Chapter 99 of 129
LESSON LXXXVIII.
Sanders' Union Fourth Reader Embracing a Full Exposition of the Principles of Rhetorical Reading; with Numerous Exercises for Practice, Both in Prose and Poetry, Various in Style, and Carefully Adapted to the Purposes of Teaching in Schools of Every Grade · Charles W. (Charles Walton) Sanders
AN' THEM, ode; song.
DAUNT' LESS, bold; fearless.
WAG' ED, carried on.
UN AW' ED, undismayed.
SCROLL, roll of paper; document.
COUNT' LESS, unnumbered.
ROY' AL, regal; noble.
U' NI VERSE, whole creation.
BAF' FLED, frustrated.
TY RAN' NIC, oppressive; despotic.
CURB, check; restrain.
SUC CEED' ING, following.
HURL' ED, thrown.
PEAL' ED, resounded.
[Headnote 1: HEL' LES PONT, now the Dardanelles, a narrow strait between Asia and Europe.]
[Headnote 2: XER' XES, (zerks' ees,) the celebrated king of Persia, during his famous expedition into Greece, caused a bridge of boats to be built over the Hellespont; but the work having been destroyed by a storm, he was greatly enraged against the sea, and ordered it to be lashed, and fetters to be cast into it to restrain its violence.]
THE ARMY OF REFORM.
SARAH JANE LIPPINCOTT.
1. Yes, ye are few,—and they were few,
Who, daring storm and sea,
Once raised upon old Plymouth rock
"The anthem of the free."
2. And they were few at Lexington,
To battle, or to die,—
That lightning-flash, that thunder-peal,
Told that the storm was nigh.
3. And they were few, who dauntless stood,
Upon old Bunkers hight,
And waged with Britain's strength and pride
The fierce, unequal fight.
4. And they were few, who, all unawed
By kingly "rights divine,"
The Declaration, rebel scroll,[1]
Untrembling dared to sign.
5. Yes, ye are few; for one proud glance
Can take in all your band,
As now against a countless host,
Firm, true, and calm, ye stand.
6. Unmoved by Folly's idiot laugh,
Hate's curse, or Envy's frown,—
Wearing your rights as royal robes,
Your manhood as a crown,—
7. With eyes whose gaze, unvailed by mists,
Still rises, clearer, higher,—
With stainless hands, and lips that Truth
Hath touched with living fire,—
8. With one high hope, that ever shines
Before you as a star,—
One prayer of faith, one fount of strength,
A glorious few ye are! 9. Ye dare not fear, ye can not fail,
Your destiny ye bind
To that sublime, eternal law
That rules the march of mind.
10. See yon bold eagle toward the sun
Now rising free and strong,
And see yon mighty river roll
Its sounding tide along!
11. Ah! yet near earth the eagle tires,
Lost in the sea, the river;
But naught can stay the human mind,—
'Tis upward, onward, ever!12. It yet shall tread the starlit paths,
By highest angels trod,
And pause but at the farthest world
In the universe of God.
13. 'Tis said that Persia's baffled king,
In mad, tyrannic pride,
Cast fetters on the Hellespont,[Headnote 1]
To curb its swelling tide:
14. But freedom's own true spirit heaves
The bosom of the main;
It tossed those fetters to the skies,
And bounded on again!
15. The scorn of each succeeding age
On Xerxes'[Headnote 2] head was hurled,
And o'er that foolish deed has pealed
The long laugh of a world.
16. Thus, thus, defeat, and scorn, and shame,
Is his, who strives to bind
The restless, leaping waves of thought, The free tide of the mind.
[Footnote 1: The reference is to the Declaration of Independence, made July 4th, 1776.]
QUESTIONS.—1. Who raised the anthem of the free on Plymouth Rock? 2. What is said of the few on Bunker's Hight? 3. How many signed the Declaration of Independence? Ans. 56. 4. What is said of the eagle? 5. Of the human mind? 6. Of Freedom? 7. Where is the Hellespont?