One, 'midst the forests of the 'West, The "Indian knows his place of rest, The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one! One sleeps where southern 'vines are drest " He wrapt his 'colours round his breast And one-o'er her the "myrtle showers And parted thus they rest, who played They that with smiles lit up the "hall, And nought beyond, O Earth! 17 Mrs. Hemans. Take each verse and turn it into prose, telling the story of the four children-describe their early life, and trace the history of each to its close. What consolation remains to those who lose their dear ones? Give an account of the author. 5 1 household, a family. 2 severed, separated; divided; parted. 3 each folded flower, each child. West, North America. Indian, native of North America; very probably this son was slain by a Red Indian. pearls are gems obtained from the pearl oyster, and occasionally from the common oyster and other shell fish. The pearl oyster is found most plentifully in the Indian Ocean, 7 vines, grape trees. he wrapt, etc. He died fighting bravely, and folded the colours around him to save them from the enemy. 9 10 colours, flag; ensign; or standard of the regiment. Spain, a country in the south-west of Europe, once the scene of many battles between the English and the French. myrtle, a shrub bearing small glossy dark-green leaves and fragrant blossoms. 12 faded, died gradually. 13 Italian flowers, flowers of Italy, a country Europe, remarkable for its warm climate and 14 hall, a large room at the entrance of a house or palace. 15 hearth, fireside. 16 thou, earth. "Mrs. Hemans. Felicia Hemans was born at Liverpool in the year 1794. (see app.) at the south of lovely scenery. "WHAT do you think aunt has sent us?" cried Rose to her elder sister Ann, as she held up a parcel. "I can't tell," said Ann. "Then look! first, here is a little letter-a note; and secondly, here is a new instruction book. Aunt says that she has marked one of the best pieces, and that we are to learn it by the end of next week, when she will be coming back to town. I shall soon learn it!" said Rose. "It seems rather difficult," said Ann; "it will take me a long time; but-ah! that is very pleasant. Aunt has marked the fingering all the way through,-1, 2, 3, 4, and x for the thumb." "Well, I will begin at once," said Rose, "I will run it over, while you go on with your soon crochet." Ann listened to Rose as she played, and thought that it was very quick work. When Rose came to a bar which was rather difficult, it was so "run over," that it was spoiled. "But you are not counting!" said Ann. "No, I can play without that," said Rose. "Listen to this part! Is it not pretty? I call it delightful." "Yes; but if you were to finger it—just as aunt has marked it here-I think that it would sound better still." "So it would, perhaps, and I think I'll attend to that soon; but I want now to get an idea of the tune." "Yes, it is a very nice tune indeed—so hear me make the piano go!" The unfortunate piano had no 2 alternative but to "go;" so it gave forth the best sounds it could in return for her thumps: indeed, it went on rather strangely. Some of the sharps were sounded rather flat; the flats were played as naturals, and sounded quite unnatural ; there were sad accidents with the accidentals, for some were lost in the crowd. The soft and loud parts were all treated alike; and if any parts were wrong, the keys were thumped again to make them "go" right. Thus, after shaking her head, shaking her elbows, knocking her feet together to beat time; and keeping her body, limbs, eyes, head, and ; hair in motion in a peculiar manner for half an hour, Rose felt that she could not possibly go on any longer. She jumped off her stool, feeling hot and tired, and ran to have a roll on the grass. "I think," said her little brother James, "that you have learned that tune very quickly!" "To be sure I have-I learn very fast; I like always to do things at once!" "I like to do things at once, sometimes," said Ann, "but not always. There are many things which were not intended to be done directly-they require a long time in doing." The next day came, and Rose sat down again to her new piece. This time it was not quite so interesting, because she knew the tune: she played it through several times, but so quickly that she was soon tired, and left the piano after practising only twenty minutes. The day after she practised no longer than a quarter of an hour. The difficult bars were tried for a little while by themselves. Rose thought then that she ought to notice the fingering, which her aunt marked, but by this time she had heard what she thought was the tune so often, that she was rather too tired to begin it again. "Oh, Rose!" said Ann, on the fourth day, "you had better not leave off yet. I was afraid, when you were so delighted with the piece at first, and began to practise so fast, that you would not practise it long!" But," said Rose, "I know it now perfectly." When Ann sat down to practise the same piece, she began very differently. It cost her much more time. She slowly noticed the "fingering," and soon played the first three bars; but the fourth bar was not to be done so soon. She tried it three "At the end of an hour she could only play seven bars, but they were all played well." (p. 95. times, then six, and then six times more, but would not give it up nor pass it over to go on to the next. So, at the end of an hour, she had made very slow progress, and could only play seven bars, but they were all played well. |