spite of all their struggles. But before the canoes of the little children, there were no waves at all. All in a moment the waves were gone, and before them was the shore of the Happy Island, the Land of the Hereafter. They both leaped out upon the shore. 5 It seemed that the very air was food. It nourished and strengthened them. Together they wandered for many days over the happy fields where everything seemed formed to please the eye and ear. There were no storms, there was no ice, there were no chilling winds. 10 No one shivered from the want of warm clothes. No one suffered from hunger. No one mourned the dead. They saw no graves. They heard of no wars. There was no hunting of animals, for the very air itself was their food. Gladly would the young warrior have remained there forever. But he could not stay, for though he did not see the Master of Life, he heard his voice in a soft breeze. 15 "Go back," said the Voice softly, "to the land from 20 which you came. Your time has not yet come. The work for which I made you is not yet finished. Go back to your people, and there perform the duties of a good man. You will be the ruler of your tribe for many moons. Chibiabos, the Keeper of the Gate, will tell 25 you what you must do, when he gives you back your body. Listen to him, do what he tells you. You shall hereafter rejoin the spirit of your sweetheart, although you must now leave her behind you. She is accepted, and will be here forever, as young, as beautiful, and as happy as she was when I first called her from the Land of Snows." When the Voice ceased to speak, the young warrior 5 awoke. It had been only a dream, and he was still in the Land of Snows and Hunger and Tears. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION of 8. What, do you think, is 1. Tell what you know of Hiawatha. 2. Where is the home of the Chippewa Indians? By what other name are they called? 3. Why did Hiawatha wish to undertake this strange journey? meant by Hiawatha's having to go "through the wigwam of Chibiabos" before he could start out in his White Stone Canoe for the Island of Ponemah? 9. What things seemed wonderful to Hiawatha after his spirit was freed from his body? 4. What was the Land of the 5. Tell what Hiawatha saw in What happy discovery did he make after he got into his White Stone Canoe? Tell how the waves appeared before the canoes. Why were the waves higher before some canoes than before others? What kind of persons were overwhelmed by the waves? What kind passed safely through? Why were Manito, the god of the What did the voice tell him Most of the "Hiawatha Legends" are tales of what Hiawatha is supposed to have done after his return from this journey. Compare this with other Hiawatha stories, and tell which you think is the best story and why. Henry R. Schoolcraft, the noted explorer and student of the life of the Indians inhabiting the region of the Great Lakes, was born March 28, 1793, and died December 10, 1864. He spent most of his life among the Indians, studying their languages and customs. He was much beloved and trusted by the Indians. He was the discoverer of Lake Itasca, the true source of the Mississippi River. Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind ALEXANDER POPE When to soft Sleep we give ourselves away, MARMION AND DOUGLAS SIR WALTER SCOTT The following selection is from Canto VI, of Sir Walter Scott's long poem, "Marmion." The scene of this exciting story is laid at the castle of Tantallon, the stronghold of Lord Douglas, the aged but still fiery Scottish Earl of Angus. The time is early in the sixteenth century. At that time King Henry the Eighth of England was at war with France, and feared that Scotland, which was then an independent monarchy and friendly to France, would attack England on the north. So, to prevent this, King Henry, in the poem of "Marmion," sends Marmion to persuade King James the Fourth of Scotland to remain at peace with England. At that time, a nobleman did not really own his castle, but held it for his king; and it was the custom for the king, at times, to send persons to be entertained at noblemen's castles. Thus, a nobleman often had to give friendly entertainment to some one whom he really hated or despised. It was so in this case, for Douglas despised Marmion, whom King James had sent to be for a time Douglas's guest at Tantallon. But the Scots continued their preparations for war. And after staying some time with Douglas at Tantallon and seeing no real hope for peace, Marmion feels that he has failed in his mission and prepares to leave the castle for the camp of the Earl of Surrey, the English general, who had a large army not far away. Now picture a great stone castle, with tall towers and battlements. A great ditch, called the moat, filled with water, surrounds the castle, and across it is a bridge, called a drawbridge, hinged at the base of the castle wall, and capable of being raised and lowered across the moat by means of chains and pulleys. In the great arch or entrance in the castle wall at the inner end of the drawbridge was a heavy iron gate, called a portcullis, which did not turn on hinges, but was drawn straight up into the wall to permit people to go out and in. Grooms and warders, or caretakers, were constantly on guard to raise or lower the drawbridge and the portcullis, and thus to shut out enemies in case of attack, or to let in friends. The castle was built around a court, or large open space, and it was here that Lord Marmion was about to say farewell to Lord Douglas and then depart for the camp of the Earl of Surrey under a safe-conduct from the King of Scotland. In taking leave of his host he offered his hand, which Douglas refused. Try to see the stern, white-haired old Douglas, Earl of Angus, with many attendants around him. The portcullis is drawn up into the wall and the drawbridge is down across the moat, and Marmion's train of attendants has passed out and is waiting, mounted, across the moat. Now read the story just as you would read any other good story. It is a thrilling tale. Try to see the speakers and hear what they say. See Marmion, as he whirls his horse and dashes under the portcullis just as it falls, and as he rides across the rising drawbridge and leaps his horse off the farther end. The meanings of the following words will help you to understand the story: plain complain. behest: command. manors: mansion houses. bowers: rooms or chambers specially devoted to pleasures, or sheltered places in a beautiful garden or park. lists: makes choice of. peer: an equal in rank. |