LESSON LIII. STUDY OF SELECTION. ROBERT OF LINCOLN. I. Merrily swinging on brier and weed, Robert of Lincoln is telling his name: Spink, spank, spink; Snug and safe is that nest of ours, II. Robert of Lincoln is gayly drest, Wearing a bright black wedding coat; White are his shoulders and white his crest, Hear him call in his merry note: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Look, what a nice new coat is mine, Chee, chee, chee. III. Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife, Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings, Passing at home a patient life, Broods in the grass while her husband sings: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; Brood, kind creature; you need not fear Thieves and robbers while I am here. Chee, chee, chee. IV. Modest and shy as a nun is she; Spink, spank, spink; Never was I afraid of man; Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can. V. Six white eggs on a bed of hay, Flecked with purple, a pretty sight! There as the mother sits all day, Robert is singing with all his might : Spink, spank, spink; Nice good wife, that never goes out, VI. Soon as the little ones chip the shell, Spink, spank, spink; This new life is likely to be Hard for a gay young fellow like me. VII. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Spink, spank, spink; Nobody knows but my mate and I Where our nest and our nestlings lie. Chee, chee, chee. VIII. Summer wanes; the children are grown; Fun and frolic no more he knows; Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone; Off he flies, and we sing as he goes: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link, Spink, spank, spink; When you can pipe that merry old strain, What is the poem about? Chee, chee, chee. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. Read the first stanza. Where was Robert of Lincoln? What was he doing? What word would be used in prose instead of mead? What do the fifth and sixth lines tell? What are the two following lines about? What is meant by the nest's being snug? What is meant by its being safe? What are the closing words of the song? Read the second stanza. What does the first line tell? What is the use of the second and third lines? What is meant by his crest? What is the hearer requested to do in the fourth line? What is the song about? What are the first four lines about? Why is Read the third stanza. she called a Quaker wife? What does the wife do? husband sing to her? Which words describe her appearance? Where does she brood? What does her What are contrasted in the first four lines? What is said about her singing? What What are his words? Read the fourth stanza. To what is the wife compared? is the husband called? Read the fifth stanza. How many eggs are spoken of? Of what color were they? What did the mother do all day? What did Robert do? Read the sixth stanza. What is the meaning of chip? What happened when the shells were chipped? What did Robert do then? What was his song now? Read the seventh stanza. How did the work and care affect Robert? What is meant by laying off his holiday garment? Ans. Changing his color. What was half-forgotten? What is meant by mate in the seventh line? By nestlings in the eighth line? Read the last stanza. What is the first statement? What is the meaning of wanes? What is the second statement? The third? To what does he refer in the second line? What is Robert called in the third line? Where does he go? When shall we welcome him back? WRITTEN EXERCISE. Copy the poem. Arrange the lines as they are arranged in your book. LESSON LIV. COMPOSITION. Write about Robert of Lincoln. HINTS. Tell where Robert of Lincoln sings, and what he says in his song. Describe his appearance. Describe his wife, and tell what she does. Tell about the little ones. Tell about Robert's work and his departure. Pronounce : what, wand, song, [Give Ŏ a medium sound between o as in not and a as in fall.] strong, |