mind? 9. What is meant by "when the swift river bears us to 2. Put 1. Point out and discuss the scenes in this selection. yourself in little Paul Dombey's place, and tell in writing what you would be likely to do and say. THE WILD HONEYSUCKLE Fair flower, that dost so comely grow, No roving foot shall crush thee here, From morning suns and evening dews If nothing once, you nothing lose, PHILIP FRENEAU. THE HERITAGE The truly Christian sentiment of this striking poem cannot help awakening a responsiye chord. Here we shall notice the persuasive manner in which the gifted author, James Russell Lowell, contrasts the life of the rich with that of the poor. The story will not only clear away many erroneous notions, but will give the correct view of life. The rich man's son inherits lands, And piles of brick, and stone, and gold, And tender flesh that fears the cold, A heritage, it seems to me, The rich man's son inherits cares; The bank may break, the factory burn, A heritage, it seems to me, The rich man's son inherits wants, With sated heart, he hears the pants Of toiling hinds with brown arms bare, And wearies in his easy-chair; A heritage, it seems to me, One scarce would wish to hold in fee. What doth the poor man's son inherit? A hardy frame, a hardier spirit ; What doth the poor man's son inherit? A heritage, it seems to me, What doth the poor man's son inherit? To make the outcast bless his door; A heritage, it seems to me, A king might wish to hold in fee. O rich man's son! there is a toil That with all others level stands; Large charity doth never soil, But only whiten, soft white hands This is the best crop from thy lands; A heritage, it seems to me, Worth being rich to hold in fee. O poor man's son! scorn not thy state; Toil only gives the soul to shine, Worth being poor to hold in fee. Both, heirs to some six feet of sod, A heritage, it seems to me, JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. AIDS TO STUDY James Russell Lowell (1819–1891), one of the foremost American men of letters, was born in Cambridge, Mass. As a boy he had a great love for reading. Many an hour he spent in his father's library engrossed in stories and poetry. In 1838, he was graduated from Harvard University. Seventeen years later, he succeeded Longfellow as professor of English Literature at his Alma Mater. Lowell's literary labors embrace both prose and verse. Among his best known poems are The Vision of Sir Launfal, A Fable for Critics, The First Snow Fall, The Fountain, Under the Old Elm. His prose works include criticisms, satires, and speeches. heritage (her'i táj), what is inher- sated (sāt'ĕd), satisfied, surfeited, ited, or passes from heir to heir. filled. 1. What does the rich man's son inherit? 2. Is his a happy lot? 3. Has he any wants? 4. What is the heritage of the poor man's son? 5. Does he enjoy more real happiness than the rich man's son? 6. Name three characteristics of the poor man's son mentioned in the sixth stanza. 7. What does the poet say to the rich man's son? 8. How does he advise the poor man's son? 9. What does he say in the last stanza? Expressions for study: bubble shares king of two hands sated heart six feet of sod to hold in fee toil-worn merit well-filled past worse weariness 1. Write a short composition contrasting the lot of the rich young man with that of the poor young man. 2. Read the gospel according to St. Matthew, xix, 13-26. What lessons are taught in these verses? |