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and then, as he was still asking her how she felt, said faintly, "I'm all right—I did it."

The next quarter of an hour was passed in getting Blair's breath back. Fortunately for her, if not for her dress, her clothes had caught here and there 5 as she came crashing through the branches, and though the breath was knocked out of her, and she was shaken and scratched and stunned, no bones were broken, and she was not seriously hurt after all. She proposed that they should say nothing 10 about it to any one; she could get his Mammy to mend her clothes. But this magnanimous offer Jacquelin firmly declined. He was afraid that Blair might be hurt in some way that she did not know, and he declared that he should go straight and tell 15 it at the house.

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"But I did it myself," persisted little Blair; "you

were not to blame. You called to me not to do it." "Did you hear me call? Then why did you do it?" asked Jacquelin.

"Because you had done it and said I could not." "But didn't you know you would get hurt?" She nodded.

"I thought so."

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Jacquelin looked at her long and seriously, and 25 that moment a new idea seemed to enter his mind,

that, after all, it might be as brave to do a dangerous thing which you are afraid to do as if you are not at all afraid.

"Blair, you are a brick," he said. "You are braver 5 than any boy I know - as brave as Steve, as brave as Marshal Turenne." Which was sweet enough to Blair to make amends for all her bruises.

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renown: fame. Cerro Gordo: a fortified stronghold that the Americans took from the Mexicans during the Mexican War. – Marshal Turenne: one of the great soldiers of France. prig: a conceited person. - relegated: removed. condescended : stooped. persistent: never-ending. - emulation: rivalry. - magnanimous: generous.

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THE GLADNESS OF NATURE

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT

WILLIAM CULlen Bryant (1794-1878), poet and editor, was born in Cummington, Massachusetts. Among his ancestors were two whom Longfellow has celebrated in his Courtship of Miles Standish, namely, Priscilla and John Alden.

Bryant's father, a physician of culture, took a loving interest 5 in the poetical development of his son, who early showed remarkable intelligence. When only eighteen months old Bryant is said to have known all the letters of the alphabet. At the age of eight he was writing verse, and at thirteen was the author of a political satire. At eighteen he had written Thanatopsis, the greatest 10 poem produced in America up to that time. So remarkable was the genius shown in this poem that Editor R. II. Dana, when it was submitted to him for publication, said to his associate: "Ah, Phillips, you have been imposed upon. No one on this side of the Atlantic is capable of writing such verse."

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After practicing law for some years Bryant moved to the city of New York and engaged in editorial and other literary work, which in time brought him an ample income. For over half a century he was connected with the Evening Post. In addition to his original poems Bryant made admirable translations of Homer's 20 Iliad and Odyssey.

His poetry overflows with natural religion, -with what Wordsworth calls the "religion of the woods."-JOHN WILSON.

Is this a time to be cloudy and sad,

When our mother Nature laughs around; When even the deep blue heavens look glad,

And gladness breathes from the blossoming ground?

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There are notes of joy from the hang-bird and wren,
And the gossip of swallows through all the sky;
The ground-squirrel gayly chirps by his den,
And the wilding bee hums merrily by.

5 The clouds are at play in the azure space, And their shadows at play on the bright green

vale,

And here they stretch to the frolic chase,
And there they roll on the easy gale.

10 There's a dance of leaves in that aspen bower,

There's a titter of winds in that beechen tree, There's a smile on the fruit, and a smile on the flower,

And a laugh from the brook that runs to the sea.

And look at the broad-faced sun, how he smiles. 15 On the dewy earth that smiles in his ray, On the leaping waters and gay young isles,Ay, look, and he'll smile thy gloom away.

wilding wild. - azure: the clear blue of the sky.

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CURING BULLDOG

IAN MACLAREN

IAN MACLAREN is the pen name of Rev. Dr. John Watson. Dr. Watson was born in Manningtree, Essex County, England, in 1850. He received his education at the universities of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Tübingen, Germany.

In 1874 he was admitted to the ministry by the Free Church 5 of Scotland, and was elected assistant pastor of Barclay Church, Edinburgh. He has just closed a long pastorate at Liverpool.

His ministerial duties have allowed him time for much reading, and in later years for much writing. His Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush first showed his gifts as a story-teller. This was pub- 10 lished in 1894. His Young Barbarians, with its admirably drawn picture of Scotch schoolboy life, has raised up for him a host of youthful admirers.

NOTE. This selection is taken from The Young Barbarians. Mr. MacKinnon, master of the academy in the Scotch town of 15 Muirtown, was nicknamed " Bulldog" by his pupils. In spite of his sternness he was so just and right-minded that his pupils, whether wild lads like Peter (Speug ") or gentle ones like Nestie, the master's ward, all honored and respected him. To make the story easier for American readers, the editors have 20 translated some of the dialect.

When Dr. Manley came out from the master's garden door that evening he stumbled upon Speug, who was looking very miserable, but began to whistle violently the moment he was detected, and 25 denied that he had come to ask for news.

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