was now planned and written by Irving? Name Irving's other wellknown historical work, finished just before his death. What lighter book was written by Irving while in Spain? Why was this book so named? What political appointment did Irving receive in acknowledgment of his literary genius? To what man's influence was this appointment due? Why was Irving given this particular appointment rather than one of equal rank elsewhere? Upon the completion of this service and his return to America, where did Irving make his home? Where can we find his own description of this home? Why was Irving never married? Name the three leading characters of the selection studied in class. In what book did this story first appear? Name another famous story found in this book. Upon what class of writing does Irving's fame principally rest? Where and when did Irving die? Give a quotation from Irving. THE ARROW AND THE SONG I SHOT an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight I breathed a song into the air, Long, long afterward, in an oak -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow THE DEACON'S MASTERPIECE (This humorous poem introduces to us one of the brightest and wittiest authors that our country has produced. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a physician as well as an author, and he believed that it is as necessary to laugh occasionally as it is to eat. You will get many a hearty laugh from his poems, and from The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, his most pleasing book. Dr. Holmes could be serious, too, and sometimes in his writings he mingles fun and sadness in a most surprising way. Be on the lookout for this strange combination in the two poems which follow this one, and in your further reading of Dr. Holmes' poems and books.) AVE you heard of the wonderful one-hoss shay,° HA That was built in such a logical way It ran a hundred years to a day, And then, of a sudden, it-ah, but stay, I'll tell you what happened without delay,. Frightening people out of their wits, Have you ever heard of that, I say? Seventeen hundred and fifty-five. Georgius Secundus* was then alive,- Now in building of chaises, I tell you what, In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill, In panel, or crossbar, or floor, or sill, *All words marked with a star are found in Pronunciation of Names at the back of the book. In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace,°—lurking still, But the Deacon swore (as deacons do, It should be so built that it couldn' break daown; T' make that place uz strong uz the rest." So the Deacon inquired of the village folk That couldn't be split nor bent nor broke,— That was for spokes and floor and sills; He sent for lancewood to make the thills;° The crossbars were ash, from the straightest trees, The hubs of logs from the "Settler's ellum," And the wedges flew from beneath their lips, Thoroughbrace bison-skin, thick and wide; Boot, top, dasher, from tough old hide Do! I tell you, I rather guess She was a wonder, and nothing less! Colts grew horses, beards turned gray, Children and grandchildren-where were they? EIGHTEEN HUNDRED;-it came and found And then come fifty and FIFTY FIVE. Wakes on the morn of its hundredth year FIRST OF NOVEMBER,-the Earthquake Day,-- A general flavor of mild decay, But nothing local, as one might say. There couldn't be,--for the Deacon's art That there wasn't a chance for one to start. |