Bower, a shady enclosure or recess in a garden; the homes appear, from the number of trees surrounding them, as if they were built in a bower. Silvery brooks, the Hamlet-fane, the vil- Nook, a quiet little Lowly, the poor. Eaves, that part of the roof which juts beyond the walls. Hearts of native proof, brave, strong men. Hallowed, looked upon as being holy. The blessed Homes of England! That breathes from Sabbath hours! Of breeze and leaf are born. The cottage Homes of England ! They are smiling o'er the silvery brooks,* Through glowing orchards* forth they peep, * And fearless there the lowly sleep, As the bird beneath their eaves.* The free, fair Homes of England; And green for ever be the groves, And bright the flowery sod, Where first the child's glad spirit loves 20 25 30 35 · 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. On 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 Creeping where grim death has been, Whole ages have fled, and their works decay'd, But the stout old Ivy shall never fade 25 The brave old plant in its lonely days 30 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. A CHIEFTAIN,* to the Highlands* bound, 5 "Now, who be ye would cross Lochgyle,* 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, Out spoke the hardy Highland wight:* It is not for your silver bright, But for your winsome * lady : "And, by my word, the bonny bird So, though the waves are raging white, By this the storm grew loud apace, But still as wilder blew the wind, "Oh! haste thee, haste!" the lady cries, The boat has left a stormy land, When, oh! too strong for human hand, * And still they rowed amidst the roar Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore, was changed to wailing.* 20 25 330 35 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, "Across this stormy water; And I'll forgive your Highland chief; My daughter!-oh! my daughter!" 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 30 135 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 ! 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, Coulter, plough-iron. Stibble, stalks of corn left in the ground after reaping. But house, &c., without a dwelling place. Thole, bear. Cranreuch, hoarfrost. Dew, the moisture which falls upon the earth from the air, chiefly at night. Espied, saw. Kine, cows. Tether'd, fastened. THE PET LAMB.-Wordsworth. THE dew* was falling fast, the stars began to I heard a voice; it said "Drink, pretty creature, And looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied * 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 such a tone That I almost received her heart into my own. I watch'd them with delight, they were a lovely pair; 5 ΙΟ Now with her empty can the maiden turn'd away; 15 she stay. |