The blood clost roun' her heart felt glued Tell mother see how matters stood, Then her red come back like the tide And all I know is they was cried {' JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. HELPS TO STUDY This little rustic love-story in verse has become a great favorite with those who like good poetry. You will observe from reading the poem that both of the young people have fine qualities, even though they do use a dialect that looks queer in print, and would sound queer to your ears if you were not used to hearing it. If you are not familiar with this New England dialect, use the Glossary given below. 1. What is the scene outside the house? 2. What is the room like inside? 3. How does the scene resemble that in " Snow-Bound"? 4. What does the narrator think of stoves? Why? 5. How does he tell you that Zekle knew he loved the girl? 6. How did Huldy know that she was in love with him? 7. What was the girl doing? 8. Was 9. How did she first know he had come? she expecting her caller? 10. How did she act? Why? Why does the narrator not explain her actions? 11. How did the mother know that the young people had such; an' and; 'z or ez = as; sot = = sat; 'ith = = with; hender = hinder (interfere, bother); warn't were not; tell till, until; wa'nut walnut (meaning hickory); pootiest = prettiest; leetle = = = = = = = china; dresser = a bureau, or chest of drawers; agin = against, or again; crook-necks pieces of bent iron, fastened in the chimney, from which a kettle could be hung over the fire; queen's-arm = an old musket; granther grandfather; busted burst; coz = because; kingdom-come a phrase meaning a happy time, a blessed experience; cretur creature; ain't isn't; A 1 a phrase meaning first-rate, of the very best; natur nature; pitch a ton = pitch a ton of hay, in "haying time," from the ground to the wagon, by forkfuls; dror a furrer draw a furrow (with a plow); hed = had; squired = been attentive to; with them; druv 'em beside (or with) her; curled and twisted grain; breshed = brushed; v'ice = = = == = = = voice; his'n his; Ole Hundred = the doxology, beginning "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"; meetin' the Sunday gathering at church; sartin' certain; tu too; scraper = a piece of flat iron set up at the doorstep, for scraping mud off the boots before entering the house; l'itered loitered; sekle sequel, result; hern = hers; cheer chair; wished him furder wished he were farther away, that is, hadn't come; i'nin' = ironing; nuther well; bimeby by and by; Jenooary = January; clost = close; gin' = gave; cried in meetin' engagement was announced in the church, according to the old custom. This was called "publishing the banns" in old England. = = = neither; wall = = = = their HIAWATHA'S MITTENS He killed the noble Mudjokivis. He, to get the warm side inside, Put the inside skin side outside; He, to get the cold side outside, Put the warm side fur side inside. ANONYMOUS. 1. Of what poem is this an imitation? A humorous imitation like this is called a parody. 2. What does "anonymous" mean? Look it up in the dictionary if you do not know it. 5 10 MY VISIT TO NIAGARA Never did a pilgrim approach Niagara with deeper enthusiasm than mine. I had lingered away from it, and wandered to other scenes, because my treasury of anticipated enjoyments, comprising all the wonders of the world, had nothing 5 else so magnificent, and I was loath to exchange the pleasures of hope for those of memory so soon. At length the day came. The stage-coach, with a Frenchman and myself on the back seat, had already left Lewiston, and in less than an hour would set us down in Manchester. I began to listen 10 for the roar of the cataract, and trembled with a sensation like dread, as the moment drew nigh, when its voice of ages must roll, for the first time, on my ear. The French gentleman stretched himself from the window, and expressed loud admiration, while, by a sudden impulse, I threw myself 15 back and closed my eyes. When the scene shut in, I was glad to think, that for me the whole burst of Niagara was yet in futurity. We rolled on, and entered the village of Manchester, bordering on the falls. I am quite ashamed of myself here. Not that I ran like a 20 madman to the falls, and plunged into the thickest of the spray, - never stopping to breathe, till breathing was impossible; not that I committed this, or any other suitable extravagance. On the contrary, I alighted with perfect decency and composure, gave my cloak to the black waiter, 25 pointed out my baggage, and inquired, not the nearest way |