HELPS FOR STUDY Who wrote "Paul Revere's Ride"? Explain "valorous deed." Read Browning's poem, "How They Carried the Good News from Ghent to Aix." What was the "Neutral Ground"? Explain “frugal store.” Explain "Looked solemnly quick to heed her call." Have you ever heard the raindrops "drum a tune" on the roof? What are dragoons"? 66 To what does "French war lately done," refer? How does Jennie show that she thought the time had come for her "skill and courage to stand by" the colonel? Explain "colonel's weal." Explain "volley of balls." How far is a "furlong"? Explain "rude white floor of deal.” What did the young captain say to Jennie? What did she reply? Who commanded "Putnam's Corps"? Do you know any other poems about rides besides the ones mentioned here? TWO GREAT COMMANDERS* WILLIAM P. TRENT Was not the right man in his place - amid those wintry, shelterless trenches around Petersburg-as commander of those ragged, frozen, starved, but unconquered troops who held their thirty-five or forty miles of defenses with a 5 thousand men to the mile? What other American save Washington would have been the right man there? And how can any man or woman who loves courage and genius, and unselfishness and gentleness and implicit trust in God, not love Lee, whatever may be thought of the losing 10 cause he served? Who among us does not envy the opportunity of that Richmond lady who made him drink the last cup of tea she had, and complacently sipped the muddy water of James River that he might not detect her sacrifice and refuse to accept her homage? 15 But we must hasten to the closing scene of the great drama. The meeting with Grant took place a little before noon on the morning of April 9, at a private residence in the village of Appomattox Courthouse. Nothing could have exceeded Grant's courtesy. Indeed, he rose to the 20 full stature of a hero; and the scene of the greatest surren 25 der in American history ought to be remembered with pride by every citizen of our now united country, for it illustrates, as perhaps no similar event has ever done, the essential nobility of human nature. The rest is soon told. Grant generously allowed the Confederate privates to keep their horses for their spring * Reprinted by permission of the publishers, Small, Maynard & Company, Boston, Mass. plowing; and Lee rode away to be surrounded by his ragged veterans, who still refused to believe he would surrender, and who sobbed in anguish when he told them that the struggle was over. The tears stood in his eyes; 5 and they stand in the eyes of those who love him, as to-day they read over or recall the pathetic scene. On the following day he issued to the survivors of the Army of Northern Virginia as dignified an address as any commander, victorious or defeated, has ever written. 10 After receiving visits from old friends like General Meade pathetic visits, which yet show how much human nature, with its godlike capacities, ought to be above the brutal necessity of settling disputes by war- he mounted his horse Traveler, and rode slowly toward Richmond. 15 Halting at the house of his brother Charles, in Powhatan County, he insisted, in spite of the rain, on spending a last night in his old tent. What poet will tell us of his thoughts? Arrived in Richmond, he was greeted with wild enthusiasm, in which Northern troops who had fought against him 20 joined heartily. Finally he escaped from demonstrations trying to him, but inspiring to every lover of his kind, by entering the modest house where his family was waiting to receive him. He had left that family four years before, the hope of his native state. He returned to it the chosen 25 hero of the Southern people. He will remain the hero of that people and of thousands of men and women throughout the world who love virtue and valor in supreme combination. There is, seemingly, no character in all history that combines power and virtue and charm as he does. 30 He is with the great captains, the supreme leaders of all time. He is with the good, pure men and chivalrous gentlemen of all time—the knights "sans peur et sans reproche". nor will the poet ever cease to affirm that on the field of Appomattox the mighty battle-axe struck down the 35 keen Damascus blade. HELPS FOR STUDY Who were the "Two Great Commanders"? In what war did they command? Why was Lee the "right man in his place"? What was the "closing scene of the great drama"? Explain "full stature of a hero." Explain "essential nobility of human nature." What is said of Lee's address to the survivors of the Army of Northern Virginia? Explain "godlike capacities." Why does the writer ask, "What poet will tell us of his thoughts?" Explain "virtue and valor in supreme combination." Explain "chivalrous gentlemen.' Explain "mighty battle-axe struck down the keen Damascus blade." NOTES 191: 10 General Meade. George Gordon Meade, born at Cadiz, Spain, December 31, 1815. Like General Lee, he graduated from West Point, and served in the Mexican War. He succeeded General Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac in the Civil War, and defeated General Lee at Gettysburg. He died at Philadelphia, Pa., November 6, 1872. 191:32 "Sans peur et sans reproche." Without fear and without reproach. 191:35 Damascus blade. A sword having upon its surface a variegated appearance of watering, as white, silvery or black veins in fine lines or fillets, fibrous, crossed, interlaced or parallel. The finest steel in the world comes from Damascus, in Syria, and Damascus blades have long been celebrated for their excellent quality. 5 10 15 THE WELL OF ST. KEYNE ROBERT SOUTHEY Robert Southey was born at Bristol, England, August 12, 1774. His education was received at the Westminster School and at Balliol College, Oxford. After traveling in Spain and Portugal, he settled down to a literary life. He wrote both prose and poetry, and is known as one of the Lake School of poets. In 1813, he was made poet laureate. He died at Greta Hall, near Keswick, England, March 21, 1843. A well there is in the west-country, And a clearer one never was seen; An oak and an elm tree stand beside, A traveler came to the well of St. Keyne; For from cock-crow he had been traveling He drank of the water so cool and clear, And he sat down upon the bank, |