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And down upon the fragant sod

Kneels, with his forehead to the south,
Lisping the eternal name of God

From purity's own cherub mouth;
And looking, while his hands and eyes
Are lifted to the glowing skies,
Like a stray babe of Paradise
Just lighted on that flowery plain,
And seeking for its home again!

And how felt he, the wretched man
Reclining there—while memory ran
O'er many a year of guilt and strife
Flew o'er the dark flood of his life,
Nor found one sunny resting-place,
Nor brought him back one branch of grace :
"There was a time," he said in mild,
Heart-humbled tones, "thou blessèd child!
When young and haply pure as thou,
I looked and prayed like thee-but now-
He hung his head; each nobler aim

And hope and feeling, which had slept
From boyhood's hour, that instant came
Fresh o'er him, and he wept-he wept!

Blest tears of soul-felt penitence!1
In whose benign, redeeming flow
Is felt the first, the only sense

Of guiltless joy that guilt can know.

And now, behold him kneeling there
By the child's side, in humble prayer,
While the same sunbeam shines upon
The guilty and the guiltless one,
And hymns of joy proclaim through heaven
The triumph of a soul forgiven!

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Penitence, sorrow or grief of heart for sin; repentance.

'Twas when the golden orb had set,
While on their knees they lingered yet,
There fell a light-more lovely far
Than ever came from sun or star-
Upon the tear that, warm and meek,
Dewed that repentant sinner's cheek:
To mortal eye this light might seem
A northern flash1 or meteor2 beam3 ;
But well the enraptured Peri knew
'Twas a bright smile the angel threw
From heaven's gate, to hail that tear--
Her harbinger of glory near!

"Joy, joy for ever! my task is done,

The gates are passed, and heaven is won."

Northern flash, northern lights, or the aurora borealis; a bright appearance which is seen in the heavens of polar regions, and occasionally, in a less remarkable manner, in the skies of countries at a considerable distance from the poles. Within the polar circles this phenomenon has a remarkably beautiful appearance. Its cause is assigned to electricity. 2 Meteor. All phenomena which are produced in the atmosphere are called meteors. They may be arranged in three classes:-1st, winds, hurricanes, whirlwinds, etc. 2nd, Fogs, clouds, rain, dew, snow, etc. 3rd, Lightning, the rainbow, the aurora borealis, "falling stars." 3 Meteor beam, the brilliant flash of the lightning, or the light from a "falling or shooting star." Harbinger, forerunner.

150

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

ON THE

EXPLANATORY POETICAL READER.

After the reading and explanation of a poem, the pupil is to write, without referring to the text, careful answers to the questions upon the poem here added.

A PSALM OF LIFE, p. 5.

Give the meanings of the following terms :--mournful numbers, empty dream, goal, destined end, fleeting, achieving. What do you understand by "the world's broad field of battle," "the bivouac of life," "a hero in the strife," "Footprints on the sands of time"? Mention the name of a man who has left "footprints on the sands of time." Explain as clearly as you can the line " Heart within, and God o'er head!" What lesson should you learn from this poem?

ABOU BEN ADHEM AND THE ANGEL, p. 6.

Relate the story in your own words.

THE PALMER, p. 7.

Explain the following terms:-palmer, glen, drifted snow, outlaw, frail, ranger. Write out the poem from memory in your own words. Where and what is Ettrick? What do you understand by vapours dank?

THE SOLDIER'S DREAM, p. 9.

Write from memory, the "Soldier's Dream," in prose. Give explanations of the following words or terms:-bugles, truce, night cloud, lowered, sentinel, wolf-scaring fagot, vision, thrice, desolate, home of my fathers, traversed, life's morning march, fain, dreaming ear. Give as nearly as you can the meaning of the sentence," When my bosom was young." Why does the soldier say the bugles sang truce, instead of announced or gave the signal for a truce?

THE LAST BUCCANIER, p. 10.

Where and what are the following:-England, Avés, Spanish Main, Spain, Bristol? "From Indian folk of old:" who are the people here referred to? Explain-craft, valiant, loyally, keelhaul, colibris, booms, main. Who were the buccaniers?

THOSE EVENING BELLS, p. 11.

Where is the poet supposed to be when writing these lines? Explain the meaning of youth, home, sweet time, soothing chime, a gay heart; also of the line, "Other bards shall walk these dells."

SPEAK NO ILL, p. 12.

In the first verse "better seed" is spoken of. What do you understand by that phrase; and how does the poet tell you it may be sown? Give an explanation of-higher mood, estimate, tran sient day. What lesson may be learnt from the poem?

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH, p. 13.

Explain the words:-spreading, brawny, measured, repose Write out the substance of the piece.

MEN OF ENGLAND, p. 14.

Who were Hampden, Russell, and Sydney?

court? tyranny.

What was AginGive the meanings of trophy, breach, civic hero, and

ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST, p. 16.

Write out the story in your own words; also give the meanings of-housed in azure, troth, donned, sooth.

LATE, LATE, p. 18.

Relate the incident upon which these lines are founded.

THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS, p. 18.

Explain the following:-schooner, skipper, veering flaw, port, hurricane, amain, spar, reef, shrouds, breakers, aghast. Where is the Lake of Galilee? State exactly the position of the Spanish Main.

TO A DOG ON KILLING HIS BIRD, p. 21.

Who is supposed to repeat these lines, and to whom? Give the substance of the lines in your own words.

BEAU'S REPLY, p. 22.

Write out "Beau's Reply," from memory, in your own words.

THE HOUND, p. 23.

Expand the incident related into a short story, giving names to master and dog, and introducing any circumstance that will add to the interest of your narrative. Write meanings of lance, shield, crouched, gory, dust, vultures, lust, prone, talons.

THE THREE FISHERS, p. 24.

What is a lighthouse?

Explain harbour-bar, squall, night

rack. Write out a short story founded on this poem.

THE OLD COTTAGE CLOCK, p. 25.

Write down the meanings of-chime, monitor, falter, beguile, tiresome. What lesson do you learn from this poem?

THE INCHCAPE ROCK, p. 26.

Write from memory the story in prose. Explain keel, abbot. buoy, surge, perilous, mariner, excess, scoured the sea, haze, gale, breakers, drift.

REPORT OF AN ADJUDGED CASE, p. 28.

Write down the meanings of contest, argue, Chief Baron, behalf, court, plead, arguments, visage.

CASABIANCA, p. 29.

Relate the story in your own words. Explain heroic blood, shroud, pennon.

LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER, p. 31.

Where are the Highlands? Explain the following words,chieftain, glen, heather, wight.

HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS, p. 33.

Where are the following places,-Ghent, Aix-la-Chapelle, Düffeld, Mechlin, and Hasselt? Give explanations of the following terms:-postern, pique, whit, bluff river headland, askance, holster burgesses, common consent.

THE WIND IN A FROLIC, p. 35.

Give the meanings of the following words,-commotion, spray, mishaps, billowy, salute.

THE TOAD'S JOURNAL, p. 37.

Describe the occurrences which have given rise to these verses. Explain antiquities, and give an example of an antiquity. Write down the meanings of entombed and disclose. What towns have been entombed and partly disclosed? Explain also, antiquarian, brevity, century, kindred, enchanting.

THE SANDS o' DEE, p. 39.

What is the Dee? Paraphrase the sentence, "The western wind was wild and dank with foam." Why was the journey across the sands dangerous?

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