aring which he exhibited in military e brilliant victories he achieved, but spirit which, in the rescue of that in the more august events of his life, RGE WASHINGTON. ld have been nothing to him (Washington) that avorites out-numbered, or out-looked, or outred those of other leaders. He had no favorites, ip; and, acting honestly for the universal goo, had so richly enjoyed, the universal love." etokened compact cautiously catastrophe flaxen reclining Longfellow, born in 1807, was educated at Bowor several years in Europe. He is a most accomd his poems show the influence of his philological derful nicety of epithet and elaborate finish, and in their fidelity to the matter and spirit of the non-Catholic poets he is the most liberal, and with the Catholic spirit when singing on religious ident in "Evangeline," "Robert of Sicily," "The nd many other of his poems. "Tales of a Way-side ton in Armor," "Evangeline," "The Launching he Village Blacksmith," "Excelsior" and "Paul his most widely read poems. EN, my children, and you shall hear the midnight ride of Paul Revere, ighteenth of April, in seventy-five ;man is now alive nembers that famous day and year. to his friend, "If the British march or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch وو Then said he, "good-night!" and with muffled oar And a huge black hulk that was magnified Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street, Then he climbed to the tower of the church, Beneath, in the church-yard, lay the dead, And seeming to whisper, "All is well!" Of the place and the hour, and the secret dread For suddenly all his thoughts are bent Now he patted his horse's side, And lo! as he looks on the belfry's height, A hurry of hoofs in a village street, A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark, Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet: That was all! And yet through the gloom and the light, The fate of a nation was riding that night; And the spark struck out by that steed in his flight He has left the village, and mounted the steep, Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge, It was twelve by the village clock When he crossed the bridge into Medford town. And the barking of the farmer's dog, It was one by the village clock Swim in the moonlight as he passed, And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare, Gaze at him with a spectral glare, As if they already stood aghast At the bloody work they would look upon. It was two by the village clock When he came to the bridge in Concord town. He heard the bleating of the flock, And the twitter of birds among the trees, 66 Who at the bridge would be first to fall, You know the rest. In the books you have read So through the night rode Paul Revere; A cry of defiance, and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, And the midnight message of Paul Revere. Questions: When did the events here narrated take place? Where did they take place? Why did Paul Revere want to rouse the colonists to arms? Where is Charlestown? Explain the phrase, 'moon-light flowing over all." What does "creeping along from tent to tent" mean? What is the "shadowy something in the bay" which he watches? What is meant by "the fate of a nation was riding that night"? Where is Lexington? Concord? What was the "bloody work" that Paul thought the windows looked aghast at? COMPOSITION. Give in your own words an account of Paul Revere's ride, from the following summary, and foregoing questions: |