But the next Spring a stranger sight was seen,
A sight that never yet by bard was sung,
As great a wonder as it would have been
If some dumb animal had found a tongue!

5 A wagon, overarched with evergreen,

Upon whose boughs were wicker cages hung, All full of singing birds, came down the street, Filling the air with music wild and sweet.

From all the country round these birds were brought, 10 By order of the town, with anxious quest, And, loosened from their wicker prisons, sought In woods and fields the places they loved best, Singing loud canticles, which many thought

Were satires to the authorities addressed, 15 While others, listening in green lanes, averred Such lovely music never had been heard!

joc'und: merry. The word from which this is derived meant originally helpful. Cassan'dra: a prophetess at the time of the Trojan War, who was always foretelling disaster. - in lieu in place. - levied blackmail: made unlawful demands. Blackmail is a word with an interesting history in this connection. skeleton it was an Egyptian custom to have a skeleton displayed at a feast so that the guests might be led to "enjoy the present day.” — Edwards: Jonathan Edwards, a famous American preacher, whose celebrated work on the "Freedom of the Will" was full of hard logic. Almira: the preceptor's sweetheart.— madrigals: tender songs. - fieldfares: small thrushes which winter in Great Britain. - beeves: beef creatures. St. Bartholomew: a dreadful massacre took place in France on one St. Bartholomew's day. — canticles: little songs or hymns.

THE DEATH OF LEATHERSTOCKING

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER

NOTE. This selection is taken from "The Prairie." See "A Prairie Fire," page 26. Middleton and Paul Hover are here riding across the plains toward a Pawnee village.

The sun was beginning to fall, and a sheet of golden light was spread over the placid plain. The verdure of 5 the year yet remained, and herds of horses and mules were grazing peacefully in the vast natural pasture under the keeping of vigilant Pawnee boys.

The route of the party led them at no great distance from one of those watchful youths, who was charged with 10 a trust so heavy as the principal wealth of his tribe. He heard the trampling of the horses and cast his eye aside, but instead of manifesting either curiosity or alarm, his look was instantly returned whence it had been withdrawn, to the spot where the village was known to stand.

15

"There is something remarkable in all this," muttered Middleton, half offended; "yonder boy has heard of our approach, or he would not fail to notify his tribe, and yet he scarcely deigns to favor us with a glance. Look to your arms, men; it may be necessary to let these savages 20 feel our strength."

"Therein, Captain, I think you 're in an error," returned Paul; "if honesty is to be met on the prairies at all, you will find it in our old friend Hard Heart; neither is an

Indian to be judged of by the rules of a white. See! we are not altogether slighted, for here comes a party to meet us, though it is a little pitiful as to show and numbers."

Paul was right in both particulars. A group of horse5 men were at length seen wheeling round a little copse and advancing across the plain directly toward them.

The meeting was friendly, though a little restrained on both sides. Middleton had time during the remainder of the ride to revolve in his mind all the probable reasons 10 which his ingenuity could suggest for this strange reception.

When they entered the town its inhabitants were seen collected in an open space, where they formed a large circle, in the center of which were perhaps a dozen of the principal chiefs. Middleton gazed about him in grow15 ing concern, for no cry, no song, no shout welcomed him among a people from whom he had so lately parted with regret. His uneasiness was shared by all his followers. Determination and stern resolution began to assume the place of anxiety in every eye, as each man silently felt 20 for his arms and assured himself that his several weapons were in a state for instant and desperate service. But there was no answering symptom of hostility on the part of their hosts. Hard Heart beckoned for Middleton and Paul to follow, leading the way toward the cluster of 25 forms that occupied the center of the circle. Here the

visitors found a solution of all the movements which had given them so much reason for apprehension.

The trapper was placed on a rude seat, which had been made with studied care to support his frame in an upright and easy attitude. His eye was glazed and apparently as devoid of sight as of expression. Life, it is true, still 5 lingered in his system, but it was as though at times entirely ready to depart. It would have been no violent fancy to have imagined that the spirit fluttered about the placid lips of the old woodsman, reluctant to depart from a shell that had so long given it an honorable shelter. 10 His body was so placed as to let the light of the setting sun fall full upon the solemn features. His head was bare, the long thin locks of gray fluttering in the evening breeze. Between his feet lay the figure of a hound, with its head crouching to the earth as if it slumbered, and so 15 perfectly natural was its position that a second glance was necessary to tell Middleton he saw only the skin of Hector, stuffed by Indian tenderness and ingenuity in a manner to represent the living animal.

The trapper had remained nearly motionless for an 20 hour. His eyes, alone, had occasionally opened and shut. The hour, the calm beauty of the season, the occasion, all conspired to fill the spectators with awe. Suddenly, while musing on the remarkable position in which he was placed, Middleton felt the hand which he held grasp his 25 own with incredible power, and the old man, supported on either side by his friends, rose upright to his feet. For a single moment he looked about him, as if to invite all in