down to drink, dipping their long beards in the spring. The richest goblet then was of birch bark. 11. Governor Winthrop drank here, out of the hollow of his hand. The elder Higginson here wet his palm and laid it on the brow of the first town-born child. For many years it was the watering place, and, as it were, the washbowl of the vicinity, whither all decent folks resorted to purify their visages, and gaze at them afterward—at least the pretty maidens did-in the mirror which it made. On Sabbath days, whenever a babe was to be baptized, the sexton filled his basin here, and placed it on the communion table of the humble meetinghouse which partly covered the site of yonder stately brick one. Thus one generation after another was consecrated to Heaven by its waters, and cast its waxing and waning shadows into its glassy bosom, and vanished from the earth as if mortal life were but a flitting image in a fountain. Finally, the fountain vanished also. Cellars were dug on all sides, and cart loads of gravel flung upon its source, whence oozed a turbid stream, forming a mud puddle at the corner of two streets. 12. In the hot months, when its refreshment was most needed, the dust flew in clouds over the forgotten birthplace of the waters, now their grave. But in the course of time a Town Pump was sunk into the source of the ancient spring; and when the first decayed, another took its place, and then another, and still another, till here stand I, gentlemen and ladies, to serve you, with my iron goblet. Drink, and be refreshed! The water is pure and cold as that which slaked the thirst of the red Sagamore beneath the aged boughs, though now the gem of the wilderness is treasured under these hot stones, where no shadow falls but from the brick buildings. And be it the moral of my story, that, as the wasted and long-lost fountain is now known and prized again, so shall the virtues of cold water, too little valued since your fathers' days, be recognized by all. 13. Your pardon, good people! I must interrupt my stream of eloquence, and spout forth a stream of water, to replenish the trough for this teamster and his two yoke of oxen, who have come from Topsfield, or somewhere along that way. No part of my business is pleasanter than the watering of cattle. Look! how rapidly they lower the watermark on the sides of the trough, till their capacious stomachs are moistened with a gallon or two apiece, and they can afford time to breathe it in with. sighs of calm enjoyment. Now they roll their quiet eyes around the brim of their monstrous drinking vessel. An ox is your true toper. Nathaniel Hawthorne. NOTE. In cases where a long and difficult lesson is met with, it is suggested that the piece be treated as a whole, but considered, first, in regard to its words (spelling and pronunciation); second, in regard to forms and technicalities (language lessons); third, in regard to the meaning of the words as they are used in the piece; fourth, the historical, biographical, and other allusions; fifth, the style and thought of the piece; sixth, its elocution. In this way a piece like the one here given may profitably occupy the time of six recitations, and the pupil learn more from it than from a dozen easy pieces. FOR PREPARATION.-I. The author of this piece ranks as the first of American prose writers. Explain the allusions to "March meeting" (1) (for choosing town officers); "town treasurer" (2); "dramseller on the mall at muster day " (măll, a public shaded walk); “Cognac" (5); “Endicott" and "Winthrop " (11); "Sagamore" (12). Locate Salem on your map (the scene of this "stream of eloquence "), and the other places mentioned. II. Explain spelling and pronunciation of trough (trawf), phy-şi’cian (fi-zish'un), Єo'-gnae (kōn'yák), fi'-er-y, fĕr'-ule (fĕr'ril), leaf-strewn (-strun), prě ́-cious (prèsh ́us), buşi'-ness (biz'nes), çěl'-larş, ōōzed, rěm-inis'-çen-çeş. III. Explain the composition of the words tiptop, manifold, rightfully, outcry, darksome, immemorial. IV. Give, in your own words, the meaning of perpetuity, guardian, promulgating, municipality, trudged, potations, rubicund, miniature, Tophet, hospitality, titillation of the gout (see XLVIII., note I.), vicinity, consecrated, interrupt, replenish. V. Who is talking in this piece? Explain the metaphors, "birthplace of waters, now their grave" (12); "stream of eloquence" (13). Explain the assertions in verses 2, 3, 4, and 5, showing in what sense the Pump can boast of being "the head of the fire department," "physician of the board of health," etc., etc. Follow out the personification of the Pump in each Note the style of the piece, and account for its liveliness. Change one of the paragraphs into a dull, monotonous one, expressing the same ideas. verse. LXXXVI. THE EVE BEFORE WATERLOO. 1. There was a sound of revelry by night, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, But, hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell! 2. Did ye not hear it?-No; 'twas but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. On with the dance! let joy be unconfined; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is-it is the cannon's opening roar! 3. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, 4. And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, 5. And wild and high the "Cameron's Gathering" rose! And Evan's, Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears! 6. And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves, Ere evening to be trodden like the grass grow And burning with high hope, shall molder cold and low. 7. Last noon beheld them full of lusty life, The midnight brought the signal sound of strife- The thunderclouds close o'er it, which when rent 66 FOR PREPARATION.-I. An extract from "Childe Harold," Canto III. Locate on the map the scenes of this poem. How far from Belgium's capital? (LXXXVIII.). "Lochiel "; Albyn's hills, and her Saxon foes"; "Cameron's Gathering"; "pibroch"; "Evan's, Donald's fame "—explain these allusions. This forest of Ardennes (probably the same as Shakespeare's forest of Arden) is the wood of Soignies. Have you read, in Thackeray's "Vanity Fair," the description he gives of this night in Brussels ? (The occasion was the ball given by the Duchess of Richmond. Wellington told his officers to be present, as he wished to conceal from the people of Brussels the near approach of the battle.) II. Chiv'-al-ry (shiv'-), vo-lup'-tu-ous, glow'-ing, squad'-ron, Loehiēl', Al′-byn (ǎl'bin), pi'-broeh, Ar-děnnes' (-děn ́), griēv'-ing, vẽr'-dure, bur'-i-al (běr'ri-al). III. Explain the effect of the dashes and exclamation points in this piece. IV. Revelry, chivalry, squadron, impetuous, clansman, blent (blended). V. Note the coloring of the picture: first, the revelry; beauty and chivalry; happy hearts; music and merry social intercourse; each one absorbed in the pleasure of the moment, thoughtless of the welfare of the country or |