Class. 
 Book 
 
 C(»>YRIGKr DEPOSIT 
 
J^eadings and J^ecitatioDS 
 
 FOR 
 
 JUNIORS 
 
 ed/ey 
 
 COMPILEiyBY 
 
 B) Iv E A N O R /o'O R A D Y, 
 
 AUTHOR of' 
 
 ''Aids to Effective Elocution^'' " Select Recitations '' eU^ 
 
 ^x 
 
 '^■j 
 
 New York, Cincinnati, Chicago : 
 BENZIGER BROTHERS, 
 
 Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, 
 1891. 
 
.0^ 
 
 Copyright, 1891, by Benziger Brothers. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The Selections in this little book have been 
 iade with the greatest care^, and will^ we trust, im- 
 ress lessons of Beauty, Truth, and A^irtue. 
 
 Elea2s^or O'Grady. 
 3 
 
COISTTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface 3 
 
 A Lesson OF Thankfulness, , • . . 11 
 
 The Foolish Harebell, 12 
 
 Sweet-Peas, Lillian Payson, .... 14 
 
 The Daisy and the Fern, 15 
 
 Loveliness, Mary Lacey, .... 16 
 
 Sunflower's Lesson, . . S. M. Parker, ... 18 
 
 Faith and Works, . . . William IL Montgomery , 19 
 
 A Lost Child, Anna E Burnliam, . . 20 
 
 A Disappointment, . . . Ada Carleton 21 
 
 Mus'n't Touch,. . . . Nellie K, Kellogg, ... 22 
 
 Snow-Flakes, 23 
 
 Being a Boy, .... Charles Dudley Warner, . 24 
 
 My Neighbor's Baby, . 25 
 
 The Lip and the Heart, JoJin Quincy Adams, . 27 
 
 '^^bS"'^"'! . George Macaonaia, . . 28 
 
 At the Party, . . . . E. Stuart Phelps Ward, . 29 
 
 The Little Orator, . . Thaddens M. Harris, , 32 
 
 The Little Light, .34 
 
 The Wish of the Flowers, 35 
 
 The Gray Swan, . . . Alice Gary, .... 37 
 
 5 
 
Contents, 
 
 A Visit from St. ) 
 
 Nicholas, ) 
 
 Little Christel, 
 The Mountain and 
 
 THE Squirrel, 
 The Little Lion ) 
 
 Charmer, f 
 
 Grandma's Angel, 
 The Discontented 
 
 Buttercup, 
 
 . Clement C. MoorCy . . 39 
 . Mrs. Mary E. Bradley, 42 
 . Ealph Waldo Emerson, . 46 
 
 . Harriet S. Fleming, . . 47 
 
 . ''St. Nicholas;' ... 50 
 
 . Sarah A. Jewett, ... 51 
 
 The Violet, Jane Taylor, .... 53 
 
 What the Winds Bring, Edmund Clarence Siedman,64: 
 Papa's Letter, 54 
 
 St. Agnes' Shrine, . . Geo. P. Morris, ... 58 
 
 The Reaper and the } t^^^-p.jj^.. kg 
 
 Flowers, \ ■ J^^Sfellow, ..... 59 
 
 The Boy of the Arctic, Osborne, 60 
 
 The Spider and the Fly, Mary Howitt, .... 63 
 
 A Hindoo's Paradise, 65 
 
 The Fool's Prayer, . .Ed. B. Sill, .... 66 
 The Bird and the Baby, Tennyson, , . . . .68 
 The Wind and the Moon, George Macdonald, . . 68 
 The Pet Lamb, .... Wmdsworth, . ... 71 
 
 Auctioning off the Baby, 73 
 
 Pictures of Memory, . Alice Cary, 76 
 
 The First Snow-fall, . James Bussell Lowell, . 76 
 The Chicken's Mistake, Phoebe Cary, ... .78 
 
 Letting the Old Cat Die, 80 
 
 The Kaiser's Feast 82 
 
 Passing Away — A Dream, . 84 
 
 Christ Stilling the Tempest, 87 
 
 There is no Death, . . Sir Edicard Bulwer Lytton, 88 
 
 Scandal, Mary E. C. Johnson, . 90 
 
 Hatem Toi, Thomas Dunn English, 91 
 
 One of the Heroes, . . Eben E. Bexford, ... 94 
 
Contents, 7 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Children's Hour, . Longfellow, 98 
 
 Little Golden Hair, 99 
 
 Respect for the Aged, . Addison, 101 
 
 Home, 102 
 
 William the Conqueror, 103 
 
 The Legend of St. Freda, Sarah D, Hobai% . . . 105 
 
 ''ZS/ceX °' { • • ""^^^ - '^^ ^^^'•" • 1«8 
 
 The Patter of Little ) t mr txt 4 i^n 
 
 Peet, I* ^' ^' ^^^^^^ 110 
 
 A Nursery Tale, . . . T.H.Bayly, . . . .113 
 
 Santa Claus and the Mouse, . 114 
 
 Barbara Frietchie, . . JoJm Greenleaf Whittier, 116 
 
 Keeping His Word, 119 
 
 The Christian Maiden ) ttt - a r^ - ^^^ 
 
 AND THE Lion, \' ^^^^^^^ ^- Dunvage, . 121 
 
 The Priest's Leap, . T. B. Sullimn, . . . 124 
 
 Thf Auctioneer's Gift, . >S'. TF. Foss, 129 
 
 Moustache Louis Imogen Guiney, . 130 
 
 Marion's Dinner, . . Edward G. Jones, . . . 132 
 
 The Dead Doll Margaret Vandegrift, . 134 
 
 Little Kan's Offering, 137 
 
 Legend of Easter Eggs, . Fitz-Jame& GBrien, . 138 
 
 Work AND Prayer, . . . ''The Angelus,'' . . . 140 
 
 St Martin and the ) ,, . tt r> . - ^^ 
 
 Beggar, ) • ' -^<^^^«^^25 E. Sangsier, . 142 
 
 ^Zl^^r^^^^^^] • Oarloua Perry, ... 143 
 T|^J™^^^^'^[ . , Susan Teall Perry, . .148 
 
 The Good, ...... J". Boyle O'Eeilly, . .150 
 
 Something Great, , . . Florence Tylee, . . .150 
 
 ''Give and YOU SHALL Receive,'* 152 
 
 The TWO little Stockings, 154 
 
 Three Little Graves, c 157 
 
8 Co?ite?its. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Scout's Mistake, . Margaret 7. PrestoUj . 159 
 
 The Catholic Psalm, 161 
 
 Independence Bell, 165 
 
 Alec Yeaton's Son, 168 
 
 Casabianca, Felicia Hemans, . . . 170 
 
 Grandpapa's Spectacles, 171 
 
 The Flight of Youth, . Bichard H. Stoddard, . 173 
 
 Christmas on the San ) a t t^ i r<o 
 
 Gabr'el, \ ^^^^^^ ^^^^'' .... 173 
 
 Measuring the Baby, . Emma Alice Browriy , ,176 
 
 Chbist, the Gleaner, . Base Mulholland, . . . 178 
 
 Comforting Grandma, . (7. B. Morgan, . . . .180 
 
 liiTTLE LiZETTE, , . , K. JS. Alcoru, .... 181 
 
READINGS AND RECITATIONS 
 FOR JUNIORS. 
 
 A LESSON OF THANKFULNESS. 
 
 EoAMiKG in the meadow. 
 
 Little four-year-old 
 Picks the starry daisies, 
 
 With their hearts of gold. 
 
 Fills her snowy aproD, 
 Fills her dimpled hands; 
 
 Suddenly, how quiet 
 In the grass she stands I 
 
 ^^ Who made fowers so pitty, 
 Put 'em here? Did God^ 
 
 ^^ Yes, 'twas God,'' I answered, 
 ^^ Spread them o'er the sod." 
 
 Dropping all her blossoms. 
 
 With uplifted head. 
 Serious face turned heavenward, 
 
 ^^ Thank you, God!" she said. 
 11 
 
12 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Then, as if explaining, 
 
 (Though no word I spake,) 
 
 ^^ Always must say, ^ Thank you/ 
 For the things I take/^ 
 
 Blessed little preacher. 
 
 Clad in robes of praise! 
 Would we all might copy 
 
 Your sweet, thankful ways! 
 
 Time to fret and murmur 
 
 We could never make. 
 Should we first say, " Thank you,^' 
 
 For the. things we take. 
 
 THE FOOLISH HAREBELL. 
 
 A HAREBELL hung its wilful head: 
 '^I am tired, so tired! I wish I was dead/^ 
 
 She hung her head in the mossy dell: 
 " If all were over, then all were well." 
 
 The wind he heard, and was pitiful; 
 He waved her about to make her cool. 
 
 " Wind, you are rough," said the dainty bell; 
 " Leave me alone — I am not well," 
 
Readings and Rec?'tations for Juniors, 13 
 
 And the wind^ at the voice of the drooping dame. 
 Sank in his hearty and ceased for shume. 
 
 '''I am hot, so hot!'^ she sighed and said; 
 " I am withering np ; I wish I was dead/^ 
 
 Then the snn, he pitied her pitiful case. 
 
 And drew a thick veil over his face. ' 
 
 " Cloud, go away, and don^t be rude; 
 I am not — I don^t see why you should/^ 
 
 The cloud withdrew, and the harebell cried,, 
 "I am faint, so faint! and no water beside !^^ 
 
 And the dew came down its million-fold path ; 
 But she murmured, ^^I did not want a bath/^ 
 
 A boy came by in the morning gray; 
 
 He plucked the harebell, and threw it away. 
 
 The harebell shivered, and cried, "Oh I oh! 
 I am faint, so faint! Come, dear wind, blow.'^ 
 
 The wind blew^ softly, and did not speak. 
 
 She thanked him kindly, but grew more weak. 
 
 " Sun, dear sun, I am cold,^^ she said. 
 He rose; but lower she drooped her head. 
 
 "0 rain! I am withering; all the blue 
 Is fading out of me; — come, please do.^' 
 
14 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 The rain came down as fast as it could^ 
 But for all its will, it did her no good. 
 
 She shuddered and shrivelled, and moaning said, 
 ^^ Thank you all kindl}^;^' and then she was dead. 
 
 Let us hope, let us hope, when she comes next 
 
 She^l be simple and sweet. But I fear, I fear. 
 
 George Macdonald. 
 
 SWEET-PEAS. 
 
 '^Please wear my rosebud for love, papa,'^ 
 
 Said Phebe with eyes so blue. 
 ^ This sprig of myrtle put with it, papa. 
 To tell of my love,^^ said Prue. 
 Said Patience, " This heart's-ease shall whisper, 
 papa, 
 Forget not my love is true.^^ 
 
 Papa looked into the laughing eyes. 
 And answered, to each little giiTs surprise: 
 *' My darlings, I thank you, but dearer than these— 
 Forgive me — far dearer are bonnie sweet-peas !" 
 Then he clasped them to his heart so true. 
 And whispered, " Sweet P^s — Phebe, Patience, 
 and Prue!^' 
 
 Lillian Pay son. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Junio7's. 15 
 
 THE DAISY AND THE FERN. 
 
 [If the subjoined poem is not remarkable for its reach of 
 thought, it certainly is remarkable as being only one of a 
 volume written by a little English girl, Maude Edgerton 
 Hine, when less than eight years old. Assuredly Chatterton 
 himself was not more of an infant prodigy than the juvenile 
 author of these lines.] 
 
 The day was hot, the sun shone out 
 
 And burned the little flowers, 
 Who earthward dropped their weary heads 
 
 And longed for cooling showers. 
 
 One little daisy, hot and tired 
 
 And scorching in the sun. 
 Had altered much, for fair was she 
 
 When the morning had begun. 
 
 ^^ Come, put yourself beneath my shade!" 
 
 A graceful fern thus spake; 
 '^ For if you stay out there, dear flower. 
 
 You ^11 shrivel up and bake." 
 
 So daisy leaned towards the fern 
 
 And hid beneath her shade. 
 And on the fern's cool mossy root 
 
 Her burning petals laid. 
 
16 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 No sunlight fell on her, but, oh ! 
 
 The poor fern had it all; 
 She drooped down low, and lower still. 
 
 Who once was straight and tall. 
 
 '' Daisy /^ she said, '' Fm dying fast. 
 My life is near its end. 
 My time with you is almost past, 
 So farewell, little friend.^^ 
 
 Then daisy wept, her tears ran down 
 Upon the poor fern^s root. 
 
 A thrill of fast returning life 
 
 Through the languid fern did shoot! 
 
 Full soon she grew quite fresh again. 
 
 No longer did she burn; 
 For little daisy's tears of love 
 
 Had saved the dying fern. 
 
 LOVELINESS. 
 Once I knew a little girl, 
 
 Very plain ; 
 You might try her hair to curl 
 
 All in vain ; 
 On her cheek no tint of rose 
 Paled and blushed, or sought repose; 
 
 She was plain. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. IT 
 
 But the thoughts that through her brain 
 
 Came and went, 
 As a recompense for pain, 
 
 Angels sent ; 
 So full many a beauteous thing, 
 In her young soul blossoming, 
 
 Gave content. 
 
 Every thought was full of grace. 
 
 Pure and true. 
 And in. time the homely face 
 
 Loveliest grew; 
 With a heavenly radiance bright. 
 From the soul's reflected light 
 
 Shining through. 
 
 So I tell you, little child. 
 
 Plain or poor, 
 If your thoughts are undefiled, 
 
 You are sure 
 Of the loveliness of worth ; 
 And this beauty not of earth 
 
 Will endure. 
 
 Mary Lacey. 
 
18 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 SUNFLOWER'S LESSON. 
 
 A NICE little Sunflower, just over the way, 
 Is blooming, some four inches tall, I should say; 
 And what is the reason it blossoms so low ? 
 Has bright little Sunflower forgotten to grow ? 
 
 Oh, no ! but the season is getting quite late; 
 The frosts will be coming, and so it can^t wait; 
 It seems to be saying, the Sunflower so small. 
 Better blossom thus low than not blossom at 
 all 
 
 A lesson I learn from the Sunflower so neat. 
 That seems to ^^make glorious the place of His 
 
 feet,^^ 
 Who called it to bloom ; and may you and may I 
 The place that we fill with our lives beautify. 
 
 And this, too, I read in the Sunflower^s sweet 
 
 face: 
 To fill well a low place is never disgrace. 
 Make the most of your time and your talents, tho^ 
 
 small ; 
 Better bloom in a low place than not bloom at 
 
 all. 
 
 8, M. Parker, 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 19 
 
 FAITH AND WORKS. 
 
 Little Mollie and Faith, in the arbor at play. 
 
 Were making a marigold crown, 
 AYhen a noise on the lawn made the little ones jump 
 
 And scatter the gold flowers down. 
 
 And fast toward the bower of blossoms and vines 
 Came a quadruped, bristling and big, 
 
 With sharp-pointed toes, and a queer, grunty nose. 
 In short, ^twas a terrible pig, 
 
 ^'Oh, mercy I '^ screamed Faith, ^^ where, where 
 shall we go ? 
 
 Oh, mamma, oh, papa, come here I 
 He^s going to tear us to pieces, I know,^^ 
 
 And she jumped up and down in her fear. 
 
 But Mollie, more brave, raised the old crooked 
 gate, 
 And slammed it quite hard to its place; 
 Then Faith, kneeling down on the moss-covered 
 ground. 
 Toward the sky turned her little pale face. 
 
 ^' Xow, Mollie, ril pray to our Father in heaven 
 
 To save us and drive him away. 
 That^s the very best thing in the world to be done; 
 
 You liold the gate strong while I pray. ^' 
 
20 Readings and Recitations for Ju7iiors. 
 
 Dear mammals blue eyes twinkled bright through 
 her tears. 
 When the marvellous story was told 
 Of the prayerful escape of her two little girls 
 From the monster so savage and bold. 
 
 William H. Montgomery. 
 
 A LOST CHILD. 
 
 " Fm losted! Could you find me, please?'^ 
 
 Poor little frightened baby! 
 The wind had tossed her golden fleece, 
 The stones had scratched her dimpled knees ; 
 I stooped, and lifted her with ease, 
 
 And softly whispered, " Maybe/^ 
 
 " Tell me your name, my little maid : 
 
 I can^t find you without it.'^ 
 " My name is Shiny-eyes, ^^ she said. 
 ^^ Yes; but your last name?^^ She shook her head: 
 " Up to my house ^ey never said 
 
 A single word about it.^^ 
 
 '' But, dear," I said, "what is your name ?" 
 " Why, didn^t you hear me told you ? 
 
 Dust Shiny-eyes." A bright thought came : 
 
 " Yes, when you^re good. But when they blame 
 
 You, little one, — is it just the same 
 When mamma has to scold you ?" 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 21 
 
 " My mamma never scolds/^ she moans^ 
 
 A little blush ensuing, 
 ^^^Cept when Fve been a-f rowing stones; 
 And then she says [the culprit owns], — 
 ' Mehitabel Sapphira Jones, 
 
 What has you been a-doing ? ^ ^^ 
 
 Anna E, Biirnliam, 
 
 A DISAPPOINTMENT. 
 
 High and low the children hunted, 
 
 Kosy-cheeked and eager-eyed. 
 Peeping into every cranny 
 
 Where the tiniest mouse might hide. 
 Finding eggs of blue and yellow, 
 
 Crimson, purple, pink, and green; 
 Such a store of Easter treasures 
 
 Surely is not often seen. 
 
 But wee Bessie's eyes were cloudy; 
 
 Not a single egg she'd found. 
 While the rest laid merry claim to 
 
 Half-a-dozen, all around. 
 " Because, grandma,'^ Teddy whispered, 
 " She is such a little mite 
 That she couldn't seem to see them. 
 
 Though we put them plain in sight.'^ 
 
22 Readings a7id Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 "Never mind;" and grandma, smiling, 
 , Eaised the drooping, golden head, 
 Coaxing back the merry dimples, 
 " Never mind, my dear,^^ she said. 
 "Hark! I heard a biddy cackling, 
 There^s an Easter-egg for you/' 
 Waiting for no second telling, 
 To the barn the children flew. 
 
 Back again, a moment later, 
 Eushed the joyous little band; 
 "Well, and did you find the egg, dear?'^ 
 
 Bess unclosed her chubby hand. 
 '' Didn't biddy know 'twas Easter ?" 
 Questioned she, in serious way, 
 '^ 'Cause, you see, she's laid a white one. 
 Dust the same as any day!" 
 
 Ada Carletoiu 
 
 MUS'NT TOUCH. 
 
 The baby's rosy fingers found 
 
 So oft their curious w^ay 
 Among our books and bric-a-brac, 
 
 We had to tell her nay. 
 ^' You must not touch, remember, dear," — 
 
 She knew^ the words full well. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors, 23 
 
 One day^ upon a beauteous vase 
 
 Her longing glances fell; 
 She toddled toward the shining thing 
 
 She wished to clasp so much, 
 Then — bravely turned away and sighed, 
 
 ^^ Anoder musVt touch/^ 
 
 Nellie K. Kellogg, 
 
 SNOW-FLAKES. 
 
 Out of the bosom of the air, 
 
 Out of the cloud-folds of her garments 
 shaken, 
 Over the woodlands brown and bare, 
 Over the harvest-fields forsaken, 
 Silent, and soft, and slow 
 Descends the snow. 
 
 Even as our cloudy fancies take 
 
 Suddenly shape in some divine expres- 
 sion. 
 Even as the troubled heart doth make 
 In the white countenance confession. 
 The troubled sky reveals 
 The grief it feels. 
 
24 Readi?tgs and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 This is the poem of the air, 
 
 Slowly in silent syllables recorded; 
 This is the secret of despair. 
 
 Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded, 
 Now whispered and revealed 
 To wood and field. 
 
 BEING A BOY. 
 
 Oke of the best things in the world to be is a 
 boy ; it requires no experience, though it needs 
 some practice to be a good one. The disadvantage 
 of the position is that he does n.ot last long enough. 
 It is soon over. Just as you get used to being a 
 boy, you have to be something else, with a good 
 deal more work to do and not lialf so much fun. 
 And yet every boy is anxious to be a man, and is 
 very uneasy with the restrictions that are put upon 
 him as a boy. There are so many bright spots in 
 the life of a farm boy that I sometimes think I 
 should like to live the life over again. I should 
 almost be willing to be a girl if it were not for the 
 chores. There is a great comfort to a boy in the 
 amount of work he can get rid of doing. It is 
 sometimes astonishing how slow he can go on an 
 errand. Perhaps he couldn't explain, himself, 
 why, when he is sent to the neighbor's after yeast, 
 he stops to stone the frogs. He is not exactly 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 25 
 
 cruel^ but he wants to see if he can hit ^em. It is 
 a curious fact about boys, that two will be a great 
 deal slower in doing anything than one. Boys 
 have a great power of helping each other do noth- 
 ing. But say what you will about the general use- 
 fulness of boys, a farm without a boy would very 
 soon come to grief. He is always in demand. In 
 the first place, he is to do all the errands, go to 
 the store, the post-office, and to carry all sorts of 
 messages. He would like to have as many legs as 
 a wheel has spokes, and rotate about in the same 
 way. This he sometimes tries to do, and people 
 who have seen him "turning cart-wheels^^ along 
 the side of the road have supposed he was amusing 
 himself and idling his time. He was only trying 
 to invent a new mode of locomotion, so that he 
 could economize his legs and do his errands with 
 greater dispatch. Leap-frog is one of his methods 
 of getting over the ground quickly. He has a nat- 
 ural genius for combining pleasure with business. 
 Charles Dudley Warner, 
 
 MY NEIGHBOR'S BABY. 
 
 Across in my neighbor's window, with its drap- 
 
 ings of satin and lace, 
 I see, 'neath its flowing ringlets, a baby's innocent 
 
 face ; 
 
26 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 His feet, in crimson slippers, are tapping the pol- 
 ished glass ; 
 
 And the crowd in the street look upward, and nod 
 and smile as they pass. 
 
 Just here in my cottage window, catching flies ip 
 the sun, 
 
 With a patched and faded apron, stands my own 
 little one; 
 
 His face is as pure and handsome as the baby^s 
 over the way. 
 
 And he keeps my heart from breaking, at my toil- 
 ing every day. 
 
 Sometimes when the day is ended, and I sit in the 
 
 dusk to rest, 
 AVith the face of my sleeping darling hugged close 
 
 to my lonely breast, 
 I pray that my neighbor's baby may not catch 
 
 heaven's roses all. 
 But that some may crown the forehead of my 
 
 loved one as they fall. 
 
 And when I draw the stockings from his little 
 weary feet, 
 
 And kiss the rosy dimples in his limbs so round 
 and sweet, 
 
 I think of the dainty garments some little chil- 
 dren wear, 
 
 And that my God withholds them from mine so 
 pure and fair. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 27 
 May God forgive my envy — I know not what I 
 
 My heart is crushed and troubled, — my neighbor's 
 
 boy is dead ! 
 I saw the little coffin as they carried it out to-day : 
 A mother's heart is breaking in the mansion over 
 
 the way. 
 
 The light is fair in my window, the flowers bloom 
 at my door ; 
 
 My boy is chasing the sunbeams that dance on the 
 cottage floor. 
 
 The roses of health are blooming on my darling's 
 cheek to-day, 
 
 But the baby is gone from the window of the man- 
 sion over the way. 
 
 THE LIP AND THE HEART. 
 
 0:n'e day, between the Lip and the Heart 
 
 A wordless strife arose. 
 Which was expertest in the art 
 
 His purpose to disclose. 
 
 The Lip called forth the vassal — Tongue, 
 
 And made him vouch— a lie ! 
 The slave his servile anthem sung. 
 
 And braved the listening sky. 
 
28 Readings and Recitations for Ju?iiors. 
 
 The Heart to speak in vain essayed, 
 Nor could his purpose reach — 
 
 His will, nor voice, nor tongue obeyed. 
 His silence was his speech. 
 
 Mark thou their difference, child of earth ! 
 
 While each performs his part, 
 Not all the Lip can speak is worth 
 
 The silence of the Heart. 
 
 Jolm Quincy Adams. 
 
 WHERE DID YOU COME FROM, BABY. 
 
 ^^ Where did you come from, baby dear?^^ 
 '' Out of the everywhere into the here.^^ 
 
 ^^ Where did you get your eyes so blue V^ 
 ^' Out of the sky as I came through." 
 
 ^^ What makes the light in them sparkle and spin ?" 
 ^' Some of the starry spikes left in." 
 
 ^^ Where did you get that little tear ?" 
 '' I found it waiting when I got here." 
 
 '' What makes your forehead so smooth and high ?" 
 ^^ A soft hand stroked it as I went by." 
 
 ^' What makes your cheek like a warm white rose ?" 
 '' Something better than any one knows." 
 
Readings a?id Recitations for Juniors. 29 
 
 '^ Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss V^ 
 " Three angels gave me at once a kiss/^ 
 
 ^^ Where did you get that pearly ear V 
 " God spoke and it came out to hear.'^ 
 
 '' Where did you get those arms and hands ?^^ 
 ^^Love made itself into hooks and bands." 
 
 " Feet^ whence did you come, you darling things ?" 
 " From the same body as the cherubs^ wings." 
 
 ^^ How did they all just come to be you ?" 
 " God thought about me, and so I grew." 
 
 ^' But how did you come to us, my dear ?" 
 ^' God thought about you, and so I am here." 
 
 George Macdonald, 
 
 AT THE PARTY. 
 
 Half-a-dozeis^ children 
 
 At our house ! 
 Half-a-dozen children 
 
 Quiet as a mouse ! 
 Quiet as a moonbeam — 
 
 You could hear a pin, — 
 Waiting for the party 
 
 To begin. 
 
30 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Such a flood of flounces — 
 
 Oh, dear me ! 
 Such a surge of sashes — 
 
 Like a silken sea. 
 Little eyes demurely 
 
 Cast upon the ground. 
 Little airs and graces 
 
 All around. 
 
 High time for that party 
 
 To begin! 
 To sit so any longer 
 
 Were a sort of sin; 
 As if you weren^t acquainted 
 
 With society. 
 What a thing to tell of 
 
 That would be ! 
 
 Up spoke a little lady 
 
 Aged five: 
 '^ Fve tumbled up my over-dress. 
 
 Sure as Fm alive! 
 My dress came from Paris — 
 
 We sent to Worth for it; 
 Mother says she calls it 
 
 Such a fit !^^ 
 
 Quick there piped another 
 Little voice: 
 '' I didn^t send for dresses. 
 
 Though I had my choice; 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 I have got a doll that 
 
 Came from Paris too; 
 
 It can walk and talk as 
 Well as you V^ 
 
 Still, till now, there sat one 
 
 Little girl; 
 Simple as a snowdrop. 
 
 Without flounce or curl. 
 Modest as a primrose, 
 
 Soft, plain hair brushed back, 
 But the color of her dress was 
 
 Black — all black. 
 
 Swift she glanced around with 
 
 Sweet surprise ; 
 Bright and grave the look that 
 
 AVidened in her eyes. 
 To entertain the party 
 
 She must do her share. 
 As if God had sent her 
 
 Stood she there; 
 
 Stood a minute, thinking, 
 
 With crossed hands, 
 How she best might meet the 
 
 Company^s demands. 
 Grave and sweet the purpose 
 To the child^s voice given : 
 "/have a little brother 
 
 Gone to heaven V^ 
 
32 Readings a7id Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 On the little party 
 
 Dropped a spell ; 
 All the little flounces 
 
 Eustled where they fell ; 
 But the modest maiden 
 
 In her mourning gown. 
 Unconscious as a flower, 
 
 Looketh down. 
 
 Quick my heart besought her, 
 Silently: 
 '^ Happy little maiden, 
 
 Give, oh, give to me 
 The highness of thy courage, 
 
 The sweetness of thy grace. 
 To speak a large word in a 
 Little place/' 
 Elizabeth Stuart Plielps Ward. 
 
 THE LITTLE ORATOR. 
 (Written for Ed. Everett, and recited by him in childhood.) 
 
 Pray, how should I, a little lad, 
 In speaking make a figure ? 
 
 You^re only joking, Fm afraid,^ 
 Do wait till I am bigger. 
 
Readi7igs and Recitations for Juniors. 33 
 
 But since you wisli to hear my part. 
 
 And urge me to begin it, 
 I ^11 strive for praise, with all my heart, 
 
 Though small the hope to win it. 
 
 ni tell a tale, how Farmer John 
 
 A little roan colt bred, sir. 
 And every night and every morn . 
 
 He watered and he fed, sir. 
 
 Said Neighbor Joe to Farmer John, 
 " Aren^t you a silly dolt, sir. 
 To spend such time and care upon 
 A little useless colt, sir T^ 
 
 Said Farmer John to Neighbor Joe, 
 " 1^11 bring my little roan up. 
 Not for the good he now can do, 
 But will do when he^s grown up/^ 
 
 The moral you can well espy. 
 To keep the tale from spoiling ; 
 
 The little colt, you think, is I, — 
 I know it by your smiling. 
 
 And now, my friends, please to excuse 
 
 My lisping and my stammers ; 
 I, for this once, have done my best. 
 
 And so — I'll make my manners. 
 
 Thnddeiis M. Harris. 
 
34 Readings a?td Recitations for Jmiiors, 
 
 THE LITTLE LIGHT. 
 
 The light shone dim in the headland. 
 
 For the storm was raging high ; 
 I shaded my eyes from the inner glare, 
 
 And gazed on the west, gray sky. 
 It was dark and lowering ; on the sea 
 
 The waves were booming loud, 
 And the snow and the piercing winter sleet 
 
 Wove over all a shroud. 
 
 " God pity the men on the sea to-night !^^ 
 
 I said to my little ones, 
 And we shuddered as we heard afar 
 
 The sound of minute-guns. 
 My husband came in, in his fishing coat 
 
 (He was wet and cold that night). 
 And he said, " Therein lots of ships go down 
 
 On the headland rocks to-night.'' 
 
 " Let the lamp burn all night, mother,'' 
 
 Cried little Mary then ; 
 " 'Tis but a little light, but still 
 
 It might save drowning men." 
 ^^Oh, nonsense !" cried her father (he 
 
 Was tired and cross that night), 
 " The headland lighthouse is enough." 
 
 And he put out the light. 
 
t 
 
 t 
 
 Readmgs and Recitations for Juniors. 35 
 
 That night, on the rocks below us, 
 
 A noble ship went down, 
 But one was saved from the ghastly wreck, 
 The rest were left to drown. 
 " We steered by a little light,^^ he said, 
 " Till we saw it sink from view : 
 If theyM only ^a left that light all night 
 My mates might have been here too!'^ 
 
 Then little Mary sobbed aloud. 
 
 Her father blushed for shame ; 
 *^ ^Twas our light that you saw,^^ he said, 
 *^ And Fm the one to blame/^ 
 ^Twas a little light — how small a thing! — 
 
 And trifling was its cost, 
 Yet for want of it a ship went down. 
 
 And a hundred souls were lost 
 
 THE WISH OF THE FLOWERS. 
 
 The flowers, one day, amid the scented air. 
 
 In turn confessed the fate which they w^ould deem 
 
 Most suited to adorn their beauty fair. 
 
 A saucy Eosebud, wooed of sunlit beam. 
 
 Spoke first: " Sisters,^^ she said, '' it is my dream 
 
 To see the world in all its proud display 
 
 Of kingly court, of feast and pageant gay.'^ 
 
36 Readwgs ajid Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Sad looked the Asphodel, and from her breast 
 She heaved low sighs that like a dii-ge ooft spread 
 In music round : " Methinks it were more blest 
 In waxen hand to lie, and perfume shed 
 Around the form of the beloved dead. 
 What fate more meet than by sweet-scented sighs 
 With weeping mourners^ heart to sympathize V^ 
 
 Next rose the Daisy, in her pink-fringed gown : 
 " I wish/^ she lisped, " to be the children's flower/^ 
 On hearing this the Rose looked scornful down. 
 And made reply: " Oh, well, ijou have no dower 
 Of scent or beauty to adorn the bower/' 
 
 ^^ I know/' said the Pearl, while she on Kingcup 
 
 leant, 
 " That simple joys give simple hearts content." 
 ^^ And I," chimed in the blue Forget-me-not, 
 '' The pledge would be 'twixt parted friend and 
 
 friend." 
 
 The Poppy woke and shook her drowsy head : 
 '' I'd bear to pain the seeds of sleep," she said. 
 With lips dew kissed, now spake the Lily maid 
 Sweet words that fell like snowflakes on the air : 
 ^' My wish would be to spring 'neatli cloister shade. 
 And soon be placed by nun, with skilful care. 
 In shrine at Mary's feet, to linger there." 
 Then cried the flowers, as round their queen they 
 
 pressed : 
 ^' Vestal Lily, thou hast chosen best !" 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is for Juniors. 37 
 
 THE GRAY SWAN. 
 
 '' Oh^ tell me, sailor, tell me true. 
 
 Is my little lad, my Elihu, 
 
 A-sailing with your ship ?^' 
 
 The sailor^s eyes were dim with dew, — 
 
 " Your little lad, your Elihu ?' 
 He said with trembling lip, — 
 '' What little lad ? what ship ? '' 
 
 '' What little lad I As if there could be 
 
 Another such a one as he ! 
 
 What little lad, do you say ? 
 
 Why, Elihu, that took to the sea 
 
 The moment I put him off my knee ! 
 It was just the other day 
 The Gray Siuan sailed away/^ 
 
 '^ The other day T' The sailor's eyes 
 
 Stood open with a great surprise, — 
 " The other day? the Siuan T' 
 
 His heart began in his throat to rise. 
 
 '' Ay, ay, sir, here in the cupboard lies 
 The Jacket he had on/' 
 ^^ And so your lad is gone ? 
 
 '' But, my good mother, do you know 
 All this was twenty years ago ? 
 
 I stood on the Gray Sioan's deck. 
 
38 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And to that lad I saw you throw, 
 Taking it oflf, as it might be, so. 
 The kerchief from your neck.'^ 
 ^^ Ay, and he^ll bring it back ! " 
 
 ^^And did the little lawless lad, 
 
 That has made you sick and made you sad, 
 
 Sail with the Gray Sioaii's crew ?^' 
 '^ Lawless ! The man is going mad ! 
 The best boy ever mother had, — 
 
 Be sure he sailed with the crew ! 
 
 What would you have him do ?" 
 
 ^^ And he has never written line. 
 Nor sent you word, nor made you sign 
 
 To say he was alive ?" 
 " Hold ! if ^twas wrong, the wrong is mine ; 
 Besides, he may be in the brine. 
 
 And could he write from the grave ? 
 
 Tut, man, what would you have ? '^ 
 
 '^ Gone twenty years — a long, long cruise; 
 ^Twas wicked thus your love to abuse; 
 
 But if the lad still live. 
 And come back home, think you you can 
 Forgive him? ^^ — " Miserable man, 
 
 You^re mad as the sea, — you rave, — 
 
 What have I to forgive T' 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 39 
 
 The sailor twitched his shirt so bkie, 
 And from within his bosom drew 
 
 The kerchief. She was wild. 
 *'My God ! my Father I is it true— 
 My little lad, my Elihu ? 
 
 My blessed boy, my child! 
 
 My dead, — my living child !^^ 
 
 Alice Gary, 
 
 A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS. 
 
 "TwAS the night before Christmas, whenali through 
 
 the house 
 Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ; 
 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. 
 In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. 
 
 The children were nestled all snug in their beds, 
 While visions of sugar-plums danced through their 
 
 heads ; 
 And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap 
 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. 
 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, 
 I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. 
 
 Away to the window I flew like a flash. 
 
 Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 
 
40 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow. 
 Gave a lustre of midday to objects below ; 
 
 When what to my wondering eyes should appear 
 But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. 
 With a little old driver so lively and quick 
 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. 
 
 More rapid than eagles his coursei-s they came, 
 And he whistled and shouted and called them by 
 
 name: 
 '' ]N'ow, Dasher ! now, Dancer ! now, Prancer and 
 
 Vixen ! 
 On, Comet ! on, Cupid I on, Donder and Blitzen I 
 To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, 
 Now, dash away, dash away, dasli away all !" 
 
 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly. 
 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the 
 
 sky, 
 So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, 
 With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too; 
 And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof 
 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 
 
 As I drew in my head and was turning around, 
 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with abound; 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Jiniiors, 41 
 
 He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, 
 And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and 
 
 soot ; 
 A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, 
 And he looked like a peddler just opening his 
 
 pack. 
 
 His eyes, how they twinkled I his dimples^ how 
 
 merry ! 
 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry ; 
 His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow. 
 And the beaid on his chin was as white as the 
 
 snow ; 
 
 He was chubby and plump — a right jolly old elf — 
 And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; 
 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head 
 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. 
 
 He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, 
 And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk, 
 And laying his finger aside of his nose, 
 And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. 
 
 He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle. 
 And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; 
 But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, 
 " Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night T 
 
 Clement C, Moore. 
 
42 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 LITTLE CHRISTEL. 
 
 Fraulei:n", the young schoolmistress^ to her pupils 
 said one day, 
 
 " Next week, at Pfingster holiday, King Ludwig 
 rides this -way; 
 
 And you will be wise, my little ones, to work with 
 a will at your tasks. 
 
 That so you may answer fearlessly whatever ques- 
 tion he asks. 
 
 It would be a shame too dreadful if the King 
 should have it to tell 
 
 That Hansel missed in his figures, and Peterkin 
 could not spell /^ 
 
 " Oho! that never shall happen,^^ cried Hansel and 
 
 Peterkin too; 
 " We^ll show King Ludwig, when he comes, what 
 
 the boys in this school can do/^ 
 *^And we,^^ said Gretchen and Bertha, and all the 
 
 fair little maids 
 Who stood in a row before her, with their hair in 
 
 flaxen braids, 
 " We will pay such good attention to every word 
 
 you say 
 That you shall not be ashamed of us when King 
 
 Ludwig rides this way/' 
 
Readings and Recitatioiis for Juniors. 43 
 
 She smiled^ the young schoolmistress, to see that 
 they loved her so^ 
 
 And with patient care she taught them the things 
 it was good to know. 
 
 Day after day she drilled them till the great day 
 came at last, 
 
 When the heralds going before him blew out their 
 sounding blast; 
 
 And with music, and flying banners, and the clat- 
 ter of horses' feet, 
 
 The King and his troops of soldiers rode down the 
 village street. 
 
 Oh ! the hearts of the eager children beat fast with 
 joy and fear. 
 
 And Friiulein trembled and grew pale as the caval- 
 cade drew near ; 
 
 But she blushed with pride and pleasure when the 
 . lessons came to be heard, 
 
 For in all the flock of the boys and girls not one of 
 them missed a word. 
 
 And King Ludwig turned to the teacher with a 
 smile and a gracious look : 
 
 ^^It is plain,'' said he, "that your scholars have 
 carefully conned their book. 
 
 ^' But now let us ask some questions, to see if they 
 
 understand ;" 
 And he showed to one of the little maids an orange 
 
 in his hand. 
 
44 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 It was Christel, the youngest sister of the mistress 
 
 fair and kind — 
 A child with a face like a lily, and as lovely and 
 
 pure a mind. 
 ^^What kingdom does this belong to?'^ as he 
 
 called her to his knee ; 
 And at once — "The vegetable/^ she answ^ered 
 
 quietly. 
 
 " Good/^ said the monarch, kindly, and showed 
 
 her a piece of gold: 
 '' Now tell me what this belongs to — the pretty 
 
 coin that I hold.^^ 
 She touched it with careful finger, for gold was a 
 
 metal rare, 
 And then — "The mineral kingdom,^^ she answered 
 
 with confident air. 
 ^^ Well done for the little madchen V^ And good 
 
 King Ludwig smiled 
 At Fraulein and her sister, the teacher and the 
 
 child. 
 
 ^^ Now answer me one more question^' — with a 
 
 twinkle of fun in his eye : 
 " What kingdom do I belong to T For he thought 
 
 she would make reply, 
 '' The animal ; ^^ and he meant to ask with a frown 
 
 if that was the thing 
 For a little child like her to say to her lord and 
 
 master, the king ? 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jitniors. 45 
 
 He knew not the artless wisdom that would set his 
 
 wit at naught, 
 And the little Christel guessed nothing at all of 
 
 what was in his thought. 
 
 But her glance shot up at the question, and the 
 
 brightness in her face, 
 Like a sunbeam on a lily, seemed to shine all over 
 
 the place. 
 "- What kingdom do you belong to T' her innocent 
 
 lips repeat ; 
 " Why, surel3^ the kingdom of Heaven T^ rings out 
 
 the answer sweet. 
 And then for a breathless momenta sudden silence 
 
 fell. 
 And you might have heard the fall of a leaf as they 
 
 looked at little Christel. 
 
 But it only lasted a moment, then rose as sudden a 
 
 shout — 
 '^ Well done ! well done for little Christel !" and 
 
 the bravos rang about. 
 For the King in his arms had caught her, to her 
 
 wondering shy surprise. 
 And over and over he kissed her, with a mist of 
 
 tears in his eyes. 
 " May the blessing of God,^^ he murmured, " for- 
 
 ever rest on thy head ! 
 Henceforth, by His grace, my life shall prove the 
 
 truth of what thou hast said,'^ 
 
46 Readings and Recitations fo7' Junio7's. 
 
 He gave her the yellow orange and tlie golden coin 
 
 for her own, 
 And the school had a royal feast that day whose 
 
 like they had never known. 
 To Fraulein, the gentle mistress, he spoke sucli 
 
 words of cheer 
 That they lightened her anxious labor for many 
 
 and many a year. 
 And because in his heart was hidden the memory 
 
 of this thing, 
 The Lord had a better servant, the people a wiser 
 
 king ! 
 
 Mrs, Mary E, Bradley. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN AND THb SQUIRREL. 
 
 The mountain and the squirrel 
 
 Had a quarrel, 
 
 And the former called the latter " little prig 
 
 Bun replied, 
 
 ^' You are doubtless very big, 
 
 "-' But all sorts of things and weather 
 Must be taken in together 
 To make up a year 
 And a sphere ; 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 47 
 
 " And I think it no disgrace 
 To occupy my place. 
 If I am not as large as yon. 
 You are not so small as I, 
 And not half so spry. 
 
 " 1^11 not deny you make 
 
 A very pretty squirrel track; 
 
 Talents differ; all are well and wisely put. 
 
 If I cannot carry forests on my back. 
 
 Neither can you crack a nut.^^ 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson. 
 
 THE LITTLE LION CHARMER. 
 
 Outside the little village of Katrine, 
 
 Just where the country ventures into town, 
 
 A circus pitched its tents, and on the green 
 The canvas pyramids were fastened down. 
 
 The night was clear. The moon was climbing 
 
 higher ; 
 
 The show was over ; crowds were coming out. 
 
 When, through the surging mass, the cry of 
 
 ^^Firer 
 
 Rose from a murmur to a wild, hoarse shout. 
 
48 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 '^Fire! fire !'^ The crackling flames ran up the 
 tent. 
 
 The shrieks of frightened women filled the air^ 
 The cries of prisoned beasts weird horror lent 
 
 To the wild scene of uproar and despair. 
 
 A lion^s roar high o^er all the cries ! 
 
 There is a crash — out into the night 
 The tawny creature leaps with glowing eyes, 
 
 Then stands, defiant, in the fierce red light. 
 
 '' The lion^s loose ! The lion ! Fly for your lives !^' 
 But deathlike silence falls upon them all. 
 
 So paralyzed with fear that no one strives 
 To make escape, to move, to call ! 
 
 " A weapon V^ " Shoot him I"^ comes from far out- 
 side ; 
 
 The shout wakes men again to conscious life ; 
 But as the aim is taken, the ranks divide 
 
 To make a passage for the keeper^s wife. 
 
 Alone she came, a woman tall and fair, 
 And hurried on, and near the lion stood ; 
 
 " Oh, do not fire V^ she cried ; ^' let no one dare 
 To shoot my lion — he is tame and good. 
 
 " My son ! my son V^ she called ; and to her ran 
 A little child that scarce had seen nine years. 
 
 " Play ! play V she said. Quickly the boy began : 
 His little flute was heard by awestruck ears. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 49 
 
 " Fetch mc a cage/" she cried. The men obeyed. 
 
 ^^Now go, my son^ and bring the lion here/" 
 Slowly the child advanced^ aud piped^ and played. 
 
 While men and women held their breaths in fear. 
 
 Sweetly he played, as though no horrid fate 
 Could ever harm his sunny little head. 
 
 He never paused, or seemed to hesitate. 
 But went to do the thing his mother said. 
 
 The lion hearkened to the sweet, clear sound ; 
 
 The anger vanished from his threatening eyes ; 
 All motionless he crouched upon the ground. 
 
 And listened to the silver melodies. 
 
 The boy thus reached his side. The beast stirred 
 not. 
 The child then backward walked, and played 
 again, 
 Till, moving softly, slowly from the spot. 
 The lion followed the familiar strain. 
 
 The cage is waiting — wide its open door — 
 And toward it, cautiously, the child retreats. 
 
 But see I The lion, restless grown once more, 
 Is lashing with his tail in angry beats. 
 
 The boy, advancing, plays again the lay. 
 
 Again the beast, remembering the refrain. 
 Follows him on, until in this dread way 
 
 The cage is reached, and in it go the twain. 
 
50 Readings and Recitations for Ju7tiors. 
 
 At once the boy springs out^ the door makes fast, 
 Then leaps with Joy to reach his mother^s side ; 
 
 Her praise alone, of all that crowd so vast. 
 Has power to thrill his little heart with pride. 
 
 Harriet S. Fleming. 
 
 GRANDMA'S ANGEL. 
 
 ^^ Mamma said : ' Little one, go and see 
 If grandmother's ready to come to tea/ 
 I knew I mustn^t disturb her, so 
 I stepped as gently along, tiptoe. 
 And stood a moment to take a peep — 
 And there was grandmother fast asleep ! 
 
 ^^ I knew it was time for her to wake, 
 
 I thought I'd give her a little shake. 
 
 Or tap at her door, or softly call ; 
 
 But I hadn't the heart for that at all — 
 
 She looked so sweet and so quiet there. 
 
 Lying back in her high arm-chair. 
 
 With her dear white hair, and a little smile. 
 
 That means she is loving you all the while. 
 
 " I didn't make a speck of a noise ; 
 I knew that she was dreaming of the little boys 
 And girls who lived with her so long ago 
 And then went to heaven — she told me so. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 51 
 
 '' I went up close, but I didn^t speak 
 One word, but I gave her on her cheek 
 The softest bit of a little kiss, 
 Just in a whisper, and then I said this : 
 ^Grandmother, dear, it^s time for tea/ 
 
 ^^She opened her eyes and looked at me, 
 
 And said : ' Why, Pet, I have just now dreamed 
 
 Of a little angel who came and seemed 
 
 To kiss me lovingly on my face/ 
 
 She pointed right at the very place. 
 
 " I never told her ^twas only me, 
 
 I took her hand and we went to tea/^ 
 
 St, Kicliolas. 
 
 THE DISCONTENTED BUTTERCUP. 
 
 Dow:n" in a field, one day in June, 
 The flowers all bloomed together. 
 
 Save one, who tried to hide herself. 
 And drooped, that pleasant weather. 
 
 A robin who had soared too high. 
 
 And felt a little lazy. 
 Was resting near a buttercup 
 
 Who wished she were a daisy. 
 
52 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 For daisies grow so trig and tall ; 
 
 She always had a passion 
 For wearing frills about her neck 
 
 In just the daisies' fashion. 
 
 And buttercups must always be 
 The same old tiresome color, 
 
 While daisies dress in gold and white. 
 Although their gold is duller. 
 
 ^^Dear robin/^ said this sad young flower, 
 " Perhaps you^'d not mind trying 
 
 To find a nice white frill for me. 
 Some day, when you are flying ?^^ 
 
 " You silly thing T' the robin said ; 
 
 " I think you must be crazy ! 
 1^1 rather be my honest self 
 
 Than any made-up daisy. 
 
 " You're nicer in your own bright gown ; 
 
 The little children love you ; 
 Be the best buttercup you can. 
 
 And think no flower above you. 
 
 " Though swallows leave me out of sight. 
 We'd better keep our places ; 
 
 Perhaps the world would all go wrong 
 With one too many daisies. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 53 
 
 " Look bravely up into the sky^ 
 
 And be content with knowing 
 That God wished for a buttercup 
 
 Just here where you are growing/^ 
 
 Sarah A. Jeivett, 
 
 THE VIOLET. 
 
 Dow:n" in a green and shady bed 
 
 A modest violet grew ; 
 Its stalk was bent, it hung its head. 
 
 As if to hide from view. 
 
 And yet it was a lovely flower. 
 
 Its colors bright and fair ; 
 It might have graced a rosy bower 
 
 Instead of hiding there. 
 
 Yet there it was content to bloom. 
 
 In modest tints arrayed ; 
 And there diffused a sweet perfume 
 
 Within the silent shade. 
 
 Then let me to the valley go. 
 
 This pretty flower to see, 
 That I may also learn to grow 
 
 In sweet humility. 
 
 Jane Taylor. 
 
54 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 WHAT THE WINDS BRING. 
 
 Which is the wind that brings the cold ? 
 
 The North-wind, Freddy, and all the snow ; 
 And the sheep will scamper into the fold, 
 
 When the North begins to blow. 
 
 Which is the wind that brings the heat ? 
 
 The South-wind, Katy ; and corn will grow. 
 And peaches redden for you to eat. 
 
 When the South begins to blow. 
 
 Which is the wind that brings the rain ? 
 
 The East-wind, Arty ; and farmers know 
 That cows come shivering up the lane 
 
 When the East begins to blow. 
 
 Which is the wind that brings the flowers ? 
 
 The West-wind, Bessy ; and soft and low. 
 The birdies sing in the summer hours 
 
 Wlien the West begins to blow. 
 
 Edmund Clarence Stedman. 
 
 PAPA'S LETTER. 
 
 I WAS sitting in my study. 
 
 Writing letters, when I heard. 
 
 Please, dear mamma, Mary told me 
 Mamma mus'n't be disturbed. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 55 
 
 ' But I^se tired of the kitty, 
 Want some ozzer fing to do. 
 Witing letters, is ^ou^ mamma? 
 Tan^t I wite a letter too V^ 
 
 Not now, darling, mamma's busy; 
 
 Eun and play with kitty ;, now/' 
 ^ No, no, mamma; me wite letter, 
 
 Tan if 'ou will show me how/' 
 
 I would paint my darling^s portrait 
 As his sweet eyes searched my face — 
 
 Hair of gold and eyes of azure. 
 Form of childish, witching grace. 
 
 But the eager face was clouded, 
 
 As I slowly shook my head. 
 Till I said, " I'll make a letter 
 
 Of you, darling boy, instead." 
 
 So I parted back the tresses 
 
 From his forehead high and white. 
 
 And a stamp in sport I pasted 
 'Mid its waves of golden light. 
 
 Then I said, " Now, little letter. 
 
 Go away and bear good news." 
 And I smiled as down the staircase 
 
 Clattered loud the little shoes. 
 
5G Readings and Recitations for Jiniiors, 
 
 Leaving me, the darling hurried 
 Down to Mary in his glee, 
 " Mammals witing lots of letters; 
 I'se a letter, Mary, — see!^' 
 
 No one heard the little prattler, 
 As once more he climbed the stair. 
 
 Beached his little cap and tippet. 
 Standing on the entry stair. 
 
 No one heard the front door open, 
 No one saw the golden hair. 
 
 As it floated o^er his shoulders 
 In the crisp October air. 
 
 Down the street the baby hastened 
 Till he reached the office door. 
 " I'se a letter, Mr. Postman; 
 Is there room for any more? 
 
 ^^^Cause dis letter^s doin^ to papa. 
 Papa lives with God, ^ou know. 
 Mamma sent me for a letter. 
 Does 'ou fink ^at I tan do ?^ 
 
 But the clerk in wonder answered, 
 " Not to-day, my little man.^^ 
 '^ Den I'll find anozzer office, 
 '' Cause I must do if I tan.'' 
 
Readings a?id Recitations for Jiuiiors, 
 
 Fain the clerk would have detamed him^ 
 But the pleading face was gone, 
 
 And the little feet were hastening — • 
 By the busy crowd swept on. 
 
 Suddenly the crowd was parted, 
 People fled to left and right, 
 / As a pair of maddened horses 
 
 At the moment dashed in sight. 
 
 No one saw the baby figure — 
 No one saw the golden hair. 
 
 Till a voice of frightened sweetness 
 Eang out on the autumn air. 
 
 ^Twas too late — a moment only 
 Stood the beauteous vision there. 
 
 Then the little face lay lifeless, 
 Covered o^er with golden hair. 
 
 Eeverently they raised my darling, 
 Brushed away the curls of gold. 
 
 Saw the stamp upon the forehead. 
 Growing now so icy cold. 
 
 Not a mark the face disfigured. 
 Showing where a hoof had trod ; 
 
 But the little life was ended — 
 " Papa's letter" was with God. 
 
58 Readings afid Recitations for Jimiors. 
 
 ST. AGNES' SHRINE. 
 
 While before St. Agnes' shrine 
 Knelt a true knight's lady-love, 
 
 From the wars of Palestine 
 Came a gentle carrier-dove. 
 
 Eound his neck a silken string 
 Fastened words the warrior writ; 
 
 At her call he stooped his wing, 
 And upon her finger lit. 
 
 She, like one enchanted, pored 
 O'er the contents of the scroll — 
 
 For that lady loved her lord 
 With a pure, devoted soul. 
 
 To her heart her dove she drew, 
 While she traced the burning line; 
 
 Then away his minion flew 
 Back to sainted Palestine. 
 
 To and fro, from hand to hand 
 Came and went a carrier-dove. 
 
 Till throughout the Holy Land 
 War resigned his sword to Love. 
 
 Swift her dove, on wings of light, 
 Brought the news from Palestine, 
 
 And the lady her true knight 
 Wedded at St. Agnes' shrine. 
 
 Geo. P, Morris, 
 
p 
 
 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 59 
 
 THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS. 
 There is a reaper whose name is Deaths 
 
 And with his sickle keen 
 He reaps the bearded grain at a breathy 
 
 And the flowers that grow between. 
 
 ^' Shall I have nought that is fair to see; 
 
 Have nought but the bearded grain ? 
 Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me^ 
 
 I will give them all back again. ^^ 
 
 He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes, 
 
 And kissed' their tremulous leaves; 
 It was for the Lord of j)aradise 
 
 He bound them in his sheaves. 
 
 ^•My Lord has need of these flowers gay/^ 
 
 The reaper said, and smiled; 
 ^^Dear tokens of the earth are they, 
 
 Where He was once a cliild. 
 
 ^^They shall all bloom in fields of lighto 
 
 Transplanted by my care. 
 And saints upon their garments white 
 
 These sacred blossoms wear.^^ 
 
 And the mother gave in tears and pain 
 
 The flowers she most did love; 
 But she knew she should find them all again 
 
 In the fields of light above. 
 
60 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. . 
 
 0, not in cruelty, not in wrath, 
 
 The reaper came that day; 
 ^Twas an angel visited the green earth, 
 
 And took the flowers away. 
 
 LongfeUotu. 
 
 THE BOY OF THE ARCTIC. 
 
 When the American steamship Arctic came in collision 
 with another steamship at sea, in the autumn of 1854, there 
 was a youth, named Stuart Holland, stationed at the gun, 
 to keep firing it, in the hope of attracting the attention of 
 vessels at a distance, that they might come to the relief of 
 the sinking vessel. Nearly all the crew deserted, leaving 
 the captain and most of the passengers without a boat. 
 But Stuart Holland kept at his post, and sank with the 
 ship. **I saw him," says an eyewitness, '* in the very act 
 of firing, as the vessel disappeared." 
 
 The thick fog baffled vision, 
 
 But daylight lingered yet, 
 When two ships, in collision. 
 
 Upon the ocean met; 
 The Arctic shook and reeled; 
 
 A hole in her fore-quarter 
 
 Let in a rush of water: 
 The good ship^s doom was sealed. 
 
 And there were men and women 
 
 Crowded upon the deck; 
 And there were frightened seamen 
 
 Kushiner to leave the wreck! 
 
Readmgs mid Recitations fo?' Juniors. 6 1 
 
 In vain the captain shouted; 
 
 The craven crew have left him. 
 
 Of every boat bereft him: 
 Destruction is undoubted. 
 
 But, hark! a gun is pealing 
 
 Fast from that vesseFs side; 
 One true heart is revealing 
 
 That Duty doth abide 
 O'er Death and all his host. 
 
 The boy stands loading, firing, 
 
 Unaided and untiring, 
 
 Nor thinks he of inquiring 
 If he may quit his post. 
 
 The ship sinks lower, lower, — 
 She's past her water-line; 
 
 The climbing surges throw her 
 Deeper within the brine. 
 
 Foam-wreaths her last plank crown I 
 But, as the wild waves won her. 
 There stood the youthful gunner, 
 One last peal sent from on her, — 
 
 Then with his gun went down! 
 
 Osborne, 
 
62 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 THE SPIDER AND THE FLY. 
 " Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider 
 
 to the fly; 
 " ^Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever yoii did 
 
 spy; 
 
 The way into the parlor is up a winding stair. 
 And I have many a curious thing to show when 
 
 you are there!" 
 ^"^0, no, no!" said the little fly; " to ask me is in 
 
 vain, 
 For who goes up your winding stair can ne^er come 
 
 down again." 
 
 " I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring 
 
 up so high: 
 Will you rest upon my little bed ?" said the spider 
 
 to the fly; 
 ^^ There are pretty curtains drawn around, the 
 
 sheets are fine and thin, 
 And if you like to rest awhile, 1^11 snugly tuck you 
 
 in." 
 "0, no, no!" said the little fly; ^^for Fve often 
 
 heard it said, . 
 They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your 
 
 bed." 
 
 Said the cunning spider to the fly, ^^Dcar friend, 
 
 what can I do 
 To prove the warm affection I\'e always felt for 
 
 you? 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is for Jiiniors. 63 
 
 I have, within my pantry^ good store of all that's 
 
 nice; 
 I^m sure you^-e very welcome^ —will yon please to 
 
 take a slice ?'^ 
 '^0, no, no!'' said the little fly; '^ kind sir, that 
 
 cannot be; 
 I've heard what's in vour pantry, and I do not wish 
 
 to see/^ 
 
 *• Sweet creature/' said the spider, ^^ you're witty 
 
 and you^re wise; 
 How handsome are your gaudy wings, how brilliant 
 
 are your eyes! 
 I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf: 
 If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold 
 
 yourself/' 
 ^^I thank you, gentle sir," she said, ^^ for w^hat 
 
 you're pleased to say. 
 And, bidding you good-morrow now, I'll call 
 
 another day." 
 
 The spider turned him round about, and went into 
 
 his den. 
 For well he knew the silly fly would soon come 
 
 back again. 
 So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly. 
 And set his table ready to dine upon the fl5^ 
 
64 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Then he came out to his door again, and merrily 
 
 did sing, 
 '' Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl 
 
 and silver wing; 
 Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest 
 
 upon your head; 
 Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine 
 
 are dull as lead/^ 
 
 Alas! alas! how very soon this silly little fly, 
 Hearing his wily, flattering w^ords, came slowly 
 
 flitting by! 
 With buzzing wing,? she hung aloft, then near and 
 
 nearer drew. 
 Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and 
 
 purple hue; 
 Thinking only of her crested head, poor foolish 
 
 thing! At last 
 Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held 
 
 her fast. 
 
 He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dis- 
 mal den, 
 
 Within his little parlor, — but she ne'er came out 
 again ! 
 
 And now, my dear young pupils, who may this 
 story read. 
 
 To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er 
 give heed; 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. ^h 
 Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and 
 
 And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and 
 the fly. 
 
 Mary Hoivitt, 
 
 A HINDOO'S PARADISE. 
 
 A Hi:n"doo died, — a happy thing to do 
 When twenty years united to a shrew. 
 Released he hopefully for entrance cries 
 Before the gates of Brahma^s paradise. 
 '^ Hast been through purgatory ?'^ Brahma said. 
 
 " I have been married/^ — and he hung his head. 
 " Come in, come in, and welcome, too, my son ! 
 Marriage and purgatory are as one.^^ 
 In bliss extreme he entered heaven^s door. 
 And knew the peace he ne^er had known before. 
 
 He scarce had entered in the garden fair. 
 Another Hindoo asked admission there. 
 The self-same question Brahma asked again; 
 " Hast been through purgatory T' " No — what 
 
 then r 
 " Thou canst not enter !'^ did the God reply. 
 
66 Readings a7id Recitations for Jimiors. 
 
 '' He who went in was there no more than I.'^ 
 '' All that is true, but he has married been, 
 And so on earth has suffered for all sin/^ 
 "Married? ^Tis well; for I have been married 
 
 twice !^^ 
 ^' Be2:one! We'll have no fools in Paradise. 
 
 THE FOOL'S PRAYER. 
 
 The royal feast was done ; the King 
 Sought some new sport to banish care, 
 
 And to his jester cried, '^ Sir Fool, 
 
 Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!'^ 
 
 The jester doffed his cap and bells, 
 And stood the mocking court before; 
 
 They could not see the bitter smile 
 Behind the painted grin he wore. 
 
 He bowed his head, and bent his knee 
 Upon the monarch's silken stool ; 
 
 His pleading voice arose: '' Lord, 
 Be merciful to me, a fool ! 
 
 ^^No pity. Lord, could change the heart 
 From red with w^rong to white as wool; 
 
 The rod must heal the sin : but Lord, 
 Be merciful to me, a fool! 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jufiiors, 67 
 
 '' ^Tis not by guilt the onward sweep 
 Of truth and right, Lord, we stay; 
 
 ^Tis by our follies that so long 
 
 AVe hold the earth from heaven away. 
 
 ^^ These clumsy feet, still in the mire. 
 Go crushing blossoms without end; 
 
 These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust 
 Among the heart-strings of a friend. 
 
 " The ill-timed truth we might have kept — 
 Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung! 
 
 The word we had not sense to say — 
 Who knows how grandly it had rung! 
 
 " Our faults no tenderness should ask. 
 
 The chastening stripes must cleanse them all ; 
 
 But for our blunders — oh, in shame 
 Before the eyes of heaven we fall. 
 
 " Earth bears no balsam for mistakes; 
 
 Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool 
 That did his will; but Thou, Lord, 
 
 Be merciful to me, a fool V^ 
 
 The room was hushed; in silence rose 
 The King, and sought his gardens cool. 
 
 And walked apart, and murmured low, 
 " Be merciful to me, a fool V^ 
 
 Ed. R. SiIL 
 
68 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 THE BIRD AND THE BABY. 
 
 What does little birdie say- 
 In her nest at peep of day ? 
 "Let me fly/^ says little birdie. 
 Mother, let me fly away." 
 " Birdie, rest a little longer, 
 Till the little wings are stronger." 
 So it rests a little longer. 
 Then it flies away. 
 
 What does little baby say 
 In her bed at peep of day? 
 Baby says, like little birdie, 
 "Let me rise and fly away." 
 ^' Baby, sleep a little longer, 
 Till the little wings are stronger. 
 If she sleeps a little longer, 
 Baby too shall fly away." 
 
 Tennyson, 
 
 THE WIND AND THE MOON. 
 
 Said the Wind to the Moon, "I will blow you out; 
 
 You stare 
 
 In the air 
 
 Like a ghost in a chair. 
 Always looking what I am about — 
 I hate to be watched; 1^11 blow you out." 
 
 J 
 
Readi77gs and Recitations for Juniors. 69 
 
 The Wind blew hard^ and out went the Moon, 
 
 So deep 
 
 On a heap 
 
 Of cloudless sleep, 
 Down lay the Wind, and slumbered soon, 
 Muttering low, "V^q done for that Moon/^ 
 
 He turned in his bed; she w^as there again! 
 
 On high. 
 
 In the sky. 
 
 With her ghost eye. 
 The Moon shone white and alive and plain; 
 Said the Wind, ^^1^11 blow you cut again.'^ 
 
 The Wind blew hard, and the Moon grew dim : 
 
 ^^With my sledge. 
 
 And my wedge, 
 
 I have knocked off her edge! 
 If only I blow right fierce and grim, 
 The creature will soon be dimmer than dim/* 
 
 He blew and he blew, and she thinned to a thread; 
 
 ^^ One puff 
 
 More's enough 
 
 To blow her to snuff! 
 One good puff more where the last was bred. 
 And glimmer, glum will go the thread/^ 
 
70 Readings aftd Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 He blew a great blast, and the thread was gone 
 
 In the air; 
 
 Nowhere 
 
 Was a moonbeam bare ; 
 Far off and harmless the sky stars shone — 
 Sure and certain the Moon was gone ! 
 
 The Wind he took to his revels once more; 
 
 On down 
 
 In town. 
 
 Like a merry-mad clown, 
 He leaped and halloed with whistle and roar: 
 " What^s that T^ The glimmering thread once more ! 
 
 He flew in a rage — he danced and blew; 
 
 But in vain 
 
 Was the pain 
 
 Of his bursting brain ; 
 For still broader the moon-scrap grew. 
 The broader he sv\^elled his big cheeks and blew. 
 
 Slowly she grew — till she filled the night. 
 
 And shone 
 
 On her throne 
 
 In the sky alone, 
 A matchless, wonderful, silvery light, 
 Radiant and lovely, the queen of night. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 71 
 
 Said the Wind: "What a marvel of power am I ? 
 
 With my breath, 
 
 Good faith, 
 
 I blew her to death — 
 First blew her away right out of the sky — 
 Then blew her in; what strength have I ?^^ 
 
 But the Moon she knew nothing about the affair; 
 
 For high 
 
 In the sky, 
 
 With her one w^hite eye. 
 Motionless, miles above the air. 
 She had never heard the great Wind blare. 
 
 George Macdonald. 
 
 THE PET LAMB. 
 
 The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; 
 I heard a voice : it said, '' Drink, pretty creature, 
 
 drink r 
 And, looking o^er the hedge, before me I espied 
 A snow-white mountain lamb, with a maiden at its 
 
 side. 
 
 No other sheep were near ; the lamb was all alone, 
 And by a slender cord was tethered to a stone ; 
 
72 Readi?igs and Recitations for Juniors. , 
 
 With one knee on the grass did the little maiden 
 
 kneel, 
 While to that mountain lamb she gave its evening 
 
 meal. 
 
 " Rest, little one/^ she said; '' hast thou forgot the 
 
 day 
 When my father found thee first, in a place far 
 
 aw^y ? 
 Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned 
 
 by none. 
 And thy mother from thy side forevermore was 
 
 gone. 
 
 " Thou know^st that twice a day I have brought 
 
 thee in this can 
 Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran ; 
 And twice, too, in the day, when the ground is wet 
 
 with dew, 
 I bring thee draughts of milk — warm milk it is, 
 
 and new. 
 
 " Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they 
 
 are now; 
 Then Fll yoke thee to my cart, like a pony in the 
 
 plow: 
 My playmate thou shalt be ; and when the wind 
 
 is cold. 
 Our hearth shall be thy bed, our house shall be 
 
 thy fold. 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Juniors. 73 
 
 '' See, here thou need^st not fear the raven in the 
 
 . sky; 
 Both night and day thou^rt safe — our cottage is 
 
 hard by. 
 Why bleat so after me ? Why pull so at thy chain ? 
 Sleep, and at break of day I'll come to thee again/' 
 
 WordsiDorth, 
 
 AUCTIONING OFF THE BABY. 
 
 What am I offered for Baby ? 
 
 Dainty, dimpled, and sweet 
 From the curls above his forehead 
 
 To the beautifully rosy feet ; 
 From the tips of the wee pink fingers 
 
 To the light of the clear brown eye, 
 What am I offered for Baby ? 
 
 Who'll buy? who'll buy ? who'll buy? 
 
 What am I offered for Baby ? 
 
 ^^A shopful of sweets?" Ah, no! 
 That's too much beneath his value 
 
 Who is sweetest of all below! 
 The naughty, beautiful darling ! 
 
 One kiss from his rosy mouth 
 Is better than all the dainties 
 
 Of East, or West, or South! 
 
74 Readings and Recitations for Junioi's. 
 
 What am I offered for Baby ? 
 
 ^^ A pile of gold ?'' Ah^ dear, 
 Your gold is too hard and heavy 
 
 To purchase my brightness here. 
 Would the treasures of all the mountains. 
 
 Far in the wonderful lands. 
 Be worth the clinging and clasping 
 
 Of these dear little peach-bloom hands? 
 
 So, Avhat am I offered for Baby ? 
 
 ^^A rope of diamonds?^^ Nay, 
 If your brilliants were larger and brighter 
 
 Than stars in the Milky AVay, 
 Would they ever be half so precious 
 
 As the light of those lustrous eyes. 
 Still full of the heavenly glory 
 
 They brought from be3^ond the skies? 
 
 Then, what am I offered foi' Baby? 
 
 ^*^ A heart full of love and a kiss?^^ 
 Well, if anything ever could tempt me, 
 
 'Twould be such an offer as this! 
 But how can I know if your loving 
 
 Is tender, and true, and divine 
 Enough to repay what I^m giving 
 
 In selling this sweetheart of mine ? 
 
 So we will not sell the Baby ! 
 
 Your gold and gems and stuff. 
 Were they ever so rare and precious. 
 
 Would never be half enousfh ! 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 75 
 
 For what would we care, my dearies^ 
 
 What glory the world put on 
 If our beautiful darling were — going ; 
 
 If our beautiful darling were — gone! 
 
 PICTURES OF MEMORY. 
 Among the beautiful pictures 
 
 That hang on memory^s wall 
 Is one of a dim old forest 
 
 That seemeth best of all. 
 
 I once had a little brother, 
 
 With eyes that were dark and deep ; 
 In the lap of that dim old forest 
 
 He lieth in peace asleep. 
 
 Light as the down of the thistle, 
 Pree as the winds that blow, 
 
 We roved there the beautiful summers, 
 The summers of long ago ; 
 
 But his feet on the hills grew weary, 
 And one of the autumn eves, 
 
 I made for my little brother 
 A bed of the yellow leaves. 
 
 Sweetly his pale arms folded 
 My neck in a meek embrace. 
 
 As the light of immortal beauty 
 Silently covered his face ; 
 
76 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And when the arrows of sunset 
 Lodged in tlie tree-tops bright, 
 
 He fell, in his saint-like beauty, 
 Asleep by the gates of light. 
 
 Therefore, of all the pictures 
 That hang ou memory^s wall. 
 
 The one of the dim old forest 
 Seemeth the best of all. 
 
 Alice Cary, 
 
 THE FIRST SNOW-FALL. 
 
 The snow had begun in the gloaming, 
 
 And busily all the night 
 Had been heaping field and highway 
 
 With a silence deep and white. 
 
 Every pine aud fir and hemlock 
 Wore ermine too dear for an earl. 
 
 And the poorest twig on the elm tree 
 Was ridged inch-deep with pearl. 
 
 From sheds new-roofed with Carrara* 
 Came Chanticleer^s muffled crow ; 
 
 The stiff rails were softened to swan's down, 
 And still fluttered down the snow. 
 
 ■ A variety of marble very pure aud white. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors. 
 
 I stood and watched by the window 
 The noiseless work of the sky, 
 
 And the sudden flurries of snow-birds. 
 Like brown leaves whirling by. 
 
 I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn,^ 
 Where a little headstone stood, 
 
 How the flakes were folding it gently, 
 As did robins the babes in the w^ood. 
 
 Up spoke our own little Mabel, 
 
 Saying, *^ Father, who makes it snow?^^ 
 
 And I told of the good AH Father 
 Who cares for us here below. 
 
 Again I looked at the snow-fall. 
 And thought of the leaden sky 
 
 That arched o^er our first great sorrow. 
 When that mound was heaped so high. 
 
 I remembered the gradual patience 
 That fell from that cloud-like snow. 
 
 Flake by flake, healing and hiding 
 The scar of our deep-plunged woe. 
 
 And again to the child I whispered, 
 
 " The snow that husheth all. 
 Darling, the merciful Father 
 
 Alone can make it fall."" 
 
 * A cemetery near Boston. 
 
5 Readings and Recitatio7is for Juniors. 
 
 Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; 
 
 And she, kissing back, could not know 
 That my kiss was given to her sister. 
 
 Folded close under deepening snow. 
 
 James Russell Loiuelh 
 
 THE CHICKEN'S MISTAKE. 
 
 A LITTLE downy chick one day 
 
 Asked leave to go on the water. 
 Where she saw a duck with her brood at play 
 
 Swimming and splashing about her. 
 
 Indeed she began to peep and cry 
 When her mother wouldn't let her, 
 
 " If the ducks can swim there, why can^t I ? 
 Are they any bigger or better T' 
 
 Then the old hen answered, " Listen to me, 
 
 And hush your foolish talking. 
 Just look at your feet, and you will see 
 
 They were only made for walking.^^ 
 
 But chicky wistfully eyed the brook, 
 
 And didn^t half believe her. 
 For she seemed to say, by a knowing look. 
 
 Such stories couldn't deceive her. 
 
Readmgs and Recitations for Juniors. 79 
 
 And as her mother was scratching the ground^ 
 
 She muttered lower and lower, 
 " I know I can go there and not be drowned, 
 
 And so I think I'll show her/' 
 
 Then she made a plunge where the stream was 
 deep 
 
 And saw too late her blunder; 
 For she had hardly time to peep, 
 
 When her foolish head went under. 
 
 And now I hope her fate will show 
 
 The child my story reading, 
 That those who are older sometimes know 
 
 What you will do well in heeding. 
 
 So each content in his place should dwell. 
 
 And envy not his brother; 
 For any part that is acted well 
 
 Is just as good as another. 
 
 For we all have our proper spheres below. 
 And this is a truth worth knowing; 
 
 You will come to grief if you try to go 
 Where you never were made for going. 
 
 Phoebe Cary. 
 
80 Readi?igs and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 LETTING THE OLD CAT DIE. 
 
 Not long ago I wandered near 
 
 A playground in the wood ; 
 And there heard words from a youngster^s lips, 
 
 That I never quite understood. 
 
 " Now let the old cat die !"' he laughed; 
 
 I saw him give a push, 
 Then gaily scamper away as he spied 
 
 A face peep over the bush. 
 
 But what he pushed, or where he went, 
 
 I could not well make out, 
 On account of the thicket of bending boughs 
 
 That bordered the place about. 
 
 " The little villain has stoned a cat, 
 
 Or hung it upon a limb. 
 And left it to die all alone,^^ I said, 
 
 " But rU play the mischief with him.^^ 
 
 I forced my way through the bending boughs. 
 
 The poor old cat to seek. 
 And what did I find but a swinging child. 
 
 With her bright hair brushing her cheek! 
 
 Her bright hair floated to and fro. 
 
 Her little red dress flashed by; 
 But the loveliest thing of all, I thought. 
 
 Was the gleam of lier laughing eye. 
 
 K 
 
Readiiigs and Recitations for Juniors. 81 
 
 Swinging and swinging, back and forth, 
 
 With the rose-light in her face, 
 She seemed like a bird and flower in one. 
 
 And the forest her native place. 
 
 ^^ Steady! Til send yon np, my child, ^^ 
 
 Bnt she stopped me with a cry, 
 ^^Go Vay, go Vay! don^t tonch me, please; 
 
 I^m letting the old cat die/' 
 
 " YonVe letting him die!'^ I cried, aghast, 
 '' Why, whereas the cat, my dear ?'' 
 
 And lo, the langh that filled the wood 
 Was a thinsf for the birds to hear. 
 
 " Why, don't yon know ?" said the little maid. 
 
 The sparkling, beantifnl elf, 
 " That we call it letting the old cat die 
 
 When the swing stops all by itself." 
 
 Then swinging and swinging, and looking back, 
 With the merriest look in her eye. 
 
 She bade me good-bye, and I left her alone, 
 " Letting the old cat die." 
 
82 Readings and Recitatio7is fo7- Juniors. 
 
 THE KAISER'S FEAST. 
 
 The Kaiser feasted in his hall : 
 
 The red wine mantled liigh ; 
 Banners were trembling on the wall 
 
 To'the peals of minstrelsy; 
 And many a gleam and sparkle came 
 
 From the armor hung around, 
 As it caught the glance of the torches flame, 
 
 O'er the earth with palm-boughs crowned. 
 
 Why fell there silence on the chord 
 
 Beneath the harper's hand ? 
 And suddenly from that rich board 
 
 Why rose the wassail band ? 
 The strings were hushed: the knights made way 
 
 For the queenly mother^s tread. 
 As up the hall, in dark array, 
 
 Two fair-haired boys she led. 
 
 She led them e'en to the Kaiser's place, 
 
 And still before him stood ; 
 Till, with strange wonder o'er his face, ■ 
 
 Flushed the proud warrior-blood; 
 And ^^ Speak, my mother! speak!" he cried: 
 
 ^^ Wherefore this mourning vest? 
 And the clinging children by thy side 
 
 In weeds of sadness drest ?" 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 83 
 
 '' Well may a mourning vest be mine 
 
 And theirs, my son, my son! 
 Look at the features of thy line 
 
 In each fair little one. 
 Though grief a while within their eyes 
 
 Hath tamed the dancing glee, 
 Yet there thine own quick spirit lies, — 
 
 Thy brother's children see ! 
 
 ^^ And where is he, thy brother ? — where ? 
 
 He in thy home that grew. 
 And smilingly, with floating hair. 
 
 Ever to greet thee flew? 
 How would his arms thy neck intwine, 
 
 His fond lips press thy brow ! 
 My son! oh, call these orphans thine! 
 
 Thou hast no brother now. 
 
 ^^What! from their gentle eyes doth nought 
 
 Speak of thy childhood's hours. 
 And smite thee with a tender thought 
 
 Of thy dead father's towers ? 
 Kind was thy boyish heart, and true. 
 
 When reared together there: 
 Through the old woods like fawns ye flew. 
 
 Where is thy brother ? — where ? 
 
 '' Well didst thou love him then, and he 
 
 Still at thy side w^as seen. 
 How is it that such things can be 
 
 As though they ne'er had been ? 
 
84 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 Evil was this world^s breathy which came 
 
 Between the good and brave : 
 Now must the tears of grief and shame 
 
 Be offered to the grave. 
 
 '^And let them, let them there be poured! 
 
 Though all unfelt below, 
 Thine ovv^n wrung heart, to love restored. 
 
 Shall soften as they flow. 
 Oh! Death is mighty to make peace: 
 
 Now bid his work be done; 
 So many an inward strife shall cease; 
 
 Take, take these babes, my son V^ 
 
 His eye was dimmed; the strong man shook 
 
 With feelings long suppressed : 
 Up in his arms the boys he took, 
 
 And strained them to his breast. 
 And a shout from all in the royal hall 
 
 Burst forth to hail the sight; 
 And eyes were wet midst the brave that met 
 
 At the Kaiser^s feast that night. 
 
 4 
 
 PASSING AWAY-A DREAM. 
 
 Was it the chime of a tiny bell. 
 
 That came so sweet to my dreaming ear — 
 Like the silvery tones of a fairy^s shell, 
 
 That he winds on the beach so mellow and clear, 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors. 85 
 
 When the winds and the waves lie together asleep, 
 And the Moon and the Fairy are watching the deep, 
 She dispensing her silvery light, 
 And he, his notes as silvery quite. 
 While the boatman listens and slnps his oar. 
 To catch the music that comes from the shore — 
 Hark! the notes on my ear that play. 
 Are set to words: — as tliey float, they say, 
 
 ^^ Passing away! passing away !^^ 
 
 But no ; it was not a f airy^s shell 
 
 Blown on the beach so mellow and clear; 
 Nor was it the tongue of a silver bell. 
 Striking the hour, that filled my ear, 
 As I lay in my dream ; yet was it a chime 
 That told of the flow of the stream of time. 
 For a beautiful clock from the ceiling hung. 
 And a plump little girl for a pendulum swung 
 (As you've sometimes seen, in a little ring 
 That hangs in his cage, a Canary Bird swing;) 
 
 And she held to her bosom a budding bouquet, 
 And as she enjoyed it, she seemed to say, 
 
 ''^Passing away! passing away!'' 
 
 how bright were the wheels that told 
 
 Of the lapse of time, as they moved round slow ! 
 And the hands, as they swept o'er the dial of gold, 
 Seemed to point to the girl below. 
 And lo! she had changed: — in a few short hours 
 Her bouquet had become a garland of flowers. 
 
86 Readings and RecitatioJis fo?' Juniors. 
 
 That she held in her outstretclied hands, and flung 
 
 This way and that, as she dancing swung 
 
 In the fulness of grace and of womanly pride, 
 
 That told me she soon was to be a bride; — 
 
 Yet then, when expecting her happiest day. 
 
 In the same sw^eet voice I heard her say, 
 
 ^^ Passing away! passing away!" 
 
 While I gazed at that fair one^s cheek, a shade 
 
 Of thought, or care, stole softly over, 
 Like that by a cloud in a summer^s day made, 
 Looking down on a field of blossoming clover. 
 The rose yet lay on her cheek, but its flush 
 Had something lost of its brilliant blush; 
 And the light in her eye, and the light on the 
 wheels. 
 That marched so slowly round above her, 
 Was a little dimmed, — -as when Evening steals 
 Upon Noon's hot face. Yet one couldn't but 
 love her. 
 For she looked like a mother whose first babe lay 
 Kocked on her breast as she swung all day; 
 And she seemed, in the same silver tone, to say, 
 " Passing away ! passing away !" 
 
 While yet I looked, what a change there came! 
 
 Her eye was quenched, and her cheek was wan : 
 Stooping and staffed was her withered frame, 
 
 Yet just as busily swung she on; 
 
 \ 
 
Readmgs and Recitations for Jimiors. 87 
 
 The garland beneath her had fallen to dust, 
 The wheels above her were eaten w-ith rust, 
 The hands, that o'er the dial swept, 
 Grew crooked and tarnished, but on they kept, 
 And still there came that silver tone 
 From the shrivelled lips of the toothless crone, — 
 (Let me never forget till my djdng day 
 The tone or the burden of her lay,) 
 
 " Passing away! passing away I'^ 
 
 CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST. 
 
 Fear was within the tossing bark 
 When stormy winds grew loud^ 
 
 And waves came rolling high and dark. 
 And the tall mast was bowed. 
 
 And men stood breathless in their dread. 
 
 And baffled in their skill ; 
 But One was there, who rose and said 
 
 To the wild sea, Be still ! 
 
 And the wind ceased — it ceased! That word 
 Passed through the gloomy sky ; 
 
 The troubled billows knew their Lord, 
 And fell beneath His eye. 
 
88 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And slumber settled on the deep^ 
 
 And silence on the blast; 
 They sank^ as flowers that fold to sleep 
 
 When sultry day is past. 
 
 Thou ! that in its wildest hour 
 Didst rule the tempest^s mood, 
 
 Send thy meek spirit forth in power, 
 Soft on our souls to brood ! 
 
 Thou that didst bow the billows' pride 
 
 Thy mandate to fulfil ! 
 Oh, speak to passion^'s raging tide. 
 
 Speak, and say. Peace be still ! 
 
 THERE IS NO DEATH. 
 
 There is no death ! The stars go down 
 To rise upon some fairer shore ; 
 
 And bright in heaven's jewelled crown 
 They shine forever more. 
 
 There is no death ! The dust we tread 
 Shall change beneath the summer showers 
 
 To golden grain, or mellow fruit. 
 Or rainbow-tinted flowers. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 89 
 
 The granite rocks disorganize 
 
 To feed the hungry moss they bear, 
 
 The leaves drink daily life 
 From out tlie viewless air. 
 
 There is no death ! The leaves may fall. 
 The flowers may fall and pass away; 
 
 They only wait through wintry hours 
 The coming of the May. 
 
 There is no death I An angel form 
 Walks o^er the earth with silent tread, 
 
 He bears our best-loved things away ; 
 And then we call them " dead.^^ 
 
 He leaves our hearts all desolate ; 
 
 He plucks our fairest^ sweetest flowers ; 
 Transported into bliss^ they now 
 
 Adorn immortal bowers. 
 
 The bird-like voice, whose joyous tones 
 Make glad these scenes of sin and strife. 
 
 Sings now an everlasting song 
 Amid the tree of life. 
 
 And when he sees a smile too bright 
 Or heart too pure for taint and vice, 
 
 He bears it to th'a't world of light, 
 To dwell in Paradise. 
 
90 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Born unto that undying life. 
 
 They leave us but to come again ; 
 
 With joy we welcome them — the same. 
 Except in sin and pain. 
 
 And ever near us, though unseen, 
 The dear immortal spirits tread : 
 
 For all the boundless universe 
 Is life — there are no dead ! 
 
 Sir Edward Bidioer Lytton. 
 
 SCANDAL. 
 A W0MA2^ to the holy father went, 
 (Confession of her sin was her intent,) 
 ' And owned that she a tale-bearer had been. 
 And bore a bit of scandal up and down 
 To all the long-tongued gossips in the town. 
 He told her 'this offence was very grave. 
 And that to do fit penance she must go 
 Out by the wayside where the thistles grow. 
 And gathering the largest, ripest one. 
 Scatter its seeds, and that when this was done. 
 She must come back again another day 
 To tell him his commands she did obey. 
 The woman, thinking this was penance light. 
 Hastened to do his will that very night. 
 Feeling right glad she had escaped so well. 
 Next day but one she went the priest to tell. 
 
Readifigs and Recitatiojis fo7' Juniors. 91 
 
 The priest sat still and heard her story through, 
 Then said^ " There^s something still for you to do; 
 Those little thistle-seeds which you have sown, 
 I bid you go re-gather every one/^ 
 The woman said : " But, father, ^twould be vain 
 To try to gather up those seeds again ; 
 The winds have scattered them both far and wide, 
 Over the meadowed vale and mountain-side/^ 
 The father answered, " Now I hope from this 
 The lesson I have taught you will not miss ; 
 You cannot gather back the scattered seeds, 
 "Which far and wide will grow to noxious weeds, 
 Xor can the mischief once by scandal sown 
 By any penance be again undone/^ 
 
 Mary E. C. Johnson. 
 
 HATEM TOI. 
 Hatem Toi possessed a mare. 
 Fleet of foot, of lineage rare. 
 Black as midnight, strong of limb. 
 Fond as child could be of him; 
 Every sheik and chieftain there 
 Envied Hatem Toi his mare. 
 
 Sullali Beg the mare admired; 
 SuUah Beg the mare desired ; 
 Offered for her shining gold. 
 Many camels, goats from fold. 
 
92 Readings and Recitatioiis for Jicniors. 
 
 All the greed of man could stir. 
 Should her owner part with her. 
 
 Came reply: "\ may not sell 
 Her who serves my need so well. 
 Born and bred within my tent. 
 Going where her master went, 
 Children's playmate, master's friend. 
 Let her be so to the end/' 
 
 Sullah Beg, with anger hot. 
 Glanced a while, but answered not; 
 Turned on heel and strode away. 
 Where was tethered courser gray. 
 And, in mounting, muttered, ^^She, 
 Spite her owner, mine shall be/- 
 
 Hatem Toi a journey made 
 From the friendly palm-tree's shade. 
 Through the barren rocks and sand. 
 Speeding o'er the higher land. 
 Free from trouble, grief, or care. 
 Mounted on his matchless mare. 
 
 Moving merrily, mile on mile. 
 Came he to a deep defile. 
 Where an aged wretch he found 
 Prone, exhausted on the ground; 
 And, dismounting, asked what aid 
 In his need could best be made. 
 
 ( 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 93 
 
 Quoth the stranger: "Pass, and leave 
 One whose dying none shall grieve. 
 Started I this morn to go 
 To yon fertile plain below; 
 But my feet have failed me. I, 
 Old and wearied, here must die.''^ 
 
 ^^NayP^ cried Hatem. *^I am young: 
 Age has not my limbs unstrung. 
 Let me lift you on my mare, 
 Who can well the burden bear. 
 Light and easy you shall ride. 
 While I careful walk beside.^^ 
 
 Thanked him then the stranger, and 
 Helped to seat by kindly hand, 
 Grasped the reins and reined the mare, 
 Till she reared and pawed the air; 
 Lashed her sudden till she leapt. 
 And away from Hatem swept. 
 
 Off went wig and caftan straight. 
 There sat Sullah Beg, elate; 
 And, with look of savage joy. 
 This he said to Hatem Toi: 
 '^ Though no purchase gold may make, 
 Strength retains what wit may take.'^ 
 
 "StayP^ replied the other, next. 
 " Do not think me sorely vext. 
 
94 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Thine the brute shall freely be 
 
 AVith one favor given to me : 
 
 Let no mortal ever wis 
 
 How you gained her. Grant me this/' 
 
 " Ha!'' said Sullali Beg and laughed. 
 '^ Lose all credit for my craft ?" 
 " No!" the other said, " not so! 
 But, lest future tale of woe 
 May be reckoned as a lie, 
 And some wretch unaided die!" 
 
 Sullah Beg from saddle leapt; 
 Straight to Hatem Toi he stept; 
 Gave him reins in hand, and said, 
 While he reverent bent his head: 
 ^^ For thy pardon low 1 bend. 
 Be my brother and my friend!" 
 
 Thomas Dunn English. 
 
 ONE OF THE HEROES. 
 
 Hark ! through the wild night's darkness rings 
 
 out a terrible cry. 
 And the woman shudders to liear it in the room 
 
 up close to the sky; 
 ^^Fire!" in accents of terror, and voices the cry 
 
 repeat. 
 And the fire-bells join in the clamor out in the 
 
 stormy street. 
 
Readings a?id Recitations for Juniors. 95 
 
 '' God grant we are safe, my darling r"* she says to 
 
 the child in her arms. 
 While the voices far down in the darkness add to 
 
 the belFs alarms; 
 Then she thinks of the two little children who 
 
 are sleeping peacefully near. 
 And " God pity the people in danger/^ she adds 
 
 with a thrill of fear. 
 
 The voices ring louder and louder. She hears the 
 
 swift tread of feet, 
 And the sound of engines rumbling below in the 
 
 stormy street. 
 ^''' It must be the fire is near us.^* She listens: a 
 
 step on the stair; 
 Then the door is flung wide, and beyond it she 
 
 sees the red flames^ glare. 
 
 " Give me the child P cries tl:ie fireman. " There^'s 
 
 not a moment to spare !^^ 
 The flames like a glittering serpent are writhing 
 
 up the stair. 
 " No, I will carry my baby I'^ and then she jooints 
 
 to the bed 
 Where the light from the hall shines brightly over 
 
 a golden head. 
 
 One little head on the pillow, — one only, — the 
 
 fireman sees, 
 With flossy curls stirring about it in the breath of 
 
 the fiery breeze. 
 
96 Readings and Recitations for Juiiiors. 
 
 He lifts the child, while the other is cuddled away 
 from sio'ht, 
 
 And springs down the stair where the flame- 
 hounds snarl after their prey in its flight. 
 
 On, on, through the fire that leaps round him as a 
 
 swimmer breasts the wave. 
 Scorched, and blind, and breathless, to find escape 
 
 or a grave! 
 On through the fiery whirlpool till at last he gains 
 
 the street. 
 Thank God! and lays down his burden safe at the 
 
 mother^s feet. 
 
 '^ One! onlyo7^e?^^ she cries wildly. ^^ You have 
 
 left the other to die!^^ 
 Oh, the terrible, terrible anguish that rings in the 
 
 mother^scry! 
 "^^7 will save you, my child, or die with you!" and, 
 
 maddened by lovers despair, 
 Slie puts her babe from her bosom, and springs 
 
 toward the flame-wreathed stair. 
 
 ^^ You shall not go!'^ he tells her, and holds her 
 
 back from death, 
 "I left your child, — I will save it,— if I can.'' 
 
 Then catching his breath 
 For the terrible task before him, he leaps up the 
 
 lurid way. 
 " God help him!" the awed crowd whispers. '^He 
 
 goes to his death," they say. 
 
Readings a7id Recitatio7is for Junio7's. 97 
 
 Moments that seem like ages go by and he comes 
 not back. 
 
 The flames leap higher and higher. The frail 
 walls sway and crack. 
 
 '^Oh^ my lost little child T' cries the mother^ for- 
 getting the babes at her breast^ 
 
 In this moment of awful anguish she loveth the 
 lost child best. 
 
 Up from the crowd, all breathless with hope and 
 
 doubt and fear, 
 Goes a cry: ^^ Thank God^ he's coming with the 
 
 child!'" and cheer on cheer 
 Rings through the nighty blending strangely with 
 
 the wind and the wild flames' roar. 
 As out of the tottering building the fireman 
 
 springs once more. 
 
 Straight to the mother he staggers with the res- 
 cued child and cries : 
 
 ^^I left him, and I have saved him!" and the 
 hero looks out of his eyes; 
 
 Then he falls at her feet; they crowd round him^ 
 and lift his drooping head. 
 
 ^^I — saved — the — child," he whispers^ — a gasp — 
 and the hero is dead. 
 
 Ehen E. Rexforcl 
 
08 Readmgs and Recitatiofis for Juniors. 
 
 THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. 
 Between the dark and the daylight, 
 
 When the night is beginning to lower. 
 Comes a pause in the day^s occupations, 
 
 That is known as the Children's Hour. 
 
 I hear in the chamber above me 
 
 The patter of little feet. 
 The sound of a door that is opened. 
 
 And voices soft and sweet. 
 
 From my study I see in the lamplight. 
 Descending the broad hsill stair. 
 
 Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, 
 And Edith with golden hair. 
 
 A whisper, and then a silence: 
 Yet I know by their merry eyes 
 
 They are plotting and planning together. 
 To take me by surprise. 
 
 A sudden rush from the stairway, 
 A sudden raid from the hall! 
 
 By three doors left unguarded 
 They enter my castle wall! 
 
 They climb up into my turret. 
 
 O'er the arms and back of my chair. 
 
 If I try to escape, they surround me; 
 They seem to be everywhere. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors. 99 
 
 Thej almost devour me with kisses, 
 
 Their arms about me entwine, 
 Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen 
 
 In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! 
 
 Do you think, blue-ejed banditti, 
 Because you have scaled the wall, 
 
 Such an old mustache as I am 
 Is not a match for you all ! 
 
 I have you fast in my fortress, 
 
 And will not let you depart, 
 But put you down into the dungeon 
 
 In the round-tower of my heart. 
 
 And there will I keep you forever. 
 
 Yes, forever and a day. 
 Till the walls shall crumble to rain. 
 
 And moulder in dust away. 
 
 Longfelloiu, 
 
 LITTLE GOLDENHAIR.i 
 GoLDEXHAiR climbed upon grand papa^s knee. 
 Dear little Goldenhair! tired was she; 
 All the day busy, as busy could be. 
 
 ^ Imitation of child-voice, high pitch, f^mall volume o£ 
 tone. 
 
100 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Up in the morning, as soon as ^twas light, 
 Out with the birds and butterflies bright, 
 Skipping about till the coming of night. 
 
 Grandpapa toyed with the curls on her head, 
 " What has my darling been doing,^^ he said, 
 " Since she arose with the sun from her bed 'f 
 
 ^' Pitty much,^^ answered the sweet little one. 
 "I cannot tell so much things I have doue. 
 Plaj^ed with my dolly, and f ceded my Bun; 
 
 ^^ And then I jumped with my little jump-rope; 
 And I made, out of some water and soap, 
 Bootiful worlds, mammals castles of hope. 
 
 '' I afterward readed in my picture-book; 
 
 And Bella and I we went down to look 
 
 For smooth little stones by the side of the brook. 
 
 "And then I comed home and eated my tea; 
 And I climbed up on grandpapa^s knee; 
 And I jes as tired as tired can be.^' 
 
 Lower and lower the little head pressed. 
 Until it dropped upon grandpapa's breast. 
 Dear little Goldenhair, sweet be thy rest! 
 
 We are but children. The things that we do 
 Are as sports of a babe to the Infinite view 
 That marks all our weakness, and pities it, too. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 101 
 
 God grant that when night overshadows our way, 
 And we shall be called to account for our day, 
 He may find us as guileless as Goldenhair lay. 
 
 And oh, when aweary, may ii^e be so blest^ 
 As to sink like the innocent child to our rest, 
 And feel ourselves clasped to the Infinite breast! 
 
 RESPECT FOR THE AGED. 
 
 It happened at Athens, during a public repre- 
 sentation of some play, exhibited in honor of the 
 State, that an old gentleman came too late for a 
 place suitable to his age and quality. 
 
 A number of young men, who observed the dif- 
 ficulty and confusion the poor old gentleman was 
 in, made signs to him that they would accommo- 
 date him, if he came where they sat. 
 
 The good man bustled through the crowd 
 accordingly; but w^hen he came to the seats to 
 which he was invited, the jest among the young 
 fellows was, to sit close, and expose the confusion 
 and embarrassment of the old man to the gaze of 
 the whole audience. 
 
 The frolic went round all the benches reserved 
 for the Athenians. But on those occasions there 
 were also particular places set apart for strangers. 
 
 When the good man, covered with confusion. 
 
102 Readings and Recitations fo?' Juniors. 
 
 came toward the boxes appointed for the Lace- 
 demonians^ these honest, though less instructed 
 people, rose from their seats, and, with thegreat- 
 t3st respect, received the old gentleman among 
 them. 
 
 The Athenians, being suddenly touched with a 
 sense of the Lacedemonians^ virtue and their own 
 misconduct, gave a thunder of applause; and the 
 old man cried out, ^^The Athenians understand 
 what is good, but the Lacedemonians '^ractise it/' 
 
 Addison. 
 
 HOME. 
 
 ^^ Where is thy home ?" I asked a child 
 
 AVho in the morning air 
 Was twining flowers most sweet and wild 
 
 In garlands for her hair. 
 
 ^' My home/' the happy heart replied. 
 
 And smiled in childish glee, 
 ^' Is on the sunny mountain side, 
 
 Or where I chance to be.'' 
 
 Oh! blessings fall on artless youth. 
 
 And all its rosy hours, 
 When every word is joy and truth. 
 
 Its home among the flowers. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jwiiors. 103 
 
 " Where is tliy home ? thou lonely man/' 
 
 I asked a pilgrim grey^ 
 Who came, with furrowed brow and wan, 
 
 Slow musing on his way. 
 
 He paused, and with a solemn mien 
 
 Upturned his holy eyes ; 
 '•^The Lmd I seek thou ne'er hast seen, 
 
 My home is in the skies/' 
 
 Oh! blest — thrice blest the heart must be 
 To whom such thoughts are given, 
 
 That walks from worldly fetters free, — 
 Its only home in heaven ! 
 
 WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 
 Great King William spread before him 
 
 All his stores of wealth untold, — 
 Diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. 
 
 Heaps on heaps of minted gold. 
 Mournfully he gazed upon it 
 
 As it glittered in the sun. 
 Sighing to himself, ^^0 treasure! 
 
 Held in care, by sorrow won! 
 Millions think me rich and happy; 
 
 But, alas ! before me piled, 
 I would give thee ten times over 
 
 For the slumbers of a child V^ 
 
104 Readings and Recitations fo7' j2miors. 
 
 Great King William fi-om his turret 
 
 Heard the martial trumpets blow, 
 Saw the crimson banners floating 
 
 Of a countless host below; 
 Saw their weapons flash in sunlight, 
 
 As the squadrons trod the sward; 
 And he sighed, " mighty army, 
 
 Hear thy miserable lord : 
 At my word thy legions gather — 
 
 At my nod thy captains bend ; 
 But, with all thy power and splendor, 
 
 I would give thee for a friend!'' 
 
 Great King William stood on Windsor, 
 
 Looking, from its castled height, 
 O^er his wide-spread realm of England 
 
 Glittering in the morning light; 
 Looking on the tranquil river 
 
 And the forest waving free. 
 And he sighed, " land of beauty. 
 
 Fondled by the circling seal 
 Mine thou art, but I would yield thee 
 
 And be happy, could I gain. 
 In exchange, a peasant's garden, 
 
 And a conscience free from stain!'' 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Juniors. 105 
 
 THE LEGEND OF ST. FREDA. 
 There once was an ancient city 
 
 Beside the silvery sea^, 
 Where the white ships lay at anchor^ 
 
 And the glad waves tossed in glee. 
 
 And down by the wharves the houses 
 
 Were low, and dark, and small; 
 But beyond, the streets were spacious 
 
 And the mansions grand and tall. 
 • 
 Here loathsome vice was hidden, 
 
 There virtue walked secure; 
 And those were the homes of the wealthy, 
 
 And these were the haunts of the poor. 
 
 In a dark and lonely garret 
 
 Where the sunlight^s radiant flame 
 
 Through the narrow cobwebbed windows 
 Feebly and faintly came, 
 
 Alone in the rosy morning, 
 
 Alone in the tw^ilight shade. 
 With God and her precious lily 
 
 Dwelt a little orphan maid. 
 
 All day through the crowded city 
 
 She begged her bitter bread. 
 And at night in the lonely garret 
 
 She laid her weary head. 
 
106 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And as one eve she lingered 
 
 By the old cathedral grim. 
 Where swelled the organ's music 
 
 And rang the holy hymn, 
 
 Amid -'^e roll of anthems. 
 
 And v/ailing of the psalms. 
 She heard the old priest pleading, 
 
 '' Bring, bring to the Lord thine almsl^^ 
 
 Through sounding aisles and arches, 
 
 It rang like a trumpet call; 
 '* Who gives to the dear Lord Jesus 
 
 Theholiestgift of all?'' 
 
 " I am small and poor,'' said Fredr., 
 
 " No offering can I bring 
 Save my flower, within w^hose petals 
 
 Are folded angel's wnngs, — 
 
 " My lily, with snow-w^hite blossoms. 
 And green leaves arching o'er; 
 
 But life will be darker than ever 
 When it blooms for me no more/' 
 
 The wind from the distant forest 
 Came with a dirge-like moan, 
 
 " Why should I fear?" said Freda, 
 ''Will the Lord not keep His own?" 
 
Readmgs and Recitations for Juniors. 107 
 
 Then home she ran through the darkness. 
 And out from the garret's gloom 
 
 She brought her beautiful lily 
 With its fragrant, rare perfume. 
 
 Her eyes were sadly tearful 
 
 As she passed thro^ the wondering throng, 
 But she thought of the holy Saviour, 
 
 And her fainting heart grew strong. 
 
 And she said, while her blue eyes brightened 
 
 With the light of a love divine, 
 ^' I give to the dear Lord Jesus 
 
 The only treasure mine !^' 
 
 Gold gleamed upon the altar 
 
 And gems of richest cost, 
 But the priest said, bending reverent, 
 
 ^^This child has given the most!^' 
 
 Then lo, a beauteous marvel! 
 
 The dew-drops pearls became; 
 Each flower was a golden lily, 
 
 Each leaf was a leaf of flame; 
 
 And there beside the altar 
 
 The Christ-child seemed to stand. 
 
 And the crown reserved for the sainted 
 Gleamed bright within His hand. 
 
108 Readings and Recitatio7is for Junio7'S. 
 
 And His voiae in silvery accents 
 
 Eang through the lofty hall: 
 ^^ A crown of light for Freda 
 
 Who gives to the Lord her all ! ^' 
 
 Ah ! richer than gold or silver, 
 
 And wealth and rank above. 
 In the sight of the dear Lord Jesus 
 
 Is a child's unsullied love. 
 
 With heavenly store forever 
 
 Doth He repay our gifts. 
 And when we take our burden 
 
 Its weight from our hearts He lifts. 
 
 For thorns He gives us roses, 
 
 Bright smiles for earth^s cold frowns; 
 
 For moans the harp^s glad music, 
 And for crosses golden crowns! 
 
 wall D. Hohart, 
 
 THE ICE-FLOWER ON MOUNT CENIS. 
 Where the snow lies deepest, by the frozen lake, 
 There the lovely ice-flower doth her station take; 
 Spreading wide her mantle of delicious blue, 
 Not the midnight heavens boast a deeper hue. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jujiiors. 109 
 
 I had climbed the mountain^ leaving with a sigh 
 Chestnut woods and vineyards^ and a southern sky; 
 Matchless charms resigning, nevermore to see. 
 When, with sweet surjorisal, fell my eyes on thee. 
 
 Strange thy choice, bright flower, thus 'mid ice to 
 
 bloom. 
 Shedding life and gladness here, where all is 
 
 gloom : 
 Had the earth no hedgerow, garden, or parterre, 
 Warmer, kindlier shelter for a thing so fair? 
 
 Did no sunbeams linger in the vale below? 
 Seemed their shining brighter here, amid the 
 
 snow? 
 Or, with lavish sweetness, wouldst thou fling thy 
 
 store 
 Like a royal giver at the poorest door? 
 
 Dear to me our meeting, and the thoughts it 
 
 brings. 
 Memories and fancies, sweet imaginings; 
 Pictures of a friendship not in thoughtless youth. 
 But in sadder manhood when we love in truth. 
 
 Deeper and intenser are the ties that bind 
 Hearts whom kindred natures late have chanced 
 to find; 
 
110 Readings and Recitations for Jicniors. 
 
 Life, it may be, waning, youth long past — when 
 
 lo! 
 One last, precious blossom greets us from the 
 
 snow. 
 
 In the rock fast rooted it hath found its stay; 
 Mortal hand shall never tear those roots away: 
 Still through frost and tempest it will yield its 
 
 bloom, 
 And its choicest beauty wreathe around the tomb. 
 
 Songs in the Night, 
 
 THE PATTER OF LITTLE FEET. 
 
 Over my head, in the morning early, 
 
 I heard the patter of little feet. 
 Rising above the hurly-burly 
 
 Out in the fast-awakening street. 
 I like my nap in the morning early, — 
 
 That drowsy, sleeping, waking time, — 
 And am apt to give way to a touch of the surly 
 
 With one who breaks on its soothing rhyme. 
 
 And so this morn, when I heard the clatter, 
 
 I turned uneasily in my bed, 
 And bothered my brain to guess the matter 
 
 With the little ones pattering over my head. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. Ill 
 
 My nap was gone, and in humor sulky 
 I stretched a loud and imperious yawn^ 
 
 And then, with a word both big and bulky, 
 I blessed the hour those babes were born. 
 
 With a knitted brow and a hasty toilet, 
 
 I made up my mind as I mounted the stairs 
 Whatever the fun, I w^ould quickly spoil it 
 
 By coming upon them unawares. 
 I never had seen my top-floor neighbors ; 
 
 This only I knew, that the tidy house. 
 Save and except for those infantine labors. 
 
 Was silent and still as a baby-mouse. 
 
 I knocked at the door, and a moment waited; 
 
 The noise was hushed to a whispered word; 
 The patter of little feet abated. 
 
 And a tiny hand on the knob I heard. 
 The door, with a labored opening, started. 
 
 And full in its light a vision appeared. 
 That carried my heart to the days departed. 
 
 And to one to whom it was ever endeared. 
 
 Oh, vision of life in the darkened palace 
 
 Where I have enshrined the one of my love! 
 
 What vestige remained of the wrath and malice 
 I threatened to wreak on the noise above? 
 
112 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 What memoried thought is the one I am meeting? 
 
 What hands are they stretched as I entered the 
 door? 
 *^ Are you my papa?^^ was the baby-like greeting; 
 
 '' Are you my papa^ come home from the war?^' 
 
 ^' 1^0, darling/^ I said^ with a choking emotion, 
 " I am not your papa, come home from the war; 
 
 I am only a waif on the fathomless ocean. 
 With no one to love me the weary world o^'er." 
 
 ^'^I will love you myself — you shall be my papa/'' 
 And I caught the sweet child with the wonder- 
 ing eyes 
 
 Up close to my breast where the memories are. 
 
 Oh, where was my heart as I lay in bed dozing, 
 And the noise overhead could not quicken its 
 beat? 
 The chambers of memory surely were closing 
 When no entrance was found for those dear 
 little feet; 
 For had I the riches we read of in story, 
 
 I would give up the whole to sweep away years — 
 
 To bring back the pleasure, the wealth, and the 
 
 glory, 
 
 The patter of dear little feet to my ears. 
 
 J, W. Watson, 
 
Readh2gs and Recitatiofis for Juniors. 113 
 
 A NURSERY TALE. 
 Oh ! did you not hear in your nursery 
 
 The tale that the gossips tell, 
 Of the two young girls that came to drink 
 
 At a certain Fairy well ? 
 The words of the youngest were as sweet 
 
 As the smile of her ruby lip, 
 But the tongue of the eldest seemed to moYe 
 . As if venom were on its tip ! 
 
 At the well a beggar accosted them 
 
 (A sprite in a mean disguise) ; 
 The eldest rebuked her with scornful brow, 
 
 That brought tears in her sister^s eyes. 
 Cried the Fairy, '' Whenever you speak, sweet girl. 
 
 Pure gems from your lips shall fall. 
 But whenever you utter a word, proud maid. 
 
 From your tongue shall a serpent crawl/^ 
 
 And have you noc met with those sisters oft 
 
 In the haunts of the old and young ? 
 The^r^^ with her pure and unsullied lip ? 
 
 The last with her serpent tongue? 
 Yes — \kiQ first is Kikdjstess, and diamonds bright 
 
 On the darkest theme she throws; 
 And the last is Sla:n^der — leaving the slime 
 
 Of the snake wherever she goes ! 
 
 T, H, Bayly. 
 
114 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 SANTA CLAUS AND THE MOUSE. 
 
 One Christmas eve^ when Santa Claus 
 
 Came to a certain house. 
 To fill the children's stockings there, 
 
 He found a little mouse. 
 
 '' A merry Christmas, little friend/' 
 
 Said Santa, good and kind. 
 " The same to you, sir !'' said the mouse, 
 
 *^ I thought you wouldn't mind 
 
 '^If I should stay awake to-night. 
 And watch you for a while.'' 
 
 " You're very welcome, little mouse," 
 Said Santa, with a smile. 
 
 And then he filled the stockings up. 
 Before the mouse could wink, — 
 
 From toe to top, from top to toe. 
 There wasn't left a chink. 
 
 " Now, they won't hold another thing," 
 
 Said Santa Claus with pride. 
 A twinkle came in mousie's eyes. 
 
 But humbly he replied: 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 115 
 
 '^ It's not polite to contradict — 
 
 Your pardon I implore^ — 
 But in the fullest stocking there, 
 
 I could put one thing more/^ 
 
 '' Oh, ho V^ laughed Santa, " silly mouse! 
 
 Don^t I know how to pack ? 
 By filling stockings all these years, 
 
 I should have learned the knack/^ 
 
 And then he took the stocking down 
 
 From where it hung so high. 
 And said: " Now put in one thing more; 
 
 I give you leave to try/^ 
 
 The mousie chuckled to himself, 
 
 And then he softly stole 
 Eight to the stocking's crowded 'toe. 
 
 And gnawed a little hole ! 
 
 •^Now, if you please, good Santa Glaus, 
 
 I've put in one thing more; 
 For you will own, that little hole 
 
 Was not in there before." 
 
 How Santa Glaus did laugh and laugh! 
 
 And then he gaily spoke; 
 ^^ Well, you shall have a Ghristmas cheese 
 
 For that nice little joke!" 
 
116 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 BARBARA FRIETCHIE. 
 
 Up from the meadows rich with corn, 
 Clear in the cool September morn, 
 
 The clustered spires of Frederick stand, 
 Green-walled by the hills of Maryland. 
 
 Round about them orchards sweep, 
 Apple and peach tree fruited deep. 
 
 Fair as a garden of the Lord 
 
 To the eyes of the famished Rebel horde. 
 
 On that pleasant morn of the early fall 
 
 When Lee marched over the mountain wall,- 
 
 Over the mountains, winding down. 
 Horse and foot into Frederick town, — 
 
 Forty flags with their silver stars. 
 Forty flags with their crimson bars. 
 
 Flapped m the morning wind; the sun 
 Of noon looked down, and saw not one. 
 
 Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, 
 
 Bowed with her four score years and ten; 
 
 Bravest of all in Frederick town, 
 
 She took up the flag the men hauled down. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 117 
 
 In her attic-window the staff she set^ 
 To show that one heart Avas loyal yet. 
 
 Up the street came the rebel tread^ 
 Stonewall Jackson riding ahead. 
 
 Under his slouched hat left and right 
 He glanced: the old flag met his sight. 
 
 ^^Halt!^^ — the dnst-brown ranks stood fast; 
 " Fire !'^ — out blazed the rifle blast. 
 
 It shivered the window, pane and sash; 
 It rent the banner with seam and gash, 
 
 Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff 
 Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf. 
 
 She leaned far out on the window sill. 
 And shook it forth with a royal will. 
 
 " Shoot, if you must, this old gray head. 
 But spare your country's flag,^^ she said. 
 
 A shade of sadness, a blush of shame. 
 Over the face of the leader came; 
 
 The nobler nature within him stirred 
 To life at that woman^s deed and word : 
 
 " Who touches a hair of yon gray head 
 Dies like a dog! Marc^ onP^ he said. 
 
118 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 All day long through Frederick street 
 Sounded the tread of marching feet; 
 
 All day long that free flag tost 
 Over the heads of the rebel host, 
 
 Ever its torn folds rose and fell 
 
 On the loyal winds that loved it well; 
 
 And through the hill gaps sunset light 
 Shone over it with a warm good-night. 
 
 Barbara Frietchie's work is o^er, 
 
 And the rebel rides on his raids no more. 
 
 Honor to her! and let a tear^ 
 
 Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier. 
 
 Over Barbara Frietchie^s grave. 
 Flag of freedom and union, wave! 
 
 Peace and order and beauty draw 
 Bound thy symbol of light and law; 
 
 And ever the stars above look down 
 On thy stars below in Frederick town! 
 
 Jolm Greenleaf Whit tier. 
 
Readings a7id Recitations for Juniors. 119 
 
 KEEPING HIS WORD. 
 
 " Only a penny a box/' he said ; 
 But the gentleman turned away his head, 
 As if he shrank from the squalid sight 
 Of the boy who stood in the falling light. 
 
 " Oh^ sir r he stammered, " you cannot know ^' 
 (And he brushed from his matches the flakes of 
 
 snow, 
 That the sudden tear might have chance to fall.) 
 " Or I think — I think you would take them all. 
 
 '^ Hungry and cold at our garret-pane, 
 Euby will watch till I come again. 
 Bringing the loaf. The sun has set. 
 And he hasn't a crumb of breakfast yet. 
 
 '' One penny, and then I can buy the bread !'' 
 The gentleman stopped: ^^ And you ?'' he said; 
 " /—I can put up with them — hunger and cold, 
 But Euby is only five years old. 
 
 ^^I promised our mother before she went — 
 She knew I would do it, and died content — 
 I promised her, sir, through best, through worst, 
 I always would think of Kuby first/' 
 
 The gentleman paused at his open door, 
 Such tales he had often heard before; 
 But he fumbled his purse in the twilight drear, 
 " I have nothing less than a shilling here." 
 
] 20 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 " Oh, sir, if you^ll only take the pack 
 111 bring you the change in a moment back, — 
 Indeed you may trust me !" " Trust you I — no! 
 But here is the shilling; take it and go.*' 
 
 The gentleman lolled in his cozy chair. 
 And watched his cigar- wreath melt in air. 
 And smiled on his children, and rose to see 
 The baby asleep on its mother^s knee. 
 
 ^^ And now it is nine by the clock, ^^ he said, 
 '' Time that my darlings were all a-bed ; 
 Kiss me ' good night/ and each be sure. 
 When you're saying your prayers, remember the 
 poor.^^ 
 
 Just then came a message — " A boy at the door,^^— - 
 
 But ere it was uttered he stood on the floor 
 
 Half breathless, bewildered, and ragged and 
 
 strange ; 
 " I'm Ruby — Mike's brother — Fve brought you the 
 
 change, 
 
 ^^ Mike's hurt, sir; 'twas dark; the snow made him 
 
 blind. 
 And he didn't take notice the train was behind 
 Till he slipped on the track ; and then it whizzed 
 
 by: 
 And he's home in the garret; I think he will die. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 121 
 
 ^^ Yet nothing would do him, sir — nothing would 
 
 do 
 But out through the snow I must hurry to you ; 
 Of his hurt he was certain you wouldn^t have 
 
 heard, 
 And so you might think lie had broken his tvord.^' 
 
 When the garret they hastily entered, they saw 
 Two arms mangled, shapeless, outstretched from 
 
 the straw, 
 " You did it — dear Riily — God bless you ^ he said, 
 And the boy, gladly smiling, sank back — and was 
 
 dead. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN MAIDEN AND THE LION. 
 
 ^^GiVE the Christians to the lions I'^ was the sav- 
 age Romanes cry, 
 
 x\nd the vestal virgins added their voices shrill and 
 high ; 
 
 And the Caesar gave the order, '^ Loose the lions 
 from their den I 
 
 For Eome must have a spectacle worthy of gods 
 and men!^^ 
 
 Forth to the broad arena a little band was led. 
 But w^ords forbear to utter how the sinless blood 
 was shed. 
 
122 Readings aiid Recitatioiis for Juniors. 
 
 No sigh the victims proffered, but now and then a 
 
 prayer 
 From lips of age and lips of youth rose upward on 
 
 the air; 
 And the savage Caesar muttered^ " By Hercules, I 
 
 swear, 
 Braver than gladiators these dogs of Christians 
 
 are/^ 
 
 Then a lictor bending slavishly, saluting with his 
 
 axe, 
 Said, " Mighty Imperator! the sport one feature 
 
 lacks : 
 We have an Afric lion, savage, and great of limb, i 
 Fasting since yester-eve; is the Grecian maid for J 
 
 him ?'' 
 
 The Emperor assented. With a frantic roar and 
 
 bound 
 The monster, bursting from his den, gazed terribly 
 
 around. 
 And toward him moved a maiden, slowly, but yet 
 
 serene; 
 ^^ By Venus!" cried the Emperor, ^^slie walketh 
 
 like a queen.^' 
 
 Unconscious of the myriad eyes she crossed the 
 
 blood-soaked sand, 
 Till face to face the maid and beast in opposition 
 
 stand ; 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 123 
 
 The daughter of Athene^ in white arrayed^ and 
 
 fair. 
 Gazed on the monster^s lowered brow^ and breathed 
 
 a silent prayer. 
 Then forth she drew a crucifix and held it high in 
 
 air. 
 
 Lo^ and behold ! a miracle ! the lion^s fury fled, 
 And at the Christian maiden^s feet he laid his 
 
 lordly head ; 
 While as she fearlessly caressed, he slowly rose, 
 
 and then, 
 With one soft, backward look at her, retreated to 
 
 his den. 
 One shout rose from the multitude, tossed like a 
 
 stormy sea: 
 " The Gods have so decreed it; let the Grecian 
 
 maid go free I" 
 
 Within the catacombs that night a saint with 
 snowy hair 
 
 Folded upon his aged breast his daughter young 
 and fair ; 
 
 And the gathered brethren lift a chant of praise 
 and prayer ; 
 
 From the monster of the desert, from the heathen 
 fierce and wild, 
 
 God has restored to loye and life his sinless, trust- 
 ing child. 
 
 Francis A, Durivage. 
 
124 Readings and Recitatiotis for Juniors, 
 
 THE PRIEST'S LEAP. 
 
 The priest is out upon the hill before the dawn of 
 
 day; 
 Through shadows deep, o^er rugged ground, he 
 
 treads his painful way; 
 A peasant^s homely garb he wears, that none but 
 
 friendly eyes 
 May know who dares to walk abroad, beneath that 
 
 rough disguise. 
 Inside his coat and near his heart lies what he 
 
 treasures most, 
 For there a tiny silver shrine contains the Sacred 
 
 Host. 
 Adoring as he goes, he seeks a cabin low and rude. 
 To nourish there a fainting soul with God^s ap- 
 pointed food. 
 
 For so it is, within that land whose brave and 
 
 faithful race 
 In other days made all the isle a bright and holy 
 
 place : 
 Its temples are in ruins now; its altars overthrown; 
 Its hermits' cells in cliff and cave are tenantless 
 
 and lone. 
 The ancient race are broken down, their power 
 
 passed away, 
 Poor helots, plundered and despised, they tread 
 
 the soil to-day; 
 
Readings and Recitatio?is for Jicniors. 125 
 
 But yet, though fallen their fortunes be, through 
 
 want, and woe, and ill. 
 Close hid, and fondly loved, they keep their priests 
 
 amongst them still. 
 
 Their faithful priests, who, though by law con- 
 demned, denounced, and banned. 
 
 Will not forsake their suffering flocks, or quit their 
 stricken land. 
 
 The morning brightens as he goes, the little hut is 
 near. 
 
 When runs a peasant to his side, and speaks into 
 his ear : 
 
 ^^Fly, Father, fly! the spies are out; theyVe 
 watched you on your way. 
 
 They've brought the soldiers on your track to seize 
 you or to slay. 
 
 Quick, Father, dear! here stands your horse; no 
 whip or spur he^ll need; 
 
 Mount you at once upon his back and put him to 
 his speed. 
 
 ^^And there, what course you'd better take; ^tis 
 
 God alone that knows. 
 Before you spreads a stormy sea ; behind you come 
 
 your foes; 
 But mount at once and dash away; take chance 
 
 for field or flood, 
 And God may raise His hands to-day to foil the 
 
 men of blood/' 
 
126 Readings aiid Recitations for Juniors* 
 
 Up sprang the priest; away he rode, but ere a mile 
 
 was run, 
 Right in his path, he saw the flash of bayonets in 
 
 the sun. 
 He turned his horse^s head, and sped along the 
 
 way, 
 But oh ! there, too, his hunters w^ere, fast closing 
 
 on their prey. 
 
 Straight forward, then, he forced his steed, and 
 
 urged him with his hand 
 To where the cliff stood high and sheer above the 
 
 sea-beat strand; 
 Then from the soldiers and the spies arose a joy- 
 ful cheer; 
 The toilsome chase was well-nigh o'er, the wished- 
 
 for end was near; 
 They stretched their eager hands to pluck the 
 
 rider from his seat; 
 A few more lusty strides, and they might. swnng 
 
 him to their feet, 
 For now betwixt him and the verge are scarce ten 
 
 feet of ground. 
 But, stay! good God ! out o'er the cliff the horse is 
 
 seen to bound. 
 
 The soldiers hasten to the spot, they gaze around, 
 
 below ; 
 No splash disturbs the waves that keep their 
 
 smooth and even flow; 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is for Juniors. 127 
 
 From their green depths no form of man is seen 
 
 to rise, 
 Far down upon the stony strand no mangled body 
 
 lies. 
 
 ^^Look up I look upP' a soldier shouts; ^^ohl 
 
 what a sight is there ! 
 Behold the priest, on horseback still, is S23eeding 
 
 through the air'/^ 
 They looked, and lo! the words were true, and, 
 
 trembling with affright, 
 They saw the vision pierce the blue and vanish 
 
 from their sight. 
 
 Three milos away, across the bay, a group, with 
 
 wondrous eyes. 
 Saw some strange speck come rushing fast toward 
 
 them from the skies. 
 A bird they deemed it first to be; they watched its 
 
 course, and soon 
 They deemed it some black burning mass flung 
 
 from the sun or moon. 
 It neared the earth — their hearts beat fast — they 
 
 held their breaths with awe. 
 As clear, and clearer still — the horse — and then — 
 
 the man — they saw! 
 They shut their eyes, they stopped their ears, to 
 
 spare their hearts the shock; 
 As steed and rider both came down and struck the 
 
 solid rock. 
 
128 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 Ay, on the solid rock they struck, but never made 
 
 a sound ; 
 No horrid mass of flesh and blood was scattered 
 
 all around ; 
 For when the horse fell on his knees, and when 
 
 the priest was thrown 
 A little forward, and his hands came down upon 
 
 the stone. 
 That instant, by God^s potent will, the flinty rock 
 
 became 
 Like moistened clay, or wax that yields before a 
 
 glowing flame. 
 Unhurt, unharmed, the priest arose, and with a 
 
 joyful start 
 He pressed his hand upon his breast — the Host 
 
 was near his heart. 
 
 Long years have passed away since then, in sun, 
 
 and wind, and rain. 
 But still of that terrific leap the wondrous marks 
 
 remain. 
 On the high cliff from which he sprang, — now 
 
 deemed a sacred place, — 
 The prints left by the horse^s hoofs are plain for 
 
 all to trace, 
 
 T. D. Sullivan, 
 
Readings a?td Recitatio7is for Jjcniors. 129 
 
 THE AUCTIONEER'S GIFT. 
 
 The auctioneer leaped on a chair, and bold and 
 
 loud and clear 
 He poured bis cataract of words, just like an 
 
 auctioneer. 
 An auction sale of furniture, where some hard 
 
 mortgagee 
 Was bound to get his money back, and pay his 
 
 lawyer^s fee. 
 
 A humorist of wide renown, this doughty auc- 
 tioneer, 
 
 His joking raised the loud guffaw, and brought 
 the answering jeer. 
 
 He knocked down bureaus, beds and stoves and 
 clocks and chandeliers. 
 
 And a grand piano, which he said would ^'^iast a 
 thousand years ;^^ 
 
 He rattled out the crockery, and sold the silver- 
 ware; 
 
 At last they passed him up to sell a little baby^s 
 chair. 
 
 '^ How much ? how much ? come, make a bid; is 
 
 all your money spent V^ 
 And then a cheap, facetious wag came up and bid^ 
 
 " One cent.'' 
 
130 Readings and Recitations for Jwiiors. 
 
 Just then a sad-faced woman, who stood in silence 
 
 there, 
 Broke down and cried, ^^My baby^s chair! My 
 
 poor dead baby^s chair V^ 
 
 ^^Here, madam, take your baby^s chair,^^ said the 
 
 softened auctioneer, 
 " I know its value all too well, my baby died last 
 
 year; 
 And if the owner of the chair, our friend, the 
 
 mortgagee, 
 Objects to this proceeding, let him send the bill to 
 
 me 
 
 V' 
 
 Gone was the tone of raillery; the humorist auc- 
 tioneer 
 
 Turned shamefaced from his audience, to brush 
 away a tear; 
 
 The laughing crowd was awed and still, no tearless 
 eye was there 
 
 When the weeping woman reached and took her 
 little baby's chair. 
 
 S, r. Foss. 
 
 MOUSTACHE. 
 A FRIENDLESS pup that heard the fife 
 
 Sprang to the column thro' the clearing, 
 And on to Switzerland and strife 
 
 Went grenadiering. 
 
Readings afid Recitatio7is for Juniors. 131 
 
 Much he endured, and much lie dared 
 The long hot doomsday of the nations: 
 
 He wore a troopers scars; he shared 
 A trooper's rations ; 
 
 Warned pickets, seized the Austrian spies, 
 Bore the despatches; thro' the forces - 
 
 From fallen riders, prompt and wise. 
 Led back the horses; 
 
 Served'round the tents or in the van. 
 Quick-witted, tireless as a treadle: 
 
 " This private wins,'' said Marshal Lannes^ 
 " Kibbon and medal." 
 
 (^' Moustache, a brave French dog," it lay 
 
 Graven on silver, like a scholar's; 
 " Who lost a leg on Jena day. 
 
 But saved the colors I") 
 
 At Saragossa he was slain; 
 
 They buried him, and fired a volley: 
 End of Moustache. K'ay, that were strain 
 
 Too melancholy. 
 
 His immortality was won. 
 
 His most of rapture came to bless him. 
 When, plumed and proud, I^apoleon 
 
 Stooped to caress him. 
 
 His Eaiperor's hand upon his head! 
 
 How, since, shall lesser honors suit him ? 
 Yet ever, in that army's stead. 
 
 Love will salute him. 
 
132 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And since not every cause enrolls 
 
 Such little, fond, sagacious henchmen, 
 
 Write this dog's moral on your scrolls, 
 Soldiers and Frenchmen! 
 
 As law is law, can be no waste 
 
 Of faithfulness, of worth and beauty; 
 
 Lord of all time the slave is placed 
 Who doth his duty. 
 
 No virtue fades to thin romance 
 
 But Heaven to use eternal moulds it: 
 
 Mark ! Some firm pillar of new France, 
 Moustache upholds it. 
 
 Louise Imogen Gxdney, 
 
 MARION'S DINNER. 
 
 A British officer sent to negotiate an exchange of pris- 
 oners was conducted into Marion's encampment. There 
 the scene took place which is here commemorated. The 
 young officer was so deeply affected by the sentiments of 
 Marion, that he subsequently resigned his commission and 
 retired from the British service. 
 
 They sat on the trunk of a fallen pine, and their 
 
 plate was a piece of bark. 
 And the sweet potatoes were superfine, though 
 
 bearing the embers^ mark; 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Jtmiors. 133 
 
 But Tom, with the sleeve of his cotton siiirt, the 
 
 embers^ had brushed away, 
 And then to the brook, with a step alert, he hied 
 
 on that gala day. 
 
 The British ofl&cer tried to eat, but his nerves were 
 
 out of tune. 
 And ill at ease on his novel seat, while absent both 
 
 knife and spoon ; 
 Said he, ^* You give me but Lenten fare, is the table 
 
 thus always slim ? 
 Perhaps with a Briton you will not share the cup 
 
 with a flowing brim I*^ 
 
 Then Marion put his potato down, on the homely 
 
 plate of bark — 
 He had to smile, for he could not frown, while gay 
 
 as the morning lark; — 
 '' ^Tis a royal feast I provide to-day, upon roots we 
 
 rebels dine, 
 And in Freedom^s service we draw no pay, — is 
 
 that of ethics thine ?'^ 
 
 Then, with flashing eye and with heaving breast, 
 
 he looked to the azure sky, 
 "And,'^ said he, with a flrm, undaunted crest, " our 
 
 trust is in God on high! 
 The hard, hard ground is a downy bed, and 
 
 hunger its fangs foregoes, 
 And noble and firm is the soldier^s tread in the 
 
 face of his country^s foes.'^ 
 
134 Readi7igs and Recitations for Jimiors. 
 
 The officer gazed on princely brow, where valor 
 
 and genius shone. 
 And upon that fallen pine his vow went up to his 
 
 Maker^s throne, 
 ^^I will draw no sword against men like these, i^ 
 
 would drop from a nerveless hand, 
 And the very blood in my heart would freeze, if 1 
 
 faced such a Spartan band/^ 
 
 From Marion^s camp, with a saddened mien, he 
 
 hastened with awe away. 
 The sons of Anak his eyes had seen, and a giant 
 
 race were they. 
 No more on the tented field was he, and rich was 
 
 the truth he learned, 
 That men who could starve for Liberty, can neither 
 
 be crushed nor spurned. 
 
 Edivard C. Jones, 
 
 THE DEAD DOLL. 
 You needn't be trying to comfort me — I tell yon 
 
 my dolly is dead!' 
 There^s no use in saying she isn^t, with a crack like 
 
 that in her head ; 
 It^s just like you said it wouldn^t hurt much to 
 
 have my tooth out, that day. 
 And then, when the man 'most pulled my head 
 
 off, you hadn^t a word to say. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 135 
 
 And I guess you must think I^m a baby, when you 
 
 say you can mend it with glue. 
 As if I didn^t know better than that ! Why, just 
 
 suppose it was you ? 
 You might make her look all mended — but what 
 
 do I care for looks ? 
 Why glue's for chairs and tables, and toys, and the 
 
 backs of books ! 
 
 My dolly ! my own little daughter ! Oh, but it^s 
 
 the awf ullest crack ! 
 It just makes me sick to think of the sound when 
 
 her poor head went whack 
 Against that horrible brass thing that holds up the 
 
 little shelf, 
 Now, Nursey, what makes you remind me ? I 
 
 know that I did it myself ? 
 I think you must be crazy — you^ll get her another 
 
 head ! 
 What good would forty heads do her ? I tell you 
 
 my dolly is dead ! 
 And to think I hadn^t quite finished her elegant 
 
 new spring hat ! 
 And I took a sweet ribbon of her^s last night to tie 
 
 on that horrid cat ! 
 
 When my mamma gave me that ribbon — I was 
 
 playing out in the 3^ard — 
 She said to me, most expressly, ^' Here^s a ribbon 
 
 for Hildegarde/^ 
 
136 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And I went and put it on Tabby, and Hilclegarde 
 
 saw me do it ; 
 But I said to myself, ^^Oh^ never mind, I don^t 
 
 believe she knew it V^ 
 
 But I know that she knew it now, and I just be- 
 lieve, I do, 
 
 That her poor little heart was broken^ and so her 
 head broke too. 
 
 Oh, my baby ! my little baby ! I wish my head 
 had been hit ! 
 
 For Fve hit it over and over, and it hasn't cracked 
 a bit. 
 
 But since the darling is dead^ she^ll want to be 
 
 buried, of course ; 
 We will take my little wagon, Nurse, and you 
 
 shall be the horse ; 
 And ril walk behind and cry ; and we^ll put her 
 
 in this, you see — 
 This dear little box — and we'll bury her there out 
 
 under the maple tree. 
 
 And papa will make me a tombstone, like the one 
 
 he made for my bird ; 
 And he^ll put what I tell him on it — yes, every 
 
 single word ! 
 I shall say, " Here lies Hildegarde, a beautiful 
 
 doll, who is dead ; 
 She died of a broken heart, and a dreadful crack 
 
 in her head.^^ 
 
 Margaret Vande grift. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 137 
 
 LITTLE NAN'S OFFERING. 
 
 The great wide gates swung open. 
 The music softly sounded, 
 And loving hands were heaping the soldier^s graves 
 with flowers ; 
 With pansies, pinks, and roses, 
 And pure, gold -hearted lilies, 
 The fairest, sweetest blossoms that grace the spring- 
 time bowers. 
 
 When down the walk came tripping 
 A w^ee, bareheaded girlie. 
 Her eyes were filled with wonder, her face was 
 grave and sweet ; 
 Her small brown hands were crowded 
 With dandelions yellow, — 
 The gallant, merry blossom that children love to 
 greet. 
 
 Oh, many smiled to see her. 
 
 That dimple-cheeked, wee baby, 
 Pass by with quaint intentness, as on a mission 
 bound ; 
 
 And, pausing oft an instant, 
 
 Let fall from out her treasures 
 A yellow dandelion upon each flower-strewn mound. 
 
138 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 The music died in silence, 
 A robin ceased its singing ; 
 And in the fragrant stillness a bird-like whisper 
 grew. 
 So sweet, so clear, and solemn, 
 That smiles gave place to tear-drops : 
 '^ Nan loves ''oo darlin^ soldier ; an' here's a Fower 
 for 'oor 
 
 LEGEND OF EASTER EGGS. 
 Trin^ity bells with their hollow lungs. 
 And their vibrant lips and their brazen tongues. 
 Over the roofs of the city pour 
 Their Easter music with joyous roar, 
 Till the soaring notes to the sun are rolled. 
 As he swings along in his path of gold. 
 
 *^ Dearest papa,^^ says my boy to me, 
 As he merrily climbs on his mother's knee^ 
 '^ Why are these eggs that you see me hold 
 Colored so finely with blue and gold ? 
 And what is the wonderful bird that lays 
 Such beautiful eggs on Easter days ?" 
 
 '^ You have heard, my boy, of Him who died, 
 Crowned with keen thorns, and crucified ; 
 And how Joseph the wealthy — whom God reward- 
 Cared for the corpse of the martyred Lord, 
 And piously tombed it within the rock. 
 And closed the gate with a mighty block. 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is for Juniors. 139 
 
 '' Now, close by the tomb a fair tree grew, 
 With pendulous leaves and blossoms of blue ; 
 And deep in the green tree's shadowy breast 
 A beautiful singing-bird sat on her nest. 
 Which was bordered with mosses like malachite. 
 And held four eggs of an ivory white. 
 
 ^' Now, when the bird from her dim recess 
 Beheld the Lord in His burial dress, 
 And looked on the heavenly face so pale, 
 And the dear feet pierced with the cruel nail, 
 Her heart nigh broke with a sudden pang, 
 And out of the depths of her sorrow she sang. 
 
 ^^ All night long till the moon was up. 
 
 She sat and sang in her moss-wreathed cup, — 
 
 A song of sorrow as wild and shrill 
 
 As the homeless wind when it roams the hill ; 
 
 So full of fears, so loud and long, 
 
 That the grief of the world seemed turned to song, 
 
 " But soon there came through the weeping night 
 
 A glimmering angel clothed in white ; 
 
 And he rolled the stone from the tomb away, 
 
 Where the Lord of the earth and heavens lay: 
 
 And Christ arose in the cavern^s gloom. 
 
 And in living lustre came from the tomb. 
 
 ^^ISTow, the bird that sang in the heart of the tree 
 Beheld this celestial mystery ; 
 
140 Readmgs and Recitations for Junio7's. 
 
 And its heart was filled with sweet delight. 
 And it poured a song on the throbbing night. 
 jfsTotes climbed on notes, till higher, higher. 
 They shot to heaven like spears of fire. 
 
 ^^ When the glittering, white-robed angel heard 
 The sorrowing song of the grieving bird, 
 And heard the following chant of mirth 
 That hailed Christ risen again on earth. 
 He said, ^ Sweet bird, be forever blest, — 
 Thyself, thy eggs, and thy moss- wreathed nest !^ 
 
 ^^ And ever, my child, since that blessed night. 
 When death bowed down the Lord of light. 
 The eggs of that sweet bird change their hue, 
 And. burn with red and gold, and blue ; 
 Eeminding mankind in their simple way. 
 Of the holy marvel of Easter Day/^ 
 
 FitZ'James O'Brien, 
 
 WORK AND PRAYER. 
 A SCULPTOR knelt on the hard oak floor, 
 
 With mallet and chisel he wrought; 
 To cut from a shapeless mass of stone 
 
 A god-like image he sought. 
 Hour after hour at his work he toiled, 
 
 Nor rose from the oaken floor; 
 Scarce heeding the presence of those who came 
 
 To look in at the open door. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors, 141 
 
 Among the ones who often came 
 
 To observe the progress made 
 Was a teacher great, who sadly smiled, 
 
 But with a sigh he said : 
 '' My friend, wherever your chisel moves 
 
 Great transformation shows : 
 I wish I could on hearts of stone 
 
 Deal such transforming blows I^^ 
 
 The sculptor slowly raised his head. 
 
 And said with look sublime: 
 ^^ Perhaps you might, my friend, if you worked 
 
 At your work as I work at mine; 
 Perhaps the heart of adamant 
 
 Would grow" soft as the evening breeze. 
 If the work of softening was done, 
 
 Like mine, on your bended knees/^ 
 
 He said no more, but the lesson sank 
 
 Deep into the teacher^s heart; 
 Perhaps at last he had really learned 
 
 The long-despaired of art. 
 Perhaps a human heart, tho^ soft, 
 
 A marble coat may wear, 
 But the marble cover can be chipped off 
 
 And rent by the aid of prayer. 
 
 Tlie Angehis. 
 
142 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 ST. MARTIN AND THE BEGGAR. 
 
 \^ the freezing cold and the blinding snow 
 Of a wintry eve in the long ago^ 
 Folding his cloak o'er clanking mail, 
 A soldier is fighting the angry gale 
 Inch by inch in the campfire^s light, 
 Star of his longing this wintry night. 
 
 All in a moment his path is barred; 
 He draws his sword as he stands on guard. 
 But who is this with a wan, white face. 
 And piteous hands upheld for grace ? 
 Tenderly bending, the soldier bold 
 Eaises a beggar faint and cold. 
 
 Famished he seems, and almost spent. 
 The rags that cover him worn and rent. 
 Crust nor coin can the soldier find; 
 Never his wallet with gold is lined; 
 But his soul is sad at the sight of pain: 
 The sufferer's pleading is not in vain. 
 
 His mantle of fur is broad and warm. 
 
 Armor of proof against the storm. 
 
 He snatches it off without a word; 
 
 One downward pass of the gleaming sword. 
 
 And cleft in twain at his feet it lies 
 
 And the storm-wind howls 'neath the frowning skies, 
 
 " Half for thee" — and with tender art 
 
 He gathers the cloak round the beggar's heart— 
 
Readi7igs and Recitations for Juniors, 143 
 
 *^ And half for me;'^ and with jocund song 
 In the teeth of the tempest he strides along, 
 Daring the worst of the sleet and snow. 
 That brave yoimg spirit so long ago. 
 
 Lo ! as he slept at midnight^s prime, 
 His tent had the glory of summer-time; 
 Shining out of a wondrous light, 
 The Lord Christ beamed on his dazzled sight. 
 '' I was a beggar/' the Lord Christ said. 
 As he stood by the soldier's lowly bed. 
 " Half of thy garment thou gavest me; 
 With the blessing of heaven I dower thee." 
 And Martin rose from the hallowed tryst. 
 Soldier and servant and knight of Christ. 
 
 Margaret E. Sangster, 
 
 HOW THE BEES CAME BY THEIR STING. 
 
 The honey-bees on Mount Hymettus, long and 
 
 long ago. 
 Had made some honey from the very sweetest 
 
 flowers that grow ; 
 It was very clear, translucent, and golden in its hue. 
 It tasted of the sunshine, the roses, and the dew. 
 And they all declared, the oldest inhabitant as well 
 As the youngest, that for whiteness and firmness 
 
 of the cell, 
 
144 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 For sweetness and for flavor, that there was not 
 
 anywhere 
 A drop of honey that with this a moment could 
 
 compare. 
 It seemed as though all gracious things had entered 
 
 into it. 
 It seemed an offering for the king of high Olympus 
 
 fit. 
 So thought the queen bee, and, of course, the others 
 
 thought as she did; 
 Therefore, without dissenting, it quickly was con- 
 ceded 
 That she should take it up to him (I quite assume 
 
 that you know 
 That when I speak of Jupiter, I am including 
 
 Juno). 
 
 So up to Mount Olympus, to Jupiter the Great, 
 
 The queen bee of Hymettus went flying swift and 
 straight. 
 
 And laid her gift of honey, fresh, amber-hued, and 
 sweet. 
 
 With many pretty compliments, low at his high- 
 ness^ feet. 
 
 Saying: ^^0 gracious Jupiter! the gift I bring 
 contains 
 
 The life of verdant valleys, and the soul of summer 
 rains; j 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 145 
 
 The freshness of the morning, the noon^s effulgent 
 
 glory. 
 The blushes of the roses as they listen to the story 
 That the south wind whispers to them, and the 
 
 fragrant breath that comes 
 From the lips of lily blossoms and the heart of 
 
 clover-blooms ; 
 Besides which, and far better, it holds a love as 
 
 true 
 As the sweetness of the lilies or the freshness of 
 
 the dew. 
 And with humble admiration, we beg that you will 
 
 let us 
 At the feet of Mount Olympus lay the heart of 
 
 Mount Hymettus/' 
 From all of which remarks it is plainly to be seen 
 That she was a very eloquent, poetical bee queen. 
 
 And Jupiter, admiring, unto himself avers 
 
 That his kindness and politeness at least shall 
 
 equal hers. 
 And so, with many a winning smile and many a 
 
 gracious bow, 
 He accepted her fair offering, explaining to her 
 
 how 
 Of all the gifts from any land or clan, or tribe or 
 
 nation. 
 There could be none that he would hold in higher 
 
 estimation. 
 
146 Readings and Recitations for Juftiors. 
 
 Besides, he gave a banquet to the gods that night, 
 
 and so 
 She could see with half an effort that her gift was 
 
 apropos. 
 He was very kind and gracious, and, at last, in 
 
 reckless pleasure. 
 And wishing to make fit return in full and ample 
 
 measure. 
 Declared that he would deem it a very happy task 
 To give to her for all her kind the gift that she 
 
 might ask. 
 ^^So ask ye, gentle queen,^^ he said, ^^unf earing, 
 
 and straightway 
 Your desire shall be granted, let the same be what 
 
 it may/^ 
 She mused a little moment, and then she said, " 
 
 king! 
 I pray you give to me and mine a keen and subtle 
 
 sting. 
 That when the mortals vex us, as often they are fain, 
 That we may use the sting to their excruciating 
 
 pain/^ 
 
 Then Jupiter was sorry, and thus in grief said he: 
 " Your choice does you no honor, golden-belted 
 
 bee, 
 I deemed that to your graces — they are many, well 
 
 I know — 
 You would ask that I some greater and sweeter 
 
 would bestow. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jimiors. 1 47 
 
 That some all-crowning beauty or secret charm Td 
 
 add; 
 Your choice, I must confess, queen! has made 
 
 me very sad. 
 Still, since my word is given, my thoughtless vow 
 
 I will, 
 AVitli certain sad conditions, most honestly fulfil. 
 I give the keen and subtle sting to you, queen, 
 
 and yet. 
 Whenever it within the flesh of mortal man is set. 
 In the wound it shall remain. Oh, behold your 
 
 heartless choosing 
 Is a bane and not a blessing! for you perisli with 
 
 its using!'' 
 
 The queen was very sorroAvful, and saw with pain 
 
 and wonder 
 That in her selfish wishing she had made a wretched 
 
 blunder. 
 She saw, what all the years since then have been 
 
 most surely proving. 
 That gain is to the giver and love is for the 
 
 loving ; 
 That blows strike back, that haters for hating but 
 
 the worse are; 
 That curses evermore come back and dwell beside 
 
 the curser. 
 
 Carlotta Perry. 
 
148 Readings and Recitations for Jimiors, 
 
 THE LITTLE MAID'S SERMON. 
 
 A LITTLE maid in a pale-blue hood 
 In front of a lai-ge brick building stood. 
 As she passed along, her quick eye spied 
 Some words on a little box inscribed. 
 'Twas a box that hung in the vestibule, 
 Outside the door of the charity school. 
 
 " Remember the poor/^ were the words she spelled. 
 Then looked at the dime her small hands held 
 For chocolate creams were fresh that day 
 In the store just only across the way. 
 But gleams of victory shone o'er the face 
 As she raised her eyes to " the money-place.'^ 
 
 I 
 
 But her arm was short and the box so high 
 That a gentleman heard, who was passing by, 
 " Please, sir, will you lift me Just so much ?" 
 (For the tiny fingers could almost touch.) 
 The stranger stopped, and he quickly stood 
 By the sweet-faced child in the pale-blue hood. 
 
 As he lifted her, she gently said : 
 
 " Would you mind it, sir, if you turned your head ? 
 
 For you know I do not want to be 
 
 Like a proud, stuck-up old Pharisee." 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jiinio7's, 149 
 
 He liumored the little maid^ but a smile 
 Played o^er his face as he stood there the while. 
 
 '^ Excuse me, child, but what did you say T^ 
 
 The gentleman asked in a courteous way, 
 
 As he took in his the wee white hand. 
 
 '' I believe I didn^t quite understand/^ 
 
 " Oh, sir, don^t you know ? Have you never read,^^ 
 
 Said the child amazed, '^ what the Saviour said ? 
 
 " We should not give like those hypocrite men 
 Who stood in the market-places then. 
 And gave their alms just for folks to tell, 
 Because they loved to be praised so well ; 
 But give for Christ's sake from our little store 
 What only He sees, and nobody more. 
 
 " Good-bye, kind sir, this is my way home: 
 
 I^m sorry you^ll have to Avalk alon^.^^ 
 
 The gentleman passed along, and thought 
 
 Of large sums given for fame it bought; 
 
 And he said: " I never again will be 
 
 In the market-places a Pharisee. 
 
 She preached me a sermon, ^twas true and good, — 
 
 That dear little maid in the pale-blue hood V 
 
 Susan Teall Perry. 
 
150 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 THE GOOD. 
 " What is the real good V 
 I asked in musing mood, 
 
 Ordei% said the law court; 
 Knowledge, said the school; 
 Truth, said the wise man; 
 Pleasure, said the fool; 
 Love, said the maiden; 
 Beauty, said the page; 
 Freedom, said the dreamer; 
 Home, said the sage; 
 Fame, said the soklier; 
 Equity, the seer; 
 
 Spake my heart full sadly : 
 " The answer is not here/^ 
 
 Then within my bosom 
 Softly this I heard : 
 " Each heart holds the secret ; 
 Kindness is the word/^ 
 
 /. BoyU O'Reilly, 
 
 SOMETHING GREAT. 
 The trial was ended — the vigil past; 
 All clad in his arms was the knight at last, 
 The goodliest knight in the whole wide land, 
 With a face that shone with a purpose grand. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 151 
 
 The king looked on him with gracious eyes. 
 And said: '' He is meet for some high emprise/^ 
 To himself he thought: "I will conquer fate^, 
 I will surely die or do something great/^ 
 
 So from the palace he rode away. 
 
 There was trouble and need in the town that day; 
 
 A child had strayed from his mother^s side 
 
 Into the woodland dark and wide. 
 
 " Help V^ cried the mother with sorrow wild, 
 
 " Help me, Sir Knight, to seek my child ! 
 
 The hungry wolves in the forest roam ; 
 
 Help me to bring my lost one home I" 
 
 He shook her hand from his bridle rein : 
 
 "Alas ! poor mother, you ask in vain. 
 
 Some meaner succor will do, maybe, 
 
 Some squire or varlet of low degree. 
 
 There are mighty wrongs in the world to right; 
 
 I keep my sword for a noble fight. 
 
 I am sad at heart for your baby^s fate. 
 
 But I ride in haste to do something great."^ 
 
 One wintry night when the sun was set, 
 
 A blind old man by the way he met: 
 
 " Now, good Sir Knight, for Our Lady^s sake, 
 
 On the sightless wanderer pity take ! 
 
 The wind blows cold, and the sun is down; 
 
 Lead me, I pray, till I reach the town.^^ 
 
 " Nay,^^ said the knight; " I cannot wait; 
 
 I ride in haste to do something great. ^' 
 
152 Readings and Recitations for Jwiiors. 
 
 So oil he rode in his armor bright, 
 
 His sword all keen for the longed-for fight. 
 
 ^* Laugh with us — laugh V^ cried the merry crowd. 
 
 ^''Oh ! weep V^ wailed others with sorrow bowed. 
 
 " Help us r^ the weak and weary prayed. 
 
 But for joy, nor grief, nor need he stayed. 
 
 And the years rolled on, and his eyes grew dim, 
 
 And he died — and none made moan for him. 
 
 He missed the good that he might have done. 
 He missed the blessings he might have won. 
 Seeking some glorious task to find. 
 His eyes to all humbler work were blind. 
 
 He that is faithful in that which is least 
 Is bidden to sit at the heavenly feast. 
 Yet men and women lament their fate. 
 If they be not called to do something great. 
 
 Florence Tylee. 
 
 "GIVE, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE." 
 
 A FLOWER, on the bank of a brooklet. 
 Said: ''Dear Brook, Fm very dry; 
 
 Just give me a taste of fresh water, 
 As swiftly you hurry by ?'' 
 
 " Tve only enough for myself, ^^ said the Brook, 
 ''And naught for charity.'' 
 
Readiiigs and Recitations for Juniors. 153 
 
 " Cloud/' said the Brook^ '' remember 
 
 Tm expected soon at the sea, 
 And I'm almost ont of fresh water — 
 
 Then, Cloud, remember me." 
 ^^IVe nothing to give/' said the Cloud, ^^ unless 
 
 'Tis a little sympathy/' 
 
 " Sea," said the Clond, "- you're rich and full, 
 
 You can give me all I need; 
 If I had a quarter as much as you, 
 
 All cries for help I'd heed." 
 ^^I haven't too much," said the Sea, '' and then 
 
 'Tis my duty to feed." 
 
 " Sweet Flower," said the Bee, '' just give me a taste 
 
 Of the honey within your cup." 
 But drawing nearer, the Bee perceived 
 
 The Flower was all withered up. 
 So he said no more, sought beyond 
 
 A better place to sup. 
 
 The Sun was sailing along in the sky 
 And he saw the withered Flower, 
 
 And the pebbly bed of the Brook, now dry, 
 And the Cloud bereft of power. 
 
 And the gasping Sea, as restless quite 
 As if it had no dower. 
 
154 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And he smiled a smile, so bright and warm, 
 Then the Sea was ashamed of its greed, 
 
 And sent a donation up to the Cloud, 
 The Cloud supplied the Brookes need, 
 
 And the Brook the Flower, the Flower the Bee 
 Abundantly did feed. 
 
 Our hearts are hard as the cold, hard stones. 
 
 As pitiless as the Sea, 
 Till the Sun of Righteousness arise. 
 
 Our selfishness to see. 
 Let us pray, my friend, for a bright, warm smile 
 
 To fall on you and me. 
 
 THE TWO LITTLE STOCKINGS. 
 
 Two little stockings hung side by side, 
 Close to the fireplace broad and wide. 
 " Two T^ said Saint Nick, as down he came. 
 Loaded with toys and many a g^ame. • 
 
 '' Ho, ho V said he, with a laugh of fun, 
 " I'll have no cheating, my pretty one; 
 I know who dwells in this house, my dear. 
 There's only one little girl lives here." 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 155 
 
 So he crept up close to the chimney-place. 
 And measured a sock with a sober face. 
 Just then a wee little note fell out 
 And fluttered low like a bird about. 
 
 " Aha ! what^s this T^ said he, in surprise, . 
 As he pushed his specs up close to his eyes, 
 And read the address in a child^s rough plan, 
 " Dear Saint Nicholas,^^ so it began; 
 
 " The other stocking you see on the wall 
 I have hung for a child named Clara Hall. 
 She^s a poor little girl, but very good. 
 So I thought, perhaps, you kindly would 
 Fill up her stocking, too, to-night. 
 And help to make her Christmas bright. 
 If you've not enough for both stockings there. 
 Please put all in Clara's, I shall not care.'' 
 
 Saint Nicholas brushed a tear from his eye. 
 And, " God bless you, darling," he said, with a sigh. 
 Then softly he blew through the chimney high 
 A note like a bird's, as it soars on high. 
 When down came two of the funniest mortals 
 That ever were seen this side earth's portals. 
 
 " Hurry up," said Saint Nick, and nicely prepare 
 All a little girl needs where money is rare." 
 
156 Readings and Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 Then oh, what a scene there was in that room ! 
 Away went the elves, but down from the gloom 
 Of the sooty old chimney comes tumbling low 
 A child^s whole wardrobe, from head to toe. 
 
 How Santa Clans laughed as he gathered them in, 
 And fastened each one to the sock with a pin. 
 Eight to the toe he hung a blue dress, 
 " She^ll think it came from the sky, I guess,^^ 
 Said Saint Nicholas, smoothing the folds of blue 
 And tying the hood to the stocking, too. 
 
 When all the warm clothes were fastened on, 
 And both little socks were filled and done. 
 Then Santa Claus tucked a toy here and there. 
 And hurried away to the frosty air. 
 Saying, " God pity the poor, and bless the dear child 
 Who pities them, too, on this night so wild.'^ 
 
 The wind caught the words and bore them on high 
 Till they died away in the midnight sky; 
 While Saint Nicholas flew through the icy air, 
 Bringing " peace and good will ^^ with him every- 
 where. 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is for Juniors, 157 
 
 THREE LITTLE GRAVES. 
 
 ^TwAS autura]!^ and the leaves were dry 
 
 And rustled on the ground. 
 And chilly winds went whistling by, 
 
 With low and passive sound. 
 As through the graveyard^s lone retreat. 
 
 By meditation led, 
 I walked with slow and cautious feet 
 
 Above the sleeping dead. 
 Three little graves, ranged side by side. 
 
 My close attention drew; 
 O^er two the tall grass bending sighed. 
 
 And one seemed fresh and new. 
 As lingering there I mused awhile 
 
 On death^s long dreamless sleep. 
 And mourning lifers deceitful smile, 
 
 A mxourner came to weep. 
 
 Her form was bowed, but not with years. 
 
 Her words were faint and few; 
 And on those little graves her tears 
 
 Distilled like morning dew. 
 A prattling boy, some four years old. 
 
 Her trembling hand embraced; 
 And from my heart the tale he told 
 
 Will never be effaced. 
 
158 Readings and Recitations f 07' Juniors \ 
 
 ^' Mamma, now you must love me more. 
 
 For little sister^s dead; 
 And toother sister died before, 
 
 And brother, too, you said. 
 Mamma, what made sweet sister die; 
 
 She loved me when we played. 
 You told me if I would not cry. 
 
 You'd show me where she^s laid." 
 
 ^^^Tis here, my child, that sister lies. 
 
 Deep buried in the ground; 
 No light comes to her little eyes, 
 
 And she can hear no sound/' 
 ^'^ Mamma, why can^t we take her up, 
 
 And put her in my bed ? 
 1^11 feed her from my little cup, 
 
 And then she won^t be dead. 
 For sister ^11 be afraid to lie 
 
 In this dark grave to-night; 
 And she^Il be very cold, and cry, 
 
 Because there is no light." 
 '^No, sister is not cold, my child. 
 
 For God, who saw her die, 
 As He looked down from heaven and smiled, 
 
 Called her above the sky. 
 
 " And then her spirit quickly fled 
 To God, by whom ^twas given; 
 
 Her body in the ground is dead. 
 But sister lives in heaven.^' 
 
Readings and Recitations for Ju7iiors. 159 
 
 " Mamma, won^t she be hungry there^ 
 
 And want some bread to eat ? 
 And who will give her clothes to wear. 
 
 And keep them clean and neat ? 
 Papa must go and carry some, 
 
 rU send her all Tve got; 
 And .he must bring sweet sister home; 
 
 Mamma, now must he not T^ 
 "'^o, my dear child, that cannot be; 
 
 But if you^re good and true, 
 You^l one day go to her, but she 
 
 Can never come to you. 
 ' Let little cliildren come to me/ 
 
 Once the good Saviour said; 
 And in His arms she^ll always be. 
 
 And God will give her bread/^ 
 
 THE SCOUT'S MISTAKE. 
 
 '^How get them the tidings? How send them 
 the word ? 
 
 It sets all the blood in my pulses a-shiyer ! 
 The enemy near, and they cannot have heard. 
 
 For no one has crossed since the rise in the river. 
 
160 Readings a?id Recitations for Juniors, 
 
 " The woods are between iis; there^s storm in the 
 sky! 
 
 No rider dare venture the ford till the morniug. 
 If only they knew of the danger ! Yet I 
 
 Am helpless to give them a token of warning. 
 
 '^ Ah, were I but young again V' sadly he said, 
 " My youth in its heyday, the mettle all in it, 
 
 Xo weakness to chafe me, no snow on my head, — 
 The filly and I would be ofE in a minute P^ 
 
 A stripling beside him looked up with a flash, 
 " Why, father, what matters the forest ? Til 
 skim it. 
 
 What matters how fiercely the tempest may dash ? 
 Who cares for the river ? The filly can swim it. 
 
 " Just think of the peril ! My brothers are there. 
 
 By daylight, at farthest, some signal shall show it. 
 
 They must not, like panthers, be trapped in their 
 
 lair: 
 
 And sure as Fm living, their colonel shall know 
 
 it !" 
 
 II. 
 
 The morning broke gray. At the tap of the drum 
 The corps from their briefly snatched slumbers 
 were shaken. 
 
 " From over the river some tidings have come, — 
 A spy from some enemy near has been taken. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 161 
 
 ''They say he was seen in the dusk of the dawn, 
 Just mounting the bank, at the edge of a thicket, 
 
 Through which he came galloping recklessly on, 
 Not heeding or hearing the ' halt ^ of the picket/^ 
 
 '' To the front with him V^ ordered the colonel. 
 Just then 
 
 Eode hurriedly forward a scout, with a letter. 
 '' We made a mistake, sir — I — I and the men,^ — 
 
 No room nor no reason to know any better. ^^ 
 
 " Aha V^ and the officer eagerly read. 
 
 " The gallant young fellow ! How well that you 
 brought him 
 So quick ivith his warning V^ The scout dropped 
 his head: 
 ''A spy, sir, — I thought him a spy, — and I shot 
 
 Margaret J, Preston. 
 
 THE CATHOLIC PSALM 
 
 Bordered by bluff and by meadow, reflecting a 
 
 golden day, 
 Placid and calmly deceitful, the lovely Lake 
 
 Michigan lay, 
 
162 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 The sun had gone down in glory, and naught save 
 
 one tiny band 
 Of cloud on the distant horizon, shaped like a 
 
 ghostly hand, 
 Gave the crew on our good ship a warning. 
 
 The skipper was pacing the deck, 
 When he suddenly stopped near the helmsman, 
 
 and anxiously scanned the cloud-speck — 
 And e^en as he gazed, he shuddered — then quick 
 
 shouted, " Make all secure ! 
 For your lives, every man to the sail-ropes, and see 
 
 that alFs furled safe and sure V^ 
 The moments were counted by heart-beats, so 
 
 quickly the storm-fiend drew near; 
 Where a minute ago was clear blue sky now 
 
 stretched heavy cloud dark and drear. 
 Each man watched the face of the skipper, each 
 
 one tied a rope round his waist 
 And fastened himself to some stout beam, or fast 
 
 to his neighbor was laced, 
 And thus, breathless, waited the storm-burst — 
 
 when, sweet through that horrible calm. 
 There came to the ears of the sailors the sound of 
 
 a Catholic psalm ! 
 Ave sanctissima, we lift our souls to thee. 
 A maid in the cabin was singing as the storm came 
 
 on over the deep — 
 Ora jxro nobis, 'tis nightfall on the sea. 
 And serene in the gathering darkness was lulling 
 
 a baby to sleep: 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Juniors. 163 
 
 Ora pro nobis, tlie ivave doth rock our sleep. 
 Through the singing the storm-fiend seemed wait- 
 ing and gathering strength for the blow. 
 Ora, mater, ora, Star of tlie deep. 
 Of a sudden^ up started the helmsman, as the 
 
 words of the psalm died below — 
 *^I believe, mates, that singing will save us ! For 
 
 V\Q often and often heard say 
 That if, in the midst of a tempest, there be but a 
 
 maid near to pray 
 To Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, and she pray 
 
 with a babe on her knee. 
 The danger will sure be abated — run. Jemmy, 
 
 you're nearest, and see 
 If she^s holding the babe to her bosom ? If so, we 
 
 are saved from our grave; 
 With the Star of the sea for our succor, we need 
 
 fear neither storm-fiend nor wave. 
 Down on your knees for your lives, men ! Sing, 
 
 girl, sing the Catholic psalm^' — 
 Tliou that hast looked on death, aid us when death 
 
 is near. 
 Whisper of heaven to faith, sioeet mother, siveei 
 
 mother, hear — 
 Ora pro nobis, the wave must rock our sleep. 
 Loud the storm-fiend was shrieking" in fury, but 
 
 the Catholic psalm still rang on — 
 Ora, mater, ora, Star of the deep. 
 Till at last the wild demon was vanquished, and 
 
 the terrible peril was gone. 
 
164 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Then, drifting without helm or rudder, drifting' 
 
 without spar or mast. 
 Drifting and drifting ever, the ship through the 
 
 dreary night passed; 
 But we saw, when the on-coming morning had 
 
 driven the night-fog away. 
 And the rays of the golden sun rising foretold a 
 
 bright beautiful day. 
 That she^d drifted safe into harbor, and there, 
 
 while no anchor bound, 
 Nor ever a cable held her, she rode gently on, safe 
 
 and sound. 
 With one impulse we thought of the maiden, and 
 
 hastened to bring her ashore; 
 We all hurried down to the cabin, but paused as 
 
 we entered the door. 
 For sitting there facing the gang-way, with one 
 
 hand pressed close to her side. 
 And the baby asleep on* her bosom, the saintly 
 
 singer had died. 
 Her lips were still partly open, her last glance was 
 
 upward cast — 
 She had sung until she, like the sailors, safe into 
 
 harbor had passed. 
 Ora pro nobis, the wave must rock ottr sleep, 
 Ora, mater, ora. Star of the deep, 
 
 Elizaieth Ingram Hubbard (Adapted). 
 
Readings and Recitations for Jicniors, 165 
 
 INDEPENDENCE BELL-JULY 4, 1776. 
 
 Wben the Declaration of Independeuce was adopted 
 by Congress, the event was announced by ringing the old 
 State-House bell, which bore the inscription ''Proclaim 
 liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof ! " 
 The old bellman stationed his little grandson at the door of 
 the hall, to await the instructions of the door-keeper when 
 to ring. At the word, the young patriot rushed out, and 
 clapping his hands, shouted : — ''Ring ! Ring ! RING !" 
 
 There was a tumult in the city^ 
 
 In the quaint old Quaker towu^ 
 And the streets were rife with people 
 
 Pacing restless up and down — 
 People gathering at the corners, 
 
 Where they whispered each to each, 
 And the sweat stood on their temples 
 
 With the earnestness of speech. 
 
 As the bleak Atlantic currents 
 
 Lash the wild Newfoundland shore, 
 So they beat against the State Hous3p 
 
 So they surged against the door ; 
 xlnd the mingling of their voices 
 
 Made a harmony profound, 
 Till the quiet street of Chestnut 
 
 Was all turbulent with sound. 
 
 " Will they do it ?' " Dare they do it T 
 " Who is speaking ?' " What's the news T' 
 
 " What of Adams r '' What of Sherman ?' 
 '^ Oh, God grant they won^t refuse T 
 
166 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 '' Make some way there !'^ '' Let me nearer!^ 
 " I am stifling*'!'' " Stifle, then ! 
 
 When a nation's life's at hazard, 
 WeVe no time to think of men !" 
 
 So they surged against the State House, 
 
 While all solemnly inside 
 Sat the " Continental Congress," 
 
 Truth and reason for their guide. 
 O'er a simple scroll debating. 
 
 Which, though simple it might be, 
 Yet should shake the cliffs of England 
 
 With the thunders of the free. 
 
 Far aloft in that high steeple 
 
 Sat the bellman, old and gray; 
 He was weary of the tyrant 
 
 And his iron-sceptred sway. 
 So he sat, with one hand ready 
 
 On the clapper of the bell. 
 When his eye could catch the signal, 
 
 The long expected news to tell. 
 
 See I See I The dense crowd quivers 
 
 Through all its lengthy line. 
 As the boy beside the portal 
 
 Hastens forth to give the sign ! 
 AVith his little hands uplifted. 
 
 Breezes dallying with his hair. 
 Hark! with deep, clear intonation. 
 
 Breaks his young voice on the air : 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 167 
 
 Hushed the people's swellmg murmur^ 
 
 Whilst the boy cries joyously; 
 **Eing V^ he shouts, "King ! grandpapa, 
 
 Eing ! oh, ring for Liberty! ^^ 
 Quickly, at the given signal, 
 
 The old bellman lifts his hand. 
 Forth he sends the good news, making 
 
 Iron music through the land. 
 
 How they shouted I Wliat rejoicing ! 
 
 How the old bell shook the air. 
 Till the clang of freedom luffled 
 
 The calmly gliding Delaware ! 
 How the bonfires and the torches 
 
 Lighted up the night^s repose, 
 And from the flames, like fabled Phoenix, 
 
 Our glorious liberty arose ! 
 
 That old State House bell is silent. 
 
 Hushed is now its clamorous tongue ; 
 But the spirit it awakened. 
 
 Still is living — ever young ; 
 And when we greet the smiliug sunlight 
 
 On the fourth of each July, 
 We will ne^er forget the bellman 
 
 AYho, betwixt the earth and sky, 
 Rung out, loudly, " Independence ;'' 
 
 AVhich, please God, shall never die ! 
 
168 Readings and Recitations fo7' Juniors. 
 
 ALEC YEATO.N'S SON. 
 The wind it wailed, the wind it moaned, 
 
 And the white caps flecked the sea ; 
 ''An' I would to God/' the skipper groaned, 
 
 " I had not my boy with me !" 
 
 Snug in the stern-sheets little John 
 Laughed as the scud swept by ; 
 
 But the skipper's sunburnt cheek grew wan 
 As he watched the wicked sky. 
 
 " Would he were at his mother's side !" 
 And the skipper's eyes were dim. 
 
 " Good Lord in heaven, if ill betide. 
 What would become of him ? 
 
 " For me — my muscles are as steel; 
 
 For me let hap what may; 
 I might make shift upon the keel 
 
 Until the break o' day. 
 
 '' But he — he is so weak and small. 
 So young, scarce learned to stand — 
 
 Oh, pitying Father of us all, 
 I trust him in Thy hand ! 
 
 '' For Thou, who markest from on high 
 
 A sparrow's fall — each one ! 
 Surely, Lord, Thou'lt have an eye 
 
 On Alec Yeaton's son ! " 
 
Readings and Recitations fo7' Juniors. 169 
 
 Tlien, helm hard aport, right straight he sailed 
 
 Toward the headland light; 
 The wind it moaned^ the wind it wailed, 
 
 And black, black fell the niglit. 
 
 Then burst a storm to make one quail, 
 Though housed from winds and waves — 
 
 They who could tell about that gale 
 Must rise from watery graves ! 
 
 Sudden it came, as sudden went; 
 
 Ere half the night was sped 
 The winds were hushed, the waves were spent^ 
 
 And the stars shone overhead. 
 
 Now, as the morning mist grew thin. 
 
 The folks on Gloucester shore 
 Saw a little figure floating in, 
 
 Secure on a floating oar ! 
 
 Up rose the cry: ^^ A wreck ! a wreck ! 
 
 Pull, mates, and waste no breath — ^^ 
 They knew it, though ^twas but a speck 
 
 Upon the edge of death ! 
 
 Long did they marvel in the town 
 
 At God, His strange decree. 
 That let the stalwart skipper drown 
 
 And the little child go free ! 
 
170 Readings and Recitations for Jzmiors. 
 
 CASABIANCA. 
 
 The boy stood on the burning deck, 
 Whence all but him had fled ; 
 
 The flame that lit the battle's wreck 
 Shone round him o^er the dead. 
 
 Yet beautiful and bright he stood, 
 
 As born to rule the storm; 
 A creature of heroic blood, 
 
 A proud though childlike form. 
 
 The flames rolled on; he would not go 
 
 Without his father^s word; 
 That father, faint in death below. 
 
 His voice no longer heard. 
 
 He called aloud, '^ Say, father, say, 
 
 If yet my task be done ! '' 
 He knew not that the chieftain lay 
 
 Unconscious of his son. 
 
 ^^ Speak, father,'^ once again he cried, 
 
 ^^ If I may yet be gone V 
 And but the booming shot replied, 
 
 And fast the flames rolled on. 
 
 Upon his brow he felt their breath. 
 
 And in his waving hair ; 
 And looked from that lone post of death 
 
 In still yet brave despair ; 
 
Readmgs and Recitations for Juniors. 171 
 
 And shouted but once more aloud^ 
 
 " My father, must I stay ?'' 
 While o'er him fast, througii sail and shroud, 
 
 The wreathing fires made Avay. 
 
 They wrapped the ship in splendor wild. 
 
 They caught the flag on high. 
 And streamed above the gallant child 
 
 Like banners in the sky. 
 
 There came a burst of thunder sound ; 
 
 The boy, oh ! where was he ? 
 Ask of the winds that far around 
 
 With fragments strewed the sea, 
 
 With shroud and mast and pennon fair. 
 
 That well had borne their part ; 
 But the noblest thing that perished there 
 
 Was that young faithful heart. 
 
 Felicia Hemans. 
 
 GRANDPAPA'S SPECTACLES. 
 Gra^stdpapa's spectacles cannot be found. 
 He has searched all the rooms, high and low, 
 
 round and round ; 
 Now he calls to the young ones, and what does he 
 
 ■ say? 
 ^^ Ten cents '^ to the child who will find them to- 
 day. 
 
172 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Then Harry and Nelly and Edward all ran, 
 And a most thorough search for the glasses began. 
 And dear little Nell in her generous way 
 Said, '' I'll look for them, Grandpa, without any 
 pay/' 
 
 All through the big Bible she searched with care. 
 It lies on the table by Grandpapa's chair. 
 They feel in his pockets, they peep in his hat. 
 They pull out the sofa and shake out the mat. 
 
 Then down on the floor, like good-natured bears, 
 Go Harry and Ned under tables and chairs, 
 Till quite out of breath, Ned is heard to declare. 
 He believed that those glasses are not anjrwhere. 
 
 But Nelly, who, leaning on Grandpapa's knee. 
 Was thinking most earnestly, '^ where can they 
 
 be?" 
 Looked suddenly up in the kind, faded eyes, 
 And her own shining brown ones grew big with 
 
 surprise. 
 
 She clapped with her hands, all her dimples came 
 
 out. 
 
 She turned to the boys with a bright, roguish shout, 
 '' You may leave off your looking, both Harry and- 
 
 Ned, 
 For there are the glasses on Grandpapa's head !" 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 173 
 
 THE FLIGHT OF YOUTH. 
 
 There are gains for all our losses. 
 
 There are balms for all our pain ; 
 But when youth, the dream, departs. 
 It takes something from our hearts. 
 And it never comes again. 
 
 We are stronger, and are better. 
 
 Under manhood's sterner reign ; 
 Still we feel that something sweet 
 Followed youth, with flying feet, 
 And will never come again. 
 
 Something beautiful is vanished, 
 
 And we sigh for it in vain : 
 We behold it everywhere, 
 On the earth, and in the air. 
 
 But it never comes again. 
 
 Richard H, Stoddard, 
 
 CHRISTMAS ON THE SAN GABR'EL. 
 
 Lamar and his Eangers camped at dawn on the 
 
 banks of the San Gabriel, 
 Under the mossy live oaks, in the heart of a lonely 
 
 dell ; 
 
174 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 With the cloudless Texas sky above and the mus- 
 
 qiiite grass below, 
 And all the prairie lying still in a misty, silvery 
 
 glow. 
 
 The sound of the horses cropping grass, the fall of 
 a nut full ripe. 
 
 The stir of a weary soldier, or the tap of a smoked- 
 out pipe, 
 
 Fell only as sounds in a dream may fall upon a 
 drowsy ear. 
 
 Till the captain said, ^^ It is Christmas Day ! so, 
 boys, we will spend it here, 
 
 '' For the sake of our homes and our childhood, 
 we will give the day its dues/^ 
 
 Then some leaped up to prepare the feast, and 
 some sat still to muse. 
 
 And some pulled scarlet yupon berries and wax- 
 white mistletoe. 
 
 To garland the stand-up rifles — for Christmas has 
 no foe. 
 
 And every heart had a pleasant thought or a ten- 
 der memory 
 
 Of unforgotten Christmastides that never more 
 might be ; 
 
 They felt the thrill of a mother^s kiss, they heard 
 the happy psalm. 
 
 And the men grew still, and all the camp was full 
 of a gracious calm. 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 175 
 
 " Halt V^ cried the sentinel, and lo ! from out of 
 
 the brushwood near 
 There came, with a weary, fainting step, a man in 
 
 mortal fear, 
 x\ brutal man with a tiger^s heart ; but yet he 
 
 made this plea — 
 '^ I am dying of hunger and thirst ; do what you 
 
 will with me/^ 
 
 They knew him well — who did not know the cruel 
 
 San Sabatan, 
 The robber of the Kio Grande, who spared not any 
 
 man? 
 In low, fierce tones they called his name, and 
 
 looked at a coil of rope; 
 And the man crouched down in abject fear — how 
 
 could he dare to hope ? 
 
 The captain had just been thinking of the Book 
 
 his mother read. 
 Of a Saviour born on Christmas Day, who bowed 
 
 on the Cross His head ; 
 Blending the thought of his mother's tears with 
 
 the Holy Mother's grief — 
 And when he saw San Sabatan he thought of the 
 
 dying thief. 
 
 He spoke to the men in whispers, and they heeded 
 
 the words he said. 
 And brought to the perishing robber water and 
 
 meat and bread. 
 
176 Readings and Recitations for Ju7iiors. 
 
 He ate and drank like a famished wolf and then 
 
 lay down to rest, 
 And the camp perchance had a stiller feast for its 
 
 strange Christmas guest. 
 
 But ere ever the morning dawned again, the cap- 
 tain touched his hand : 
 
 '' Here is a horse and some meat and bread ; fly to 
 the Eio Grande ! 
 
 Fly for your life ! We follow hard, touch nothing 
 on your way — 
 
 Your life was only spared because ^twas Jesus 
 Christ's birthday/^ 
 
 He watched him ride as the falcon flies, then 
 
 turned to the breaking day ; 
 The men awoke, the Christmas berries were quietly 
 
 cast away ; 
 And, full of thought, they saddled again and rode 
 
 off into the West — ■ 
 May God be merciful to them, as they were to their 
 
 guest ! 
 
 Amelia Barr. 
 
 MEASURING THE BABY. 
 We measured the riotous baby 
 
 Against the cottage wall — 
 A lily grew on the threshold, 
 
 And the boy was just as tall ; 
 
Readings and Recitations for Juniors. IT*? 
 
 A royal tiger-lily^ 
 
 With spots of purple and gold, 
 And a heart like a jeweled chalice, 
 
 The fragrant dew to hold. 
 
 Without, the bluebirds whistled 
 
 High up in the old roof -trees, 
 And to and fro at the w^indow 
 
 The red rose rocked her bees ; 
 And the wee pink fists of the baby 
 
 Were never a moment still, 
 Snatching at shine and shadow 
 
 That danced on the lattice sill. 
 
 His eyes were w^ide as bluebells — 
 
 His mouth like a flower unblown — 
 Two little bare feet, like funny Avhite mice^ 
 
 Peeped out from his snowy gown ; 
 And we thought, with a thrill of rapture 
 
 That yet had a touch of pain, 
 When June rolls around with her roses. 
 
 We'll measure the boy again. 
 
 Ah me ! in a darkened chamber. 
 
 With the sunshine shut away, 
 Through tears that fell like a bitter rain. 
 
 We measured the boy to-day ; 
 
178 Readings and Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 And the little bare feet, that were dimpled 
 
 And sweet as a budding rose. 
 Lay side by side together, 
 
 In the hush of a long repose ! 
 
 Up from the dainty pillow, 
 
 White as the risen dawn, 
 The fair little face lay smiling. 
 
 With the light of heaven thereon ; 
 And the dear little hands, like rose-leaves 
 
 Dropped from a rose, lay still. 
 Never to snatch at the sunshine 
 
 That crept to the shrouded sill ! 
 
 We measured the sleeping baby 
 
 With ribbons white as snow. 
 For the shining rosewood casket 
 
 That waited him below ; 
 And out of the darkened chamber 
 
 We went with a childless moan — 
 To the height of the sinless angels 
 
 Our little one had grown. 
 
 Emma Alice Broion, 
 
 CHRIST, THE GLEANER. 
 In a vision of the night 
 Looked I upon fields of light, ^ 
 
 Spreading broad beneath the moon. 
 Fair as though the night were noon. 
 
Readings and Recitatio7is fo?- Juniors, 179 
 
 Moonlight fell on golden sheaves, 
 Woven as the reaper weaves ; 
 Bounteous harvest gathered there 
 Hath repaid the Master's care. 
 
 All His toilers soundly sleep, 
 One alone doth vigil keep ; 
 Who is this that cometh last 
 Where the reaper's feet have passed ? 
 
 One who walketh grave and slow. 
 Going as the gleaners go, 
 Stooping oft full tenderly, 
 That no grain escape His eye ; 
 
 Gathering in secluded spot 
 What the gleaners have forgot ; 
 In His mantle deep and wide 
 Many a broken stalk doth hide. 
 
 Ere the morning shall arise, 
 Christ, the Gleaner, with His prize 
 Maketh goodly sheaf and crown 
 Out of what was trodden down. 
 
 Bruised and broken, held unsound, 
 Left to rot upon the ground — 
 E'en the wisest gleaner saw 
 Nothing there but worthless straw. 
 
180 Readings a?id Recitations for Juniors. 
 
 Only He with eyes of light 
 Pierced beyond our mortal sight ; 
 In the sullied husk He knew 
 Living grain was hid from view. 
 
 Lo ! it is the darkest hour^ 
 Stars have set and clouds do lower ; 
 Christ, the Gleaner, gleaneth still. 
 Casting radiance where He will. 
 
 When the sun shall flood the land, 
 And the golden sheaves shall stand. 
 Ripened for the Harvest Home, 
 Waiting till the Master come : 
 
 Riper, fuller, none than they 
 Trodden once into the clay ; 
 Gleaned from dust by hand Divine, 
 In eternal light they shine. 
 
 Rosa Mulliolland. 
 
 n 
 
 COMFORTING GRANDMA. 
 
 Grandma sat in her old arm-chair, 
 
 Our baby on her knee; 
 Three-score-and-ten were grandma^s years. 
 
 Sweet Baby Bellas were three. 
 
Readings a?id Recitations for Jtmiors. 181 
 
 The baby^s tongue was chattering 
 
 As fast as it could go. 
 Of things she meant to have and do 
 
 When older she should grow. 
 
 " Xed says I's half-past free/^ she cried, 
 
 And tossed her yellow curls, 
 " An' when I's ten I'll be as bid 
 
 As all ze dreat bid dirls I'' 
 
 Then grandma's eyes grew sad and dim: 
 
 '^ Dear pet, when you are ten 
 I'll be so old I scarce can walk. 
 
 Oh, what will I do then ?" 
 
 O'er baby's face the shadow fell 
 Of wondering, troubled thought ; 
 
 But soon she brightened, she had found 
 The comfort that she sought: 
 
 " Why, dram'ma, don't oo fink," she cried. 
 
 With baby logic deep, 
 " Tj^'dX when oo can't walk any more 
 
 Oo'd better learn to creey f 
 
 Carrie Blake Morgan. 
 
 LITTLE LIZETTE. 
 As little Lizette was out walking one day, 
 Attired with great splendor in festival array, 
 She met little Gretchen, in sober-hued gown. 
 With a basket of eggs, trudging off to the town. 
 
li 
 
 132 Readings and Recitatiofis for Juniors. ™ 
 
 ^"^ Good-morning ! Good-morning !" cried little 
 
 Lizette, 
 '^ You haven^t been over to visit me yet. 
 Come over and live with me always ; pray do ; 
 For I have no sisters ; how many have you V^ 
 
 ^^Nein/^ answered wee Gretchen. Lizette cried, 
 
 '' Ah, me ! 
 I have to pretend I have sisters, you see. 
 But try as I will, I can^t make it seem true. 
 And I have no brothers. How many have you V^ 
 
 " Nein/^ answered wee Gretchen. " Nine I^^ echoed 
 
 Lizette, 
 " Why, you are the luckiest girl I have met ! 
 And have you a baby at home, tell me now?^^ 
 " Nein,^^ answered wee Gretchen, and made a droll ' 
 
 bow. 
 
 Then lingered Lizette by the roadside that day, 
 To watch the wee maiden go trudging away. 
 ^^Nine brothers, nine sisters, nine babies to pet ! 
 Oh, I wish I was Gretchen I'^ sighed little Lizette. j 
 
 Kaiherine S. Alcorn. 
 
 Printed by Benziger Brothers, JNew YoiTs. 
 
 
 T\