And friends, dear friends, when it shall be Say, "Not a tear must o'er her fall! -Elizabeth Barrett Browning. NOTES 1. Collect other instances than those given in the introduction to show a higher appreciation of sleep. 2. "He giveth His beloved sleep."- Psalm cxxvii. 3. Be prepared to explain clearly the meanings of the following: surpassing, star-tuned harp, undisproved, overweep, blasted, doleful, wailing, delvèd gold, wailer's heap, confirmed, erst, wearied vision. EXERCISES 1. What is the meaning of "afar," in line 2? 2. Define "grace" as used in line 5. 3. Do we find any answer to the question in line 7? 4. Are there any suggested answers? 5. What is the inference to be drawn from line 12? 6. Explain carefully the meaning of, "A little faith all undisproved!" 7. How do we give our friends, "A little dust to overweep"? 8. What do the questions in the second stanza concern? 9. The statements in stanza 3? 10. What is the emphatic word in lines 12 and 18? 11. What things are compared in stanza 4? 12. What are the things calculated to do, which we find mentioned in stanza 5? 13. What is told us of God's power in this stanza? 14. What is done in stanza 6? 15. What is the central thought in the first two lines of stanza 7? 16. How do the angels account for the phenomenon? 17. What words do they render emphatic? 18. What characteristic of the author is shown in stanza 8? 19. Why does she leave her injunction to the most loving of them all? 20. Why does she express such a wish at all? ADDITIONAL READINGS WHITTIER: The Eternal Goodness. DICKENS: The Death of Little Nell. Death of Paul Dombey. GRIMM BROTHERS: The Sleeping Beauty. ROSSETTI: Sleep at Sea. POE: A Dream Within a Dream. SERVICE All service ranks the same with God: If now, as formerly he trod Paradise, his presence fills Our earth, each only as God wills Can work-God's puppets, best and worst, -From Browning's "Pippa Passes." LOW AIM IS CRIME Life is a leaf of paper white Not failure, but low aim, is crime. -Anonymous. SWEET AND LOW THIS HIS sweet little "Song of the Mother" breathes forth "all the wealth of motherlove in numbers so sweet and low" that one is "carried back to his infancy, to eventide and to lullabies from lips that have long since ceased to sing," and to days when a faithful, patient mother awaited a father's return to home and love. Great artists have glorified motherhood and childhood in their "Madonnas," but this beautiful little song equally exalts fatherhood. The cradle motion of the song but lends a further touch of exquisite beauty and charm. When the song is set to appropriate music, it seems that music, motion, and message blend into the sweet, restful quiet of an evening prayer. SWEET AND LOW Sweet and low, sweet and low, Wind of the western sea! Over the rolling waters go, Come from the dying moon, and blow, Blow him again to me; While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps. Sleep and rest, sleep and rest, Father will come to thee soon; Father will come to his babe in the nest, Under the silver moon: Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep. -Alfred Tennyson. EXERCISES 1. What tells the time of day? 2. How is the cradle-motion brought out in the poem? 3. What vivid picture does this poem recall to each of us? 4. What effect do the first words of the song produce upon us? 5. What is the central figure in this little family group? 6. What passages prompt us to idealize motherhood? works of art suggest the same idea? 7. What passages equally exalt fatherhood? 8 What gives this little gem its charm? ADDITIONAL READINGS What FIELD: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. Old English Lullaby. Norse Lullaby. Japanese Lullaby. SCOTT: Lullaby of an Infant Chief. KIPLING Lines to the Seal. RANKIN: The Babie. GEORGE MACDONALD: Baby. HOLLAND: Lullaby. RILEY: Slumber Song. THE DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN* THERE is something humorous in the awe with which almost every one views the rich man or the man of lofty station. The world recognizes the folly of empty titles or falsely acquired wealth, yet the world makes its best bow to the purse and to the sceptre. Notwithstanding this, there is one reckoning that must be made in common by millionaire and clown; by prince and peasant. When Death approaches, gold, station, pride, all earthly vanities appear in their true values and help not at all to ward off the threatened stroke. This pathetic little story tells us of the powerlessness of even the most powerful to resist death, and sets forth the emptiness of titles, place, and authority in the presence of the Great Messenger. The little Dauphin' is the prince royal heir to the throne of France. He is guarded and cared for like a king. He has been educated to succeed his father as king. He has been trained to put his trust in cannons, in swords and in soldiers, in titles and in money. This story tells the extent to which he can rely on these things to keep Death from him. 1Pronounced dô'fin. *From "Letters from my Mill" by Daudet. Used by the courteous permission of Little, Brown & Company. Copyright, 1899, 1900. |