The blessed Homes of England! That breathes from Sabbath hours! Floats through their woods at morn; Of breeze and leaf are born. The cottage Honies of England! They are smiling o'er the silvery brooks,* Through glowing orchards* forth they peep, And fearless there the lowly* sleep, The free, fair Homes of England; And green for ever be the groves, Where first the child's glad spirit loves .40 THE IVY GREEN.-Dickens. CHARLES DICKENS (1812-1870), a native of Landport, Portsmouth. In early life he was connected with the press as a parliamentary reporter. The Pickwick Papers early established his reputation as the greatest living humorist. He was admired by a universal circle of readers. Chief works: Nicholas Nickleby, Old Curiosity Shop, David Copperfield, Dombey and Son, Bleak House, &c. Dainty, being very Ivy, an evergreen Whim, a fancy, a sudden change of the mind. Rare, uncommon. Он a dainty * plant is the Ivy * green, That creepeth o'er ruins old! On right choice food are his meals, I ween,* In his cell so lone and cold. The walls must be crumbled, the stones decay'd, 5 And the mould'ring dust that years have made Creeping where no life is seen, A rare * old plant is the Ivy green. ΙΟ Fast he stealeth on, though he wears no wings, 20 25 30 Creeping where grim death has been, Whole ages have fled, and their works decay'd, For the stateliest building man can raise Creeping on where time has been, A rare old plant is the Ivy green. Staunch, trusty, sound, firm. Hug, to clasp tightly. Hale, healthy.] LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER.-Campbell. THOMAS CAMPBELL (1777-1844) was a native of Glasgow, and rose to early fame by the publication of his Pleasures of Hope in 1799. Other poems: Gertrude of Wyoming, a tale of Pennsylvania; Theodoric, a Swiss story; and a number of lyrics, which are, perhaps, the finest in the language. 5 ΙΟ A CHIEFTAIN,* to the Highlands * bound, To row us o'er the ferry.' "Now, who be ye would cross Lochgyle,* Three days we've fled together; Chieftain, the head of a clan. Highlands, the mourtainous districts in the north and west of Scotland. Ferry, a place where people are rowed across a water. Lochgyle, a small arm of the sea which runs off in a north-west direction from Loch Long. Ulvi's isle, a small Glen, a narrow valley Heather, the heath, Prevailing, gaining Aid, help. Vain, useless. Lamenting, mourning loudly. But not an angry The boat has left a stormy land, A stormy sea before her When, oh! too strong for human hand, * 40 For sore dismayed* through storm and shade, 45 One lovely hand she stretched for aid,* And one was round her lover. "Come back! come back!" he cried in grief, And I'll forgive your Highland chief; 22 50 'Twas vain the loud waves lashed the shore, Return or aid preventing; The waters wild went o'er his child, And he was left lamenting.* 55 TO A FIELD MOUSE.-Burns. ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796), the great lyric poet of Scotland, was the son of a small farmer in Ayrshire. He owed little or nothing to education, and, in his genius, followed the impulse of nature alone. Chief poems: Hallowe'en, The Cottar's Saturday Night, Tam o' Shanter, and a magnificent collection of songs. 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 30 $35 WEE,* sleekit, cow'rin',* tim'rous beastie,* Wi' bickering brattle ! * I wad be laith* to rin and chase thee I'm truly sorry man's dominion Which makes thee startle At me, thy poor earth-born companion, I doubt na, whyles,* but thou may thieve; 'S a sma' request : I'll get a blessin' wi' the lave,* Thy wee bit housie, too, in ruin ! * Its silly wa's the win's are strewin': And bleak December's winds ensuin',* Thou saw the fields laid bare and waste, * And cozie here, beneath the blast, Thou thought to dwell, Till, crash! the cruel coulter* past That wee bit heap o' leaves and stibble* To thole* the winter's sleety dribble Wee, very little. Beastie, little beast. Laith, unwilling. Pattle, the stick used for clearing away the clodsfrom the plough, Whyles, sometimes. A daimen icker, &c., Wa's, walls. Foggage, after-grass. Ensuin', coming on. Snell, biting. Cozie, comfortable, happy. Coulter, plough-iron. Cell, nest. Stibble, stalks of corn Dew, the moisture which falls upon the earth from the air, chiefly at night. Espied, saw. Kine, cows. Tether'd, fastened. THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to I heard a voice; it said "Drink, pretty creature, drink!" * And looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied its side. * Nor sheep, nor kine were near; the lamb was And by a slender cord was tether'd * to a stone; While to that mountain lamb she gave its even- The lamb, while from her hand he thus his Seem'd to feast with head and ears; and his tail "Drink, pretty creature, drink!" she said in such a tone That I almost received her heart into my own. 'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of I watch'd them with delight, they were a lovely pair; Now with her empty can the maiden turn'd away; 15/ she stay. |