 (J) The childhood of Evangeline and Gabriel 119-139 
 
 (g) Their manhood and womanhood 140-147 
 
 II. Autumn in Acadia 
 
 (a) The advent of Autumn 148-158 
 
 (6) The Summer of All-Saints 15^170 
 
 (c) The flocks and herds 171-198 
 
 (d) Evangehne and her father at home 199-217 
 
 (e) The visit of Basil and Gabriel 218-267 
 
 in. Incidents at the Interview Between Basil and the 
 
 Notary 
 
 (o) Ren6 Leblanc, the notary public 268-287 
 
 (6) The argument 288-300 
 
 (c) The notary's story and its effect 301-329 
 
 113 
 
114 EVANGELINE 
 
 LINES 
 
 {d) Evangeline's betrothal 330-344 
 
 (e) The game of checkers 345-352 
 
 (/) The departure of the guests 353-357 
 
 {g) Evangeline retires 358-381 
 
 IV. The Assembling op the People 
 {a) 
 ih) 
 
 (c) (Re-read carefully lines 382-523, and 
 
 (d) arrange the sub-topics under these 
 
 (e) headings after the maimer indicated 
 (J) ^ above.) 
 
 (9) 
 
 V. Scenes at the Embabkation 
 
 (a) The gathering on the shore . 524-552 
 
 (b) Evangeline comforts Gabriel and her father 553-567 
 
 (c) The night camp of the exiles 568-612 
 
 (d) The burning of Grand Pr6 613-635 
 
 (e) The death and burial of Benedict Belief ontaine 636-660 
 
 (J) The departure of the exiles 661-665 
 
 PART II 
 
 I. Evangeline's Search for Gabriel Begun 
 
 (a) 
 
 (6) (Re-read lines 666-740, and arrange 
 
 (c) the sub-topics so that they may be as 
 
 (d) brief and full of meaning as possible.) 
 (e) 
 
 II. Evangeline and the Exiles on the Mississippi 
 
 (a) The Acadian boatmen 741-750 
 
 (6) The journey and its forebodings 751-784 
 
ANALYSIS OF EVANGELINE 115 
 
 LINES 
 
 (c) Evangeline's vision, the bugle 785-799 
 
 (d) While Evangeline slept 800-841 
 
 (e) Evangeline's dream 842-862 
 
 (/) Continuation of the journey 863-887 
 
 III. Reunion at the Home of Basil the Herdsman 
 
 (Re-read lines 888-1077 and arrange the sub-topics. Use your 
 owTi judgment as to the number and their selection. Should any- 
 thing be added to the main topic?) 
 
 IV. The Search Continued 
 
 (a) The western land 1078-1105 
 
 (6) Old camp-fires 1106-1115 
 
 (c) The interview with the Shawnee woman 1116-1164 
 
 (d) The visit to the mission 1165-1206 
 
 (e) The lesson of "faith" 1207-1226 
 
 (f) Evangeline's visit to the Michigan frontier 1227-1238 
 
 (g) Long years of search for Gabriel 1239-1251 
 
 (1) What is topic V? 
 
 (2) Re-read lines 1252-1399 and arrange the sub-topics as in 
 III above.) 
 
 1. Review again the entire poem with a copy of the complete 
 outline in hand, and make any necessary revisions of the topics in 
 the above analysis. 
 
 2. FamiUarize yourself with the outline so that you may be able 
 to tell the class the eomplete story of Evangeline. 
 
116 EVANGELINE 
 
 EXERCISES 
 
 Assignment 1 
 Oral Recitation 
 
 {a) Repeat from memory those lines of the introduction which 
 give the theme of the poem. 
 
 (6) What other poem can you name which has similar introduc- 
 tory hnes? 
 
 (c) Read the introduction and omit these lines. How does the 
 poem lose interest for you? 
 
 {d) How ^should you make known in the introductory paragraph 
 the meaning you are to set forth in your own composition? 
 
 (e) Why are ^^ murmuring fines ^^ compared to ^'Druids''? Ask 
 your teacher to explain this figure of speech to you. 
 
 (J) Vocabulary. — ^Look up in the dictionary and report to the 
 class the meaning of the following words: primeval (1); harpers, 
 hoar (4); thatch-roofed (9); waste (12); tradition (15). 
 
 Assignment 2 
 Oral Composition 
 
 (a) Find out a few historical and geographical facts about the 
 Acadian Land and make a report to the class. Study pages 10-11, 
 also the map on 16. Read accounts in the encyclopedia. 
 
 (6) Read hnes 20-31. What picture is brought before your mind? 
 Name any cities or villages of to-day that are similarly situated. 
 
 (c) Continue your reading as far as line 51. What and how many 
 additions have you to make to your picture? 
 
 {d) If you were to draw a picture of Grand Pre as it seems to you, 
 how would Longfellow's description be of assistance to you? 
 
 (e) Look at some picture on the walls of your school-room. If 
 you were to write a description of it, what general idea would you 
 try to express before taking up the details? 
 
 (/) Vocabulary. — Look up in the dictionary or elsewhere and 
 report to the olass the meaning of the following words: incMsani (24); 
 
EXERCISES 117 
 
 turbulent (25); Blomidon (29); dormer-windows (35); kirtles (39); 
 reverend (45). 
 
 Assignment 3 
 
 TFnffew Compositions 
 
 (a) Write in one paragraph of about 75 words a description of 
 the village of Grand Pre. 
 
 (6) In two paragraphs of about 75 words each, describe Evange- 
 line's home. First select your topic sentences. 
 
 (c) Write in two paragraphs, containing at least 150 words, an 
 account of Evangeline's suitors. Let paragraph (1) give a general 
 idea of her suitors, and (2) an account of her particular suitor Ga- 
 briel. 
 
 (d) In one paragraph of about 100 words describe the childhood 
 of Evangeline and Gabriel. 
 
 * 
 
 Suggestions 
 
 In this and in all of the following exercises, after finishing your 
 writing, spend about five minutes in looking over what you have 
 written. (1) Correct all misspelled words. (2) Insert omitted words 
 and strike out all unnecessary words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, 
 rewriting if necessary. (3) See to it that every sentence is so written 
 that it cannot be misunderstood. 
 
 Assignment 4 
 Oral Compositions 
 
 (a) Tell the class in three or four carefully thought out sentences 
 why the author describes with so much care Evangeline's home and 
 its surroundings. 
 
 (6) Similarly tell why he gives such a vivid picture of autimin in 
 Grand Pre. 
 
 (c) Tell the class all that you have learned about Evangehne from 
 reading the first two chapters. Why is your interest in her increas- 
 
118 EVANGELINE 
 
 ing? What resemblance do the scenes of country life pictured here 
 bear to those of to-day? 
 
 {d) Vocabulary. — Look up in the dictionary the meaning of 
 the following words and report to the class: Jacob (153); stragglers 
 (183); regent (184); cadence (19S) ; fantastic (202); hob-nailed (220); 
 settle (223); ballad (231); mandate (240). 
 
 Written Compositions 
 
 (a) Write two paragraphs of about 100 words each giving a de- 
 scription of Autumn in Acadia. Topics: (1) How all nature appeared. 
 (2) How the flocks and herds behaved. 
 
 (b) Imagine that you have been paying a visit to the home of 
 Evangeline, as described in lines 199-217. Write a letter of about 
 150 words to your friend describing what you saw there. Choose 
 topics as in (a), and see that your letter has the proper heading, salu- 
 tation, and conclusion. 
 
 (c) Let Gabriel tell of his visit to Evangeline (lines 218-267) and 
 incidentally relate the conversation that took place between his 
 father and Benedict Bellefontaine. 
 
 Suggestions 
 
 In writing a friendly letter, it is usually considered more cour- 
 teous not to begin by telling about yourself. Let your first para- 
 graph refer to the last letter received from your friend, or to a de- 
 lightful visit. Always write to please your correspondent rather 
 than yourself. 
 
 Assignment 6 
 
 Oral Recitation 
 
 (a) What new character do we now meet (line 268)? This is the 
 author's best character sketch. Notice how briefly yet precisely 
 it is done. General idea: (1) Bent, not broken, by age. Particular 
 ideas: (1) Shocks of yellow hair, (2) high forehead, (3) spectacles 
 astride his nose, (4) wise in looks, (5) ripe in wisdom, (6) patient, 
 
EXERCISES 119 
 
 simple, and childlike, (7) loved by all. You may draw a picture 
 of him as he appears to you and bring it to the class. 
 
 (6) Does the notary's story prove his point that "finally justice 
 triumphs"? Why did not this story convince Basil? 
 
 (c) Be prepared to report to the class the similes and metaphors 
 found in this section. 
 
 (d) Vocabulary. — Look up the meaning of the following words 
 and report to the class: supernal (272); warier (277); lore (287); 
 demeanor (292); Port Royal (303); bolts (321); magpie (324); con- 
 gealed (328); tankard (331); draught-hoard (344). 
 
 Assignment 7 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Do you know of any one who bears a resemblance to the notary 
 public as you see him? If so, write a paragraph to show wherein 
 the two personages differ. 
 
 (6) Write in your own language the notary's story. (1) Use the 
 third person and past tense. (2) Make a topical outhne before you 
 begin. In all of your writing never neglect to do this. 
 
 (c) Let EvangeHne tell the complete story of her betrothal to 
 Gabriel. (1) Be sure to employ the proper person and number of 
 the pronoun. (2) Arrange the proper outline, as in (6). 
 
 Suggestions 
 
 Unless otherwise directed, in reproducing the thought contained 
 in what some one else has written, a safe rule to follow is to use the 
 past tense. By so doing you will not fall into the common error 
 of shifting in a heedless manner from one tense to the other. 
 
 Assignment 8 
 Oral Composition 
 
 (o) Tell the class in what respects you think life in Acadia differed 
 from that of to-day, 
 
 (6) Tell the class why hospitality was greater under Benedict's 
 joof , There are several reasons, 
 
120 EVANGELINE 
 
 (c) Explain in detail what is meant by (1) a betrothal contract, 
 (2) a betrothal feast. 
 
 (d) What change of feeling is brought about by Chapter IV of the 
 poem? Contrast the two scenes which bring about this change. 
 
 (e) How does this change of f eehng help to sustain our interest in 
 the poem? 
 
 (J) What did the mandate bid these people forfeit to the crown? 
 With what words may you describe their feelings? 
 
 {g) Contrast the impassioned utterances of Basil with the cool 
 and considerate remarks of Father Felician. 
 
 {h) Recite from memory lines 467-481. 
 
 {i) Vocabulary. — Look up and report to the class the meaning 
 of the following words: hamlets (387); blithe (388); jocund (389); 
 sonorous (420); dissonant (426); imprecations (451); spar (454); 
 allegiance (456); mien (462); tocsin (466); Prince of Peace (472); 
 contrition (480); Elijah (486); Sinai (507). 
 
 Assignment 9 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Write a paragraph of about 100 words describing the social 
 life of the Acadians. 
 
 (6) Imagine yourself a witness to what took place at the reading 
 of the mandate. Write up these occurrences in the form of a news 
 story for the daily paper. Make as many paragraphs as you think 
 are needed. 
 
 (c) Write a composition of two paragraphs contrasting the de- 
 portation of the Acadians with that of the Belgians in the world war. 
 
 Siiggestions 
 
 A composition is made up of units called paragraphs — groups of 
 sentences which are closely, related in thought, and which center 
 around one idea called a topic. See to it, therefore, that every para- 
 graph you construct contains only such sentences as have to do 
 with its topic. 
 
EXERCISES 121 
 
 Assignment 10 
 
 Oral Recitation 
 
 (a) How long were the Acadians at the church? 
 (6) What was their attitude on leaving the church for the sea- 
 shore? Was this natural? 
 
 (c) Discuss the fortitude of Evangeline, of Gabriel, of Benedict, 
 of Basil, of Father Felician, during these terrible hours. 
 
 (d) Arrange the characters of this poem according to their relative 
 importance, writing the full name of each. 
 
 (e) How have your feehngs changed since you read the first pages 
 of the poem? 
 
 (/) Vocabulary. — Look up and report the meaning of the follow- 
 ing words: refluent (575); waifs (577) ; leaguer (579) ; nethermost (582); 
 wan (600); unperturbed (611); gleeds (621); illumined (648); dirges 
 (660). 
 
 Assignment 11 
 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Select a paragraph topic, and write a twenty-minute theme 
 on one of the following topics: 
 
 1. Evangeline, the ''ministering angel." 
 
 2. The night camp of the exiles. 
 
 3. The burning of Grand Pre. 
 
 4. The death and burial of Benedict Bellefontaine, 
 
 5. The departure of the exiles. 
 
 Suggestions 
 We have talked about oral and written compositions, and we 
 have seen that each has a definite purpose. The manner in which 
 we use language gives us another classification of discourse; for 
 with it we can tell a story, describe an object, explain a problem, 
 or argue a question. Thus we have narration, description, exposition, 
 and argumentation. In our compositions based upon Evangeline we 
 use principally description and narration. 
 
122 EVANGELINE 
 
 Assignment 12 
 
 Oral Recitation 
 
 (o) Why does the author allow many years to elapse before in- 
 troducing us to the second part of his theme? 
 
 (6) Name any book you have read in which there is a similar inter- 
 val of time. Tell the story to the class briefly. 
 
 (c) What is suggested as to the probable success of Evangeline's 
 mission by the comparison in lines 689-692? 
 
 {d) Indicate by hnes which portions of Part I. belong to descrip- 
 tion and which to narration. 
 
 (e) Bring to the class a list of proverbial passages chosen from the 
 first five pages of Part II. 
 
 (/) What new character is introduced here? Why have we an 
 interest in him? 
 
 (gr) Vocabulary. — liook up and report the meaning of the follow- 
 ing words : gods (668) ; asunder (670) ; inarticulate (669) ; tedious (712) ; 
 muse (733) ; deyioMs (734); sylvan (738). 
 
 Assignment 13 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Write a composition two paragraphs in length teUing of the 
 wanderings of the Acadian exiles. 
 
 (6) Write a paragraph stating how Evangehne came to know 
 Baptiste Leblanc. 
 
 (c) Write another paragraph describing how in Part II Longfellow 
 arouses new interest in his poem. 
 
 Suggestions 
 
 It will be helpful to you if, as you write the paragraphs in this 
 lesson, you will try to discriminate the kind of discourse you are 
 composing, whether description, or narration, or exposition; then 
 you will be able better to adapt your style of writing to the sense, 
 
EXERCISES 123 
 
 Study carefully all the allusions in Evangeline, for they will help 
 you not only in understanding the poem, but also in gaining an 
 appreciation of it. 
 
 Assignment 14 
 Oral Composition 
 
 (a) Explain to the class how the Acadians, who were so widely 
 scattered, assembled to take the boat down the Mississippi. 
 (6) Picture to the class the scene in lines 752-762. 
 
 (c) Explain to the class what purpose the author serves in bring- 
 ing in this incident. 
 
 (d) Explain to the class what must have been the feelings of the 
 boatmen in the scene in lines 790-799. 
 
 (e) Contrast the scene in (d) with that in lines 864-887. What 
 change of feeling is effected here? 
 
 (/) Poetry has been defined as the embodiment of passionate emo- 
 tion in metrical, imaginative language. Do the scenes (d) and (e) 
 bear out this definition? 
 
 (g) Vocabulary. — Look up and report to the class the meaning 
 of the following words: cumbroics (744); kith and kin (749); turbulent 
 (753); chutes (755); maze (767); tenebrous (769); peradventure (791); 
 myriads, undulations (808); Wachita (816); cope (819); trumpet- 
 flower (820); pendulous (822); plaintive (877). 
 
 Assignment 15 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Let one of the Acadian boatmen give a description of his 
 journey down the Mississsippi (150 words). 
 
 (6) Let Evangeline relate her dream (150 words). 
 
 (c) Write from memory the ten lines which you regard as the best 
 in this section. The verses need not follow in succession. 
 
124 EVANGELINE 
 
 Suggestions 
 
 In writing themes such as (a) and (6), be careful to choose the 
 proper person. Of course in (a) you should write in the first person 
 plural, and in (b) in the first singular. Be careful to make what you 
 write so vivid that any one can understand it. The proper arrange- 
 ment of your paragraph topics will aid you much in attaining this 
 quaUty of style. 
 
 Assignment 16 
 
 Oral Recitation 
 
 (a) Lines 888-910, picture a scene that has been greatly admired 
 for its repose and quiet. How does the author accompHsh this emo- 
 tional effect? 
 
 (6) What has kept Father Felician from giving up in despair? 
 
 (c) Explain how Father Felician gave support and encouragement 
 to EvangeUne in her search. 
 
 (d) What changes of feeling do you find here? 
 
 (e) VocABUiiARY. — Look up and report the following words: 
 flaunted (889); sombrero (914); hilarious (968); accordant (1016); 
 inundate {103Q)] garrulous (1075). 
 
 Assignment 17 
 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Write two paragraphs, 150 words, contrasting Basil the black- 
 smith with Basil the herdsman. 
 
 (6) Write a paragraph of 100 words describing the home of Basil, 
 the herdsman. 
 
 (c) Report as for a newspaper, in about 150 words, the substance 
 of Basil's speech at the reunion of the exiles. 
 
 (d) Similarly report what took place at this reunion. 
 
 (e) From what you have read of Michael, the fiddler, write in 150 
 words a sketch of his fife. 
 
 (f) Write at least ten memory-passages from this selection. 
 
. EXERCISES 125 
 
 Siiggestions 
 
 One great fault in writing is the use of too many words. A good 
 newspaper reporter always condenses his stories to the fewest words 
 possible, yet at the same time he gives a vivid news account to his 
 readers. Try to do the same. 
 
 Assignment 18 
 
 Oral Composition 
 
 (a) Tell the class why hnes 1078-1105 are necessary. Why could 
 not the author have begun with line 1106? Explain fully. 
 
 (6) What new character appears in this chapter? Tell the class 
 how she increases our interest in the story. 
 
 (c) Relate briefly the tale of the Mowis. What effect did the tales 
 of the Shawnee woman have on Evangeline? 
 
 (d) Tell the class of EvangeHne's wanderings as related in this 
 chapter. 
 
 (e) Vocabulary. — Report the meaning of the followings words: 
 precipitate (1084); amorphas (1091); pinions (1097); unplacable 
 (1098); taciturn, anchorite (1102); incantation (1144); subtile (1159); 
 awarded (1184); water-gourd (1192); mendicant (1211); asphodel, ne- 
 penthe (1226). 
 
 Assignment 19 
 
 Written Composition 
 
 (a) Write a paragraph of 100 words showing how the western 
 land of Evangeline's time differed from that of to-day. 
 
 (6) Give an account of the interview with the Shawnee woman. 
 Let Evangeline tell the story (150 words). 
 
 (c) Describe the visit in the mission. 
 
 Suggestions 
 Do not employ too many superlatives, as "finest," "most magnif- 
 icent," "grandest," but write just as you would talk. " Be natural 
 in all that you do or say " is a good rule to follow in your eomposition 
 work. 
 
126 EVANGELINE . 
 
 No exercises have been assigned on the concluding section of the 
 poem because it is beheved that an opportunity is ofifered here for 
 the pupil to do original work in analysis, and also to review the lead- 
 ing characters of the poem and incidentally the poem itself. 
 
 Let the pupils gather all that the poet says of any particular char- 
 acter, and make a summary of these details after the manner in- 
 dicated below. Let us take Rene Leblanc: 
 Lines 268-279. The general characteristics of the man. 
 Lines 280-287. His folk-lore stories. 
 
 Lines 292-296. His answer to Basil carries with it no suspicion. 
 Lines 301-325. He relates the story about Justice to show that right 
 
 will prevail. 
 Lines 333-335. Show us his manner. 
 
 Lines 711-712. A mention is made of his son, Baptiste Leblanc. 
 Lines 1260-1261. Old Rene Leblanc dies in Philadelphia. 
 
 These are the facts; now arrange them in a proper outline, and 
 write the character sketch. 
 
 • Unlike the other themes, these should be written outside of the 
 class, and should be more detailed. A sunmiary as indicated above 
 should be required, because it gives practice in research, and culti- 
 vates a habit of accuracy in literary work. 
 
NOTES 
 
 Page 17, 3. Druids of eld. The Druids were the priests of ancient 
 Britain. They were the supreme power in the nation, made laws, 
 imposed taxes, and executed punishments. They worshipped in oak 
 groves and regarded the oak with great veneration. Mistletoe found 
 growing on an oak tree was cut, at Christmas time, by the priests 
 with golden knives as an act of ceremony. (See page 77, line 890.) 
 
 Page 18, 20. Acadian. The country of Nova Scotia was called 
 Acadia during the time when it was held by the French. The name, 
 however, included New Brunswick and parts of Maine. 
 
 Page 19, 34. Normandy. The first Acadians were natives of 
 Normandy and Burgundy in France. 
 
 Page 20, 49. Angelus. A prayer or devotion said morning, noon, 
 and night. Longfellow means here the bell which is rung to announce 
 the time of prayer. 
 
 Page 23, 93. Wains. Wagons. 
 
 94. Seraglio. The poet uses the word seraglio, which means the 
 palace where the wives of Turkish noblemen are shut up, to give a 
 vivid picture of the lordly turkey among the hens. 
 
 Page 26, 144. Sunshine of Saint Eulalie. A martyred saint of 
 Barcelona, Spain. St. Eulalie's Day is the 12th of February. Sun- 
 shine at that time of the year was considered especially favorable to 
 orchards. 
 
 Page 27, 149. Scorpion. One of the constellations on the imag- 
 inary belt in the heavens (the zodiac), in the middle of which is the 
 path of the sun. The sun seems to enter Scorpion about October 23d. 
 
 159. Summer of All-Saints. Our "Indian summer," in the early 
 part of October. 
 
 Page 28, 170. Plane-tree the Persian adorned with mantles and 
 jewels. Herodotus says that the Persian ruler Xerxes in his expedi- 
 tion against Greece found a plane-tree so beautiful that he presented 
 
 127 
 
128 NOTES 
 
 it with golden ornaments, and put it under the care of one of his 
 body-guard. 
 
 Page 33, 238. Gaspereau (gas pe roO- A river flowing into the 
 basia of Minas near Grand-Pre. 
 
 239. "What their design may be is unknown. It was determined 
 to keep the secret of their coming transportation from the Acadians 
 until the last minute, for fear they would neglect or injure the har- 
 vest. The terms of the mandate were as follows: "We order and 
 strictly enjoin all the inhabitants, both old men and young men, as 
 well as all lads of ten years of age, to attend at the church at Grand- 
 Pr4, the fifth instant, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, that we may 
 impart tathem what we are ordered to communicate to them." 
 
 249. Beau Sejour (bo so zhoor'). A French fort situated between 
 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, built by the French to annoy the 
 English settlers in Nova Scotia. The existence of this fort blocked 
 land communication between the New England provinces and Nova 
 Scotia. When the fort was captured by the English, three hundred 
 Acadians were said to have been found among the garrison. 
 
 Port Royal. One of the first colonies founded (1604) by the 
 French in Nova Scotia. In 1713 the English, having acquired Nova 
 Scotia by treaty, changed the name of the town to Annapolis, in 
 honor of Queen Anne. One of the charges made against the Cana- 
 dians was that they treacherously attacked the town in cooperation 
 with the French. 
 
 Page 34, 260. The merry lads . . . well. As soon as a young 
 Acadian arrived at the proper age for marriage, the community built 
 him a house and supplied him with all the necessaries of life. There 
 he received the partner he had chosen, who brought her portion in 
 flocks. 
 
 263. Rene Leblanc (RenaleBlaiicO. That the notary was ac- 
 tually named Ren6 Leblanc will be seen from this sentence in the 
 petition of the Acadians to the king: "Rene Leblanc (our public 
 notary) was taken prisoner by the Indians when actually traveling in 
 your Majesty's service, his house pillaged, and himself carried to the 
 French fort, from whence he did not recover his liberty, but with 
 great difficulty, after four years' captivity." 
 
NOTES 129 
 
 Page 36, 280. Loup-garou. According to an old superstition, a 
 loup-garou, or were wolf, was a human being turned into a wolf 
 while still retaining human intelligence. 
 
 281. Goblin (kobold). An industrious, kindly spirit, in old fairy 
 tales, who was especially fond of taking care of horses, and very 
 unwilling to be recognized or thanked. 
 
 282. Letiche (Le tesh'). According to the French peasants' 
 stories, the soul of a child who has died unchristened appears at night 
 in the form of a small animal as white as milk. 
 
 Page 37, 307. Scales. Justice is represented in art as holding a 
 pair of scales, to show that every fact for and against an accused per- 
 son will be carefully weighed. The sword in the other hand shows 
 that the punishment for offenses will be keen and swift. 
 
 Page 42, 381. Hagar. In the 'Old Testament story, Sarah, 
 Abraham's wife, drove Hagar, the Egyptian handmaid, and her son 
 Ishmael away into the desert. 
 
 Page 46, 432. You are convened this day, etc. Thfese are almost 
 the exact words of part of the speech of General Winslow, the British 
 commanding officer, to the Acadians, convened (assembled) in the 
 church of Grand-Pre. 
 
 442. Solstice. The point at which the sun is farthest from the 
 equator. The summer solstice begins June 21st; the winter, Dec. 
 21st. 
 
 Page 47, 456. We never have sworn them allegiance. At first 
 when Acadia passed into the hands of the English, the Acadians 
 were not forced to take the oath of allegiance to the English crown. 
 Afterwards an oath was demanded, which, however, did not bind 
 them to serve against their fellow countrymen. One of the reasons 
 for the exile of the Acadians was that they refused to take the oath 
 without this saving clause. 
 
 Page 49, 484. Ave Maria. A Latin prayer to the Virgin. 
 
 Page 58, 605. Benedicite. A Latin blessing or benediction. 
 
 615. Titan-like stretches its hundred hands. In the Greek legend, 
 the Titans were huge giants, armed with rocks and trees, who made 
 war on the gods on Olympus. One of the Titans, Briareus, is said to 
 'have had a hundred arms and fifty heads. 
 
130 NOTES 
 
 Page 59, 631. Nebraska. A river, rising in the Rocky Moun- 
 tains and flowing through Wyoming and Nebraska. 
 
 Page 61, 657. Without bell or book. Without the rites of the 
 church. 
 
 Page 62, 670. Far asunder, on separate coasts. Seven thousand 
 of the inhabitants of Acadia were dispersed among the British colo- 
 nies. One thousand arrived in Massachusetts Bay. Large numbers 
 were sent to the southern colony of Georgia, from whence they en- 
 deavored to return, and by a long and dangerous coasting voyage 
 had even reached New York or Boston, when they were compelled 
 to give up their plans. 
 
 674. Savannas. Extensive plains of grass, affording pasturage in 
 the rainy seasons. 
 
 675. Father of Waters. The Mississippi. 
 
 Page 64, 705. Coureurs-des-Bois (koo'rerda bwa). Literally, 
 runners of the woods. This name was given by the French and 
 Canadians to the hardy hunters and traders who traveled through 
 the yet uncleared forests of colonial times. 
 
 Page 65, 707. Voyageur (vwa ya zher'). The voyageurs were 
 generally French-Canadians who were employed by the Northwest 
 and Hudson Bay Companies in transporting men and supplies be- 
 tween their various stations. This was done entirely by birch-bark 
 canoes. 
 
 713. Thou art too fair to be left to braid St Catherine's tresses. 
 To live unmarried. 
 
 Page 67, 750. Acadian coast. The coast at the mouth of the 
 Mississippi. Opelousas is the old name for a T)art of Louisiana. 
 
 764. Golden Coast. The southern part of Louisiana, above 
 Baton Rouge. 
 
 Page 69, 766. Plaquemine (plak menO. A town on the west 
 bank of the Mississippi. A bayou or creek runs westward from the 
 Mississippi into the Atchafalaya River (1. 807). During the dry 
 season, the streams of the Mississippi fall, and the Atchafalaya be- 
 comes a series of lakes instead of a river. 
 
 Page 70, 782. Mimosa. A plant often called the sensitive plant. 
 At the slightest touch, the leaves will curl up tightly. 
 
NOTES 131 
 
 Page 76, 878. Bacchantes (bakan' tes). Priestesses of Bacchus, 
 who, by wine and excitement, worked themselves into a frenzy at 
 the festivals of the god. 
 
 Page 77, 890. Druids cut down with golden hatchets at Yuletide. 
 See the note on line 3, page 17. 
 
 Page 81, 952. Adayes (a da' yes). A town in northern Texas. 
 
 961. Olympus. A mountain in Greece, supposed to be the home 
 of the gods. 
 
 Page 82, 970. Ci-devant (sedevahn'). The French for /ormer. 
 
 Page 83, 984. Natchitoches (nach' e tosh). A town in Louisiana, 
 on the Red River. 
 
 Page 86, 1033. Carthusian. The Carthusians are an order of 
 monks. 
 
 Page 87, 1044. Upharsin. The Book of Daniel in the Old Testa- 
 ment describes how, while Belshazzar the king was feasting and 
 drinking from the golden vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem, 
 a hand appeared on the wall and wrote the words, "Mene, Mene, 
 Tekel, Upharsin," which, as interpreted by Daniel, meant "destruc- 
 tion to Belshazzar." 
 
 Page 90, 1082-85. Evangeline journeys to the far west. The 
 Oregon is the Columbia river. The Owyhee and Walleway are 
 tributaries of the Oregon. The Wind-river Mountains are part of the 
 Rocky Mountains. Fontaine-qui-bout (f on' tan ke boo) is a spring 
 in Colorado. 
 
 1095. IshmaePs children. The ancient prophecy concerning the 
 Ishmaelites, or the sons of Ishmael, was, ''His hand will be against 
 every man and every man's hand against him." Here the poet uses 
 the name to mean the warlike tribes of Indians on the western 
 plains. 
 
 Page 92, 1114. Fata Morgana. A mirage, or a misleading effect 
 which makes travelers on deserts, plains, or ocean see distant ob- 
 jects as if they were very near. The mirage is called Fata Morgana 
 because it was once supposed to be the work of the Fairy (fata) 
 Morgana. 
 
 Page 93, 1139. Mowis. The story is as follows: A beautiful 
 Indian maiden had by her sorcery cast an Indian brave into a wasting 
 
132 NOTES ( 
 
 sickness. The "Manito" (good spirit) of the warrior promised to 
 avenge him. By his orders, the Indian made a suit of clothes from 
 old rags, and richly adorned them with jewels. He then formed a 
 human figure out of dried bones and refuse, bound together with 
 snow. The Manito breathed life into this figure (Mowis) and brought 
 him before the maiden. She at once fell in love with the stranger 
 and married him. On the morning after the marriage-day the 
 bridegroom rose early, and, taking his bows and arrows, told his 
 wife that he was forced to set out on a long journey. She begged to 
 be allowed to accompany him. After some attempts at dissuasion, 
 he consented. They set out together, but she could not keep up 
 with her liusband's steps and soon lost sight of him. The sun rose, 
 and the fierce heat melted the snow that bound Mowis together; the 
 dry bones began to reappear, and then the form utterly disappeared. 
 When the maiden realized that she had lost her lover, she lay down 
 and died. 
 
 Page 95, 1167. Mission. The Jesuit priests were dauntless in 
 their efforts to push into the wilderness and convert the Indians. 
 
 Page 99, 1226. Asphodel. The asphodel was supposed, by the 
 ancient Greeks, to cover the broad fields of the future world. Nepen- 
 the was any potion that had the power of dispelling pain and care. 
 
 Page 101, 1257. Dryads. Wood-nymphs, who made their homes 
 in the trees:. When a tree was cut down, the dryad who lived there 
 died. 
 
 Page 106, 1326. Christ Church. An Episcopalian church in 
 Philadelphia, where Franklin was buried. 
 
 Page 108, 1355. Like the Hebrew. Referring to the Bible story 
 of the sprinkling of the doors with the blood of the lamb during the 
 last plague in Egypt. 
 
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